Archives for April 2009

China Glaze Kicks Collection: Memoirs of a Shoe Addict (Part Deux)

April 22nd, 2009 by Karen 23 Comments

china glaze kicks b girlz

If I don’t get my hands on some Skittles soon, I just might devour my nails, LOL! That’s because they look delicious all painted in fruit candy colors, courtesy of China Glaze Kicks.

china glaze kicks laced up

Each of these six pink, orange and red nail polishes ($3 each; full collection contains 12 shades) looks good enough to eat — just like the first batch of colors did.

For a look at the 2010 fall collection…

China Glaze Vintage Vixen

The 12-piece collection was inspired by brightly colored tennis shoes, and being a footwear enthusiast (aka I have a shoe obsession, but it isn’t pervy, I swear), I lurve this collection somethin’ fierce!
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12 More Makeup Storage Ideas

April 22nd, 2009 by Karen 16 Comments

12 Makeup Storage Ideas

Imagine actually being able to USE the top of your dresser again for something OTHER than storing piles of random makeup.

Picture a bathroom no longer buried under bottles of moisturizer, yes!

If you’re approaching critical makeup mass — if you can no longer put off the inevitable — then I hope this morning’s 12 More Makeup Storage Ideas can help.

If you liked this post, check out last week’s 21 Ways to Store Your Makeup and 21 MORE Ways to Store Your Makeup.

Heard of Japonesque before? This often-overlooked company has been making cases to help pros store their cosmetics for years.

Cutie Makeup Bag: Like good men, good makeup bags are hard to find, so when you DO find a good one, hold on tight!

Makeup Storage Using Everyday Items: Organizing your growing makeup collection may not be as tough as you thought. You may already have everything you need sitting around the house. Silverware organizer, anyone?

Don’t Refuse to Reuse: Here’s an eco-friendly guide that suggests giving used household items new jobs as makeup storage accessories.

24 Lipstick Acrylic Organizer: While slightly mind blowing, this incredibly useful contraption can hold a whopping 24 tubes of lipstick!

Chill Out about Storing Your Makeup: It may be the last place you’d expect to find your makeup, but chew on this: refrigerating cosmetics will extend their shelf life once they’ve been opened.

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Shu Uemura Pink Collection: Pink Enough for the Afterlife

April 21st, 2009 by Karen 58 Comments

shu uemura pink collection

As a kid I was fascinated by pyramids and ancient Egyptian burial rituals. One day, I read that old school Eygyptians were buried with all the things they’d need in the afterlife. That gave me an idea: I listed all of the things I’d bring with me into MY pyramid for MY journey to the great beyond.

I think I needed to get out more…

Every once in a while (like today), I’ve revisited my list of afterlife necessities.

Permanent items on the list: Tabs, toilet paper and an endless supply of Strawberry Pop Tarts.

tabs-mummy-cat-final

The latest additions to the list: Shu Uemura’s Pink Collection of lipglosses and lipsticks.

If I could take all nine Rouge Unlimited Pink Lipsticks ($23 each) and five Gloss Unlimited Pink lipglosses ($22 each) with me, my pink lip needs would be eternally covered.

shu uemura pink collection pk369

What makes the new line so special? It’s the pink. Shu scientists created a new ingredient they call “Pink Hybrid Pigment.”

They claim it’s a perfectly shaped pigment particle able to produce unusual pink lip shades, with yellow and blue tints, previously unseen in the world of makeup.

shu uemura pink collection pk343

I’ve tested five of the shades so far. I couldn’t say whether they’re unlike any other pinks ever created before, but they’re definitely true pinks in every sense of the word.

Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in PK 369: A creamy, cool and bright hot pink with blue tint
Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in PK 343: A creamy, ultra-cool pale pink with blue tint
Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in PK 232: A creamy and warm pale pink with a yellow tint and silver flecks of glitter
Gloss Unlimited in PK 325N: A shimmery, cool medium pink with blue tint
Gloss Unlimited in PK 315N: A shimmery, warm dark pink with yellow tint

shu uemura pink collection pk323

You know how sometimes you try on a pink lipstick or gloss that ends up looking more coral, red or plum than pink? These shades aren’t like that at all. First and foremost, they’re pink, with the blue and yellow tints adding subtly cool (blue) or warm (yellow) elements.
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Subject, Verb, Object

April 21st, 2009 by Karen 5 Comments

Ernest Hemingway’s writing space in Key West, Florida.

The “S” Is for Super

April 21st, 2009 by Karen 9 Comments

Can you fill in the blank?

You see the “S” is for super and the “U” is for unique.
The “P” is for perfection and you know that we are freaks.
The “E” is for exotic and the “R” is for raps.
So tell those nosy people just to ___________.

(The picture: Sonia Kashuk Bare Minimum Pressed Powder Bronzer, $10)

Kick It Old School with the China Glaze Kicks Collection (Part Uno!)

April 21st, 2009 by Karen 45 Comments

china glaze kicks custom kicks

How frickin’ awesome are these bright shades from the new China Glaze Kicks Collection?

I had a blast swatching these first six shimmery shades from the vibrant 12-piece spring collection ($3 a bottle; more swatches to follow).

The collection’s bold blues, greens, oranges and pinks were inspired by colorful tennis shoes — the young’ns call ’em kicks — but they remind me of Skittles.

china glaze kicks paper chasing

Custom Kicks is my favorite of the ones shown here. It’s the shimmery blueish teal at the top.

This one takes me back, all the way back to my very first shoe crush…
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Walmart Gets Into Cosmetics in a BIG Way

April 21st, 2009 by Karen 25 Comments

cosmetics-sign

I’m always on the lookout for beauty bargains and news, so when Glam Media asked me to review the newly expanded cosmetics department in Walmart stores, I cleared out some haulage space in the back of the 4-Runner and drove out to the closest store.

I haven’t been to a Walmart in years. The store I reviewed is in Richmond, spread out on two floors, but once inside it only took a minute to spot the large “Cosmetics” sign showing me where to go.

cosmetics-section-shot

In terms of selection, the new department dwarfs anything I’ve seen in a while. It’s huge, to say the least (three long aisles; I’m guessing 600 square feet of cosmetics).

almay-and-neutrogena

They carry most of the big drugstore brands like Neutrogena, Almay and Covergirl. The only product I looked for but couldn’t find was Sally Hansen Lipgloss, but the store did have Sally’s nail polishes.

checking-out-rimmel

It was time for the ultimate test: the price check, so I parked my boo-tay in front of the Rimmel section and went to work.
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Estee Lauder Baie Rose Peony Body Splash Made a Splash with Me

April 20th, 2009 by Karen 10 Comments

estee lauder pleasures baie rose peony splash

If there’s such a thing as a body splash intervention, I think I need one! I’m addicted to Estee Lauder’s Pleasures Baie Rose Peony Splash ($52).

It’s one of three new spring limited edition body splashes (joining Sandlewood Amber Splash and Jasmine Violet Splash) from EL’s long-running Pleasures fragrance line.

Each of the splashes takes the classic Pleasures blend of lilies and jasmine and tweaks it just a little bit.

Body splashes are lighter than perfumes and eau de toilettes, with fragrances typically lasting less time on the skin. That’s why many gals prefer them, particularly in warmer weather, in place of heavy or cloying perfumes.

The original Pleasures scent is an old-school fave of mine (soooo 1997!), and Baie Rose adds a yummy rose to the mix.

I think EL got the balance of rose just right in Baie Rose. It stops way shy of matronly and rests solidly in the Land of Great.

On me Baie Rose smells of lilies, first, and crushed roses on a fresh, dewy spring morning after a night of April showers — clean, crisp, feminine and young. Lurvely!
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