Dear Justin Timberlake,

Thank you so much for your lovely concert last night! I, along with the gazillion screaming teenage girls and gay men, really appreciate you being there to showcase your musical and dancing talents. And imagine my surprise when you gave props to the bloggers who figured out why you canceled your original September 12th performance date! Honey, let this be a lesson to you…next time before you get your swerve on at the VMAs you better eat lots bread before the Grey Goose gets your boy feeling loose.

By the way, I saw you waving to me up there in the nosebleed section 211 seat 39 as you sang “Senorita.” As you were staring into my eyes, did you notice my attempt at becoming one with MAC Brun shadow, a dark brown that previously scared the beejebus out of me? I paired it with:

MAC Next to Nothing (Smoke Signals Quad) as a wash
MAC Shroom on browbone
MAC Brun on outer third of the lid and bottom lashline
MAC Vex on inner lid
MAC Technakohl liner in Graphblack on top lashline
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline on inner lashline
MAC Concrete in brows
MAC Select Moisturecover concealer under eyes
Tarte 4-in-1 mascara
And
MAC Mocha and Blushbaby on cheeks

And did you notice that I was also wearing

MAC Barely Lit Lipstick
MAC Soft & Slow Lipglass

on my lips as I sang back to you? I hope so.

While I loved your performance, I have to point out something that everyone at that show was thinking. During the frenzy of the “Sexy/Back” finale, the crowds’ collective hormonal state dictated that you take your shirt off, but alas – you didn’t. Why, Justin, why?

Me and my girl Chris anxiously awaiting Justin Man Candy

Honestly, we would’ve probably been happy even if you just walked around in that white tank top you were sporting underneath that sweat-soaked button down shirt, but noooooo.

I hope you know that we all paid good money to see you and truly expected to get our perv on in a socially acceptable setting. Even a few minutes of semi-nudity would’ve made the night one for the history books.

Nonetheless, my girls and I still had lots of fun. And thanks again for the offer to take us backstage to feed us chocolate covered strawberries and champagne, but we had a long drive home. Next time.

Take care!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Makeup News – Interview with MAC’s Viva Glam Spokesperson Dita Von Teese, Macy’s Passport American Express Gala Night 2007

That’s me with Dita. And yes, she’s RAD.

Last night was my interview with Dita Von Teese, MAC makeup diva extraordinaire, and I’m happy to report that I got some great info!

Dita was really beautiful in person and lots of fun to speak with. She totally focuses on you when she speaks to you and there were a few moments when I felt like a deer-in-the headlights, because she’d look so intensely at me and I felt like I couldn’t focus on anything else! It was akin to being two feet away from a *massive sonic boom* of MAC makeup beauty. She has amazing skin; so milky and porcelain and just perfect.

I got to peek in her dressing room before the show and saw her costumes, some show props (a big ole’ strawberry sponge and a bottle of what appeared to be a bottle Cristalle.), some MAC makeup on the counter, but I am sad to report that there was no harem of hot shirtless oiled up men fanning her with peacock feathers. I wish!

And her performance was frickin’ hot! She did the one where she first pops the champagne open, pours it all over her body and then dances around in the life-sized champagne glass.

Here’s the transcript from our interview. Enjoy!

Makeup and Beauty Blog: So what MAC makeup are you wearing today?

Dita Von Teese: Well, let’s see…I hope I can remember! I think my cheek color is called Dame. My lip color is Russian Red with a Lip Lacquer called Fan Plastico over that. And I have liquid liner, MAC false lashes (of course!). I have Vapor eyeshadow, and MAC mineralize powder on.

MBB: Absolutely beautiful!
DVT: Thank you!

MBB: I was lucky enough to pick up your Favorite things! Dubonnet is my new favorite red.
DVT: It’s a great one.
MBB: It’s really good and that Cremestick liner is amazing.
DVT: They have so many great products. I’ve been a long time fan of MAC cosmetics, so it was really exciting for me to be a Viva Glam Spokesperson. It’s a cause I really believe it and I’ve supported since it was launched with RuPaul. So it’s great. I love talking about lipstick, and how much this lipstick has done with people living with HIV and aids. It’s really been great.

MBB: What inspired you to sign on as Viva Glam spokesperson?
DVT: Well, I remember when it was first launched under RuPaul, and I remember being so excited by the idea that a cosmetics company would put RuPaul looking fabulous … and a drag queen in a cosmetics campaign is amazing!

