Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 406

If you’re a cat, there’s a lot to see and do on our little oak tree-covered hill. It’s home to a thriving community of turkeys, deer, other cats (some nice, some malcontents), dogs, coyotes, quail, finches, owls, hawks, crows, woodpeckers, raccoons, squirrels, foxes and a rabbit (or two), to name a few.

Tabs sort of administers everything to make sure the community performs at an optimal level, which he likes to do from one of his many perches, like his window shelf in the living room or his outdoor tabby command center.

But sometimes you have to get out there and get your paws dirty to see what’s really going on, which we did today on our walk.

The grass on the hill is all dead and dry right now, but the oak trees are green and action-packed.

Problem is, some of the critters in the area aren’t following proper procedures, like this ne’er–do–well who refused to show Tabs his authorized tree pass.

We tried to catch up to him, but he darted away.

Squirrels today, ya know? They have no respect for authority.

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The post, “Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 406,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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The Day in Beauty Vol. 21: Pancakes and Painting Paws With Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish

16 of 42 shades in the Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish Collection ($11.50 each)

Hey, dear friend. Sweet and lovely greetings to you on this summer Saturday.

With so many unsettling things in the news this week, makeup seems extra frivolous…but we all need a break from real life sometimes. And to be honest, that’s one of the reasons I like makeup and beauty. Right now I’m soothing my spirit sitting by the windows and playing with these bottles of Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish ($11.50 each).

Did you just do a double-take? I did the first time I saw these twisty bottles (inspired by twirling runway dresses). For a second there I thought that Essie went and lost her mind with a bottle redesign, because I love those classic square Essie bottles, but no, these are a completely new, additional collection available now in Essie’s permanent line.

There are 42 shades, and they work a lot like gel polishes. You don’t have to use them with a base coat. You just apply however many coats you want, then add a layer of the special topcoat that comes with the collection (it’s supposed to be the one that comes with the collection, so not any old topcoat).

There’s a wide range of colors from semi-sheer pastels, like the pinks and beiges Essie is famous for, along with quite a few fiercer colors like dark blues and fun greens.

I like gel nail polishes like these because of how incredibly fast they dry, and these are no joke! When I do two layers and the top coat, they’re completely bone dry — like, I can type, fiddle with my hair, whatever — in 10 minutes. That is SO fast.

But what I REALLY like about these polishes is the brush. Essie calls it a “swirl stem brush,” and it’s flat, wide and tapers down from the edges to a rounded point in the center, so that when you press the brush down on the nail, it spreads to evenly cover a wide surface area as you draw the brush from the base of the nail to the tip.

It works.

It seems like quite a few gel polishes boast of a super long (almost obscenely long) wear time, some as high as 14 days. This one does too, and I’m like, “Fo’ reals? Is the person wearing this polish also wearing gloves 24/7? Does she never do dishes or button buttons or zip zippers?”

These definitely don’t last 14 days for me, but they do look poi-fect for seven. After that, though, chips start to appear, and pretty soon I look like I’ve been gnawing on my nails.

In other news…

Pancakes.

Because they remind me of my childhood.

Both of my parents worked out of the house when I was growing up and had to start their commutes early, so during the school week I was responsible for making my breakfast every morning.

I’d always make something easy…like cereal, but then on Saturdays my folks would make something delicious, and when that delicious breakfast included pancakes, it always felt like I’d won the lottery or something, LOL! I felt cared for, loved and protected, and the world felt like a sweet and wonderful place.

I looooove me some pancakes…

This seems like a good day for pancakes.

Take care of yourself, will ya? I hope the sunshine finds you.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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The post, “The Day in Beauty Vol. 21: Pancakes and Painting Paws With Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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A Quick Modern Pin-Up Look With Glo Minerals

Updated-pin up look using products from Glo Minerals

I gotta say that this Glo Minerals neutral eyeshadow palette and cream blush are sooo good! I mean, the blush is crazy pigmented, and the eyeshadows are smooth and silky.

After trying the Glo Minerals lip crayons a couple of months ago, I’d been dying to try more from the brand. So I did!

I love the quality of these Glo Minerals products

This neutral eyeshadow palette and vibrant lipstick made me think of a modern-day pin-up look, so for this makeup look I kept the eyes pretty neutral and added some punch with the coral blush (Go Minerals Guava) and red/orange lip (Glo Minerals Crush).

Really loving this lippie

The Glo Minerals Elemental Eye Collection palette ($44) is the second neutral eyeshadow palette I’ve used and recently reviewed (my thoughts on the other one, this palette by Buxom, are here), and I really like it!

The darker shades mean that you can totally do a super smokey eye with it, but the shimmery eyeshadows are easy to apply for quick washes of color, and there are four warm-toned shades and four cool-toned shades, so it’s very versatile.

