Film critic Roger Ebert described her performance in 2003’s Monster like this: It was “one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema,” and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences agreed, awarding Charlize Theron (born August 7, 1975) with that year’s award for Best Actress.

After a difficult childhood, she entered acting via the modeling route, first moving on a one-year contract to Milan, Italy at age 16 from her family’s farm near Johannesburg, South Africa. From there it was to New York, where she also studied ballet, and then to Los Angeles on a one-way ticket.

I guess the one-way part was a good idea.

As for her look? Classic, timeless, feminine — and all around gorgeous.

Which of Charlize's hairstyles do you like best?

• 1. Chin-length loose waves
• 2. Straight with long bangs and a side part
• 3. Shoulder-length tight curls
• 4. Loose waves with a center part
• 5. Shoulder length and straight with bangs
• 6. Black updo
• 7. Chin-length medium waves
• 8. Long with a center part
• 9. Pixie cut

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

If you’ve ever seen the 1998 direct-to-video classic smash hit Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror, you may have shouted at the TV, “Great Caesar’s ghost! That’s Eva Mendes!”

Born in Miami, Florida to Cuban parents on March 5, 1974, Eva was raised in Los Angeles by her mother after her parents divorced. One day, around the time she was in college unhappily studying marketing, she caught the eye of an agent who convinced her to pursue a career in acting.

From there it was on to music videos like Will Smith’s Miami, the Pet Shop Boys’ That’s the Way Life Is and Aerosmith’s Hole in My Soul, until her big-screen big break in 2001’s Training Day, with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, which led to appearances in Hitch, We Own the Night and The Spirit. source

As for her look, I love what she does with her hair. She isn’t afraid to add volume, and she doesn’t shy away from sexy styles.

Which of Eva's hairstyles do you like best?

• 1. Straight and tucked behind the ears
• 2. Low ponytail with height and long bangs
• 3. Shoulder-length, loose waves
• 4. Straight with curled ends and long bangs
• 5. Long, loose waves with a center part
• 6. Long and curly with a center part
• 7. Messy updo with volume and long bangs
• 8. Updo with loose waves
• 9. Long layers with loose waves

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The giveaway is now closed to new entries, and the winners are being contacted. Good luck!

Rise and shine, morning glories! Actually, I hope you’re still cozy in bed. No one should have to be up at 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday.

I only got up because Tabs was meowing at the front door. That cat has so little respect for my beauty sleep…

Speaking of beauty, I forgot to tell you about my hair yesterday (good hair day)! After my run I washed and conditioned it with Aveeno Nourish+ Revitalize Shampoo and Conditioner.

The stuff is da bomb!

I’ve been using the line off and on for a few months. Over that time this particular duo of shampoo/conditioner has become my favorite drugstore hair care dynamo.

It being the weekend and all, why don’t we start today with a giveaway?

The prize

One lucky lady will win five products from Aveeno’s Nourish+ hair care line (a $35 value), including:

• Nourish+ Revitalize Shampoo
• Nourish+ Revitalize Conditioner
• Nourish+ Moisturize Shampoo
• Nourish+ Moisturize Conditioner
• Nourish+ Condition Leave-In Treatment

How to enter…

Entering is easy. There are two different ways, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

First, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post — a comment about anything at all. Tell me what you had for breakfast this morning or dinner last night; what you’re doing for Labor Day; the name of your favorite song or the identity of your latest crush.

I’m looking forward to a party tonight. My BFF is throwing a True Blood Lobsterfest at her apartment in the city — a combination DVD-watching marathon/seafood dinner.

Second, enter by following me on Twitter and retweeting (RT) the following message:

RT @karenmbb: RT to Win $35 in Aveeno Nourish+ Hair Stuff http://bit.ly/YyG9G

Recap…

1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
2. Follow me on Twitter and retweet the following message:

   RT @karenmbb: RT to Win $35 in Aveeno Nourish+ Hair Stuff http://bit.ly/YyG9G

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, September 6.

Zhù nǐ hǎoyùn!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The giveaway is now closed to new entries, and the winners are being contacted. Good luck!

It was in a noisy crowd on a bustling Cairo street more than 20 years ago that 18-year-old Catherine Élise “Cate” Blanchett (born May 14, 1969) discovered her calling. She was on vacation in Egypt at the time and accepted an invitation from someone to star as an extra in a movie. source

The experience must have made quite an impression on young Cate. After returning to her native Australia, she relocated to Sydney, enrolled in the National Institute of Dramatic Art, and the rest, as they say, is Hollywood history.

She’s one of my all-time favorite actresses (LOVED her in The Gift and both Elizabeth movies)… Those Aussie girls sure can rock an American accent, and Cate sure does rock her beautiful blonde hair.

Which of Cate's hairstyles do you like best?

• 1. Loose curls with long bangs
• 2. Updo with wavy bangs and a side part
• 3. Shoulder length and straight
• 4. Short with flipped-out ends and long bangs
• 5. Shoulder length and curly
• 6. Above-the-shoulder loose waves
• 7. Straight with long layers and a center part
• 8. Low, messy bun
• 9. Updo with soft waves

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hiya, my ’round the way girls,

Did you have a good weekend? As usual, mine went by way too quickly, but I managed to sneak in a few fun things, like a visit to Sausalito (a pretty, touristy town in southern Marin), a movie (The Perfect Getaway … come to mama Josh Duhamel!) and discovering a fab new hair product.

I’ve been desperate for something to revive my mane, which has been looking scragglier than post-Britney K-Fed. To get it to behave, I’ve been overdosing on heat styling — abusing it with the hair dryer, flat iron *and* curling iron. Terrible, I know. Now, my long locks look and feel coarse, dull and dry.

So, when I heard about Kerastase’s new Chroma Thermique ($36), I went haaaay!

Some quick background: Chroma Thermique is the newest member of the Chroma Riche line, designed by Kerastase to add softness, moisture and shine to dull, dry colored hair. Wrapped up in purty pink bottles, these floral-scented shampoos, conditioners and treatments cost a pretty penny, ranging from $32-58 (ouch).

Chroma Thermique, the newest member of the gang, is a rich leave-in treatment that adds moisture, shields hair from heat and infuses it with protective UV filters. Kerastase recommends working a walnut-sized dollop from shaft to ends after shampooing/conditioning and before blow drying.

First off, it’s a fantastic de-tangler. All my knots disappeared (and I *always* have plenty to spare), allowing my brush to slip through quite easily. The extra slip seemed to decrease the time and effort it usually takes to blow dry, which this busy girl totes appreciates.

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