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Neon Helps Nails Do the Bright Thing: Dazzle Your Digits With This Easy Neon Nail Art Look…and Then Enter to Win $600 in Prizes!

May 17th, 2012 by Karen 46 Comments

This series is brought to you by Buxom Color Choreography Eyeshadow. Buxom wants to inspire you to live life vividly.

You know why summer is one of my favorite seasons?

Okay, I mean besides the sun, the warm weather, the blockbuster movies, the lighter traffic on the highways (because school is out), the beach days, swimming pools, and aaaaaaall of that stuff. Besides all of that, do you know why summer is one of my favorite seasons? 🙂

One word: color! Summer is a fantastic excuse to go buck wild with color.

For those three months, it’s everywhere you turn — on lips, cheeks, eyes, and yes, also nails.

And what better way to celebrate the coming color storm than with some of the neat neon nail colors popping up in summer collections.

Here’s an easy neon nail art tutorial that you can do even if you’re pressed for time. And you can also try some different color combinations to suit your mood.

Step 1: Start with a bright base

First things first, apply a base coat, followed by a layer (or two) of your favorite neon nail polish. Here, I’m using a creamy bright orange (just because I think it’s summery and fun).

Wait until that’s completely dry before moving on to the next step…

Step 2: Add your stripes

Tabs, a self-proclaimed feline expert in stripes, insisted that I do mine freehand, painting them directly on my nails. For this look, I used a bright creamy neon pink.

Before I let the brush touch a nail, I try to remove as much excess polish from the brush as I can by running it against the mouth of the bottle. Then, with the lightest touch I can manage, I draw each stripe, beginning at the base of the nail and brushing up toward the tip.

When I’m done with the first layer, I wait for it to dry, and then repeat the process (if necessary, depending on the opacity of the color you’ve chosen) for extra intensity.

Now, you can draw your stripes anywhere you want. Remember, this is all about you going buck wild. 🙂 But I prefer to draw them slightly off the center of each nail.

Why? Because I like my stripes like I like my cat — bold and kinda chunky!

But thin stripes are cool, too. I’ve done it both ways.

If you have trouble painting your stripes freehand, clear scotch tape can help. Just lay two strips of tape down along the sides of each nail to create a homemade stencil, and then paint in the middle.

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5 Spring Beauty Bugbears, Vanquished! Tips and Tricks to Solve 5 Common Spring Beauty Bothers

May 9th, 2012 by Karen 26 Comments

This post is sponsored by DoveÂ® ClearToneâ„¢ Deodorant — designed to visibly reduce underarm dark marks and even skin tone.

Spring’s in full swing, and I’m lovin’ almost everything about it. Love the gorgeous green hills, the wildflowers springing up everywhere I turn, the sunny skies, sunsets and longer days, but ah! — that’s not all spring brings. It also brings some seasonal — pardon me — ah-choo! — challenges.

Challenges like…

1. Smudgy eyes

Around this same time every year I develop an inconvenient allergy to nature — pretty much all of it, judging by my watery eyes, itchy throat and incessant sneezing.

Zyrtec usually saves the day, but when it doesn’t, watery eyes often leave me with smudgy eye makeup.

Sure, I could skip wearing eye makeup altogether in spring, but where’s the fun in that? 🙂

When my eyes turn to “Aye!” I turn to these time-tested eye makeup-saving tricks…

First, before I apply my makeup, I prime everything — and I mean everything — to lock it down. I apply primer on my lids, in my brows (helps the brow powder stay put), along my lower lash lines and even beneath my eyes. Then, I follow pretty much my regular makeup routine but using long-wearing and/or waterproof eyeshadows, liner and mascara.

2. Fading foundation…

I like these longer days, but the extra sunshine keeps me going from 6 in the morning till 9 at night. My foundation’s gotta last, so again I turn to primer.

Here’s a trick to help your foundation last a little longer: after applying foundation primer, wait 10-15 minutes before blotting with a tissue and applying your foundation.

I’m not exactly sure why, but the extra time seems to help the primer do its thing. My foundation lasts longer before fading, and I find I even use less of it, too.

3. When it comes to hair, wind blows

It’s getting gusty out here in Northern California, and when I wear my shoulder-length hair down, it usually ends up in my gloss. On really windy days, I like headbands, low ponytails and braids.
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5 Bridal Beauty Tips: Glow in Your Gown With These Five Body Care Tips

April 17th, 2012 by Karen 58 Comments

This post is part of a series sponsored by DoveÂ® ClearToneâ„¢ Deodorant.

It’s that time of year when knots are being tied, and many brides are slipping into strapless dresses. Yes, it’s wedding season!

I wore a strapless gown when El Hub made an honest woman out of me, which — wow! I can’t believe that was six years ago… It feels like yesterday! And I remember being a little nervous back then about baring so much skin.

If you’re planning a trip down the aisle and have your heart set on a strapless gown, consider these bridal beauty tips to get your arms, shoulders, neck and back in tip-top shape for the big day.

1. Glow on, exfoliate!

A gentle exfoliating scrub sloughs away dead skin cells, leaving you with a gorgeous full-body glow. I always keep a gentle scrub in my shower and use it every couple days. After rinsing, I like to follow it up with a rich moisturizer.

In a pinch, try mixing a small amount of granulated sugar with your shower gel.

No, really! 🙂 It’s a cheap, pretty effective way to get your scrub on.

2. Remember residue removal

Got body acne (it’s no fun)? Removing hair conditioner residue from your shoulders, chest, neck and back may help reduce breakouts.

I used to wash my hair and bod, and then condition and rinse. Now, after conditioning and rinsing my hair, I twist it up into a bun, clip it in place, and wash my bod with a shower gel, taking care to remove any remaining conditioner residue on my skin.

3. Here comes the sun (screen), little darlin’

I’m not gonna nag. I know you’re really good about wearing sunscreen every day on your face, so this is just a gentle reminder to remember your neck, chest and arms.

Even if you don’t plan to spend the day outside, your skin still gets some sun through the windows in the car and at the office.

And if you haven’t looked lately, check the expiration dates on your sunscreens. They become less effective after they’ve expired.
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Sleek and Chic: 3 Easy Party Hairstyles

March 13th, 2012 by Karen 29 Comments

This post is part of a series sponsored by Walgreens.

It used to seem like I had endless amounts of time to get all dolled up for different things, like parties, dancing and baby showers, but now? What I wouldn’t give to have a whole afternoon to get ready.

These days, on the rare occasions when I actually do have something to get dressed up for, it seems like I’m always rushing. I’m lucky to have enough time to fill in my brows, let alone do something special with my hair.

Still, even when I am rushing, running ragged and far behind, the last thing I want to do with my ‘do is just throw on a hat and call it a day (although I am totally guilty of doing exactly that more than a few times).

When all I can swing is 5-10 minutes on hair, I’ll shoot for one of these three quick party hairstyles. Each one is light on muss and fuss, and can be done with styling products from the drugstore.

First things first: the prep work.

This stuff is gÃ¼d

Assuming a shower isn’t completely off the table, I like to start with one, and lately I’ve been bringing two products by gÃ¼d from Burt’s Bees with me.

I love how citrusy Orange Petalooza Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner smell ($6.99 each), and the combo leaves my hair feeling silky soft, lightweight and conditioned.

If I had my druthers, I’d always air dry my hair, but sometimes that’s not an option. Hair dryers do speed up the process, and when I’m going to use one, I try to work in a heat protecting product, like the new Suave Keratin Infusion Heat Defense Leave-In Conditioner ($3.49), to protect against heat styling damage.

When I can’t squeeze in a shower at all, well, that’s when I turn to dry shampoo. Definitely not ideal, but the good ones do freshen my â€˜do and give some lift to my roots. I really like Suave Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo. It’s designed for all hair types and costs just $3.49.

With the prep work done, it’s time to pick our hairstyle! 🙂

1. Retro in a rush

I’ve been wearing my hair a lot like this lately. I call it my “Ode to Mad Men,” and it’s kind of a rushed take on an old-school beehive.

I start by parting my bangs to the side, but if you don’t have bangs, just take about a two-inch chunk of hair in that same area, and part it to the side. Then, to get the look of long side-swept bangs, secure the chunk in place with bobby pins, like the Styling Essentials Bobby Pins by Conair ($1.39).

Next, I put my hair into a low ponytail secured with an elastic ponytail holder in a color that matches my mane. I like Goody Ouchless Gentle Hair Elastics, 1) because a pack of 27 costs just $3.99, and 2) they don’t break my strands when I pull them out.

To build some height at my crown, I grab a pencil (here, I’m actually using an eyeliner), stick it into the roots up there, and then gently pull up to loosen the style and create some height.

I don’t usually worry about it looking too neat, because with this style, I kind of like how it looks a little undone.

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Baby, It’s Cold Outside: Makeup to Last Through Rain, Sleet or Snow

February 14th, 2012 by Karen 32 Comments

Makeup to Last Through Rain, Sleet or Snow

This post is part of a series sponsored by Walgreens.

Yesterday I wasn’t quite singin’ in the rain, but I did hum as I walked in it. 🙂

Yep, it’s been raining here in Northern California (Sunday night was even stormy!), and I’ve been doing my best to stay dry. I’ve been mostly successful at it, too, except for an incident yesterday…

I had to brave the elements to run a few errands, and when I walked under an awning outside, one of those streams of 33-degree almost-freezing water shot straight down the back of my top.

I could have screamed! And I almost did, but I talked myself down by thinking about some of my favorite makeup for inclement weather.

Products like…

1. Maybelline Full ‘N Soft Waterproof Mascara, $8.49

A friend of mine who works for a high-end makeup brand turned me on to this budget bad boy. We were commiserating one afternoon by email about our short, stumpy lashes when she confessed her love for Maybelline’s Full ‘N Soft Waterproof Mascara.

It’s also become a flake-free, smudge-resistant favorite of mine, thanks to sweaty yoga workouts and rainy days. Not only does it plump and lengthen, it also keeps my curled lashes lifted all day long.

2. Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer, $7.49 each

Rimmel’s Eye Definers have superhuman strength, because once they latch on to my lash and water lines, they don’t let go!

Clockwise from the gold shade on the lower left: Precious Gold, Purple Shock, Deep Ocean and Emerald Sparkle

I love the fun, funky shades, but Rimmel also included a couple of conservative colors for good measure (like black and brown).

3. L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows, $7.99 each

Not quite a cream or a powder, these spongy new potted shadows feel soft to the touch. Waterproof, sweatproof and crease-resistant, too, the Infallible Eyeshadows are also easy to apply with a finger, which makes ’em prime candidates for rainy days when I’m in a rush.

From the left: Golden Sage, Perpetual Purple, Iced Latte, Continuous Cooca, Sultry Smoke and Eternal Black

4. Revlon Cream Blush in Rosy Glow, $9.99

I like to apply this sheer pink cream blush beneath my powder blushes when I know I’m heading out in the rain. Rosy Glow gives the staying power of other cheek products a boost.

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New Year, New You: Jump Start Your Style with These Five Lip Looks

January 17th, 2012 by Karen 58 Comments

This post is part of a series sponsored by Walgreens.

Don’t you just love fresh starts and clean slates? I do! — and that’s what Januarys (and sometimes Februarys) are all about. New year, new excuse/opportunity to try something new, like perhaps pink streaks in your hair. 🙂

But say you’re not quite ready for a full-on commitment to a funky hair color. No problem. You can still freshen up your look, starting with your lips (and you don’t have to spend a small fortune).

Thanks to drugstore beauty aisles and brands like Revlon, Rimmel, Covergirl, Jordana and Maybelline, your new lip look could be less than $10 away.

Here are five affordable lip looks to give you some ideas…

1. A bright reddish pink

Nothing says “new start” like a bright reddish pink, unless you apply Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Strawberry ($7.79) atop Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss in 12 ($5.99), in which case it says it in all caps, with an exclamation mark, like this: “NEW START!”

Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Strawberry on the left and Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss in 12 on the right

2. A shimmery golden pink

How about a tender touch? Something soft and romantic, like a shimmery rosy peach? Here, I mixed both of the colors from Covergirl’s new Blast Flipstick in Snap ($9.79) and topped them with Jordana’s Lip Out Loud Super Shiny Gloss in TTYL ($1.99).

Jordana Lip Out Loud Super Shiny Gloss in TTYL on the top and Covergirl Blast Flipstick in Snap on the bottom

The two colors from the Covergirl Blast Flipstick in Snap (far left and center) and Jordana Lip Out Loud Super Shiny Gloss in TTYL (far right)
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Skincare for the Changing Seasons: Pamper Your Skin with These 3 DIY Recipes for Skincare Treats

December 15th, 2011 by Karen 51 Comments

This post is part of a series sponsored by Dove.

I have a love/hate relationship with my kitchen…

Sometimes, like when I have a long, lazy Saturday afternoon stretched out in front of me and very little on my plate, I enjoy cooking and preparing meals from start to finish. Other times, though, like after a busy day on an average Wednesday night, even the thought of tearing open a bag of baby carrots is enough to wear me out.

Last Saturday wasn’t exactly a lazy day, but I did have a little time to explore the culinary arts. While rooting around the cupboards, I realized that my pantry contained the fixin’s for more than good eats. It also had some great ingredients to make a number of do-it-yourself skincare treats.

All three of these recipes rely on ingredients you may already have in your kitchen at home, and the best part? — they only call for two ingredients each. 🙂

What do you get when you mix two great things together? Well, if they’re olive oil and sugar, you get one heck of a skin scrub. I like to use this rich, moisturizing scrub on my hands, feet and body at least a few times every winter. The gently exfoliating sugar grains buff the flakes away from even my roughest, driest patches, while the olive oil helps to moisturize and repair.

If you happen to be out of olive oil, substitutions are allowed. You can swap it out for body or facial oils, like jojoba or argan.

The quantities listed here should make enough to scrub both of your hands and feet, but if you’re hoping for a full body scrub, you’ll want to use more.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon of granulated sugar
1 teaspoon of olive oil

Mix the sugar and olive oil into a thick paste, which should just take a minute, and then buff where needed using small circular motions.

Rinse with warm water, and follow up, if you’d like, with your favorite moisturizer for even more hydration.

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3 Makeup and Beauty Packing Tips to Prep for Holiday Travel

December 7th, 2011 by Karen 27 Comments

3 Holiday Travel Makeup and Beauty Packing Tips (2)

This post is part of a content series sponsored by Clarisonic.

2011 will go down in my diary as the Year of the Suitcase. I took a total of five trips this year, which is nothing, I know, compared to hard-core travelers, but it was a lot for me.

And one fantastic side effect of those trips was that they forced me to upgrade my approach to packing. I went from starting the year as a contender for “Crappiest Packer Ever,” and ended it as a middleweight semi-pro packer with a handful of new tricks.

If you have plans to fly (or drive) over the next few weeks, here are three things you can do to eek out a few more cubic feet for makeup and beauty in your luggage.

1. The door is a jar

I’m a gal with a weakness for products, and there’s only so much room in those TSA-approved plastic baggies. By filling up little sample jars with your must-have skincare and other liquid products, you can fill your allowed plastic bag to the brim.

Sometimes you can find the little bottles at drugstores, places like Bed Bath & Beyond and even Target, but I like the free ones from Nordstrom. They hold less than an ounce, but for most things that’s usually enough product to last me a couple of weeks.

(I ask my favorite makeup artists if I can have a couple of them every so often when I visit a counter.)

Don’t forget 3-1-1

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 3-1-1 program limits the size and number of liquid-filled products that can be brought aboard planes in carry-on bags. Travelers can bring aboard liquid-filled bottles no larger than 3.4 ounces (100ml) by volume and must store those bottles in a single quart-sized, clear plastic zip-top bag.

Oh, and ever since the time I accidentally used my face cleanser on my hair, I’ve taken to putting labels on the jars, small rectangular ones from Office Depot, and I write the name of each product with a waterproof Sharpie, just in case the outside of the jar gets wet.

For my next trip — and yes, I admit it sounds a little OCD — I plan to add numbers to the labels to indicate the order in which the products should be used.

I guess I just like the idea of seeing the jars all lined up on a shelf… 🙂

(TIP: Empty contact lens cases will also work in a pinch.)

3 Holiday Travel Makeup and Beauty Packing Tips (1)
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