I didn’t know what I could do to really help people with HIV and AIDS. I didn’t have a lot of money and I was thinking, “What can I really do to help?” and so I could certainly afford to buy a lipstick. And it felt really good know that 100% of the selling price wsa actually going to help people living with HIV and AIDS. And now they’re reaching the 100 million dollar mark, and so it’s really incredible. It just makes me happy to be able to have a voice about this campaign and I’m so proud of what they’ve done.

MBB: What is your most stand-out moment so far as Viva Glam spokesperson?
DVT: A few things. I’m really not much of a public speaker. It makes me really nervous and I’ve had to conquer my fear of that by giving speeches, speaking in front of colleges, and presentations all around the world.

Also it’s been really exciting because MAC cosmetics let me create a burlesque show to bring more attention to Viva Glam. I ride a giant, nine-foot long mechanical lipstick. And it’s really great that they let me have that opportunity to bring my own personal touches to the campaign.

MBB: Whose idea was it to have the mechanical lipstick?
DVT: (laughs) It was mine! Well, I had a few different ideas. I work with my best friend, who makes all of my costumes. We were working together, and we were coming up with different ideas for a show. There were three ideas: one was safe, one was in the middle, and one was outrageous. And of course riding the lipstick was outrageous – obviously the most expensive, the most risqué, but the most fun, and MAC is a really adventurous company and so they let me go along with it and it was really exciting to make it happen.

MBB: That’s so cool that you work with your best friend! How long have you guys been friends?
DVT: I guess about 10 or 11 years.

MBB: What is her name?
DVT: Her name is Catherine D’Lish. She also a burlesque performer. We met because it was sort of a rivalry in a way. We had the same manager and we were both doing classic burlesque, and there weren’t many people performing burlesque at that time. And certainly not in the circuit that we were in.

So a lot of people said that we had to meet. We were really meant to be either the greatest rivals or greatest friends. Fortunately we banded together, and it’s been really exciting to make these shows bigger and better and more opulent and extravagant.

She’s there to push me and make it happen. The costumes she makes are extraordinary. The one I’m wearing tonight weighs about 70 pounds and it’s covered in about 250,000 Swarovski crystals so we’re always trying to raise the bar.

MBB: That’s so fantantic. It’s really great that you have someone to push you and inspire you.
DVT: It’s great because she actually puts the costumes on and knows how it feels whereas a lot of people don’t understand really the suffering involved in wearing 70 pounds worth of costume and being corseted down! And she’s right there with me to feel it and knows how it all works.

MBB: So the other day I was flipping through the channels on TV and I saw an interview with on IFC on sex and the cinema. And the reason why I knew it was you was because I saw your red lips.
DVT: (laughs)
MBB: The public obviously knows you for the red lip, black eyeliner, look. On your days off, what’s your makeup like?
DVT: Well there are varying degrees and I’m rarely seen without my red lip. But I have to say that you’re not going to walk in on my yoga class or my pilates class and I’m not going to be wearing a cat eye and a red lip!

I always have a very retro style, whether it is very little makeup; my clothing doesn’t change, I don’t put on a pair of jeans and t-shirt and a beige lip on my off days. This is something that I truly love and I believe in and it makes me feel good. So I make a point to make myself feel good every day.

MBB: Have you always been a red lip kind of girl, or was there a time when you were a teenager or when you were first experimenting with makeup when you wore a different look?
DVT: Not some much when I was a teenager. I would sneak the red lipstick when I was 13, 14! I’ve strayed from the red lip a few times, unfortunately …when I first started out people would say, “Oh, you have to look normal,” and they’d try to “normalize” me for a magazine and I’ve learned since then never to let that happen to me again.

I’m very insistent about my look, and in fact the hair and makeup people that I do use for a magazine is very specific. It’s the same way all the time, I really insist on it. But I do my own hair and makeup for events and a lot of photo shoots and I pride myself in my self-styling.

MBB: So when you are doing your makeup yourself, what are your favorite tricks and tips?
DVT: My number one tip is you have to practice. A lot of people ask me “How can I do my hair in 40s style or 30s style like you do, and how can I get this look?” And I think that really you have to sit in the mirror and you have to practice. You have to want it really bad. You have to have patience and you have to understand that’s the only way to really achieve it there’s no shortcut. You just really have to practice.

MBB: Do you have a favorite MAC product that you cannot live without?
DVT: Yes! Of course my Russian Red lipstick – I can’t live without. And I really love the MAC Mineralize Powders, they’re so easy to wear, and a quick foundation before you go. It’s light and any woman can wear it and it’s a really wonderful quick fix.

MBB: So, I dance too. I’m not a burlesque dancer, though, I do hip hop. I’m dying to know, because I read that you’re a trained ballerina –
DVT: Not a very good one! Well I danced ballet all my life. I wanted to be a ballerina. I tried and tried and you have to really face it sometimes that you’re not meant to be professional. Or you can work really hard at something and you can definitely learn a lot from it. I have a lifetime of ballet training but I have to say I was never meant to be a great ballerina. A lot of my shoes I perform en pointe, but you know I’m not going out there performing 42 pirouettes.

MBB: Do you have a favorite genre of dance in addition to burlesque?
DVT: I feel like ballet is my favorite. It’s the most beautiful, most challenging dance. And I’m just a big fan of the beauty of ballet, and the fact that it’s so feminine. There isn’t one ugly move in ballet. If you snap a picture anywhere you’re going to have perfect body lines, really feminine, beautiful body shapes so that definitely has to be my favorite.

MBB: Do you have a favorite show?
DVT: Usually my newest show is my favorite. I have a show right now that I’m about to debut. I have a ten-foot tall sparkling black swan fountain and it’s a very sort of funny twist on Swan Lake, so that brings me back to the ballet, but I wanted to do this sort of playful, Swan Lake thing. It’s a little bit funny, as burlesque often is. But I’m really excited about this show, because we’re making really wonderful, original music for it.

Usually my new shows are favorite. A lot of people know me for doing the champagne glass and the martini glass, but I do have 15 other numbers that are more dramatic.

MBB: So what’s next up for Dita?
DVT: Well, I’m writing a beauty book for eccentrics, for people who want to look different, for people who want to break the rules of makeup and hair and fashion.

I’m writing a book on how I do it step-by-step. I have a lot of female fans, and their biggest question is “How can I do my hair like this, show me,” so I really wanted to write this book. And also I wanted to write a book that encourages women to be individual and unique. When you look at beauty magazines, beauty advice is so many cut rules. They say, “Don’t wear blue eyeshadow, don’t wear green eyeshadow, don’t wear a heavy eye and a heavy lip,” and I’m hear to say, “You should wear what you want, and it’s okay to break the rules.”

A few pics from Dita’s performance, the grand finale of the show!

Macy’s Passport 2007 American Express Night

The fashion show itself was one of the most entertaining fashion shows I’ve ever attended. Macy’s passport is a charity event, and all the proceeds of the night go to AIDS organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Proceeds from last night’s show go to Project Open Hand and the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park. Next time you are in SF please stop by the National AIDS Memorial Grove. It’s very moving.

The show last night featured several high profile designers including Calvin Klein, Levi’s and Marc Ecko. While fashion was the focus, there were also several dance numbers which made the show entertaining. The VIA SPIGA show was amazing. The models/dancers came out and did high energy dances to oldies like “These Boots Were Made for Walking,” and “Proud Mary.” And they did it in four inch stilettos. I nearly fainted from the mix of shoe orgasm and amazing choreography.

Speaking of choreography, the hip hop dance group Epic Threads and Spirit of Uganda were fantastic. Check out the video of both doing battle:

Epic Threads Hip Hop Dance Performance Featuring Spirit of Uganda

A Few Videos from the Show

A video of all the runway pictures

Mark Ecko Runway Show

Spirit of Uganda Performance

Calvin Klein Runway Show

A Short Snippet of the Finale and Final Walk Through

Runway Pictures

Oh, and last but not least, there were many, many, many moments with hot shirtless dudes.

I will fo’ sho be back next year!

Shirtless guys and some serious body makeup from Levi’s.

Bloggers Erika from Makeup Bag and Christine from Temptalia.


L – to the – O – to the – L

Calvin Klein Steel aka Mancandy Part II.

I’m gonna start selling t-shirts that say Temptalia is My Homegirl.

Marc Ecko

…and then a dude comes out on a motorcycle.

I’m not sure what’s going on here.

Spirit of Uganda moved my soul…

And then I nearly faint during the Via Spiga show because of the dancing and the SHOES SHOES SHOES!

A shot of the finale.

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. Have a wonderful Thursday.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. OMG…the brushes with celebrity just keep on a coming! One of my *favorite* bloggers, Trent from Pink is the New Blog, just linked my Dita interview. Trent’s blog is the BEST of the gossip/celeb blogs out there (I think he’s way cuter than Perez and his writing is sharp and witty without being cruel.) I’ve been reading it for three years and I love his work. Seriously, I might faint!

With all the talk about red lips, TV and pirates around here lately, it was only a matter of time before makeupandbeautyblog.com found experts to wax philosophic on the subjects.

And while I was 100% unsuccessful in finding a legitimate pirate to interview (damn), I did manage to track down celebrity makeup artist Bruce Grayson, the Makeup Department Head for the 2007 Primetime Emmy’s (hooray).

He was nice enough to offer some tips how to get the perfect red lip, one of the dominant makeup these at this year’s Emmy’s, and how to have perfect makeup in HDTV conditions.

Makeup and Beauty Blog: This year we saw several stars at the Emmy’s rockin’ the red lips. While it’s pretty, many women have a hard time in real life recreating this dramatic look. What are your favorite tricks and products that real women can do and use to create the perfect bold lip?

Xtina working the red lip. Photo credit: people.com

Bruce Grayson: Dramatic lips are easy to create if you have the right tools. Start with a good round tip lip brush.

Apply lipstick from the center of the lips and paint towards lip line. Use a complimentary colored lip pencil to draw the lip line.

Start at the bow of the upper lip and the center of the lower lip to the corners. Don’t be afraid to draw outside the lip line to recreate shape.

Use a cream highlighter with a brush or highlighter pencil above the bow and below the lower liner to define.

Makeup and Beauty Blog: HDTV is notorious for showing extreme detail in a makeup, and some makeup companies like Kryolan are even creating special products to adjust to the fine detail of High Definition TV. What tricks and products do you like to use to deal with the HDTV?

Bruce Grayson: The first thing I do is become buddies with the cameraman. Lighting is the most important element in HD.

Second I make sure that the skin is even tone using a minimum of foundation and thin concealers only where needed.

I always defuse eyeliners, especially black which can look harsh in HD.

Before I even begin to apply eye make-up, I like to start with Olay Definity Eye Illuminator ($25.99 at drugstores nationwide) because it has multi-colored micas that help to hide imperfections. It limits the amount of make-up I need to use around the eye.

I use shimmer eyeshadows and blush selectively, HD accentuates all contrast including shimmer makeups. I use shading to give the face contour. Blending is key!

Translucent pressed powders are used where needed to tone down areas of the face where reflection is distracting to create strategic shine.

The Products:
Nars Translucent Pressed Powders
Stilla Sheer pressed power
Olay Definity Eye Illuminator
Olay Definity Deep Penetrating Foaming Moisturzer- a great underbase before foundation
Concealer: Amazing Cosmetics Concealers
Mac Shaping powders

Makeup and Beauty Blog: What are your three can’t-live-without products that you absolutely must have backstage and why?

Bruce Grayson: The three can’t-live-without products backstage are:

1. Mac Clear Lipglass- compliments any lipstick.

2. Clean and Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets- take the shine down without powder build up.

3. Laura Mercier Undercover Concealers- Comes in a variety of shades and are workable to provide just enough coverage to get the job done.

Makeup and Beauty Blog: Thanks Bruce! Now we’re all ready for our close ups!

ARGH! Tis Talk Like a Pirate Day, Mateys!

Today is Talk Like a Pirate Day, and yesterday it occurred to me that nobody does heavy black eyeliner like those crazy pirates.

And of course, in typical Karen fashion, this epiphany happened while I had my left arm stuck between an extremely heavy desk and a wall for 15 minutes:

I work part time in a book agent’s office, so while she was out yesterday I had to install a new fax machine. Everything was fine and dandy until it was time to plug the damn thing in. The desk weighed about a million pounds and was pressed up so close to the wall that I couldn’t get the plug in easily.

Somehow I managed to snake my left arm in, and for five minutes I kept trying to get the plug in unsuccessfully. When I finally gave up I tried to shimmy my arm out and BAM, that bad boy is stuck. Really and truly STUCK. And it remains stuck for 15 minutes. And of course, the phone is three feet away from me, so I can’t call anybody.

During that time I contemplate spitting all over my arm to get it all lubed up (so gross). I comtemplate yelling, “HELP! CALL 911” at the top of my lungs on the off chance that someone in the office building might hear my cry.

And then I remember the episode of COPS I saw a few years back where a kid gets stuck between a toilet and a bathtub and the police have to bring the JAWS OF LIFE to get him out. I start sweating profusely.

So after the initial panic and then having my life flash before my eyes, I finally get myself to relax enough by thinking of Talk Like a Pirate Day. I start wondering whether Captain Jack Sparrow would prefer Technakohl or Fluidline (I don’t see him as a brush fanatic), and soon enough, that left arm slinks right back out.

I wonder what he uses on his waterline

MACY’S PASSPORT 2007 is Tonight!

Tonight I’m heading to SF to attend MACY’S PASSPORT 2007, a fashion-charity show, and to interview MAC Viva Glam Spokesperson Dita Von Teese!

After attending SF Fashion week I realized that I need a big bag to fit all of my camera and tech equipment when going to these shows, so yesterday after I freed myself from the wall I went to the mall and picked up this lovely bag from Lululemon Athletica.

It’s supposed to be a gym bag but it can also be a massive purse, overnight bag, makeup bag (!) or school bag. The best part? It’s only $64.00.

Check out the three cavernous sections and envision all of the crap you could put in it! All of my stuff fits in it; I stuffed my laptop, my cameras, my tripod and a bunch of other stuff in it and there was still room to spare.

It’s lightweight, you can throw it in the wash and it holds 50 FRICKIN POUNDS! And there’s even a designated pocket for my Crackberry, awww!

So I’m all packed up and pretty much ready to go for the interview tonight! Wish me luck!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

When I dream of makeup this is what it looks like…

Two things you need to put into your Crackberry calendar ASAP:

September 27, 2007: MAC’s Limited Edition Mattene lipsticks, Matte 2 Shadows and Liquidlast liners drop today. Remember the 90’s? Mattes are baaaaaaack.

September 19, 2007: Talk like a pirate day. Do ye want ta walk the plank? Or do ye want ta be denied the pirate booty? Ye shall talk like a pirate all day long, argggh!

You know you’re getting older when you see teenagers wearing what you used to wear in high school 15 years ago, and when frickin MATTE MAKEUP comes back in style again. I can’t wait…I may just dig up my plaid shirt and listen to some Pearl Jam today.

How do you feel about mattes? Love? Hate? Discuss. (Extra points if you can do it pirate style.)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’m all up in a tizzy getting ready for the Dita interview on Wednesday. Whenever I get excited my stomach goes crazy (I’ve already gone through two large bottles of ginger ale) and I chew lots and lots of gum – it really takes the edge off.

Even though she’s a beauty icon and a celebrity, I’ve been reminding myself that she’s a person just like you and me. And just like us, she’s got her must-have MAC products, too.

I was lucky enough to get my hot lil’ hands on Dita’s Favorite Things from MAC! And of course, it includes MAC products that create the classic makeup look she’s famous for: hot red lips and dark black liner.

Get thee to the MAC counter for some Cremestick lip liner and Technakohl eye liner NOW!


One of my biggest makeup issues is that I find reds hard to apply, but the Amplified Lipstick in Dubonnet paired with the Cremestick liner in Red Enriched made it so easy. Both products have a creamy, easy-to-work with texture. I am completely hooked on the Cremestick liner, which slipped right on and didn’t dry out my lips. It’s gonna take all my will power not to buy every color the next time I go to the Pro Store.

I can see why Dita digs this combo. I loved the color and the texture of Dubonnet. The finish isn’t too shiny, isn’t too matte, but just right for a refined, sophisticated red lip. I’m clumsy, ya’ll, but this was possibly one of the easiest red lip looks, ever.
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+!

Mocha blush, a soft plum-pink matte, was also easy to work with. It’s got just enough color, and layers nicely. I liked the pinched-cheeks flush it gave me, and I didn’t have to use a lot of it. It looks really natural too.
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B

Shroom shadow is one of my faves – I’ve gone through three pans, a record for me – and I get a kick out of the fact that it’s one of Dita’s faves too. Brun is a muted blackish brown shadow in MAC’s satin formula. I love satins because they apply easily and blend well, but I had a little trouble with this because I’m still trying to figure out how to work really dark colors in the crease and blend them well. I think with a little more practice I’ll fall in love.

But the standout eye product here is the Technakohl Liner in Graphblack. I am usually a Fluidline kinda girl, but Graphblack is so easy to put on. It’s creamy, but highly pigmented, so you can smudge it if ya want and it still stays dark. And once you get it on your lids it doesn’t budge. I even put it on my waterline and it didn’t irritate my eyes at all.
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

I am happy to say that I’ve gotten so much work done this weekend, hooray! I am just about to mail off my Hawaiian heirloom jewelry travel story, which is a big project I can cross off my list. If you don’t know what Hawaiian heirloom jewelry is then check out this video with Gwen Stefani, another beauty who rocks the red lip/black liner duo. Around 1:25 you’ll see some detailed close-ups of Hawaiian heirloom bracelets made for Gwen by Philip Rickard Honolulu. In the past she’s used heirloom jewelry in L.A.M.B. shows at NY Fashion week. Pretty, yah?

Still have lots more work to do, but I’m glad I got to spend a little bit of time with ya this Sunday.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.

You know you’re weekend’s not over yet until you get your dose of this week’s best posts from the lovely ladies at The Beauty Blog Network!
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