Karen

Chanel Diapason Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow From the New Chanel Notes de Printemps Spring Collection

December 23rd, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

Chanel Diapason Illusion D'Ombre, From the New Chanel Notes de Printemps Spring Collection

A full, rich outpouring of harmonious sound.
The entire range of an instrument or voice.
Either of the two principal stops on a pipe organ that form the tonal basis for the entire scale of the instrument.
The interval and the consonance of an octave.
A standard indication of pitch.
A tuning fork.
A new Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in the Chanel Notes de Printemps Spring collection.

(I love, love, LOVE dictionaries, BTW.)

Just a little look at Chanel’s Diapason Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow ($26, available next month).

What a Magnetic Glow! The New MAC Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Skinfinishes in Magnetic Appeal, Superb and Fairly Precious

December 23rd, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

Wearing the new MAC Magnetic Appeal Extra Dimension Skinfinish (a medium tan with a fine golden sheen) on my upper cheekbones and down the bridge of my nose

My glow in these pics is not due to a recent and sudden increase in cardiovascular activity, the sprinkling of fairy dust or a new skin cream made with firefly particles.

Shopping Is My Cardio Sweater by Wildfox — Workin’ on my fitness

It’s actually due to the new MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinishes from the Magnetic Nude collection.

The three MAC Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Skinfinishes, $30 each US and $35 CAN — The three Magnetic Nude Extra Dimension Skinfinishes, $30 each US and $35 CAN

In short, I think these highlighters are fabulous. Just really beautiful, flattering rose gold and peachy gold shades that don’t look stark or harsh on the skin (which can happen sometimes with metallic highlighters).

MAC Superb Extra Dimension Skinfinish, from the new Magnetic Nude collection — Wearing Superb (a soft peachy nude with multidimensional shimmer) on my upper cheekbones

Like the Extra Dimension Eye Shadows and Blushes, these easy-to-blend Skinfinishes have a hybrid cream, powder and liquid formula. They last all day long (10+ hours on me), and should work well for just about everyone, from makeup beginners to pros, and gals/guys of all ages.

MAC Fairly Precious Extra Dimension Skinfinish, from the new Magnetic Nude collection — Wearing Fairly Precious (a peach with dimensional pearly sheen) on my upper cheekbones

[Continue reading…]

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 303

December 23rd, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for December 23, 2013

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

Have you ever been on TV?
Nope. Well…maybe. There’s a slim chance I might have been caught on camera during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade of 2003 because I was in New York watching the parade from the sidewalk that day.

What’s the scariest thing that’s ever happened while you were home alone?
Not exactly alone, but one night when I was in high school I was babysitting my brother while our parents were out. We were watching TV in the living room when I thought I saw a shadowy figure in the backyard.

Adrenaline shot through me! Seriously, I was ready to grab my brother and bolt out the front door in bare feet and pajamas.

Turns out what I thought was someone’s head peeking through the windows was actually a plastic grocery bag caught in a clothesline, but whatevs. 🙂

Did you decorate your house for the holidays (lights, etc.)?
We have a real tree and decorated it with twinkling white lights and ornaments, and we also did a little corner in the kitchen with some lights. Sometimes we also string lights outside around the garage, but not this year. Bah! Humbug!

Have you ever gone caroling?
I haven’t, but it looks like so much fun in the movies!

Did you watch any Christmas specials on TV this year?
I caught the last part of The Sound of Music Live! special with Carrie Underwood and Vampire Bill. Let’s just say that Tabs was not overly impressed… Of course, he’s a tough critic, but the movie is a pretty tough act to follow.

Have you been playing any good games on your phone lately?
Bejeweled Blitz. I play it so much that El Hub’s memorized the theme song…even though he has a terrible memory and he’s never played the game himself, LOL!

Strangest gift you’ve ever given or received?
Someone in elementary school — I can’t remember who it was now — gave me a pink toy Barbie motorcycle, and I was totally offended at the time because I didn’t play with Barbie (I was more a connoisseur of teddy bears).

I couldn’t comprehend why, of all the forms of transportation, Barbie would choose to ride a motorcycle because, I mean, her hair would get totally messed up from her helmet and the wind… It was just so WEIRD to me.

Are there any outdated phrases you still like using?
Um, all of them?? I’m particularly fond of “It’s the bomb!” and “Raise the roof!” And I will say “That’s HELLA bad!” (with “bad” meaning “good”) to someone if I know they’re an old-school East Bay-er.

Have you ever gone camping in the snow?
Well that pretty much describes my nightmare. 🙂

Favorite past or present makeup trend or fad?
Cat eye liner! I hope it never goes out of style.

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

1. Have you ever been on TV?
2. What’s the scariest thing that’s happened while you were home alone?
3. Did you decorate your house for the holidays?
4. Have you ever gone caroling?
5. Did you watch any Christmas specials on TV this year?
6. Have you been playing any good games on your phone lately?
7. Strangest gift you’ve ever given or received?
8. Which outdated phrases do you still like using?
9. Have you ever gone camping in the snow?
10. Favorite past or present makeup trend or fad?

It’s almost here! Merry Christmas Eve, Eve. 🙂

Whatcha up to today? I’m not feeling extra productive this morning, but I do want to prep a couple of reviews before tomorrow and finish something else I’ve been working on (a top secret project!).

El Hub and I went down to the mall last night, and it was actually kind of fun. Crowded, for sure, but it was so Christmassy, with the stores all decorated, and you just can’t beat this time of year for sales. I mean, when during the regular year do you see sales like 50% off everything in the store??

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

12 Days of Giveaways, Day 6: 7 Ways to Win a Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Combo (Ends Wednesday)

December 23rd, 2013 by Karen 85 Comments

You know the old saying. I scream, you scream, we all scream for grapefruit!

What? That’s not how it goes…? 🙂

I let out a “whoop, whoop!” whenever I get a whiff of anything in Neutrogena’s Pink Grapefruit line ’cause I loooooooove me some grapefruit, both the citrus and the scent of Neutrogena’s fab Pink Grapefruit skincare products — the perfect balance of sweet and tart.

I use and love all three items from today’s prize package all the time! I have ’em in my bathroom right now, and if you win today’s giveaway, you will, too.

A three-piece prize package featuring Neutrogena’s Pink Grapefruit products valued at $22.47 that includes:

One (1) pack of 25 Oil-Free Cleansing Wipes in Pink Grapefruit valued at $7.49
One (1) Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub valued at $7.49
One (1) Body Clear Body Wash in Pink Grapefruit valued at $7.49

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Open to U.S. 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:
- What’s your favorite citrus fruit?
- When was the last time you had a crush on someone?
- What book are you currently reading?
- Baths or showers?
- How long does it take for you to get ready for bed?
- If you have a Christmas tree this year, tell me about it. What does it look like?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Wednesday, December 25, 2013 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.

These giveaways are running for a few days each in the series, so you still have time to get in on the previous ones if you haven’t already, like…

Before you jet, don’t forget to enter these other ongoing giveaways, too

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 275

December 22nd, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

2013.

The year in review.

Hi. I’m Tabs the cat, internationally-acclaimed kitty supermodel, cat actor, entrepreneur. You may know me from such hits as Tabs the Cat Goes to Washington and A Tabby’s Time to Shine.

This week on Sundays With Tabs, we’ll be taking a look back on the year that was, from the high points (my performance in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, my big Halloween costume gala) to the low points (the Great Gravy Shortage of 2013, the rise of small canine models in American pop culture).

But before we get to that, we’ll be taking your calls on the comment line. Our panel of kitty modeling experts (really, just me) are here to answer your questions about the business, feline fame, faux fitness and how to keep your pet assistant performing at an optimum level.

I hope you enjoy this retrospective look back on the year that was.

XOXO,

Tabs

Who is Tabs the Cat? About six years ago I befriended a stray, flea-bitten tabby cat with a bad case of worms. I could see he’d fallen on hard times, but his profound knowledge of high fashion and department store cosmetics led me to believe that he was more than meets the eye. We became fast friends, and now he’s actually my boss (and a successful kitty model). 🙂

[Continue reading…]

12 Days of Giveaways, Day 5: 7 Ways to Win a Neutrogena Naturals Prize Pack (Ends Tuesday)

December 22nd, 2013 by Karen 132 Comments

The power of plants compels you… The power of plants compels you!

Did I ever tell you that I came *this close* to being a botany major? I always had a hard time putting the pieces together in my head when it came to chem and bio, but botany was the one thing that made total sense to me.

I think it was because plants are just everywhere, so I was always thinking about them. I’d pass a garden on the way to the library at school and think “Oooh… The Calvin Cycle!” or be eating pineapple slices at lunch and have the words “crassulacean acid metabolism” pop into my brain.

LOL! What a nerd…

I still think plants are super cool, and they’re the driving force behind today’s giveaway, which features products from the Neutrogena Naturals line.

Neutrogena Naturals is a line of cleansers, moisturizers and treatments made without chemical sulfates, parabens, petrolatum, dyes and phthalates. Powdered by the plants, products in the line are made from 94% plant-derived ingredients.

“We leveraged natural plant derived ingredients where possible and the average of our line is 94% natural. The remaining ingredients were thoughtfully chosen from a comprehensive array of safe and pure ingredients to ensure safety and accessibility. For example, we made the choice to use synthetic fragrances over natural fragrances because synthetic fragrances offer more hypoallergenic options which ensures that the final product will be safe and gentle. But we’re working everyday to improve our technologies to find even more natural ingredients we can use.”

— neutrogena.com

Prepare to get your plant love on in three, two, one…

A four-piece prize package featuring Neutrogena’s Naturals products valued at $31.96 that includes:

One (1) Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover valued at $7.49
One (1) Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Pore Scrub valued at $7.49
One (1) Neutrogena Naturals Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Night Cream valued at $13.99
One (1) Neutrogena Naturals Lip Balm valued at $2.99

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Open to U.S. 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:
- What’s your favorite flower?
- Do you have a green thumb?
- What socks are you wearing today?
- What ringtone do you have on your phone?
- Do you like cold weather?
- Are you cooking or baking anything special for Christmas this year?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Tuesday, December 24, 2013 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.

These giveaways are running for a few days each in the series, so you still have time to get in on the previous ones if you haven’t already, like…

Before you jet, don’t forget to enter these other ongoing giveaways, too

12 Days of Giveaways, Day 4: 7 Ways to Win a Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture Sensitive Skin and Oil-Free Acne Wash Combo (Ends Monday)

December 21st, 2013 by Karen 88 Comments

Sometimes, you gotta go back to basics, and the prizes in this installment of 12 Days of Giveaways are designed to help you do just that.

Win today, and you’ll introduce your beauty cabinet to a couple of must-have Neutrogena oily skin savers — Oil-Free Acne Wash and Oil-Free Moisture for Sensitive Skin.

Today’s is a small prize but a good one, so I hope you enter.

Oh, and I’m not sure if I mentioned this yet, but before I forget, you DO NOT want to miss day 12 of this giveaway series. With Neutrogena’s help, I’ll be giving away the biggest prize ever featured on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Anywho! Let’s get on with today’s giveaway…

A two-piece prize package featuring Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Moisture for Sensitive Skin and Oil-Free Acne Wash valued at $15.48 that includes:

One (1) Oil-Free Moisture for Sensitive Skin valued at $9.99
One (1) Oil-Free Acne Wash valued at $5.49

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Open to U.S. 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:
- How do you feel about sequins on clothing?
- Do you give your pets gifts for the holidays?
- When was the last time you got all dressed up and did fancy makeup?
- Were you ever scared of the mall Santa when you were a kid?
- Have you ever worked a seasonal holiday job?
- What’s your skin type?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, December 23, 2013 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.

These giveaways are running for a few days each in the series, so you still have time to get in on the previous ones if you haven’t already, like…

Before you jet, don’t forget to enter these other ongoing giveaways, too

Pretty Packaging Alert! Makeup From the Japonesque Color Collection

December 20th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

Three pieces from the Japonesque Color Collection, available now at Ulta

Countdown to Christmas! Only four more days, and I have yet to wrap a single gift.

I know!

FYI, your nephew Tabs is not happy about it at all. He asked Santa for an L.V. cat carrier this year and expected to open it early.

Speaking of pretty packaging, aren’t these permanent pieces from the Japonesque Color Collection pretty? They look like pigmented watercolors. Very Shu Umerua meets Monet.

Just add ribbon and voila! They’re ready to gift (or, ya know, keep).

A few thoughts…

Velvet Touch Finishing Powder: Really holds the shine at bay, but I think it might look chalky on darker skin tones.
Eye Shadow Duo in Shade 01: Very, very sheer… We’re talking almost nothing there.
Lip Lacquer in Shade 01: Hello, pigment! This one smells and tastes like buttercream, yum! Too bad it’s also pretty drying.

You can find the entire Japonesque Color Collection now at Ulta stores and ulta.com.

Japonesque Velvet Touch Finishing Powder ($26)

Japonesque Velvet Touch Eye Shadow Duo in Shade 01 (one of 10 duos), $24

Japonesque Color Collection Lip Lacquer in Shade 01 (one of eight shades), $20

Swatches from the left: silver and black shade from the Eye Shadow Duo in Shade 01, Velvet Touch Finishing Powder and Lip Lacquer in 01

Do you have much experience with the Japonesque line? Any favorite products you think I should try?