Karen

For a Pin-Up Perfect Pout, Try Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Colour in Deco Rouge

November 29th, 2012 by Karen 13 Comments

Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Colour in Deco Rouge ($26)

While it’s true that quick escapes from the zombies — especially those fresh ones that can run — are a little easier if you aren’t toting around 24 different tubes of red lipstick, the makeup code of conduct is clear on the topic of red lipsticks. No tube gets left behind.

I’m always looking for a new excuse to grow my red lipstick collection/arsenal, and if you are too, don’t miss Laura Mercier’s new $26 Creme Smooth Lip Colour in Deco Rouge ($26) from the Art Deco Muse collection.

Before I’d even touched the tube, I had a feeling it might be special when I saw it worn down to the nub at a counter…

And then it was love at first swipe. The stuff of pin-up girl dreams, it’s a warm, blazingly bright tomato red unemcumbered by scents or flavors.

[Continue reading…]

The Empire Strikes Back With Bobbi Brown Shimmer Nail Polish in Black Pearl

November 29th, 2012 by Karen 25 Comments

Because we’re friends, I’m going to tell you the real reason I’m head over heels in love with Bobbi Brown’s $18 Black Pearl Nail Polish without you thinking that I’m cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.

Okay, here goes…

It’s the color of Darth Vader’s helmet.

I spent years scouring the universe (and nail polish displays) for a nail polish the color of Vader’s helmet, and finally, after all these years, success! Mwahahahahaaa!

Emperor Palpatine will be pleased…

($18; available now at Bobbi Brown counters and bobbibrowncosmetics.com)

Sure, Vader’s a really bad guy, but you have to admit — that helmet holds a certain allure.

It’s shiny, which I like, and the color’s quite complex (like Vader himself). Sometimes, it looks more gray than black, and when the light hits it right, I see dark, gloomy purple undertones…

If I ever bump into George Lucas again at the movies, I’m telling him about Bobbi’s Black Pearl Polish because I think Darth would totally love it, especially on his toes, where he could probably get away with a single pigmented coat.

I can see it now… Vader, at the end of a long day hunting down rebels on the Death Star, takes off his boots for a few minutes of “me time” while painting his nails.
[Continue reading…]

Now Serving Caviar & Oysters

November 29th, 2012 by Karen 12 Comments

I usually pass when someone offers me caviar and oysters, but I’ll happily take a serving of the cool-toned colors in the the Bobbi Brown Caviar & Oyster Palette ($75).

Laura Mercier’s Illuminating Eye Colour in Gilded Moonlight Sets the Gold Standard for Easy-to-Use Eyeshadows

November 28th, 2012 by Karen 24 Comments

laura mercier gilded moonlight swatch — Wearing the new Laura Mercier Illuminating Eye Colour in Gilded Moonlight ($24)

Why settle for a shimmery golden eyeshadow that merely illuminates your lids when you could wear a shimmery golden eyeshadow that also caters to your inner lazy girl?

Wait — let me try that again…

With a few quick pats and swipes to blend out the edges, Laura Mercier’s intensely pigmented warm golden $24 Illuminating Eye Colour in Gilded Moonlight will take you from bare lids to bold shimmer in less time than it takes to say, “The only reason I’m watching Jersey Shore is because I don’t want to look for the remote…” Not that I’ve ever said anything like that to El Hub while sprawled out on the couch with a bag of Baked Cheetos.

Nope.

Illuminating Eye Colour in Gilded Moonlight, one of four Illuminating Eye Colours in the new Art Deco Muse holiday collection

laura mercier gilded moonlight — Gilded Moonlight on my eyes and Wearing Hourglass Extreme Sheen High-Shine Lip Gloss in Icon on my lips

Laura, if your master plan was to get me to book a reservation at ChÃ¢teau de Lazy Girls, it worked. Like your equally easy Gilded Bronze, Gilded Moonlight takes but a minute to use. Just pat, blend and go.

NOTE: Gilded Moonlight isn’t light on pigment at all. In fact, it’s loaded with it! — which also means it can be easy to over-apply.

Even though it’s a holiday release, I can see myself wanting to wear it when the weather warms up again next year. For a bronzed beach babe look, I’d just swap the red lipstick and black liner for a sheer, coral gloss and a liner in green, purple or teal.

Racing to get out the door but you still want to look polished? Perhaps soft, silky Gilded Moonlight can help.

PRICE: $24
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Laura Mercier counters and lauramercier.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Catch ya later, Wednesday! See you again next week.

I hope your day went well. No complaints out here, other than the rain, which keeps trying to bring me down.

Tonight I’m just massaging my brain in front of the TV (re-watching Battlestar Galactica). I wanted to go to a Cat Behavior Clinic at the Novato Humane Society, but the timing didn’t work out. Maybe next time…

Not that Tabs really needs behavioral help. Despite his diva propensities, he’s actually a pretty awesome cat (most of the time). I just think the clinic sounds interesting.

Whatever you’re up to, enjoy the rest of your night, and sleep well. I’ll talk to you soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Last-Minute Bargain Alert! For a Few More Hours Tonight, Breaking Up Isn’t Hard to Do With the New Three-Piece Tarte Treat Yourself to Gorgeous Gifts From the Amazon Collection

November 28th, 2012 by Karen 29 Comments

I love the smell of a good bargain in the morning…

It smells like…victory!

LOL! I’m pretty sure that’s not how that actual line goes, seeing as how Apocalypse Now is one of my top five favorite films of all time, but it is how I feel about Tarte’s new Treat Yourself to Gorgeous Gifts From the Amazon Collection kit.

Talk about great stocking stuffer material. I love breaking apart holiday kits to use as stocking stuffers, and this $49.98 one (a $496 value) looks perfect for that.

But it’s a qvc.com exclusive, and the sale only lasts a few more hours (sale ends tonight, November 28, 2012)!

It’s conveniently divided into three separate, easily giftable sets, the first with four Cashmere Waterproof Gliding Liners, the second with four Maracuja Divine Shine Lipglosses and the third with 20 Amazonian Clay Eye Shadows.

As gifts, the sets work out to about $16 each, and would ya look at that? — they already look gift-wrapped! 🙂

tarte-treat-yourself-to-gorgeous-shadows — The Amazonian Clay Eyeshadows

tarte treat yourself to gorgeous — Another look at the Eye Shadow set

[Continue reading…]

Cue the Strings

November 28th, 2012 by Karen 5 Comments

Saw this display a few days ago at Anthro. I like the different colors of string and the repetition in the lines. Kinda cool…

Outfit of the Day: BCBG Makes Stylin’ Stretchy Pants

November 28th, 2012 by Karen 61 Comments

Slowly… No sudden movements. Just step away from the computer…

That’s it… Eeeasy does it.

Okay? Now take a deep breath, and repeat after me: “I will not buy Pajama Jeans.”

I will not buy Pajama Jeans.

Again.

I will not buy Pajama Jeans!

In a way, that little intro up there is based on a true (ish) story. You see, I came within a tabby’s hair of placing an order for a pair of Pajama Jeans the other day. That commercial came on, and I was just about to click the order button online when in walked Tabs.

I guess he read the look in my eye because a sour expression crossed his face…

Granted, he makes that face a lot, but it was enough to give me pause (paws?).

I didn’t order a pair of Pajama Jeans that day, but I have been on the market for a respectable pair of stretchy pants — something with a little edge to â€˜em that won’t be mistaken for yoga pants.

Enter the BCBG Cancetta leggings, stretchy matte fabric pants with faux leather panels and a mid-rise waist. If it weren’t for these pants, there’s a good chance I’d be wearing a pair of Pajama Jeans right now.

Comfy? You know it! Fashionable? I think so. Best of all, you can throw ’em in the washing machine. 🙂

Here I’m wearing them dressed down with ankle boots, a slouchy sweater (also by BCBG) and the Zella Gathered Tote, but they’re also easy to dress up, like with a crisp, white tuxedo shirt, black blazer and black patent-leather high heels.

bcbg outfit of the day cancetta pants and zella gathered tote — Oh, hai!

I can’t seem to find them online this morning, but here’s a similar style, the Caragh Pleather Combo Legging.

One thing I’ve noticed about these is that they run a little long on me, and they’re not that form fitting around my knees and ankles, so you might want to try a size smaller than you normally would if you want them to really hug your curves.

[Continue reading…]