Daily Photo

With CC Cream SPF 35, When It Comes to Healthy-Looking Skin, Bobbi Brown Says You Can Have It All

March 13th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

OoooOOOOooh!

Bobbi Brown’s new CC Creams with SPF 35 ($44 per tube) are supposed to perform a number of beauty feats, from color correcting to protecting your skin from sun damage to evening out your skin tone over time.

That last claim is the most interesting one to me…

“A dream cream for healthy-looking skin — this concentrated yet lightweight formula color corrects, illuminates and protects for brighter, more even-toned skin (instantly and over time).”

— bobbibrown.com

I haven’t had a chance to try it yet because when I spotted it at a counter last weekend I was already wearing a full face of makeup (#makeupaddictproblems), but I did swatch them on the back of my hand.

First observation: they seemed pretty sheer and felt like MAC’s CC Colour Correct cream products.

I’m guessing they’ll be good for someone who wants to wear a color-correcting base/illuminator beneath foundation, or someone with great skin who doesn’t really wear a lot of face products and just wants a little boost.

You can find it now at Bobbi Brown counters and bobbibrowncosmetics.com, available in three different shades.

Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2014, and a Heads-Up About Possible Changes to Their Lipstick Line

March 12th, 2014 by Karen 19 Comments

I was a picture-taking madwoman at Saks in the city last Friday afternoon. I must have taken 200 pics, including these of Dolce & Gabbana’s new spring collection…

Lots of golds, browns, peaches and pinks — nothing too crazy here — but I like the color choices.

Alex (hi Alex!), the makeup artist I spoke to there, said that almost everything in the collection is re-promoted from the permanent line. The only new pieces are the two lipsticks.

Also, secret squirrel FYI, but Alex mentioned that about half of the line’s lipsticks are going to be discontinued soon (sad face!). He didn’t say exactly which ones or when, but he said that several of the bolder colors will be replaced by nudes. I know that’s kind of vague, but just something to keep in mind if there are any shades you can’t live without. (Update as of March 13: I just heard from Dolce & Gabbana, and they won’t be discontinuing shades. They plan to add 20 shades with a revamped formula to the existing Classic Cream Lipstick line. Expect to see reds, pinks, nudes, oranges, purples and corals.)

The spring collection is available now at Dolce & Gabbana counters and online at saksfifthavenue.com.

Dolce & Gabbana spring 2014 swatches — Swatches on my NC42 skin…

Spring Is Almost Here!

March 10th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

Spring is right around the corner, babe! Out here in Northern California we’re in that in-between stage, where it’s not exactly warm, but not exactly cold, either.

It’s winter-ish, or spring light. I can go outside in jeans, a sweater and flip-flops for a while, but once the sun goes down, the temperature drops.

Still, I can smell spring in the air…and it’s doing a lot for my soul! Everything smells fresh and clean and different — new and green, like the everything is waking up after a long sleep.

We got a lot of much-needed rain over the past week (hence the pics of raindrops in the cobwebs), but not today.

Last weekend I pulled on my (still favorite) Zella hoodie, grabbed my camera and went outside for a quick walk, and it was beyond nice not having to bundle up under 15 layers.

I’m also starting to hear baby birds chirping. 🙂

Yay! Spring is almost here!

A Sunny Day in San Francisco

March 7th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

TGIF from Union Square in San Francisco! I’m here on a top secret beauty mission involving newness and MAC (details to follow)… Conveniently, the weather has been cooperating, which is NOT always the case for SF.

It’s sunny!! — so I’ve been walking around, snapping pics and people-watching (one of the world’s truly greatest pastimes).

I really liked the view from the center of the square and this outdoor art show…

Hope things are going well with you. Whatcha up to?

Bolts of Blue Lightning and Gigawatts of Green Amp Up the Urban Decay Electric Pressed Pigment Palette

March 6th, 2014 by Karen 23 Comments

Urban Decay Electric Pressed Pigment Palette

When I got back home from my hella traumatic dental appointment this afternoon, I needed to recharge my batteries, so I plugged into the new Urban Decay Electric Pressed Pigment Palette…

Get it? Plugged in? Electric?

Sorry. 🙂

Review coming soon, but here are the first couple pics…

Now That’s a Hawt Pink

March 4th, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Why, yes, that was me taking 200 pictures of raindrops on flower petals in that flower planter at the mall. I do that kind of thing all the time. 🙂

I could spend (and probably have spent) hours snapping pics of wet flowers on sidewalks, like after a rain or they get watered by sprinklers.

It’s the reflections in the droplets… I love them.

Mother Nature always seems to place the little droplets perfectly on the petals. She’s the most talented artist I know.

Seduce Me, Marc…

March 3rd, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

Marc Jacobs Lovemarc Lip Gels in Role Play (left) and Seduce Me (right)

“Um…dude,” I said, “I think that’s Marc Jacobs!”

Have you seen Disconnect, starring Alexander Skarsgård, Jason Bateman and Paula Patton? And Marc Jacobs?

Yeah, Marc Jacobs.

El Hub and I rented it last weekend, and I was kind of surprised to see Marc in it (he plays a scary, unsavory character).

These cuties here are from his makeup line. That’s Lovemarc Lip Gels in Role Play (left) and Seduce Me (right), both available now at Sephora stores and sephora.com for $30 each.

L’Oreal Purple Priority Infallible 24HR Eye Shadow

February 28th, 2014 by Karen 20 Comments

L'Oreal Purple Priority Infallible 24HR Eye Shadow

L'Oreal Purple Priority — L’Oreal Purple Priority Infallible 24HR Eye Shadow, $8

I plan to make this purple a priority this weekend. 🙂

While stunning on its own, I bet this hybrid cream/powder eyeshadow, with its metallic finish, would look that much more amaze-balls under one of Urban Decay’s shimmery purples like Gravity, Flash or Asphyxia.

Can’t. Wait. To play!

Purple Priority, one of six shades in L’Oreal’s Butterfly collection, is available now at drugstores, Ulta stores and ulta.com.