Beauty Tips

Wedding Makeup Tips: Live Blogging from Boca

November 22nd, 2008 by Karen 30 Comments

Left: Lynette, the makeup artist; Right: Jen, the beautiful bride

We’re here in the bridal suite getting ready! I’ve been picking the makeup artist’s brain (Lynette) for wedding makeup tips and she’s been great!

Highly recommended…

Yours truly…

These things rock!

Wedding Makeup Tips

Lynette prefers matte blush over shimmer because, she says, “mattes look more natural and shimmers
look oily in pictures.”

Recommends L’oreal Original Voluminous mascara because “it goes on thick and isn’t
clumpy, and thickens and lengthens the best” out of all the mascaras she’s used for weddings.

For photographs, she loves Cinema Secrets cream foundation in the pan
and Cinema Secrets pan concealer because “it covers everything and looks great in flash
photography.”

To get a soft look with your eyeliner, “apply powder shadow dry to the lower lash line with
an angled brush.”

If you have very oily skin, “try using a mattifying gel addition to primer.” Try OC
Eight Mattifying Gel 8 Hour Control.

Definitely look for Ardell InvisiBands (semi wispies) false lashes. They look natural in photos
“because they have tiny hairs,” and they’re very easy to apply.

Lipstick can look heavy in photos, so try using a mix of lip liner and gloss instead.

To help your makeup stay in place better on your wedding day, “do a clay mask before you apply anything.”

Reporting live from Jen & Michael’s wedding in Boca Raton… 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Attack of the Cosmetic Hybrids!

November 15th, 2008 by Karen 5 Comments

Doesn’t it seem like there’s a new markety makeup catchphrase every week? — a new cosmetic hybrid we’re told will give us the best of two or more different worlds?

And you thought werewolves were bad…

The three classes of cosmetic hybrids most often seen in the wild may have silly names, but each of these is being aggressively promoted by the big cosmetics brands. Here’s a quick primer to help you keep your hybrids straight.

Cosmeceuticals

Merriam-Webster defines a cosmeceutical as “A preparation having both cosmetic and pharmaceutical properties.” Sounds like the backstory for a new superhero, LOL! But we should be so lucky.

According to the guy (big surprise) responsible for coining the term, Dr. Albert Kligman, professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, the term applies to any topical preparation sold as a cosmetic but able to benefit the skin like a pharmaceutical. They’re cosmetic products with drug-like benefits, like anti-aging creams and moisturizers, and the “cosmeceutical” label applies only to products applied topically — aka creams, lotions and ointments.

Nutraceuticals

Nutraceuticals weren’t initially conceived of as cosmetic hybrids, but they’ve become increasingly tied to the cosmetic industry since Dr. Stephen DeFelice (another dude… I’m just sayin’) coined the phrase in 1989. “A nutraceutical is any substance that is a food or a part of a food and provides medical or health benefits,” he described, “including the prevention and treatment of disease.” These are often extracts of foods claimed to have medicinal effects on human health, and they’re often packaged in capsule, tablet or powder form and marketed as if they’re drugs with a prescribed dose (in milligrams). The definition also covers bio-engineered vegetables and so-called SUPER FOODS!

Nutricosmetics

Nutricosmetics, also known as skingestibles, have been showing up everywhere lately as products marketed to aid weight loss, to combat sun exposure or to reverse the effects of aging. They’re taken orally as pills or beverages, unlike cosmeceuticals (which are used topically), and are usually jam packed with antioxidants.

Can we expect to see even sillier names for cosmetic hybrid products in the future? I think so, especially as the economy prompts companies to think outside the box.

Hmm… What do you think of veggie-ceuticals? Or cosmetifoodicals?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

OMG! Bed, Bath & Beyond Goes Major Makeup

November 1st, 2008 by Karen 45 Comments

So, I dragged El Hub out with me on this rainy Saturday to our local Bed Bath & Beyond store. We needed a new slipcover for the couch because Tabs has been shedding all over the place, eek!

We were just about ready to leave the store when I turned a corner and there, before my starstruck eyes, was a sight of such profound beauty that I almost dropped the shower caddy and slipcover I was cradling in my arms. What I saw was the biggest makeup and beauty department I’ve seen outside a MAC or Sephora in quite some time.

I couldn’t remember ever seeing cosmetics in a Bed, Bath & Beyond before, so I stopped the store manager to ask. He said the company has been rolling them out in some of their bigger stores nationwide.

You have GOT to check your nearest store ’cause the selection blew me away — huge brands like L’Oreal, Maybelline, Revlon and Cover Girl. There were also random smaller brands which I’d never seen before, like these Ooh La La ($0.99 each) and Stripe Rite nail polishes ($2.99).

