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

Oprah and Dr. Oz on the Science of Beauty

November 12th, 2008 by Karen 9 Comments

Did you catch yesterday’s Oprah? She and Dr. Oz, her BFF medical buddy, went over some of the most common beauty concerns (like adult acne) and most popular beauty trends and fads out there and then gave beauty checkups to a select group of women from the audience.

Oz looked at their overall health, both medical and emotional, and, after running the women through a barrage of blood tests, sat down with them to discuss eating and exercise habits and the other aspects of their lives.

Oprah.com has a section dedicated to the Science of Beauty. It’s a great resource.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Dior Sparkle Shine Glitter Top Coat For Lips Gets the Party Started

November 11th, 2008 by Karen 44 Comments

If a tube of glitter lipgloss looks like something a gang of tween girls would wear to a Miley Cyrus concert, I usually stay far away. It’s just when glitter goes wrong it can go *really* wrong, you know?

There are those rare times, though, when a truly dynamic glitter gloss takes my breath away. That magical feeling swept over me when I first marveled at Dior Sparkle Shine Glitter Top Coat for Lips ($24.50), a limited edition lipgloss from the Dior Night Diamond holiday collection.

Imagine sucking on a disco ball lollipop for hours; that’s the effect Sparkle Shine gives lips. Infused with a plethora of large green, blue, pink, gold and silver glitter pieces, this bad boy is the mutha of glitter glosses.

Girrrrl… This Is GOOD GLITTER

Dior really should call this stuff glitter with a touch of gloss.

While there are many elegant glitter lipglosses out there, like Chanel Galactic Glossimer, Sparkle Shine stands out because it contains an abundance of glitter (I’m guessing double the average amount).
[Continue reading…]

Beauty Snacks: Sites of the Day, November 11

November 11th, 2008 by Karen 12 Comments

New Benefit Blush: Coralista

Sephora’s Beauty & the Blog gives a sneak peek of Coralista, the newest boxed blush from Benefit. Purty!

During Tough Times, Women Turn to Lipstick

The Lipstick Index, the financial barometer that says makeup sales rise directly in relation to free-falling finances, has increased 40% in the past few months. If you can’t decide on a color for fall, The New York Times kindly provides a list of 41 lipstick shades for the season.

Chanel Appoints a New Art Director

Chanel recently appointed Ezra Petronia, editor-in-chief of Self Service Magazine (get your mind out of the gutter, dirty birdy), as the new art director for its makeup and watch businesses. Petronia’s previous beauty campaign credits include Prada and Chloe. I’ve always liked the cleanliness and simplicity of Chanel’s beauty ads, so I wonder if he’s going to take it in a new direction.

Hello, Kitty

Are you as excited as I am about the upcoming launch of Hello Kitty for MAC Cosmetics in February? Specktra Beauty News has the dish on this very highly anticipated collection!

Twilight Riot in SF

Holy crap! All hell broke loose at the fan meet-and-greet in San Francisco yesterday with Twilight actor Robert Pattison. A few fans got trampled and a girl reportedly broke her nose.

The Hills Quiz… I Totes Failed

Apparently I need to pay closer attention when I’m watching The Hills. I took Bella Sugar’s The Hills Quiz and failed miserably! I think witnessing Spencer and Heidi’s ridiculousness for the billionth time sent me into a vegetative state. Yah, that’s it. 🙂

Even More Paris

If you can’t get enough of Paris, check out Dino-Ray’s coverage for the SF Examiner.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

5 More Makeup and Beauty Tips from Paris Hilton

November 10th, 2008 by Karen 44 Comments

Every successful celebutante has a few secret beauty tips up her sleeve, and Paris Hilton’s no exception. She was in SF today at the Macy’s in Union Square to promote Fairy Dust, her latest fragrance, and dished about her new perfume, her TV show and, of course, makeup.

New Lipgloss Love: Laura Mercier Liquid Crystal Lipgloss in Citrine

When it comes to makeup, Paris loves lipgloss. This time last year she was all about Chanel Glossimer in Astral. Before that, it was MAC Lipglass in Prrr, but lately she’s been lovin’ on Laura Mercier Liquid Crystal Lipgloss in Citrine, a bright golden coral.

Homegirl actually busted out a tube from her silver Fendi purse while we talked.

“It’s funky,” she said, turning the tube in the light to show me how the colors changed, and then applied a layer with the doe foot applicator. “It’s like all different colors … green and gold and orange.”

Sounds pretty, right? So I went straight to the Laura Mercier counter after the interview only to find out that the Liquid Crystal glosses had been retired six months ago. SHOOT!

But I did some digging and found a slightly softer alternative to Citrine, Bellini Lip Glace ($22), a shimmery coral-gold.

5 of Paris Hilton’s Favorite Makeup and Beauty Products

1. MAC Studio Fix
She can’t live without it!

2. Cle de Peau Concealer

3. CoverGirl LashBlast
Okay, that settles it. Paris and I don’t have the same taste in mascara. Last year she mentioned Maybelline Great Lash (I never understood the hype), and this year it’s CoverGirl’s LashBlast. Seriously?

I almost gave her my tube of Chanel Exceptionnel mascara … but who gives away Chanel??

4. Wet ‘n’ Wild Nail Polish
LOL, I wonder if she tries on polish while she’s standing in front of the display in the store. I know you do this too, ladies. Don’t lie!

5. Kate Somerville products
Paris highly recommends Kate’s cleanser, eye cream and toner.

Some of Her Favorite Makeup Looks

She’s photographed wearing a lot of smokey eyes and nude lips, but today she wore a shimmery silver and green-gray eye, pink cheeks and coral lips, which nicely complimented her seafoam green and silver Alexander Wang dress, L.A.M.B cardigan and white Dior sunglasses.

[Continue reading…]

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, November 10

November 10th, 2008 by Karen 75 Comments

Mood:

Excited! Celebutante and fragrance mogul Paris Hilton is visiting the downtown SF Macy’s today to promote her new fragrance, Fairy Dust, and I’m trying to score an interview. Last time we talked, she gave some pretty good beauty tips (start taking care of your skin at a young age, for one). For deets on her schedule today, check out the Macy’s website.

Fragrance:

Once upon a time a friend of mine went for a job interview at the Gap wearing non-Gap clothes; she didn’t get the job. Later, she asked the interviewer what she could have done differently, and one of the answers was “Well, you didn’t come to the interview dressed in Gap clothing.”

Needless to say, I won’t be wearing Coco Mademoiselle to Macy’s today.

Eyeshadow:

It’s a toss up right now. Either Dior Golds 569 or Chanel Emerald Coast eyeshadow duo.

Nails:

Sephora by OPI Metro Chic

Body lotion:

Jergen’s Naturals Renew Daily Moisturizer (smells like blueberries)

Lovin’:

My first cup of coffee, a good night’s sleep, and that I don’t have to get my bridesmaid’s dress altered for Jen’s wedding later this month. It’s loose in the bosom area… but whatever, I’ll just wear a padded bra and stuff that sucker if push comes to shove! As Tim Gunn says, “Make it work.”

Stressin’:

Worried about my mother-in-law, El Hub’s mom, who goes in for surgery (mastectomy) later this week. I’m sure everything will be fine, but she’s still on my mind.

Purse:

The over-the-shoulder turkey holder, aka my slouchy black Lauren Merkin bag.

Working out today?:

Maybe hip hop class tonight. If not, then maybe a yoga DVD in the living room.

Goals for the week:

To be true to myself, to stay positive and cheerful and to hold down the fort while El Hub visits our mom in Hawaii.

Happy Monday, girls. Are you ready for this? Just copy the empty list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le list

Mood:
Fragrance:
Eye shadow:
Nails:
Body lotion:
Lovin’:
Stressin’:
Purse:
Working out today?:
Goals for the week:

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Celebrate the Holidays with Holiday Makeup

November 10th, 2008 by Karen 13 Comments

1. Chanel Holiday 2008

“Some might say Chanel was too tame in the color department, but I’m liking the browns, beiges and golds. The look features neutral beige and brown eyes paired with either pink-gold or red lips. The face and cheeks glow with touches of gold and shimmery pink highlights. Mmm… I lurve Chanel.”

2. MAC Holiday 2008: Red She Said

“I’ve been a little late to the Red She Said party, but I’m getting into it now. At first, I didn’t think it had the same WOW factor that Cult of Cherry did, but both Enough Said blush and Inter-view eyeshadow delivered beautiful results and helped me see the error of my makeup lurvin’ ways.”

3. Shu Uemura Mika Holiday Collection

“Each of the eyeshadow palettes comes with pressed shadows and a cream liner shade with the same wonderfully high color pigmentation and fine textures we’ve come to expect from Shu Uemura’s eye products.”

4. Lancome Holiday 2008

“OOH! If you’re more into red, you gotta check out In All Her Splendor next time you hit a Lancome counter. It’s sheer and glamorous and very nicely done.”

