I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; you gotta try harder as you get older.

This motto occurred to me after I first got engaged. I was in the bathroom at work one day putting on makeup when I told one of my coworkers – let’s call her Jane. I liked Jane, she was nice and smiled more often than other dour-faced people I encountered on a daily basis. After I told her I just got engaged, she pointed at my makeup stash and said, “Why bother putting on all that stuff? You don’t have to try anymore because already got a man.”

Whoa – now that I was out of the dating game it was time to ditch the smoky eye look and pursue a life lycra-infused leisure wear? What she said freaked me out. I know, I know … I don’t have to equate getting hitched with totally giving up on trying to look put-together, but as I get older truth be told I find myself getting lazy. I keep reminding myself to not give up on keeping up the beauty routine because my godmother, who has plenty o’ children and grandchildren to spare, is pushing 70 and she still gets her hair done, puts on makeup and coordinates her accessories with her outfits. And she looks *good*! She is one of my style heroes and I hope to be as rocking as she is when I’m her age.

While my godmother is the antithesis of lazy style, we all know that you can’t always go out wearing a full face of makeup. There’s laundry to wash, drafts to edit and sleep to be had. But when you leave the house to run that quick errand or hit the gym you want to make the effort to still look good, right? So in the spirit of “trying harder” I’ve developed a minimal makeup/lazy day makeup/workout makeup routine.

(And yes, I can admit that I have to put on a little makeup before I work out. If that makes me vain I don’t care – at least I don’t have to stare at my under eye circles when I’m lifting weights or dancing, ugh.)

My routine takes five minutes, less if I decide to skip a step or two at the end. I’ve done this routine in the car, out in the middle of the forest (yes, I wear makeup when I attempt to camp) and at the beach. It’s the bare minimum I need to look put together. Try it on your lazy days, or if you’ve just got to run out to the grocery store and don’t want to go full on foundation, powder, etc.

Step 1: First I apply concealer (I’m currently using Make Up Forever’s Lift Concealer) underneath and in the inner corner of my eyes with MAC’s 252 Large Shader Brush to cover up any dark circles. If I’m in a hurry skip the brush and just use my fingers – I just make sure to wash my hands first or use Purell.

Step 2: I then curl my lashes with MAC’s eyelash curler to open up my eyes. I skip the mascara because it’s something that I just can’t do in a hurry. Plus I don’t want to have to take the time to clean up any mistakes.

Step 3: Next I apply color to my eyebrows to fill them out and give them definition. In the cheat sheet above, I put a picture of MAC’s Brow Shader, but I use MAC Eyeshadow in the color Concrete (a dark brown) with the 266 Brush. I don’t like to fill in my brows with anything darker than brown, otherwise I think it looks to harsh.

Step 4: I then apply cream blush to the apples of my cheeks and blend upwards into the hairline with my fingers. I use Paula Dorf’s Cheek Cream in Cha Cha, a very pretty hot pink that at first looks a little scary in the pan. Once I put it on the color tones down gives the perfect pink flush.

Step 5: Last I blot my forehead, nose and any other oily areas with a piece of Shiseido Blotting Papers.

Voila, I’m done! If I have a little extra time I’ll throw some gloss on, and if I’m feeling ambitious I might replace the Blotting Papers for powder. It all depends on how late I am, ha ha ha!

Dear Makeup and Beauty Blog…

What’s tough love got to do with it? You know you need it, and I’m here to give it to ya!

Dear Makeup and Beauty Blog,

Shy in Chi-town

Hi Shy,

You are so lucky to have found your passion! It sounds like you really love makeup and have a great skill set which you can turn into something wonderful.

Like applying makeup, making small talk and interacting with strangers are skills. Think about it. Were you able to define your crease, work that outer V or blend like a rock star the first time you picked up an eye brush? Chances are it took you hours of practice and experimentation!

Learning how to be comfortable with strangers and making small talk is going to be hard, but you can work towards getting more comfortable. It just takes motivation and practice.

Believe it or not, just like you, I am a naturally shy person. I was a very introverted child, and even doing simple things, like ordering an ice cream cone, was very hard to do. I never raised my hand in class and felt comfortable talking only around my family and close friends.

I think I would’ve missed out on many opportunities in my life because of my shyness if it hadn’t been for two things that helped me pop out of my shell at the age of 14: taking drama classes and joining a speech/debate club.

I’m not going to lie. It was not easy. There were days I had to literally force myself to go to class because I hated it so much. However, after a while I got used to interacting with people and being in front of strangers. And after lots of practice I eventually became less shy.

If I were in your shoes I would …

1.) Either take a class or join a club, like a debate club or drama class. OR …

2.) Join a group like Toastmasters International, a non-profit group that helps adults learn how to become better public speakers.

I realize that these are big steps to take. If either one seems too intimidating then you could start by role-playing with your sisters or your friends. Have them pretend to be a stranger, and you can be the makeup artist at the counter.

I actually did something similar to this when I got my first magazine assignment years ago. I somehow talked myself into the job despite very little interviewing experience. To get some practice I sent out an email to my friends and family, and then scheduled “fake” interviews with them individually. It was a safe and gentle way to get my feet wet.

It sounds like a silly exercise but it is a step. And a baby step is better than no step at all.

Remember to gird your loins because like learning any new skill, it’s not going to be easy. However, this is your life. You can sit there with your shyness and watch it pass you by, or you can do something about it. You make the ultimate choice whether or not you move forward and chase those dreams.

Take care and keep on truckin’.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hiya, ladies. I had fun with this week’s Benefit 4-Step Eye Look, so I decided to try another one — this time using products from the UK’s rising makeup star, Illamasqua.

More on the Illamasqua brand…

• Illamasqua Lip Look: Thinking Outside the Box
• Illamasqua: Makeup for Your Alter Ego
• Let Illamasqua Sirens Seduce You with Color
• Illamasqua, I Think I’ve Met My Matte

It’s a shimmery and smokey black, gray and bronze eye, and it makes heavy use of Liquid Metal in Enrapture (a shimmery bronze cream) and Powder Eye Shadow in Lestat (a matte black).

Blend till you can’t blend no more!

Like the Benefit look from a few days ago, this look involves just four steps, but it can still take a while to complete, thanks to the amount of blending required. Seamlessly transitioning the black matte into the bronze cream shadow isn’t something I’d try if I only had a couple minutes to get ready, so if you’re gonna give this one a try, consider budgeting a few extra minutes to blend.

I had to restart this look twice, wiping everything off each time, and had to remind myself not to get frustrated. If you end up with black eyeshadow all over your face, no worries! Wipe it off and start over again. That’s the beauty of makeup, right? You can always start with a clean slate.

Illamasqua 4-Step Eye Makeup Look

1. I start the look with Liquid Metal in Enrapture applied over my entire eyelid and along the lower lash line with a MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush. I take care to concentrate most of the color on the lid, gradually decreasing the saturation of color as it moves toward the brow bone.
2. Next, I use a MAC 217 Blending Brush to apply a light layer of Lestat into the crease, diffusing the edges and blending into the the bronze shadow.
3. For a smokey effect, I pat several layers of Lestat onto the outer half of the eye, concentrating most of the color in the outer corner (the side closest to my ear), and blend away any harsh lines with my trusty MAC 217 brush.
4. To finish the eye portion of the look, I load a MAC 219 Pencil Brush with Lestat, smudge it along the outer half of my lower lash line, and use my MAC 217 to gently diffuse the edge.

Illamasqua Sirens for Lips and Cheeks

For the rest of my makeup, I went with a hot pink and gold lip with shimmery golden peach cheeks. Illamasqua’s new Sirens collection helped.

Continue Reading…

Have you ever used one of those GPS devices in a car to help you get where you were going? Well what if there was a special makeup GPS that helped you find exactly what you were looking for?

What if you had your very own Magic Makeup GPS?

What would your Magic Makeup GPS help you find?

• The best makeup sales
• The closest makeup counter
• The perfect foundation
• The best treatment for acne
• The best colors for your skin tone
• Other -- I'll tell you in the comments.

View Results

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

This year’s fall makeup collections have begun to trickle in, and the one I’m spending quality time with today is Smashbox’s new Reign ($19-48/item).

Inspired by England’s Tudor period (circa 1485-1603), a time that encompassed Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, the eight pieces feature shades of berry, peach, plum, black and champagne.

Smashbox Reign Eyeshadow Palette in Majesty ($42), Lip Gloss in Crowned ($22)

For today’s 4-step eye makeup look, I grabbed the Smashbox Reign Majesty Eye Shadow Palette ($42), one of three eye palettes in the collection. It comes with three baked eyeshadows (a champagne, a reddish plum and a black), each with a dollop of matte shadow surrounded by a shimmery version of the same shade.

Top row: shimmery shadows. Bottom row: matte shadows.

I was in the mood to wear something soft today but wasn’t sure if I could make the red shade work for a daytime look — that is, until I discovered that with enough blending the shade looks somewhat reddish brown (!).

Smashbox Reign 4-Step Eye Makeup

1. First things first. I grab my MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush and wet the head with a spritz of MAC Fix+ Rose. Applying shadows with a wet brush like this intensifies their color. I load the brush with the shimmery champagne shadow from the Smashbox Reign Magesty Palette and apply it over the entire eyelid and along my lower lash line.
2. Next, with a Sonia Kashuk Crease Brush, I apply the red eyeshadow (mixing the matte with the shimmer) from the same palette into my crease, concentrating more of the color toward the outside (closer to the ear), and use a MAC 217 Blending Brush to soften the edges.
3. Then, to make the whole look really pop, I apply a mix of the shimmery black and shimmery red shadows with a Sonia Kashuk Angled Eyeshadow Brush, drawing a thick line along the upper lash line and smoothing out the edges with a MAC 217.
4. Finally, with the same brush and a mix of the shimmery and matte black shadows, I line the lower line.

Continue Reading…

This weekend I headed over the MAC counter to try the new Mineralize Satinfinish foundation and the artist who worked on me showed me how to use the Mineralize products to get a glowy, J. Lo look. I like having the added dimension of some shimmer in comparison to a flat, matte, look, but I have pretty oily skin so I’m really picky about what shimmer products I use – otherwise, I end up looking like a greasy disco ball if there’s too much glitter. If you like the foundation and the powder consider taking these extra steps because the finished look is really pretty. It gives just enough glow without being too over the top.

Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on what she did and the products she used:

1. First she spritzed Fix+ over my entire face.

2. She then used the 190 Foundation Brush to apply Strobe Cream over my entire face. You don’t have to use the brush to apply this cream – if you don’t have one just use your fingers.

3. She then mixed Fast Response Eye Cream with Select Moisturecover concealer, and then applied the mixture with the 252 Large Shader Brush. (Although I liked the texture of concealer mixed with eye cream, I didn’t think it gave me enough under eye coverage, so if I were to repeat this look again I’d leave out dilution of the concealer.)

4. She then pumped some Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 Foundation onto a Petri dish. (MAC artists sometimes use Petri dishes because the glass doesn’t transfer bacteria. You can pump the foundation onto the back of your hand, just make sure you either wash them really well or use Purell before putting products like foundation – or any other product – on the back of your hands to avoid transferring bacteria onto your face.) She then used the 190 Foundation Brush to apply Mineralize Satinfinish with a stippling motion onto my face. To stipple, you take the brush (hold it towards the end, like a chopstick) and bounce it gently on your skin and give it the slightest pull. Whatever you do, don’t paint your foundation on in long stripes.

5. She then grabbed three shades of Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder: Medium, Light and Dark. She applied Medium over my entire face with the 182 Buffer Brush. She then applied Light with the 168 Large Contour Brush to highlight underneath my eyes, across the forehead, down the nose, on the chin and then across the tops of my cheeks. With the same brush, she then contoured my cheeks by applying the Dark shade underneath the apples of my cheeks and up into the hairline.

Voila! You’ve got the glowy look! Watch out, J. Lo…

Christmas came early, ya’ll

Feast your eyes upon the early Miracle that is Boots No. 7 Restore and Review Beauty Serum!

For the last four months I’ve been scouring Target (“Tar-ghay”) for this alleged miracle cream from across the pond. And every time I go it’s always out of stock, boo! But yesterday the stars were aligned and for the first time ever I was finally able to get a tube, yay.

Blind me with science, please

Women all over the UK went buck wild after a program on BBC, Professor Regan’s Beauty Handbook, showed scientifically that No. 7 Restore and Renew (known as “Protect & Perfect in the UK) repaired photo-aged skin and improved the fine wrinkles associated with photo aging. After the show aired, sales increased by nearly 2000%, with 13 bottles being sold every minute.

I’ve only used it one night so I can’t give a thorough review quite yet, but I was so happy to finally get a tube that I thought it was worth a big fat shout out of blogger joy. I have high hopes for this one. $21.99 for a 1 fl oz tube.

Danger and Ecstasy: A visit to Sephora

Right next door to Target is a Sephora, which is a recipe for both danger and ecstasy. I picked up two goodies from Philosophy, Purity Made Simple One Step Facial Cleanser and Kiss Me Very Emollient Lip Balm in Clear.

I have adult acne that’s mostly cured, but lately my skin has been acting a little nuts. I’m breaking out on my cheeks and on my forehead. In addition to the breakout, my skin has also been tight and dry. Everything I’ve been using to wash it with lately has been leaving my face feeling tight, even my good ole’ standby Cetaphil.

I read an article on Jeni’s blog over at Savvyskin.com on how she cured her adult acne and one of the products she raved about was Purity Made Simple cleanser.

This is a no-foaming cleanser that:
- deep cleanser pores and eliminates makeup build-up
- hydrates
- contains mild cleansing agents and natural oil extracts to help condition skin
- has a light, slightly herbal/lemon scent

I used it for the first time last night and this morning. It doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight and cleanses thoroughly. The only negative so far is that it did not remove waterproof mascara. Other than that I’m liking it so far. I hope it doesn’t break me out! $10 for a 3.5 fl oz large sample tube.

Kiss me!

The change in season is also wrecking havoc on my lips, which are flaky and dry OVERDRIVE. Ugh. It seems like every three or four days I end up peeling half my lip skin off (gross, I know). I’m glad I picked up this tube of Kiss Me Very Emollient Lip Balm, does a fantastic job of moisturizing my lips.

Kiss Me also comes in Red (sheer berry) and Pink (sheer rose-pink). I love the Red, which smells and tastes like oranges, but can’t stand the Pink. Pink has a weird, pepperminty taste and gives my lips an uncomfortable tingle.

I keep a tube on my nightstand and slap on a thick layer before I go to bed. In the morning my lips feel super soft! $10 for a 0.5 oz tube.

This weekend went by so fast! It was beautiful here in the north bay. I went running yesterday and went for a long walk today around my neighborhood. I know these sunny days are numbered, so I feel like I have to spend as much time as I can outside before it starts to really get rainy and cold.

I hope you had a great weekend and that it was both relaxing and productive.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Tabs sure was fired up last night! — so fired up, in fact, that I had to kick him out before going to bed. He was mrowling around with his ears pulled back, jumping at spots on the walls and swatting at shadows, LOL!

He did make it home for breakfast, though, sufficiently spent and back to his usual charming self.

Here are all of the past Sundays with Tabs posts going back to their inauspicious start last summer.

I hope you’re having a good Sunday so far. Tabs says hi!

• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Aug. 31
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Sept. 7
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Sept. 14
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Sept. 21
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Sept. 28
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Oct. 5
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Oct. 12
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Oct. 19
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Oct. 26
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Nov. 2
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Nov. 9
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Nov. 16
• Sundays without Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Nov. 23
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Nov. 30
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Dec. 7

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Even though he’s an international modeling superstar, Tabs is still surprisingly down to earth. He likes the simple things — gravy, a warm lap, and seeing his face on the cover of Allure.

The newest issue arrived in my mailbox this week… Imagine my surprise when I saw his furry mug gracing the cover!

I try to not to be a stage mom, yet I can’t help but feel proud of his work. Here are some of the earliest Sundays with Tabs, going all the way back to August of last year.

• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Aug. 31
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Sept. 7
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Sept. 14
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Sept. 21
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Sept. 28
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Oct. 5
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Oct. 12
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Oct. 19
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Oct. 26
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Nov. 2
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Nov. 9
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Nov. 16
• Sundays without Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Nov. 23
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Nov. 30
• Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Dec. 7

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

It’s MAC MAKEUP WEEK here at Makeup and Beauty Blog!

Okay MAC junkies – it’s been a while since I’ve done any MAC makeup related entries, so this week Makeup and Beauty Blog will wax philosophic on several can’t-live-without MAC products.

Got a MAC product that you makes you sing “I can’t live, if living is without yoooouuuuu?” E-mail me at karen at makeupandbeautyblog dot com and tell me what MAC product you love and why you can’t live without it. I’ll be compiling all of your favorite MAC products into a Reader’s Favorite MAC Products Post at the end of MAC MAKEUP WEEK!

I love crazy, complicated eye looks as much as the next makeup junkie, but some mornings I just can’t get it together — I’m either running late or just plain lazy as all hell.

I’ve been wanting to do something with my eye makeup for a few days but haven’t wanted to do anything *too* complicated, so I limited myself to four steps.

Why four steps? I guess it’s my happy medium. Five steps feel like too many; three not enough.

Oh — I’m not counting curling my lashes or applying mascara as individual steps… I probably should, but I don’t like the sound of six steps as much as four.

Benefit four-step eye look

The look is a shimmery neutral eye with a bit of gray, and I think it’s a great look for beginners.

Here’s how I get the look…

1. To start, I apply Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Samba-dy Loves Me (a shimmery peachy gold) on the lids and just up into the crease with my fingers, smoothing away any harsh lines.
2. Next, using a Sonia Kashuk Large Eyeshadow Brush, I sweep Benefit Velvet Eyeshadow in Leggy (a shimmery peachy pink) over the entire eye.
3. With the same brush, I pat Benefit Velvet Eyeshadow in Where There’s Smoke (a shimmery blackish gray) onto the lid and into the crease.
4. To finish, I line my upper and lower lash lines with Benefit Bad Gal Waterproof Liner (a true black) and smudge out both with a MAC 219 Pencil Brush and Where There’s Smoke Eyeshadow.

Cheeks and lips

You could pretty easily dress up this look with bold pink or red lips, but since I’m not really going anywhere special today, I shot for light and breezy with Benefit Posie Tint (a semi-matte peachy pink) on my cheeks and Benefit Full Finish Lipstick in Thrillin’ Brazilian (a shimmery golden peach) on my lips.

Continue Reading…

G’morning, ladies!

A few of you asked to see details of the Bobbi Brown Ivy League look I tried on Monday.

Nicole and Nancy wanted a breakdown of the eyes. They took about eight steps. If you were comfortable trying any of my 4-step eye makeup looks, I think you could easily do this look as well.

My Bobbi Brown Ivy League eyes

Oh, if you’d like to tone down the look, swap the black pencil liner for a brown one or omit the lining along the lower lash line entirely.

1. I start by applying Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Forest Shimmer Ink (a dark green with golden flecks) on my lid and just up into the crease with a Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Concealer Brush, smoothing away any harsh lines with a fingertip.
2. Then, using a MAC 217 Blending Brush, I pat Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in Bash (a shimmery forest green) over the lid and just barely into the crease.
3. Next, with a MAC 226 Small Tapered Blending Brush, I sweep MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow Quad in Assemblage (a shimmery gold) into the crease.
4. Applying a light color under the brow bone can add definition to eye makeup, so I pat on some MAC Eyeshadow in Arena (a shimmery golden peach) with a MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush.
5. For a slightly smokey eye, I line my upper lash line with Bobbi Brown Creamy Eye Pencil in Jet (a matte black) and diffuse/fade the edges by running the pencil’s attached sponge along them. Then, still with the same pencil, I line my upper and lower waterlines.
6. To emphasize my lower lash line while still keeping it soft, I draw a line along it (ideally, getting between the roots of each lash) with Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Forest Shimmer Ink.
7. Then, I soften the lined lower lash by gently swiping Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in Bash along the outer half (toward the ear) with a MAC 226 Small Tapered Blending Brush.
8. Finally, still with the MAC 226, I swipe MAC Arena along the inner half of the line (toward the nose).

All done.

Possible alternatives for Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in Bash

Swatches from left to right: Bash, MAC Humid, the light and dark green shades from the Chanel Murano quad

Thanks for suggesting so many alternatives to Bash in an earlier post. I think MAC Humid comes pretty close, and the two darker green shades in the new Chanel Murano quad should also work.

Continue Reading…

What kinds of things inspire your makeup looks? I get a lot of my ideas for looks from magazines, other beauty blogs and books, but some of my favorite looks are based upon things in nature, especially flowers. I’m a sucker for flowers.

Can you spot the mini calla lilies in my wedding bouquet?

Pretty, yah? I love all flowers, but lilies are my favorite, so whenever El Hub gets me flowers, he always throws in a lily or two for good measure. Last week’s Valentine’s bouquet contained a handful of pink stargazer lilies.

I still have the bouquet in my bedroom. When I awoke and saw them this morning, I decided I wanted to wear a lip color today that reminded me of pink lilies! I grabbed two hot pink cuties from the MAC Fafi collection — Fun ‘n’ Sexy lipstick ($14) and Cult Fave lipgloss ($14) — and went to work building my look for today.

Fun ‘n’ Sexy lipstick reminds me of the bright pink Wet n’ Wild lipsticks I wore as a teenager, ha!

Here’s the pink stargazer inspired result…

To get this look, I first lined my lips with MAC’s Pink Treat Cremestick Liner and then applied two coats of Fun ‘n’ Sexy with a MAC 316 lip brush. I topped it off with a layer of Cult Fave applied directly from the lip gloss applicator.

It’s raining here in San Francisco today, but this pink lip combo puts a little springtime pep in my step. A girl can never have enough pink lip combos, right? What’s your favorite?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

1. Mood:

Hopeful. This week I’m trying a new strategy! Each day I’m going to take at least one small step to organize my life.

2. Favorite eyeshadow:

MAC Soft Brown! I can wear it in the crease with everything.

3. Favorite lipgloss:

This fluctuates often, but as of last week it’s been Chanel’s Tangerine Dream.

4. Favorite hair product:

Bumble and Bumble’s Curl Conscious Nourishing Masque. It smells divine and totes gets my hair to behave.

5. How’d ya sleep last night?

Pretty well, but I could have used a couple more hours.

6. Breakfast:

Bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, a cup of orange/mango juice and coffee.

7. Skill I’d like to learn in the next sixth months:

How to handle stress better and figure out a to-do list system that works for me.

8. Outfit:

Still in jammies for now… but my outfit for the day will be green cargo pants, a white long sleeve shirt and a brown and white knit sweater.

9. Song stuck in my head:

I’m ashamed to admit it, but it’s Love Touch by Rod Stewart.

10. Weekly goals:

Develop a work schedule or a to-do list and stick to it, buy some gum and houseplants, exercise every day because yesterday I tried on some pants and they were a little too snug — so NOT crackin’.

Hey, honeys! How are you feeling this morning? Take a second to check in. Just copy the empty list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le list

Mood:
Favorite eyeshadow:
Favorite lipgloss:
Favorite hair product:
How’d ya sleep last night?
Breakfast:
Skill I’d like to learn in the next sixth months:
Outfit:
Song stuck in my head:
Weekly goals:

Here’s to Monday — *raises coffee cup*.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Taken with a flash

Did anybody else wear green makeup to stay pinch-free today?

Also with a flash

When I wear green eyeshadow, I usually try to work it into some sort of smokey variation, but for St. Patrick’s Day today I thought I’d try something with a little shimmer.

I started with MAC Pigment in Golden Olive, a shimmery greenish gold, and then added brown and gold eyeshadows

This one’s without a flash

No flash for this one either

How to get the eyes

I started by patting MAC Paint Pot in Painterly (a creamy beige) over my entire eyelid with a MAC 249 Large Shader Brush.

Painterly, a cream eyeshadow, acts as primer. Its job is to intensify the color of the other eyeshadows and pigments and to anchor them in place.

To get the smokey effect that looks like a gradient of colors, I layer cream shadows, liners and powder eyeshadows, beginning the layering process by lining my entire lid with MAC Eye Kohl in Powersurge (a shimmery gold).

Because I plan to smudge pigment on top of the Powersurge, it’s okay if it looks a little messy at this stage.

Continue Reading…

Hi, girlies! Today was one of those days where things were just non-stop craziness at work. I was training a new hire and trying to do 20 other things at the same time — not the best conditions to be training someone in — and everything had to be done like five minutes ago. I’m really glad to be home.

Before I kick back with my veggie burrito in front of the Tivo (I haven’t watched Monday night’s Heroes yet; still lovin’ ya, Peter Petrelli!), here’s the look I wore to work today. I knew today would be a rough day and wanted to wear something colorful (while still safe for the office) and upbeat. It’s a shimmery copper and tan eye with blue accents and features a few different holiday and fall products, including the new Cargo Color Palette in Vienna ($28).

One of eight Cargo eye shadow palettes released specifically for Sephora this fall, Vienna contains four huge pans of uber-blendable, shimmery shadow in copper, beige, tan and slate blue.

Step by Step: The Eyes

1. First, I primed my lids with Too Faced Shadow Insurance primer (makes the shadows last longer).
2. Next, I applied Vienna’s beige shade on my brow bone with a Sonia Kashuk Large Eye Shadow Brush.
3. Then, I swept Vienna’s tan shade into the crease with a MAC 217 blending brush.
4. I patted Vienna’s copper shade onto my lids and just barely into the crease with the same Sonia Kashuk Large Eye Shadow Brush from step 2.
5. Next, I wet a Sonia Kashuk Angled Eye Shadow Brush with a spritz of MAC Fix+ and swept the wet brush head across the pan of slate blue eye shadow to pick up the color. I applied the wet shadow to my upper lash line, thickening the line as it moved closer to the outer corner of the eye.
6. With the same Sonia brush, I applied the blue shade again, this time on the lower water line.

To finish the eyes, I curled my lashes and added one coat of Chanel Exceptionnel mascara in Noir.

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1. Mood:

Thoughtful. I’m thinking about how to be less afraid of change. When I was younger I could roll with the punches so easily, but as I get older I find I get more and more set in my ways. I’m feeling I need to push myself to mix it up…

2. Hair:

It’s raining, which usually means my hair will go from zero-to-POOF the instant I step outside. I wrangled it into two low pigtails and stuck a hat on top.

3. Mascara:

Stila Lash Visor Waterproof Mascara in Black (from the Foxy Barbie Loves Stila beauty can). Have you tried it? It’s kinda awesome.

4. Outfit:

Super casual today — gray sweatshirt, khaki t-shirt, jeans and shiny black galoshes with a multi-colored argyle print

5. Nails:

Nothing on my fingers, but Spa Ritual Lacquer in Treasure on my toes

6. My guilty pleasures:

See’s milk chocolate candies, reality TV marathons, shoes

7. I’m really great at _____:

Reading body language, baking peach cobbler, remembering random song lyrics from the ’80s

8. What’s for lunch?

A mini BLT sandwich, a banana and blueberry yogurt

9. What’s the weather like where you are?

Overcast and rainy with temps in the mid-50s

10. Weekly goals:

Catch up on back issues of The Economist that have piled up on the living room floor, do lots of laundry (blah!), find out how to plant and grow lavender (I’m kinda obsessed with it), not let my body hair sitch get too jungly, get all my regular work done

Where my girls at on this lovely Monday? Are you ready to grab some coffee and catch up? Please copy the list below, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le list

Mood:
Hair:
Mascara:
Outfit:
Nails:
My guilty pleasures:
I’m really great at _____:
What’s for lunch?
What’s the weather like in your neck of the woods
Weekly goals:

I hope today is smooth sailing for you.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What a difference 12 hairs makes

Ladies, I’m writing to you from a new and exotic place that I never thought I’d visit.

No, it’s not Costa Rica or Turks and Caicos — it’s the land of oh-my-gawd-my-left-eyebrow-has-effin’-disappeared!

This morning I had a very unfortunate incident with some at-home wax. I’m kind of Hairy and the Hendersons, so my weekly facial hair removal sesh is a *must*.

Normally I pluck my brows and wax my ’stash, but this morning I felt too tired and lazy to bust out ye olde Tweezerman.

After successfully de-fuzzing the caterpillar from my top lip, the mad genius in me (who only got four hours of sleep, mind you) decided that trying to wax my brows for the very first time made perfect sense.

Let the official transcript of this blog read: trying a new at-home beauty procedure after very little sleep is a BAD CALL.

Long story short, now a big chunk of my left brow is missing. Thank goodness only 12 hairs went MIA (yes, I counted them), but apparently they were very important ones. Now the left side of my face looks permanently frozen in surprise, a la the Joker.

To temporarily dull the emotional pain, I flat ironed my bangs to strategically cover up the evil bald spot, whom I’ve named Raul.

Then, I went rifling through my stash of fall beauty goods for some bald brow solutions.

Benefit Brows A-Go-Go, $38

This eight-piece kit comes with *almost* everything needed to whip MIA brows back into shape, including brow wax, brow powder, tweezers and a teeny, tiny dual-ended brush for application.

Raul vamoosed after I followed Brows A-Go-Go’s clear step-by-step directions. Apparently, applying brow wax first and powder second is totally key — who knew?

With the bald patch gone, my left brow looked strong, defined and very early ’80s Brook Shields.

I love this kit to pieces, but it’s missing one major thing — Benefit really should’ve included a brow comb.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Despite the lack of a comb, Brows A-Go-Go is an excellent kit that kicks bald brows to the curb. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

Their brow powder applies very, VERY pigmented, and if too much gets accidentally packed on, brows can look severe. I ended up using my own brow comb to mellow out the overly dark parts, but including one with the kit would really come in handy for on-the-go touchups.

Clarins Eyebrow Kit Pro Palette, $35

Raul was no match for this sleek palette, which comes with three brow powders, wax, a peachy pink shadow and three mini-tools — tweezers, a dual-ended brush and a brow comb (YES!).

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The other day a friend of mine asked me what order I apply my makeup in.

Most of the makeup artists I know suggest starting with concealer, foundation and powder, but I prefer to do my eyes *first*. That way, if (when) I make a mess, I haven’t gotten too far into the overall look, and things are still easy to clean up.

After completing my eyes, I’ll finish with face, cheeks and lips.

Here’s my usual order. Really, all of these steps are optional. That’s the thing about makeup. There are more options than colors in a rainbow:

1. Eyeshadow primer
2. Eyeshadow
3. Liner
4. Mascara
5. Brows
6. Concealer
7. Foundation
8. Powder
9. Blush
10. Bronzer
11. Lip liner
12. Lipstick
13. Lipgloss

I wonder if anyone else does it like I do… In what order do you apply your makeup?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

My Halloween Costume — Amy Winehouse

“I haven’t done big hair in about 15 years so I hope this massive bird’s nest on the top of my head stays put for the rest of the day…”

Makeup Tips from LA Fashion Week

“This year Smashbox sponsored the makeup. To absolutely nobody’s surprise, the flawless skin trend we saw at the San Francisco and New York shows was a big theme this year on the LA runways, too.”

Boots No. 7 Restore and Renew Beauty Serum

“Women all over the UK went buck wild after a program on the BBC, Professor Regan’s Beauty Handbook, showed scientifically that No. 7 Restore and Renew (known as ‘Protect & Perfect’ in the UK) repaired photo-aged skin and improved the fine wrinkles associated with photo aging. After the show aired, sales increased by nearly 2000%, with 13 bottles being sold every minute.”

MAC Artist Louise Zizzo Gives Tips for Working With Matte2 and Mattene

“The key is to make sure whenever you are using these shadows or any matte shadows is you need to make sure you have a nice powdery base to put them on, otherwise they will grab patchy. I really recommend using softer brushes to apply these like the #224 and gradually building up to the intensity you desire. Don’t press hard, use a light touch and these look absolutely amazing.”

Product Reviews: Bliss Snow Wonder Body Butter; Thinny Thin Chin; Jingle Bell Socks

“Bliss has got your turkey neck covered, gobble-gobble (totally kidding!), with Thinny Thin Chin, a light lotion designed to improve the appearance of neck lines and cleavage creases.”

Face of the Day with Mac Matte2, aka When Purple Doesn’t Reign

“Try as I might, I can’t seem to get it together when it comes to MAC’s Matte2 shadows. I’ve tried to do a full on matte eye a few times, but it’s just too hard for me in terms of blending. Plus, I need a lil’ sparkle and some shine, ya know?”

Makeup and Beauty Tips for Breast Cancer Patients: Staying Beautiful Inside and Out!

“Remember, life is worth every minute. You can choose your thoughts. Keep a positive attitude, and if there is any time to erase negativity in your life, it’s NOW. Choose to LOVE LIFE and never lose HOPE. Plus, when your kids see you love life and do good for others, they will be happier and will contribute more to this beautiful world in their lifetimes. As you go through this challenge, you will be amazed by your strength, courage, and stamina. You will also be amazed by the resilience of your body.”

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Product: Sephora FACE Eye Makeup Remover
Use: To remove eye makeup
Price: $8.00 for a 4.22 oz bottle
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: C

After trying a ton of different eye makeup removers (including Lancome Bi-Facial; Clinque Take The Day Off, Rinse Off and Naturally Gentle eye makeup removers; Nuxe Démaquillante Make-Up Remover and Maybelline Expert Eyes Eye Makeup Remover, just to name a few), I finally found my holy grail with Sephora’s FACE Eye Makeup remover. Well, it was my favorite eye makeup remover until Sephora changed the bottle to this new one with the black cap. Not only is the new bottle is smaller than the old one, they’ve also increased the price. Now you pay more of your hard earned money but get less product – boo!

Along with the bottle change came a formula change. I find the new formula doesn’t work as well as the old one at removing long-wearing and waterproof mascaras and eyeliners. With the old formula, it was just a few quick splashes on the cotton ball and everything was off easily. Now, I have to use so much on a cotton ball – I have to practically get it soaking – just to take off regular eye makeup.

Some things haven’t changed – it still doesn’t sting my eyes (a big plus) and it has the same gentle rose smell. However, the bottle that’s sitting in my cabinet will be my last. Back to the drawing board for me!

I did a post a while back on five minute makeup, and for the longest time that was my gold standard minimal makeup routine. I’ve been super busy lately, so I’ve gotten my makeup routine down to three (YES THREE!) minutes.
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What will you be doing on this coming Sunday, July 22nd? I must really love makeup because I’m skipping sleeping in on Sunday so that I can get up early and haul my cookies across the Golden Gate Bridge to attend the launch of The American Beauty Tour in San Francisco.

This two-hour seminar at the W Hotel in S.F. will feature pro-techniques and tips from celebrity makeup artist Billy B. He’s worked in the makeup industry for over twenty years and his clients include Beyonce, Pink, Mary J. Blige and The Dixie Chicks.

I hope to see a few Makeup and Beauty Blog readers there! Come up and say hi!

Hey, hey, girlies! Can you believe August is almost over?

For some of you, that means heading back to school. In the comments on a previous post, reader Abigail said she was looking for a new look for school and wanted to use purple. I’m a big fan of purple and reached for Top Hat, a shimmery purple shade from MAC’s recent Starflash release, for this face of the day.

Abigail, I hope it gives you some ideas.

Back in school, I struggled to get to class on time. I was that girl always chasing down the bus. “Wait! Wait for me!”

I shot for quick and easy with this purple and gold look to help other students who suffer from the same affliction.

To complement the eyes, I went with plum cheeks and lips. I used MAC Beauty Powder Blush in Secret Blush on my cheeks and MAC Star Nova Lustreglass on the lips.

Eye Products I Used

Benefit Birthday Suit Creaseless Cream Shadow
MAC Woodwinked Eye Shadow
MAC Top Hat Eye Shadow
MAC Graphblack Technakohl LIner
MAC Powersurge Eye Kohl
MAC Prep + Primer Lash
MAC Zoomblack Zoomlash Mascara

Step by Step

1. First, I covered the entire eye with a layer of Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit.

2. Then, I dusted MAC Woodwinked eye shadow into the crease.

3. I swept MAC Top Hat Eye Shadow onto the lid area, just barely into the crease and along the lower lash line to softly define the eye.

4. When I’m in a hurry (late for work, yo!), I don’t always have the time or patience for eyeliner along my upper and lower lash lines. Sometimes, I’ll apply liner to both water lines and leave it at that. I think it’s tougher to spot uneven lines on the water lines because of their location. They’re partially obscured when the eyes are closed. Uneven lash lines, on the other hand, really stand out. For the upper water line, I applied Graphblack Technakohl Liner.

5. Next, I added Powersurge Eye Kohl on the lower water line.

6. To finish up, I curled my lashes, applied two coats of MAC Prep + Prime Lash lash primer, followed by two layers of MAC Zoomlash mascara.

Finito! Time to hit the books!

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If you’re feeling blue about Homecoming, you’re not the only one. The color’s been a popular choice this season for formals and dances.

MBB reader Cheyda is looking for makeup ideas to go with her blue dress.

Hi Karen!

I am going to my first formal dance (homecoming) in about a week.

I’m wearing a navy strapless dress with my hair down, and I have NO idea what makeup to wear.

I want it to be kind of dramatic, but not too out there. Plus, it needs to stay put.

Any suggestions as far as colors and brands?

Thanks a bunch!

Cheyda

Hi Cheyda,

How exciting! Dances are so much fun. Not only do you get to play dress up, but they’re also great opportunities to try new makeup looks.

It sounds like you want to be noticed without looking overly done. I got you.

Before we get into details, here are some things to consider:

Photography. Chances are you’ll be in some pictures, so you’ll want makeup that looks good in photos. When I do makeup for pictures, I wear a little more than I normally would. Natural, everyday-type looks, those done with a very light hand, can look washed out under flash photography.

Leading up to Homecoming, take a few practice swings at your look. Go from start to finish and ask friends or family (or use your camera’s shutter timer) to snap some test pictures with the flash. It’ll give you time to adjust your technique before the dance.

Long-wear products. If you plan to dance the night away, you’ll want your makeup to last, so primers, waterproof formulas and long-wear products (like lipsticks vs. gloss) are musts. Layering also helps increase wear time.

To go with your navy dress. I’m thinking a shimmery purplish blue smokey eye with pinkish nude lips and a sheer, matte pink cheek. What do ya think? I can see it now… The colors should pop without looking to matchy-matchy or melodramatic.

What you’ll need

1. A shimmery peachy eye primer like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin ($17)
2. A shimmery golden beige shadow with glitter like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Midnight Cowboy Rides Again ($16)
3. A long-wear, shimmery blue eye pencil like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Binge ($36, part of the Super Stash set)
4. A shimmery purplish blue eyeshadow like Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow in Frigid ($18)
5. A black eye pencil like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero ($17)
6. A waterproof mascara like Stila Lash Visor in Black ($12.50)
7. A sheer matte pink blush like Chanel Joues Contrastes in Rose Dust ($40)
8. A nude lip liner like MAC Cremestick Pearl Liner in Gingerroot ($14.50)
9. A nude lipstick like Benefit Full-Finish Lipstick in Lady’s Choice ($18)

You can find drugstore alternatives (Sonia Kashuk makes some great ones) to most, if not all, of these products. If you’re interested, shoot me a line and I’ll send some suggestions.

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