Karen

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November 5th, 2013 by Karen 3 Comments

How do I love makeup? Let me count the ways…

Well, it’s a great way to unwind before, during and after a busy day.
It lets me express myself creatively (without the long-term commitment of tattoos).
It helps me feel more confident.
It picks me up when I’m feeling down.
It’s challenging — learning how to do new things.
It helps me feel more connected to like-minded gals (and guys).
It’s a great way to meet people (and cats).
It brings me joy.

I love makeup for all those reasons and more, and I hope it shines through in my pictures and posts. If you subscribe to Makeup and Beauty Blog, you’ll get all of my daily updates delivered to your inbox in a digest once a day. I take the best possible pictures I can to help you decide if a product is perfect for you, and I won’t pull any punches if I don’t think it is.

Subscribe to Makeup and Beauty Blog right here and now.

Thank you for visiting. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. In addition to here on the blog, I’m also active on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Google+.

My Warm Skin Tone Is Warming Up To the Neutral Cool Shades in the Bobbi Brown Smokey Cool Eye Palette

November 4th, 2013 by Karen 23 Comments

The Sisterhood of Sparkly Shadows will probably kick me out of the sorority for this, but eff it! — I’m saying it anyways: Bobbi Brown’s Smokey Eye Cool palette could really use one fewer glittery eyeshadows and one more matte brown.

There. I said it. 🙂

“This carefully edited mix of six eye shadows is the perfect palette for those who prefer their smokey eye look on the cool side. Featuring everything you need to take eyes from day to night including Bobbi’s beloved base shadow in Ivory and an array of sparkly and shimmery textures in cool grey hues. A Mini Dual Ended Shadow/Liner brush completes this mirrored compact-all it needs now is a bow.”

— bobbibrowncosmetics.com

I’m really not trying to hate on the sparkly stuff, ’cause you know I love me some glitter.

WOO-HOO! TEAM GLITTER! *fist bumps*

It’s just that I tried to make this work using only the six shadows in the set (it comes with three mattes, one shimmer and two glitters), but I couldn’t tie them all together without a medium brown shade to ease the transition from the lighter shades into the darker ones.

It’s like a piece of the puzzle is missing, ya know?

Now, if I were able to swap one of the Sparkle Eye Shadows, which are Bobbi’s take on pressed glitters, for an easy-to-use golden brown along the lines of MAC Cork, it would be so on…

Bobbi Brown Smokey Cool Eye Palette swatches from the left: Ivory Eye Shadow, Graphite Sparkle Eye Shadow, Smokey Grey Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow, Truffle Eye Shadow, Platinum Sparkle Eye Shadow and Caviar Eye Shadow — Swatches from the left: Ivory Eye Shadow, Graphite Sparkle Eye Shadow, Smokey Grey Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow, Truffle Eye Shadow, Platinum Sparkle Eye Shadow and Caviar Eye Shadow

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Get a Flattering Nude Glow That You Don’t Have To Get Naked for With Bobbi Brown’s New Nude Glow Shimmer Brick

November 4th, 2013 by Karen 31 Comments

Wearing the new limited edition Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Shimmer Brick ($45)

This is the look I wore on my lady date with Jen and Cindy yesterday, although really, I didn’t expect either of them to notice because 1) the Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Shimmer Brick I’m wearing wasn’t designed to stand out like that, and 2) neither of them are hard-core makeup people. In fact, the day Cindy turns to me and says, “OOH! I like how you blended that highlighter into your blush!” is the day I expect to see pigs flying and RyGos ceasing to be frickin’ adorable.

With Nude Glow, that’s exactly what you get — a nude glow, like kind of shine your skin takes on after a really good facial…or an entire day spent chillin’ at a spa (and not doing a damn thing for anyone).

This is one of those highlighters with a super forgiving sheen, and I think that’s why a lot of women — especially mature gals — are going to dig it.

I’ve worn the Shimmer Bricks in Bobbi’s permanent line and have also tried a few of her limited edition ones from previous collections, but this one, with its exceptionally fine powders, seems to be a step above the others.

Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Shimmer Brick pan closeup — A closer look at the pan…

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 296

November 4th, 2013 by Karen 56 Comments

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.

Leopard spots or zebra stripes?
Cat lady says what now?! Leopard spots, of course.

Have you ever blown a kiss to a stranger?
Not that I can recall, but stranger things have happened after a glass of wine or two…

A movie that scared you as a child?
Salam’s Lot, HOLY CRAP. I don’t know whose idea it was to allow a bunch of 5-year-olds to watch that movie at the babysitter’s house, but it went down, and I was (and still am) traumatized.

Are you a back, tummy or side sleeper?
Yes! I usually fall asleep on my back, but then roll on to my tummy or side in the wee hours of the morning.

Who’s your team?
THE NINERS!

Do you, or does someone you know, have a sixth sense?
I’m not sure… Maybe. I do get a very strong sense of déjà vu sometimes. And there have been a few times when something — a very distinct, unmistakable gut feeling that something isn’t right — has probably saved my life.

How are you at multitasking?
Absolute crap.

What was the last skincare product you finished down to the last drop?
I think it was NARS Aqua Gel Luminous Oil-Free Moisturizer… I used it a lot toward the end of summer because it was lightweight, super moisturizing and didn’t give me breakouts.

It’s probably not moisturizing enough for me now that it’s gotten colder and drier, but I’ll use it again next spring and summer.

If you could be a makeup artist for any brand, which brand would it be?
MAC or NARS, for sure. 🙂

On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your current ability to work a smokey eye?
Hmm… I’ll say 7.5? I think I can handle the basic styles OK, but I’m sure there are plenty of tweaks and improvements I could do.

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. Leopard spots or zebra stripes?
2. Have you ever blown a kiss to a stranger?
3. A movie that scared you as a child?
4. Are you a back, tummy or side sleeper?
5. Who’s your team?
6. Do you, or does someone you know, have a sixth sense?
7. How are you at multitasking?
8. Last skincare product you finished down to the last drop?
9. If you could be a makeup artist for any brand, which brand would it be?
10. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your current ability to work a smokey eye?

Somewhere between the 49er roll and deep-fried soft-shell crab somebody at the table brought up shapeshifters…

Yes, these are the kinds of deep thoughts my friends and I have while we’re stuffing our faces with sushi drizzled in a nice ponzu sauce.

So yesterday I went to the South Bay to hang out with my girlfriends, Jen and Cindy, and to take Jen to a spa for her belated birthday present, and then afterward we had sushi at this place called Cha Cha Sushi in San Jose.

Jen believes that shapeshifters — assuming they exist, of course — are limited to transforming into something of the same mass, like, the example used at the table was that if you’re a 100-pound girl who shapeshifts into a bodybuilder, you might look like a bodybuilder on the outside, but you’ll only weigh 100 pounds, so you won’t be able to lift as much as an actual 300-pound bodybuilder would…

I guess this makes partial sense to me, since matter is neither created nor destroyed (that’s one thing I remember from my science years), but I think that if you’re already assuming that shapeshifters exist, then you’re already messing with the natural world and its laws as we know them, so I think it’s safe to assume that certain laws are being bent, because hello! — someone is SHIFTING THEIR SHAPE! 🙂

Unfortunately, we left the issue unresolved because the food arrived to the table…

OMG! So freakin’ good. There’s just something magical about spas and sushi, really. Every day should be a spa-sushi day… Someone needs to print that on a t-shirt.

How’s it going this morning? Do you have a couple minutes to say hi and touch base in the Monday Poll? I hope so. It’s a nice way to get the creative juices flowing, and I always like to hear how you’re doing.

Talk to ya soon!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 268

November 3rd, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

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). 🙂

To Whom It May Concern:

This sucks.

My assistant took the day off today to go galavanting with her — whatever, someone she knows — against my objections, so I’ve had to fend for myself. Of course, she also neglected to prepare sufficient gravy for me before leaving, and there appears to be something wrong with the device she uses to secure access to the cans. I am not sure, but I believe the apparatus is incompatible with my delicate paws.

Needless to say, today has been…less than fruitful. I am hungry, fussy and bored. I will have to take this up with my assistant when she returns, because this kind of neglect is totally unacceptable.

Other than the weekend being a complete bust, I did turn in some stellar kitty modeling work, if I do say so myself. Last week I modeled for Benefit, Urban Decay and a few other brands. One of the photographers was so impressed by my work that he called me a modeling savant.

I would have felt more flattered if the observation hadn’t been so obvious.

Per usual, I am reprinting the modeling campaign photos here in my online portfolio. I hope you are as impressed by them as I am.

XOXO,

Tabs

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

November 2nd, 2013 by Karen 488 Comments

Greetings, I love you. 🙂

How’s it going, babe (and you, too, dude)? I hope you slept well. I’m looking forward to a couple things this weekend. My in-laws are visiting, so we’ll probably take them sightseeing around the Bay Area today, which is always fun. Not sure what we’re going to do, yet, but whatever it is, there’s a good chance it will involve food, and lots of it.

And then Sunday should also be fun. I’m literally counting down the seconds, no joke! October was my friend Jen’s birthday month (yes, I firmly believe that everyone should have a birthday month), so Cindy, another good friend of mine, and I are belatedly treating her (and, um, ourselves) to a spa and dinner.

We haven’t gotten together like this in many moons, so I can’t wait to see them and just hang out.

I plan to get a deep-tissue massage and intend to tell the massage tech to “pummel the crap out of all the knots in my back,” or “tenderize me like a side of beef, yo!”

Hopefully, I have that loosey-goosey feeling when it’s done. I love that…

Anywho, on to this weekend’s giveaway, and you know how we do it. There’s a $50 Sephora eGift card here with someone’s name on it.

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 tried belly dancing?
- What’s the most memorable class you’ve ever taken?
- Do you have a bold lipstick in your purse right now, and if you do, what color is it?
- Can you French braid your own hair?
- What do you love about fall?
- Would you rather wear sheer or opaque lip gloss?
- Have you ever cut your hair off after a breakup?
- What are your November goals?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, November 4, 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

You Can’t Help But Notice This Beautiful, Bold Stranger: The New $35 NARS Beautiful Stranger Nail Polish Set

November 1st, 2013 by Karen 12 Comments

The new $35 NARS Beautiful Stranger holiday nail polish set, the only nail set in the Guy Bourdin collection, comes with four nail polish minis packed with pigment.

Shameless Red, my favorite of the bunch, could have been called Shameless Coral, and I would have liked that because I have no quarrels with corals. I love coral, and this one feels very tropical to me. It reminds me of hibiscuses.

The purplish shade, Dance Dance Dance, despite its awesome name, is probably my least favorite one. I had to apply three coats because I saw some streakiness after two.

Oh, I’m not wearing a base or top coat with these…only because I didn’t want to take the time. I would for normal wear to eek out as much longevity as possible.

NARS Shameless Red Nail Polish, a bright pink — Shameless Red Nail Polish, a bright pink (two coats)

NARS Lost Red Nail Polish, a bright red — Lost Red Nail Polish, a bright red (two coats)

NARS Dance Dance Dance Nail Polish, a bright purple — Dance Dance Dance Nail Polish, a bright purple (three coats)

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Pics and Swatches of the MAC Nocturnals Mini Gloss and Mini Tinted Flavoured Lip Conditioner Kits

November 1st, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

MAC Stroke of Midnight Collection — A smattering of delightful delectables from the MAC Stroke of Midnight and Nocturnal holiday collections, available now online, and coming to MAC counters and stores November 7

In case you weren’t sure which of the four Mini Lip Kits from the new MAC Nocturnals collection to get (or which ones not to get), here are some pics and swatches to hopefully help.

For reference, I’m a MAC NC42.

The collections include three Mini Gloss Kits (in Coral, Nude and Pink) and one Mini Tinted Flavoured Lip Conditioner Kit, all of them arriving to MAC stores and counters November 7 (although they’re available now online). 🙂

Let me know if you’re planning to get any of these or if you already have.

I’m all about the Coral…

MAC Nocturnals Mini Gloss Kit in Coral ($32.50 US and $38.50 CAN)

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Night is Young, a bright red cream — Cremesheen Glass in Night Is Young, a bright red cream

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Star Quality, a bright orange coral — Cremesheen Glass in Star Quality, a bright orange coral

MAC Cremesheen Glass in On the Scene, a pink with pink and white pearl — Cremesheen Glass in On the Scene, a pink with pink and white pearl

MAC Dazzleglass in Moth to Flame, a sheer neutral beige with violet pearl — Dazzleglass in Moth to Flame, a sheer neutral beige with violet pearl

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