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Blush: The Search for The Next Great Makeup Artist

November 3rd, 2008 by Karen 22 Comments

Fire up yo’ DVR, makeup addicts! On Tuesday, November 11 a new show called Blush: The Search for the Next Great Makeup Artist premiers on Lifetime.

In the show, nine makeup artists will cohabitate (read: drama) and compete for a $100,000 cash prize, a contract to work with Max Factor and the opportunity to do makeup for an In Style photo shoot.

So who is show host Vanessa Marcil?
Vanessa starred from 1998-1999 as Gina on Beverly Hills 90210 and won a daytime Emmy Award in 2003 for her role as Brenda Barrett on the soap opera General Hospital.

It’s safe to assume we’ll see typical reality TV show hijinks/tears/sh*t talking in the show, but what I’m *really* hoping for are scenes showing the artists working their brush techniques.

Do you suppose I’m hoping for too much?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

OMG! Bed, Bath & Beyond Goes Major Makeup

November 1st, 2008 by Karen 45 Comments

So, I dragged El Hub out with me on this rainy Saturday to our local Bed Bath & Beyond store. We needed a new slipcover for the couch because Tabs has been shedding all over the place, eek!

We were just about ready to leave the store when I turned a corner and there, before my starstruck eyes, was a sight of such profound beauty that I almost dropped the shower caddy and slipcover I was cradling in my arms. What I saw was the biggest makeup and beauty department I’ve seen outside a MAC or Sephora in quite some time.

I couldn’t remember ever seeing cosmetics in a Bed, Bath & Beyond before, so I stopped the store manager to ask. He said the company has been rolling them out in some of their bigger stores nationwide.

You have GOT to check your nearest store ’cause the selection blew me away — huge brands like L’Oreal, Maybelline, Revlon and Cover Girl. There were also random smaller brands which I’d never seen before, like these Ooh La La ($0.99 each) and Stripe Rite nail polishes ($2.99).

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Thank You

November 1st, 2008 by Karen 20 Comments

Ladies, I’ll dish about the Halloween pet parade and dinner in a few, but for now I wanted to thank you for your generosity and support last month. As you know, October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and bloggers, businesses, groups and individuals worldwide set to work trying to raise funds and to increase awareness of the disease.

Here, our goal was to raise $100 (admittedly a meager amount) for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and I pledged to match your donations. Well, you exceeded the goal, and we wound up pulling together $114, or $228 after the matching funds.

I’m so thankful and proud right now because you guys didn’t take any hard selling or arm twisting to give — you just gave. I know that there are so many worthy causes out there, and none of us can ever contribute to every one, every year, but we pulled together as a community, and, frankly, it means more to me than you’ll ever know.

See, on the 29th of last month, just a few days ago, our family learned that El Hub’s Mom in Hawaii has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Her name is Didi, and, as you can imagine, she’s a little scared and nervous about what lies ahead.

So many things cross your mind when something like this happens. If you’ve ever gotten difficult news before, you know what I mean — the rush of thoughts and emotions, things said, the amazing ironies and apparent coincidences that just seem too bizarre to believe (it was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, for crying out loud!)… but I think that’s just the way life goes. As people, one thing we all have in common is that sooner or later each of us will face trying times, and all we can do when it happens is to do our best.

Anyway, this is why I’ve been going through a bit of a rough patch lately, and again why I appreciate how supportive and kind you all have been, even though you didn’t know what was going on.

Thank you, girls.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Oct. 26

October 26th, 2008 by Karen 40 Comments

Reunited, and It Feels So Good

Your girl’s *one* happy camper right now. Guess who showed his purty face after four full days on the lam. Maybe it’s hard out there for a pimp, eating lizards and fighting off the neighborhood cat thugs. He must have wanted a home cooked meal (aka Fancy Feast: Tuna in Gravy).

Look at that face… He’s a lover, not a fighter.

Life Is Short

Earlier this afternoon El Hub and I went to an outdoor memorial service for a family friend who died unexpectedly last week. He was only 42, a big, muscular guy almost 300 pounds who was larger than life and always had a smile on his face.

He suffered a bad asthma attack last Monday and wound up going to the emergency room. Then, suddenly, what had been a minor staph infection spiraled out of control. He passed away on Wednesday from the infection, just two days after being admitted to the hospital. It’s hard to believe how fleeting life is.

I didn’t know him well, but I was very touched by the speeches his friends and family gave at the memorial. I’ll never forget how the afternoon light filtered through the trees onto his widow’s face…

My heart was heavy when I got home. I was halfway up the stairs to the front door when I heard a meow and looked down to see Tabs crawling out from under a parked car.

That smokey-eyed beast has some hella good timing. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Save Money on Makeup and Beauty in 30 Seconds or Less with ShopLocal.com

October 25th, 2008 by Karen 13 Comments

ShopLocal takes those ad circulars you get stuffed between the pages of your local newspaper, scans them into a computer and then makes them easy to search.

Track down sales and gifts with purchase deals at Macy’s, Nordstrom, Bath & Body Works, Ulta, Sephora and hundreds of other retailers, and find the closest store.

On the site, click “Change Location” or “Select a City,” and input your ZIP code or city and state. Back at the main screen, enter the name of a store and click “SEARCH.”

Once you’ve opened a circular on the screen, hover your mouse pointer over it for details of each deal and valid dates.

$Macy\'s Circular$

It’s not comprehensive, and I wasn’t always able to find circulars for every store I suspected of having one, but I was able to find some pretty kick ass deals at my local Macy’s, Walgreens and Target stores — and without staining my fingers with newspaper ink, blech!
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Free $60 Clinique Trina Turk Gift with Purchase at Nordstrom Stores Nov. 5-22

October 24th, 2008 by Karen 13 Comments

All hands on deck! An interesting gift with purchase deal just popped up on makeup radar, ladies. If your sights are set on $25 or more in Clinique products, consider standing down till November 5, when you can take advantage of Nordstrom’s Trina Turk for Clinique (a $60 value) gift with purchase!

The Deets

The deal runs from November 5-22 at Nordstrom stores nationwide and online. To qualify for the gift with purchase, all you have to do is purchase $25 or more in Clinique products.

Clinique’s First GWP Designer Collaboration

This is Clinique’s first foray into a designer collaboration GWP. Trina Turk, known for her sophisticated a designer clothing prints, hand picked all the items in the eight-piece set, and her clothes inspires the included silver and white tiger print cosmetics bag.

Love the Bag!

When it comes to GWP sets, there are usually at least a couple items I end up giving away (girrrrrl, like those ubiquitous GWP tubes of Clinique Raspberry Glace lipstick!), but not here, not this time. You’ll want to keep the goodies that come with this set. 🙂

I’m a raging accessories freak, and this bag looks like a big step up from the thin, nondescript bags normally packaged with GWPs. But bag or no bag, I think it’s the makeup that makes this set something to look forward to.

What You Get

Zero Gravity Repairwear Lift (love it!)
Rinse-off Foaming Cleanser
Compact containing Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Beach Plum (a shimmer gold and shimmery violet) and Soft-Pressed Powder Blush in New Clover (a matte plum)
Lash Doubling Mascara in Black
Long Last Glosswear SPF in Bamboo Pink (read the full review)
Long Last Lipstick in Beach Coral (shimmery pink coral)
Mirrored silver lipstick case

From left to right: Bamboo Pink, Beach Coral, shimmery shade from the Beach Plum eye duo, shimmery violet shade from the Beach Plum eye duo, New Clover blush, Lash Doubling mascara in black

A Look for All Seasons

The gold, plum and coral shades included with the set have a summer and beach-inspired feel to them. Yep, they’re a little out of step with most dark fall and winter shades, but I think that’s part of their charm. They’re pretty and wearable and spark all kinds of new ideas.

Fans: Your Best Friend

LOL! I realize that the hair blown effect in these pics crosses the line into cheese-tacular blogger photography territory, but I’m sorry… I couldn’t help myself!

I’m convinced that the windblown fan effect compensates for at least a few hours of sleep and has anti-aging properties because I laughed so hard taking these pics that I feel 10 years younger. If I could, I’d tote a fan around with me 24-7. I totally would! You hear that, Mariah Carey? You ain’t the only one with a fan now, girl!
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Saturday Steals

October 18th, 2008 by Karen 33 Comments

I took my near-sighted self out to Costco today for some new contact lenses and scanned the beauty aisles for deals.

What do you think of Lancome Bi-Facil eye makeup remover, on sale for $19.99 (that’s 25% off the regular retail price of $26)? This stuff removes even the most stubborn eye makeup and has been a favorite of mine for years.

Costco also had Guerlain Le 2 De Guerlain Mascara in black for $19.99. The boxy, clear plastic packaging Costco uses isn’t flattering for cosmetics, but with this same mascara selling for $35 at Sephora (45% more), I’m going to cut Costco some slack.

And how about this cute three piece body care gift set by J.R. Watkins? In old-fashioned packaging, the set comes in two fragrances — mango and lemon cream — and includes a hand and body lotion, shea butter body cream and a hand and cuticle salve.

I thought this was so cool: each box has a scratch and sniff sticker! Cute, yah?

After Costco, I dragged poor El Hub to Sephora and parked him on a bench in front of the store while I got my makeup swerve on. 🙂

What do you think of the Too Faced The Quickie Chronicles Mini Collection ($59.10)? It features eight mini-palettes with coordinating eyeshadows and cheek and lip shades. These are just too cute!

My favorites were Temptress and Cupcake…

I wanted to leave Sephora empty handed because the contact lenses from Costco had already put a big dent in my wallet, but I couldn’t resist this Cat Eyes Liner in Black Onyx ($16; a shimmery deep black with subtle blue flecks) by Pop Beauty and a bottle of Sephora by OPI nail polish in Metro Chic ($9; a plum-gray creme).

One of the counter girls at Sephora showed me how to use the liner. I’m gonna try a tutorial with it in the next couple days. That should be fun.

How was your Saturday? Do you know of any good makeup/beauty sales out there right now?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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Cute Hats 40-80% off at Gap

October 10th, 2008 by Karen 15 Comments

At the mall this afternoon I wandered into the Gap. Not surprisingly, there were signs posted all over the place announcing various sales. Doesn’t it seem like there are always sales at the Gap?

I did find a couple great deals, though. This plaid belted bucket hat, originally $16, was marked down to a mere three dolla dolla bills, ya’ll!

Or how ’bout this tan conductor’s hat? — on sale for $9 (originally $16).

Look at that chocolate brown and pink polka dot liner. Mmmm…

The $3 bucket hat came home with me… 🙂

I checked the Gap website when I got home and noticed a bunch of heavily marked down women’s clothes and accessories here and here. The hats are there, too, but the prices vary. The conductor hat that I saw in-store for $9 is only $4 online.

Hope your weekend gets off to a good start. No big plans for me. Tonight, I’m just chilling at home with El Hub and Tabs, getting ready to watch a little TV. Stargate Atlantis, anyone?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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