5. Lippmann Collection Nail Colors, Holiday 2008

“Take a gander at the new Lippmann Collection Holiday 2008 colors ($15 each). The four new full-size shades are available online and at Nordstrom stores nationwide.”

6. Clinique Holiday 2008: Blackberry Bloom

“The first time I saw the gorgeous model in this promotional picture — her smokey purple eyes, berry lips and cheeks — I about fell over in my chair!”

7. Prescriptives Aglow Holiday 2008

“With a thick, non-stick texture, the Colorscope glosses feel a lot like Stila Lip Glazes but are much more moisturizing (no dry or peeling flakes, huzzah!). I think it’s a natural-looking lip, sure to look fab with smokey eyes.”

8. Estee Lauder Vintage Jewels Collection Holiday 2008

“The collection’s adventurous eye, lip, face and nail shades remind me of jewel-filled pirate treasure chests bulging with amethysts, emeralds and sapphires. Aye, matey! I’ll walk ye plank for these colors!”

9. Benefit Cosmetics Holiday 2008

“Does m’lday like to keep her options open? If so, the set provides a lot of options. Two of the six shades in Peace Love & Glossiness are a purple and a gold, and each of the three double ended gloss sticks come with two coordinating glosses, to be worn by themselves or mixed together.”

10. Bobbi Brown Holiday 2008

“While the blue, silver and black shades in the Night Sky Long-Wear Eye Palette are pretty on their own, I like this palette mostly because the cream shadows and gel liners complement a wide variety of powder eye shadow shades.”

The Holidays…
This year the holidays will be a little different for a few reasons, one of which is the economy and how it has grind to a halt. I hope the big players in the makeup and beauty industries wake up and pay extra attention to their pricing. Why not offer a few more value sets and better sales than usual? Now is the time, right?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Clinique Kissable Six Lipgloss Wands: They Plump, They Really Do

November 9th, 2008 by Karen 14 Comments

Dual Tip Wands from top to bottom: Luscious Lilac/ Double Plum, Strawberry Burst/ Peppermint Patty and Blackberry Bloom/ Pink Champagne

Hey, so how do lip plumpers work? I didn’t know, so I did some digging this afternoon.

Lip plumpers are supposed to give lips a full, plump look. Some of them contain mentholatum (think Ben Gay). The tingling causes blood to rush to the lips, aka making them plump.

Other times the plumping agent comes from peppermint or capsicum plants — basically peppers, again, that trigger inflammation in the lips, causing blood to plump ’em up.

I haven’t had much luck with plumping glosses. They either feel like bees stinging my lips or just generally don’t work well or look good at all. But these Clinique Full Potential Lips Plump and Shine lipglosses get a big kiss. Not only are they allergy tested and pain- and fragrance-free (yea!), but I swear they actually work.

Score all six Full Potential Lip Shades this holiday season in a single swoop with the Clinique Kissable Six lipgloss set ($35, available December). The limited edition set comes with three dual tipped lipgloss wands (effectively two for one) in a cute silver trimmed zipper pouch.

Each of the six sheer shades feels thick and moisturizing and has a light minty taste. Yes, they’re sticky, but wear time seems a little better than average for a gloss, lasting about three hours between applications.

As for their plumpability … plumposity … plumping potential … the effect isn’t dramatic, but I can see a difference in the mirror. My lips do look a little plumper than usual, at least I think they do. It must be due to the capsicum, peppermint AND menthoxypropanediol (a synthetic menthol) these glosses contain.

The Clinique Kissable Six

Luscious Lilac: shimmery light purple
Double Plum: shimmery plum
Blackberry Bloom: shimmery berry
Pink Champagne: shimmer pink with golden pearl
Strawberry Burst: shimmery red
Peppermint Patty: shimmery white

[Continue reading…]

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Nov. 9

November 9th, 2008 by Karen 16 Comments

I can’t believe what a sunny day it is in Marin today. It poured down rain last week, leading me to believe we were in for a long, gray winter, but lo and behold the sun’s back, I guess for one last encore, huzzah!

No big plans for us. I’ve got my sights set on an Orange Dream Machine from Jamba Juice this afternoon, but that’s about the extent of my exciting plans for the day. Look out, world! It’s Mrs. Excitement!

What do you have going on today? Got any good movie recommendations for me?

Speaking of drama, some of Tabs’ relatives are missing in Honolulu! They were last seen milling about the International Market Place in Waikiki. Can you help us find them all (click here for a larger version)?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen