Product Reviews

Just for Fun: Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Hell-to-the-Yah! list – Tuesday, October 9, 2007

October 9th, 2007 by Karen 21 Comments

Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Hell-to-the-Yah! list: Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Hell-to-the-Yah! #1: Midget Mac on I Love NY 2
midget-mac
I don’t care if your television taste is more PBS than trash TV, you won’t be able to resist the couch paralysis that happens when the weirdness that is I LOVE NY 2 unfolds on Vh1.

So far, out of all the weird dudes in the bunch, right now I’m on TEAM MIDGET MAC!

(…although somebody needs to tell him to get rid of those horizontal-striped oversized shirts because they do nothing to lengthen his torso.)

And does any body else think it’s odd that when Midget Mac does his solo interviews you can only see from his nose upward? C’mon, camera man/woman! I know it ain’t that hard to lower the lens!

Hell-to-the-Yah! #2: Chanel for Dummies! Multi-Use Makeup Palette and the Winter Nights Quad
chanel-multi-use-makeup-palette
BEHOLD! Bow down to the awesomeness that is the Chanel palette.

With a combo of best-selling and exclusive colors, this palette is sure to feed my inner lazy makeup beast but will still leave me looking polished. Four eyeshadows, four lip colors and one blush equals one happy (and broke, it’s $85, OUCH!) Karen.

BUT WAIT…there’s more! The lovely reader Glosslizard sent me this pic of the Winter Nights Quad. You know better than to feed the fire, girl!
chanel-winter-nights-quad

Hell-to-the-Yeah! #3: Boot Shopping on Zappos.com
gabriella-rocha-gina-boot
It’s allegedly going to rain today in the Bay Area, which is my lame excuse for spending time in Candy Land, aka, the boot section on Zappos.com.

Where the hell am I going to wear these Gabriella Rocha boots? But I want â€˜em, sigh!

Hell-to-the-Yah! #4: Nordstrom Online Beauty Gift
nordstrom-online-beauty-gift
F*ck faxing or filing! If you’re sitting there festering away in your cube you might as well be doing something productive. Right now on the Nordstrom Web site there’s a beauty special offer — spend $95 (and you know that isn’t hard to do) and get the following “free” (HA!) samples and a gold and zebra clutch:

Bare EscentualsÂ® Prime Time Foundation Primer (packette)
Bliss Thinny Thin Chinâ„¢ (packette)
Bvlgari Omnia Amethyste Body Lotion
Clarins Super Restorative Serum
Clinique High Definition Lashes Mascara
Fekkai Glossing Cream (packette)
Japonesque Snowflake Lashes
KineraseÂ® Intensive Eye Cream
Korres Guava Body Butter
L., a L.A.M.B. Fragrance by Gwen Stefani
LancÃ´me DÃ©finicils Mascara
Laura Mercier CrÃ¨me BrÃ»lÃ©e CrÃ¨me Body Wash
L’Occitane Verbena Shower Gel
MD SkincareÂ® Alpha BetaÂ® Daily Face Peel (packette)
N.V. Perricone, M.D. Face Finishing Moisturizer with DMAEâ€¨Origins Ginger Souffleâ„¢ Whipped Body Cream
Oscar Blandi Olio di Jasmine Hair Serum
philosophy inner grace shower gel
Smashbox Lipgloss
Vera Wang Parfum
â€¨
Hell-to-the-Yeah! #5: Kanye West’s new CD, Graduation Day
kanye-west-stronger-art
Either you love him or hate him, you can’t deny that the man can make some beats. My new theme song is on Kanye’s latest CD Graduation, and it’s called Stronger. They hook reads like the story of my life as of late:

“Work it harder make it better,
do it faster makes us stronger,
more than ever, hour after
hour work is never over”

Work it harder today on this lovely Tuesday, ya’ll. I know you can do it!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. What’s on your Hell-to-the-Yah list?!?!

Product Reviews, Fragrance, Skincare – Covet by Sarah Jessica Parker, Darphin Paris Azahar Cleansing Micellar Water; Face of the Day – Nix’ie Cosmetics Eye Shadow Palette

October 8th, 2007 by Karen 14 Comments

Yay or Nay? – Celeb Perfums

covet-sarah-jessica-parker-eau-de-parfum
The thought of most celeb perfumes makes me want to throw up in my mouth a little. I mean, let’s get real. If my net worth was a jillion dollars I wouldn’t be buying a $14.00 fragrance with my name on it if was kept in a locked glass cabinet at Walgreens.

Plus, I think it’s a touch presumptuous to think that the masses would want to go around smelling like you. If we really got a true whiff of Britney, chances are she wouldn’t emit the scent of “Loquat Fruit and Tonka Crystals.”

So when I got this wee bottle of Sarah Jessica Parker’s “Covet” I was more than prepared to haterade all over it, but a mix of curiosity and masochism drove me to place a few drops on my wrist. I waited and waited and waited for the eau de self-centered celebrity to kick in … but then was pleasantly surprised to find that I liked how it smelled. In fact, it actually smells pretty good — like lemons, your boyfriend’s sweater and baby powder brewed together in a cauldron for a really long time.

I am happy to declare that I don’t hate this! What’s your take on celeb perfumes? Got any guilty pleasures?

Product Review – Darphin Azahar Cleansing Micellar Water

darphin-cleansing-water
I’ve been on a makeup remover kick lately. I’m looking to feed my inner beast of laziness, so my mission is to find a product that that:

– removes long-wearing eye makeup easily
– doesn’t require an extra rinse of water
– smells good
– doesn’t dry out my skin

When I found Darphin, a French skin care line, I thought that I found pay dirt with their makeup remover for sensitive skin. Azahar Cleansing Micellar Water is a no-rinse formula that I apply with a soft cotton ball or pad, and it removes almost all of my makeup and doesn’t require an extra rinse of water. It doesn’t leave my face feeling taught or dry, and has a wonderful light, floral smell that is divine.

The downside? It’s pricey – $50.00 for a 6.7 fl oz bottle (I know, I know!) Also, while this removes most makeup it won’t remove long-wear products, like MAC Liquidlast liner.

It’s a wonderful, luxurious splurge though. Christmas is around the corner, so it might be a nice stocking stuffer for the makeup junkie in your life who has everything.

Face of the Day – A Light Purple Eye with the Nixie Eye Palette

A few weeks ago I posted pics of a beautiful shadow palette from Nix’ie Cosmetics. Here’s a FOTD I did with two of the shadows from that palette:
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On the eyes I used these two colors from the palette.
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And for the rest —
Makeup Forever Lift Concealer as shadow primer on lids
MAC Concrete and 266 brush for brows
MAC Plush Lash Mascara in Plushblack
MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer

Cheeks —
MAC Mocha Blush
MAC Emote Blush

Lips —
MAC Pink Treat Cremestick Liner
MAC Brew Lipstick
MAC Style It Up Lipglass

Face —
Laura Mercier Oil-free foundation
MAC Invisible Set Powder

This colors in this palette have varying levels of color payoff. It was especially evident when I tried it with different shadow bases. I tried MAC Paint, MAC Paint pot and liquid concealer. The concealer grabbed the shadows best and gave the most color payoff and ease of blendability.

I like the colors in this palette for either a sheer wash of color or as a pop of color to line the upper and lower lash line. I’ve been reaching for it often, especially on my 10-minute makeup days.

How was your weekend? I barely spent time inside the house because it was so beautiful outside. It pains me to know that rainy and gloomy weather is right around the corner.

El hub and I went into the city on Saturday night for the opening night of Litquake, a yearly literary festival held in San Francisco. The evening was a tribute to San Francisco author Armistead Maupin, author of Tales of the City and The Night Listener. Several of his closest friends, including actress Laura Linney and Judd and Pam (ha!) from the Real World San Francisco, were there to read from his works and tell stories about him.

Anyway, enjoy your Monday! Another week – and another chance to make a new start, right?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Product Reviews, Makeup – Chanel Garden Party Quad and Makeover with National Artist John Fussell

October 6th, 2007 by Karen 28 Comments

chanel-garden-party-quad-closeup-four-colors-2
Damn ye, makeup gods.

Why did you have to make me fall in love with the Chanel Garden Party quad?

I mean, despite the fact that it’s got:
– Sexy sleek black packaging
– Finely milled shadows
– Sophisticated shimmer that creates a soft-focus lens effect
– Buildable color that’s highly pigmented and incredibly user friendly
– Two gorgeous green shadows that are to die for

…it still frickin’ costs an arm and a leg! That’s fifty-five big ones, sans tax. Holy effin’ crap, Batman!

I’ve been dying to get the Garden Party shadow quad for a few weeks now, so yesterday’s national artist event at my local Macy’s was the perfect excuse to go.

chanel-garden-party-quad-closeup-four-colors

The makeover included:

Skincare

Le Lait Cleanser, Nourishing cleansing milk for face and eyes
Activateur Hydration, Gentle Hydrating Lotion
Beaute Initiale, Energizing Multi-Protection Concentrate (this is a serum)
Beaute Initiale, Energizing Multi-Protection Eye Cream SPF 15
Beaute Initiale, Energizing Multi-Protection Fluid Healthy Glow SPF

Makeup

Face —
Medium Deep Pro Lumiere Concealer ($38.00)
Soft Honey Teint Innocence Foundation ($42.50)

Eyes –
Garden Party Quad ($55.00)
Soft Brown Precision Brow Definer ($28.00)

Cheeks —
Orchid Rose Jouse Contraste Powder Blush ($40.00)

Lips —
Nude Le Cray Levres Precision Lip Definer ($28.00)
Equinox Glossimer Gloss ($25.00)

chanel-teint-innocence
chanel-precision-skincare
chanel-skincare-2

Standout Products that I Might Come Back to Purchase

As far as I can tell all of the skincare used in the session was very gentle, non-perfumey, and didn’t break me out. I may someday purchase the cleansing milk and the serum, which were the stand-out products because they felt very moisturizing.

In addition to the Garden Party quad, I liked the Teint Innocence foundation, which is a light, liquid foundation that has a soft glow to it. I usually don’t like glowy foundations, but this one was very understated and natural. I ended up getting a few samples because I didn’t want to drop the $42.50 for it without seeing the results in natural light.

I also liked the Equinox Glossimer lip gloss, however not enough to spend $25.00 on it. I will put this on my Christmas wish list. Dear Santa, I’ve been a *very good blogger* this year!

The Final Eye Look
chanel-garden-party-quad-eye-green-shadow

The “doe in the headlights” face was because I was doing makeup math equations in my head, which roughly sounded a lil something like, “if x = hours worked times one chanel palette aww hell I WANT WANT WANT WANT IT ALL! BUT SHOULD I BUY BUY BUY IT ALL?”
chanel-final-look

What I Liked About Garden Party Quad

I’m crazy about the colors and the textures of the shadows. This is definitely very sophisticated and grown-up shimmer. I’m naturally not a bright color, over-the-top shadow kinda girl, and the Chanel shadows offer a level of color that fits my comfort level to a tee. The final look is something that I’d wear out to several situations, including parties, business meetings, or even for a nice dinner out with the parents and El Hub.

Things I Didn’t Like About Garden Party Quad

Obvs there was the price, because fifty-five bones can buy me a shizzload of Prestige Pencils at Walgreens. Another thing is that like most shadows I’ve tried, I can’t wear the dark green color on my waterline. You’ll see in the final look that my lower waterline is rimmed with it; less than an hour later I had to take it all off because my eyes were watery. I don’t think that it’s exlusive to the Chanel line though, because most shadows have that effect on me.

Chanel Garden Party Quad — Is it for You?

New to makeup? Then seriously, don’t buy this. It’ll just set the bar and you’ll forever be disappointed by everything else. Plus, it ain’t cheap. If you’re going to be experimenting and really playing with the colors then you don’t want to have feel like you’ve got to ration your shadow usage.

If I was a makeup newbie then I’d start with mid-to-lower priced stuff and move onto Chanel after I 1.) paid off my 4Runner or 2.) got a sugar daddy or 3.) had an adequate arsenal of brushes and decent blending skills.

I’ve used three colors in the palette so far: both lighter and darker green and the peach on the upper right hand side. When I swatched the greens on the back of my hand a few weeks ago I wasn’t sure if the colors were going to work, but after one of the lovely Chanel makeup artists, Laurie, started blending them on the lid I knew it was going to be heavenly.

She started by using Pro Lumiere Medium Deep Concealer as the lid primer, which is concealer “pen” with a brush tip applicator. She added one layer of the peach shadow all over the lid, and then worked the darker green from the lash line to the crease, feathering the color upward.

Chanel National Media Artist John Fussell jumped in, adding and blending colors. He finished the look by adding the lighter green in the center of the eye. To make the color really pop, he used his fingertip apply a concentrated spot of light green shadow close to the lash line. He then tapped a brush to gently blend the light green into the rest of the eye.

The Final Word

It’s official. I’m in love with Chanel shadows. And this is now my makeup cross to bear.
chanel-garden-party-quad-closeup-closed

Rad New Makeup Tricks, Courtesy John Fussell

John was a lot of fun to work with. He works red carpet events in Hollywood and gave me the dish on some of his celeb clientele. Apparently, he Rene Zellweger is his homegirl and he recently talked her out of wearing mink lashes on the red carpet. SMART MAN!

He also gave me a few new makeup tricks to add to my arsenal:

1. To create dimension in blush, use two different brushes. John used one large, fluffy brush to place the color on apple of cheek, but instead of brushing the color from the apple upward into the hairline, he used downward brush strokes. He then used the same brush to apply blush on top of forehead and on chin and around the nose — places where you’d naturally get color when you’re feverish or have a cold.

He then had me smile and used a thin, tapered brush (similar to MAC’s 224 crease brush) to add a concentrated pop of color on bottom of the apple of the cheek. Using two brushes to create different concentrations of color adds contrast and contour.

2. When using pencil to define lips, think of your lips in terms of four points and really work the color into the corners of the lips to give them definition. You can make your lips a “blank canvas” by applying a layer of foundation. He then used a lip brush to apply Soft Honey Teint Innocence Foundation on the lips. He finished by using a lip brush to apply Nude Equinox gloss in a downward, not side to side, motion. Go with the grain of your lip, not against!

3. Your finger is your strongest brush. He demonstrated this when he dipped his finger into the light green to place concentrated color onto the center of the lid. He then blended it in by tapping, not rubbing the color into place. Adding a pop of color to the center is an easy way to take your eye makeup from day into night.

What’s in Store for Chanel Spring 2008 — You Heard First on Makeup and Beauty Blog!

John gave me the inside scoop on what colors to expect for spring. Sapphire blue is going to be the it color, especially for the eyes. Remember the denim shades that Chanel did a few years ago? Apparently these shappire tones will be completely different. Also expect to see touches of bronze. HOT!

Makeup Event Etiquette

I love going to makeover events because it gives me an excuse to try and learn about new lines. Plus, I always learn a makeup trick or two while I’m there.

If you’re new to attending makeup events the general rule is that if you get a makeover you should buy at least one product. Know that when you sit down in that chair it will be very tempting to purchase everything the makeup artist uses to get the look. This feeling happens to me every time I go to one of these things.

