From Stonehenge to QVC- The Tarte 8th World Wonder

From Stonehenge to QVC: The Tarte 8th World Wonder Kit,Coach Outlet Online

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The Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympus and now Tarte. Someone wake up Herodotus. It’s time to add one more to his Seven Wonders of the World, and this one’s a QVC exclusive.

Tarte continues to sizzle this spring. Their recently released $53 limited edition 8th World Wonder Kit comes with some Tarte colors you can’t find anywhere else,coach handbags, like Amazonian Clay Blush in Glisten.

Hi, Glisten… Pardon me while I wipe this drool off my chin!

In the kit, Glisten joins six other pieces for eyes, lips,How Often Do You Clean Your Makeup Brushes-, face and cheeks, all in a cute purple clutch purse.

Tarte 8th World Wonder Kit ($53)

• Amazonian Clay Blush in Glisten — I’m in love with the glow I get from this shimmery peachy pink. Like the other blushes in Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Blush line, Glisten is pigmented, easy to blend and lasts and lasts and lasts.
• PureOptic Lipgloss in Golden — I think this shimmery golden peachy pink kinda sorta resembles MAC Nymphette, except that it’s lighter and doesn’t contain quite as much pigment. I find the minty scent and flavor refreshing, but I’m not crazy about the thick, sticky texture… It feels too heavy on my lips.
• Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eyeliner — Something tells me this rich, shimmery bronze-plum eyeliner will look incredible on brown brown eyes and green eyes. I’ve worn it successfully along my lash line, but when I wore it along my waterlines, my eyes teared up.
• Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Balancing Foundation — Medium, the shade I’ve been testing,Cheap NFL Jerseys, seems too light for my skin tone, but I’m still wearing it around the house for fun. With the kit, you can choose the shade of foundation you want.
  
  The feel of this lightweight, fluffy mousse reminds me of Laura Mercier’s Silk Creme Foundation. Like Laura’s creme, it’s pigmented and full coverage, yet it still feels darn near weightless on my skin.
• Airbrush Finish Foundation Brush — Designed to apply liquid foundations, this soft, full brush head produces diffused looks with aplomb.
• Lights,Cheap Jerseys, Camera,Coach Outlet bags, Lashes Mascara — This jet black mascara adds natural-looking length and thickness to lashes.
• Eyeshadow Palette — I didn’t get to try this palette of brown, bronze, purple and pink powder shadows, but here’s what Stef thought about it at We Heart This.

Here are six of the items shown next to my iPhone for scale (the missing product is the eyeshadow palette)

Click here to read my previous posts about Tarte.

Swatches from left: Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Balancing Foundation in Medium, Amazonian Clay Blush in Glisten, Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eyeliner, PureOptic Lipgloss in Golden Pink and Lights,The Smashbox Masquerade Collection Unleashes a Sultry, Smoldering Makeup Fantasy for Fall 2010, Camera, Lashes Mascara

I’m not crazy about PureOptic gloss, but I still think this is a lovely kit. I do wish that Tarte had thrown in a LipSurgence instead.

Even so, I think the kit’s a pretty good deal for $53. The full-size products work out to about $6.60 apiece (including the clutch).

PRICE: $53
AVAILABILITY: Available now exclusively at QVC.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+ (an A- if they’d swap out the gloss)

Bag pipes rock!

El Hub and I always try to go out on St. Patrick’s Day (he’s a quarter Irish), and last night we stopped by a local Irish pub/restaurant here in Marin called Moylan’s for fish and chips (and pints). While we ate, a band of kilt-wearing bagpipers and drummers rocked the house, and it was awesome! NOTE: I’m adding bagpipes to the very long list of instruments I would someday like to play.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I hope your Friday’s gone well. Do you have any plans for tonight?

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3 Easy Makeup Looks to Streamline Your Summer

3 Easy Makeup Looks to Streamline Your Summer

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Written by Radhika

Make the most of your summer (and spring!) with these time-saving tips and quick makeup looks from guest blogger Radhika.

Having spent a good part of my life in South India, summers really aren��t my favorite time of year, and then there were those days in college walking around a campus without trees! Back then,Cheap NFL Jerseys, my summer makeup routine consisted of a shaky line with a black eyeliner, and it hasn’t changed much over the years.

Sure, I take a little extra care with the moisturizer now, and try not to forget my sunscreen, but the last thing I want to do on a glorious (or sweltering!) summer day is spend time in front of the mirror on an elaborate makeup look. In summer, my priorities lie elsewhere, like in the frozen food aisle.

The sooner I get out of the house, the better, and with that in mind, here are 3 quick makeup looks that I depend on each summer.

1. Fresh-faced and natural

This look has always been a favorite with my husband, and for a while I walked around with the mistaken belief that it had something to do with the way I look! Turns out, it has more to do with how fast I can be ready to head out the door.

Much as I hate accepting that he’s right about anything,Coach Outlet Store Online, the lazy side of me has to agree with him on this one. It��s not every day that I have passably clear skin, but on days that I do,Cheap Jerseys, this is my go-to makeup.

First, I dab some corrector/concealer on my dark circles to make them a little less scary. Then, I use a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen in it, and apply foundation only to my problem areas. I wait a few minutes for that to set, and then blot with a tissue to remove any excess. I finish with a powder to set — only on the shiny areas that need it the most, like around my nose and chin.

Next, I dust on a matte brown eyeshadow, a black liner for tightlining (I lift the upper eyelid slightly to help with the lining), and a dark mascara to brighten the eyes.

That’s it! All done — well, almost. Rather than using a bronzer, I prefer peach-coral blushes that give a natural flush of colour with a hint of summer tan. And a dab of coral or pink lipgloss.

2. The statement lip

Some days are just gloomier than the others, and I’ll grasp at anything to make them more cheery. More often than not, the “anything” is a bag of Cheetos, but a more tummy-friendly option is to add a pop of colour to my makeup. Reds rule the roost when it comes to the classic statement lip, but a summer version for me includes colours like pink and coral. My current favorite: MAC Captive.

I start with well-scrubbed lips (a gentle sugar scrub works great, but so does an old toothbrush), apply lip balm, and wait a few minutes for it to absorb and soften your lips.

Dab away any excess balm, and apply your lipstick with a lip brush (gives a more even application than applying directly, imo), blot and reapply. If the colour needs any more help, I’ll add a fill-in colour with a lip liner.

For this look, I’ll keep the rest of my makeup neutral, with my trusty black liner along my lash line and a hint of blush.

3. A soft smokey look

A dark smokey eye has been my favorite makeup look ever since someone told me it would make my eyes look smaller. I don��t know how effective it is at that, but a simple smokey eye is fairly easy, even for a blending klutz like me,The New LORAC Holiday Lip Gloss Collection Is Tie Dye For! Not something I would ordinarily pick for a bright summer day, but there are times when I just want something more than a basic eyeliner, and an easy compromise is a smudged black (or brown/ plum) eyeliner with a brown eyeshadow, for a short-cut version of a soft smokey eye.

I can’t imagine makeup easier than this,Louis Vuitton outlet! I start with a primer (currently loving the UD version), followed by a black liner close to my lash line. Smudge the liner with a blending brush, concentrating some of the colour into the outer corner. Then, using the same brush,louis vuitton online,Topshop Cheeks in Luminescence Is Sticking It to MAC Nymphette, I brush on a brown eyeshadow (or something else you like with your skin tone) over the entire lid, and blend out near the crease, before curling my lashes and applying mascara.

A beige lip and a dusting of soft peach blush finish the look.

Well, those are my favorite looks to wear over the summer, but if there��s one thing I’ve learnt over the years, it’s that nothing makes makeup easier than having healthy skin. Take it from the laziest girl around, it’s easier when my skin is in good shape. Drink plenty of water, go for a brisk walk, and get a good night’s sleep — and, of course, don��t forget the sunscreen!

Now, if only I could always remember to do all of that…

Written by Radhika

Hi! I’m Radhika, an Indian staying in sunny California. I love writing (well, talking, but writing sounds better, doesn’t it?) and discovered a love for photography through blogging. I can normally be found at My Weekend Ramblings, a blog about skincare and makeup (but it’s also about food, photography, travel, and all of the other things that make for a happy week).

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One Way to Remove Glitter Nail Polish

One Way to Remove Glitter Nail Polish,Coach Official Website

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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,Cheap Jerseys, 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,Cheap NFL Jerseys, 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:

What you’ll need

• A nail polish remover that contains mild acetone (it should say so right on the bottle),The Smashbox Masquerade Collection Unleashes a Sultry, Smoldering Makeup Fantasy for Fall 2010, like Zoya 3-in-1 Remove+ Polish Remover ($10)
• Cotton balls or pads
• A nail moisturizing lotion like Nailtiques Nail Moisturizer ($15)

Glitter polish removal, step-by-step

• Start by thoroughly soaking a cotton ball or pad with the nail polish remover.
• Place the soaked pad on the nail,Coach Outlet Online, making sure you cover it from cuticle to tip, and gently press down.

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.

• Hold the moistened pad in place for 30 seconds to give the remover time to work its mojo.

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.

• Gently slide the moistened cotton ball/pad from the cuticle to the tip of each nail. Most of the glitter should rub away, but remove whatever’s left with the same pad.
• Repeat the same process for each of your other nails.
• When you’re finished, wash your hands and nails well to remove the acetone and any stray bits of glitter that were left behind.

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,cheap louis vuitton handbags, please let me know.

• You can help to keep your nails healthy after using acetone on them by using a nail polish moisturizer like Nailtiques Nail Moisturizer. It has a thick, rich formula and a light vanilla scent.

Sin Nombre: Beautiful cinematography, intense story

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.

The movie won both the cinematography and directorial awards at the Sundance Film Festival this year. I don’t understand a lick of Spanish, but I probably could’ve watched the whole movie without subtitles. It’s that captivating!

I didn’t know this before seeing the movie, but the director, Cary Fukunaga, was born not far away from here in Oakland and graduated from UC Santa Cruz. Amazingly,MAC Cosmetics Face of the Day- Hot Pink and Silver, Sin Nombre is his first feature film.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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Just How Glittery Is the Urban Decay Vegan Palette

Just How Glittery Is the Urban Decay Vegan Palette?

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Ladies, I have an awful case of kitten fever (now with makeup complications).

Because I want a second cat — err, I mean, “Tabs needs a coworker” — I’ve been surfing rescue kitty websites and bookmarking prospective kitty candidates, but whenever I run one of them by El Hub,Kissing You Again- The Benefit Ultra Shines Lipgloss Line Brings Back a Cult (and Personal) Fave, he replies with grumble, grumble,coach handbags sale, grumble, “just feeding the CCL fire.”

And that’s not all: Tabs hasn’t been very supportive of the idea either. When I showed him the last batch of kitty resumes,Cheap Jerseys, he shot me a dirty look!

Whatev… The boys don’t have final say in the matter. I do.

Come hell or high water, a kitten like the one on the new Urban Decay Vegan Palette ($34) will find its way into my arms.

She’s adorable, right?

UD decorated the box with sweet animal illustrations and filled it with six shimmery shades of brown,Louis Vuitton Purses, green, blue and gray eyeshadow.

The shadows happen to be Urban Decay’s bestselling “vegan” shades — colors made without any animal byproducts (two paws up from Tabs!).

They also threw in a travel-size 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Zero (a matte black) and a tiny bottle of shimmery champagne Sin Primer Potion.

I really like how well the colors in this palette work together, with work being the figurative word. Urban Decay included a good mix of “responsible” colors, like Twice Baked, Smog and Half Baked, and fun, glittery shades like Minx, Urb and Gunmetal. Like other UD shadows, all of these blend easily and have fantastic color payoff.

But there is one thing I wish I could change: the amount of glitter in Minx, Urb and Gunmental.

I did an eye look today using all six of the shadows, and while I like how it turned out, I felt like I spent a little too much time time dealing with the excess glitter that had fallen from my eyes down to my cheeks. I’m talking LOADS of it, yo,Cheap NFL Jerseys! Some even got on my ear (although I’m still not exactly sure how it happened).

TIP: When doing glittery eye looks,Coach Outlet Online Store, start with your eyes first. That way you can remove any stray glitter before you apply your foundation, concealer and/or powder.

Having to clean up glitter after doing my eyes doesn’t ruin the palette for me, but it’s probably worth keeping in mind.

Swatches (all on NC35 skin) from left: Minx, Urb, Gunmetal

From left: Twice Baked, Smog, Half Baked, Zero

All the Urban Decay Vegan palette swatches

Overall, I like the Vegan palette and feel it’s a solid buy, but I like the flexibility of Urban Decay’s Naked even more. Available at Sephora and online at urbandecay.com. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+

I Do is a DO!

So I ended up really liking that French romantic comedy I rented last night.

It’s quirky, funny, and maybe a little cheesy, but also thoroughly enjoyable. Sometimes I’m too lazy to read subtitles (so lame,MAC Make-Up Art Cosmetics Face of the Day with the Notoriety Quad, but it’s the truth), but this time I didn’t mind at all. Think about it next time you’re in the mood for something light and fun.

We’re done with Wednesday, WOOT! How was yours? Didn’t it go by fast?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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Brazil’s Beauty Industry Ranks Third Among 1

Brazil’s Beauty Industry Ranks Third Among 193 Countries Worldwide

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Beauty isn’t just big business in Brazil — it’s HUGE! With a value of $28 billion by sales volume, Brazil’s beauty market is now the third largest on the planet (behind the U.S. and Japan),Two Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora!_11111, and despite a sluggish global economy it’s also one of the world’s fastest growing, at a 14% compounded rate from 2004-2009.

When Rio beat out a long list of famous cities to host the 2016 Olympic Games, it came as a shock to many, but Brazil,The Solar-Powered, Super-Duper, Sun-Protecting Tomato,Cheap Jerseys, a country of 192 million, has been making strides for decades,Coach Bags Outlet, capitalizing on vast natural resources and one of the world’s most favorable climates for agribusiness.

Brazil’s beauty industry isn’t just big because of the country’s size, either. It’s a multi-faceted industry, both internally with sales to Brazilians (their deodorants sector is the largest in the world; also top 5 in hair care products, toiletries and oral care) and externally through beauty industry exports,Coach Outlet, which now exceed $600 million per year. Demand for natural products and exotic plants (Brazil is home to 250,000 native botanical species) have led most of the world’s largest cosmetics companies to Brazil for ingredients like maracuj�� (passion fruit), a?a��,authentic coach outlet online, acerola, mango and castanha do par�� (Brazil Nut).

While unfamiliar to many outside the country, Brazilian beauty companies like Natura and O Botic��rio (the largest cosmetics franchise in the world; also the world’s largest perfumery) stand with the likes of L’Or��al and Est��e Lauder as powerhouses of beauty on the world stage.

On your beauty travels, keep those peepers peeled for even bigger and better things from Brazil over the next few years. It’s a vast country with seemingly endless space and resources,Cheap NFL Jerseys, and their beauty industry is among the strongest and fastest growing in the world.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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5 Days of Chanel Rouge Coco- There’s Somethi

5 Days of Chanel Rouge Coco: There’s Something About Perle

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Momma always said, “You can’t go wrong with pearls.” Okay, well, maybe she didn’t say that,louis vuitton handbags, but I totally think she should’ve because I loves me some pearls.

Classic, timeless,Topshop Cheeks in Luminescence Is Sticking It to MAC Nymphette, and they go with practically everything — kinda like Chanel’s new Rouge Coco lipstick ($30) in Perle 02.

She’s not as outgoing as her sister,Cheap Jerseys, La Pausa, but Perle’s soft glow still earns her lots of looks.

A shimmery,Louis Vuitton Bags, pinkish beige — conservative,Cheap NFL Jerseys, with a heaping tablespoon of stylish fun — Perle loves study dates at the library.

Her favorite outfit? A tank top and skinny jeans,coach factory outlet stores, with a tweed jacket, peep-toe pumps and (of course) pearls.

If you like classically understated lip colors with a dash of panache, consider Perle on your trip to Chanel.

For more fun with Chanel Rouge Coco ($30 each; avail. Feb. 25)…

• 5 Days of Chanel Rouge Coco: Bonjour,21 Ways to Store Your Makeup, Mademoiselle!
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• 5 Days of Chanel Rouge Coco: Take Me to 31 Rue Cambon

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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