Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

Look Sharp, Live Smart: GQ

February 21st, 2011 by Karen 7 Comments

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, February 21

February 21st, 2011 by Karen 66 Comments

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 three years, which I guess makes this somewhere around Vol. 158. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

Mood:

Happy and relaxed.

A delectable dish you couldn’t live without?

Pasta! I swear I could eat it every day.

Favorite way to unwind?

A long, hot shower followed by a date with the couch, a cup of hot tea and a good book. I know it sounds cliche, but that’s because it really is divine.

Outfit?

At this very moment, my workout clothes: light gray yoga capris, a pink t-shirt and a white and gray patterned long-sleeve hoodie.

What’s your least favorite word?

“Rhinoplasty”, with “ointment” coming in a close second.

Which celebrity would ideally play you in a movie?

A really, REALLY tan Reese Witherspoon. 🙂

All-time favorite lipgloss:

MAC Nymphette. Hands down.

Best memory of your pet?

Tabs used to be an indoor/outdoor kitty, and every once in a while he’d stay out for a day or two before returning home. Once, however, after we hadn’t seen or heard from him in almost a week, we took to the neighborhood streets, calling for him and checking all the familiar places (he liked to play with one of our neighbor’s cats), but he was nowhere to be found. Broken hearted, we began to brace ourselves for the worst.

Then, one afternoon after attending the funeral of a family friend, we were returning home, sad and emotionally raw. I was crying as I climbed the stairs up to our apartment when I heard a familiar meow. I looked down, and there was Tabs, his bright, shining eyes staring up at me. “Tabs!” I called, and he came bounding up the stairs to my side.

He stayed with us that entire night, not wanting to be let back outside, and that was the only time he’s been gone for more than a couple of days (knock on wood). I never did find out what happened or where he went… It must have been a business trip.

What’s for lunch?

I’m thinking a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup sounds pretty darn good.

Weekly goals:

To squeeze in a bit of extra house cleaning (the place is a hot mess!), and to be fearless in whatever I do (even the housecleaning, LOL!).

Happy Monday, cutie. 🙂 It’s another cold, dreary day here in Northern California, but that’s okay because I feel rather sunny inside. Today’s a federal/bank holiday here in the United States (President’s Day), so a lot of people have the day off from work. Tabs said I only had to work a half day, which was unusually kind of him, so I plan to do some house cleaning while I catch a few chick flicks to pass the time: Dirty Dancing, Titanic and Under the Tuscan Sun. They’re movies I could watch over and over again (and do), much to El Hub’s dismay… I can already here him groaning with pain, haha!

Anywho, what are you up to today? Do you have a few minutes to say hi?

To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

1. Mood:
2. A delectable dish you couldn’t live without?
3. Favorite way to unwind?
4. Outfit:
5. Least favorite word:
6. Celebrity who would ideally play you in a movie:
7. All-time favorite lipgloss:
8. Best memory of your pet?
9. What’s for lunch?
10. Weekly goals:

I have a feeling you’re going to have a great week (it’s like a tingle in my bones).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How Do You Feel about Changing Your Hair Color?

February 21st, 2011 by Karen 100 Comments

This series is powered by Pantene.

Why I Color My Hair

I’ve changed my hair color so many times over the years that I’m not even sure what my natural hair color is anymore (I just know it contains some gray). Yes, despite all the many things I fear about our world — underground caverns, the coming zombie apocalypse, submarines, and earthworms come to mind — I’m downright courageous when it comes to the color of my coif.

Senior year in college, I wore it mahogany brown with a single blonde streak in the bangs, which I kept long, swept to the side and always, ALWAYS tucked behind my left ear. After graduation, hoping it would make me look older and more responsible, I trekked up and down San Francisco’s steep hills with long, jet black hair flowing behind me. A few years later, after a gut-wrenching breakup, I entered my red phase, hacking my hair into a short bob and adding angry vermillion streaks. And when I felt I’d finally moved on, so did my hair, which morphed into an optimistic fawn brown with sunny golden streaks.
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Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 127

February 20th, 2011 by Karen 23 Comments

Tabs for Dolce & Gabbana Makeup

As Tabs likes to say, “In modeling, one day you’re in; the next, you’re out.” (Heidi Klum borrowed the phrase from him.) I’m not sure if you knew this about cats, but they have their own labor union, and it’s unique among labor unions because it actually precludes any kind of work. Yep, Tabs had to get a waiver from his union boss to start modeling professionally. Let me tell you, it was a BIG to do.

This week, in Part 1 of a rare exclusive interview, Tabs opened up to me about his plans for the future and how they relate to kitty modeling and his work on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

You see, Tabs may be “just a cat,” but he’s also keenly aware of how competitive the whole kitty modeling niche has become. There are literally hundreds of other four-legged models/blog mascots nipping at his heels.

KAREN: So tell me, Tabs, do you worry about your place among the top kitty models of all time? In other words, do you think about your legacy?

TABS: Of course I do. I would be lying if I said I didn’t. I want to leave behind a body of work that up-and-coming kitty models can look to for inspiration.

KAREN: Does that mean you think about retirement?

TABS: Don’t be ridiculous. Next question.

KAREN: Okay, um, what’s been your favorite campaign of all time?

TABS: Ooh, that’s a tough one… I don’t know, I’ve done hundreds so it changes all the time, but maybe MAC Pret-a-Papier. I had a blast on that job. Or NARS Angelika. We did a lot of wirework for that one. Oh, and of course, Avatar and Smashbox Masquerade.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for Part 2 of this exclusive interview with Tabs. In the meantime, here’s a look at his portfolio of recent jobs…

Who is Tabs the Cat? About three 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). 🙂

Tabs for MAC Viva Glam

Tabs for the Urban Decay Pouncing Palette
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Hey, Winter Skin, Don’t Be a Flake! How to Keep Skin Supple and Moisturized in Winter

February 20th, 2011 by Karen 13 Comments

Written by Vonnie

Don’t let the Ice Queen crack your shell! Arm yourself with these tips from Vonnie, and save your skin from the Queen’s winter curse.

Winter skin

As if the thought of trekking through 15 inches of snow and traversing hidden sheets if sidewalk ice wasn’t thrilling enough, there’s also the havoc winter wreaks on skin, oftentimes causing it to become itchy, dry, flaky, and generally uncomfortable for months on end. Indoor heating and harsh icy winds are among skin’s least favorite friends, and they can leave that beautiful epidermis feeling a little under the weather. Thankfully, there are some products and tips out there that can help you keep your outer layer happy and healthy in winter.

Face

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Washing your face with a nourishing, rich cleanser is a great idea in winter. Gentle, creamy face washes form a great defense against the elements, and here are a few I highly recommend: Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple ($10 for a 3-oz. bottle), Korres Milk Proteins Foaming Cream Cleanser $21 for a 5.07-oz. bottle) and Olay Hydrating Warming Cleanser (it actually heats up while you rub it in and feels SO good and lush, but I think it’s discontinued).

I also recommend serums (vitamin C, among others) to not only brighten the skin, but to rejuvenate your overall appearance. Many impart a healthy glow, and some formulations work to seal in moisture and plump the skin, which makes for a more youthful appearance and even skin tone. While pricey, Clinique’s Even Better Skin Tone Correctors ($49.50 for a 1-oz. bottle) are very popular and perhaps worth a try.

You might also incorporate a moisturizing weekly face mask/masque into your regimen to balance the skin. Korres makes a few great ones, like their wild rose mask ($29 for a 1.35-oz. jar), pomegranate mask, thyme honey mask, and yogurt mask. Their formulations work to balance the skin without stripping it of nutrients and moisture.

Speaking of moisture, a good one is key — especially in winter! If you haven’t noticed by now, I REALLY like Korres skincare, and it all started with their AMAZING Thyme Honey face cream ($35 for a 1.35-oz. jar). This stuff really does live up to its 24-hour moisture promise, and did I mention the smell? It makes me want to nibble on my face when I put it on! Total yum, folks, total yum.
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The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

February 20th, 2011 by Karen 8 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Weekly Roundup

Good morning, beautiful. Ooh! You’re just in time for breakfast. We’re having hot buttered pancakes, hash browns and omelets made to order. Just make yourself comfortable, and I’ll be right back with some coffee.

Yum, right? I’m so starvin’ like Marvin right now…

So what did you do yesterday? I hope you had some fun. El Hub and I kinda just lazed around together; it was glorious. In the afternoon we went to a surprise 70th birthday party lunch for one of his coworkers, a sweetheart named Joan. Joan is one of the kindest people and most interesting characters you’d ever want to meet. Before blowing out the candles on her cake, she made everyone with cameras pause so she could reapply her lipstick first. And about her famously fantastic memory, she says, “I haven’t had a printer for so long that I’ve become used to memorizing vast quantities of information from the Internet.” LOL!