What helps me is to have one specific product in mind when I get there because otherwise I end up spending more than I expect to. I have to set a budget for myself. I have fun being a makeup junkie but I also have fun watching the money pile up. (Sorry, I just got the new Kanye West CD and couldn’t help but quote from his song, The Good Life.) If I really want something that’s beyond my list then I get a sample or I tell myself that if I’m still thinking about it in two weeks I can come back and buy it.

Girl Gone Wild: Obscene, Unrated and Uncensored Moments of CHANEL LUST

Oh how I want this bag!
chanel-quilted-chain-purse

But unfortch this is more my price range. Quilted black patent makeup bags from Murval, $24.00.
murval-black-patnet-bag

It’s winter and I needed a new black, casual jacket that covered my bum. The Chanel-esque quilting on this Guess coat won me over. Plus, it’s warm and was on sale!
guess-pant-coat-black1

chanel-chance-fragrance
chanel-allure
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Rabid Chanel lust takes over Makeup and Beauty Blog. Will she be able to stop the obsession before it’s too late?
fussy-tabby-chanel

Stay tuned…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Product Reviews, Drugstore Beauty Finds – Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser, Almay Moisturizing Eye Makeup Remover Pads, Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash

October 2nd, 2007 by Karen 16 Comments

Drugstore Beauty Grab Bag

If you spent a little too much at the MAC counter this weekend, you know I feel your pain. What’s a girl to do when she’s got limited dollars in her beauty budget? One of the ways I like to balance the costs of my beauty dollars is to mix department store and drugstore products. I don’t think cost is necessarily an indicator of a product’s effectiveness – it could be all just part of the marketing scheme, for all I know.

I like to prowl Rite Aid and Long’s for skin care and body care products, especially. Here are a few that currently are in heavy rotation!
olay-regenerist-micro-sculpting-cream
Product: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
Use: As an anti-aging cream that smoothes skin, lifts sagging eras and restores elasticity
Price: $24.00
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B

What I liked about it:
– Great light, fruity scent
– Non-sticky product texture that’s thick but doesn’t leave a sticky film on my face and neck
– Very moisturizing
– A little goes a long way, and you don’t need to use a lot of it.

What I didn’t like about it:
– Can’t positively say if it actually helped to lift or restore elasticity
– Jar packaging isn’t convenient, I wish it came in travel-friendly pump form.

Somebody once asked me what my anti-aging secret was, and I told them that it was a combination of immaturity and sunscreen. My sunscreen choice since I was a teenager has been Olay Complete. I’ve always had good luck with Olay products and love trying anything that they come out with because I’ve been a long-term user of the brand, so I got the chance to try Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream I was stoked. Get me on that Olay train!

I have to say the biggest thing about this cream is that it smells and feels great. The scent is light but not overwhelming or chemical. It’s light and fruity and a pleasure to put on at night. The texture of the product once applied to my skin is also great. I don’t like the sticky feeling some lotions have — I especially can’t stand having a sticky neck, yuck! But this cream leaves my skin feeling dry and moisturized.

The active ingredients are an amino-peptide complex and an intracellular fortifier made up of hyaluronic acid. Like with other anti-aging products that I’ve tested, I can’t really say if Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream actually lifted sagging areas and restored elasticity. It’s really hard to quantify, especially if you don’t have lots of areas sagging areas to start with (gimme a few years though, ha!)

The biggest points with this cream are that I like the texture, scent and the fact that it does provide excellent moisturization.

You might like it if:
– You are a fan of the Olay brand
– You like your moisturizers to feel dry and not sticky after application
– You need a heavier moisturizer on your face and neck.

neutrogena-fresh-foaming-cleanser
Product: Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser
Use: As combination foaming cleanser and makeup remover
Price: $7.00 for a 6.7 fl oz pump bottle
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B

What I liked about it:
– Removes all types of makeup quickly and thoroughly
– Great price
– Handy pump-top packaging

What I didn’t like about it:
– Weird plastic-y smell
– Too drying for me, left my skin feeling tight

Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser is the Casanova of all quick-acting makeup removers. It takes it off. It takes it all off. And it does it faster than you can say “get naked Christian Bale!”

Ya’ll know that I’m often in a hurry, so I have a weak spot for products that work quickly. Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser is a combination makeup remover and cleanser, and the best part about it is that it removes foundation, powder and most eye makeup (you’ll need something to supplement if you use Liquidlast or Fluidline) lightening fast. It doesn’t hurt my eyes and rinses away without leaving a film on my skin. And it didn’t break me out, yay!

However I find that it’s just way too drying for my face, and after I rinse off within a few minutes my skin feels tight. Also, when I first started using it I noticed the cleanser had a strong plastic-smelling scent. It did fade away after a few uses, though.

You might like this if:
– You are a teenager or in your 20s and have oily skin that can tolerate stronger cleansers and doesn’t dry out easily
– You live in a humid climate
– You are lazy like me!

almay-eye-moisturizing-eye-makeup-remover-pads
Product: Almay Moisturizing Eye Makeup Remover Pads
Use: To remove waterproof eye makeup and longwearing lip color
Price: $6.00 for 80 pads
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

What I liked about it:
– Didn’t break me out
– Cheap, and you get a lot (80 pads) for your money
– Removes everything (Liquidlast did take a little work, though)
– Pads are soft and non-irritating
– Pads are thoroughly soaked with product

What I didn’t like about it:
– Need to rinse off with water
– Makes my eyes a little blurry (!) temporarily

So cheap. So effective. So lovin’ this!

