Karen

Your Eyes, Now With Colour Added: The New MAC Colour Added Eye Shadow X 4

February 20th, 2012 by Karen 39 Comments

mac colour added (3)

Guilty pleasure No. 437: Butter sugar sandwiches

A layer of butter topped with sugar and sandwiched between two slices of soft, melt-in-your-mouth fresh Wonder Bread.

Oh, whatever! You know you loved those, too. 🙂

Loaded with fat, sugar and other carbs, they’re the perfect junk food trifecta (although not exactly the healthiest snack in town). Buttery manna from heaven.

When I was a kid, every afternoon when I got home from school, my babysitter would make one for me, and I’d eat it while watching Scooby Doo.

Ah, memories…

Gosh, I just got so hungry all of a sudden. Why don’t I fix us both a butter sugar sandwich (they really are quite good), and then we’ll play with the buttery yellow eyeshadow in the new MAC Eye Shadow X 4 quad in Colour Added ($38).

It’s the yellow pan in the picture below, and the color shares the same name as the quad.

I think it’s my favorite of these four shadows…

Doesn’t it remind you of a golden pat of butter with grains of sugar melting on top? Or is that just me? 🙂

Wait until you see it on skin! It does this shifty thing in the light, one minute going from a satiny, light yellow butter color, to a richer yellow gold, to a golden beige. It’s kinda neat, and I don’t think I have anything quite like it in my eyeshadow collection.

Believe it or not, it’s even pretty wearable, too, just like the rest of the colors in this limited edition eyeshadow quad (one of three in the new Shop MAC collection).

In the quad, light yellow Colour Added is joined by a satiny neutral called Laundry Daze (essentially a beige), a slate gray called Self-Serve and a shimmery turquoise called Pre-Packaged.

The turquoise and yellow shades are generous with pigment but don’t throw their weight around, and I really like the effect.

By putting together two neutrals with two user-friendly brights, MAC’s created a quad for makeup lovers who crave a little color, but don’t necessarily want to wear LOUD NEON BRIGHTS!

mac colour added (1)
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 208

February 20th, 2012 by Karen 39 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 four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

Mood:

Glowing! I just finished a long, slow jog (my yoga-strained back feels much better today), so now I’m basking in the glow of a post-workout endorphin rush.

How do you spend most of your downtime?

Well, there’s TV, and some of my favorite shows include Downton Abbey, The Walking Dead, 30 Rock, Justified, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (I know; can’t help it), Top Chef and Project Runway. I also just like to hang out with El Hub and Tabs. Oh, and I also play puzzle games on El Hub’s Kindle and procrastinate, LOL!

Waxing: love it or leave it?

Love it — if I have the time (I prefer to do my own waxing. Upper lip, legs and lady parts); leave it when I don’t. Shaving is just so much faster, though, but I definitely prefer the smoother results I get from wax.

Five beauty products you’re loathe to live without?

1) Dermalogica Super Rich Repair (I just started using this on my dry spots and LOVE it), 2) Rene Furturer Naturia Dry Shampoo, 3) MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, 4) the Shu Uemura Lash Curler and 5) Pacifica Body Butters.

Ten years ago, would you have imagined yourself doing what you do for a living now?

Not at all. To be honest, not in a million years! I’m happy now, but I do feel like I probably won’t be blogging forever. I’m not sure what else I’d do, though. Maybe full-time cat assisting, or writing a book of some kind.

Are you procrastinating about anything right now?

Oh, yes, and yargh! — it’s the house. I feel like I haven’t made any progress furnishing it in the two years we’ve been here.

I just can’t commit to furniture. It feels so…permanent because it’s so big and hard to get rid of if you end up changing your mind, which, come on, you know me. I’m apt to do.

I don’t want to be stuck with a stressful chair for the next 20 years!!

Okay, I know that’s irrational.

You just took in a kitten; what do you name it?

Ultimately, it would depend on the kitty’s personality and whether the name sticks, but I would love Tabs to have a sweet little kitty sister named Sugar.

How do you get around?

Mostly by car, because I live in the suburbs where everything’s kinda spread out. I drive a gunmetal gray Mazda with absolutely zero side visibility. None whatsoever. True story: when El Hub and I were looking for cars a few years ago, he asked me what I wanted most in a vehicle, and I said, “All I want is a car with really great side visibility.” So, of course, we got the car with absolutely no side visibility at all, LOL!

Sweetie, if you’re reading this, sorry. 🙂 But it’s true.

At least it’s reliable.

What’s a good mantra for you this week?

In my case, no (more) whining!

Weekly goals:

Focus on the task at hand, to run/exercise at least four times this week, to start planning for a trip to Kauai in the spring, and to start a new workout tracking calendar.

So…did you catch Downton Abbey last night? I won’t spoil it for you if you haven’t, but this I can safely say: you won’t be disappointed. 🙂

Promise me we can dish about it later in the comments. I have to talk about it with someone!

In other news, happy Presidents’ Day! It’s a holiday here in the U.S., and El Hub has the day off from work. If you have a little time off, I’d love to hear from you in today’s Monday Poll.

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

1. Mood:
2. How do you spend most of your downtime?
3. Waxing: love it or leave it?
4. Five beauty products you’re loathe to live without?
5. Ten years ago, would you have imagined yourself doing what you do for a living now?
6. Are you procrastinating about anything right now?
7. You just took in a kitten; what do you name it?
8. How do you get around?
9. What’s a good mantra for you this week?
10. Weekly goals:

Above all, I hope you have a great day and a wonderful week!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Red-y or Not

February 20th, 2012 by Karen 2 Comments

Milani Jewel FX in Red, $4.99. Available now at drugstores and online.

I See a Green Fortune in Your Future

February 19th, 2012 by Karen 7 Comments

Milani Baked Eyeshadow in Green Fortune, $7.49. Available now at drugstores and online.

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 179

February 19th, 2012 by Karen 14 Comments

Tabs for the Paul & Joe Prehistoric Palette

Tonight, on Downton Tabby…

While Lord and Lady Grantham take breakfast in the state room, Tabs the cat secretly slips an envelope under the door of Lord Grantham’s study, but he is seen skulking away from the door by Thomas the footman, who hurriedly reports the incident to Ms. O’Brien, Lady Grantham’s maid.

After breakfast, Lord Grantham is on his way to his study when he encounters Thomas in the hallway. “My lord,” Thomas says, “Mrs. Patmore wonders if you or Lady Grantham would care to review the menu for this evening’s dinner for the Dowager Countess.”

Lord Grantham, realizing the wisdom of approving the menu beforehand, thanks Thomas for delivering the message and immediately leaves for the kitchen. With Lord Grantham away, Thomas, now alone in the hallway, peers under the door to the study. He sees the envelope that he observed Tabs slipping under the door, and using a letter opener, withdraws the envelope and slips it into the breast pocket of his footman’s jacket.

Moments later in the servants’ living area, O’Brien and Thomas use a hot iron to carefully open the envelope without tearing it and remove the letter.

Thomas, with O’Brien looking over his shoulder, reads the letter, which is addressed to Lord Grantham and begins, “My lord, I feel it is my duty as house cat to inform you of a traitor in your midst…” The traitor, it appears, is Isis the dog, and the letter describes in great detail an incident involving the recent disappearance of one of Lord Grantham’s bedtime slippers.

In the letter, Tabs explains how he watched, from the shadows, Isis take one of the slippers, chew it to pieces, and then bury the remains at the base of the Lebanon Cedar in the garden.

“Good god!” Thomas gasps, as both he and O’Brien realize the magnitude of what they have read.

Isis is a bad dog!

*** TO BE CONTINUED ***

In the meantime, here are some pics from Tabs’ portfolio of kitty modeling jobs this week… 🙂

Tabs for L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm

Tabs for China Glaze Mockingcat
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It Looks Like NYX Got Crafty With Their New Multicolored, Multitalented Blotting Papers

February 19th, 2012 by Karen 15 Comments

I remember a time, intrepid makeup moppets and whippersnappers, when blotting papers were rare, or at least before they hit it really big and went mainstream.

That year was 1996. Or ’97. Thereabouts.

One of my coworkers and I were on our break when she pulled a powder blue packet of Shiseido blotting papers from her purse, and I was like, “Ooh! What’s that?”

She tore one in half and handed it to me. “Blotting paper,” she said, “for soaking up shiny oil.”

Brilliant! 🙂

I’ve been a regular user of blotting papers ever since, and now they’re carried practically everywhere, even at drugstores.

The newest ones I’ve tried hail from NYX. The budget line just released three themed packs for $6 each (100 papers apiece).

Each pack caters to a different skin care issue, like, the Blemish Control pack’s papers contain salicylic acid to help zap zits, the Green Tea papers contain antioxidant-rich green tea powder to soothe and nurture mature skin, and the Tea Tree papers help to prevent blemishes with (surprise!) tea tree oil.

They’re pretty straightforward to use, as you can imagine. Just remove one of the sheets from its packaging, and press it against your face to absorb excess oil and eliminate shine.

The papers are a good size for me and kind of delicate, like thin paper streamers, and one is usually enough to absorb all of the excess oil on my face.

The Green Tea and Blemish Control papers are unscented, while the Tea Tree papers have a fairly strong medicinal tea tree scent. I’ve been bouncing between all three packs and like them equally.

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The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

February 19th, 2012 by Karen 7 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Weekly Roundup

What is it about extra hot water that makes tea taste even better? I’ve always been more of a lukewarm morning beverage girl, but I’ve been turning up the temperature of my tea and coffee this week, and now the hotter, the better. Piping hot. I love the sensation of it traveling through my body and heating up my tum.

So good!

Not much planned for today. If my back feels up to it — it’s still a little sore from yoga yesterday — I’m gonna try a slow run on the treadmill in a little while. That way I can eat with reckless abandon later today if El Hub and I go Off the Grid again for lunch. There’s a cupcake truck that I missed last week, and I will not allow that to happen again. 🙂

Tonight’s also a new episode of Downton Abbey, yay! Did you watch last week’s ep? Wasn’t it intense?? I feel like the characters have lost their frickin’ minds, and I love it. Can’t wait for the season finale tonight.

A few beauty posts that caught my eye…

Tigers get turned on by CK Obsession at the London Zoo (what the what!?) — Addicted to Beauty
MAC Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer Review, Photos & Swatches — Beautezine
The best kind of distraction: Chanel Distraction 549 Le Vernis — The Beauty Look Book
Lessons learned after almost six years of perfume blogging — The Non-Blonde
An interesting look at a MAC Masterclass with Pablo Rodriguez, London Fashion Week — Vex in the City
Crazy about leopard print? Um, YES! As a matter of fact, I am — Swedish Love Affair
What a fantastical green! That it’s called Dragon makes perfect sense — The Nailasaurus
Pretty, pretty colors! — heading down the runway at the Milly F/W 2012 show — Keiko Lynn
It’s official: I need to try plummy Inglot Eyeshadow Pearl 446 — My Weekend Ramblings
Confused by La Roche-Posay? Here’s what to use for your skin type — Beaut.ie

MAKEUP MONSTER: STENCH DRAGON

Makeup Monster: Stench Dragon DESCRIPTION: Stench Dragons are a subcategory of dragons that spend much of their time stalking perfumeries and fragrance counters. Powerfully stinky, they tend to be aloof, solitary and self-centered. Their motto is, “It’s all about me.”
FREQUENCY: Rare
SPEED: Fast
ARMOR CLASS: 8
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Like a fine cheese, Stench Dragons become more powerfully pungent as they age. They are attracted to strong fragrances, which they attempt to overpower with their awful dragon breath.

SPECIAL DEFENSES: Fragrance resistance; aura of repulsive stench
INTELLIGENCE: Very
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic neutral (naughty)
SIZE: Medium (6′ long)

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Makeup Monsters