Tabs posing with a box of Lush Ultrablast Toothy Tabs, $3.95.
Tabs and Lush Toothy Tabs
Cat Lady Clocks
When I was a kid I thought cat clocks like these were the COOLEST.
MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze
The worst part about getting captured by makeup supervillians is the diabolical beauty limits they always to place on their captives. Only one highlighting product per person? You gotta be kidding me.
But being forced to pare down doesn’t have to be horrendous — not with MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze in the mix.
It lets you get your shimmer on in a multitude of ways, which is important, not only when you’re being subjugated by makeup supervillains, but pretty much any time, because variety, like the crushed red pepper chili flakes I’ve been putting on my food, is the spice of life. 🙂
With more of a pearly shimmer than a glitter like whoa!, Golden Bronze is one of the best kept secrets in MAC’s permanent line.
I first heard about it a few weeks ago from MAC Pro Artist Keri B, who couldn’t stop singing its praises.
First chance I got, I stopped by my favorite MAC counter (in the Nordstrom at Corte Madera) to take a closer look, and even the artists there had nothing but good things to say about it. “A little goes a long way,” and “It’s really easy to blend.” Golden Bronze was always popping up at MAC Pro training classes and photo shoots, they said.
Um, sold!
I’ve been wearing it a lot lately, also up to Napa yesterday, and I can’t believe it took me all this time to finally get a jar. I think it really gets along well with my warm skin tone, and I love that there are just so many different ways it can be worn. Ways like…
Applying it as a standard highlighter
For a lazy, sun-dappled glow like, “Look at me! I’ve spent my entire day getting massages and eating grapes by the pool,” I like to pat Golden Bronze on my upper cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose, on my cupid’s bow and in the middle of my chin with the MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush, which has just the right precision for this kind of thing.
Mixing it with foundation
And for an airbrushed look with a golden sheen, I’ve been adding a dash of Golden Bronze to my MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation, and then buffing the mixture on my skin with the MAC 182 Buffer Brush.
It’s just a little something extra — a slight dewy sheen — and that’s one of the best things about Golden Bronze, how you can mix it in with so many different things!
Adding it to body oils and moisturizers (tinted ones and regular face moisturizers, too)
The next time you don an outfit where you show some skin, try sprinkling a little Golden Bronze into your favorite moisturizer, and apply that to your legs, arms and shoulders. It’ll give you a gorgeous golden glow.
Running low on lotion? No problem. Just buff Golden Bronze directly on to your skin. I like to use something like the MAC 182 Buffer Brush — something big and fluffy.
I love the way it makes my shoulders glow (super pretty when you’re wearing an off-the-shoulder shirt or tube top).
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Tarte Clean Slate 360 Creaseless 12-Hour Smoothing Eye Primer Makes Eye Makeup Stick Around
Skipping eye primer always seems like a good idea when I’m in a hurry, but yeah, sometimes it’s not.
Like when I’m taking some much-needed “meow time” to unwind at Sephora, decide to do some swatches, and what starts out as a 15-minute trip turns into two hours.
Or when a coffee break with Channing Tatum starts out as a brief 15-minute chat about the bulging biceps and hair/accessories/shirtless-ness in his upcoming tour de force, Magic Mike, but inevitably turns into a detailed six-hour discussion on the pros and cons of soft and crunchy hair gels (I like soft; crunchy gel seems so early ’90s to me) and the stylishness, or lack thereof, of camo capris (careful) and button-down shirts (yea!).
Okay, so maybe that second example happened, to quote ’80s teen chanteuse Debbie Gibson, “only in my dreams.” 🙂
As real as it may seem!
One thing’s for sure — my days usually last longer than I expect them to, hence my love for long-wearing eye primers that help keep my shadow, liner and concealer in place.
Tarte’s new Clean Slate 360 Creaseless 12-Hour Smoothing Eye Primer ($19) promises to do just that. A smudge-proof base designed to make eye makeup stay on task, it’s supposed to prevent fallout and postpone eye makeup migration for a full 12 hours, so you can say, “g’bye!” to disappearing eyeshadow and creasing color.
A recent study involving my butt in a pool chair and an issue of US Weekly concluded that the waterproof eyeshadow and liner I layered on top of Clean Slate, which is also water-resistant, did sparkle and shimmer for a very long time. The subjects also exhibited no adverse effects after taking a quick dip.
No fussing over finding a base color that matches your skin tone, either, as Clean Slate’s colorless universal shade should work for most everyone.
Tarte Clean Slate 360 Creaseless 12-Hour Smoothing Eye Primer ($19)
- Came out with the summer 2012 collection and was added to Tarte’s permanent line
- Made with beeswax (used as a natural waterproofing agent), mineral pigments (as opposed to artificial colors and dyes) and vitamin E (a natural preservative with anti-inflammatory properties)
- Made without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMO’s or triclosan
- Has a thin consistency, like a light lotion, and it absorbs quickly into my skin
- It layers well beneath eyeshadows (powders and creams) and liners (pencils, liquids, gels and cakes)
- Being from Tarte, it’s also eco-friendly, cruelty-free and
veganvegetarian (it does contain beeswax, which many do not consider vegan) - Sure does last a very long time for me; I get between 12-13 hours, with very minor fading starting around hour eight
Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 222
- 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 four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
- Mood:
Maybe it’s because the tea hasn’t quite kicked yet, but I’m feeling really mellow. I wanted to get a lot done today, but I think a chill day might be in order. - If you had to choose between an oversized, multi-colored knitted poncho (with fringe!) or a faux fur purple vest to wear for a day, which one would you go with and why?
