Karen

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

July 13th, 2013 by Karen 443 Comments

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Tha Winx! Congratulations, Tha Winx! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

Two of my favorite things: Starbucks and Sephora.

Starbucks. Don’t ask me why because I’m not really sure, but last night El Hub and I watched three hours of a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills marathon, which was actually a lot of fun, except that it kept us up way past midnight, but we told ourselves that we were going to get Starbucks this morning, “Because we’re grownups like that, and we can get Starbucks if we want to.”

And we do. 🙂

So now I’m getting ready to go get my caffeine on, haaay! And I’m so excited! I can’t stop using exclamation marks!

And Sephora. Of course you knew this one already, but Sephora is one of the greatest stores on this or any planet, and here in Novato it’s conveniently located in the very same Vintage Oaks shopping center as the closest Starbucks.

Unfortunately, it’s still too early in the morning and the Sephora is closed.

Grrr… Universe: 1. Karen: 0.

(First world problems.)

Looks like I’ll have to wait a few hours to get my Sephora fix, but you won’t have to. You can get yours right now in this giveaway.

This is how we do it! Dum dum-dum dum-dum-dum — this is how we do 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: What’s your favorite snack/drink at Starbucks? Have you ever worked at a restaurant? Manual or electric toothbrush? Best YouTube makeup tutorial you’ve ever seen? Scrunchies, hair ties or clips (or all of the above)? In a dessert island scenario, as the ship is sinking, do you grab the bottle of sunscreen or the pocket knife? Who makes your favorite lip balm?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Sunday, July 14, 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. Just in case you’re the one person left this side of Reno who hasn’t entered Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Massive MAC Giveaway, do it! Someone’s gotta win, so why not you?

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Tha Winx! Congratulations, Tha Winx! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

Coming Soon: The New Milani Fantastical Plumage and Retro Glam Collections

July 13th, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

The new Milani Fantastical Plumage and Retro Glam collections

My, what Fantastical Plumage you have…

And your style, it’s so…Retro Glam. 🙂

Two new Milani nail polish collections arrive next month, and they’re called — wait for it — Fantastical Plumage and Retro Glam.

Um…how fun are these shades!? They’re making me hungry for candy. I almost want to nibble on my nails.

The polishes, about $5 each, will start appearing on nails, in stores and online this August.

Peep the pics and swatches below, and let me know what you think.

The brights are definitely eye-catching, but I’m really feelin’ the mint green shades and glitter top coats…

Milani Scarlet Ibis 866, Canary 867 and Peacock 868 — Scarlet Ibis 866, Canary 867 and Peacock 868

Milani Blue Jay 869, Purple Martin 870 and Purple Martin 870 — Blue Jay 869, Purple Martin 870 and Strawberry Shake 871

Milani Raspberry Delight 872, Creamy Pistachio 873 and Mint Chip 874 — Raspberry Delight 872, Creamy Pistachio 873 and Mint Chip 874

Milani Almond Bliss 875, Carnival 924 and Sprinkles 925 — Almond Bliss 875, Carnival 924 and Sprinkles 925

Milani Scarlet Ibis 866, Canary 867, Peacock 868 and Blue Jay 869 — Scarlet Ibis 866, Canary 867, Peacock 868 and Blue Jay 869

Milani Purple Martin 870, Strawberry Shake 871 and Raspberry Delight 872 — Purple Martin 870, Strawberry Shake 871 and Raspberry Delight 872

Milani Creamy Pistachio 873, Mint Chip 874 and Almond Bliss 875 — Creamy Pistachio 873, Mint Chip 874 and Almond Bliss 875

Milani Carnival 924 (left) and Sprinkles 925 (right) — Carnival 924 (left) and Sprinkles 925 (right)

These bareMinerals Power Neutrals Are Electrifying!

July 13th, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

bareMinerals The Adrenaline Rush Ready Color Boost, $29

A gorgeous new collection of neutrals from bareMinerals, babe. The bareMinerals Power Neutrals Collection comes with everything you need for defined eyes, flushed cheeks, pouty lips and lush lashes in colors you can wear both to work and out to drinks with your girls.

I’m kinda crushing on the eyeshadow palette. The powders are just so soft and pigmented…

I think this one’s going to rock the house on the gals who can wear cool-toned shades well, especially.

Look for it at bareMinerals boutiques, Sephora stores and online (available now).

The New bareMinerals Power Neutrals Collection — The new bareMinerals Power Neutrals Collection

bareMinerals The Power Neutrals Ready Eyeshadow 8.0, $40 — The Power Neutrals Ready Eyeshadow 8.0, $40

bareMinerals Super Power Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss, $18 — Super Power Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss, $18

bareMinerals Take Charge Marvelous Moxie Lipstick, $18 — Take Charge Marvelous Moxie Lipstick, $18

bareMinerals Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara in Black, $18 — Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara in Black, $18

bareMinerals Locked & Coated Waterproof Lash Top Coat, $12 — Locked & Coated Waterproof Lash Top Coat, $12

bareMinerals The Adrenaline Rush Ready Color Boost swatches unblended (three from the left) and blended (far right) — The Adrenaline Rush Ready Color Boost swatches unblended (three from the left) and blended (far right)

bareMinerals The Power Neutrals Ready Eyeshadow 8.0 swatches — The Power Neutrals Ready Eyeshadow 8.0

bareMinerals swatches from the left: Take Charge Marvelous Moxie Lipstick, Super Power Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss, Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara and Locked & Coated Waterproof Lash Top Coat — From the left: Take Charge Marvelous Moxie Lipstick, Super Power Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss, Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara and Locked & Coated Waterproof Lash Top Coat

10 Minutes With Actress Emma Roberts and Celebrity Makeup Artist Amy Oresman

July 12th, 2013 by Karen 8 Comments

Hey, love. I attempted a product review with some face shots this afternoon, but to be honest, I just wasn’t feelin’ it. Instead I thought you might enjoy this phone interview I recently did with actress and Neutrogena spokesperson Emma Roberts and celebrity makeup artist Amy Oresman.

You might recognize Emma from the TV show Unfabulous or the movies It’s Kind of a Funny Story and Celeste & Jesse Forever. Oh, yeah, she’s also Julia Roberts’ niece!

And makeup artist Amy Oresman has beautified a bunch of big name stars like Heidi Klum, Madonna and Victoria Beckham.

Both gals were sweet as pie and had some interesting beauty tips to share. I hope you enjoy.

KAREN: So, Emma, your everyday makeup routine — what’s it like? Are you a beauty minimalist, or do you like to go all out?

EMMA: I really feel like less is more. I feel like, day to day, I want to look like myself, and I want to feel like myself, and not do too much, or worry all day long about fixing my makeup, because that’s, like, the worst feeling. And especially because it’s summer, I like to keep it light.

I use Healthy Lengths Mascara. It’s amazing! You can wear it all day without having to worry about it flaking.

Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara Review, Swatches and Photos — Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascaras, Emma’s favorite!

And I use the Moisture Smooth Color Sticks. Those are great because they’re really moisturizing but also give you a little bit of color, and it looks totally natural. That’s kind of my thing. [SIDE NOTE: Emma’s favorite shade is Sweet Watermelon; she carries it around in her purse.]

Of course, SPF. Other than that, I’m pretty simple.

KAREN: What beauty products do you absolutely love, like, you’d totally freak out if they were discontinued?

EMMA: I hate it when things are discontinued! That’s the worst!

Um…Healthy Lengths Mascara. I’d be really upset if they ever discontinued it. I use it in black, and brown, and it’s amazing.

I always have a red nail polish on my nails, so if they ever discontinued the red nail polish I wear from OPI I’d be really upset.

KAREN:Do you remember the color?

EMMA: I don’t. I’m the worst [laughs]. But I need red nail polish. I love it.

KAREN: Me too. It’s classic! You can never go wrong with red.

EMMA: Now I’m looking at my nails and thinking I need to get them done. The red’s chipping off!

The Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Sticks

[Continue reading…]

Briefly, On Running and Grief

July 12th, 2013 by Karen 36 Comments

Breathe in, breathe out.

One foot in front of the other.

These are the things I kept repeating to myself on the treadmill this morning.

Breathe. One foot. Keep going.

Everything’s been a little harder than usual since the other day…

Haven’t really wanted to eat or exercise, although I tried to run today, and I’ve been sleeping like crap, too.

I thought I’d braced myself mentally for what happened this week, but I guess not. I’m fine most of the time, but then a wave of grief crashes over me; it comes in waves.

I’m okay when I’m focusing on something, like trying to take pretty pictures or writing a blog. I think I’m the kind of person who buries herself in her work when something bad happens… I guess you learn something new about yourself every day.

The minute I stop and let my mind wander, my eyes well up. I’ve been crying at random times, like while getting a glass of water from the kitchen in the middle of the night, standing by the corn chips at Trader Joe’s (that was awkward), sitting in my car yesterday after a pedicure. (It was a good pedi, too. For that one, fleeting hour I felt almost like myself again.)

El Hub holds me and says, “Shauna is in puppy heaven now, playing with all of the good dogs like Kolohe and Bell.” But there’s a hole in my heart.

Even with all of the mistakes I’ve made in my life, all of my faults, she loved me unconditionally, without judgement.

I made myself go for a run this morning even though I really didn’t want to. As I settled into a rhythm, I started thinking about the times Shauna and I ran and played together, her smile, and the last time I looked into her eyes in the backyard, just the two of us, as the wind rustled the apple trees and the wind chimes tinkled.

I stroked her cheeks and whispered to her over and over, “You’re my good, sweet girl. I love you so much.”

At some point on my run, the tears just mixed with the sweat until I couldn’t tell them apart, and I thought to myself how lucky I was to love and be loved like that.

Breathe. One foot. Keep going.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How and When Do You Usually Remove Your Makeup?

July 12th, 2013 by Karen 54 Comments

A couple of makeup removal faves, Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Cleanser and MAC Cleanse Off Oil… Please excuse the glasses and puffy eyes (I’ve been crying).

Cleansers, cleansing oils, cleansing waters, wipes, soaps, balms… Seriously, there are so many different ways to remove makeup.

I use pretty much all of the above, depending on the day and what kind of makeup I’m wearing, like if I went with bold, rich colors or if I’m wearing long-wearing and/or waterproof stuff.

For quick changes or when I’m too tired to do more, I love makeup wipes. Right now I’m using Pacifica’s Purify Coconut Water ones, which I like. They smell yummy to me and remove just about everything.

MAC’s wipes are also high up on my list, as are Kirkland’s Daily Facial Cleansing Towelettes (which are also easy on the budget).

At night before bed, I usually use MAC Cleanse Off Oil or Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser, but it really depends on what I’m wearing. When it’s a lot of long-wearing, waterproof stuff, I’ll wash with MAC Cleanse Off, rinse, and then follow that with Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Cleanser to finish the job.

But when I’m not wearing that much, like on my minimal makeup days (maybe concealer, tinted moisturizer, brows and mascara), then I can usually get away with Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Cleanser by itself.

Your turn, babe. How and when do you usually remove your makeup? And what products do you like?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Guess what? TGIF! 🙂

DAILY BEAUTY: MAC By Request Lipstick Swatches (Don’t Forget To Vote!)

July 12th, 2013 by Karen 15 Comments

Have you already cast a vote for the next MAC By Request? If you haven’t, here are lip swatches of five of the six lipstick nominees from this year’s batch.

I don’t have the sixth one, Tomango, available to swatch, but I posted a PR pic down there at the bottom to give you an idea of the shade.

Don’t forget to cast your vote on MAC’s Facebook page for your fave colors, and tweet your top picks on twitter using hashtag #MACBYREQUEST.

I think I’m leaning toward Rozz…