Makeup and Beauty Blog: Makeup Reviews, Beauty Tips and Drugstore Beauty Finds

Food-scented lotions don’t always do a lot for my soul. When I slapped a layer of Kiehl’s Spiced Plum Hand and Body Lotion ($19.50) on my arms the other day, I didn’t expect it to make me want to gnaw them off an half hour later. But that it did.

This lightweight, limited-edition (non-edible) lotion smells like a mix of brown sugar, cinnamon and homemade plum tart. The scent isn’t overly sweet, which is totally key for me. Some foody lotions, like those that smell doughy, can make me nauseous, and I think vanilla scent is used far too often. I don’t like to cruise around smelling like a Rice Krispy treat, ya know? Spiced Plum’s subtle notes blend with its sweeter tones, creating a perfect balance between naughty and nice. Yummy!

If you’re used to Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream’s moisturizing power, this might not be moisturizing enough for you. On my extra-scaly parts (legs and arms), it works reasonably well — a not as great as 8-Hour but better than Vaseline Intensive Care. I like that it isn’t greasy and doesn’t take a lot of effort to work into my skin; that’s very appealing to my slap-it-on-and-get-ready-to-boogie side.

I wore Spiced Plum while writing this entry, by the way, and because of the smell had to refrain from nibbling on my arm, yo!

How ’bout you? Do you like to smell like food (hey, at least it’s calorie-free!)? Or do you prefer your baked goods on a plate?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

For folks living in or visiting the San Francisco Bay Area, did you know that Clarins, a French skin care line, offers complementary facials at Nordstrom stores?

Since the 50s, French brand Clarins was one of the first lines to forgo using animal ingredients in their products. Their entire line is now 100 percent plant-derived.

I’m new to the line, so the free 40-minute facial held at the Nordstrom Spa in the San Francisco Centre was a great (and relaxing) way to learn about their products.

Yes, girl, the San Francisco Nordstrom has a spa with the usual spa treatment menu of facials, massages and body treatments costing upwards of $80, depending on the service.

But because Clarins’ complimentary facials are held in their spa rooms, they’re kinda like experiencing the spa without having to pay the big bucks. Here’s where my facial took place:

Um, the treatment bed wasn’t messy when I walked in. I actually laid down on it for a short nap before taking this picture (hey, I exercised early and was tired!). The room was a little noisy due to store traffic outside the door, which was only partially drowned out by tunes from the Top 40 radio station piped through overhead speakers. If you’re used to going to spas where they play soft, soothing sounds of chirping crickets or, God forbid, Enya, then you may not like this. But let me remind you again — this facial is gratis.

Despite the background noise, the facial and overall experience was great. Sharon Trajico, a specially trained Clarins facialist, first asked me a ton of questions about my skin and my skin care routine. Based on my answers, she selected a few choice Clarins products to cleanse, treat and protect my skin. I liked that the products weren’t heavily scented; most smelled very light, clean and plant-esque.

Over the course of the treatment Sharon carefully described the products she was using along with each product’s intended use. Clarins facialists apply product with their hands, warming each between their palms first before application, and then lightly massaging and pressing the product into the face and neck. It’s a combo massage-beauty treatment — incredibly relaxing.

Like specialists at European-style day spas, Shannon cleansed and toned my skin, applied a face mask, then finished with a series of anti-aging and skin protection serums and lotions. They skipped the facial steaming (which typically happens before or after the mask) and black head extraction (hate those, ouch!), which was fine with me.

At the end of the facial my skin felt smooth, looked brighter and the red splotches I’d had at the start of the treatment were gone. I loved the scents and textures of Clarins’ face products and can’t wait to try more of the line, which includes body care and makeup.

Clarins complimentary Nordstrom facials are offered once a month. Call your nearby Nordstrom and ask to speak with someone at the Clarins counter. They’ll provide you with dates and schedule a time for you to come in!

San Francisco readers can call…

Nordstrom at San Francisco Centre (near Union Square): (415) 243-8500
Nordstrom at Stonestown Galleria: (415) 753-1344

And if you’re in Marin…

Nordstrom at The Village at Corte Madera: (415) 927-1690

For numbers to other Bay Area Nordstrom stores, perform a search here.

Take note — not all Nordstrom stores have spa rooms like the ones in S.F. do At some of store counters, your facials will be done on the sales floor, but they’ll shield you behind a screen to grant you some privacy.

By the way, in the beauty world, “free” and “complimentary” services are often code for “you should purchase at least one product before you head out,” but I’m sure you won’t be disappointed by the Clarins line. Later today I plan to swing by my local Nordstrom to grab a few of the goodies Sharon introduced me to!

I hope your day has been going well so far! Whatcha up to on this lovely Tuesday?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Ah, the pre-date ritual… It’s one of the many perks of being in love on Valentine’s Day, and whether you’re on the low- or high-maintenance end of the beauty spectrum, the drill usually goes a lil’ something like this:

1. Crank up the music (a soundtrack helps when you’re getting sexified, yo)
2. Wash
3. Contemplate wearing your naughty or nice knickers
4. Do your makeup and hair
5. Pick your wardrobe (don’t forget the shoes!)