I’ve been using Neutrogena Ultra-Soft Eye Makeup Remover Pads and Almay’s pads blow those pads right out of the water. Almay Moisturizing Eye Makeup Remover Pads are softer, contain more eye-making removing product and work faster. I use fewer swipes to get remove long-wearing products like MAC Mattene Lipstick and MAC Liquidlast Liner. You also get so much more for your money. I can easily stretch this jar out by cutting the pads in half.

Sometimes I get the occasional small pimple in the browbone area because I tweeze so I was nervous about how oily this product is. So far it hasn’t broken me out, knock on wood.

The only downside so far is that I can’t just use these pads and go. I have to do a final rinse off to remove the oil, the makeup, everything. Plus, my eyes get a little temporary blurriness, but that seems to always happen to me when I use oil-based cleansers.

Oh, and FYI, the main ingredient in this is mineral oil, so if you are sensitive Almay Moisturizing Eye Makeup Remover Pads might not work for you.

Despite the negatives I would definitely purchase this again. A Makeup and Beauty Blog Winner!

You might like this if:
– You wear long-wearing cosmetics
– You like oil-based removers
neutrogena-body-clear-body-wash

Product: Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash
Use: To clear body pimples
Price: about $7.00
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A++++

What I liked about it:
– Nice, light smell
– Dried up existing body pimples, yet didn’t dry out my skin
– Helped prevent additional pimples
– Thick formula that builds to cushiony foam

What I didn’t like about it:
– Not much, however I wish it was cheaper

Sweet jeebus this stuff saved my ass, literally. Notice how this bottle is almost halfway empty? That’s because I used it for a month to cure the acne that developed on my shoulders, back and bum (BOO!) after road testing Curls Milkshake. (And I have to say one more time — it could’ve also been the new medication I was taking, I can’t say for sure if it was that hair product.)

The active ingredient in Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash is salicylic acid, which normally doesn’t do much in terms of pimple treatment/prevention on my face. It was a frickin’ miracle on my body though, and cleared up the handful of existing pimples quickly while preventing new ones from forming.

I was worried about the formula being too drying on the rest of my skin but that wasn’t the case at all. I just applied it onto my hands and washed without a bath puff or exfoliating gloves because I didn’t want to irritate my skin. The scent is light, and the formula builds up foam nicely. Love. This. Stuff.

You might like it if:
– You play a lot of sports and have to deal with body acne
– You are pregnant and your hormones are going nuts and you’re experiencing body acne
– You are a beauty blogger with sensitive skin who insists on testing mystery products

Drugstore Beauty Product True Confessions!
neutrogena-visibly-even-1
You might be wondering why you’re staring at this mangled tube of Neutrogena Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser. Well, I finished this bottle last week and could no longer squeeze any more product out of it. Instead of throwing it out I used some scissors to cut the top off. It was like Christmas, ya’ll! Inside was at least three more days worth of cleanser. I dug my little fingers in and just replaced the top back on the tube. You know I like to get my money’s worth!
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Now don’t you feel smart?

Today is another gorgeous day in Northern California! I can’t wait to go out and go running today. The fall days here in Nor Cal are beautiful. The weather is warm with a slight crisp in the air, and the leaves are starting to change colors. If you ever travel to San Francisco late September/early October is probably the *best* time to visit.

How are you doing this Tuesday? I hope that wherever you are that you’re feeling good and lookin’ HOT!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Product Reviews, MAC Makeup – MAC Mattene Lipsticks

September 29th, 2007 by Karen 34 Comments

mac-mattene-classic-dame

“What goes around
Comes around
Comes around
Comes all the way back around.”
–Justin Timberlake

Ain’t that the truth, JT. With all of the gloss, glitter and sparkle of the last few years, the 90s mattes seem like a distant, far away planet.

I’ve been test-driving the Mac Mattenes for the past few days and I’ve been flooded by so many memories MAKEUP TRICKS OF YE OLDEN DAYS. Remember patting loose powder on top of your lipstick to get it as dry-looking as possible? Or lining your lips with black eye liner before you topped them with your darkest, deepest red? Or exfoliating your lips with your toothbrush at least once a week because they’d end up getting so dry after all of your vigorous attempts at mattification?

