Beauty Tips

10 Beauty Bargains Under $10

May 16th, 2008 by Karen 26 Comments

Victoria’s Secret Beauty is having a downright fantastic clearance sale on several high-end makeup brands, some as much as 75 percent off! My little black heart fluttered when I spotted all the products by Anna Sui.

The sale lasts until items run out of stock; when I checked a minute ago there were still lots of different product colors available.

Exercise your right to haul!

Anna Sui Eye Color, $5.99 (originally $12) – I’ve been a bit more adventurous with my powder eyeshadow colors lately. I might pick up a few bold shades.

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Very Sexy Makeup Long-Wear Eye Cream, $5.99 (originally $12) – I like layering cream eyeshadows beneath powder shadows to amplify color and add dimension. The shade I’ve really got my eye on is Stay Up, a turquoise blue.

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Vincent Longo La Dolce Vita Lash Tips, $5.99 (originally $14) – One of my goals this summer is to get better at applying false lashes. I love that these look glamorous without going over the top.

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The Balm Stainiac, $5.99 (originally $14) – This multitasking, water-based gel doubles as a light cheek and lip stain. Beauty Queen, a bright hot pink, has my name written all over it. 🙂

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The Gillette Venus Embrace Razor: Leg Hair Annihilator Extraordinaire!

April 14th, 2008 by Karen 59 Comments

If ignored for too long, my legs would look like Chewbacca’s (love ya, Chewy!) — soft, silky and covered with hair — so to keep my gams smooth and hairless I either wax them or shave with razors like the Gillette Venus Embrace, God’s gift to hairy women everywhere!

What makes the Gillette Venus Embrace special? Two words: five blades! It’s a leg hair annihilator extraordinaire.

In this age of excess, you’d think someone in marketing would have said, “Is five blades going too far?” Thankfully, Venus went ahead with their quintuple-bladed monster because there’s a noticeable difference between the performance of the Venus Embrace and its triple-bladed predecessor, the Venus Breeze. Embrace gives a closer shave than any blade razor I’ve ever used before, which means having to shave less often. I credit this razor for giving me more time for things like making crazy cartoons with unicorns.

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Bobbi Brown Lip Crayons: Practical Colors for Work

April 6th, 2008 by Karen 34 Comments

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Depending on your line of work, you may not be able to get away with bright colors like MAC Russian Red. The workaday world forces many of us to tone down our look from time to time. Maybe it’s the makeup gods toying with our emotions, but bold, bright colors like MAC Russian Red aren’t always appropriate at the office. So, what do we do when “The Man” forces us to skip the uber-shiny bright reds and glitter that we love so much?

Enter Bobbi Brown. If you need (or prefer) neutral, practical colors, take a look at the limited edition Lip Crayons ($22) from Bobbi Brown’s latest release, the Quick Face Collection. These chunky monkey, semi-matte lipstick pencils are glitter- and shine-free. They’ll do ya right.

Check out these three conservative, work-friendly shades:
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Accessible Luxury: Shu Uemura Knows Lashes Inside and Out

March 6th, 2008 by Karen 92 Comments

Genetics bestowed upon me wimpy, ho-hum lashes… and then made me so clumsy that I couldn’t apply false ones to save my life. Oh, the sweet eyelash irony!

Enter the Shu Uemura lash bar, aka false eyelash nirvana, where the lashes are affordable and the appointment booking process couldn’t be easier.

Whether you’re looking for a little lash extension, or you’re aching for crazy, over-the-top-lashes to overcompensate for many years of eyelash inadequacy (*ahem*), Shu’s got you covered.

Case in point:

Notice how fabulously non-wimpy these are. I done died and went to eyelash heaven, ladies!

Would you believe a trip to eyelash heaven is actually pretty darn affordable? From a Shu lash bar, all you do is purchase any pair of their false lashes, which run from $16 to about $50 a pair, and a Shu makeup artist will apply your new lashes (and answer any questions you might have about them) for free!

Gratis rules, but I know you work hard for your money, so to stretch those dolla-dolla-bills a wee bit further, here’s a great money saving tip I got from Jeccica, a Shu Uemura makeup artist and manager (and all around rad girl) at the San Francisco Fillmore store: buy a pair like False Eyelashes Luxe ($20) and ask the makeup artist to cut one of the lashes in half.

Ask the artist to apply each of the cut halves to your outer lashes only. It’s a simple way to get a sexy, yet natural-looking eyelash boost. Save that uncut lash for future use. Cut that bad boy in half and you’re good to go with a new pair. It’s like getting two sets of lashes for the price of one, yah?

