Beauty product reviews, makeup tips and news from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict.
September 22nd, 2009 | Karen | Filed in: Face of the Day (FOTD), MAC Makeup, Makeup Tips/How To
Do you remember the look I tried last week that featured red lips and teal/brown eyes?
I felt like doing it again today, but this time I snapped a few extra pictures for a quickie tutorial.
After the post last week, reader Jenna left a great tip in the comments that I also wanted to try… She suggested adding some black eyeliner to ramp up the drama, and here’s how it turned out:
Better, right? Thanks for the tip, Jenna! 
If you’d like to give the look a try…
NOTE: I ended up using MAC Eyeshadow in Waternymph instead of the teal eyeshadows and MAC Mattene in Classic Dame instead of matte red lipsticks listed above. Both are limited edition and tricky to track down, but they’re similar to the colors mentioned.
Swatches from left to right: Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl, MAC Eye Pencil in Coffee, MAC Eyeshadow in Brun, MAC Eyeshadow in Brownscript
From left to right: MAC Eyeshadow in Arena, MAC Eyeshadow in Waternymph, LORAC Front of the Line Pro Liner, MAC Eyeshadow in Soba
Continue Reading…
September 21st, 2009 | Karen | Filed in: Just For Fun, Makeup Tips/How To
Put on your most fashionable thinking caps, gals, because Jessica needs our help.
Karen!
I’m hoping you’ve got the answer to my major problem!
I work on a cruise ship (I know, tough work) and I wear the TACKIEST red, white and blue tracksuit uniform.
What are some eyeshadow looks that I can wear every day that won’t make me look overdone, but still can help me look put-together and sassy in the world’s worst uniform?
Hi Jessica,
How super cool! I’ve seen every episode of Love Boat and circa 1982 had grand plans to become a cruise ship porter/activities director/bartender-extraordinaire.
Your uniform doesn’t sound too bad (well…). At least it’s stretchy, right?
As for your eye makeup, what about something neutral and work-appropriate that leaves room for flexibility when you’re feeling sassy?
You might start with a shimmery neutral like Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit ($19). It’s a shimmery champagne cream shadow that really brightens up the eyes and looks pretty much fab on *everybody*.
Apply over the entire eyelid with a finger or a synthetic brush (because they aren’t as absorbent as natural fibers, synthetic bristles work well for cream products) like the MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush ($25).
To complete the look when you’re pressed for time (maybe late for bingo on the ship?), just curl your lashes and add mascara.
When time isn’t of the essence, sassify the look with some liquid liner along your upper lash line. I like Lorac’s Front of the Line Pro ($22), a new liquid liner pen that just hit shelves this fall. It makes lining a cinch, and the rich black color lasts all day long.
Do a thin line when you want subtle definition or a thicker cat eye line (with a flick at the end) when you want a more dramatic version.
Sassify the look even more by replacing your regular mascara with a tinted shade — perhaps a green, blue or purple. I totes adore Estee Lauder’s Sumptous Color Mascaras ($20). They deliver eye-popping color while adding lash thickness, length and lift.
Have fun on the high seas! Drop me a line (or a message in a bottle) once in a while to let me know how you and your makeup are doing.
Ahoy, ladies! What else could Jessica do with her makeup considering her red, white and blue cruise ship uniform? Use your imagination, and share your ideas in the comments.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
September 19th, 2009 | Karen | Filed in: Makeup Tips/How To, Nails
Would you believe my glittery Illamasqua Harsh mani lasted all but one day?
It wasn’t the polish’s fault. Coco and Co. were to blame! Late yesterday afternoon, the new Chanel Jade nail polishes I’ve been dying to try arrived in the mail (swatches coming soon!).
Glittery nail polishes can be notoriously difficult to remove — so difficult, in fact, that some women refuse to wear them at all. Those little bits of glitter will just grip nails with a fierceness and refuse to let go!
When I sat down to remove my polish a few minutes ago, I remembered that a few of you, including reader Sarah, asked about it too.
Hi, Sarah. Here’s a way to remove glittery nail polishes that works pretty well for me:
Acetone removers and glitter polish: There are many different varieties of nail polish remover, but ones containing acetone (a colorless, flammable solvent also found in many household cleaners and chemicals like paint thinner) seem to work faster than the non-acetone polishes I’ve tried, at least when it comes to removing glittery polish. Acetone is not a green chemical, however, and can be rather harsh on nails (making them dry/brittle), so I try to limit my use of it to polishes with glitter.
One brand I like is Zoya’s Remove +. It works well without over-drying my nails.
TIP: When I don’t have a clock nearby, I hum the Happy Birthday song to myself three times. That takes me about 30 seconds.
A remover just for glitter polishes? While surfing the web I spied a remover specifically designed for glitter called Cutex Glitter Girls Acetone Nail Polish Remover ($3). Have you given it a try? If you think it’s any good, please let me know.
How was your night?
I rented Sin Nombre, a subtitled film about a teenage Central American gang member who tries to escape the gang by heading north to the US. He joins up with a Honduran family also heading north but for different reasons.
Continue Reading…
September 10th, 2009 | Karen | Filed in: Makeup, Makeup Tips/How To
Looking to step up your makeup game this fall, girls? Consider a few of Urban Decay’s new primers for face, lips and lashes:
These bad boys deliver an almost airbrushed application for smooth skin, luscious lips and longer, thicker lashes.
To get the most bang for your buck, Urban Decay International Makeup Artist Eric Jimenez suggests a few insider tricks.
Smile, Eric!
Flawless makeup in t-minus three, two, one…
What it is:
An oil-free, velvety foundation primer with a texture like medium-weight lotion.
What it does:
Minimizes the size of pores, gets oil under control (great for areas like the t-zone) and helps foundation look smooth and flawless.
How to apply:
Begin by cleansing and moisturizing your skin. Cleansing encourages better absorption of moisturizer. Blot away any excess with a tissue.
Next, with your favorite foundation brush (interestingly, Eric prefers stiffer synthetic brushes made from Taklon or nylon), apply Pore Perfecting Primer to forehead, nose, the apples of the cheeks and chin. Blend in an outward direction.
While the primer is wet, apply your foundation with the same brush. Eric suggests blending both together, rather than layering one on top of the other, because “You get more of an airbrushed effect.”
Breaking it down
- Eric likes synthetic Taklon or nylon brushes precisely because the man-made fibers don’t absorb as much product as natural fibers do. With that, he says, you can really make your foundation last, as one is apt to use and waste less.
- If you have very oily skin, avoid applying primers and foundation with your fingers. Being warm, they can stimulate the pores on the face to up their oil output.
- Live where it’s hot and humid? Pore Perfecting keeps makeup in place even in the stickiest, steamiest locales.
What it is:
A lavender-tinted, oil-free primer to brighten, smooth and extend the wear time of foundation.
What it does:
Brightening’s color-correcting lavender tint adds a reflective, but not necessarily shimmery, look to foundation. Eric applies it wherever there are fine lines, like the fine lines around the eyes, nostrils, mouth, and in the hollows of the cheeks. Opt for this formulation if you have combination skin.
How to apply:
Apply in the same manner as the Pore Perfecting formulation (the steps above).
Breaking it down
- Anticipating a big event? Exfoliate the night before, not the morning of. The reason being that exfoliation stimulates the production of oil, which means shine. It can also change the color of your skin for a short time, giving it a warmer, pink tone.
- And when you want heavier coverage (like for photo shoots), apply primers with a sponge, rather than a brush.
What it is:
A hydrating, protein-rich mascara base packed with silk protein (aka gossamer) and panthenol.
What it does:
Eyelash Primer Potion is like a POWERUP 
for mascara, boosting lash thickness and length. It also makes mascara more water- and smudge-resistant.
Continue Reading…
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.
