Having conquered the fashion world, Tabs set his sights on makeup and beauty. He’s coming out strong this summer with a new batch of big collaborations. Here are a few of his recent projects. 🙂
Click here to view the gallery…
Just For Fun
What’s Your Biggest Mascara Gripe?
I’ll tell you what bothers me: mascaras that won’t hold a curl. That, and ones that smudge. Grrr…
I know it’s a crowd pleaser, but Maybelline Great Lash smudges on me like crazy, unlike my current favorite, Urban Decay Skyscraper Multi-Benefit Mascara, $22.
How to apply mascara
- Start by curling your lashes with your trusty eyelash curler. NOTE: If you curl your lashes after you’ve already applied your mascara, you run the risk of ripping some of them out! I’m guilty of having done it before… but it’s a big no-no that probably isn’t worth the risk.
- With your mascara wand in hand, remove any excess product from the wand by brushing it lightly against a clean tissue.
- Now, apply your first one or two coats.
- For better definition and more length, use a lash comb, getting in there *before your mascara dries*.
- For super-deluxe-crazy-dramatic length, apply one or two additional coats of mascara, but only to the tips of your lashes. Then, reach for your eyelash comb again, and run it through once more.
- Clean up any mess with Q-Tips or a tissue. 🙂
Loading ...Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. For more fun with lashes, check out 11 Luscious Lash Tips.
What’s Your Favorite Bronzer?
Right now mine’s a toss up between two — Stila’s new 24 kt Loose Mineral Bronzer in Brushed Gold ($34) and Illamasqua’s Bronzing Duo in Glint & Burnish ($30).
Stila 24 kt Loose Mineral Bronzer in Brushed Gold
Each adds a subtle golden glow to my skin without looking too shimmery, and neither one has those Oompa Loompa orange undertones that some bronzers tend to have.
Illamasqua Bronzing Duo in Glint and Burnish
How about you? What’s your current fave bronzer?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Bloggerati Spotlight
- What to do with long bangs — Pursebuzz
- MAC’s beloved Volcanic Ash Exfoliator returns! — Spoiled Pretty
- The food, nightlife and hotels of Barbados and Grand Cayman Islands — The Jet Set Girls
- City girls, detoxify your face with Fresh’s Umbrian Clay Face Mask — These Lips Are Made For Glossin’
- An everyday cat eyes makeup look as easy as can be — Talking Makeup
- Use Kerstin Florian Spa Face Aromatherapy Neroli Water to soothe skin after waxing — Product Girl
- I’m in lurve with Prescriptives’ Summer 2009 Exhilarating Lip Glosses in Mango, Pink Grapefruit and Guava — Makeup Bag
Happy Friday, girls! I hope your day got off to a good start. Mine is going well so far, but I think I spent a little too much time browsing the web this morning…
I’m sure you know how that goes. 🙂
Do you have any plans for the Fourth of July weekend? We may catch a movie or take a quick trip up to wine country. That’s always fun.
Let me know what you’re up to today. Tabs says hi.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
MAC Euristocrats 2: What Would You Get?
Ladies, what do you think about the new MAC Euristocrats 2 collection?
It’s a 17-piece summer melange of lipsticks ($14), Dazzleglasses ($18) and Lip Pencils ($13 each) in shades of peach, pink, brown and violet.
My question for you is…
WHAT WOULD YOU GET?
Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Examine the following pictures and swatches, and choose the 5 items you’d *most* like to take home with you.
Share your virtual haul in the comments. 🙂
St. Germain, London Life
Costa Chic, Naked Paris
Cockney, Patisserie, Milan Mode
Date Night, Euro Beat, Internationalist
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The Foot Pee Pack: Are You Down?
There’s nothing like plastic bags filled with pee to soften your tow’ up tootsies.
Yup, courtesy of the Japanese beauty market, The Foot Pee! Pack comes with two plastic baggies filled with a sketchy-looking substance that may or may not be urine. Pop your dogs into the bags, et voila! — smooth and silky feet.
Normally, I’m totally down for new foot care products, but in this case I dunno… 🙂
Loading ...Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
What Was Your Last Beauty Violation?
I wish I could say I was one of those ladies totally put together all of the time, but I’m not. Sometimes life gets in the way, and beauty rituals fall by the wayside. Hair doesn’t get washed, nails don’t get did… you get the (stinky) picture. 🙂
My last beauty violation?
