Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 330

July 21st, 2014 by Karen 36 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for July 21, 2014

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 seven years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

What’s your favorite animal print or pattern (leopard, snake, tiger, giraffe, zebra, etc.)?
Leopard print, mrow! I guess we can thank the Kardashians for the resurgence of the leopard print over the past few years. If left to my own devices, I’d be wearing it from head to toe like a real life, living and breathing cat lady.
Have you ever been skinny dipping?
No.

Not that a bikini really covers that much more…

But I was stung by a Portuguese man-of-war once while swimming in the ocean, and it did NOT get my lady parts.

On a scale of 1-10, how naturally hairy are you, with 10 being full-on Sasquatch?
5.75 and rapidly climbing each year.

Your favorite brown eyeshadow or eyeliner in the world?
MAC Teddy Eye Kohl is my jam!

But it’s a 50/50 split with MAC Costa Riche.

Have you ever been stung by a bee?
Twice. I can’t remember what I was doing either time, but I was a kid, and I remember they really hurt.

My dad took out the stingers, and he’s not exactly Mr. Delicate Touch.

Matter of fact…I think the stinger removal part was worse than the actual bee sting, haha.

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. What’s your favorite animal print or pattern (leopard, snake, tiger, giraffe, zebra, etc.)?
2. Have you ever been skinny dipping?
3. On a scale of 1-10, how naturally hairy are you, with 10 being full-on Sasquatch?
4. Your favorite brown eyeshadow or eyeliner in the world?
5. Have you ever been stung by a bee?

I am bound and determined to have a good, productive week, my friend. Bound and determined!

There are lots of things I want to get done, and I think I can do ’em if I stay focussed. And when the inevitable does happen and I do get distracted (kitties!), I’ll just wiggle my freakishly long monkey toes and listen to this…

Or this…

Or contemplate buying this, because I think it’s a really cool idea (I just need to find out if the markers are stinky).

You have a great week, OK? Let me know how you’re doing in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 305

July 20th, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

When I got this gig working for Tabs as his professional pet assistant/kitty modeling agent, I had no idea of the adventures before me.

I thought I was just hanging out with a cat. How could I have known he would turn into such a powerhouse in the feline fashion and modeling industries. 🙂

Here’s the brief video story of how this all came to pass.

This post is sponsored by Purina Pro Plan #proplancatpartner. For information about my posting policy, please see my Disclaimer.

Tabs supports the Purina #MyGreatCat campaign

Every time you share a pic or video of your feline employer just being awesome in his/her own way, you’ll be feeding a hungry cat.

For each picture or video you share on your social media channels that includes the hashtag #MyGreatCat from now through August 31, Purina Pro Plan will donate one pound of cat food — up to 50,000 pounds — to hundreds of cat rescue groups nationwide through the Purina Pro Plan Rally to Rescue network.

About Purina Pro Plan Cat food

Purina Pro Plan Cat understands that every cat is different in her own wonderful way. That’s why Purina Pro Plan’s wide range of dry and wet cat foods and snacks, sold exclusively at pet specialty stores, can be found in three unique nutritional platforms — Savor, Finesse, and Focus (Tabs loves the Focus!) — with each formula designed to provide advanced nutrition to help bring out the best in your cat. For more information, visit www.proplan.com/cat.

About Purina Pro Plan Rally to Rescue

Rally to Rescue is a partnership of Purina Pro Plan and select pet rescue organizations across the country who give adoptable pets the care they need and the loving homes they deserve. Since 2005, Rally to Rescue organizations have saved over 600,000 pets. To learn more about the Purina Pro Plan Rally to Rescue network, visit www.proplan.com/rallytorescue or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rallytorescue.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

7 Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card From Sephora! (Ends Monday)

July 19th, 2014 by Karen 297 Comments

A TABBY IN SEPHORA

“Hello,” the sales associate said as Tabs entered the store. “Can I help you find something?”

“Meow…” Tabs replied, a little unsure. The sales associate smiled expectantly. Tabs knew that he wanted something to brighten his fur, but these stores were always so overwhelming to him. So many rows and rows and aisles and stacks of products taller than him. He didn’t know where to start.

The associate nodded. Tabs, as if on auto-pilot, moved deeper into the store, pulled by an unseen force. Fur brighteners, fur brighteners, fur brighteners, he reminded himself, trying to stay focussed.

Around him were dozens of displays with sparkling glass vials, vibrant posters and trays filled with pigmented products. A mix of perfumes filled the air.

Cats and cat ladies walked up and down the aisles, exploring the many treasures. Many chatted with sales associates. “This one is great for soft paws,” he overheard one of the associates say. She was standing beside a husky Russian Blue Tabs recognized from his neighborhood.

Tabs stopped in front of a display placed at cat eye level. New Urban Decay Fabulous Feline Fur Brightener! it read. “Meow,” he purr-chirped. Yes!

The display showed that it was available in eight colors. He saw Orange Tabby, Siamese, Tortie, and yes! Tabby too!

He pawed at the small boxes, looking for the shade, but there were none to be found. Shoot, he thought, I think they’re out.

“Meow?” he asked the nearest sales associate.

“Let me check,” she said, heading behind the counter. “Yeah, those have been really popular lately. It’s weird, a seal-point Ragdoll came in yesterday and purchased all of the ones in the Tabby shade we had in stock.”

Choupette! Tabs immediately thought. That cat was always trying to sabotage him.

“I’m sorry,” the sales associate said, “it looks like we’re completely out, but I can order one for you if you’d like.”

“Meow-rrow,” Tabs said. Yes, please. That would be great. There had to be a reason Choupette didn’t want Tabs to get his paws on that shade. A good reason, indeed.

–TO BE CONTINUED–

Rise and shine, morning glory. 🙂 Happy caturday!

Did you do anything fun last night? We pretty much took it easy out here, buuut I did see kittens.

Yup, after dinner we stopped by a local shopping center (I needed ice cream), and the pet food store there had three black and white kitten siblings up for adoption.

I seriously considered bringing all three of them home…

In other news, we watched a fantastic WWII miniseries this week on Netflix called Generation War. It’s from the German perspective (English subtitles), which we don’t see a lot out here, about a group of five young friends and what happens to them during the war. Highly recommended.

Whatever you’re up to this weekend, I hope it’s grand. I’ll talk to you soon.

One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Open to U.S. and international readers.
You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
- Have you ever played charades? How about Twister?
- What’s the shortest you’ve ever had your hair?
- Where were you born and raised?
- What’s something a lot of people don’t know about you?
- What’s the longest you’ve ever held the same job?
- A store you always enjoy visiting?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, July 21, 2014 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂
Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What YouTube Channels Do You Turn to When You Don’t Know How To Do a Specific Makeup Technique or Look?

July 18th, 2014 by Karen 45 Comments

I feel like there are a lot of looks I can do on my own, but sometimes I want a different way to approach things, like a fresh perspective on a smokey eye or a cat eye.

When I need some inspiration, new ideas, or just want to see how someone else is doing things, I go to YouTube…which I think is one of the greatest inventions on earth.

Seriously, where was YouTube when I was 13 and had that purple Lancôme pencil and no clue? That’s what I want to know… It would have saved me a lot of heartache!

Lisa Eldridge

When I want to do something, or try something new, or get a different perspective, there are a few YouTubers I really enjoy watching, and the first one is Lisa Eldridge.

First of all, she has a cat, and her cat’s name is Betty Kitten. Betty Kitten is absolutely adorable so, of course, cat lady bonus points. 🙂

Lisa’s also worked with a lot of celebrities, so her work’s all over the place, and you know she’s totally legit.

Third, she has this wonderful British accent, and she delivers information in a way that I think is very accessible and thoughtful, and it’s not like you ever feel like she’s telling you that “you absolutely have to do it this way!” or if you don’t do it this way you’re doing it wrong. She just seems like a cool girl I’d want to hang out with.

Her tutorials are… You feel like you can do them, you know? Sometimes when I watch YouTube tutorials, I’m like, “There’s no freaking way I’m going to be able to do this eye look in 30 minutes,” but she delivers information in this sort of simplified, accessible way that I really enjoy. It makes me feel like every woman can sincerely do this.

Jaclyn Hill

Another person I like is Jaclyn Hill. Her style’s very different than Lisa’s in that she tends to do things that are a bit more glam. She loves smokey looks, which I like as well, and she’s got a lot of energy, which I think you’re either going to really gravitate toward, or not, LOL! But I like her perkiness and her bubbly personality.

Her looks generally take a little bit more effort. They’re not as simplified as Lisa’s, but I find that she explains things in a way that works for me. If you want to go that extra step with your makeup, she’s easy to understand.

Batalash Beauty

Another person I enjoy is Samantha from Batalash Beauty. She’s relatively new, and young, and very spunky.

I appreciate her spunkiness, and she does these very dressed up glam looks along the same lines as Jacqueline Hill, but her style’s a bit harder, a bit edgier. She curses sometimes, so you know…but she’s just, like, a sassy young person whose attitude I appreciate, and her makeup’s very pretty. She’s got a big Instagram following too.

Pixiwoo

Ooh! — last but not least, the Pixiwoo sisters. Points for having that kick-@ss British accent. They’re two sisters who work on the same channel. They both have different styles, so you get different perspectives.

Besides seeming very cool to hang out with (and they’re kind of, like, my age), their tutorials are easy to grasp, yet they also do some out there things, too. One of the sisters, Sam, does these crazy fancy looks sometimes that I wouldn’t do on myself…but they’re neat to see! 🙂

They also do a wide range of different tutorials from glam to everyday to more artsy-fartsy, so you get a bit of everything.

How about you? What YouTube channels do you turn to when you don’t know how to do a specific makeup technique or look?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

3 Things That Helped My Hormonal Chin Acne

July 18th, 2014 by Karen 65 Comments

Wearing no makeup — Wearing absolutely zero makeup

Shortly after I turned 36, all hell broke loose on my chin, and what had previously been the clearest part of my face was suddenly a pimple farm.

They were the painful pimples, too! A mix of tiny bumps that seemed to never go away and big ol’ painful zits that felt like they had 100-year-old roots.

I went to the dermatologist, tried antibiotics and different prescription topical meds, but nothing really helped. Not enough.

Eventually, I discovered a few things that did work. It took a while, some experimenting with my diet and lots of weeding through ineffective products, but over the following year, my chin situation improved a lot.

Here’s what helped turn the tides against my hormonal chin acne!

1. Creating a skincare cocktail by combining and layering different products

I had hoped to find one magic bullet, but it turned out that the best thing for my combination oily/dry skin was a cocktail of different over-the-counter products.

It took a lot of trial and error to find the right combination of products for me. My skin seems to respond best to benzoyl peroxide, antioxidants and exfoliating acids. That may not be the case for you, but in the hopes that it is, the products I’ve had the most success with are…

3 Things That Helped My Hormonal Chin Acne

Kate Somerville’s Anti Bac Clearing Face Lotion ($39), a 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion that absorbs quickly, layers well underneath makeup and doesn’t have that funky benzoyl peroxide scent. I’ve tried a bunch of BP lotions before, and this was the one that made the biggest difference for me.
Skinceuticals CE Ferulic ($153), an antioxidant serum with Vitamins C, E and ferulic acid (an antioxidant). Designed to bolster skin against the damaging effects of UVA and UVB rays and to stimulate collagen production, it really helped reduce the flakiness and post-acne discoloration I was seeing.
Sunday Riley Good Genes Treatment ($105). This lightly hydrating serum contains unneutralized lactic acid and seems to improve the smoothness and texture of the skin around my chin.
Neutrogena All-in-1 Acne Control Daily Scrub ($8). I keep this cleanser, which contains beta hydroxy acid (or BHA), in my shower and use it every morning.

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Roses and Queens, Coming Soon to L’Occitane: The New Roses et Reines Collection

July 17th, 2014 by Karen 8 Comments

This scent brings back so many good memories!

I used to live near Golden Gate Park in SF, right next to the rose garden, and this new scent by L’Occitane, Roses et Reines, smells just like when I’d walk through the park when the roses were in bloom.

Roses et Reines means “Roses and Queens” in French. 🙂

“The queen of flowers is an olfactory, evocative muse that inspired L’OCCITANE, perfumer in Provence, to create the captivating tale of a fresh and velvety Eau de Toilette. This tale goes back to the legend of the Count of Forcalquier and his four daughters, who became queens through love, and through their favorite roses.”

–L’Occitane PR

According to L’Occitane, they used roses from Bulgaria, Turkey, Grasse, Morocco and Provence in the fragrance (I guess that’s neat).

I love rosy scents… My first ever “big girl” perfume was YSL’s Paris, which I wore as a senior in high school.

This one feels fresh, light and modern to me, as far as rose scents go. I think some of them seem very heavy and dated.

It opens with bergamot and blackcurrent notes, before moving into rose and raspberry, and then drying down to deeper blackberry, cedar, musk and heliotrope.

Very feminine and delicate.

I’ve been enjoying three things from this new collection — the Hand & Nail Cream (absorbs quickly), Beautifying Body Milk (moderately moisturizing and great for summer) and the Eau de Toilette (sparkling and fresh).

The 11-piece collection comes out July 30 with…

Extra-Gentle Soap – A bar soap enriched with rose water to gently cleanse skin. $8 for 2.6 oz.
Silky Shower Gel – A scented shower gel to gently cleanse skin. $20 for a 8.4 oz.
Beautifying Body Milk – A beautifying scented body milk to moisturize the body. $25 for 8.4 oz.
Hand & Nail Cream – Contains shea butter, vitamin E to soften and protect the hands and strengthen nails. $12 for 1 oz.
Fresh Face & Body Mist – A moisturizing and fresh face and body mist enriched with rose water. $16 for 1.7 oz.
Solid Perfume – A solid perfume in a small take-along tin. $12 for 0.3 oz.
Roll-on Eau de Toilette Intense – A travel-friendly roll-on fragrance. $22 for 0.33 oz.
Shower Scrub – Enriched with rosehip seed extracts, this shower scrub gently exfoliates the skin. $20 for 6.7 oz.
Gentle Bath Salts – Bath salts with rose water to soften skin. $24 for 10.85 oz.
Pearlescent Body Gel – This moisturizing body gel refreshes the skin and adds a beautiful pearly sheen. $25 for 8.4 oz.
Eau de Toilette – A sparkling, refreshing rose fragrance. $50 for 2.5 oz.

Look for Roses et Reines at L’Occitane stores and counters, and online at usa.loccitane.com.

Cat Lady Socks

July 17th, 2014 by Karen 4 Comments

I HAZ THEM!

It’s too warm to wear these right now (I’ve been living in flip-flops and sandals), but when fall comes, I’m ready.

Fluffy Cats Crew Socks by Hot Sox, $6.

Calling Mrs. Mia Wallace! The Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Palette Marries Dark Themes With Dark Neutral Eyeshadows

July 17th, 2014 by Karen 17 Comments

If…

You like carrying on entire conversations with friends and family via Pulp Fiction movie quotes (“Bring out the gimp!” “I love you, Honey Bunny.” “All right, everybody be cool. This is a robbery!”).
Your Urban Decay cup runneth over, and yet despite owning all three Naked palettes, you still want more, more, MORE!
You dream of wearing brown, black and/or beige eyeshadow while doing the twist with John Travolta at a 1950s diner.
You don’t mind a little fallout.

Then you might want to say “What happened to my Honda?”

Wait — that’s from the movie. 🙂

Let’s try that again…

You might want to say “I do” to the new $34 Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Palette.

Inspired by Mrs. Mia Wallace herself, Uma Thurman’s character from the movie, this five-piece (three new shadows and two re-promotes) limited edition palette, which is part of UD’s fall collection, is all about the Mrs. and recreating her look.

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Collection Palette — Inside the palette…

I’ve found that when I wear the shadows in this palette — Righteous (a matte light cream), Tyranny (a matte warm brown), Vengeance (a deep, satiny matte taupe-brown), Furious (a satiny white) and Anger (a satiny black with a slight sparkle) — things get very dark, very quickly, just like they do in the movie.

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Palette Swatches — Swatches…

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