Karen

Sheer, Shiny Burgundy Chanel Esprit Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick Reminds Me of Weird Clothing

July 30th, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

Random MBB Fun Fact: From sixth to ninth grade (circa the late ’80s, early ’90s) my idea of high fashion was Esprit clothing, and I loved it so much that I covered my walls in Esprit ads.

I lived for the rare times when my mom would drive me out to the Esprit outlet in South San Francisco.

Looking back, I ended up wearing some pretty weird clothes (don’t even get me started on the full body black-and-white giraffe print ensemble), but eh — at least my tweens were interesting. 🙂

Anywho, I think of those days whenever I wear the new Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Esprit ($34), a sheer and shiny burgundy lip shine from the Fall 2013 Superstition collection.

What should you know about Chanel Esprit Rouge Coco Shine?

It has a lightweight, non-sticky formula.
It’s fairly moisturizing, but not as moisturizing as something like a Clarins Natural Light Lip Perfector.
Lasts from 3-4 hours for me and fades to a pretty berry-colored stain.
Has a yummy rose flavor and scent.

Chanel Esprit Rouge Coco Shine, $34 — Esprit Rouge Coco Shine, $34

Chanel Icone Rouge Coco Lipstick (left) and Esprit Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick (right) — Icone Rouge Coco Lipstick (left) and Esprit Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick (right)

Chanel Le Blush Creme de Chanel in Destiny, and Conversations With My Magic 8-Ball

July 29th, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

Chanel Destiny Blush — Blushing for the camera with Chanel Le Blush Creme de Chanel Cream Blush in Destiny on my cheeks

KAREN: Oh great, all-seeing Magic 8-Ball, may I ask you a question?

MAGIC 8-BALL: Yes, definitely.

KAREN: Can you see my destiny?

MAGIC 8-BALL: You may rely on it.

KAREN: Do you see a new fantastic everyday cream blush in my future? Something that I can just blend with my fingers or any old brush I have on hand, and it’ll last at least six hours, maybe eight?

MAGIC 8-BALL: As I see it, yes.

KAREN: Is it from the new Chanel Le Brush Creme de Chanel line that launched with the Fall 2013 Superstition collection?

MAGIC 8-BALL: Without a doubt.

KAREN: If I were to wear it, might a stranger confuse me with an applicant for clown college? In other words, would my cheeks look like Bozo’s or Ronald McD’s?

MAGIC 8-BALL: Very doubtful.

KAREN: Will it look flawless and natural on bare skin or atop foundation and power?

MAGIC 8-BALL: It is certain.

KAREN: Do you foresee this blush highlighting my pores or emphasizing their size?

MAGIC 8-BALL: Don’t count on it.

KAREN: Interesting… Would you say that it’s similar to the satiny, silky, long-wearing cream blush I’ve been obsessed with for a year, By Terry’s Ginger Glaze?

MAGIC 8-BALL: Signs point to yes.

KAREN: Is it Chanel’s golden beige blush creme in Destiny?

MAGIC 8-BALL: It is decidedly so.

KAREN: SWEET! So…will I be wearing Destiny when I finally win the lottery?

MAGIC 8-BALL: Better not tell you now.

KAREN: 🙁

Chanel Destiny Le Blush Creme de Chanel, $38 — Destiny Le Blush Creme de Chanel, $38

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How Does Chanel’s Mystere Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow Last as Long as It Does? It’s a Mystery…

July 29th, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

Chanel Mystere Quad — It’s a mystery… Or is it? Perhaps I’m wearing Chanel’s Mystere Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow ($59) from the Chanel Fall 2013 collection

Current mysteries plaguing my life…

Why does Tabs meow, desperately, for food when his food bowl is still halfway filled? I know you’re always hungry, Tabs, but you can’t be THAT hungry. Is it out of worry/concern? You just don’t want to take any chances?
If Fifty Shades of Grey were made into a movie, how awkward would it be to have to sit through it with my parents? (I’m guessing pretty awkward.)
I want an app like Siri that I can tell all of my problems to, and it answers every one of them with a perfect solution…because my Magic 8 Ball just isn’t cutting it anymore.
Why is binging on television so satisfying? I’ve watched half of the entire first season of House of Cards on Netflix in two days and man! — it’s almost as satisfying as eating an entire tub of HÃ¤agen-Dazs.
Is there, in fact, a mystery behind the Chanel Mystere Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow quad? Did Karl have to, like, go incognito or something to track down the secret ingredients? For some reason, I can see him working crazy wigs and disguises, a la Sydney Bristow in Alias.

And now, Chanel Mystere…

I wore it when I visited my in-laws in Redding last week, and I’ll say this right now: when I layer Mystere on top of my good ol’ NARS Pro-Prime, it’s the sh*t in terms of wear time, because Redding is hella hot, like 150 degrees in the shade, yo, like “Oh, mah gerd! I’m stuck in a microwave oven!”

And even though it felt like the heat was doing a number on my makeup, Mystere didn’t fade or crease from dawn till dusk.

Wear time? BOMB.

I like this quad, especially the way it looks on cool-toned gals who dig grays. On me, I think it seems a little awkward by itself, and I have to use some tricks to make it work, like by starting with a yellowish base like MAC Ochre Paint Pot and then mixing in a warm orangey brown like MAC Soft Brown into my crease.

When I do both of those things, which I did in these pics, the warmer colors transition into the cool grays and taupes, making them appear less harsh on my warm tan, but when I don’t, the gray/taupe undertones — of which there are plenty here, as even the light gold has a hint of gray in it — look chalky.

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 282

July 29th, 2013 by Karen 24 Comments

Sunset over the Sacramento River in Redding, California, on Friday, July 26, 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 four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

What was one of your most memorable jobs and why?
Summer before my senior year in college I worked as an assistant at the English language lab for foreign exchange students.

Hands down the best job I ever had. The job itself was easy peasy. All I had to do was check out materials to the students at the language lab at the start of the class, and then check them back in at the end. The rest of the time I studied for the LSATS, hung out and helped people with their English. The best part, though, was meeting people from all over the world.

It was a lot of fun. I ended up making really good friends with some students from Italy and Japan.
What’s the farthest you’ve ever traveled from home?
Home for me is the San Francisco Bay Area, and the farthest I’ve ever traveled from here was to the Philippines about 7,000 miles away — once when I was a baby and again in my early 20s.

When I’m really excited I…
Talk fast! With my hands! And I make lots of lists like “Top 5 Things I Should Do Today.”

How would your best friend describe you?
Funny and devoted with a flair for the dramatic. Over-achiever. Cat lady. Writer.

What are three traits you inherited from your parents?
1) My dad’s odd sense of humor and 2) stubbornness, and 3) my mom’s love for cleanliness.

What are three things or events that have made you who you are today?
1) Deciding not to go to law school, 2) meeting El Hub (for our first date we met in front of Green Apple Books in SF) and 3) finding Tabs. 🙂

Five adjectives that describe your current makeup style?
Eclectic, evolving, adventurous, shimmery, playful

If you could permanently ban a single word from general usage, what word would it be?
Panties

What’s the best mood booster?
The quickest one for me is listening to upbeat dance music, but when I have some time and mental space, then I like to take a shower, do my hair, put on my makeup and an outfit with non-stretchy pants!

Then I feel like a real person again…

You can ask any celebrity for hair/beauty/makeup advice. Whom and what do you ask?
I’d ask Kim Kardashian to hook me up with Troy Jensen, her makeup artist, for a makeover. His work is amazing!

1. What was one of your most memorable jobs and why?
2. What’s the farthest you’ve ever traveled from home?
3. When I’m really excited I…
4. How would your best friend describe you?
5. What are three traits you inherited from your parents?
6. What are three things or events that have made you who you are today?
7. Five adjectives that describe your current makeup style?
8. If you could permanently ban a single word from general usage, what word would it be?
9. What’s the best mood booster?
10. You can ask any celebrity for hair/beauty/makeup advice. Whom and what do you ask?

I’m thrilled to be back in the Bay Area again (well, at least for the next two days) with my laptop on the couch!

It’s so nice to be home… Have a wonderful week, okay?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 254

July 28th, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

Dear friends and felines,

As you may already know, I spent the latter half of last week on staycation at my condo in Novato.

My assistant and her male associate went out of town, but they left me in capable hands with an experienced pet sitter, a flourishing pot of cat grass, a new tin of dried catnip, several cans of gravy in my favorite flavors and a promise to return “real soon.”

Of course I feigned indifference.

Because you and I have grown quite close, I feel that I can be honest with you. It’s rather embarrassing, but you see…I may have missed my assistant while she was gone. Maybe. Just a little.

Oh, sure. She gets under my fur a lot, does annoying things like picking me up while I’m napping in the sunshine (the nerve!) and calling me all sorts of ridiculous nicknames, like “Baby Cat” and “Mixy Bear.”

But that woman makes a mean can of gravy. No one — and I mean no one — prepares Fancy Feast like she does. I’ll give her that.

So today I got to thinking about, perhaps, getting her a token of my appreciation.

I researched all weekend long, trying to find that purrfect gift that says, “By no means do I need your help, but I wouldn’t resist if you tried to rub my tum or prepare my evening gravy.”

I’ve narrowed it down to the following list of cat-themed gifts, reproduced here for your consideration.

1. Lion Hat for Cats, $50

Sometimes you just gotta suck it up and take one for the team. Even though you may feel grumpy wearing this Lion Hat, it’s a surefire way to bring a smile to your assistant’s face.

Available now at the Nestasnest Etsy shop.

2. Cat Eyeglasses Sweater, $69.99

You don’t need 20/20 vision to see that your assistant will look smashing in this sweater.

Available now at ModCloth.

3. You’re Kitten Me Wedges, $49.99

Mint green feline-inspired wedges? You gotta be kitten me! These are purrfect for shoe-loving assistants with a quirky sense of style.

Available now at ModCloth.

4. Who You Lookin’ Cat Top, $34.99

Because two tabby cats are (usually) better than one, especially when it comes to printed baseball tees.

Available now at ModCloth.

5. Cats Map of the World, $23.68

Have I ever mentioned that my assistant has a thing for maps? This gift combines her love of cartography with cats. Genius!

Available now at the artPause Etsy shop.

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Sephora + Pantone Universe Spectral Lacquer in Waterfall

July 27th, 2013 by Karen 17 Comments

There’s a waterfall of holographic shimmer at the heart of the Sephora + Pantone Universe!

It’s called Waterfall.

Just Waterfall. And it was released earlier this summer at Sephora along with two other Spectral Lacquer holographic nail polishes.

It shifts between purple and blue in the light, and the holographic effect’s pretty visible, too, which I like. If you’re going to wear a holographic nail polish, might as well be able to see the colors change, right?

I’m wearing two coats here…

If ya wanna chase this Waterfall, look for it now at Sephora stores and sephora.com. 🙂

7 Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card From Sephora!

July 27th, 2013 by Karen 350 Comments

Win a Sephora eCard on Makeup and Beauty Blog — Travelin’ with tried-and-true faves for my tresses from Bumble & Bumble (available at Sephora)

Rise and shine from Redding! We’re packing up and getting ready to drive back to the Bay Area.

I might not even empty out my suitcase when we get home, though, because I’m taking another trip next week, that one down to Venice Beach in Southern California to visit the headquarters of Hourglass Cosmetics…also known as one of my favorite brands at Sephora.

Okay, well, I should at least unpack my dirty clothes and leave my suitcase open for a few minutes to let Tabs sit in there and chill. (It’s up to him. This is “The Tabs Show” after all, and I’m just a bit player.)

Speaking of Sephora, can I just say how thrilled I was when they started carrying Bumble & Bumble?

Back before they started carrying it, I had to hunt and gather across the great plains of Novato to find my favorite Bumble products. It’s kind of comforting knowing now that when I run out of my B&B must-haves, I just have to make it to the closest Sephora.

Win this weekend’s $50 Sephora e-gift card giveaway, and then shake your tail feathers on down to your closest Sephora to snag bottles of Bumble’s Gentle Shampoo, Super Rich Conditioner, Color Minded Styling Balm and/or Brilliantine. I literally don’t leave home without ’em. Highly recommended.

Have a great one today. I’ll catch up with 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: What color lipstick would go well with a rose blush? What’s a good face wash for someone with sensitive skin? What’s your favorite eyeshadow? Are you having a good time? Have you done any traveling so far this summer? Have you ever been to South America?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Sunday, July 28, 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. Less than a week to go in Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Massive MAC Giveaway. Get your entries in for the $258 goodie bag of all-star MAC magic morsels before it’s too late!

Plate o’ Yum

July 27th, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

Look what my mum-in-law made me for breakfast yesterday. A fancy fruit plate with strawberries, peaches and cantaloupe.

Pretty!

And yummage to the extreme.

It looked like something from a fancy restaurant, so of course I couldn’t resist snapping a couple of pics before scarfing the entire thing down like a hungry bunny.

Seriously, I barely took a breath between bites.