Hair

Film critic Roger Ebert described her performance in 2003’s Monster like this: It was “one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema,” and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences agreed, awarding Charlize Theron (born August 7, 1975) with that year’s award for Best Actress.

After a difficult childhood, she entered acting via the modeling route, first moving on a one-year contract to Milan, Italy at age 16 from her family’s farm near Johannesburg, South Africa. From there it was to New York, where she also studied ballet, and then to Los Angeles on a one-way ticket.

I guess the one-way part was a good idea. 🙂

As for her look? Classic, timeless, feminine — and all around gorgeous.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

If you’ve ever seen the 1998 direct-to-video classic smash hit Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror, you may have shouted at the TV, “Great Caesar’s ghost! That’s Eva Mendes!”

Born in Miami, Florida to Cuban parents on March 5, 1974, Eva was raised in Los Angeles by her mother after her parents divorced. One day, around the time she was in college unhappily studying marketing, she caught the eye of an agent who convinced her to pursue a career in acting.

From there it was on to music videos like Will Smith’s Miami, the Pet Shop Boys’ That’s the Way Life Is and Aerosmith’s Hole in My Soul, until her big-screen big break in 2001’s Training Day, with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, which led to appearances in Hitch, We Own the Night and The Spirit. source

As for her look, I love what she does with her hair. She isn’t afraid to add volume, and she doesn’t shy away from sexy styles.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

---

The giveaway is now closed to new entries, and the winners are being contacted. 🙂 Good luck!

---

Rise and shine, morning glories! 🙂 Actually, I hope you’re still cozy in bed. No one should have to be up at 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday.

I only got up because Tabs was meowing at the front door. That cat has so little respect for my beauty sleep…

Speaking of beauty, I forgot to tell you about my hair yesterday (good hair day)! After my run I washed and conditioned it with Aveeno Nourish+ Revitalize Shampoo and Conditioner.

The stuff is da bomb!

I’ve been using the line off and on for a few months. Over that time this particular duo of shampoo/conditioner has become my favorite drugstore hair care dynamo.

It being the weekend and all, why don’t we start today with a giveaway?

The prize

One lucky lady will win five products from Aveeno’s Nourish+ hair care line (a $35 value), including:

• Nourish+ Revitalize Shampoo
• Nourish+ Revitalize Conditioner
• Nourish+ Moisturize Shampoo
• Nourish+ Moisturize Conditioner
• Nourish+ Condition Leave-In Treatment

How to enter…

Entering is easy. There are two different ways, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

First, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post — a comment about anything at all. Tell me what you had for breakfast this morning or dinner last night; what you’re doing for Labor Day; the name of your favorite song or the identity of your latest crush. 🙂

I’m looking forward to a party tonight. My BFF is throwing a True Blood Lobsterfest at her apartment in the city — a combination DVD-watching marathon/seafood dinner.

Second, enter by following me on Twitter and retweeting (RT) the following message:

RT @karenmbb: RT to Win $35 in Aveeno Nourish+ Hair Stuff http://bit.ly/YyG9G

Recap…

1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
2. Follow me on Twitter and retweet the following message:

   RT @karenmbb: RT to Win $35 in Aveeno Nourish+ Hair Stuff http://bit.ly/YyG9G

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, September 6.

Zhù nǐ hǎoyùn!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

---

The giveaway is now closed to new entries, and the winners are being contacted. 🙂 Good luck!

---

It was in a noisy crowd on a bustling Cairo street more than 20 years ago that 18-year-old Catherine Élise “Cate” Blanchett (born May 14, 1969) discovered her calling. She was on vacation in Egypt at the time and accepted an invitation from someone to star as an extra in a movie. source

The experience must have made quite an impression on young Cate. After returning to her native Australia, she relocated to Sydney, enrolled in the National Institute of Dramatic Art, and the rest, as they say, is Hollywood history. 🙂

She’s one of my all-time favorite actresses (LOVED her in The Gift and both Elizabeth movies)… Those Aussie girls sure can rock an American accent, and Cate sure does rock her beautiful blonde hair.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Girl’s a hairstyle chameleon, dontcha think? Today’s hair poll is Part 2 featuring Alicia. The first time around, back in March, this previous No. 4 was your favorite (straight, black and long with a center part), but she changes her style so often that I think she’s totes worthy of a Best Hair sequel.

I love how adventurous she is with her hair color, braids and length. This songstress wears it all, and wears it all well.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Mention the word diva, and most people think of Mimi, Madge or Beautiful B…

But when I think divas, there’s only one: Miss Piggy (also known as Piggy, born October 13, 1974).

The heels, the jewels, the opera-length gloves in the middle of the day (!) — homegirl takes her glam SERIOUSLY.

The divalicious Muppet dropped by New York last week to visit with fashion mogul Marc Jacobs at his SoHo studio. Piggy will be wearing one of Marc’s latest designs to NY Fashion Week next month.

When it comes to her hair, Miss Piggy loves the curls, but she has been known to work a red carpet in flat-ironed locks.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

If it weren’t for that fateful audition in 1994, Hollywood may have only known Jennifer Joanna Aniston (born February 11, 1969) as the girl who starred in Leprechaun and the short-lived Ferris Bueller TV show.

But Friends changed everything for Jen, who played Rachel from 1994 until the show ended in 2004. It garnered her an Emmy, a Golden Globe and numerous People’s Choice Awards. It also established her as one of America’s favorite actresses.

Now Jen favors a lot of longer looks (compared to the shorter hairstyles she wore a lot in Friends), but she’ll still switch things up by moving her part or adding curls.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen