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Posted by Karen on June 19th, 2008

I’ve had sun on my mind lately and felt inspired this morning to reach for a few brighter-than-bright items from MAC’s Neo Sci Fi collection. I didn’t really feel like going buck wild with a lot of blending or a wide variety of products with my look today, and I limited myself to just two (!) eyeshadows. Oh, and because I woke up a little late this morning (surprise!), I only had 15 minutes to get ready for work.




Brows
Lashes
Dark circles
Face
Cheeks
Lips


Yup, it’s friggin’ hot up in the Bay Area today, but it gave me an excuse to bust out the fan for my pictures, ha! I felt so discount model with my windblown hair. I even briefly toyed with the idea of buying a kiddie pool for the living room. I could cool off in it while watching The Real World Season 3,454.
How was your Thursday? Are you looking forward to the weekend? I’m supposed to go see Get Smart with El Hub and some of his coworkers tomorrow night. I’ve never seen the 1960’s TV show (’twas all about Three’s Company reruns at my house), but the movie previews made me laugh. I’m looking forward to watching Ann Hathaway (love her!) kick booty while wearing that fierce, white Burberry trench coat.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
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June 20th, 2008 at 1:22 am
Very very pretty !!
15 minutes ???/ you serious girl, I think that will takr me 5 hours….
June 20th, 2008 at 5:29 am
OMG M.A.C is fab I should go check on these neo sci fi and solar field they look great on you dear.
June 20th, 2008 at 5:37 am
absolutely gorgeous on you. one of my favorite looks. keep up the good work, you are the best beauty blogger out there!
June 20th, 2008 at 6:33 am
totally hot, i’ll be wearing this look asap
June 20th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Seriously, is there *any* look you can’t rock? So cool! I just picked up the Expensive Pink shadow after going through your old swatch post for the collection…I love it! Thanks for giving your readers so many awesome ideas. Are there going to be any more Cool Heat looks coming?
June 20th, 2008 at 7:57 am
I wanted Expensive Pink but it was sold out online
Your look is so awesome Karen! I totally *heart* this! You look so bronze like you carry Hawaii back with you to the Bay area
Your arms look really tone, what have you done? Give me tips, give me tips!
June 20th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Hi Anna,
Thanks! Look can take me a long time to do, too… but I was really motivated to get to work on time, LOL!
Happy Friday.
June 20th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Hi Carla,
Thank ya, girl! I am a huge fan of the Neo Sci Fi colors. I hope you try them!
June 20th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Hi Julia,
Awww, that’s so nice of you to say.
I hope you try this look soon! You can do it with lots of other colors, too, which is nice, and it’s pretty easy.
June 20th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Hi Jot,
Oh sweeeeeet! Let me know how it turns out, yah?
BTW, I tried it a version of this a few days ago with Girl Friendly Paint Pot underneath. It makes Expensive Pink look a bit cooler!
June 20th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Hi Elle,
How do you like your Expensive Pink? Isn’t it the best color? What have you paired it with so far?
Yup, I’m playing with some Cool Heat ideas. I want more hours in the day to play with makeup, LOL!
June 20th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Hi Dao,
Hey exercise buddy!
Um, let’s see, the biggest thing that helped me get my arms into shape was lifting weights with El Hub. He’s trained people in the past, so it saved me lots of $ in terms of personal training. If I didn’t have him I would’ve probably hired a trainer though, because most of the challenge for me with weight lifting was learning good technique… you can really hurt yourself if you’re lifting incorrectly, so I’m always very careful when I lift because I lift heavy. Anyway, I do sets with heavy weights and low reps, and I LOVE doing bench press! It’s my favorite thing and probably the exercise that’s made the most difference.
Push ups help, too.
June 20th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Karen–so far I’ve only paired it with Woodwinked to make my sleepy eyes look like I actually got some rest. I’ll have to head back to the store to get some Magnetic Fields, though. You look awesome! Can’t wait to see more Cool Heat looks! Thanks!
June 20th, 2008 at 10:23 am
i love this love. very summery
i see someone is tan from hawaii!
June 20th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Okay, so you can do ALL THAT in 15 mins before work, dang girl I am seriously impressed.
And, I’m really glad to know that I am not the only one who has thought of getting a kiddie pool for the house, LOLZZZZZZ…seriously, I have a big balcony outside that makes me go hmmmmmmm…….LOLZ!!! Can you imagine!!!
Have a great day Karen! As always thanks for the best beauty blog ever!
abby
June 20th, 2008 at 10:55 am
When I’m ten years older, I want to look as good as you do. *stands in awe*
June 20th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Hi Elle,
Good call! I will have to try that soon. I bet it’s very brightening.
Magnetic Fields is really great for quick smokey eyes. It’s this lazy girl’s best friend right now.
June 20th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Hi Alexa,
LOL, yeah, I got some color. It’s been nice out here at home, so I’ve been running outside, too. Are you rockin’ some summery shades today?
June 20th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Hi Abby,
The feat of quickness was mostly due to wanting to not be late for work.
I knew I couldn’t be the only one out there! Wouldn’t a kiddie pool be fab for watching an America’s Next Top Model Marathon?
You have a great day, too, girl! What’s up with you for this weekend?
June 20th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Tekoa!!!
Girl! It’s nice to hear from you. Did you just get back from Ethiopia/Israel?
June 20th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Oh so summery! you look great. I need to practice the “v and into crease” application. What brush did you use?
have fun at get smart-I used to LOVE watching it as a kid-I think the reruns were on Nick at Night.
We are shopping for patio furniture-which we’ve been doing for oh, about a month now. We’ve lived in our home 6 six and have never gotten a set!
June 20th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Hi Amanda,
Funny you should ask, because I used my MAC 224 (the infamous tapered “windshield wiper” brush), which I have a love/hate relationship with. I’ve had it for years and rarely reach for it, because in the past I’d end up with a muddy mess in my crease/outer V when I used it with darker colors. I think something kinda “clicked” this time around though, and now I am kinda liking it! To get the darker concentration of color I used the tip of the brush in the outer V, and moved the brush head in tiny circles. To get the lighter color in the crease, I also used just the very tip in a back and forth motion. I also layered the color slowly to avoid the muddy mess. I think with practice it’ll get better!
Oh! Sounds like fun! I love looking through furniture catalogues and drooling over the nice outdoor sets. What are you gonna pick up? A table? Some lounge chairs?
June 20th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I go to this thread just for MAC ideas
The Magnetic Fields is a really great color on you! It looks like a darker version of Satin Taupe. I recently bought the Evening Aura from the same collection.
Let us know how you like Get Smart-it’s supposed to be better than Justin Timberlake’s Love Guru.
Have a great one!
June 20th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Awww! You remembered! Yup, I have returned from the far off lands. And guess what? I’m engaged! My boyfriend asked me to marry him the day after I got back…in a MAC store. *LOL* He’s so sweet.
June 20th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
oh cool! Thanks for the info. I *have* the 224 (got one it in one of the sets at the outlet mall)
I’ll have to try it for the “v”, I’ve only attempted it in the crease. and I agree, sometimes it does make things look muddy.
as for patio furniture, we don’t have any, so while I would like loungers with a little side table eventually, we are getting a dining table with chairs and umbrella first. We have a HUGE deck, but no shade. (the house was new when we moved in so we had to plant everything, and the trees aren’t big yet). We are sooo ready to enjoy our nice evenings outside and dine al fresco, but we have nowhere to sit, LOL.
June 20th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Hi Daya!
Thanks, girl.
Evening Aura is very beautiful! It looks like a wonderful lid color (instant brightener!).
El Hub’s co-workers bailed! I think we’re still going to the movies though… it’s way hot up in our house because there’s no air conditioning, and I’ll need to escape before I melt into the carpet. If we do end up going I’ll let you know if it’s good.
You have a good Friday, too! Doing anything fun this weekend?
June 20th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Hi Tekoa,
O.M.G. !!!! Congrats, girl! I’m so happy for you. And how awesome that he asked in a MAC store.
Were you surprised?
How was the trip, by the way? What was your favorite part?
June 20th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Hi Amanda,
Yeah; I think just using the very tippy tip helps to avoid the muddiness! It’s not the easiest brush to use, that’s for sure. You gotta let me know if it works for ya in the outer V.
How nice! I think that’s all you really need (lounge chairs are like a bonus). It’ll be so nice when you can go out there and hang out. I love sitting out on my deck and drinking coffee in the morning, or eating lunch outside. It’s such a small thing, but it brings so much happiness to be outside!
June 20th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Hey Karen. Looks good! I started a new job in SSF so my time to ready has greatly diminished. I need “cookie cutter” looks for work since I don’t have time to think about what color to use anymore.
I have those colors too so I know what I’ll be wearing on monday!
June 20th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
girllll you look like a rock star! or J.Lo or somethin’! oh gosh, now I love Dior even more. darn that hefty price tag
hope you had a great day hun!
June 20th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Hi PeeChee,
Congrats on your new gig.
Are you enjoying it so far?
I think you’ll like the lip combo… I did it quite on accident and it was a nice surprise. Have a great weekend and stay cool!
June 20th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Hi Jousy,
Thanks! I am having a great day so far, despite the house cookin’ to the point of no return. It’s getting hot in here (so hot)!
How has your Friday been? Anything exciting in your neck of the woods?
June 20th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Ooh, that is so beautiful on you! I think I will have to go back and swatch Magnetic Fields again!
June 20th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Karen… it has to be said. You look FIERCE!
Marisols last blog post..How to Contour and Highlight your Cheeks
June 21st, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Hi Glosslizard,
Thanks, girl! I really built it up in the outer V, but it’s a really nice, pale grey if you layer it slowly! I think you’ll dig it.
June 21st, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Hi Marisol,
Thanks, lady! I was feelin’ pretty fierce in front of the fan, LOL. Have a great weekend!
June 21st, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Beautiful, I LOVE Expensive Pink, its such a unique color!
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:01 pm
not only am i also addicted to makeup but now addicted to your site! my sister introduced me to your site and now i have a new found love for MAC. i am currently trying to my best to curb my eyeshadow addiction…i need to contol myself since my lipgloss money will have to be filtered to diaper money!