In the shower a few days ago I forgot to shave my left leg — just the left — and that sucker was HAIRY.
I hadn’t realized until I’d already dried off and lotioned up, so I let it be.
Running late (as usual!), I decided to just wear the outfit I’d already set out — a blue top and plaid shorts. LOL! Later, in the cereal aisle at Safeway, a little girl kept staring at my hairy leg, like it was something alien!
Children notice the darnedest things…
What was your last beauty violation?
Did you curl your lashes AFTER applying mascara? Are you rockin’ a porn star ‘stash because you’re too lazy to wax? Get your beauty violations off your chest, and confess your sins in the comments. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
How Do You Soothe Chapped Lips?
At a family barbecue a couple weeks ago I ate an obscene amount of mango (apparently too much mango). They’re one of my fave fruits, but they can also irritate my lips.
That’s because Mango contains a substance called urushiol (mostly in the tree’s sap, but there’s also a very small amount in the skin of the fruit), the same toxin found in poison ivy and poison oak!
Also see: source
For days after the BBQ my lips felt dry and peeled like mad. It was awful!
Coincidentally, reader Cari e-mailed asking for tips to soothe her peeling lips…
Hi Karen,
I enjoy reading your very informative blog everyday but I have a major, out of control problem that you haven’t covered!
I have big, beautiful plump lips but they peel EVERY DAY. Big ol’ gobs of cells that collect in the corners of my mouth. Ew.
I’ve tried Vaseline, Chapstick, coconut oil, every gloss imaginable but nothing seems to stop the sheds. You wanna know the most awful thing about it? They tend to peel a couple of hours after I’ve applied the prettiest lipgloss I own. FRUSTRATING!
So, I figure I need a lip exfoliator but I’m LOST (with Jack and Kate) when it comes to this. I’ve seen your gloss posts and you work your lips on the regular so you’ve gotta know something I don’t. Or maybe you’re just lucky. Either way, can you help a sista out? I’ll be sure to xoxo once I get this peeling thing under control!
Heya, Cari. Here are some things I do when my lips are chapped or dry:
Drink lots of water
I drink *hella* water. Not only does it help keep my skin clear, but it’s good for the “constitution” (LOL!) and even helps keep my lips from drying out. When I’m not drinking enough water, my lips will peel like cray-zaaaay!
I like to keep a water bottle next to me while I work and sip from it throughout the day.
Try a hydrating lip gloss
Not all gloss formulas are hydrating, and some are more moisturizing than others. A few of my favorite hydrating ones include Chanel Aqualumiere Glossimer ($27), Smashbox Limitless Long Wear ($21), MAC Lipgelle ($14) and Estee Lauder Tender Lip Balm ($14).
Try lip conditioner or lip butter
Lip conditioners and lip butters have a thinner formula than glosses but deliver rich hydration along with subtle color and shine. Two I always reach for are MAC Lip Conditioner in Gentle Coral ($15) and Korres Lip Butter in Plum ($9).
Slather up with one of these lip balms
Before applying lipstick or gloss, I’ll prep my lips with a layer of a hydrating balm about 10-15 minutes beforehand. Then, before bed, I’ll reach for a balm again.
Some lip balms tend to make matters worse, but here are two that have worked well for me: Philosophy Kiss Me in Clear ($12) and Clinique Superbalm Lip Treatment ($12).
Exfoliate
Only when my lips are irritated or chapped, I’ll gently exfoliate once about every other day.
Tarte sells one I like called fRxtion ($11). It exfoliates and conditions at the same time. Plus, it comes in a travel-friendly lipstick tube that you can just pop in your purse.
My favorite things about it are how yummy it smells and tastes — like brown sugar. I have been tempted to nibble, ha! Don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to chomp on it, too. 🙂
Sometimes I’ll also exfoliate at night before bed, mixing olive oil, a teaspoon of honey, two teaspoons of white granulated sugar and a dash of lemon juice. I’ll apply the concoction with a finger or a toothbrush and *gently* rub on my lips.
Tenderonis, I know you’ve got a few beauty tricks up your sleeves. How do you soothe chapped lips, and what products do you use to keep your pucker looking and feeling soft?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen