Daily Beauty

The Tarte Park Ave Princess Contour Palette: Tiara, Prince Charming, Ball Gown, Glass Carriage and Ponies Not Included

January 2nd, 2015 by Karen 17 Comments

I feel that if the Park Ave Princess Contour Palette by Tarte ($34) came with a tiara, it would be that much more legit, because what’s a princess without a tiara?! A frickin’ travesty, that’s what it is.

Even though I like this palette, which comes with three powder products — a bronzer, blush and highlighter — I think it would be even more awesome if it came in a few different versions, like one for light skin tones, another for medium skin tones, and a third one for darker skin tones.

This would be the one for lighter lasses. The bronzer has a matte finish, which is what I usually use for doing deep cheek contouring, but this one doesn’t do squat for me as a contour color. It’s just not quite dark enough for an effective chisel. As a true contour color, it would prolly work better for pale princesses.

For medium mavens and darker divas, I do think it’s OK for a subtle overall bronzing effect, though.

Tarte Park Ave Princess Contour Palette Swatches — From the left: Bronzer, Blush and Highlighter

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Marsala Madness Strikes Sephora! Have You Seen the Sephora + Pantone Universe Makeup Collection?

December 31st, 2014 by Karen 29 Comments

Flashback! Marsala sooooo reminds me of the deep, dark reddish browns of the ’90s, like MAC Paramount. Take me back, homie…

I do like the shimmery twists and sheens Sephora incorporated to modernize marsala in their Sephora + Pantone Universe makeup collection, because back in the day, the shade probably would have been reserved for flat mattes, which were nearly impossible to blend.

From the left: Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio, Pure Marsala Matte Lip Creme, Bold Marsala Mascara & Brow Highlighter and Marsala Metalshine Liquid Liner

The Sephora + Pantone Universe Makeup Collection

A limited edition eight-piece release

Available now at Sephora stores and sephora.com

I’m really liking the $28 Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio. Very easy to blend.

The $18 Pure Marsala Matte Lip Creme is smooth and creamy and super pretty. Very ’90s, too.

The Marsala Metalshine Liquid Liner, also $18, is quite shimmery and pigmented.

While also pigmented, $20 Bold Marsala Mascara & Brow Highlighter is totally NOT wearable at all.

Overall, I can get behind the cheek trio, the lipstick and the liner…but the mascara and brow highlighter just make my brows and lashes look hella red. But not runway red in a fashion-forward way. More like red as in demon spawn. Think hard before going there… I’m just sayin’.

P.S. I’m on the way out the door to go to that restaurant/nightclub with the Prince cover band in San Rafael. If I don’t see you again tonight, please have a safe and happy New Year’s. See you in 2015! 🙂

On Shelves Now: Beauty Books That Caught My Eye

December 27th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

I’m always on the market for new beauty books. I have a few of them at home now (’cause reading is fundamental!). These are currently on my radar screen as new contenders…

Eye Candy: 55 Easy Makeup Looks for Glam Lids and Luscious Lashes, by Linda Mason ($14.95)

Sometimes I get stuck in eye makeup ruts, and this book’s loaded with inspiration. There’s 55 eye looks. DUDE! That’s a lot.

Makeup Makeovers Beauty Bible: Expert Secrets for Stunning Transformations, by Robert Jones ($19.99)

This one is packed with lots of good, in-depth beauty information. Check out the section with makeup for different eye shapes.

Love, Lashes, and Lipstick: My Secrets for a Gorgeous, Happy Life, by Mally Roncal ($25)

Mally’s bubbly personality really comes across in the writing in this book, and I dig the cute illustrations.

Hello Kitty Nail Art, by Masako Kojima ($17.95)

Granted, I probably don’t have the skill to pull off most of these nail looks, but I want to! Because it’s Hello Kitty!

Beauty: The New Basics, by Rona Berg ($19.95)

I really like that the models in this book look like normal women of all ages and ethnicities.

Everything Eyes: Professional Techniques, Essential Tools, Gorgeous Makeup Looks, by Bobbi Brown ($14.95)

A whole chapter devoted to makeup for girls with glasses. Yes.

Do you have any beauty books at home? Which are your favorites (mine’s Makeup Makeovers in 5, 10, 15, and 20 Minutes: Expert Secrets for Stunning Transformations, by Robert Jones)?

The Mia Beauty Jumbo Braidie: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

December 26th, 2014 by Karen 32 Comments

I know you’re probably all snuggly in your Christmas PJs right meow, but peel yourself off the couch for a second, and grab yo’ phone so you can tell Siri to remind you to swing by the drugstore to grab one of these Jumbo Braidies by Mia Beauty.

Seriously, if there’s one thing I learned over the holidays this year, it’s that this synthetic hair headband is the gift that keeps on giving. It has saved me so much time! I haven’t really wanted to deal with my hair lately because it’s been rainy and stormy outside and, well, let’s face it, I’m a freakin’ procrastinator. 🙂 I did all my Christmas-related schtuff at the last minute and hardly had any time to mess with the hair, man!

I love this doohickey because it helps me look 10,000% less frazzled and scruffy. I just throw my hair up into a high messy ponytail/bun hybrid, slip this elastic headband on, and then I’m d-to-the-o-to-the-n-to-the-e. DONE. And in less than a minute, BAM.

I feel like it’s also helping me toward my ultimate goal of channeling Holly Golightly’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s fashion sense. 🙂

And, big plus, when I’m on day three of third-day hair, putting my hair up and using a Bradie helps me skip one more day of hair washing.

I know, sounds gross, but my stylist/buddy Alis told me that one of the secrets to getting the most out of expensive salon color is to NOT wash your hair everyday, so I like to shampoo every few days instead of daily.

Anywho, the Mia Beauty Braidies are available in five shades — Dark Brown (which is the shade I’m wearing here), Medium Brown, Light Brown, Blonde and Black — which leads me to wonder… Where’s the red head love?!

Each Braidie is $9 and available now online and at drugstores.

Shoe Haul: The Sam Edelman Johanna Over-the-Knee Suede Boot

December 17th, 2014 by Karen 36 Comments

These boots were made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do.

Seriously! These boots were REALLY made for walking. The heel is an entirely manageable 1 1/2″, which is perfectly acceptable should you need to run away from zombies (never know).

At least that’s what I told myself when I got them as a Christmas present. To Me, From Me. Merry Christmas! 🙂

They’re the Johanna Over-the-Knee Suede Boot by Sam Edelman, normally $299.95, but they’re on sale now for $149.98 (50% off) at Nordstrom stores and online.

The Current Makeup Storage Situation…

December 16th, 2014 by Karen 39 Comments

I’m hoping that these pics of my main office closet someday serve as the “before” photos in a “before and after” makeup storage situation with a happy ending.

The clear bins all stacked up here are from The Container Store and purchased piecemeal over the past few years.

At least the bins are all stacked up now because they used to be literally strewn about, which was not the best use of space.

I finally consolidated them in the closet a couple weekends ago, but they’re still not totally organized.

They used to be though, sort of, when they were strewn about, before I stacked them in the closet. The improv Post-It labels used to correspond to the products in the drawers, but I got progressively more sloppy and moved some stuff around, so now I have to redo everything.

Thankfully, Post-Its are removable! (I like these Post-it Super Sticky Removable Label Pads.)

Now I just have to reorganize what’s in the drawers, and I’ll be set. The current system is sorted by brand first, then type of product, but that may change.

I’m thinking about sorting by color or formula, but I don’t know if that’ll work better. I haven’t figured it out yet…

For “That Glow,” Try Topshop Glow Dust in Radiate

December 11th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

Why does all the good stuff disappear?

Twinkies (although I think they’re back).

Josh Hartnett.

Almost Human.

Lauryn Hill.

And now this? I can’t seem to find MAC Golden Bronze Iridescent Powder/Loose anywhere, and it’s scaring me because I think it’s one of those MAC products that deserves a cult following.

I hope it hasn’t been discontinued…

I first heard about it from a MAC Pro Artist friend of mine, the fabulous Keri B, who said she loved using it for bridal makeup. She even called it an unsung makeup hero.

So I bought a jar that afternoon, LOL!

I guess I’m easy that way…

Anyway, like I was saying, I’m afraid that Golden Bronze has been discontinued. 🙁

As a sliver lining, I think I may have found a respectable dupe by Topshop called Glow Dust in Radiate ($18). Similarly fine golden shimmer and warm peachy bronze.

When I wear it in pics, I get an unusually high number of “that glow” comments, which I squirrel away in my makeup memory banks. (For “that glow,” use Glow Dust in Radiate, Karen.)

I just dust some on the tops of my cheekbones with a tapered eyeshadow brush.

A little goes a long way.

You can find Glow Dust in Radiate now at Topshop stores and online.

STORM UPDATE (NOVATO, CA)

Our little oak tree-covered hill here has seen inches and inches of rain over the past 24 hours, but Casa de Tabs in Novato is hangin’ tough! We still have power (for now) and haven’t slid down the hill (knock on wood).

Tabs has been on fuego all day long, though, meowing and mewling and basically harassing me to take him outside, as if he wouldn’t just want to run back inside as soon as he got his paws wet.

The rain always fires him up… Maybe it takes him back to his days as a footloose and fancy-free stray cat on the mean streets of Mill Valley.

Wherever you are this evening, I hope you’re warm and safe.

The Eylure Volume Starter Kit With No. 101 False Lashes

December 8th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

Eylure No 101 false lashes — Eylure London Starter Kit with No. 101 false lashes ($5.99, or $4.99 on sale now at Ulta)

THESE LASHES HAVE A BLACK BAND!

Yes, that was all caps necessary.

I’ve often wondered why false lashes don’t always come with a dark brown or black band, like these Eylure Volume No. 101s.

Most of the time they have bands that are white, which for me means usually having to paint them with liner, either before or after applying, because I don’t want the white to peek through on my fringe.

I mean, it wouldn’t be an impossible feat of engineering or anything. Right? To make a black lash band? I’m guessing we have the technology…

Not that it’s the end of the world to have to darken them myself, but it is an extra step I’ll happily omit.

I like this particular style, the Eylure No. 101s, because the lashes are juuust long enough to be noticeable…but still aren’t super long. They’re also lightweight and a good width for me, so I don’t have to trim them down.

The lashes are staggered in length along the band, too, with the longest ones in the middle, which I think makes my eyes look larger, more rounded and open.

This kit here, the Volume Starker Kit, includes two small bottles of glue, a plastic lash applicator (which I don’t really use, since the lashes are really easy to apply without it) and an extra practice lash (because practice makes perfect!).

It usually sells for $5.99, but it’s on sale now at Ulta for $4.99 (they’re also reusable a few times if you’re gentle with them).

A fab Netflix find

I saw a lovely documentary on Netflix last weekend that I think you’ll like called Advanced Style.

It’s an offshoot of the Advanced Style blog, which has awesome pics and stories about fashionable New Yorkers in their 50s and 60s and beyond.

I just thought it was so sweet and inspiring. I love seeing stylish, creative women embracing life with a bear hug, ya know, and just doing the damn thing! 🙂

Highly recommended for when you’re in the mood for something sweet and fashionably fun on Netflix.