While I was initially skeptical of the return of the matte, I ended up being pleasantly surprised. I guess if Marky Mark can morph from an underwear model with busy, pants-dropping schedule to an Academy Award Nominee, the matte lipsticks can evolve as well.
marky-mark

Product: MAC Mattene Lipsticks
Use: As a time machine to take you back to the 90s/or as a matte lipstick
Price: $14.50
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+/A-

What I liked about it
MAC’s Mattenes, which will be released on October 4th, are the kinder, gentler version of your 90s matte lipstick. The lippies come in a skinny, matte-textured, black tube, which I love because they fit easily into a jeans pocket.
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Mattenes are as long-wear lipsticks, with a formula designed to not dry out your lips. The texture is silkier and less chalky, and when applied the product is feathery-soft and not thick.
mac-mattene-cafe-matte
I was immediately drawn to the neutral colors, like Flattering (beige pink), CafÃ© Matte (rich caramel) and Composure (neutral bronze plum). However, after living with these colors and wearing them about town for the past few days, I’ve discovered that the real stand-outs in the collection are the brights, especially my favorite color, Rougette.
mac-mattene-rougette
Rougette is a wine berry color that sophisticated yet fun color that’s user-friendly and great for day and evening wear. I would feel equally comfortable in this color in a business suit or a black tank top and jeans. I applied the color using a lip brush while looking into a small, mirrored compact, and when I finally stepped into the full-length mirror the color took my breath away. If you are thinking about purchasing any of these lipsticks then take a serious look at Rougette! It is simply beautiful.

What I didn’t like about it
Despite the claims that the lipstick doesn’t dry your lips out, I did experience some dryness, especially with the color Flattering. I will have to prime my lips with something moisturizing in the future, like Prep + Prime lip.
mac-mattene-flattering
In terms of color, I would pass up Flattering and Night Violet. Flattering was my initial favorite of the bunch but unfortunately the color just didn’t work for me. It made my lips look gray and corpse-like and by the end of the day my lips were feelin’ the peelin’.

Night Violet was also another color that I wasn’t impressed with because of execution difficulty and color. I found it difficult to get the color on evenly – it took about three layers to get it right. Plus, wearing it made me feel like a vampire. (It took a lot of self-restraint to avoid drawing fangs on the picture below.)
mac0mattene-night-violet

The final word
There’s been a lot of hype about these lipsticks, and I think that it’s been fairly justified. Mattenes are definitely a step up from the old school 90s mattes and worth a try if you weren’t around the trend the first time around. Of the neutrals, don’t miss Composure or CafÃ© Matte. Of the brights, definitely get your hands on Rougette. And if you’re a red lip girl, Classic Dame is a good one to add to your collection.

I’m off to the Pro Store today with my girl, blogger Christine from Temptalia. On my list? Paint pots, a few crÃ¨mestick liners and a jar of Invisible Set Powder. Woo hoo! I’ll bring your MAC-loving heart with me in spirit. Have a great Saturday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Makeup: Matte2 Eye Shadows, Mattene Lipsticks; Just for Fun – MAC Mad Libs, www.makeupandbeautyblog.com style

September 27th, 2007 by Karen 41 Comments

Put it in your Crackberry – Mattene drops October 4, 2007
mac-mattene-lipsticks

Get thee to the MAC counter today
mac-matte-2-final

Now grab a pencil and piece o’ paper. Write down the numbers 1-12. Write down the first thing you think of when you see the following:

1. Favorite day of the week
2. Favorite drag queen
3. Verb ending in -ing
4. Your nickname
5. Favorite gem stone
6. Current celebrity crush
7. Noun
8. Verb ending in -ing
9. Term of endearment
10. Current real-life person you have a crush on
11. Article of clothing
12. Verb

MAC MAD LIBS, Makeupandbeautyblog.com style

On (1. Favorite day of the week) night I had the most wonderful dream.

I went to the MAC counter and all of the sudden, (2. Favorite drag queen) showed and started (3. Verb ending in –ing).

“Hey (4. Your nickname),” she called. “I got some goodies for you.”

She then proceeded to take out the entire collection of MAC Mattene and Matte 2, and handed it all to me in a (5. Favorite gem stone)-encrusted basket.

All of the sudden, out of nowhere appeared (6. Current celebrity crush). He was holding a (7. Noun) and (8. Verb ending in –ing).

“I wanna be your (9. Term of endearment)!” she/he cried.

But then, (10. Current person you have a crush on) showed up wearing nothing but (11. Article of clothing.)

They then proceeded to (12. Verb) for my love. It was truly awesome.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hair Product Reviews – Phytodensium Anti-Aging Shampoo and Serum

September 26th, 2007 by Karen 25 Comments

circa 1989
fussy-tabby-circa-1989
I can’t lie; my 21st birthday was over a decade ago. Yes, it’s been a little weird for me to see teenagers wearing stuff I wore 15 years ago and to see makeup trends get recycled, but so far getting older has been pretty cool. I can eat brownies for breakfast if I want (which I did this morning); I’m better at real-life problem solving because of various experiences with work, people and life in general; and I understand myself much more than I did as a young lass of 21.

And although I still feel very young (a big YAY for both immature behavior and years of dedicated sunscreen use), I’ve noticed subtle changes year after year. My skin is a little dryer, there’s an occasional white hair on the top of my head and my hands look different.

So lately I’ve been exploring the world of anti-aging products.

If you’ve spent any time in a drugstore or a department store you may have noticed that everyone and their momma is selling something to tighten this, erase that, etc. etc. Although I try lots of products, I don’t always feel comfortable writing about it on the blog because I find it really hard to quantify the results. I don’t have a lot of wrinkles to start with and it’s often hard to see a real difference after only few weeks.

When I evaluate anti-aging products I think about the packaging, the texture and scent, what the active ingredients are and the price. It’s really hard to determine efficacy, and what works for me may not work for you, so please take it all in with a grain o’ salt. Now let’s get to the good stuff!

Hair Product Reviews – Phytodensium Anti-Aging Shampoo and Serum

phytodensium-shampoo-serum
Products: Pytodensium Anti-Aging Shampoo and Anti-Aging Serum
Price: $24 for the shampoo, $32 for the serum
Use: to strengthen weak and fragile aging hair
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you probably already know that I’m extremely picky about my hair because it’s hard to manage. I figure, we wear our hair every day, so I can justify spending a bit more on hair products that I like.

Phyto is a brand I’ve been using for years. The love affair started in 2001, when I got my first tube of Phytodefrisant and a bottle of their Phytonectar shampoo for dry hair. I like that the products don’t have heavy silicones, are full of botanicals, and don’t strip my dry, colored hair. They recently released an anti-aging shampoo and serum, which I couldn’t wait to get my hands on.

What it does
Phytodensium is an anti-aging shampoo and serum that targets aging hair, and claims to help restore strength into weak and fragile hair.

Active ingredients include:
– Gatuline age-defense (derived from walnet extracts) to protect against free radicals
– Black currant seed oil as a source of oemga-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to regenerate hair
– Botanical protein complex to increase hair’s elasticity

What I liked about it
I shampoo just once or twice a week (the rest of the time I wash with conditioner…there’s a bunch of weird things you have to do with wavy hair to keep it happy) so I’m extremely picky. I like the product to be moisturizing, to not contain any heavy silicones, and to not strip my color.

Phytodensium shampoo delivers on all three of these demands. It cleans without being harsh, and leaves me hair and scalp feeling refreshed. It has a light, slightly floral scent that’s very pretty and it doesn’t leave my hair smelling too perfume-y, which I can’t stand.

The serum is a light, thin, non-oily liquid that I first apply into my palms with the dropper. I rub my palms together and then massage the product into my scalp and hair before styling. It has the same floral scent.

What I found interesting about this combo is that using both products relaxes the wave in my hair. It goes from a one-inch s wave to a one and half inch wave. I like the look or relaxed, beachy waves (think Giselle’s, long flowy locks) so I loved this nice side effect. And the effect is consistent, too, which is a minor miracle when you have hard-to-tame hair.

What I didn’t like about it
I can’t tell if these products are really helping to assist my hair in the anti-aging department. They smell great and give me a beautiful loose waves, but I can’t say for sure if my hair has become stronger or younger-looking.

The final word
I loved this shampoo and serum combo, and I would definitely buy it over and over again, but mostly for the gentleness in cleansing and the wonderful after-effect of loose waves rather than for the anti-aging claims. If you’re trying to avoid silicones, or are looking for products that loosen your curl, then it is definitely worth a try.

You might need anti-aging products if…

– You didn’t get an e-mail account until you took a class that required you to get one…in college.
– You own a mix tape that you made off of the local hip hop station; extra points if either Salt & Pepa’s “Push It” or MC Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This” is on it.
– You remember when girls did not talk about waxing or tweezing their eyebrows.
– Your O.G. “skinny jeans” were of the Bongo or Guess variety, and they were so tight that after lunch you could barely breathe as you sat in history class.
– You had or knew someone who had a spiral perm gone wrong.
– Your bullshit-o-meter is so finely tuned because you’ve heard it all before.

How are you feeling today? I’m a little on the emotionally exhauasted side. I love watching movies and last night I saw a fantastic documentary called God Grew Tired of Us, which follows three of Sudan’s “lost boys.” The lost boys were the 20,000 children who were orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War. The story follows three refugees, John, Daniel and Panther, who find their way to America, where they experience electricity, running water and supermarkets for the first time. The film is so touching and well made (it even won an award at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival) and I was teary through most of it. I thought about it as I was falling asleep last night and I’m still thinking about it this morning.

Watching it made me think what sort of impact that we can make on other people. I know that this lil’ beauty blog isn’t going to stop any wars or make any large scale global changes, but I hope that every once in a while I get to help you, even if it’s just to to make you laugh out loud during your day.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, friends.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hair Product Reviews – Pure Curls Clarifying Shampoo, Curls Milkshake and Champagne Curls & Kaviar Kinks; Just for fun – I’m going to see Justin Timberlake Tonight!

September 23rd, 2007 by Karen 15 Comments

Amongst the cameras and extra batteries and gum that I carried in my bag during SF Fashion week last month, there was also this save-the-date-card and a ticket to Justin Timberlake’s concert that my good friend Chris sent me:

justin-timberlake-save-the-date-carda

(Chris, you’ll be happy to know that several models and makeup artists thought your JT artistry was top notch.)

You’ll notice that the card says September 12th. Unfortunately JT cancelled that concert date, but tonight is the rescheduled concert date, so WOO HOO! I’m going with a bunch of girl friends, so I won’t be the only over-30 woman in hizzy and admiring JT’s sexy back!

These days, we all know JT for his closely cropped hair. (And I have to admit that like my girl Toya over at Life of a Lady Bug, I am an admirer of the shaved head look.) But does anybody remember Justin during his curly haired days?

justin-timberlake-curly-hair-final

How do you feel about this version of Justin? More hot? Less hot? Honestly, I can’t really blame the boy for shaving all his Adonis curls off. I have wavy hair, and even though I love it sometimes it’s a big pain in the ass.