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Science Agrees: Yes, You Need More Girl Time

February 24th, 2008 by Karen 22 Comments

Connecting with girlfriends for afternoon tea yesterday left me feeling great, probably the happiest and most relaxed I’ve felt in a long time. I’ve been busy with work lately, and it felt nice just spending time with a big bunch of girls. After tea, as I drove home across the Golden Gate Bridge, I thought about friendship and the power it has to make us feel better.

An outside view of the Ritz-Carlton hotel in San Francisco

This is one of those painfully obvious things, but research shows that socializing with friends may help you live longer. Maybe that’s why I love blogging so much. =)

A landmark UCLA study suggested that spending time with friends helped counteract the effects of stress on the body. Study after study confirms that having a social network reduces one’s risk of disease by lowering heart rate, cholesterol and blood pressure.

The UCLA study suggested that when the hormone oxytocin is released (the same hormone released during hugging, touching and orgasm) as part of the stress response in women, it has a different effect on women than it does on men; in women (but not in men), oxytocin is believed to have a calming effect. It’s also believed to trigger a desire to tend to others (like children) and to gather with other women. And, when a woman engages in “tending and befriending,” studies suggest that even more oxytocin gets released, further countering the effects of stress on the body.

I don’t know if it was the oxytocin talkin’, but I definitely felt less stressed after tea at the Ritz. Most of Ritz-Carlton’s hotels worldwide offer an afternoon tea service. Tony Roumph, Lounge Manager of the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, suggested directly checking with a hotel beforehand because at some properties tea service is by reservation only.

At the Ritz in Frisco, afternoon tea is served between 2:30-4:30 p.m. on Fridays and between 1-4:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. It was served in the hotel’s Lobby Lounge, an elegant room with city views, crystal chandeliers, fine china and live music (a harpist, yo!). Most hotels will choose one of their more elegant rooms for afternoon tea. Dress was sophisticated casual (aka not your scrubby jeans and Adidas Shell Toe sneakers). I wore a black knit dress with boots, and a few of the other girls wore dark jeans with cute sweaters.

My friends and I made reservations a few weeks ago, giving the hotel our menu selection at the time. We had six ladies in our party, but Tony says they can accommodate groups of up to 30 people. It’s also not uncommon at all for people to attend tea service by themselves, so if you’re not a fan of big groups or just want to fly solo, that’s cool too.

Planning an Event…

If you’re in charge of planning afternoon tea (or any other event) with the girls, spreadsheets and e-mail can help.

Start by hammering out the bigger details first, like the size of the group, schedule and budget, and work from there down to the smaller details, like (for afternoon tea) the menu.

If I’m in charge of planning something for a group, the first thing I’ll do is send out a mass e-mail to see who can attend. In it, I’ll ask members of the group to choose from a few dates. Not everyone takes e-mail seriously, so one thing that can help move things along are the words “Reply Requested” in the subject line. After each person provides their preferred dates, I note them on my trusty chart, circling the date on which the largest number of people can attend. Here’s an example chart I made in Microsoft Excel (hand-drawn charts work, too):

I love spreadsheets for planning. After pinpointing a date, I’ll use a similar process to pinpoint a time. Spreadsheets are also a handy way to track a large number of different menu (or drink) choices. LOL, can you tell I’m a freak for details?

Afternoon Tea…

Entrance to the Lobby Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco…

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After we took our seats, they brought out the champagne! We did some catching up while a harpist interpreted classic Beatles tunes.

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We chose what the SF Ritz-Carlton refers to as the Royal Tea Service, one of five tiers of service ranging from $36-$49 per person. After we finished our champagne cocktails, Neizel, our wonderful server, brought out two trays of food and explained the different types of sandwiches, pastries and sweets.

My favorites were the cucumber, roquefort and walnut on white bread and the egg and chive sandwiches, yum! I also really liked the scone, which I smothered in Devonshire cream.

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Neizel then poured the tea and kept it flowing throughout the party. We choose from among four different varieties: vanilla bean-black tea, chocolate, peppermint and darjeeling.

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After the sandwiches and pastries it was time for dessert, in this case fresh strawberries and vanilla cream.

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While afternoon tea was fun, I realize that it was the socializing part that really made the day.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Au Revoir Fashion Week: Thanks for the Super-Blended Eye

February 8th, 2008 by Karen 22 Comments

I love NY Fashion Week as much as the next girl, but it feels weird lusting after fall looks in the middle of winter. One look that has warmed my winter heart this year is a variation on a classic.

The NY runway makeup gods have decreed that we all must bask in the glory that is the smokey eye! The variation I’m referring to is called the “super-blended eye,” and, according to MAC VP of Makeup Artistry Gordon Espinet, we should expect to see a lot of it in all our favorite magazines come fall.

The super-blended eye at the Monique L’huillier Ready-To-Wear show this week

“There hasn’t been a lot of hard lines [on the runway] in terms of how eyes are done,” says Gordon. In a super-blended eye, colors and lines are blended to perfection.

It takes the right brushes to create this layered, seamless look. Gordon suggests MAC’s 219, 224, 252 and 242.

The trick is layering products with different textures. Gordon usually begins by rimming the eyes with a dark pencil, which he then covers with a layer of matte shadow.

On top of the matte, he adds a product with sheen, like one of MAC’s pigments. “From there you take a soft blending brush like a 242 and blend all the edges all out,” says Gordon. Play with blending and mixing different colors, like navy blue and purple, or maybe purple and brown.

Ultimately, what you’re striving for is a smooth transition from one color and texture into the next, like what you’d see in the iridescence of a peacock’s feathers or the coloring on the back of a scarab beetle.

Are you feeling this? Yea or nay? I think it’s pretty.

How has your week been? Are you ready for the weekend? I’m excited about getting my roots done this afternoon. They’ve been tow up for way too long.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Bay Area Beauty Tip: Free Clarins Facials at Nordstrom

February 5th, 2008 by Karen 13 Comments

For folks living in or visiting the San Francisco Bay Area, did you know that Clarins, a French skin care line, offers complementary facials at Nordstrom stores?

Since the 50s, French brand Clarins was one of the first lines to forgo using animal ingredients in their products. Their entire line is now 100 percent plant-derived.

I’m new to the line, so the free 40-minute facial held at the Nordstrom Spa in the San Francisco Centre was a great (and relaxing) way to learn about their products.

Yes, girl, the San Francisco Nordstrom has a spa with the usual spa treatment menu of facials, massages and body treatments costing upwards of $80, depending on the service.

But because Clarins’ complimentary facials are held in their spa rooms, they’re kinda like experiencing the spa without having to pay the big bucks. Here’s where my facial took place:

Um, the treatment bed wasn’t messy when I walked in. I actually laid down on it for a short nap before taking this picture (hey, I exercised early and was tired!). The room was a little noisy due to store traffic outside the door, which was only partially drowned out by tunes from the Top 40 radio station piped through overhead speakers. If you’re used to going to spas where they play soft, soothing sounds of chirping crickets or, God forbid, Enya, then you may not like this. But let me remind you again — this facial is gratis.

Despite the background noise, the facial and overall experience was great. Sharon Trajico, a specially trained Clarins facialist, first asked me a ton of questions about my skin and my skin care routine. Based on my answers, she selected a few choice Clarins products to cleanse, treat and protect my skin. I liked that the products weren’t heavily scented; most smelled very light, clean and plant-esque.

Over the course of the treatment Sharon carefully described the products she was using along with each product’s intended use. Clarins facialists apply product with their hands, warming each between their palms first before application, and then lightly massaging and pressing the product into the face and neck. It’s a combo massage-beauty treatment — incredibly relaxing.

Like specialists at European-style day spas, Shannon cleansed and toned my skin, applied a face mask, then finished with a series of anti-aging and skin protection serums and lotions. They skipped the facial steaming (which typically happens before or after the mask) and black head extraction (hate those, ouch!), which was fine with me.

At the end of the facial my skin felt smooth, looked brighter and the red splotches I’d had at the start of the treatment were gone. I loved the scents and textures of Clarins’ face products and can’t wait to try more of the line, which includes body care and makeup.

Clarins complimentary Nordstrom facials are offered once a month. Call your nearby Nordstrom and ask to speak with someone at the Clarins counter. They’ll provide you with dates and schedule a time for you to come in!

San Francisco readers can call…

Nordstrom at San Francisco Centre (near Union Square): (415) 243-8500
Nordstrom at Stonestown Galleria: (415) 753-1344

And if you’re in Marin…

Nordstrom at The Village at Corte Madera: (415) 927-1690

For numbers to other Bay Area Nordstrom stores, perform a search here.

Take note — not all Nordstrom stores have spa rooms like the ones in S.F. do At some of store counters, your facials will be done on the sales floor, but they’ll shield you behind a screen to grant you some privacy.

By the way, in the beauty world, “free” and “complimentary” services are often code for “you should purchase at least one product before you head out,” but I’m sure you won’t be disappointed by the Clarins line. Later today I plan to swing by my local Nordstrom to grab a few of the goodies Sharon introduced me to!

I hope your day has been going well so far! Whatcha up to on this lovely Tuesday?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Specktra for Beginners: What It Is, and How It Can Help You Be Beautiful

January 20th, 2008 by Karen 61 Comments

Women (and men) are flocking to Specktra’s makeup and beauty forum, but for makeup newbies, sifting through the sheer volume of information on the site can be overwhelming.

Specktra is one of my favorite beauty resources. Its members are generally nice, and on the site you’ll find lots of useful makeup application and product information, much of which appears on Specktra before it appears anywhere else. Founded in June 2003, it’s now one of the most active beauty communities online, receiving about 9,000 vistors a day, many of them very knowledgeable about cosmetics. The amount of MAC information and the number of excellent MAC tutorials on Specktra really sets it apart, but the site contains a wealth of information on other cosmetics lines as well. Each time you visit Specktra, you’ll learn something new, like breaking news about upcoming color collections or a new way to use a product in your favorite makeup line. And like the beauty forums over at Makeupalley.com, Craigslist and Sugar, Specktra is much more than a simple user forum.

So, if you’re new to Specktra, where do you start? I recently sat down with Janice, Specktra’s founder, and got a few great tips that Specktra makeup newbies can use to get the most out of the site.

Tutorials

How to get there – From the homepage, click on Forum, then scroll down to Cosmetics Tutorials, and click to enter the board called Makeup Tutorials.

What it is – Janice suggests that makeup newcomers begin their journey with a visit to the Makeup Tutorials section, where Specktra members post step-by-step photo, video (cool!) and text tutorials detailing how to achieve different makeup looks and styles. “That’s where you’re going to start seeing what people are doing,” says Janice. “You’re going to see products that interest you, and from there you can kind of track down your individual interests on the forum by using the search function or by exploring other areas of the site.”

I love the Tutorials board because I can find out how other women apply their own makeup and which products and techniques work best for them. I also appreciate the perspectives of the different members who post in the Tutorials board. Each has a unique style. You’ll find a wide range of looks — colorful, neutral, smokey eyes — everything! Even if I know I’ll never try a bright magenta eyeshadow with rhinestones and glitter accents, I can still learn something new just by viewing the process someone else took with the look from start to finish. Get ready to be inspired.

Member FOTD’s (faces of the day)

How to get there – From the homepage, click on Forum. Scroll down to the Sharing Your Obsession section, and then Member FOTD’s.

What it is – For starters, to access the Member FOTD’s, you’ll have to create a free Specktra member account (all you need is an email address). Registration means that unkind or non-constructive criticism isn’t tolerated, so the atmosphere is supportive. “The face of the day forum is another active and extremely popular feature on the site,” says Janice, “and is another good place for people to start.” In the Member FOTD’s section, members ask for feedback on finished makeup looks. Or, if you just want to floss a fierce look you did that day, you can do that too!

I’ve found that if you really want to step up your makeup game, taking pictures of yourself really helps. Seeing your work in photos gives you a different perspective than seeing your reflection in the bathroom mirror. It wasn’t until I started taking pictures of finished makeup looks that I caught bad habits that I’d never noticed before (I have a tendency to line my lower lip unevenly) and correct them.

Recommendations

How to get there – Scroll down to Cosmetic Topics and then down to Recommendations.

What it is – If you’re new to Specktra, one of the best places to make the jump from forum lurker to active participant is the Recommendations board, where you can ask others for product recommendations or makeup ideas. Be as detailed as possible when you ask for feedback. Describe the products you’re using, how you’re using them, your hair color (if you’re asking for hair help), skin type — provide as much information as possible.

The Recommendation board’s top members really know their stuff, and who doesn’t love sharing great product tips and helping others at the same time? Who knows – your holy grail red lippie could become another member’s new favorite lip color.

What if you’re too shy to post?

In real life I’m not shy at all (seriously, I’ll talk to anybody, ’tis both a blessing and a curse), but some close knit forums can be cliquish and intimidating.

If you’re too shy to start your own thread or to participate, one gentle way to get your feet wet is by saying “Hi” in the Welcome forum, located at the top of the Forum section. You can introduce yourself and get a nice, warm welcome from some of the members.

If even that’s too much for you to handle (hey, I totally understand), try interacting in the board by saying “thanks” to members who post something you like. There’s a Thank You button in the lower right-hand corner of every post. Sure, it’s a little thing, but it shows that you’re trying to put yourself out there. “Dont be afraid to send a message to a staff member,” says Janice. “Just ask, ‘How do I do this?’ We’re very friendly and we’re there to help.”

Last, but not least, pay attention to the information in the navigation bar at the top of the page.

There’s a wealth of MAC background information at the top of the main page, like links to the history of MAC Cosmetics, foundation help, a complete list of MAC’s various pigments, and much, much more. Don’t miss the fantastic Specktra blog, either, an excellent source of makeup and beauty news, product reviews and articles.

If you’re serious about makeup, or just looking for feedback or suggestions, Specktra should be in your resource rotation, and when you hit the site, say hi to Janice (tell her you’re a friend of mine!) and give me a shout — my handle is “surfdiva.” The members are cool, and the atmosphere is open-minded and welcoming.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen