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

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

A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

Did Ya Ever Wonder…

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…what a beauty book looks like before it actually ends up on the bookstore shelf?

Here’s a side view of a beauty book manuscript I’m helping to edit. I’ve been working on it all morning long. I can’t reveal the name of the author or the book title yet (it still doesn’t have a title), but ya’ll will be the first ones to get the skinny once it’s ready. 🙂

Anyway, after an hour or so of reading the manuscript, I started getting antsy, so I grabbed my pan of MAC Parrot eyeshadow and held it for comfort. Sidenote: Yes, I am a weirdo.

With MAC Parrot in one hand and the manuscript in the other, I experienced a sudden Makeup and Beauty Blog math moment (Insert clouds parting overhead and sunlight streaming through *here*)! The width of one 400-page beauty book manuscript is approximately equal to the width of one pan of MAC Parrot. The Pythagorean theorem it ain’t, but you know what they say — knowledge is power, yo.

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Speaking of powerful knowledge, here’s a list of beauty books compiled from your recommendations in the comments the other day.

Recommended Beauty Books

I’m psyched about expanding my makeup reference library. Thanks again for your recommendations!

How’s your morning been so far? Did ya snag some Fafi loot? Don’t be shy; share with the class.

Later this afternoon I plan to post a short tutorial on the Lancome Stylish Neutrals Eyeshadow Palette (aka my current obsession), so stay tuned!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Dark Circles Be Gone: Dior Long-Wearing Moisturizing Concealer

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The beauty gurus at Nordstrom have been telling me to keep an eye on Dior. Big things are being predicted from the line, and Dior counters are popping up at Nordie’s stores across the US.

But with the exception of DiorShow Mascara, I haven’t had much experience with Dior, so I was curious about their other products. A few weeks ago I decided to try a tube of Dior Long-Wearing Moisturizing Concealer in Medium Beige ($27). Shannon Blunden, a fantastic makeup artist and the Cosmetics and Fragrance Manager at Nordstrom in Union Square, sold me on the product after using it to conceal my dark undereye circles. It also worked well on my eyelids as a shadow primer. Check it:

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Undereye circles be gone, yo!

Shannon first discovered Dior concealer a few years ago doing wedding makeup on a bride who insisted upon using it for her big day. After seeing how well it worked, Shannon was hooked. It soon became the only concealer she would use on herself or her clients.

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Dior concealer has a slightly thicker consistency than my go-to concealer, MAC Select Moisturecover. It’s also more heavily pigmented, which makes it a bit tricky to work with. Forget slap-it-on-and-go here.

Using the smallest little dab, I apply Dior slowly, layer by layer, and blend like crazy. It takes time to blend sufficiently, but rushing through the job will show lines of demarcation on your skin.

Applied correctly, Dior Moisturizing Concealer looks seamless. I can barely tell I’m wearing any concealer at all. It does take a lil’ bit of work, though, and you know me … lazy to the Nth degree. First using a layer of something like Laura Mercier’s Foundation Primer to “cushion” the product makes it easier to blend, and I found that a drop of foundation to the undereye area did wonders. When used to cover a base product, Dior Moisturizing Concealer becomes far easier to layer and blend.

Like the name says, the formula has supreme staying power without drying the skin under my eyes. After a few hours, some moisturizing concealers migrate into my fine lines like crazy. Dior does, too, but not as much as MAC Select Moisturecover.

The catch, unfortunately (there’s always a catch), is the limited shade selection. For now, there are only three colors to choose from: Light Beige, Medium Beige and Light Golden. The product is also heavily perfumed and smells strongly of baby powder. My sensitive nose protested at first, but the scent faded quickly.

At $27, it ain’t cheap, but you get a big tube. I found I only needed to use a few drops on my dark circles and guess that one tube would last me at least a year.

Because of how easily it applies, my tube of MAC Select Moisturecover still reigns supreme on super lazy days, but when time is not of the essence and I want to look my best, I’ll reach for Dior’s Moisturizing Concealer, fo’ sho.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Fo’ reals?

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Still at the bookstore looking for beauty books… Look what I just found on the Valentine’s Day book table, LOLZ! Happy V-day to your frisky cat.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

9 Random Things: The Getting-to-Know-You Stage

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He asks: “So, what do you do for fun?”

She replies: “Well, I like to go hiking, eat sushi, go dancing…”

Last week, during dinner at one of my favorite Thai restaurants, there was a couple sitting next to me who were clearly on a first date. My nosy ass couldn’t help but eavesdrop on their conversation between bites of yellow chicken curry (what can I say? I multi-task) and spring rolls. The boy hailed from Texas and liked indie rock; the girl liked to meditate and go hiking. They looked cute together, but there were several awkward moments of silence during which both of them sat there, obviously nervous, nibbling away at the Pad Thai for way too long.

It got me thinking about the-getting-to-know-you stage of friendships and relationships…

Friends

9 Random Things My Friends Know About Me

  1. I hate earthworms. No, I don’t just hate them. The very thought of earthworms makes me physically sick (I’m cringing right now). They are among the grossest things on the planet and disgust me on a great many levels. I hate how they squirm, how slimy they look, and I hate their nasty little turtlenecks.
  2. I am not a morning person.
  3. I was in a bad rollerblading accident involving a hill, a deaf elderly lady, a flock of slow moving ducks and a patch of ivy. What occurred was both startling and unpleasant.
  4. My first car was a red ’95 Honda Civic with black interior and NO AIR CONDITIONING.
  5. I can square dance.
  6. I don’t bowl.
  7. I sing in the car.
  8. I don’t like hot, spicy food but lurve extra garlic.
  9. I wore braces in junior high.

How about you? What do your best friends know about you?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Fafi: The Things I Do For Love

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“…you see, I’m a beauty writer, and I’d like to share pictures of the MAC Fafi display and some swatches on my blog.”

“Yeah, well, I’m sorry, but you can’t take pictures in here.”

“Please, is there any possible way? These are die hard, loyal MAC fans, and I’d really like to let them see color swatches of the line. They are so excited, and most of them intend to spend a lot of money on it. I could give a special mention to your store…”

“Sorry, NO! It’s policy. I can’t let you do that.”

Note to file: ’tis usually a BAD IDEA to tell a journalist “no” because come hell or high water, she’ll find a way to get what she wants. Behold, the forbidden MAC Fafi display:

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Approaching the MAC store yesterday my spider sense started tingling. I knew deep in my veins the powers-that-be would not let me get swatches and take pictures of Fafi without a fight. I had El Hub, my getaway driver and co-conspirator, circle around the block a few times, with me ducked down in the passenger seat beside him, so I could case the joint before embarking upon the mission. Peering into the store as we circled the block, I could see what I’d be up against.

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Inside were four makeup artists busy with six customers. I contemplated my Fafi swatch strategy and decided I had two options:

First, there was Option 1, codenamed “Guerilla Warfare.” I would enter the store and immediately start snapping pictures and then play dumb the moment the employees shut me down (“My bad, I didn’t know I couldn’t take pictures, sorry!”).

Option 2, codenamed “Smooth Operator,” would require better timing and more finesse than Option 1. I would enter the store, introduce myself, make nice, and then charm my way into being allowed to take a few snapshots. I’ve pulled this one off many times before; it’s harder work, but when executed correctly can pay off in the end. You know the drill: you get more bees with honey.

For this mission, I chose Option 2. El Hub double parked the getaway car in front of the store, we said our goodbyes, and off I went.

Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out the way I’d hoped it would. After being told three times that I couldn’t take any display pics, I took out my trusty camera and shot hella pictures of the display when nobody was watching, ha!

