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

Karen

Despite Our Differences (in Color Temp), I’m Warming Up to the MAC Me Over Collection’s Lady Grey Quad

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mac me over lady grey

One of my favorite pieces from the new MAC Me Over collection (on counters now) turned out to be something I never expected to like.

“How cool!” I said the first time I spotted the Lady Grey quad’s greenish gray, and I meant it both in terms of wow factor, as I thought the shade was subtle, but interesting and different, and color temp, because like many of the other colors in Icelandic Cool, the sub-collection to which Lady Grey belongs, it leans cool.

Right away the color, and the other shades of green, gray, beige, white, taupe and purple that comprise Icelandic Cool, melted my heart, but I thought I’d have a difficult time getting the cool-toned shade to cooperate with my warm-toned skin.

Still, it didn’t stop me from trying.

mac Lady Grey Eye Shadow Quad X 4

mac Lady Grey Eye Shadow Quad X 4
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What Are You Wearing on Your Nails?

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Essie Power Clutch

Fall danced onto my mani/pedi this week, with Essie Power Clutch on my fingers ($8; from the Brand New Bag collection) and YSL La Laque Nail Laquer in 43 Wintergreen on my toes ($20; from Midnight Garden).

What about you? What are you wearing on your nails today?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Fanciful Fall: Wearable Colors Characterize the Chanel Sophisticated Eye Collection

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chanel sophisticated eye collection

Now that’s what I’m talking about, Coco. 🙂 Your new Sophisticated Eye Collection features some seriously easy-to-wear eye makeup, and it’s making me cuckoo for COCO puffs!

chanel sophisticated eye collection

The sizable 17-piece release, a mix of limited edition and re-promoted items, is available now at Chanel counters, in stores and also online. With classic presentation and an understated palette of highly wearable blue, taupe, purple, brown, pink and beige, the release exudes class. Coco dresses lids in a simple, clean wash of light pink and beige, then blows a kiss of color along the upper lash line. Thick, defined fringe in black, brown or purple and a strong brow ties the look together nicely. Definition: understated, wearable, and totally up my alley.

The release also features a sleek, sassy eyelash curler, and every time I notice that lovely logo emblazoned on it, I question my loyalty to Shu.

A few of the pieces reached out and grabbed me when I swatched the collection yesterday…

  • Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Lagons ($57) — Déjà vu, mon amie! The blue and beige shades in this quad take me back to the spring of 2008 and Bleu Celestes from the Aurora Blues collection. I love how intense and sparkly the darker shades are.
  • Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Vanities ($57) — I went to sleep last night thinking about the purple, taupe and pink shadows in this quad, and if I were forced to spend a week on a deserted island with just one thing from this collection, this would be it. There’s something special about each of these shades — the intense glitter in the dark purple (so glittery!), the extra buttery texture of the light pink, the two flashy duo chromes (one changes from a plummy brown to a pinkish gold, and the other from a pale pink to a purplish gold). Wow.
  • Inimitable Intense Mascara in Purple ($30) — I’m a huge Inimitable mascara fan (even if I have trouble saying the word, “Inimitable”), so I was stoked to check out it out in Purple. Sadly, the swatch disappointed me a little. The color looks more like a brownish plum than a true purple to me, and I have a feeling it’s intended for ladies with a lighter fringe than mine.

Chanel Lagons
1. Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Lagons

Chanel Vanites
2. Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Vanites

Chanel Fauve Twilight Magic Night Lily
Swatches from the left: Ombres Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow in 3. Magic Night; 4. Lily; 5.Twilight; and 6. Fauve
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, August 29

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  • 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 three years, which I guess makes this somewhere around Vol. 183. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
  1. Mood:

    2. Refreshed and ready. I slept unusually well last weekend (probably because I didn’t take my laptop to bed).

  2. Your favorite foundation and why?

    3. I’m fickle when it comes to foundation. I like to switch ’em up often. Two of my recent infatuations were with Chanel Mat Lumiere and MAC Studio Sculpt), but right now I’m really into MAC Face & Body in C5 ($32.50). I like how lightweight it looks and feels, and it does a great job of evening out my skin tone and hiding little imperfections. It also photographs well when I’ve applied Careblends Pressed Powder on top.

  3. How do you feel about Mary Jane shoes?

    4. As long as they don’t look too much like the ones the kids wear — no chunky heels or rounded toes — I’m down. With a skinny heel and a slightly pointed toe, I think they can look chic.

  4. Three words that would describe you in seventh grade:

    5. Frizzy, awkward and shy.

  5. What are you wearing on your lips today?

    6. MAC Lipglass in Curvaceous from the MAC Me Over collection. It’s today’s obsession.

  6. What’s the last musical, opera or play you’ve seen?

    7. Dreamgirls last fall with El Hub… That was such a great day.

  7. If you were forced to choose between giving up your sense of smell, or giving up makeup entirely, which would you choose?

    8. Ouch! That’s a tough one. On the one hand I love makeup, but on the other, I can’t imagine never again smelling a flower, El Hub’s scent on my clothes, or Tabs (right now he smells like pizza dough).

    I’d give up makeup, but I’d then enlist the help of a kick-@ss dermatologist to get my skin in tip-top shape and a therapist to help me get through the emotional withdrawal (I’m so not kidding!).

  8. Who are the funniest pets/people you know?

    9. Some of you guys reading this now! 🙂 You crack me up on a regular basis. I know I can also rely on El Hub, Tabs, my brother, my dad, my mom and my two BFFs, Jen and Cindy, for a good laugh.

  9. How do you like your grilled cheese sandwiches?

    10. I like them prepared the classic way, with American cheese slices (preferably Kraft or Velveeta), buttered white bread, and served with a big glob of ketchup for dipping, YUM!

  10. Weekly goals:

    11. Just one this week: to love myself.

Hello, pretty. 🙂 I hope the sun comes out for you today.

I really didn’t do much last weekend, but I did get some cleaning and organizing done around the house and had dinner at a sushi place last night. That was good. I’ve been craving shrimp tempura rolls like CRAZY lately.

What do you have going on today? Do you have a minute to say hi with the Monday Poll?

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



1. Mood:
2. Your favorite foundation and why?
3. How do you feel about Mary Jane shoes?
4. Three words that would describe you in seventh grade:
5. What are you wearing on your lips today?
6. What’s the last musical, opera or play you’ve seen?
7. Makeup or your sense of smell?
8. Who are the funniest pets/people you know?
9. How do you like your grilled cheese sandwiches?
10. Weekly goals:

Be kind to yourself this week, okay? It’s important. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’m Sensing Some Friction Between the New Nuance Salma Hayek Walnut Body Scrub and I

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Nuance Salma Hayek Walnut Body Scrub

If you’re an aeronautical engineer, a NASCAR driver, a lawn bowler, a professional cycler or an Olympic swimmer, friction can be a nuisance, but if you’re a body scrub, it’s essential. I am sensing some friction between the new Nuance Salma Hayek Walnut Body Scrub ($7.99) and I; unfortunately, it’s just not the right kind.

I thought that after trying and loving my last two products from the new Nuance Salma Hayek line — the Nuance Salma Hayek Cucumber & Rosewater Dual-Phase Makeup Remover ($7.99) and Salma Hayek My Secret Super Moisturizing Body Cream ($14.99) — I was bound to like the third.

Nuance says the gentle scrub, which contains moisturizing acai and passion flower seed oils, can be used every day.
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Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 154

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Dear Diary,

My mentor Tim GunnStress alert! Where the hell is Tim Gunn? I’ve had my assistant call him like five times over the past hour, and he’s totally MIA. I’m starting to think he’s screening my calls.

But why? He knows he’s my mentor. Even after Project Runway propelled him to stardom, we always kept in touch. We even had a spirited discussion about pocket squares just the other day.

I don’t know what’s going on, but I hope he calls soon. I need him by my side in NY next month when I accept that Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Pet Modeling Community Commission (IPMCC). They’re honoring me for my groundbreaking work in plus size kitty modeling.

Cats are saying that I made curves cool again. Whatev. I’m just glad the kitty fashion world is finally recognizing that big is beautiful.

I hope Tim can be there, since he was instrumental in getting my career off the ground.

Tabs on his first catwalk

Not much going on here tonight other than prepping for Fashion Week. I’ve got NY next month, then the European shows shortly after.

I’ve been trying to get my mind and body ready for the long days with lots of P90X (I already feel a difference in my haunches) and extra private lessons with Zen Master Morris. Gotta stay on top of my game because the cats in this industry will tear you apart if you slack off for one second!

And, truth be told, I’m thinking about returning to the mixed martial arts ring. I know I promised my fans that I was done cage fighting, but I miss the thrill, ya know? My therapist says it has something to do with my formative years. Something about having to fend for myself on the streets of Mill Valley, but I don’t know. Sometimes I think I just like to tear sh*t up.

I’ve been busier than usual lately, but I still got some “me” time in last night. I finally bought those Jimmy Choo Uggs I saw in Paris last week. Huzzah!

My assistant kept trying to talk me out of them (“Dude, those are so beyond fug!”), but what does she know? The chestnut looks fab under my tum. Plus, you know how I am about fringe.
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