Anywho, what’s on your agenda for today? Have you seen any good movies lately? I wanted to see I Am Number Four until I read some of the reviews, like this one from Avi Offer of NYC Movie Guru: “Suffers from so much style over substance, lack of internal logic, contrived subplots and wooden performances that it makes Twilight look like Gone with the Wind.”

Ouch! I might go see The King’s Speech instead. Have you seen it yet?

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

I’M ADDING LUSH R&B TO MY
LIST OF GREATEST HAIR HITS

Lush R&B Revive & Balance Hair Moisturizer ($18.95) is so damn good that whenever I use it, I burst into song. “Whoever invented Lush R&B, homeboy was such a whiz! Now my waves, soft and shiny, hardly ever frizz. It hydrates my hair while it soothes my scalp. (It really has been a great deal of help.) With a touch of hold, I’m totally sold On Lush R&B!”

Okay, so maybe this won’t be my year to win a Grammy, but really, this stuff rocks. I’ve been using it lately to get what I’ve referred to on the blog as “brunch hair” and “vacation hair” â€” touchable, cooperative hair with a bit of hold and definition.

Lush markets R&B as a hair moisturizer, a kind of rich, hydrating leave-in conditioner designed for dry scalps and hair. It’s a frizz-smoothing, shine-enhancing hair hero recommended for hair types that often benefit from extra hydration, and they mention African American, curly, wavy and generally dry hair. Read more…

MAC LOOK IN A BOX
GIRL NEXT DOOR

What would you do if I told you that MAC put a look in a box? Would you want to set it free?

Before you answer that, what if I also told you that the neutrals in this particular box don’t bite? No, they’re much too sweet for biting. As a matter of fact, the shades in the MAC Look in a Box: Girl Next Door kit ($40) are sugar and spice and everything nice (i.e. charming), like the kind of makeup you’d wear to meet a new beau’s mom for the first time.

The limited edition 2011 travel exclusive boxed set, one of three from the MAC Packed to Go Collection, comes with five products, a few of them full-size items from the MAC permanent line, and a couple of hard-to-find limited edition shades from previous releases.

I really love this set, but I wish it was easier to track down. As a travel exclusive, it mostly hangs out at select airports and duty free stores.

I guess that’s (part of) the beauty of these the travel exclusives â€” the thrill of the chase. 🙂 Read more…

MAC PACKED TO GO
3 CREMESHEENS

I thought you might like to see another of those MAC travel exclusives, and this one’s a real trip (LOL!). It’s called 3 Cremesheens, and it’s part of the new MAC Packed to Go collection.

Like all of MAC’s other travel exclusives, 3 Cremesheens will spend most of its time at select domestic and international airports and duty free stores when its flight arrives this spring (prices will vary by location).

I’d originally heard that the set would include Boy Bait, one of my favorite Cremesheens, but that appears incorrect. The set I have came with a pretty light pink called Right Image instead.

I thought you might like to see another of those MAC travel exclusives, and this one’s a real trip (LOL!). It’s called 3 Cremesheens, and it’s part of the new MAC Packed to Go collection.

I’d originally heard that the set would include Boy Bait, one of my favorite Cremesheens, but that appears incorrect. The set I have came with a pretty light pink called Right Image instead. Read more…

TARTE LIPSURGENCE
NATURAL LIP LUSTERS

You know how they say that every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings? Well, every time I take out a Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Luster, a drag queen cheers and whips out two snaps in a circle. 🙂

The six new moisturizing lusters ($24 each) are souped-up versions of Tarte’s best-selling LipSurgence Lip Tints with punchier pigmentation and a finish so shiny (I gotta wear shades).

In the plus column, I really like that these pencil tips are twisties, because I don’t like having to tote around a sharpener (ahem, I’m talkin’ to you, NARS Velvet Gloss).

I also tip my hat to Tarte for keeping a lot of the common lip gunk out of these, like formaldehyde-based preservatives. They’re also gluten, oil, talc and MEA/DEA/TEA-free. And because they’re also cruelty-free, Tabs gives his husky-pawed kitty stamp of approval. Read more…

DON’T MISS THESE 5 FANTASTIC
DRUGSTORE BRUSHES

Makeup brushes are lightweight, easy to pack, and make fantastic little travel gifts. Both of the chains you mentioned, Target and CVS, carry several affordable, high quality brushes like the EcoTools Bamboo Bronzer Brush.

This $12 cruelty-free brush has a dense head (there’s a pun in there somewhere) and super soft bristles. It’s designed to be used with bronzer, but I prefer to use it to buff loose powder on top of my foundation for an airbrushed look.

And don’t miss the Sonia Kashuk $6 Bent Eyeliner Brush. An affordable, all-purpose eyeliner brush with an angled barrel, a long handle and a pointed brush head made with soft, yet firm, synthetic fibers. I think it’s a star with gel liners like MAC Fluidline and makes winged cat eye flicks super easy to do. Read more…

GET SHATTERED WITH THE CHINA
GLAZE CRACKLE COLLECTION

China Glaze designed their six new Crackle Glaze polishes to create a worn-in, desconstructed look for fingers and toes.

How it works: first, apply a coat of nail polish (shimmer, cream, matte, whateva!), and wait for it to dry. Then, add a layer or two of one of the China Glaze Crackle colors. In about five minutes, you’ll see the polish separate to form shattered patterns on the nail. I’m wearing a light gray cream beneath the Crackle colors in the pic here.

It’s not really my style, but I give ups to China Glaze for keeping things interesting. If I were 13, listening to a lot of Avril Lavigne and shopping at Hot Topic, however, I’d probably be all over this in a hot second. Read more…

I’M HAVING A MARITIME WITH THESE
$5 RIMMEL GLAM’EYES TRIO EYE SHADOWS

It’s Maritime, young lady. 🙂 Get ready to set sail on a Trio hour tour aboard the USS Glam’Eyes. The ship is bound for the The Land of Cheap Makeup Thrills, and Captain Rimmel’s at the helm.

I absolutely love Rimmel’s Glam’Eyes Mono shadow singles, so I’ve really been looking forward to trying their new Glam’Eyes line of trios ($5 each). Maritime, one of four trios in the line, is a sea of blues designed to bring out the best in brown eyes.

These shadows, like the singles, feel super soft and pack loads of pigment, while still blending like a dream. As good as that sounds, though, I actually think the singles apply a tad more evenly. With these, I get a few uneven patches of color along with some fallout beneath my eyes, but considering how affordable they are, it’s not a deal breaker for me. Read more…

MAC VIVA GLAM GAGA 2
SWATCHES AND PICTURES

What’s the story, morning glory? You know how much I love MAC Viva Glam, right? I thought that maybe you’d like to check out their latest VG color, MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2, available now in both a Lipstick and Lipglass ($14.50 each).

Unlike last year’s pale pink Viva Glam Gaga shade, the new color’s more of a flesh-toned nude. Check out the swatches below and let me know if you think it’s a go (ooh, call me MC Karen ’cause I just made a rhyme!).

Like all of the Viva Glam products, 100% of the proceeds of the Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipglass and Lipstick sales go to the MAC AIDS fund, which helps women, children and men living with HIV/AIDS. One tube at a time, millions have been raised since the program’s start in 1994. Read more…

IS MILK OF MAGNESIA
A CURE FOR OILY SKIN

The product that finally brought my skin to genesis is incredibly easy to use, portable, and comes in a chic little package. Since I’ve begun using it, my pores have all but disappeared, my skin redness has faded away, and my skin is as smooth as non-comedogenic butter. That’s right. I’m talkin’ about the Clarison â€” oh, wait. We already did that review.

No, what I’m here to hype today is not meant to be a skincare product at all. It’s actually a digestive aid. Liquid milk of magnesia (about $6 for a 12-oz. bottle) is a suspension of magnesium hydroxide in water, given its name due to its milky white appearance, and its typical uses include soothing raucous stomach acids and easing constipation… Not quite the kind of thing you think about using near your face, right?

Wrong (I bet you didn’t see that one coming).

For a long time, I’d been hearing about DIY beauty remedies involving milk of magnesia as a weekly facial mask to soak up oil and help reduce acne. But, probably like many of you, I was extremely wary of putting anything meant to be in my acidic stomach on my sensitive skin, so I relegated this tip to the REJECTED pile and went on, going through bottles of cleansers, foundations, serums, and medications in an attempt to find something that could control my over-eager sebaceous glands. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

You Don’t Have to Be Clairvoyant to Read These Hourglass Auras: Hourglass Aura Collection Swatches

February 19th, 2011 by Karen 13 Comments

hourglass aura collection

Do you remember the pen-style Hourglass Aura Collection cheek and lip stain we looked at back in January? It was called Flush? I kid you not, I’ve been stalking the Sephora by my house to spot the other colors in the line every week since.