Sometimes I get tired of my hair too, girl, but you have to step away from the sheers until it passes
britney-bald

For many curly/wavy haired girls and guys, the mission to find holy grail hair products is unending. I have a few products that I am loving on at the moment, like Clairol Herbal Essences Set Me Up Gel, but I’m always game to try more because you just never know what your curly/wavy hair will like.

So when I got the chance to try a few products from the Curls line I was really excited. The line is formulated for curly haired, multi-ethnic customers. The products are made from natural oils, butters and botanicals. They also have a cute line for kids called Curly Q’s, which tugged at my heart a â€˜lil bit because the information booklet included several pictures of cherubic looking multi-ethnic children of various shades of brown in their before and after pictures, awwww.

Anyway, here’s the skinny on three of the products I tested: Pure Curls Clarifying Shampoo, Curls Milkshake and Champagne Curls & Kaviar Kinks.

curls-products

Pure Curls Clarifying Shampoo, $12.00 for an 8oz bottle
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B-

What it does:
– Clarifies product build up
– Infused with pineapple and grapefruit extracts

What I liked about it:
– Light citrus smell
– Nice texture

What I didn’t like about it:
– Felt like it clarified almost too well
– Had to use a lot to build up a good lather
– Cap on bottle is a screw cap, which I felt made me use too much product; wish it was a flip-top cap instead

You might like it if:
– You have thick curly or wavy hair that you don’t color
– You use lots of products on a daily basis

This shampoo smells yummy, and I like that it’s not too expensive. Plus, it’s silicone-free.

It does a great job of clarifying — almost too great! My hair felt super-squeaky clean, but I swear my highlights looked like they were stripped of some color afterwards. I won’t be using this shampoo again because of this.

I think for my hair clarifying shampoos in general are just too harsh. Right now I only shampoo once or twice a week and I only use gentle, moisturizing formulas.

However, you may like this is you use a lot of product – and for many of us curly/wavy haired girls that’s simply our reality- and need a uber-clarifier to remove it all. And if your hair is thick and doesn’t have any color then you may also like this as well.

Curls Milkshake, $17.00 for a huge 8oz jar
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: C

What it does:
– Styling product that softens, hydrates, defines curls and defrizzes all curly hair textures
– Made from coconut milk and organic aloe leaf juice

What I liked about it:
– Delicious coconut smell
– Does a fantastic job of weighing hair down
– Didn’t leave my hair feeling crunchy
– You can really make this go the distance because you get a lot of product for the price and don’t have to use that much
– Thick texture that isn’t sticky

What I didn’t like about it:
– Delicious coconut smell became extremely overwhelming after a few hours
– After I washed it out I got a few pimples on my back and shoulders (but this could’ve also been because I started using a new medication)

You might like it if:
– You have very thick, unruly, hard to tame curls that need to be weighed down
– You like smelling like a coconut

I really wanted to fall in love with this stuff because at first whiff it’s delicious! I love tropical smells, so I happily applied it to my hair with thoughts of Hawaii and all the great memories I have associated with surfing and the beach.

Unfortunately the coconut scent stays strong and doesn’t fade at all. After a few hours I couldn’t smell anything else but coconut, and it made me nauseous. My nose is very sensitive though, so it might not bother you as much as it bothered me.

Two big plusses with this product: does a great job of taming unruly hair and doesn’t leave it feeling sticky or crunchy. These two factors unfortunately don’t outweigh the fact that shortly after I washed this out of my hair I got a few pimples on my back and my shoulders, and I NEVER break out in the those areas. I have to acknowledge that at the time I started a new medication so it could’ve also been that as well, but I didn’t love this product enough to take that chance again.

Champagne Curls & Kaviar Kinks – $22.00 for a 2oz bottle
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B-/C+

What it does:
– A hair restoration treatment that encourages growth replaces lost keratin
– Improves elasticity, flexibility and shine

What I liked about it:
– Light citrus smell
– Good texture that isn’t too heavy or oily
– Full of natural ingredients

What I didn’t like about it:
– Can’t really say if it helped my hair grow or if it improved its elasticity and flexibility

You might like it if:
– You need something to make your hair glossier

Like the other two products, the light citrus scent from Champagne Curls & Kaviar Kinks initially drew me in. The natural ingredient list also impressed me. The first three ingredients are Tahitian Coconut Oil, Sweet Almont Oil and Olive Oil.

I can’t really attest to this products’ claims of hair growth because I have thick hair to start with.

It does give hair a nice shine though. For me, this really isn’t a “must have” product, but if you want a silicone-free glosser then you might like this.

Unfortunately being a beauty blogger does not earn one a backstage pass Justin Timberlake concerts (DAMN!), and I’m pretty sure our seats are of the nosebleed variety for tonight’s show. I’m bringing my uber SRL camera though, so I’ll try my best to work the zoom lens to my JT-admiring advantage. Hopefully I’ll snap a few drool-worthy pictures, which you an admire for your, ahem, own personal use.

Have a fantastic rest of your weekend!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. You know that your weekend isn’t complete without the Weekend Beauty Roundup![Continue reading…]