Beauty Tips

Tuesday Beauty Tips (Not Really): Just Tie a Knot and Hang On!

December 15th, 2009 by Karen 56 Comments

tie-a-knot-and-hang-on

Roadblock.

I hit a bad one this afternoon, ladies, with lots of crying, a debilitating panic attack, hyperventilating, cold sweats and stomach clutching — the whole shebang!

Today started out well. I felt fine this morning, but then I started to think about everything on my to-do list and what I want to finish by Monday (when we head out of town for the holidays), and I death spiraled out of control.

It was NOT one of my better days. 🙁

Makeup to the rescue!

I do feel a little better now that I’ve distracted myself with drugstore beauty…

covergirl-outlast-lipstain
CoverGirl Outlast Lipstains, $8 each

covergirl-outlast-lipstain-swatches
CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain swatches from left to right: Everbloom Kiss, Berry Smooch, Bit of Blossom, Teasing Blush, Flirty Nude ($8 each)
[Continue reading…]

Get Fit Over the Holidays with 30 Day Shred

December 3rd, 2009 by Karen 30 Comments

jillian michaels 30 day shred review

No joke, but last week I ate four pieces of pecan pie on Thanksgiving. FOUR PIECES!

What’s that, like 18 million calories!?

Curse you holiday temptation! It’s constant and everywhere I turn, like these blasted Trader Joe’s dark chocolate stars. I think they follow me, nom nom nom…

Throw in cold rain and shortened days — what’s a girl to do?

Yes, Virgina, you can still work out over the holidays

I thank my dark chocolate stars for fitness expert Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred ($10).

The DVD’s from 2007 (the one I have), so it’s a few years old, but the balanced workout really makes me sweat.

So, what’s this shredding business?

JM (the same one from TV’s The Biggest Loser) calls it the 3-2-1 Interval System, a 20-minute mixed workout emphasizing strength training, cardio and abs.

The idea is to work your way through the three levels of difficulty over the course of 30 days, at the end emerging leaner and “shredded” to the max.

Can you say sweat?

To say these workouts are challenging for me would be an understatement. No workout DVD has ever kicked my booty like this one has, but it’s still fun, doable, and I think the exercises themselves are interesting — things like skaters (a motion like speed skating), plank jacks (plank position/jumping jack hybrid on the floor), squat thrusts and high-knee kicks.
[Continue reading…]

5 Ways to Boost Your Hair’s Volume

November 29th, 2009 by Karen 14 Comments

big-hair-tips-and-tricks

What’s a girl to do when she’s longing for big hair with tons of volume?

A few days ago I asked you for your volumizing secrets, and you gals shared some fabulous tips and tricks.

1. Blow dry upside down

To pump up the volume, MBB readers love blow drying upside down.

“OOOO! I love big hair! I blast root pumper spray DIRECTLY on my roots; none of this spraying mousse in the hands first business. Then, I blowdry my hair with my head flipped upside-down from start to almost finish. Once about 85% dry I use a round brush at the roots for extra volume. This creates volume that lasts almost all day!”
— Morgan

“Personally, I have tried a number of tricks. I like to spray some root-voluminizing spray (I could only afford things like Tressemme or Garnier), and I blow dry my hair upside down with a diffuser. I then add in some mousse while I’m blow drying it to set in the style. If I am straightening my hair, I will blow dry it with a large round brush upwards to give it a little lift. Having enough volume has always been a issue for me cause I have such long hair, but I try my best!”
— Genesis C

2. Try a new volumizing product

There’s a big world of products out there devoted to big hair! A few reader faves: aveda-volumizing-tonic

“My hair is really fine but there’s a lot of it, so I use Aveda’s Volumizing Tonic at the roots, paired with their Phomollient foam. When I start blow-drying I make sure to lift and blast the roots, then use the Marilyn Tuxedo big round brush — totally makes a difference.”
— Trude

“I have tried everything to give my hair more volume: I blow dry it upside down; I use root lifter; I use huge velcro rollers; I tease it. Heck, I thought cutting my hair off would help, but it didn’t. I do like the Tresemme 24 Hour Body Finishing Spray; I think that works best on my hair.”
— Katrina

“Got2B 2Sexy mousse — this stuff is like a Pammie boob job for your hair. My hair’s pretty normal, color damaged, but medium-thick hair: a good pump of that, combed through my hair upside down and FOOMP! Suddenly, I have GIANT voluptuous hair that actually holds a curl for more than ten minutes.”
— Molly

“I use this awesome stuff called Volume Fusion Spray by Eufora. I LOVE it. I have the thickest, most asian hair you could possibly get. It gives me AMAZING volume when I blowdry my hair upside down.”
— xtina

[Continue reading…]

Black Friday for Beauty Addicts

November 27th, 2009 by Karen 20 Comments

Black Friday beauty deals

Rise and shine, ladies! I hope you got your grub on yesterday. I think I gained at least a pound, but I look at it as carbo-loading for Black Friday. 🙂

Black Friday — what an ominous phrase, right? Overlooking, for a moment, the irony of dedicating the day after Thanksgiving to shopping, are you hitting any stores? I’m building my shopping list right now (great list of ongoing health & beauty deals). I forgot to do any serious Black Friday planning this year, so I’m winging it today. So far this morning I’ve tracked down a few interesting deals…

bbw-blackfriday2009 Bath & Body Works: AWESOME sales storewide, like their buy 3, get 3 free Signature Collection sale; a $100 Limited Edition VIP Gift Bag w/$40 purchase for $15; comfy-looking robes for $29.50, marked from from $49.50.

The Body Shop: Buy one, get one free on all seasonal bath and body, home fragrance, accessories and gift sets. Scents include Merry Cranberry, Nutmeg & Vanilla, Black Velvet Apricot and more.

CVS: Of course, you have to sign up for their free CVS card for most of these, but they’ve got a buy 1, get 1 free on Revlon (and many Cover Girl) cosmetics and beauty tools; Clairol Herbal Essences Conditioner or Shampoo for $3 each; a Conair Ceramic Straightener for $10 (always nice to have a spare).

gap-blackfriday2009 The Gap: 50% off all women’s and men’s sweaters, pajama pants and cozy fleece for kids and babies also 50% off.

H&M: 25 percent off one item of your choice from 8-10 a.m. Friday. Select items storewide will be marked down to $5 and $10.

JC Penny: Lots of amazing deals (way more than I’ve mentioned here). JC Penny went all out this year. All women’s dresses and wallets $50 off, all Playtex 18 Hour & Underscore Boxed Bras for $9.88, Playtex Secrets Foam Underwire $14.88, 50% off women’s sleepwear…

katespade-blackfriday2009 Kate Spade: Extra 25 percent off sale items.

Kohls: The website was so busy that their site even went down this morning! Lots of big markdowns so keep trying, but be sure to use coupon code TURKEY15 to save an extra 15% on all orders.

Macy’s: Get an extra $10 off $25 purchases from their Black Friday ad! DKNY Women’s Down Coats for $79.99, DKNY Women’s Sweaters for $27.99, Cultured Peal Strands with Sterling Silver Clasp for $79 (regular $300).
[Continue reading…]

Have You Sampled Beauty Sample Sites?

November 21st, 2009 by Karen 10 Comments

Members Only Beauty Sites

Rue La La! Have you heard The Skinny? Exclusive Beauty VIP members-only sample sites are Haute!

And new ones are cropping up all the time — sites that sell collections and sets filled with sample beauty products at prices that often amount to HUGE savings of 50-75% off (versus purchasing the products separately at retail). Some, like Beauty VIP, go a step further, delivering members-only coupon codes and discounts on cosmetic surgery, beauty services and spas.

Membership’s usually free but required to browse the deals or to place orders online. Ironically, there’s rarely anything exclusive about joining these sites. A name and email address are all that’s typically required, but there’s just something alluring about the promise of exclusive goodies. 🙂

10 Top Beauty Sample Sites

Site: Gilt Groupe
Shtick: Mainstream beauty (Jemma Kidd, Mario Badescu and more) and fashion stuff, too

Site: Rue La La
Shtick: Luxury fashion, house stuff and beauty

Site: Swirl
Shtick: A product of Daily Candy; clothing and accessories up to 80% off retail
[Continue reading…]

Snow Bunny Beauty Tips

November 12th, 2009 by Karen 17 Comments

beauty-on-the-slopes

Snow bunny Jo wants to look her best this winter, and she’s getting ready for a grand adventure on the slopes.

Hiya Karen (oops, feel like I know you!),

I’m about to go skiing for 5 months. I’ve always used cream blush (especially the MAC ones), but now I need one that will give strong color but that won’t rub off too easily with goggles, gloves and possibly snow!

I’m terrified about beauty on the slopes to be honest, so any advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Jo

Hi, Jo. 🙂 Sounds like an awesome trip. I’m really excited for you!

Before we start, I gotta come clean. Snow and I don’t always get along (I’m more of a surfer girl), but here are some things that should help keep your makeup where it belongs.

1. Start with a makeup primer

Primers are typically colorless lotions or gels applied before foundation, blush and/or powder to anchor your makeup in place. It’s simple: when I wear a primer, my blush lasts longer, and I don’t have to reapply as often throughout the day. Take a look at Korres Face Primer; deluxe sample tubes are just $10 at Sephora.

2. Try a layer of powder blush above your cream blush

Whenever I wear a cream blush, dusting a layer of powder blush on top really seems to lock in the color. If you can swing by the MAC counter before your trip, bring some of your favorite cream blushes with you, and ask the MAC makeup artists for coordinating powder blush recommendations. Oh, and if you don’t have one already, shop around for a good blush brush. I really like the MAC 129 ($34).
[Continue reading…]

Tuesday Beauty Tips: 9 Things to Do on Your Next Trip to San Francisco

November 10th, 2009 by Karen 67 Comments

Welcome to San Francisco

Ah, the things we do for Cupid…

After I met and fell in love with El Hub, I wanted to be closer to him, so I left my favorite city of San Francisco and moved the 10 miles north across the Golden Gate Bridge to the suburbs of Marin.

I like it here, but I’m a city girl at heart. I miss SF’s bustling beauty scene, and the city’s diversity, restaurants, museums and clubs.

081609-the-city-at-dusk-small
San Francisco at dusk

Which is why I love to visit. 🙂 If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco and looking for Bay Area adventure, you’ve come to the right place! Here are 9 of my favorite things to do in the city.
[Continue reading…]

A Makeup and Beauty Blog Salute to Sesame Street!

November 6th, 2009 by Karen 27 Comments

40 Years of Sesame Street

Thanks to Sesame Street, I learned that C is for Cookie. Years later, I learned that it’s also for Chanel, but that’s a different story. 🙂

This November 10 marks the 40th anniversary of the show, and I felt compelled to salute it today with 10 simple Sesame Street-inspired beauty tips.

1. Don’t forget the sun protection

Take it from the Count, “One, ha ha ha! Two, ha ha ha!” — by focussing on preventative measures, like the regular use of broad-spectrum sunscreens, we can all age a little more gracefully.

2. Be good to yourself

Grab your drink of choice (mine is coffee), sit beneath a shady tree and listen to the leaves move in the wind. Take a picture of yourself after a really fantastic workout. Limit your prepping — comb your hair and wipe away the perspiration from your face. Capture a shot that conveys how strong and proud you feel at that moment. Later, on days when you don’t feel like exercising, look at the photo you took of yourself and try to remember how good you felt at the time it was taken.

3. Try a creamy facial cleanser

Cleansers strip away moisture as part of the job of removing makeup, and dry winter air tends to magnify the problem. Gel cleansers can be very drying, but creamy ones like Dove deep moisture creamy facial cleanser and Neutrogena deep clean cream cleanser should help.

4. Moisturize meh!

Moisturize throughout the day, and don’t forget to drink extra water when it’s cold and windy. Your hands, feet, knees and elbows may need a little more help, too. I like rich products containing shea butter, petrolatum, mineral oil, tea tree oil, linoleic acid or glycerin. For intense relief, moisturize hands and feet at night, and then slip on gloves or socks to lock in moisture.
Bert and brow grooming

5. Find a workout buddy

A workout partner can be a great motivator, especially when you’re trying to get back into exercising on a regular basis after a long hiatus. If none of your friends or family are in the mood for fitness, try to make new friends at the gym, and keep your eyes peeled for any open team activities like intramural soccer leagues or basketball.
[Continue reading…]