Rise and shine, morning glory. It’s a beautifully foggy here day in Novato, haaaaay!
So what happened last night? Did you party like a rock star or become one with the couch at home like an overworked student/cog in a wheel? I did the later (watched a couple missed episodes of 30 Rock on my laptop in bed), but Tabs and I DID get a Christmas tree before I conked out. 🙂 A small 4 footer. We haven’t decorated it yet, so it’s just sitting in the stand filled with water, and so far, Tabs has partaken of more of the water than the tree has. I’m not sure if that’s a good idea…
Oh, what was the highlight of your week from a beauty perspective? The very best thing that happened? Was it a new product discovery, a sale on something you love, a fantastic hair/skin/makeup day? Mine was going to the hair salon, because I like how it turned out. And I always learn something new from the stylists (this time, Kerastase hair oil is great, but Orofluido is also great, and cheaper).
Before this week becomes yet another fond (hopefully) memory, here’s a brief look back at some of the things we talked about on the blog…
The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed
$8 NYX EYE & LIP
MAKEUP REMOVER
Um, why do I feel like rubbing orange slices all over myself? Oh, yeah — I remember. NYX Eye & Lip Makeup Remover ($8), one of the best smelling makeup removers I’ve EVER sniffed.
Fo’ reals! This dual-phase liquid (an oil and water emulsion; it turns a pale blue when shaken) smells fresh and sweet like a yummy (blue?) orange, and it digests le war paint almost as well as the much more expensive Lancome Bi-Facil, also a dual-phase formula.
They say the nose knows. Well, mine stopped paying attention as soon as it caught a whiff of this fragrant potion of orange and papaya extracts. As a matter of fact, I like the smell so much that I’m willing to overlook its few shortcomings, one of which has to do with mascara. It’s not that good at removing it as Bi-Facil (or any number of other eye makeup removers), but nothing’s perfect, right? Except perhaps the way NYX Eye & Lip Makeup Remover smells, LOL! Read more…
URBAN DECAY GREED
PRIMER POTION
Blending powder, cream and pencil eyeshadows on top of the new Urban Decay Greed Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($18) might not be as effortless as it is to blend shadows on top of NARS Pro Prime, arguably one of the best eye primers on the market, but there are times (like these) when beauty trumps ease of use. The newest shade in Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion Line and the most glittery one yet, its striking shimmery gold intensifies eye looks with a long-lasting, water-resistant formula that helps it make up for sub-par blending.
My non-scientific tests involved a swipe on the back of my hand (it lasted through four vigorous washings and only came off with an oil-based makeup remover) and a late night out with the girls (dinner, drinks and then four solid hours of dancing). Greed withstood everything with nary a crease and no fading at all.
Girls who go ga-ga for golden glam looks might love Greed’s flexibility. Not only does it amplify the wear time and vibrancy of shadows when worn beneath them, but I think it even looks great all by itself.
Or how about supersizing your eyes? Use Greed’s light-reflecting golden metallic color to create an eye-widening effect. Pat and blend it into the inner V (the area next to the tear ducts) to cancel out any darkness from the eye and nose area. Then, dab a little under the brow bone to give your eyebrows a lift. Read more…
URBAN DECAY 24/7
GLIDE-ON LIP PENCILS
So who’s ready to go nude with me? Wait — button up those skinny jeans, ya perverts (although I applaud you for your willingness to let it all hang out!); I’m talking about the two newest additions to the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil line ($18 each).
Waterproof, with a matte finish and a creamy texture that’s smoother than my favorite werewolf’s chest, rosy nude Illegal and plummy nude Midnight Cowboy live up to the long-lasting standard set by UD’s pencil liners, staying put for about six to eight hours on my lips.
This morning I slipped into Illegal, and two big @ss bottles of water, a chai tea latte and a bowl of pumpkin soup later it still looked (almost) as good as new.
These also don’t leave my lips flaky or dry like some of the other matte lip liners I’ve tried, perhaps due to the jojoba oil and vitamin E they contain.
Mostly I’ve worn them by themselves — just line, fill and go — but you could easily spruce ‘em up by adding your favorite clear or nude gloss on top. Read more…
5 EASY STEPS TO
AN EVEN SKIN TONE
Oh, to have perfect skin again… Wait, I’ve never had perfect skin. I’ve always wished I could just peel my head off the pillow in the morning, splash a little water on my face, tie my hair back into a ponytail and face the day with clear skin, bright eyes, my chubby cat and a smile.
I can handle the smile part by myself, but I need feline cooperation and makeup assistance for everything else.
Luckily, great looking natural skin tone doesn’t require hundreds of layers of foundation and every minute you can spare. Follow these five easy steps to an even skin tone.
1. Get Wet — Moisten a makeup sponge with water or a multi-purpose spray like MAC Fix+ ($19). It’ll thin out the liquid foundation we’re about to use it with and help it adhere evenly to your skin. Read more…
MAKEUP
FOR MEN
Yes.
Recently, I’ve turned three of my good friends, all male, onto makeup. Now, not full-on, dare-I-say, girly makeup, but simple, natural, corrective aesthetic enhancements.
Makeup has done more for my self-confidence than any amount of plastic-surgery, psychology, and good friends who lie really well could ever do. I don’t use it to change anything about myself, but to “correct” minor tarnishes to my ego — blemishes, spots, and the dreaded dark under-eye circles. Since converting them to my faith, these male friends have all thanked me profusely, saying they’ve gotten more attention from girls and just feel better about themselves around other people.
Mind you, these weren’t easy converts — I had to drag them kicking and screaming into Sephora and plunk them down in front of the Make Up For Ever aisle while I shopped for them before I got even a smidgen of cooperation — but you should see ‘em now!
Hooked.
Most men could benefit from three things: foundation, concealer, and blush or bronzer (depending on their skintone). I’ve found that Make Up For Ever is a great brand to get ‘em started on, as the packaging is relatively indiscrete, the products are easy to use and relatively foolproof (even the foundation), and the display is far from daunting. Read more…
BENEFIT BELLA
BAMBA FACE POWDER
Bus riding babes and y’all on-the-go lovelies, feast your eyes on this: the new Benefit Bella Bamba Face Powder ($28) promises to change the face of quick touchups this spring.
You know how Benefit’s boxed blushes have that unattached lid (see: Sugarbomb and Coralista)? Well, as much as I love the colors, I’m always afraid they’ll open in my bag. Once, while I was applying blush on the train to work, one of the lids got away from me and shot straight up in the air, OOPS! Luckily it landed in a cute boy’s lap, but I digress…
Bella Bamba comes with new improved flip-top cap that uses a magnet to stay shut. And that’s not all. It even has a mirror inside, so you can stare at your sassy self while you’re sweeping on this shimmery golden pink.
Benefit calls Bella Bamba a 3D, multi-dimensional pink face powder (what is this, Tron? LOL!), and it’s designed to brighten, sculpt and define.
I don’t know much about 3D, but I do like using this as a blush.
It applies as a neutral watermelon pink (even smells like watermelon, too!) with a generous amount of golden pearl. Sparkle-shy gals might want to go easy on the application here, because it is very, VERY shimmery. Read more…
URBAN DECAY 24/7 GLIDE-ON
EYE PENCIL 15-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SET
Girl, Urban Decay knows how to throw a party. They do it by releasing great stuff! Great stuff like the 15-Year Anniversary 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil Set ($92; 15 pigmented pencils; 15 heart palpitations, oy vey!).
Many makeup mavens consider these pigmented, long-wearing eyeliners, which also happen to be smoother than silk, some of the best and brightest in the biz, and seeing so many of them together in the same place is enough to drive me to drink…bourbon (my favorite one).
With the set, a limited edition release for spring, you get nine classic 24/7 colors in Baked, Binge, Bourbon, Electric, Mildew, Ransom, Rockstar, Stash and Zero, and six brand new shades — Asphyxia, Corrupt, Midnight Cow, Perversion, Stray Dog and Uzi. Purchased individually, the whole kit ‘n kaboodle would set you back a painful $255 (they’re regularly $17 apiece), but here they work out to just $6 each. Read more…
JK JEMMA KIDD
CATWALK I-KIT
Like the Dom Pérignon of drugstore makeup palettes, the $26 JK Jemma Kidd Catwalk I-Kit will set your holiday budget back, but you may not mind if you’re a lover of sheer shadows and/or the classic neutral colors across the way at MAC.
The kit comes with a single creamy eye primer, a pair of dual-tipped mini-brushes and eight shadows (two of them, the highlight shadows, share a single large pan), quite a few of which look like sheerer versions of staple MAC neutrals to me.
At least they picked great products to use for inspiration, right? 🙂
Shimmery taupe Editor reminds me of MAC Satin Taupe, shimmery golden beige Vintage of MAC All That Glitters and matte brown Vanity Fair reminds me of MAC Cork. Read more…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Sarahc says
The beauty highlight of my week was my hair and skin. For some reason I had a string of good hair days and no pimples. I was coming off a cold and for some reason I always have really good hair and nails after I get over a cold. Don’t ask me why.
Karen says
You’re so lucky! When I get sick I look awful. 🙁
Tiffany says
Ugh I can’t even think of a beauty highlight 🙁 I have so much stuff, but always use the same things everyday. I’m in a rut 🙁
Last night I watched elf on my couch 🙂
Karen says
I love that scene where he’s eating at the table and just keeps putting maple syrup on everything, haha!
We need to break you out of your rut… have you tried any of your new Smashbox holiday things yet?
Tiffany says
Haha, love that part! One of the best quotes is when he talks about the 4 food groups – candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup!
No I haven’t tried any of it! I’m so lame 🙁
Debbie says
Wowsa, I LOVE the black and white pic with the blue eyeliner! Probably my favorite picture you’ve put up! Although I am a sucker for blue 🙂
Nina says
i scored the NYX haute model palette yayyyy! 😀
i went to the little sephora inside the jc penney close to my house and — they didnt have anything i wanted to buy: i was finally gonna try the nars eyeshadow primer … out of stock.
they were also out of the kat von d palettes that i wanted to buy for my best friend and sister.
should have made the drive to the real sephora!
AlienBaby says
I LOVE Urban Decay eye shadow primer! I can’t wait to try it in Greed! It looks so pretty!
My sister, Soledad, told me about this awesome blog. Can’t wait subscribe and read all the older posts!
Kim says
We had a late night on Saturday (the boys had a hockey party and then all went to the Senior Housing to carol). Everyone gathered at a friend’s house after and when we got home in the wee hours, we walked into the living room to find the tree toppled over, bulbs and broken glass everywhere and the culprit (no doubt our lovable kitten) cleverly hiding. Sigh. 🙂