Karen

What’s Your Best Time-Saving Makeup Tip?

August 17th, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

Hmm… This is the face I make when I’m thinking about makeup tips.

Deciding what to wear — clothing, colors and makeup — usually devours the lion’s share of my getting ready time in the morning.

Seriously, I can spend 15 minutes deliberating over/between black, and purplish black liner.

Ah, the life and times of a beauty addict. (Sigh…)

Here’s something that really helps though: when I simply don’t have time for major life decisions like whether to wear a black or a purplish black liner, I turn to the tiny makeup bag on my vanity, which is dedicated to essentials.

It always contains eight things…

Foundation
Concealer
Powder
Brow pencil
Mascara
Blush
A nude gloss
A bright lipstick

The specific products will change, depending on my whims, current kicks and fancies, but the kinds of products stay the same.

Restricting my choices this way prevents some of the dilly-dallying I’m prone to and prevents many of the long-winded internal makeup debates I have with myself. (Matte or shimmer blush? Cream or powder bronzer? Highlighter? No highlighter? Lipstick and/or gloss?).

Added bonus? When I’ve totally blown my schedule and I’m already running late, I can just grab the little bag and bolt. Worst case scenario, I can do my makeup on the way to wherever I’m going.

No matter how much I hate rushing (Gaaaaah!), sometimes it can’t be helped. I’ll do anything for new ways to save time and look sharp. Got any good time-saving makeup tips to share? Please say yes! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Unsung Makeup Heroes: NARS Galapagos Eyeshadow

August 17th, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

About the Author
The following guest post was written by Jessica Revitte of gettingcheeky.com. You can also find Jessica on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

I often find myself approaching my makeup collection like a game of Scrabble. I know I have a major point scoring word right in front of me, but somehow I just can’t quite visualize what it is — only to realize later that I passed over a big hit time and time again. The same unfortunate haze sets in when I regard my shadow drawer. I know what’s there and I know the potential that all of the incredible and carefully selected products have; yet I struggle to grasp their individual or collective potential.

Karen and Tabs gave me a straightforward prompt: write about an unsung product that I couldn’t be without chez-Getting Cheeky. I tend to over-think things though (see the Scrabble analogy above), and this prompt ended up becoming an exercise in why I should be more attentive to the capabilities of all the products in my collection rather than a select few. One such much-loved, long term favorite that I shattered and subsequently repurchased is NARS Galapagos eyeshadow ($24). For some incomprehensible reason I allowed this brand new shadow to sit unloved in my drawer until now. I’m left wondering why? It’s a one-shade wonder!

In my book, the mark of a perfect product is something that can be used in many different ways. Galapagos checks all my boxes in that respect. At first swatch it seems quite light on the pigmentation: one might even go so far as to say that it’s a disappointment in comparison to the rich appearance of the shadow in the pan. Like many powder shadows NARS offers Galapagos is a sleeper hit. Don’t write this shade off before you watch it transform before your eyes. Build the color for a complex but diffused soft brown, or apply wet for a rich shimmering fudge. What NARS simply describes as a “coconut bronze with gold flecks” is so much more. In my time with Galapagos I’ve found ways to use this shadow dry, wet, blended, smudged and as a straight line. This shadow shines in every application.

NARS Galapagos swatched heavily dry, lightly dry, wet and as a liner

[Continue reading…]

My New Temp Gig on Kauai

August 17th, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

I’m pretty sure this violates the exclusivity clause in my contract with Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, but I’m really excited about my new part-time job here on the island, and I’m willing to risk my employer’s wrath.

My new boss, Tortie Girl, was impressed by my bonafides and hired me on as her temporary assistant! 🙂

It’s a short-term contract that runs through Wednesday…

So far it hasn’t been as challenging as my regular 60-hour-per-week beauty blogging/pet-assisting job back home, but time will tell.

One of my responsibilities involves feeding Tortie Girl Temptations at least twice per day, and I think I’m doing a good job… She’s a little hard to read sometimes (like my other employer), but she hasn’t scratched my eyes out (yet).

Except for the feedings, Tortie Girl gave me the day off yesterday, so I just lounged around, and it was absolutely purrfect.

The only marginally productive thing I accomplished was eating as much tropical fruit as possible, like these passion fruits, which I can’t remember ever having before. I sliced them open with a plastic butter knife in my room…

They’re filled with liquid, so you don’t want to cut them through the middle; otherwise, all the good stuff spills out. If you cut them across the top, they open up like a fruit cup.

They look a little like alien eggs filled with tart (Ha! I accidentally typed “Tarte”), pulpy seeds.

El Hub absolutely loves ’em, but I’m on the fence. They’re hella tart — so tart that they make your lips pucker.

Oh, but I did go cray over this fresh, locally-grown papaya…

Other than Fruit Quest 2013, I swam, napped by the pool, had a piÃ±a colada (although I did not get caught in the rain), and looked for shapes in the clouds. (Spotted a camel, a map of Australia, the Michelin Man feeding a giant mutant rabbit… Pretty much standard cloud fare.)

After a grueling day by the pool, a crab buffet and a butter-stained blue dress…

Oh, well. That’s what Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover pens are for (and they work great!).

Oh, and this comes out of left field, but I also wore this Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue deodorant for the first time, LOL!

I love this scent in all its incarnations.

Speaking of love, I would love a blush the color of this flower…

I’m Jessica Revitte of Getting Cheeky, and This Is My Makeup Life

August 17th, 2013 by Karen 36 Comments

The jazzy Jessica Revitte of Getting Cheeky

The My Makeup Life series asks beauty biz insiders, bloggers, makeup mavens and artists to share their holy grail products, tricks, tips and favorite beauty tools. Is there anyone you would like to see featured in My Makeup Life or questions you think I should ask? Let me know here.

Name: Jessica Revitte
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Day job/current gig: Bilingual (French) Customer Service Representative
Hangouts online: gettingcheeky.com, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest
Current favorite product: Bruno Acampora Musc Eau de Parfum
Beauty inspirations: French women, history and literature (Don’t believe me? I have an Inspired By Literature series!)
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: Classic

What makeup/beauty products can’t you live without?

I’d be lost without Giorgio Armani’s Maestro Foundation, Stila’s Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner and Dior’s Rosy Glow Blush.

When did you start getting into makeup?

True story. As a small child (think five) I used a green Crayola Magic Marker to “apply shadow” to my eyelids. Needless to say my mother was not amused. Though I’ve loved makeup as long as I can remember, I didn’t fall head over heels in love with products until I studied in Paris. Painfully dangerous for my meager student’s budget.

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

Cut out the “paradox of choice” and keep a small selection of items at arm’s length for quick application. Being that I’m a beauty blogger I have a relatively large collection, but I only store the absolute essentials on the surface of my vanity. If I give myself too many options while I apply my makeup before work I’m easily distracted!

What’s your favorite beauty tool?

It may sound anticlimactic, but an eyebrow spoolie is everything. I have thick brows that I absolutely adore, but all too often they need to be tamed.

What’s the best beauty advice you ever received?

As a pre-teen my grandmother told me never to pluck my eyebrows. Days later I read an interview of a model in a popular teen magazine who said her grandmother had given her the same advice. The corroboration was too much to ignore, so I don’t touch them! (Hence my response above.)â€¨

What’s your skincare routine?

I’ve long made skin a priority so my skin care routine is quite lengthy. In the morning I apply a day cream (my current favorite is Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream) along with an SPF no matter the weather. At night I use the following products to remove my makeup and cleanse; Bioderma Sensibio H20, Pai Camelia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser, Embryolisse Lait-CrÃ¨me ConcentrÃ©, Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner (nightly) or Clarins Bright Plus HP Gentle Renewing Brightening Peel (once a week). I’m sorry to say that this is all augmented by yet more serums, eye creams and moisturizing balms depending on the season.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve tried in the name of beauty?

I tested Missha’s Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Hydro-Gel Mask once upon a time. The mask was great, but I couldn’t get over the fact that I had snail excretions all over my mug. (Shudders involuntarily.)

Do you have a trademark look (hair/styling/makeup)?

Despite my constant desire to experiment with new products and looks, my signature for the last ten years has been barely there base makeup, a flicked black cat-eye and blush. I let my hair do its own thing (which is usually BIG and wavy), but I often pull it back into a chignon when I can’t stand it in my face.

Are there any beauty decisions you’ve made that you look back on and ask yourself, “why?!”

As a relatively straight laced 16-year-old girl with long hair and blonde highlights I impulsively decided to cut it all off, dye it Dr. Pepper red and suddenly go for the emo look. It didn’t look horrible, if I do say so myself, but it SO wasn’t me. The instant I got home I vowed to grow out my hair (that had been down to my lower back only hours before) and cried for hours about my impulsive decision.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

Will you be mad at me if I say Paris? I did live there after all, so it seems fair. When I’m home Nordstrom is my favorite beauty destination, and I visit Anthropologie weekly … though that may have something to do with the fact that it’s right across the street from my office!

Do You Have Any Vintage/Nostalgic Pieces of Makeup in Your Collection?

August 16th, 2013 by Karen 26 Comments

Old-school MAC Eyeshadows in Brule (left) and Print (right), circa the late 1990s

Heck yeah, I do. I started wearing makeup at 14, and I have kept a few things for nostalgia’s sake.

Like the two MAC Eyeshadows above, Print and Brule. If I remember correctly, those are from 1998!

No, I do not use them anymore… They’re 15 years old! But I still get a kick out of the packaging. Print looks pretty to’ up because I carried it everywhere. I used it as a liner for years. And Brule was my go-to base color from ’98 through the early 2000s, around the time I met Ricepaper.

I also have some aged but beloved perfumes from the ’90s at my parents’ house — a bottle of Covergirl’s Navy and a couple of Victoria’s Secret perfumes I wore in college (I can’t remember which ones… Jasmine or Rose? Something like that.).

How about you? Do you have any venerable pieces of makeup in your collection? Anything you keep for sentimental reasons?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Physicians Formula Powder Palette in Blushing Berry

August 16th, 2013 by Karen 5 Comments

About the Author
The following guest post was written by Jenn Coyle of hellobrio.com. You can also find Jenn on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, Etsy and Society6.

This is a story about love…

It begins with a young girl who learned early on that blush was a staple in her regime; a driving force in her life. She started off slowly, using whatever her mom helped her choose.

One day, she graduated from Cover Girl Cheekers to Physicians Formula blushes. That big step marked the beginning of her blush addiction — choosing to spend upwards of $10 on a blush when there were perfectly good blushes for $3 or $4. At that point, there was no going back. This girl was hopelessly in love with loving blushes.

Years later, said girl had been ’round the proverbial blush block. Now a connoisseur, purchasing in ranges from cheap-cheap to drugstore to high-end, she had a sizable number of blush compacts in her collection.

I apologize for getting philosophical with you, but here goes: they say once a person has too many options, the person can begin to feel paralyzed when forced to make a decision.

[Continue reading…]

Un-Fortunately, Wear Time Is Not Among Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick in 619’s Many Good Fortunes

August 16th, 2013 by Karen 7 Comments

In the case of Dior Extreme Addict Lipstick in 619, Fortune does not smile upon you; instead, you smile wearing Fortune. 🙂

That’s because Fortune is its name — 619, otherwise known as Fortune. This $31 rosy nude is available exclusively at Nordstrom as part of Dior’s Fall Mystic Metallics collection.

Well…it’s supposed to be, but it looks like it’s currently unavailable online.

Fortune is one of those “Is she or isn’t she wearing makeup?” colors that’s always handy to have in your purse.

The goods on Fortune…

The lightweight formula feels smooth, and it’s comfortable to wear.
BLING! Very shiny.
It’s moderately pigmented, with coverage somewhere between medium and full.
It reminds me of a more moisturizing Chanel Rouge Coco Shine (which is good).
Un-fortunately, it doesn’t last very long. I only get about one hour of wear time and have to reapply after meals…

If you’re fortunate enough to find Fortune at a Nordie’s Dior counter one of these days when you’re in mood for a high-shine lippie with a formula that feels as light as Tortie Girl’s wispy whiskers (and don’t mind having to reapply often), check it out. 🙂

I’m Jenn Coyle of Hello Brio, and This Is My Makeup Life

August 16th, 2013 by Karen 10 Comments

Name: Jenn Coyle
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Day job/current gig: I’ve taken the plunge. I’m now freelancing full-time in graphic and web design.
Hangouts online: HelloBrio.com, Society6, Etsy, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and Pinterest
Current favorite product: Too Faced BB Cream
Beauty inspirations: Wistful indie films, Philadelphia high rises and quiet coffee shops
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: Journey

What makeup/beauty products can’t you live without?

I will not go out the door without blush, mascara, and under-eye concealer. I know my weaknesses sans-makeup, and that trifecta of makeup products does the trick. I also need a good mud mask to help clogged pores.

When did you start getting into makeup?

Makeup became a big part of my life in middle school. My mom, who modeled as a young woman, knew that I’d spark an interest in makeup sooner than later, so she taught me how to use makeup to enhance features in a subtle way and not go overboard (hello, raccoon eyes and dark lipstick on a 14-year-old… Not attractive!)

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

Using an eyelash primer is the most incredible and failsafe beauty time-saving trick I have. Doing so allows me to apply one coat of primer and one to two coats of mascara, achieving maximum length and volume sans eyelash curler. Using primer also prevents clumping, since you won’t need as many coats of mascara to achieve eyelash definition.

What’s your favorite beauty tool?

I can’t do without my 1.5″ Hot Tools gold curling iron (model 1102). I’ve tried different diameters of curling irons, and the 1.5″ always gives me the soft, bouncy and put-together hair look that I want to achieve.

What’s the best beauty advice you ever received?

My mom is a wealth of beauty tips. She helped me understand that success in makeup depends on your ability to objectively understand your facial strengths and weaknesses, and enhance where needed.â€¨

What’s your skincare routine?

My skincare routine is almost embarrassingly simple and no-fuss. In the shower, I wash my face with Ivory bar soap if needed, followed by an exfoliator like the (generic version of the) St. Ives Blemish & Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub or the Yes To Blueberries Softening Facial Exfoliator if I sense a breakout coming. Then, I will swipe my clean, dry face with an astringent-soaked cotton ball (I typically use a generic Sea Breeze Astringent). From there, I use the Yes to Grapefruit Dark Spot Correcting Serum for hyperpigmentation issues and then the Yes to Blueberries Daily Repairing Moisturizer or Aveeno Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream if I need it. If it’s the end of the day, I will use a Yes To cleansing facial towelette and then complete my routine starting at astringent as mentioned above.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve tried in the name of beauty?

My weird beauty thing probably has to do with going vegan and gluten free for about 3 months in 2011. My skin ended up looking great as a result of this lifestyle change, and I felt more energized. But when all’s said and done, that type of extreme diet isn’t sustainable for me.

Do you have a trademark look (hair/styling/makeup)?

My trademark look is pretty simple: black winged eyeliner, natural-looking mascara, and pink blush; and my hair is styled with a loose curl if I have the time!

Are there any beauty decisions you’ve made that you look back on and ask yourself, “why?!”

Oh, the hair. For a while, I dyed my hair an awful golden light brown from a box which just ended up looking like brass city. If I had a chance to dye my hair again in a drastic way, I think I’d go for platinum or silver. But only if a professional did it!

Where are your favorite places to shop?

Target, always and forever! When I lived in the suburbs, I may or may not have gone to Target more than once a week. I’m not a huge fan of their clothes, but I love the rest of the store, especially the home decor. I love to get my trendier clothes from Forever21 and H&M. I’ll go to Urban Outfitters for my pseudo-hipster everyday wear, and LOFT for my I’m-an-adult-lady clothes.

Anything else you want to share?

Being beautiful comes from the core of believing you’re beautiful. Confidence always prevails (at healthy levels, of course) and allows you to radiate from the inside.