Karen

Decorate Your Nails, and Deck the Halls, With Essie’s Festive Winter Collection

December 11th, 2012 by Karen 48 Comments

essie winter 2012 collection — The six-piece Essie Winter 2012 collection ($8 each)

Over here!

Look over here! This way!! Look at me!!!

Essie’s six-piece Winter 2012 collection hands nails a highly pigmented loudspeaker with a funky mix of bold blues, royal reds and sparkling glitters.

THERE’S NOTHING QUIET ABOUT THIS LAUNCH! The bright, intensely pigmented colors are anything but shy.

Even though I feel like we’ve seen many of these colors before, I like the way they all look together as a collection here.

Where’s My Chauffeur (the bright turquoise) and Beyond Crazy (the shimmery golden glitter) are the standouts for me. I’m definitely gonna play matchmaker and introduce the two of them on my nails this week… 🙂

essie snap happy swatch — One coat of Snap Happy

essie where's my chauffeur swatch — Two coats of Where’s My Chauffeur

essie leading lady swatch — Three coats of Leading Lady

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Hey, Pretty Bird

December 11th, 2012 by Karen 6 Comments

I was checking out rugs at Pier 1 when this gorgeous bird ornament caught my eye. I’d love to decorate my tree with ’em, but I’m afraid Tabs wouldn’t be able to resist the feathers. #catladyproblems

You Learn Something New Every Day

December 11th, 2012 by Karen 21 Comments

I’ve always thought of myself as a city girl, but this weekend, while I was petting a couple of goats (they were at the tree lot where I bought my Christmas tree), I realized that I could probably be happy on a farm if I had lots of animals around.

Have you realized anything new about yourself lately? Big or small, I’d love to hear about it.

A Holiday Party Eye Makeup Look With Purple, Bronze and Gold

December 10th, 2012 by Karen 18 Comments

I received a few requests to see a tutorial after a look last week with pink cheeks and bronze, gold and purple eyes, so here it is!

I keep this one in my back pocket for date nights and parties because it’s a little bit dressy, but not full-on formal. Could be a nice look to wear to a work holiday party.

Last week I used a couple of limited edition products from BECCA that are out of circulation now (the Halcyon Days Palette and Cabrera Liner Duo), so this time around, to make things a little easier to duplicate, I replaced those pieces with similar colors from MAC’s permanent line (the other BECCA products here are still available).

The products

holiday makeup tutorial bronze purple swatches — Swatches from the left: BECCA Eye Tint in Gilt, MAC Soba Eyeshadow, MAC Woodwinked Eyeshadow, MAC Prunella Eye Kohl, MAC Teddy Eye Kohl, BECCA Marcella Eyeshadow, BECCA Lychee Beach Tint, Becca Damselfly Blush, BECCA Flowerchild Blush, MAC Sublime Culture Cremestick Liner and Illamasqua Intimacy Lipgloss

A shimmery golden bronze cream shadow like BECCA Eye Tint in Gilt
A satiny golden brown eyeshadow like MAC Soba
A shimmery, warm peachy gold like MAC Woodwinked
A dark plum liner like MAC Prunella
A reddish golden bronze liner like MAC Teddy and https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/mac-makeup/mac-unsung-hero-powersurge-eye-kohl/MAC Powersurge layered together
A shimmery golden purple eyeshadow like BECCA Marcella (from the Balearic Love Palette)
A pink cream blush like BECCA Lychee Beach Tint
A peach and pink powder blush like BECCA Damselfly and Flowerchild
A pinky nude lip liner like MAC Sublime Culture
A pinky nude gloss like Illamasqua Intimacy

Step by step

Start by patting the shimmery bronze eyeshadow all over your lids.
Next, sweep your satiny golden brown eyeshadow directly on top of the bronze eyeshadow you just used.
Then, pat a warm peachy gold from your lashes down into the crease.
Line your upper water line and upper lash line with your plum liner, and then smudge out the edges with your golden purple eyeshadow.
Line your lower lash and water lines with your reddish golden bronze liner.
Fill in your brows, and apply mascara.
Now, blend the pink blush on your cheeks, and layer the peach and pink powder blushes on top.
Lastly, line and fill in your lips with your pinky nude liner topped with a layer of nude gloss.

holiday makeup tutorial bronze purple — Additional makeup worn in this look: MAC Concrete (brows), BECCA Radiant Skin Satin Foundation in Bamboo (all over face), BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone (around the center of your face) MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer in NW25 (under your eyes), Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder (all over your face) and Le Volume de Chanel Mascara (lashes)

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You Can’t Spell Radiant Without Rad: A Flawless Finish Makes BECCA Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation One of the Best Foundations I’ve Tried

December 10th, 2012 by Karen 33 Comments

becca radiant skin foundation review — Wearing the new Becca Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation in Bamboo ($42 for a 1.3-ounce tube)

The Christmas lights are blinking, the neighborhood cats are slinking, and the Dark Choclate Stars are twinkling in their dish. The decorations have been hung by the makeup counter with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

And he will…but he has to stop by the Petco first to pose for pics with a long line of eager pets and their parents (more on that in a minute).

It’s that time of year! — although you’d never know it by looking at BECCA. The beachy Australian makeup brand always seems to have one foot in the sand.

becca radiant skin foundation product shot — Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation in Bamboo, the shade closest to my NC42 skin

Designed for normal, combination and oily skin types, BECCA’s new Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation ($42 and available in 18 shades) showcases the brand’s trademark endless summer vibe with an almost weightless formula and a dressed-down eggshell finish that practically tiptoes on the skin.

With coverage about halfway between a tinted moisturizer and a full-coverage foundation, it’s made for guys and gals who like flexibility. Going to the beach (maybe you live in the Southern Hemisphere)? Wear it sheer by rubbing in a few dots. Or for heavier coverage, work in a pea-sized dollop all over your face, and then pat and blend a little extra wherever you need it.

What makes Radiant so rad?

It handles combo skin like a champ! It’s easily one of the best foundations I’ve ever used on my combination skin. Not only does it take care of any slick, oily spots on my face, but it does so without drawing attention to any flakes and dry areas.
It goes the distance. Lasts the day and looks just as fresh at 8 p.m. as it does at 8 in the morning.
Looks like it’s been applied with an airbrush. You hear that airbrushed finish thing a lot, but I gotta say — I really do think my pores look smaller, and my fine lines look smoother, when I wear this stuff. It’s as close to a flawless finish I ever get, and yet I think skin still looks real with it on, not like it’s been plastered with product.
The extras. Did I mention that it’s moisturizing and water resistant? It contains Ejitsu Rose and vitamin E to help skin retain moisture, to improve elasticity and to protect against damage from free radicals. Yup, and it’s alcohol-, paraben- and fragrance-free.

becca radiant skin foundation swatch — Swatches of Radiant in Bamboo unblended on the left and blended on the right

becca radiant skin foundation ingredients — The ingredient list

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 249

December 10th, 2012 by Karen 37 Comments

121012-monday-poll-3 — My mantra for the week

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.

Mood: Relaxed and focused, and I’m marshalling every ounce of my zen this week to keep it that way.
What was the last time you received a compliment you can credit to a beauty product?
Last week. I was wearing Chanel Coco Mademoiselle perfume, and when El Hub bear hugged me in the hallway, he said, “You and Tabs smell great!” Ha! Some of it had also rubbed off on Tabs.

Current obsessions?
Area rugs…

Yes, area rugs.

No, wait! Let me explain… The floor in my dining room and kitchen is tiled and gets almost arctically cold, and now that I actually have a dining room table (matter of fact, I’m sitting at it right now!), a warm rug would really cozy things up.

I’m also totally obsessed with Gillian Flynn’s book, Gone Girl. I cannot put it down!

Something you’ve been meaning to do but haven’t gotten around to yet?
I want to go see Pitch Perfect at the movies. It looks rich in the kinds of good ol’ fashioned cheesy fun I like. 🙂

What are some things that make you happy?
1. A good pen
2. Changing my scenery
3. A cup of hot coffee or tea
4. Sleeves with thumbholes
5. El Hub
6. Tabs
It’s okay to _______.
1. Pat yourself on the back
2. Have chocolate for breakfast
3. Try and fail
What’s one thing you always do before leaving the house?
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been afraid of accidentally locking myself out of the house, so I always make sure to have my keys and phone in my right hand at the moment I walk out the door.

Same thing goes for the car…

What’s something surprising you learned about yourself this year?
That I get more and more set in my ways as I get older. I keep having to push myself harder to try new things.

Eh, I’m workin’ on it. 🙂

Tell me something — anything — about your morning so far.
That I’ve yelled, “DON’T DRINK THAT!” to Tabs about 10 times already.

We got our Christmas tree yesterday, which he, of course, thinks is for his own personal enrichment.

One of the things he keeps doing is drinking from the water in the tree stand, even though his water bowl is literally 10 feet away.

Cats!

Weekly goals:
Just to keep hanging in there and doing my best to bring up the people around me (like you).

Hello, hello my friend!

Quick, while no one’s watching, let’s shake it out. Shake it out. Shake out any negativity, and focus on a happy thought (might I suggest shirtless Ryan Gosling and/or Jeremy Renner’s arms?).

Here, have a seat, and fill out the Monday Poll with me. I’ll be right back with a slice of toast for you with some pumpkin cream cheese on it.

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

Le List

1. Mood:
2. What was the last time you received a compliment you can credit to a beauty product?
3. Current obessions?
4. Something you’ve been meaning to do but haven’t gotten around to yet?
5. What are some things that make you happy?
6. It’s okay to _______.
7. What’s one thing you always do before leaving the house?
8. What’s something surprising you learned about yourself this year?
9. Tell me something — anything — about your morning so far.
10. Weekly goals:

Look at you! Just a few hours into the week, and you’re already doing a great job. If anything gets you down this week, stop by the blog, and Tabs and I will try to cheer you up. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 221

December 9th, 2012 by Karen 8 Comments

I remember working at jobs where things would slow down this time of year.

Slowly but surely, the office would empty as people, one by one, went home for the holidays. Meetings would get cancelled, people would spend half the day shopping at their desks for presents online, and everyone just sort of pushed off as much as possible until the new year.

Ah, the good old days…

That’s not at all how it is working for Tabs. Here at Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, this is our busiest time of year.

Awards shows, TV holiday specials, star-studded celebrity gala events and advertising campaigns for limited edition holiday releases — right now we’re a 24/7 operation. I don’t even get a weekend off until next year.

Like today, Tabs had me out shopping for linens and place settings for his big annual holiday shindig.

It’s this huge party he throws every year for everyone who’s anyone in the kitty modeling business. Hundreds of cats fly in from all over the world. There’s a hosted gravy bar, catnip cocktails, a huge seawater aquarium stocked with ahi, a play area outside. Jackson Galaxy, star of Animal Planet’s My Cat From Hell, is on hand to give free consultations and complimentary cat massages.

It’s total cat heaven. Problem is, it’s my responsibility to set everything up. While Tabs is off on some exotic location somewhere shooting his kitty modeling ads, I’m trying to figure out how many ahi a 100,000-gallon fish tank can support.

I don’t know…10,000?

But really, it’s not all bad. I get to see and do some really neat things. I’m busy, and it’s stressful, but right now in my life I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Oh! — I almost forgot. Here are the latest kitty modeling pics from Tabs. 🙂

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Bobbi Brown’s Uptown Classic Eye Palette

December 9th, 2012 by Karen 8 Comments

If cool-toned neutrals are totally your thing, Bobbi Brown’s Uptown Classic Eye Palette might rock your boat. The travel-exclusive kit includes four powder eyeshadows designed to escort you effortlessly from work to play.

Cute, but I think the shades are a little too cool for my warm skin tone…

PRICE: I’m not sure about the price. If you happen to know, please leave a note in the comments
AVAILABILITY: Available now exclusively at Bobbi Brown travel retail locations worldwide
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B