That’s why I had to stifle a scream (“Eureka!”) in Sephora the other day when I stumbled upon the Hourglass display at the top. I’d just sniffed the new Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh, which is fab, by the way, so I was already thrilled.

About the Hourglass Aura Collection Cheek and Lip Stains…

It’s like the brand has their fingers on the pulse of lazy girls like moi. The Aura Sheer Cheek Stains ($45 each) and Sheer Lip Stains ($26 each) are designed for ease of use. No brushes are required with Aura’s portable, pen-style applicators. Twisting the bottom of each one dispenses product through the sponge tip applicator at the other end, and it makes these sheer, buildable liquid stains practically foolproof to use.

Knowing it was my beauty duty to share this discovery, I quickly liberated swatches of the full collection (just three colors each of the stains for cheeks/lips). 🙂 Let me know what you think.

Swatches of the Hourglass Aura Sheer Lip Stains from left to right: Scarlet, Flush and Petal
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Is Milk of Magnesia a Cure for Oily Skin?

February 19th, 2011 by Karen 57 Comments

Written by Sam

The subject of today’s guest post from makeup artist and blogger Sam has been soothing tummies since 1829! Now let’s see what it can do for skin. 😉

Milk of Magnesia for skin

Wrong (I bet you didn’t see that one coming).

A few products certainly helped reduce oil production, and my Clarisonic has done wonders for my skin overall, but the search continued to find a single product able to keep that dreaded shine off my nose, chin, and cheeks for more than a few hours at a time.

For years I’d dart into restrooms to blot my face with those not-so-great-for-hands-but-oddly-wonderful-for-faces paper towels (the really stiff brown ones), and to smooth out the smile lines that would appear after a couple of hours of laughing and bearing my pearly whites (thank you, Crest Whitestrips!).

As for photos? A nightmare! I’m surprised that my recent passport photo was accepted despite the blinding glare.

But for me the worst thing about oily skin had always been foundation transfer and absorption. Whenever anything would touch my face (be it the collar of my coat, a stack of papers I may rest my head upon, or my pillowcase on the rare nights I pass out before cleaning up), it would come away with a nice coating of Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 150 Buff…and do you know how hard that stuff is to get out of Dry-clean Only clothes??

Even when I’d been fortunate enough to make it through a day without any foundation transfer accidents, my foundation still looked a fright by 4pm, with my oily skin absorbing and redistributing foundation in all the wrong places, leaving me with a blotchy, dull complexion that night. Not cute.

Then a few weeks ago I ran across a brief post on a blog mentioning milk of magnesia as a treatment for oily skin. Out of both patience and resources, I decided to take the dive and go for it. I thought, what do I have to lose (besides a bit of dignity), so I stopped by CVS to snag one of the small blue bottles from the foot care and digestive aid aisle before hurrying home.

Not wanting to just smear it on with my fingers, I grabbed a disposable cosmetic sponge, pressed it up against the mouth of the bottle, and tipped it over. Taking the now damp sponge, I dabbed it over my nose, and repeated this for each of my cheeks, my chin, my forehead, and under my jaw. And I hit my nose once more for good measure.

Within a minute, the stuff had dried, and left a few chalky, white streaks across my cheeks. Fantastic. However, a bit of gentle rubbing with the sponge quickly smoothed these out. Next, I applied my normal primer, and then went about my normal face routine.

Looking in a mirror for the first time that day was not a pleasant experience. My foundation looked thick, cakey, and most of all, dry. Well, this was new. Mortifying, but new. Not a spot of shine lit up my face, and this was about three hours in, a time when my nose would have already begun to act as its own little mirror.

Something was different, that was for sure.

So, the next day, I went about the same initial routine, but applied about a third as much foundation as I normally would, and barely any powder (I used to press it in to get my face to be relatively matte) at all.

If I may be so bold, I think my face looked amazing! Surprisingly, my skin actually looked like skin, and not like a layer of product covering up bad skin. More than that, it looked like normal skin. No oil. No glow. Just a perfectly bare, slightly flushed matte canvas. All. Day. Long.

That day I did my face around 6:30 in the morning, and by 8 pm the same day it looked almost as bright and fresh as when I had first applied. A miniscule amount of shine had drifted onto my nose, but not anywhere near enough to disrupt my foundation. Only when I actually rubbed did any product come off on my testing fingers.

But the thing I’m the most excited about is that I can now use my NARS Albatross highlighting powder to give my skin that sultry sheen (you know the one).
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