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?

Are you happy with your current brush storage solution?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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1. D&G Fragrance Anthology

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

2. Long, side-swept bangs

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

3. Huey Lewis and the News

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

4. Nimbus Microfine Toothbrush

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

5. Mozzarella and heirloom tomato salad

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)

6. Zoya Color-Lock System

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

7. Yogi Kava Stress Relief Herbal Tea

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

We made it to Friday, WOOT!

I wish we could ditch everything and take a trip together. I’ve got an itch for adventure, and I think it has something to do with this note from Lizz:

Hi Karen!

Since I’m going to Vietnam and Cambodia for three weeks, I would like a few tips to keep my skin in perfect shape.

I normally use Clinique’s 3-step action plan along with an eye cream, a moisturizer and night cream, but since we’ll be traveling every day (we’re going on an adventurous tour), I don’t want to take a lot of stuff in my backpack.

Any tips? I do want to take a good cleanser and a moisturizer with me…

Thanks a lot!

Hi Lizz,

How exciting! Have yourself a great trip. I’m totally jealous!

For me, traveling light means paring down my usual skin care routine from six products (cleanser, toner, eye cream, moisturizer, acne treatment and sunscreen) to three.

1. Cleanser: On trips I like gentle cleansers that can also double as makeup removers, like Philosophy Purity Made Simple ($10 for a 3-oz travel bottle). It removes everything and doesn’t sting my eyes.
2. Moisturizer: I’ll ditch my eye cream and moisturize both my face and eye area with a basic face moisturizer (right now I like both the $6 Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture for Sensitive Skin and $42 Kiehl’s Abyssine Cream+) to conserve space and lighten my load. Side note: I’ve read some beauty experts who recommend *always* using a separate eye cream, but I don’t see a problem with using a regular face moisturizer around the eyes while traveling. I’ve used ‘em and have always been fine. I figure it’s only for a few days, right?
3. Sunscreen: Gotta protect that skin from the sun! Two of my favorite products are Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion 55 ($38) and Clinique Sun SPF 30 Face Cream ($18).

Since you’re a Clinique girl, here’s a cool tip I learned from reader Megan (thanks, girl!). If you have any of those lil’ samples of Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion that they give away in their gift with purchase sets, bring one along on your trip because it doubles as eye makeup remover. Apply a small amount to a Q-Tip or cotton pad, and gently wipe away any eye makeup that didn’t come off with your regular cleanser.

Have fun and be safe!

Chicas, when you want to pare down and pack light, which skin care products do you bring?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Essie Canyon Coral

They say “it’s the little things,” and I think they’re right.

A fresh coat of nail polish always improves my outlook, no matter what’s bringing me down. An at-home manicure is an easy, affordable way to brighten even my dreariest days. When I’m feeling out of sorts, I’ll plop down on the floor in front of the TV to give myself a manicure.

Be good to yourself and your nails with the help of these 21 nail polish tips.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like…

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• 21 Skin Care Tips
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• 10 Fantastic Smokey Eye Tutorials

1. Whitening Yellow Nails: Prolonged use of dark nail polish colors can cause nails to turn yellow. By following the tips in this post, you can get your nails back to their natural color.



2. Fingernails FAQ, or Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Fingernails but Were Too Afraid To Ask: Did you know that nails are 10 times more porous than skin or that nails get thinner as we age?



3. Nutrition for Strong Nails: In this video nutrition expert Carla Kay dishes on what to eat for strong and healthy nails.



4. How to Avoid Bubbles in Your Nail Polish: All it takes is one little bubble to ruin a great manicure. Keep these tips in mind.



5. 11 Tips for a Perfect Homemade Manicure: Get great looking paws with this awesome step-by-step.



6. 5-Minute Nail Polish Routine: This isn’t a long blog post, but I think it’s an overview that hits the nail on the head (LOL!).



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It’s that time again, girls. Another Friday means another week for the history books, le sigh!

I don’t know what kind of mood you’re in today, but I’m NOT in the mood for stress. I feel like I need a casual Friday, something fluffy and light.

You might have a busy day ahead of you — life doesn’t seem to care when we say we need a break — but I hope these 21 drugstore beauty tips help you keep your morning light.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like…

• 21 Drugstore Beauty Tips
• 21 Skin Care Tips
• 21 Makeup Tutorials
• 101 Hairstyle Tutorials
• 10 Fantastic Smokey Eye Tutorials

1. How to Wear Bright Eyeshadow (Drugstore or Not): This article refers to spring trends, but I think bright shadows are perennial and can be worn any time of year. Don’t miss the section at the bottom about getting the most out of drugstore eyeshadows.



2. DIY Home Remedies and Beauty Treatments: We’ve all seen other articles or blog posts with lists of home beauty treatments, but this one’s more extensive than most. Some of the suggestions here are drugstore, but others may require a trip to your local grocer.



3. Luxury on the Cheap: Quality Beauty Products at Drugstore Prices: This article with slides provides a fairly comprehensive list of suggestions for beauty products (hair, face and body) currently available at most drugstores nationwide.



4. DulceCandy87’s Fav. Drugstore Makeup and Beauty Tips: Dulce’s quite a character. She has an entire series of makeup and beauty videos on YouTube. This one’s sure to save you some dough.



5. Bodycology Lotions: Find out how these over-the-counter creams compare to bigger name brands.



6. Protect Your Skin From the Cold With Vaseline: It’s hella greasy, yes, but women have been using it as part of their beauty regimen for decades. Read on to see how Vaseline can help.



Continue Reading…