Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 255

January 21st, 2013 by Karen 35 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 four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

How do you feel right now?
Optimistic. Lots to do today (secret bloggy stuff…).

A color or colors you feel you wear well?
Jewel tones. Rich purples, emerald greens and sapphire blues. 🙂

One of your favorite TV shows from the ’80s/’90s?
My So Called Life. I dreamt of Jordan Catalano writing a song for me…

Have you ever given yourself a haircut?
I used to cut my bangs in high school (and they looked terrible, big surprise, LOL!)

Strawberry, vanilla or chocolate milkshakes?
Vanilla. Chocolate if I’m desperate, but never, ever strawberry.

What hits the spot?
Sleeping in on the weekends. A husky tabby on my lap while I’m writing. Stretchy pants after a long day at work.

A job you think you’d be pretty good at?
Veterinarian, or maybe a makeup artist.

A single strand of pearls: yes or no?
Yes, but they have to be smallish white or pink pearls.

When was the last time you wore a tiara (if you’ve ever worn a tiara)?
My 30th birthday party that my parents threw for me at a Filipino drag queen karaoke bar.

Weekly goals?
Exercise every day this week. Find a new book to read (any recommendations?). Get to bed by 9:30 every night (yeah, right!). Test a bunch of new spring makeup (whee!). Be a good cat mommy to Tabs. 🙂

To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le List

1. How do you feel right now?
2. A color or colors you feel you wear well?
3. One of your favorite TV shows from the ’80s/’90s?
4. Have you ever given yourself a haircut?
5. Strawberry, vanilla or chocolate milkshakes?
6. What hits the spot?
7. A job you think you’d be pretty good at?
8. A single strand of pearls: yes or no?
9. Last time you wore a tiara?
10. What are your weekly goals?

Happy holiday, friend! Today is Marin Luther King, Jr. Day here in the States. Hope you have the day off to celebrate, or just plain relax. Tabs has me working, of course.

I’m taking lots of pictures of some of his favorite new spring products. Tabs never takes a day off from fabulousness (his words), which translates to his assistant never getting any days off at all. Ha.

I’m also working on a top secret blog project to be announced later this week… Can’t share any details with you yet, but I can say this much: I was not meant to be a blonde. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 227

January 20th, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

A RELAXING TIME: PART 4

by Tabs the Cat

Once through the door of the ice shack, Tabs was struck by the vastness of the night sky and the frozen lake. He was running on the ice, his little legs churning like propeller blades, his claws scraping for purchase.

Fear drove him faster, forward, deeper into the night. There were dots of light far ahead on the other side of the lake, but they seemed miles away. Nothing to his right but the expanse of the frozen lake, and to his left, the shadowy outline of an outcropping of land — another shore, or an island perhaps, much closer than the far shore but with no signs of life. Only a line of tall trees behind a rocky beach.

Where was the creature now? Tabs wondered. Had it pulled itself out from under the crates in the shack? Was it in pursuit of him now, chasing him down on the lake with its longer canine legs? Tabs couldn’t bring himself to look.

His lungs started to burn, and he realized that his pace was slowing. The lights on the far shore of the lake beckoned him. Tabs knew there was shelter there, people, but there was no way he would be able to run all the way across the lake. It was too far.

He scanned the closer shore to his left again for any signs of help or danger. Just then, the werewolf howled behind him.

It was close! Tabs shuddered, and his muscles briefly convulsed. He lost his footing and spun sideways and end over end on the ice. He slid 20 feet on his side before coming to a stop.

Stunned…Tabs lay there panting, hearing nothing but his own breathing, a ringing in his ears and the pounding of his tiny tabby heart.

He was still alive… That much he could tell, but he had lost his bearings in the fall.

Then, a second howl ripped him awake, immediately restoring his focus. Gingerly, Tabs climbed to his feet on unsteady legs.

The second howl came from his left, along the near shore but down a ways behind him.

A second werewolf? As if in reply, the first one howled again, this time closer.

“Mrow,” Tabs mewled, overcome with despair. Is this it? Is this how my story ends?

“Mrraw!” came a grizzled shout from the near shore. Over here!

Where? Tabs searched for the owner of the raspy voice.

“Mrraaw!” the voice called again. Get up, kid! They’re comin’!

And then Tabs saw a pair of wide feline eyes glowing green on the edge of the dark shore. They belonged to a big gray cat waving a huge paw in his direction.

“Mrow!” the gray cat yelled. You can make it!

I can make it, Tabs repeated to himself, drawing strength from the words. I can make it. He took one step toward the gray cat, and then another. And then he sprung and sprinted toward the shore as fast as he could.

— TO BE CONTINUED —

To follow our story from the beginning…

A RELAXING TIME: PART 1

A RELAXING TIME: PART 2

A RELAXING TIME: PART 3

If you enjoyed this little tale and would like to see Tabs continue the story, let him know in the comments. 🙂 And now, here are some pics from Tabs’ every-growing kitty modeling portfolio.

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Two Ways to Win a Neutrogena Gift Basket Worth $75!

January 19th, 2013 by Karen 266 Comments

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

Cold enough for ya? Happy caturday! 🙂 Tabs woke me up this morning by climbing on my chest in bed and making biscuits on my hair. He does things like this under the guise of love, but really, we all know what he wanted (gravy). For him, the end game is always about gravy.

So far today, I’ve had a croissant, watched this weird children’s show on TV called The Wiggles… Well, not weird for children to watch, but weird if you’re watching it as an adult, and now I’m here giving greetings to you and prepping a pretty sweet Neutrogena gift basket for this weekend’s giveaway.

There’s a bunch of good stuff in it, but my favorite product’s the Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser. I’ve been using it for the past two weeks, and I’m in lurve. It removes just about all of my makeup; I still have to use a separate eye makeup remover for liner along my water line, but besides that, it removes everything, and it does it without drying my skin.

Details to enter just down below. Have a great weekend, and I’ll talk to you soon.

One (1) Neutrogena gift basket valued at $75 and filled with the following goodies:

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser ($8.99)
Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Oil-Free Cleansing Wipes ($7.49)
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum ($20.99)
Neutrogena Naturals Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Moisturizer ($13.99)
Neutrogena Make-Up Remover Moistureshine Gloss ($7.99)
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream ($4.99)
Neutrogena Clear Face Broad Spectrum SPF 55 ($10.49)

There are two ways to enter, and you can do both of them for two chances to win. First, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, a comment about anything at all, like, are you right- or left-handed? What time did you go to sleep last night? What was the name of a stuffed animal or doll you loved as a child? Do you ever wear multi-colored toenail polish? Do you have any weird skills? Do you have any Neutrogena products on your bathroom counter or in your shower now? Are you a fast texter? How do you feel about infinity scarves? — you get the idea.
Second, you can enter by following me on Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
- Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a Neutrogena Gift Basket Worth $75! http://bit.ly/VdlJVY

The deadline to enter is Sunday, January 20, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. (PST).
Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
Contest is open to individuals in the United States who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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

Hey, BB! Tarte’s BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer SPF 30 Joins a Bunch of Other BBs on Counters This Spring

January 18th, 2013 by Karen 32 Comments

Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12 Hour Primer SPF 30 — The new Tarte BB Tinted Treatments in Fair, Light, Medium and Tan ($34 each)

BB creams have been around for years, but it seems like they’re having a moment.

The Sephora by my house even has a special section for ’em, an area dedicated to BB creams, among them the new Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm, the latest batch of 10-in-1 Beauty Balms from Stila and some older creams from Too Faced and Smashbox.

I perused shelf after shelf crowded with tubes standing at attention, each one promising some combo of sheer coverage and skin care, like anti-aging benefits, priming, moisturizing — you name it.

Tarte’s new BB Tinted Treatment 12 Hour Primer SPF 30 and its white packaging caught my eye (is that “BB” font Helvetica Neue Ultra Light?).

Most of the tubes were smeared with makeup, and dirty, and not in a dirrrrrty Christina Aguilera kind of way. Without thinking, I tried to wipe them clean with my fingers (it was one of those, “holy crap, I’m REALLY my mother’s daughter” moments), but no luck. Apparently, it was going to take a cleanser more powerful than my thumbs.

Just as a heads up, if you decide to bring one of these home, you might not be able to keep the tubes pristine for long.

The product comes in four oil-free shades with broad-spectrum SPF 30 (protects against UVA and UVB rays) — Fair, Light, Medium and Tan — each of which are $34 and can be worn as a primer beneath your regular makeup or all by themselves for light or medium coverage.

Tarte claims all of them will last 12 hours and offer a bunch of skin benefits. First, they’re supposed to be moisturizing, supposed to have anti-aging properties, supposed to diffuse the look of fine lines, and bolster skin’s elasticity.

Of the four, Tan probably comes closest to matching my NC42 skin.

[Continue reading…]

This Spring Laura Mercier Keeps the Focus on Eyes With New Caviar Sticks, Creme Liners and the New Luxe Colour Portfolio

January 18th, 2013 by Karen 23 Comments

The new Laura Mercier Luxe Colour Portfolio ($78)

Driving to Sephora this morning — actually, Starbucks. That was the cover story I told El Hub, as he didn’t need to know I intended to look at more makeup. (Him: “Babe, do you REALLY need another lipstick?” Me: “Um, yes.”)

So, driving to “Starbucks” this morning, I saw a gal driving a car with a license plate frame that read, “I’m going to Starbucks. Get out of my way!!!”

Haha! That’s how I feel sometimes about Sephora (and Starbucks)… 🙂

At Sephora I bumped into some new spring products from Laura Mercier, like the Luxe Colour Portfolio.

Laura’s palettes rarely let me down… I love how she puts her colors together, balancing wearable shades with fun twists here and there (like Bobbi Brown meets NARS).

It’s elegant, but not too safe, and that’s one of the things I absolutely adore about her stuff. Especially her palettes.

The $78 Luxe Colour Portfolio comes with six powder eyeshadows and three cake liners in a mix quiet grays and taupes punctuated by rich purples, browns and an indigo blue. It also houses two pink powder blushes — one shimmer and one matte — for naturally flushed cheeks.

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Bobbi Brown Sparkle Eye Shadow in Gold Star Gets Gold Stars for Elegant Glitter

January 18th, 2013 by Karen 17 Comments

Bobbi Brown Gold Star Sparkle Eye Shadow — Wearing Bobbi Brown Sparkle Eye Shadow in Gold Star ($28) from the new Brighten, Sparkle & Glow collection

Yes, Sparkle Eye Shadow in Gold Star, you get a gold star.

But not just any gold star…

We’re not talking about one of those little sticker stars you got for turning in that kick-@ss book report on Flowers in the Attic. No, we’re talking about a big, bold, glittery gold star, because this shadow’s all about glitter.

Camera shy glitter.

I couldn’t coax it out of its shell for these pics, but Bobbi Brown’s new limited edition $28 Sparkle Eye Shadow in Gold Star sparkles like a meteor shower in real life.

And it’s brightening, too.

Yup, brightening. It and a gang of other Sparkle Eyeshadows star in Bobbi’s new spring Brighten, Sparkle & Glow collection, which launched earlier this month (the collection with the funky mosaic-like pressed powders).

Gold Star is the only one that isn’t a re-promote in the release.

Part of me fears glittery eyeshadows…and yet given the choice between a glittery shadow and one with a matte finish, I’ll always choose the sparklier one.

I’m afraid of accidentally crossing that line between classy glitter, and walking into a gas station bathroom with bare feet, wearing short cut-offs three sizes too small for me and a trucker hat.

I like glitter, but I do not want to go there…

I want the kind of sparkle I can wear to the Met Ball or to a fancy after-party at the Cannes Film Festival, ya know? Elegant glitter. And I feel like fresh, elegant, refined Gold Star glitter gets me there.

[Continue reading…]

January 18th, 2013 by Karen 17 Comments

Chanel Rouge Double Intensite in Rose Pearl

Chanel’s Rouge Double IntensitÃ© in Rose Pearl ($34), from the Printemps PrÃ©cieux de Chanel Spring 2013 collection, a lightweight, long-wearing liquid lipstick paired with a high shine clear gloss.

Available now at Chanel counters and chanel.com.