Karen

Everything Is Better in Hot Pink, and a Note About Awards Shows…

August 12th, 2014 by Karen 24 Comments

Like flowers…

These are currently growing in front of Blue Barn Marin, home of the greatest salad in the entire world (the tostada salad, if you get it with extra shrimp and avocado).

I saw the flowers the other day, and they got me thinking about this Badgley Mischka dress, because I need something to wear to the Emmys…

Fluorescent Chiffon Gown by Badgley Mischka, via Rent the Runway

Wait — what?

Did she say Emmys..?

Yeah, she did. 🙂

Kind of random, but I’ll be there at the show in Los Angeles later this month (Very excited! You know I’m a huge TV fan.). Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict/cat aficionado is going to be in the audience at the Emmys.

Needless to say, I feel like I probably shouldn’t wear a cat t-shirt to this kind of thing, hence the dress, which I’m actually renting from Rent the Runway.

Now I’m trying to decide on the accessories, like, do I totally bling it out? It is an awards show, after all, but I’m afraid that too much sparkle will look too pageant-y, if you know what I mean.

What do you think? How should I handle the earrings/necklace/bracelet/tiara situation? The show is Monday night, August 25.

New Cat Lady Paw Protectors

August 12th, 2014 by Karen 7 Comments

If, while happily hopping along one day, you happen upon a pair of pink knee-high socks with mustachioed kitties wearing berets and bow ties, clearly, the right thing to do — the ONLY thing to do — is to buy them.

There is simply no other option.

I mean, unless you want to lose your Crazy Cat Lady License, and I don’t think you want that. 🙂

The socks! Guess where I found them.

Yup, at a sock store in Tahoe. A store completely dedicated to socks.

There were socks everywhere! From floor to ceiling.

But you don’t have to go to Lake Tahoe to find this pair of cleverly named Cameows (Get it? Like cameo? LOL!) because it’s also available online at sockittome.com. Price: about 15 cans of gravy (that’s $12 a pair).

It’s Taupe Time With the Urban Decay Naked2 Basics Palette

August 12th, 2014 by Karen 24 Comments

Rap battle in 3-2-1…

If you can’t cope when shadow palettes lack taupe,
Or you start to mope when you lose your favorite matte taupe,
Or you think “Dope!” when you see a palette with six taupes,
Then jump over that moat! And climb that slope! ‘Cuz…

OK…I can’t think of anything else that rhymes with taupe. 🙂

The $29 Urban Decay Naked2 Basics Palette

Yeah, man, Naked2 Basics ($29), Urban Decay’s latest vestiphobic eyeshadow palette, is a cool-toned taupe explosion. It comes with five matte shadows and one satin, with all of them being a different incarnation of taupe.

Five of the shadows are new (nude-pink Stark, warm gray Frisk, reddish brown Cover, muted brown Primal and smoky brown Undone), while the remaining one’s a re-promote (pale nude Skimp).

Essentially, the palette is a cool-toned taupe cousin of the original Naked Basics palette.

Compared to the shadows in its predecessor, the original Naked Basics Palette, these shadows seem much easier to blend. I haven’t had any problems mixing or mooshing any of the colors together and haven’t had any trouble with uneven application.

I have seen some fallout, though, but that’s pretty typical of Urban Decay.

According to UD, the palette works well for all skin tones, from like to dark and cool to warm, but I have to politely disagree with that… I’m an olive-toned gal with a darker skin tone, and I feel that without the help of some additional products, like a black shadow or eyeliner, or a warm beige or orangey brown, all six Naked2 Basics shadows tend to blend together into a nondescript haze on my skin.

It’s like when the newspaper gets left out in the rain, and then you open it and everything’s a muddled mix of depressing grays… Sad panda. 🙁

Urban Decay Naked2 Basics Palette with a MAC Lipstick for scale — With a MAC Lipstick for scale

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The New NARS Audacious Lipstick Collection: The Corals, Hot Pinks and Oranges

August 12th, 2014 by Karen 30 Comments

Kayaking and Dry Lips: A Haiku

Dear Self, Please take note
Next time you go kayaking
Don’t forget lip balm

Um, yeah. My lips are pretty tow up and wind burned right now as a result of last weekend’s epic four-hour Tahoe kayaking adventure/unanticipated gut check-testing marathon (seriously, what was I thinking!? My forearms still feel like jiggly orange Jell-O.).

But you probably can’t tell from these pics. 🙂 And credit for that goes to these brand new NARS Audacious Lipsticks ($32 each, available in 40 shades).

I don’t know what kind of makeup witchcraft is at work here, but whatever it is, it’s some powerful sh*t…like Fairuza Balk from The Craft caliber.

With completely opaque coverage from a single swipe (coverage, mind you, that does not catch on my little lip flakes and cracks) they apply ever-so-nicely on my wind burned, chapped lips, leaving them looking incredibly smooth, creamy and — dare I say it? — a little plumper and fuller.

Based on how they look and feel now, I can’t wait to try them on my non-chapped lips once they’ve healed. Heck, my lips might look good enough to fool Brad into thinking that I’m Angie!

OK, doubt it. But still…

The coral, hot pink and orange shades

There are 40 (!) shades in the collection, but of course I had to check out the corals and hot pinks first (don’t worry, the others will follow).

Among these, I really dig flamingo coral Natalie and bright pinkish coral Grace, and I love how all of the colors have such cute girly names (although, hello, where’s Karen?).

NARS Audacious Lipsticks orange and coral shades from the left: Catherine, Juliette, Geraldine, Natalie, Kelly, Greta and Grace — Orange and coral shades from the left: Catherine, Juliette, Geraldine, Natalie, Kelly (Barneys New York exclusive), Greta and Grace

MONUMENTAL color selection

The extensive 40-piece line lands in the NARS permanent collection September 1, both in stores and online.

And did I mention that it’s extensive?

Because it is.

Extensive.

40 shades! — in almost every wearable lip color imaginable.

Bright pink NARS Audacious Lipsticks from the left: Marisa (Barneys Exclusive), Claudia and Michiyo — Bright pink NARS Audacious Lipsticks from the left: Marisa (Barneys New York exclusive), Claudia and Michiyo

The subtle variations among the shades in the different color families are also super cool. Like, say you’re hunting for a particular shade of coral. OK, well, you could go with a pink coral, a bright pinkish coral or a flamingo coral.

And those are just corals!

Chances are, if you’re looking for a very specific shade of red, coral, orange, pink or nude, you’ll be able to find something close to it in this collection.

Comfy, like your favorite bra

My lips love the medium-weight formula, too. It just feels great, even though it isn’t the most moisturizing lipstick potion I’ve ever tried, but it certainly isn’t drying at all. Plus, there are no funky flavors or scents to deal with and, depending on the brightness of any particular shade, the wear time isn’t bad. It varies from 2-3 hours for the nudes, and 4-5 hours for the bolder colors.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Catherine — Catherine

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Juliette — Juliette

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Geraldine — Geraldine

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Natalie — Natalie

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Kelly — Kelly (Barneys New York exclusive)

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Greta — Greta

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Grace — Grace

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Marisa — Marisa (Barneys New York exclusive)

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Claudia — Claudia

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Michiyo — Michiyo

NARS Audacious Lipstick swatches from the left: Catherine, Juliette, Geraldine and Natalie — Swatches from the left: Catherine, Juliette, Geraldine and Natalie

NARS Swatches from the left: Kelly, Greta and Grace — Kelly (Barneys New York exclusive), Greta and Grace

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Have You Ever Shown Up to a Party/Event and Seen Someone Wearing the Same Outfit or Dress?

August 12th, 2014 by Karen 31 Comments

Macy's Passport 2008 — Flashback: 2008, San Francisco Macy’s Passport fashion show. Those brows, though…

OMG, yes!

And I think that “she,” the other wearer of my outfit, looked better in it, too. I wasn’t winning any points for styling. I mean, the Christmas-colored press pass and single strand of pearls? LOL!

Yeah, didn’t really do a whole lot for the outfit. 🙂

This was at the 2008 Macy’s Passport fashion show in San Francisco, a big to-do in the same vein as Fashion Week, only smaller.

I went to cover the show for the blog (I think it was the first event where I brought a big DSLR camera, so I felt very “official”).

I was just walking around in the meet-and-greet area, trying to look “official,” which is code for “I didn’t exactly know where I was supposed to be,” when I saw this lady wearing the exact same black lace dress.

The dress, I picked out at home the night before because it was clean, didn’t have to be ironed, looked somewhat respectable/responsible and, most importantly, had some give to it, so I knew I’d be able to move around in it (important when you’re going to be hauling a heavy camera).

Honestly, though, I would’ve preferred to twin it up with Dame Edna, who was also in attendance that night, wearing a hot pink sequined number with a HUGE statement necklace…

Dame Edna Macy's at Passport 2008 — Dame Edna Everage at the Macy’s Passport fashion show, 2008

Gimme sparkly pink and bling any day of the week! 🙂

How about you? Has the unthinkable ever happened? Have you ever shown up to a party/event and seen someone else wearing the same outfit?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Lychee or Dragon Eggs? Hard To Tell…

August 11th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

For real though, this site is two, maybe three posts away from being renamed “Makeup and Food Blog,” or “Makeup and All of the Things My Goat-Like Stomach Likes to Consume.”

That second one rolls off the tongue better, methinks…

Today, it’s lychee. 🙂 I picked these up from Trader Joe’s yesterday.

If you haven’t had a lychee before, it’s a sweet pitted fruit with a crusty dragon skin-like outer shell.

The fleshy fruit tastes like a cross between a watermelon and a peach to me. Just peel, plop one in your mouth, and spit out the seed.

I could seriously eat these things all day long…especially when they’re cold.

Have you ever had lychee before? How about lychee shave ice or ice cream?

A Hole In One, and Some Sushi

August 11th, 2014 by Karen 8 Comments

Lake Tahoe dinner date and miniature golf

Question for you: Who waits until they’re 39 years old to play miniature golf FOR THE FIRST TIME?

Answer: This girl (*points at self while doing the cabbage patch*).

Yes, friend. Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict played miniature golf for the very first time ever last weekend in Tahoe.

And…

Wait for it…

She won.

BOOM! 🙂

Yup, miniature golf wasn’t a thing where I grew up (Union City, CA). We were more into roller skating. #datingmyself

Apparently I missed a lot, though, because it was tons of fun! I thought for sure I’d be awful at it because it involves two of my least favorite things — fast-moving projectiles (if you hit the ball too hard), and sticks/clubs, also known as things my clumsy self could possibly harm others with.

But as it turned out, I’m actually OK at it.

I even got a hole in one! — which, according to Official Miniature Golf Expert El Hub, isn’t something that beginners do all the time.

WATCH OUT, LPGA TOUR!

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Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation Feels as Light as Kisses From a Baby Angel Kitten

August 11th, 2014 by Karen 45 Comments

New Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation in Chai ($48)

There are some things I am physically incapable of resisting, like…

A cute pair of cat lady socks.

Impossible. 🙂

And…

Re-watching The Hills, particularly when my Tivo takes it upon itself to record a 35-episode marathon in one fell swoop (“I’m only gonna watch one more today, I swear!”)

And…

A new foundation! — and my resolve is even weaker when said foundation promises to deliver on the three foundation criteria I value the most, aka TBT, “The Big Three” — great coverage, a natural finish and a lightweight texture.

After using Laura Mercier’s new Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide foundation ($48) for about two weeks, I think it’s time to share my results.

So, does it deliver the goods on TBT? In other words, is it all that and a bag of Backyard Barbeque Kettle Chips?

Let’s find out…

First, exactly what is it?

A recent addition to Laura’s permanent line, Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide is a new oil-free liquid foundation available in 24 shades.

After I read the back of the box when I spotted it at Sephora a couple weeks ago…

“This long wear, oil free makeup magically blurs imperfections for a smooth, seamless complexion. Lightweight and color true, it offers buildable coverage with a natural matte finish, perfect for all ages, all skin-tones, all skin-types.”

–from the box

…it took all of about 4.75 seconds for me to find Chai, which looked to be my shade, grab it, and make a beeline for the register.

A little dab’ll do ya

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation — Beside a MAC Lipstick for scale

I did pause briefly when I saw the price… $48 for a 1-oz. bottle does seem like a lot, but thankfully I soon realized that I wouldn’t need to use a lot. Literally, like, 4-5 drops is enough for full coverage, so that makes the price a little less cray.

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation tip — The tip always looks like this, even when I close the cap tightly

The whole tip situation is a tad irksome… Due to the packaging, some of the product is definitely being wasted. Even when I screw the cap on tightly, the bottle doesn’t seem to close all the way, or in a secure way, and some of the product leaks out on the tip inside the cap.

Like that stranger on the bus who always stares at you and sits a little too close (seriously, take a picture, dude, it lasts longer), this is super annoying.

A featherweight formula

I think the formula is going to make or break this for a lot of gals/guys. It’s thin — almost watery — like MAC Face & Body and Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, and it’s probably something you’re either going to love…or not.

I happen to be a fan of watery foundation formulas that feel lightweight on my skin because I feel like they let my pores come up for air.

Well, Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide is beyond lightweight. It’s well into featherweight territory, and when I wear it I feel like I’m barely wearing anything at all.

I’d even go so far as to say that it feels even lighter than my beloved MAC Face & Body.

Bust out yo’ Beauty Blender

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation before (left) and after (right) — Oh, Chai! It’s my bare face, dry lips and cray hair, LOL! I’m wearing the shade called Chai…

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