Just For Fun

What’s One Makeup Technique You Struggle With (or Have Struggled With) That Seems To Be Easy for Everyone Else?

December 4th, 2013 by Karen 51 Comments

Here it is: it took me forever to figure out how to put eyeshadow in my crease.

I know! — but I think it’s because of my eye shape. My crease isn’t very deep, so I had to experiment a lot with different brushes and the placement of products to come up with something that didn’t always look weird.

On that note, I must say, the new MAC Oval 3 Masterclass Brush has totally changed everything for me when it comes to crease color.

Ever since that trip to the MAC Pro Store last week, I’ve been rockin’ it daily. The brush is nothing short of AH-MAY-ZING! Really. The oval shape perfectly fits in my crease area and places shadow precisely where it needs to be.

It also hits the product Goldilocks zone by placing just the right amount of product on my skin. I used to spend forever and a day building up color in the crease, but now with the Oval 3 it takes me about half that time (so, half of forever?).

The brush has truly changed my crease color life! If you haven’t tried it yet, give it a go next time you stop by a MAC store.

A’ight, for today’s question, what’s one makeup technique you struggle with (or have struggled with) that seems to be easy for everyone else? Please share in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Have you been watching The Voice this season? Did you happen to notice Tessanne Chin’s eye makeup last night? Wasn’t that glittery gold smokey eye so pretty!?

What’s Your Best Advice for Someone Headed to a Makeup Counter for the First Time?

December 3rd, 2013 by Karen 25 Comments

The NARS Boutique on Fillmore Street in San Francisco

Bring a buddy. That’s my first advice. Someone who knows a little bit about beauty, because if you’re completely new to makeup, a makeup counter with hundreds or thousands of colors and products crammed into a small space can be downright intimidating, and a buddy can offer moral support and valuable input (like helping you decide between similar products or encouraging you to stick to your budget).

You can make a day of it and go out to lunch or coffee before or after. 🙂

I’d also suggest…

1. Knowing your beauty goals

What would you like to achieve? Is there an eye look you’d like to learn or a concern you have (dry/oily skin, hyper-pigmentation, under-eye circles, how to contour)?

Having something specific in mind, even if it’s just one thing, will help the makeup artists/sales associates help you.

2. Bring pics

Smartphones have really helped with this. Bringing pics of looks you like will really, really help. A picture’s worth a thousand words.

3. Gauge your skill level

You might want to let the artist know where you’re coming from in terms of your skill level. Even though it’s your first visit (or, one of your first) to a makeup counter, do you ever wear makeup at home? What do you wear? Are you comfortable with blending? Do you ever wear cat eyes or smokey looks?

Knowing what you can already do, and what you’re comfortable with, will help the person assisting you.

4. You can always go back later

Even though the temptation’s there (this, I know), you do not have to buy every single product. 🙂 Or any of them at all. It’s just one counter! There are plenty of other counters to try.

Lastly, if you have a good rapport with someone helping you, you can always go back to them and learn even more later.

What about you? What’s the best advice you could give to someone headed to a makeup counter for the first time?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 300

December 2nd, 2013 by Karen 69 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for December 2, 2013

You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”

Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past six years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

Plaid shirts: yea or nay?
YAY! What’s not to love? They’re warm, you can get away with not ironing them, and they look cute with hoop earrings. I came of age in the ’90s, also known as “The Era When Plaid Shirts Ruled!” But unlike with overalls, I’m glad to see plaid make a comeback.
What’s one thing you hate sharing?
Honestly…dessert. It drives me nuts when I go to a restaurant and someone assumes that I’ll split dessert with them. I’m like, hello! — I purposefully ate a lighter main meal so that I could splurge on dessert, and now I’m not gonna share you. Get your own damned pie! 🙂
What do you try hard to avoid?
Conflict. I don’t like fighting with people, or when people around me are fighting.

Can you draw?
You might think that with my single semester of rigorous eighth-grade art training, I’d be able to draw like da Vinci, but no, not really. I can draw little things, like simple sketches of flowers and cartoony shapes, but nothing too complicated.

Would you ever date someone 10 years younger?
I don’t know. Let me check with my husband, LOL! 🙂

But seriously, yes, if they 1) were mature beyond their years and 2) loved cats. Tabs and I are a package deal.

If you could invent a beauty product that would make your life easier, what would it be?
A shampoo and conditioner that would allow my hair to air dry into perfectly curled loose waves.

What were you like as a child?
Weird-looking and very, very shy. And obsessed with Hello Kitty.

When was the last time you braided your hair?
Yesterday. When in doubt…side braid that sh*t!

What are your favorite colors to wear on your eyes?
Golds, golden browns, purples and greens.

What book are you reading at the moment?
I’m re-reading Angelfall, by Susan Ee, because the sequel just came out, and I wanted the last book to be fresh in my mind before diving into the new one. Do you ever do that?

Now it’s your turn. Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em! 🙂

1. Plaid shirts: yea or nay?
2. What’s one thing you hate sharing?
3. What do you try hard to avoid?
4. Can you draw?
5. Would you ever date someone 10 years younger?
6. If you could invent a beauty product that would make your life easier, what would it be?
7. What were you like as a child?
8. When was the last time you braided your hair?
9. What are your favorite colors to wear on your eyes?
10. What book are you reading at the moment?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. The Walking Dead mid-season finale!? WTH!? Why…? All I have to say is I’m glad I was wearing waterproof mascara.

P.P.S. I just realized that this is the three hundredth installment of the Monday Poll (vol. 300).

Wow, that’s a lot of questions. I wonder how many times I’ve repeated myself. 🙂 See, that’s the beauty of memory — forgetting when you’ve forgotten things, haha!

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 272

December 1st, 2013 by Karen 12 Comments

My friends:

I’m feeling disheveled at the moment. The humans were gone all afternoon, so no one was here to pet me on command or feed me treats. Then, suddenly, when the humans returned, they walked through the door dragging a 6-foot-tall plant — one that I did not request for the home office.

My assistant yelled out, “Look, Tabs, it’s your Christmas tree!” and made a huge ruckus as she forced the greenery through the door. “Better not knock it over this year.”

That, of course, set the wheels in motion for a plan to knock that mother trucker down.

With the tree mounted in its stand now, I’ve sampled some water from the base, and I do have to say, my assistant chose well this year. It’s a good vintage — sweet, but not overly sugary. Good sap. Bravo.

Within the next day or so, I expect several presents to be left for me where they customarily go beneath the foliage.

I have requested a number of luxury cat goods from Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Givenchy this year. Perhaps Christmas will come early, and I will be able to model my new outfits for you in a lavish holiday spread. Keep your paws crossed. 🙂

Meanwhile, please enjoy my latest crop of kitty modeling pics.

Much love, always,

Tabs

Who is Tabs the Cat? About six years ago I befriended a stray, flea-bitten tabby cat with a bad case of worms. I could see he’d fallen on hard times, but his profound knowledge of high fashion and department store cosmetics led me to believe that he was more than meets the eye. We became fast friends, and now he’s actually my boss (and a successful kitty model). 🙂

[Continue reading…]

7 Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card From Sephora! (Ends Monday)

November 30th, 2013 by Karen 424 Comments

Brr! It’s getting chilly, babe. Last night was freezing! — which makes sense, I guess, as much as I don’t like it. It’s already December…

Every winter reminds me again of how much I’m a warm weather gal. If I had my way, San Francisco would be located firmly in the tropics, and I’d be wearing shorts and flip-flops today instead of wool socks and a sweater.

Oh, well…

I know, I know, we Californians are weather wusses. I won’t deny it. It’s true. 🙂

In other news…I have no other news, haha! Nothing exciting to report. I’ve just been taking it a little easier since Thanksgiving. I watched a ton of TV yesterday (re-watched The Godfather for the bajillionth time) and actually, for the first time in what seems like ages, took a real life nap on the couch. ‘Twas glorious!

Today, I want to hit the treadmill, clean the bathroom, eat something yummy for lunch and maybe, hopefully, get a Christmas tree with El Hub.

That would be nice… We usually don’t get ours for another couple weeks, but I want to get into the holiday spirit earlier this year.

Have a wonderful weekend, whatever you’re doing, and good luck in this weekend’s giveaway. Talk to you soon.

One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Open to U.S. and international readers.
You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
- What did you do for Thanksgiving?
- Did you do any Black Friday shopping?
- Do you ever use product recycling programs like Back to MAC?
- What’s your favorite holiday/Christmas movie?
- Do you find it easier to do makeup on someone else than it is to do it on yourself?
- Best three makeup brushes you own?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, December 2, 2013 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Wishing You a Very Happy Thanksgiving

November 28th, 2013 by Karen 62 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving, my friend! 🙂 I just wanted to say a quick hello and wish you a wonderful day. I hope it’s filled with food and love, and of course, eyebrows so fierce that others temporarily forget that there’s pie and ice cream to be eaten (mmm… pecan).

Truth be told, today totally snuck up on me this year (whoops!), so we’re keeping it low key. Just gonna chill at home, hang out (Walking Dead marathon, anyone?!), and enjoy some Thanksgiving noms courtesy of Whole Foods (yes, the lazy last-minute reveler’s approach).

Of the many things I’m thankful for, the deli counter at Whole Foods is definitely one of ’em…

I don’t say this nearly enough, but thank you for your friendship. Sometimes it’s downright impossible to make a connection with people these days, but I feel like I have one with you, and even across a keyboard like this, that’s important to honor.

Thank you also for your kindness, which you’ve always given so freely and without any strings attached. I’ve had some ups and downs over the years (who hasn’t?), and you’ve always been there with something nice to say in a supportive comment or tweet. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to completely turn around someone’s day, week or year — a little reminder that we’re not alone, even when our only company is a cat. We’re all in this crazy adventure together.

Thank you for also teaching me that I have room to grow — always — both in makeup and in life.

Thank you for sharing another year with me. This is our seventh (!) Thanksgiving together — can you believe it?! Some of us graduating from college now were freshmen in high school back then, and Tabs was just a kitten, instead of the 20-pound terror/kitty modeling superstar he is now.