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5 More Smokin’ Smokey Eye Tips

October 29th, 2008 by Karen 29 Comments

Ladies, when it comes to smoldering smokey eyes, the secret sauce is in the blending. Dark eye makeup looks best when it’s blended really well, and nothing can steal smokey eye thunder like a patchy makeup job that draws attention away from your eyes and onto your makeup. Lawd knows I’ve rushed through my share of smokey eyes. Regrettably, there are few eye makeup looks that can so easily go awry.

But don’t be discouraged! Try one of these tips the next time you’re feelin’ smokey.

1. Fingers Are Built-In Brushes

If you’ve never tried a smokey eye using your fingers before, give it a try. Using fingers can even be easier than using a brush. Start by loading up your ring finger with black shadow. Dab over your lid. Follow the black up with a shimmery gray shadow, and blend with a finger. Add mascara and you’re done! Just be careful you don’t drag shadow out of the lid area or too far into the inner corner of the eye.

2. Use Liner Pencils as a Base for Eyeshadows

Color the entire lid with a dark pencil before applying a lighter coordinating shadow (not necessarily the same color) on top of it. It’s a quick way to add more depth than eyeshadows alone and looks amazing!

3. Black Eyeliner and Eye Gloss Mashup

For uber-easy smokey eyes, use a jet black eyeliner smudged out with a bit of eye gloss. You won’t get a look that lasts forever, but a little loose powder patted over the edges will help prevent smearing. NOTE: don’t rub those eyes!

4. Get to the Root of Things

When lining your waterline with black, cover every nook and cranny. Get as close to the root of the lash as possible, even going in between them, to add as much black to the look as possible. What you don’t want is some of your natural skin tone along the waterline showing through to sabotage all your hard work.

5. Dab a Dot for a Pop of Color

For a pop of color, apply a neutral shadow to the entire lid. Then, smudge a dot of brighter shadow in the center of the lid and thoroughly blend.

Happy Hump Day!

How’s your week coming along? I’ve had better, but we don’t get to choose our days. All we can do is choose how we deal with them.

Have you seen the new holiday palettes for Shu Uemura? They’re called mika shu, and I think they’re adorable! I’ll post thoughts and swatches very soon.

Hang in there this week. This kind of comes out of nowhere … but that’s the kind of week I’m having. I’ve got something big on my mind. Our family’s going through some stuff that I’ll be ready to share with you soon, but for now I just want to thank you all for brightening my days and sharing your time with me.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

5 More Places to Buy Makeup

October 28th, 2008 by Karen 25 Comments

Last week I asked y’all where you like to buy your makeup. Not surprisingly, most of us prefer to shop for makeup at Sephora and MAC stores, but department stores like Macy’s and Nordstrom weren’t far behind.

But beyond those well known makeup outlets, here are a few more sources that may not be on your radar yet…

1. Amazon.com

Pretty soon Amazon’s gonna start selling trips to the moon because they already sell just about everything else, even makeup and beauty. Check out their discounted shipping program, Amazon Prime. For $79/year, you get free 2-day shipping or optional 1-day shipping for $3.99/item on a huge selection of already marked down products. I find that just about everything I buy from Amazon is eligible, and it really works out if you buy more than a couple things from Amazon.com per month and don’t like waiting 5-7 business days for your stuff.

2. Boots

I lurves Boots! The company was founded in Nottingham, England by John Boot, who opened his original shop in 1849. They burst onto the US scene a few years ago, and now the brand is carried at Target and other drugstores nationwide, yea! Their website doesn’t sell direct, but it does have this nifty Skin Wheel doodad, whee!

3. Walgreens

Walgreens? Never heard of ’em, LOL! That’s not likely seeing how there are almost 7,000 Walgreens stores in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Walgreens carries a ton of drugstore makeup, has a great return policy (just keep your receipt!), and many stores are open 24 hours/day.

Through Oct. 31, they’re offering a free 12-month gift subscription to Marie Claire magazine with any purchase of $10 or more on select Beauty Insider products from the Walgreens website, so you could stock up on Biore Cleansing Cloths and get a year of Marie Claire for free.

4. Drugstore.com and Beauty.com

Two stores, one shopping cart. Stock up on beauty swag over at beauty.com, throw in some dental floss and deodorant over at drugstore.com, and then do one checkout for everything. New customers save an additional 10% on beauty and spa products and get free shipping with coupon code BEAUTIFUL at checkout. Straight up, drugstore.com has great prices.

5. Shoppers Drug Mart

If you’re ever north o’ the border and running low on concealer, stop by a Shoppers Drug Mart. They’re Canada’s largest pharmacy chain with more than 1,000 stores operating under the names Shoppers Drug Mart in nine provinces and two territories, and Pharmaprix in Quebec. They carry a wide selection of drugstore and department store makeup brands like Benefit, Boots, Clinique, Smashbox, Lancome and more. Their website doesn’t fulfill orders, though, so this is more for future travel reference than anything else.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. SPOILER ALERT! So whadja think of The Hills last night? Can you believe Audrina dumped that sweet Aussie boy? Damn, I was so Team Corey.

Add Red to Your Lipstick Repertoire with these 10 Tips

October 27th, 2008 by Karen 32 Comments

Hi, ladies! Thanks for all your wonderful tips and tricks to wearing red lips. Here’s a list featuring a few of your secrets. 🙂

1. Set Down the Tube and Grab a Brush

My secret to wearing reds like Lancome’s Absolute Rouge is to apply them using a MAC 316 Covered Lip Brush ($19).

With the 316’s firm, pointed tip I can really get in where I need to get, precisely controlling my lines and delivering the right amount of pigment for my look — kinda like drawing with a sharpened pencil versus trying to draw with a stubby crayon. When applying directly from a tube of lipstick, I’ll often end up with uneven color or color breaking outside the lines of the natural shape of my lips. Not cute, ladies!

2. Use a Waxy Lip Liner

Use a very waxy lip liner to keep your color from bleeding; apply very heavily and blot. It helps the color sink in, and, when it begins to fade, your lips will still look pretty and stained.

3. Smooth That Pucker

Bright red looks great on super smooth lips, so consider using a lip exfoliator every other day.

4. Beet Juice, Baby!

Apply beet juice to your lips before you go to sleep. If your lips are darkened from smoking, it’ll correct the problem better than lipstick. It produces a semi-permanent stain that doesn’t rub off. Be careful not to overdo it, though. What you want is a stain very similar to your natural lip color.

5. Line with a Cream Concealer

After you’re done applying a red lipstick, take a cream concealer or foundation and a 266 brush and line just outside your lips; blend any harsh lines into your skin. It cleans up any crooked lip liner you may have, covers red smudges and really makes your lips POP!

6. Ease into Red

To ease your way into wearing red on your lips, don’t jump straight into something bold and bright. Start with cranberry colored lip gloss or a brown based red.

7. Cargo The Reverse Lip Liner

Try using Cargo The Reverse Lip Liner, a flesh colored liner used outside your lip line, and then apply a very thin layer of balm before applying red lipstick.

8. Tone It Down

If you’re unsure about red, consider toning down bright red shades with a darker red like MAC Kirsch Mattene.

9. MAC Russian Red!

Look for MAC Russian Red. It’s the perfect blue-based red for nearly all skin tones, and, instead of going for a full-on red pout, smear on some Chapstick and dab until you’ve got a pretty, stained effect. It lasts all day long and works well if you’re a little shy when it comes to wearing red.

10. Line with a Flesh Toned Pencil

Line and fill in your lips with a flesh toned pencil onto which you apply your red lipstick. The liner helps define and hold the color while helping to prevent blurring and fading around the edges of your lips as your lipstick fades over the course of the day.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Save Money on Makeup and Beauty in 30 Seconds or Less with ShopLocal.com

October 25th, 2008 by Karen 13 Comments

ShopLocal takes those ad circulars you get stuffed between the pages of your local newspaper, scans them into a computer and then makes them easy to search.

Track down sales and gifts with purchase deals at Macy’s, Nordstrom, Bath & Body Works, Ulta, Sephora and hundreds of other retailers, and find the closest store.

On the site, click “Change Location” or “Select a City,” and input your ZIP code or city and state. Back at the main screen, enter the name of a store and click “SEARCH.”

Once you’ve opened a circular on the screen, hover your mouse pointer over it for details of each deal and valid dates.

$Macy\'s Circular$

It’s not comprehensive, and I wasn’t always able to find circulars for every store I suspected of having one, but I was able to find some pretty kick ass deals at my local Macy’s, Walgreens and Target stores — and without staining my fingers with newspaper ink, blech!
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10 Fantastic Smokey Eye Tutorials

October 22nd, 2008 by Karen 45 Comments

One of my favorite things about makeup is that there’s always room to step up your game. I love to imagine all the tips and tricks that I’ve yet to learn.

I’m always looking to get better at doing smokey eyes. I’ve come across hundreds of smokey eye tutorials, and I think these 10 are some of the most helpful ones. I hope you find them useful, too!