Karen, Author at Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup - Page 1268 of 1879

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

Karen

My Lips and Eyes Glaze Over Topshop’s Sheer Glaze Lipgloss

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“Mmmmmm. Glaze.”

I mumbled that out loud while standing in line at Starbucks the other day, and with a slightly sleazy enthusiasm that would have made Homer Simpson proud. I was just staring off into space, thinking about Topshop’s three new Glaze lipgloss colors ($12 each).

I’m usually pretty good about keeping my inner voice, well, inside, but Glaze’s creamy finish, non-sticky texture and NOM-worthy vanilla flavor and scent (both fade after about 5 minutes) got the better of me. The gentleman standing in front of me turned around in line, raised an eyebrow and said, “Excuse me?”

I had no reply, except to smile nervously until he looked away. 🙂

Topshop, a British clothing retailer, also has a line of makeup, available exclusively at their stores and online, and along with their permanent collection products for eyes, face, lips and nails, they have some seasonal releases, too.

The Glazes live in Topshop’s permanent line, and these three new shades bring the color selection to five. I hope the company decides to add more, because from what I’ve seen so far, I think these are kinda great.


Laid Back (top) and Bubblegum (bottom)
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3 Lessons Learned: Summer Hair Mishaps

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Yesterday I came to the shockingly wonderful realization that the official start of summer is less than one week away, and judging by the rising temps and lack of rain in the 10-day forecast, it looks like the weather has finally gotten with the program.

Ah, summer… Such great memories, but when I think back to the summers of my youth, I’m surprised I remember them at all. There were no far-flung adventures backpacking through Europe or sailing trips around the world. Nope, my childhood summers were much more mundane. I spent most of them hanging out at the local Thrifty drugstore, where you could get a free ice cream for returning a shopping cart to the store, and watching videos on MTV (back when MTV actually played videos). For the most part, I spent my summers doing absolutely nothing.

Gawd, I miss those days!

Despite doing very little over those summers, I still managed to learn a few things, like these important lessons about hair…

1. Don’t make rash, heat-induced decisions

Resist the urgeIf the heat is getting to you and the sweat is trickling down from your scalp into your eyes, you might feel like your only relief is to cut off all or most of your hair, but resist the urge.

You don’t want to regret it later. Start by putting your hair up into a bun or ponytail, and give yourself a couple weeks to think it over.

One summer heatwave I showed up at my BFF Jen’s house to find her previously waist-length hair suddenly sitting at her shoulders. In an overheated state, she had cut her long locks herself, and it ended up looking like it had been cut by a three-year old wearing a blindfold.

We laugh about it now, but she felt pretty crappy at the time.

The lesson? No matter how hot it gets, step away from the scissors! Take time to think it over first.
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A Blast from the Past, L’Occitane Pivoine Flora Beauty Cream Blooms Like a Retro Rose

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Even though the scent of L’Occitane Pivoine Flora Beauty Cream ($36) reminds me of my ninang (the Tagalog word for godmother), I’m gonna assume the folks at L’Occitane weren’t shooting for eau de high maintenance Filipino godmother divas when they developed it. 🙂

I love the scent, which smells more to me like a mix of old school Oil of Olay (the one that came in the pink bottle), floral soaps and roses than the peonies it contains. I can picture something similar sitting on the dressing table of a young woman in the ’50s, or see it sitting on a shelf today in the home of an older woman who still remembers being that girl. While I think it suits girls of all ages, those who prefer scents on the mature side may like it more than, say, the fruity bubblegum body sprays that sparkle in most drugstores.


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The Lululemon Athletica 50 Rep Bra: The Best Damn Sports Bra I’ve Ever Worn

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Seeing as how I spent last weekend in Vancouver, the city where Lululemon Athletica was born, I figured I should give a shout-out to my favorite over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder, the 50 Rep Bra ($42).

I’ve tried gaggles of different sports bras over the years from more brands than I can remember — Champion, Nike, Adidas and Moving Comfort are a few that spring to mind — and by far my favorite so far has been the 50 Rep. It’s the most comfortable sports bra I’ve ever worn, for sure.

It comes in several prints (like the one I’m wearing here) and solid colors, from classic, sporty shades like black, white and gray, to spunkier shades like red and mint green.

The support this bra offers? Off. The. Chain. It easily tames my size 34D ta-tas, and this one (I wear a size 4), holds everything in place without that restrictive, binding, boob-squishing feel.

It’s actually so comfortable that I can even wear it to bed. The material, a fabric Lululemon created called Luon (a stretchy, durable, breathable fabric that feels like brushed cotton), never chafes my skin, not even after six miles on the treadmill. It also wicks, which comes in handy since I sweat buckets when I run.

I think the cut’s super cute, too. The neckline and arm holes are high enough to cover everything without showing too much cleavage/skin. Plus, the straps don’t dig into my shoulders, and I’m really pleased with the length from the top of my shoulders to my ribs.


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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, June 13

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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. 173. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
  1. Mood:

    2. I had a bout of the post-vacation blues early this morning, but I feel energized and ready now. “Coach, put me back in the game!”

  2. Have you ever owned a record player?

    3. I remember having a kids one when I was around five that I would use to play my Winnie the Pooh records. I loved that thing to pieces. It had a hard blue plastic case with a white handle. So stylish.

  3. Do you plan your makeup looks at the start of each week, or just wing it?

    4. I may plan a look with an outfit if I have a special event to go to, but most of the time I just wing it.

  4. Can you think of a lipstick color that makes me you feel spicy?

    5. Lately, Dior Favori 752. Whenever I wear it I feel like I’m ready to bring the heat, LOL! It’s an arresting red with a punch of pink.

  5. Describe your favorite summertime dress.

    6. This black Mimi Chica Ruffled Dress I got from the junior’s section at Nordie’s. It’s machine washable (dry cleaning is the bane of my existence) and super flexible. I can easily dress it up by throwing on a cardigan, jewelry and heels, or dress it down by slipping it over a swimsuit and sliding into a pair of flip-flops.

  6. Do you keep a journal?

    7. I do, but I don’t write in it nearly enough.

  7. Your favorite makeup brush at the moment?

    8. The MAC 224! It’s SO GREAT for under-eye concealer.

  8. Last time you jumped rope?

    9. I usually have a pretty good memory, but I honestly can’t recall. I think I picked one up at a sporting goods store a few years ago and jumped for a minute in the aisle, but that may have also been a dream. The last time I jumped rope for longer than a minute was probably back on a playground some time in the ’80s (YIKES!).

  9. Are you a heavy or a light sleeper?

    10. As a kid I could sleep through earthquakes and thunderstorms, but I’m a much lighter sleeper now. I’ve gotten to the point now where I keep a pair of earplugs and a blindfold on my nightstand, just in case.

  10. Weekly goals:

    11. Pay some extra attention to Tabs, run at least four times (since I haven’t exercised since last week), prepare a couple of healthy dinners, and plan a weekend trip over Fourth of July (to give myself something to look forward to).

Heavens! I’m still totally reeling from last night’s episode of Game of Thrones. I went to bed thinking about it and woke up this morning with the ending still on my mind.

No spoilers here, I promise, but if you did watch it, can we dish in the comments? I did NOT expect that ending, and part of me wants to believe it didn’t actually occur.

Okay, enough about lords, knights and royal intrigue. As much as I enjoyed my short jaunt to Vancouver, I’m happy to see you again. It’s always great to come home. 🙂

If your Monday isn’t too crazy, take a second to say hello in the Monday Poll. I’d love to hear how you’ve been.

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



1. Mood:
2. Have you ever owned a record player?
3. Do you plan your makeup looks for the week or wing it?
4. A lipstick color that makes me you feel spicy?
5. Describe your favorite summertime dress.
6. Do you keep a journal?
7. Your favorite makeup brush at the moment?
8. Last time you jumped rope?
9. Are you a heavy or a light sleeper?
10. Weekly goals:

Throw your hands up in the air, and wave ’em around like you just don’t care! Oh, and have a spectacular week while you’re at it. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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