WOW! That’s pretty amazing…

Thank you again. Have a wonderful rest of your day and a happy, happy Thanksgiving.

With lots of love, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Gobble, gobble!

Do You Ever Turn to Hair or Makeup to Cheer Yourself Up When You’re Feeling Stressed Out or Down?

November 27th, 2013 by Karen 29 Comments

Things that make you go hmm... — Things that make you go hmm…

Do I ever turn to hair or makeup to cheer myself up when I’m feeling stressed or down?

Uh…definitely (BIG surprise). Mostly makeup.

Never underestimate the positivity-spreading power of a good under-eye concealer or a bright, bold lipstick. They’re pretty much guaranteed to boost my mood — maybe not all the way to “happy” from “sad” or “so angry that I could stab someone right now,” but sometimes any improvement is better than none.

And when I’m feeling really down, I like to go ~~stress~~ window shopping, and my favorite haunts are Sephora, the beauty counters at Nordstrom and the makeup aisles at Target or Rite Aid and CVS.

It just helps to get lost among beautiful things. Sometimes you just need a distraction, ya know? Anything to unwind and chill-the-eff-out, LOL! An hour spent leisurely strolling through any beauty department, and I almost always feel better.

What about you? Do you ever turn to hair or makeup to cheer yourself up when you’re feeling stressed out or down? What’s your favorite beauty haunt (Sephora, Ulta, Macy’s, Target, someplace online)? Or is it a ritual of some kind, like doing your nails?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 299

November 25th, 2013 by Karen 49 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for November 25, 2013

You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”

Do you wear mascara on your bottom lashes?
I usually do, both for pics and real life, ’cause I think it opens up my eyes a little, and you know I’m always down for anything that helps me look like I’m more awake.
Watching figure skating on TV: yes or no?
Big ol’ YES! Not that I really know what’s going on or follow it religiously, but it’s one of my favorite things to watch during the Olympics.

What’s your favorite kind of pie?
I can seriously eat half an entire pecan pie in a single sitting, and depending on the size of the pie…maybe the whole thing.

I am so not joking either.

Is there someone in your life who’s always encouraged you to chase after your dreams?
My sweet, loving husband. 🙂 He’s always been supportive of my writing dreams. I never would have sent out those first freelance writing query letters or started Makeup and Beauty Blog if not for his encouragement.

Besides laughter, what’s the best medicine?
Any of the following: a mani/pedi, a tub of Three Twins ice cream, sleep, stretchy pants…

Have you ever dedicated a song on the radio to someone?
LOL, no! Although I used to think that was the coolest thing back in the day, especially if you were on the receiving end of a song dedication.

Back when I was a teen, I listened to this radio show called Love Lines every night on the local hip-hop station (KMEL) in the hopes that Evan Luck (Bay Area folks, remember him?!) would say, “This Bobbi Brown slow jam is for Karen in Union City…” HAHA!

Where do you feel the safest?
At night in my bed with El Hub and Tabs beside to me.

Who makes the best drugstore nail polish?
Oh, there are so many great ones, but I have a soft spot for Sally Hansen. Her Insta-Dri polishes have saved my butt so many times!

What shoes are you wearing today?
A pair of comfy caramel brown low-heeled Frye boots I got last year on sale at Nordies. They totally keep my feet warm.

Hello, would you like whipped cream with your hot cocoa?
Yes, please!

Now it’s your turn. Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em! 🙂

1. Do you wear mascara on your bottom lashes?
2. Watching figure skating on TV: yes or no?
3. What’s your favorite kind of pie?
4. Is there someone in your life who’s always encouraged you to chase after your dreams?
5. Besides laughter, what’s the best medicine?
6. Have you ever dedicated a song on the radio to someone?
7. Where do you feel the safest?
8. Who makes the best drugstore nail polish?
9. What shoes are you wearing today?
10. Hello, would you like whipped cream with your hot cocoa?

Catching Fuego!

So…I watched Catching Fire twice this weekend and, uh, I’m a little ashamed. 🙂

And you know what? If someone were to ask me to go see it with them tonight, I would probably go again.

Oh, my gosh! I liked it so much… But yes, I see a lot of movies and love young adult books, so there’s that.

Yesterday at brunch (Ever been to Marvin’s in Novato? We like to go on Sunday mornings. I love their blueberry pancakes with powdered sugar on top, yum!) El Hub and I spent the entire time talking about the movie, which we watched the night before.

Anyway, we were sitting there getting our breakfast on and talking about the movie (no spoilers, I promise), when I started thinking how much I’d like to see it again (which I don’t do very often; last time was the first Hunger Games movie), and then out of nowhere El Hub says we should!

Life lesson here: if you can, marry a man who’ll take you to Sunday brunch and then invite you to watch Catching Fire for the second time in two days.

This morning I’m heading to the MAC Pro Store in the city to get a close look at the new brushes and some usage tips, which I’ll definitely be sharing with you, of course.

You enjoy your day, ‘k? Blueberry pancakes for everyone!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen