Beauty product reviews, makeup tips and news from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict.
September 15th, 2009 | Karen | Filed in: Beauty Tips, Just For Fun
“You can do anything, but you can’t do everything.” — Anonymous
I can’t remember the first time I heard that, but it makes more and more sense to me every day.
I read it to mean that we all have our limits. There are only so many projects and commitments people (and cats) can tackle at the same time, and only so much pressure we can take before we crack! 
TIP: Whenever I feel like I’m drowning under a torrent of tasks, I’ll set aside my long to-do list and grab a blank Post It note instead. On it, I’ll write my three most important tasks — the things my gut tells me I should do — ignoring all the rest.
If that means the carpet doesn’t get vacuumed or the laundry doesn’t get done for another day or two or three, so be it, because…
When I look back on my worst days (I’ve had some doozies!), I think about all of the good days that followed them.
TIP: When times are tough, I try to remember that this too shall pass. Sometimes it really helps me to look ahead to a time after the obstacle I’m facing — after the deadline, the virus, the exam, the uncomfortable business meeting — a day, week or month down the road.
There’s a world of roses out there just waiting to be sniffed! 
TIP: Whenever I see (or hear, smell, taste or feel) something beautiful, I STOP — maybe not in the middle of traffic — to take them in. Try to make time in your life for beautiful things.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
September 4th, 2009 | Karen | Filed in: Beauty Tips, Makeup Tips/How To
Ew, what’s that smell?
Oh, it’s just my makeup…
How do you know when that tube o’ lipgloss or pan of eyeshadow has expired? Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to tell. Most beauty products lack expiration dates, and some may not visibly change when they’ve given up the ghost.
Still, even when it’s obvious that a product has gone bad, some of us refuse to let go. This summer the market researchers at Mintel found that just one in four British women discard their makeup, shampoo or shower gel after it starts to smell strange or look discolored. source
Why? Because, the researchers found, many of the women surveyed weren’t aware the products could expire.
Just like food items, beauty products — even natural and organic ones — are breeding grounds for bacteria, and natural products that contain fewer (or no) preservatives often have the shortest shelf lives of all. The risk of using products high in bacteria is INFECTION.
Lawd knows I’m guilty of keeping beauty products around far longer than I should … but sometimes it’s just so hard to say goodbye!
Beyond these rough guidelines, it helps to enlist the help of your nose in checking beauty booty. If something smells a little off, maybe it is.
More things to watch out for? 1) Store products away from direct sunlight and heat, which can destroy preservatives and accelerate the growth of bacteria; 2) refrigerate products (some take better to cold temps than others do) to slow the growth of bacteria; 3) don’t use eye products when you have an eye infection; 4) be careful when you mix products because you could be spreading bacteria around; and 5) be aware that using shared department store testers is a primo A#1 way to catch something SCARY!
For even more on telling if your makeup has expired…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. How was your afternoon? Anything cool happen today? I managed to sneak away for a few minutes up to Sephora and left with Lancome’s new Hypnose Drama mascara… Can’t wait to give it a try!
Other than that, I rented Confessions of a Shopaholic to watch tonight. Tabs is a big Isla Fisher fan.
September 4th, 2009 | Karen | Filed in: Beauty Tips, News
This morning while I was admiring swatching the shimmery new Zoya Truth Collection of nail polishes for fall ($36 for a set of six), something kinda funkaaay happened.
I met a troublemaker, aka a rebellious nail polish brush.
See that funky piece jutting out to the side? It looks like it’s trying to do its own thang, but this ain’t Sesame Street, buddy. Get back in formation!
What do you do when a nail polish brush goes against the grain?
Brushes with straight, smooth fibers work best. When bristles stick out at odd angles like Penny (a shimmery copper) is here, it can mess with my application. Hello, streaks!
Thankfully, whipping a bellicose brush back into shape is a breeze. Here’s what I do to reshape a wonky nail polish brush:
First, I set the brush head on a clean paper towel.
Next, I fold a section of the towel over and on top of the brush head and press down with my fingers. Still applying pressure, I slowly pull the brush head out through the towel with the other hand.
A few times will usually reshape the bristles and remove most kinks, restoring order to the world, LOL!
Allowing the brush to air dry for about 10 minutes should lock the corrected shape in place. That’s it — then it’s back in the bottle for you.
Why aren’t all of life’s problems so easy to solve, le sigh…
Funky brush action aside, I love all six of the warm, vibrant colors in the Truth Collection.
It seems like Zoya dipped their paint brushes into Mother Nature’s fall inkwell. These shimmery copper, orange, red, pink and magenta polishes remind me of autumn leaves crackling beneath my feet, fiery fall sunsets and the rich, buttery light of late afternoons.
Of the six shades, Anaka, the shimmery magenta, makes my heart beat the fastest.
Do any of these get you fired up for fall?
Anaka
Drew
Salma
Penny
Continue Reading…
September 3rd, 2009 | Karen | Filed in: Beauty Tips, Just For Fun
Um, where’d I put my MAC 209?
Do you ever have those makeup moments that hit you like a ton of bricks? I was digging through my disorganized brush stash when I had one. My current approach to brush storage just does not work.
I’ve been using the same “system” for years. It’s a black pencil holder thingy that I got at Target (see above). Eye brushes, face brushes, cheek brushes — they’re all jammed in there like teenagers at a Jonas Brothers concert.
I can’t find squat!
Earlier today I surfed around for ideas. My favorite is this caddy/travel bag from Darac Beauty.
The Darac Solution Central ($32) is a flat, zippered bag that doubles as a brush stand and portable brush case.
See how it keeps the brushes upright and separated? Love that. And, as crazy as this probably sounds, I like that I’d be able to just grab everything and jet if my apartment caught on fire.
If they were cheaper I’d get three, LOL!
My second option: something like the brush holders at Sephora (see Vanessa’s blog for a how-to).
It’d be cheaper than the Darac case (and I like the DIY angle), but they’re not as streamlined. Sigh…
I’ll have to keep looking unless you can help me out. How do you store your makeup brushes?
Loading ...Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Continue Reading…
August 26th, 2009 | Karen | Filed in: Beauty Tips, Fragrance, Just For Fun, Nails
Oui, oui, I’ll be loving you forever, Coco, but a big hunk of my heart now belongs to Dolce & Gabbana.
I wore Light Blue on my wedding day, and Sicily scented my skin for years.
This fall, I plan to fashion more D&G memories thanks to their new Fragrance Anthology.
Each of the five complex eau de toilettes smells naturally lush — not synthetic or artificial — and lingers for hours on my skin.
My favorites are 18 La Lune (a white floral with notes of apple, lily, tuberose and musk) and 10 La Roue De La Fortune (a green floral with pink pepper, gardenia, jasmine and vanilla). I think both smell totally femme and just plain pretty.
To buy: Sephora, $65 each
They cover forehead zits and bald eyebrow patches — ’nuff said. For soft, flexible hold and shine, I smooth mine down with a pinch of Bumble & Bumble Brilliantine.
To buy: Bumble & Bumble, $20
I’ve been rocking out to Do You Believe in Love since Sunday, and dagnabbit I’m not ashamed!
Huey and his homeboys cranked out dozens of karaoke-worthy tunes in the ’80s.
Join me for this brief trip back to a time when the saxophone solo reigned supreme.
To buy: Greatest Hits CD, Amazon, $14
The pimp daddy of all toothbrushes! My dentist gave me one of these bad boys last week and I’m hooked.
The ultra-soft brush head has alternating rows of bristles with different heights. The long ones help it wiggle into those hard-to-reach nether regions between teeth. Brushing my sensitive teeth and gums with it is kinda like brushing with a big fluffy cloud (ha, nimbus clouds, get it?!).
If you brush and floss like you mean business, mamacita, give the nimbus a try.
To buy: Nimbus, $10 for a pack of five
So effortless, so yummy, so very last days of summer… It’s my new favorite meal for when I’m too hot or lazy to cook.
To buy: Head to your local grocery store or farmers market to get your ingredients, and prepare it at home (the recipe)
Zoya makes it easy to get durable, chip-free manis and pedis with this fantabulous six-piece kit.
Nail polish remover, base coat, nail strengthener, top coat — all the essentials for a salon-quality manicure — and the numbers on the bottles totally fool proof my process.
To buy: Zoya, $48
I’ve been a crazy stress case lately because of that condo sitch (yup, it’s still up in the air), but this caffeine-free tea has definitely helped. It’s probably the best stress relief tea I’ve ever tried.
It contains Kava, a root native to the South Pacific and used by islanders for centuries to calm the body and soothe the mind, and tastes like cinnamon and chicory. I like to add a little milk and sugar.
To buy: Vitamin Shoppe, $4
What are some things currently rocking your world (beauty or otherwise)?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
As a kid I loved watching Sesame Street.. Of all ten ideas, number six takes the...