I’d go with the poncho, ya know, for practical reasons. Maybe I could use it as a blanket or a table cloth in an emergency.And I have a feeling the furry purple vest would make me look/feel like a Muppet.
- How quickly can you get dressed, ready and out the door?
Pretend it’s late in the day. You’ve removed your makeup, your contacts, warmed up a Lean Cuisine, and now you’re sitting on the couch in stretchy pants and watching reruns of [INSERT YOUR FAVORITE SYNDICATED TV SHOW].Just then, the phone rings. It’s your friend, calling with a last-minute invite to a fancy dinner soiree, and it’s an offer you simply can’t refuse.
How quickly can you get dressed, ready and out the door? For me, about 20 minutes — but only if I’m having a decent hair day, and I pick an outfit that doesn’t need to be ironed.
- How many hours of sleep do you get each night?
During the week, about 7. I usually climb in bed around 10:30 and read until I get sleepy, usually around 11. On weekends, I like to sleep in, so maybe 8-10 hours of sleep (sometimes 12 if I’m really lucky and Tabs is feeling generous). - Does your significant other do anything that drives you crazy?
Okay, sweetie, if you’re reading this, you know I love you, but how do you manage to always step on my feet or kick my legs whenever we sit across from each other at a table (and I know you’re not getting fresh with me)?It’s like preordained! Every. Single. Time. The worst is when I’m wearing sandals.
- Have you ever battled someone on the dance floor?
Oh, yes. More than once. 🙂 - What’s the last book you finished?
Tina Fey’s Bossypants, and I LOL’d about a hundred times reading it, too. Highly recommended! - What’s the plan for today?
Today is a holiday called Memorial Day here in the U.S., so many of my compatriots have the day off from work. I really wanted to go to the pool in our condo complex (it finally opened for the summer, yay!), but it’s overcast and chilly outside, so that’s not gonna happen.If I finish the tasks Tabs put on my to-do list, I might try to go to a movie. We’ll see… There’s really not a lot in theaters that I still want to see, but next week things start getting good. First, Snow White and the Huntsman comes out, and then Prometheus the week after that.
- What were your favorite TV shows when you were a kid?
Both of my parents worked long hours, so they were always pretty tired when they got home. Consequently, my brother and I spent a lot of time with our defacto babysitter/primary means of entertainment, Mr. TV.That thing was practically on 24/7! I watched a lot of Punky Brewster, Silver Spoons (I had the biggest crush on Ricky Schroder), The Cosby Show, Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters, Double Trouble, Mr. Belvedere, Who’s the Boss (“Ahn-juh-luhr!”), The Golden Girls, The Love Boat…
Yeah, I watched a lot of TV.
- Weekly goals:
Just one this week. I gotta get back to exercising regularly. Ever since I started getting up earlier in the day, I’ve been getting more blogging and other stuff done, but my workouts have been suffering. I’ve been telling myself/trying to exercise in the late afternoon, but I’m usually pretty tired by then.Years ago I would always exercise in the evenings, but now it’s like pulling teeth. I don’t know… I’ve done it before, so I can do it again.
Howdy, friend. 🙂 Happy Memorial Day.
What have you been up to? Any picnics or parties this weekend? Our little circle had its annual Memorial Day cookout yesterday, but El Hub and I drove up to Napa for the day, so we missed it.
Napa was a lot of fun, though. I’ll put up some pics in a few.
But first, the Monday Poll.
If you had to work today, I hope it’s a good one, whether that means it’s busy or slow. If, on the other hand, you had the day off, well, enjoy it. Do something fun. Downtime is very important.
If you decided to fill out the poll, tell me how things are going at the bottom of your comment.
Talk to you soon.
- To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.
1. Mood:
2. If you had to choose between an oversized, multi-colored knitted poncho (with fringe!) or a faux fur purple vest to wear for a day, which one would you go with and why?
3. How quickly can you get dressed, ready and out the door?
4. How many hours of sleep do you get each night?
5. Does your significant other do anything that drives you crazy?
6. Have you ever battled someone on the dance floor?
7. What’s the last book you finished?
8. What’s the plan for today?
9. What were your favorite TV shows when you were a kid?
10. Weekly goals:
Have a marvelous Monday and a great start to your week. It’s almost summer, and things are looking up. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
MAC Silver Dusk
MAC Silver Dusk Iridescent Powder/Loose, $23. Available now at MAC counters, stores and maccosmetics.com.
Today’s Lunch
Black garlic spaghetti grande with head-on gulf prawns, hen-of-the-woods mushrooms, calabrian chili and citrus essence, from Bottega Napa Valley restaurant in Yountville. They make all the pasta in-house! It was perfection.
Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 193
Next time you go to Trader Joe’s and find yourself in the wine aisle, look for a bottle of Saint Tabby de la Loire. Trust me on this. If you like cats and white wine, you’ll love Saint Tabby de la Loire.
In the interest of full disclosure, I have to point out that Tabs owns a controlling stake in the winery, which is in Yountville, in Napa County, California.
If you’re ever out this way, you should totally go!
Let me tell you, the grounds are breathtaking. Tall cedars line the long driveway that leads to a huge Tuscan estate atop a hill that overlooks the vineyard. Row upon row of red and white grape vines, a huge tasting room, and the whole place caters to cats and cat ladies.
Well…cats mostly just like to explore the vineyard, which is stocked with imported mice from France, while cat ladies partake of the wine and play with the kitties.
As for the wine itself, c’est magnifique! Sweet and smooth, like the owner himself.
When he isn’t inspecting the vineyard at Saint Tabby de la Loire, Tabs is busy padding his kitty modeling portfolio and growing his fashion and media empires (Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC.).
Here are the latest pics from his portfolio this week… 🙂