All of the shades are mattes, except for two of them, which are shimmery, so I think there’s a little something for everyone.  

Here are swatches of the shadows:

Swatches of the Glo Minerals Elemental Eye Collection palette (L to R): Bubbly, Breathless, Adobe and Henna

More swatches of the Glo Minerals Elemental Eye Collection (L to R): Cosmic, Dusk, Relic and Eclipse

I really like working with these shadows. Here I used Breathless all over my lid and Adobe in the crease and along the lower lash line. Then I added a little Henna in the outer corner for drama.  

Also, just a note, but that the black shade, Eclipse, didn’t swatch smoothly, but it’s actually pretty smooth on the eyes. 

And even though I really like the eyeshadow palette, I think the Glo Minerals cream blush in Guava ($26) is a bigger star.

Cream blushes are usually kind of sheer, but Guava is intense! The color is so pretty for summer, and there’s a cute little mirror in the compact too. The blush is small enough to keep in your purse for when you need a little pick-me-up, and I think the color is very flattering.

Now, I’ve already raved about the $16 Glo Minerals Suede Matte Crayons, so you guys know I also love these. They apply incredibly smoothly, and I think the pointed tip really helps to keep things neat. Also, while Crush is matte, it’s actually very comfortable to wear. Basically, Crush lip crayon is everything.

The Glo Minerals Suede Matte Crayon in Crush (L) and Cream Blush in Guava ®

And here are the other details of my look: Pur Hydra Fluid Water Serum Foundation in Tan (review and swatches of the full range in this post) // PUR Strobe/Highlight Palette in Moonlight (The shade Eclipse is along my cheekbones and inner corners; swatches and review in this post) // Colourpop Cosmetics Cream Gel Liner in Honeydude on the lower inner rim (swatches and review of Colourpop’s spring collection in this post) // Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara // Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil in Five // Pixi Beauty Glow Mist (one of my favorite facial mists).

So, Glo Minerals. Have you ever tried this brand? Any product recommendations for me?

Adia Goss

Adia is a lawyer by day and a beauty blogger by night. She believes that makeup should be fun and simple, but she also likes multi-step skincare routines (she’s complicated!). Adia loves the sight of a brand new highlighter, and she’s constantly looking for the perfect concealer. Follow her beauty adventures at Adia Adores (formerly beautyluxelife) and on Instagram.

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The post, “A Quick Modern Pin-Up Look With Glo Minerals,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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Some Thoughts on Makeup and Life

You guys. So, it occurred to me the other day when I did the same look for the umpteen millionth time with lashes, liner and a nude lip that I might be in a makeup rut.

Like a serious makeup rut!

And I think I need help.

So, where do you go when you need help? You ask your girlfriends, of course.

Here’s the deal. I just… Right before I had the baby, I was sooo tired all the time. I wasn’t wearing a lot of makeup at all. Then, after I had the baby, it got even worse, because then I didn’t have any energy or time to put on makeup.

But Connor is four months old now, and I’m ready to get back into my groove and my regular life again, but I’ve gotten used to only putting in the tiniest amount of effort, and things like doing a full-on smokey eye are very daunting.

I haven’t worn a lot of makeup in five or six months, which is a long time for me. I just really haven’t been taking care of myself in that way for a while.

I’m guessing that this is something a lot of women go through? I don’t know… I’ve talked to friends about it, about getting into certain habits with your look of like, I dunno, wearing your hair or doing your makeup the same way for weeks or months, and I’m definitely in that monkey house.

I’m trying though. The other day I laid out a whole bunch of eye products and took pictures of them, because not only am I kind of out of practice when it comes to putting on my makeup (I think I’ve lost a little bit of the muscle memory?), I also haven’t spent a lot of time in front of my camera.

So I was looking at all of these beautiful colors and finishes and the different formulas — the creams, powders and whatnot — on the table in front of me and started thinking, “What if I layer this shade with that one?” and “What if I blend these two things together?”

I thought it was a eureka moment!

I felt like I finally figured something out, but the next day when I sat down to do my makeup, I went right back to — you guess it! — lashes, liner and a nude lip.

The thing is, I really do miss doing more with my makeup. I want to. I’m just stuck or something.

And maybe this is also a metaphor for my life in some ways. Not to sound too corny, but there are things I want to do and so many paths I want to explore, but at this point in my life, I’ve gotten accustomed to the patterns of my day and living those same patterns day in, day out. It’s gotten harder and harder to push myself in new directions.

I mean, yeah, things have definitely changed a lot since the baby came along, but still, it’s different from when I was in my teens, twenties and early thirties, when, seriously, it felt like something was always happening to get me out of my comfort zone. Now it’s been so long since I’ve pushed myself that way that I don’t know how it feels anymore.

Anywho…thank you for listening to this long, rambling, whining thing, friend. If you have any advice about makeup, life or whatever, I’d love to hear from you.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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NARS Fall 2016 First Impressions

NARS Fall 2016

Ooh, the NARS Fall 2016 collection makes me wanna unleash my inner artiste!

Look at all those pencils… My goodness. I’m tempted to grab one of my adult color books.

Coming July 15 to NARS boutiques and the NARS website, and sometime in August to Sephora and NARS counters, this one’s mostly about the pencils.

NARS Velvet Eyeliners from the left in Black Moon, Mambo, Curacao, Kaliste, London, Blue Lotus, Last Frontier, Las Pozas and Darklight ($24 each)

The big news? The new $24 NARS Velvet Eyeliners, which are coming in nine shades. They’re like smokey kohls…

They get soft and smooth, so you can smudge and smoke ’em out, making them great bases for smokey eyes looks and, of course, you can also use them to line your lash and water lines.

On my water lines, though, I get some transferring onto the skin along my lash lines, which isn’t a big deal to me, because I just end up smooshing and smudging them out anyway (’cause homegirl likes it SMOKAYYYY!), but it’s there.

The collection also includes two NARS contour blush duos, three eyeshadows and two red matte lip pencils.

Wearing NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in Antares (inner corner), Rigel (lid) and Arcturus (lash line); Contour Blush in Melina; Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Infatuated; and Velvet Eyeliner in Black Moon

The $42 NARS Contour Blushes in Melina (left) and Talia (right)

Left to right from the blue pan, the NARS Dual-Intesity Eyeshadows in Arcturus, Rigel and Antares ($29 each)

The NARS $26 Velvet Matte Lip Pencils in Infatuated (left) and Consuming (right)

NARS is renowned for their red lipsticks, and they protect their rep as the bad-@ss brand on the block with the two reds here.

One of them, Infatuated Red, which I’m wearing in the pic below, is TO DIE. It’s one of those perfectly opaque matte garnets that emphatically waves hello from across a crowded room.

It’s also the one limited edition piece in the collection.

And the Countour Blush Duos? Well, I’m not the biggest fan of contouring… Don’t even get me started on contouring. Like, who has time for that? Plus, sometimes I feel like the push to do intense contouring makes women feel bad about themselves, like they need to change the shape of their features or something.

Sorry, just a pet peeve of mine. #endminirant

I do like the fine texture of these powders and how easily they blend. And I also like that the matte finish has a light sheen. It’s a nice touch because I think it keeps the skin from looking muddy or flat.

NARS Velvet Eyeliner swatches from the left in Black Moon, Mambo, Curacao, Kaliste, London, Blue Lotus, Last Frontier, Las Pozas and Darklight

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils in Infatuated Red (left) and Consuming Red (right)

NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows in Antares, Rigel and Arcturus

The NARS Countour Blushes in Lemline (the two swatches on the left) and Talia (on the right)

Speaking o’ mattes, yup, most of the products in the collection are mattes, but don’t freak out if you’re all about that shimmer, shimmer, chicken dinner. The three luminous and lovely Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows contrast nicely with the many mattes.

I’m really into dark blue Arcturus (I wear it as a liner) and Rigel, the rose gold shade (a beautiful lid color that beams and shines like jewelry).

Get your pencil sharpener ready, babe, and keep an eye out for NARS Fall 2016 when it arrives later this month.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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The post, “NARS Fall 2016 First Impressions,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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Three Wallet-Friendly Products From Umberto Beverly Hills That Protect, Tame and Add Glorious Shine!

Umberto Beverly Hills Controller Conditioning Spray ($9.99), Shimmer Shine Spray ($9.99) and Regular Hairspray ($9.99)

NYC summer is in full swing, and it is HOT.

When it’s breazy, it’s bearable, but when it’s not…it’s awful, y’all. I have to wash my hair every day, which is not how I normally like to roll.

When it’s hot like this, my best buddy is dry shampoo, but I’ve also been on the lookout lately for something to add extra texture and shine.

So, as a self-proclaimed greaseball, whenever I’m contemplating a new hair (or skin) product that’s supposed to add shine, I tread very carefully (some shine is good, but some shine is not).

I had such a good experience with Umberto Beverly Hills Lifting Powder recently that I decided to give some of their other products a try, including their $10 Shimmer Shine Spray, Controller Conditioning Spray and Regular Hairspray.

Umberto Savone is a popular stylist and salon owner over in Beverly Hills, and his line of products is exclusive to his salons and Target.

I’ve been trying to find a leave-in conditioner/detangler that doesn’t weigh down my hair for YEARS, and the Controller Conditioning Spray is perfect. It’s my favorite one of these three, and it also does heat protection! Yay!

Surprisingly, I also really like the Shimmer Shine Spray. Because of my oily skin and hair, I’ve never used a spray specifically made for shine before. I was a little nervous to give it a try, but it actually works! It adds QUITE a bit of shine (but not shimmer), and the greasiness depends on how much I use. If I go overboard, it does grease up my roots a bit.

My hair is taking a “shine” to Umberto Beverly Hills Shimmer Shine Spray (haha)

The third thing I’ve tried, the Regular Hairspray, I’m not super impressed with. The hold is flexible and very loose, so it tames my flyaways, but it probably isn’t going to keep your curls from falling if you have very thin hair like I do. You’ll probably need something stronger.

For everyday flexible hold, though, it’ll get the job done, and the formula won’t leave your hair crunchy.

I still have to try the Umberto Dry Shampoo. I hope it’s good!

Have you tried anything from Umberto Beverly Hills? What’s your favorite hair care line at Target?

Marcella Yakalis

Marcella Yakalis is a freelance writer living and working in Brooklyn, New York, with two cats, one snake, and one very patient boyfriend. She writes about family, relationships, and oppressive retail culture. She can also be found on Twitter and Instagram.

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5 Fab Products for Curly, Kinky Hair

My haircare must-haves

When it comes to haircare, I have NO LOYALTY.  I will switch things up in a minute because I usually don’t feel like there’s anything that’s all that unique.  But, despite my persistent product junkie-ism, I find myself always coming back to these five products.

1. Oribe Shampoo For Moisture and Control ($45)

Ok…so this is really expensive ($45!). It’s probably the most expensive hair product I’ve ever used. I tend to go for cheaper hair shampoos and conditioners because of how thick my hair is, and because I go through products super quickly.

Despite wanting to hate this product and my hope that I’d never want to re-purchase it, I have to admit that it’s the ONLY shampoo I’ve ever tried that actually feels moisturizing.

Ironically, as a rule, I mostly only buy “moisturizing” shampoos, but they all leave my hair feeling the same as it ever was. But this shampoo, my goodness, is incredibly moisturizing. It also lathers up into nice, big, refreshing suds. If you’re looking for a haircare splurge, this is it. By the way, the conditioner is great too.

2. Giovanni Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner ($9)

I’ve tried so many different leave-in conditioners, but I’ve NEVER found one quite like this one. The formula has the perfect consistency (not too thick or thin), it’s an affordable $9, and it just works. I am 100% committed (I actually buy it in bulk on Amazon).

I slather it on my hair when it’s soaking wet in the shower, then comb it through with a wide-tooth comb. It coats and provides lasting moisture, but it doesn’t leave behind a thick residue. Whether I’m going to slick my hair into a bun or add some gel for a wash & go, this is always the first thing on my hair after I wash it.

3. Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Wrap Set Mousse ($6.89)

This little miracle product is the secret to all of my twist-out styles! Here are some pics of the hair styles I do with it:

Thanks to ORS Olive Oil Mousse! (Details on this look in this post)

Another look achieved with the help of ORS Olive Oil Mousse (Details on this all-pink makeup look in this post)

Basically, whenever I have smooth, tight curls, I most likely used ORS Olive Oil Mousse on damp hair to achieve it. I’ll usually do flat twists (I think this is a great tutorial) with perm rods on the ends.

4. Camille Rose Naturals Curl Maker Gel ($21.18)

I love this Curl Maker Gel because it defines my curls without any hardness or crunchiness. My hair just feels incredibly soft when I use it and actually lasts two or three days before I have to start all over again.

And here are some pics of wash & go styles I’ve done with it:

Wash & go with Camille Rose Naturals Curl Maker Gel! (Details on this NARS Summer Collection look in this post)

Another one using Camille Rose Gel (Details on my makeup (and the blushes!) in this post here)

5. Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercreme ($32)

Miss Jessie’s was one of the first lines I discovered for styling my natural hair, and I’ve been using Baby Buttercreme since college. Even though there are dozens of similar lines around now, this one has a special place in my heart.  

The Baby Buttercreme is pretty pricey ($32), but the 8-oz. jar lasts me months because I probably only use one or two tablespoons to style my whole head.  Also, Target has BOGO sales on it fairly often, which is when I usually try to stock up.  

This is what I use on dry hair for my looser, wavy styles like this:

Using Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercreme on dry hair for these loose waves (Info on this glowy makeup look in this post)

Another look at Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercream in action (Here’s a closer look at this winged liner makeup look in this post)

Although I really, REALLY love these five hair products, I’m always looking to try something new, so if you’ve discovered anything amazing, do tell!

Adia Goss

Adia is a lawyer by day and a beauty blogger by night. She believes that makeup should be fun and simple, but she also likes multi-step skincare routines (she’s complicated!). Adia loves the sight of a brand new highlighter, and she’s constantly looking for the perfect concealer. Follow her beauty adventures at Adia Adores (formerly beautyluxelife) and on Instagram.

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The post, “5 Fab Products for Curly, Kinky Hair,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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