When I asked if I could swatch the products, I got shut down yet again. Undeterred, I meticulously applied color swatches to my arm. I could tell a few of the makeup artists were on to me. “I just want to see what the colors look like against my skin tone,” I replied with a smile. “Aren’t those Paint Pots to die for?”

After I finished swatching the entire Fafi line (with the exception of the nail polishes) onto my left arm, I waited until all of the makeup artists were busy with customers, and then calmly walked out the front door.

Outside, I spotted El Hub behind the wheel of the getaway car and booked it!

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Without further ado (drumroll, please!), below are the forbidden Fafi swatches.

The pics are kinda ghetto, I know. The James Bond-like conditions weren’t ideal, but I did the best I could!

MAC Fafi Paint Pots from left to right ($16.50 each): Cash Flow, Perky, Layin’ Low, Girl Friendly, Nice Vice, Rollickin’
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MAC Fafi Eyeshadow Quads from left to right ($36): Fafi Eyes 1, Fafi Eyes 2
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MAC Fafi Lipglasses from left to right ($14): Squeeze It, Sugar Trance, Cult Fave, Totally It
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MAC Fafi Powder Blush from left to right ($17.50): Fashion Frenzy, Hipness
MAC Fafi Iridescent Powders from left to right ($21): Verve-Acious, Sassed Up, Belightful
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MAC Fafi Lipsticks left to right ($14): High Top, Strawbaby, Not So Innocent, Flash-n-Dash, Fun ‘N’ Sexy, Utterly Frivolous
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Ahhhh, yes, MAC Fafi. The things I do for love…

The MAC Cosmetics Fafi Collection drops February 13th, so check your MAC Counter or your favorite free standing store. Just don’t tell them you’ve got a camera on you, yo!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

If you liked this post, check out MAC Makeup Tips: MAC Does Makeup for Music, Too and A Kryolan Makeover, aka Adventures in Theater Makeup. 🙂

Random Acts of Beauty: Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco

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Back when I lived in San Francisco proper you would have had to drag my ass kicking and screaming to Fisherman’s Wharf or Pier 39, two of San Francisco’s most renowned sights. I would have yelled, “Only tourists go there, yo!” But times have changed. El Hub just loooooves the touristy parts of the city, so this morning we drove the 10 miles south from Marin County across the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco for a relaxing day trip.

I still find SF’s tourist spots totally kitschy, but the weather was gorgeous in the city today, and I couldn’t help but fall in love a little bit more with beautiful San Francisco, one of my favorite places in the world.

Here’s a tip: next time you visit Fisherman’s Wharf, there’s a “secret” free parking lot at the end of Van Ness Avenue, next to Aquatic Park. It’s at the far end of the Wharf area, but if you don’t mind walking, it offers four hours of free parking! In SF, finding free parking is like finding your perfect foundation shade.

A view of Aquatic Park from the secret parking lot
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We started out by walking down to historic Hyde Street Pier to check out the old boats docked there. It’s where the ferries headed north across the Bay to Marin would depart from before the Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937.

San Francisco fun fact: before the bridge connected San Francisco to Marin in the North Bay, the ferry route between Hyde Street Pier and the small town of Sausalito in Marin was once considered a segment of Highway 101.

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El Hub found a friend taking a nap on the pier… [Continue reading…]

Don’t Stop Believing

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Why is your friendly neighborhood beauty addict so happy in this picture?

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A. Because she got her roots highlighted (they had been completely unacceptable and just totally wrong for the past month).

B. Because she’s wearing her new favorite lip gloss, Coach 01 Gardenia, which also happens to fit into her favorite Coach wristlet.

coach-lipgloss-gardenia.jpg.

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C. Because she heard three of her favorite Journey songs today! — one in the privacy of her own home (Lights), and two IN FRICKIN’ PUBLIC (Oh Sherry in a restaurant and Don’t Stop Believing in a coffee shop).

You can’t deny your love for Journey!
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D. All of the above.

What made you smile today?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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