In a perfect world, I’d always have at least four leisurely hours to beautify myself for my Valentine’s date with El Hub, but with work and life the odds of having a solid block of four hours for anything are slim to none.

Still, a girl can dream, and if I had a world of time to prep for date night, this is how it would go:

Paint it Pink, Vol. 2…

1. Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Grapefruit ($13.50). First priority: getting the lips primed for a mega-makeout session. I’d definitely prepare early in the day to get my pucker in makeout-ready shape with a layer of Clinique’s Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss. It’s a pretty, light pink shade with lots of shine. Plus, it moisturizes the beejebus out of my dry lips and gets them soft and ready for lovin’.
2. Essie nail polish in Hard to Get ($8). This creamy pink polish is my favorite color from Essie’s spring line. It’s bubble-gum without being too Barbie — perfect for both finger and toes. Of course, in my fantasy I’m getting my nails done in a chair at San Francisco’s Bliss Spa. See, at Bliss they feed you brownies while you’re pampered. Yup.
3. Philosophy Amazing Grace Perfumed Shampoo, Bath & Shower Gel ($22). Nothing is better than a long, indulgent bubble bath before (or during) a romantic date. With its light, floral scent, Amazing Grace Bath & Shower Gel relaxes me like no other and really gets me into a romantic state of mind. Bubble production is off the chart, and the suds have staying power, too. It leaves my skin feeling silky and soft, every time.
4. Borghese Fango Brillants Brightening Mud ($59.60). I like to wear a face mask when I do the bubble thing to turn the relaxometer up another notch and make my face extra glowy. Lately I’ve been digging Fango’s Brilliants Brightening Mud. Made from Italian mud (or so they say) and rich in Vitamin A, minerals and citrus peel, this seriously pink mask o’ mud removes dead skin cells, and gently smooths and refines skin. Note: the jar is absolutely ginormous!
   
   I apply a thick layer to a clean face, wait ten minutes for it to dry and then wash it off. You can also use it on your body, too. Imagine covering yourself in bright pink mud, ha!
5. Victoria’s Secret Beauty Ooh la la Shimmering Fragrance Mist ($22). My fave sexy scent is Chanel Mademoiselle, but I realize that floral oriental perfumes aren’t for everyone.
   
   For ladies who love lighter scents, one delicious option is Ooh la la Shimmering Fragrance Mist. It’s a very feminine mix of cherry blossom, vanilla and mandarin. If you like Victoria’s Secret Heavenly perfume, then I think you’ll dig this, too.
   
   While the product looks like disco inferno trapped in a bottle, it isn’t overly glittery on skin. I would definitely apply it before dressing, though, and not after (learn from my mistake!), to avoid the all-too-frequent glitter mishap.
6. Hillary Duff Wrapped with Love ($38). Every time I look at this bottle I think of Hillary Duff’s song, Come Clean (also the Laguna Beach theme song). “Let the rain fall down, and wake my dreams…” LOLOL. Anyway, I’ll fess up to being a Laguna Beach fan (Seasons 1 and 2, holla), but I am certainly NOT a Hillary Duff fan. That said, I gotta give the girl and her marketing people props for this fruity-floral perfume, and it’s even guy friendly. According to an informal poll of a handful of random guy friends, it was liked by 4 out of 5 of them.
   
   Wrapped with Love is Hillary’s second fragrance; it’s a playful, lighter, version of With Love, her first perfume. It’s not as spicy or heavy as its older sibling, with notes of honeydew, blood orange, and raspberry mixed in with white florals and musk.
   
   At first I was afraid… I was petrified (sing it, Gloria Gaynor!) it would smell too pre-teen, but the scent is surprisingly sophisticated, fun and sexy — definitely not as heavy as my fave, Coco Mademoiselle. If you prefer lighter, fruit-themed fragrances, you might want to check it out.

This morning I’ve been listening non-stop to this wonderful tune by Sara Bareilles called Love Song. Have you heard it? It’s one of those songs where I wish I wrote the lyrics — a wish usually reserved only for certain Beatles masterpieces like Blackbird and Here Comes the Sun.

Anyway, I’m glad we got through Monday together. To reward myself I’m going to drink another cup of coffee (WHEEE!) and peruse some shoes on Zappos.com. I really should get some practical work shoes that keep my feet warm and dry, but the siren call of impractical (but sexy) strappy high heels cannot be ignored.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Valentine’s Day approaches, a day both loved and dreaded by millions. This February 14th, you could be…

1. sniffing the roses on your desk and chomping on candy hearts and chocolates while daydreaming about your faboo significant other (isn’t s/he the BEST?).

OR

2. alone in your living room, dressed in your rattiest plaid pajamas and drinking a bottle of Two Buck Chuck on the couch while lip syncing Celine Dion’s All By Myself.

Girl, I know how it is because I’ve played both roles before. Sometimes on the Big V you’re in lurve (how precious), but sometimes you’re not; sometimes you’re just plain bitter (it happens to the best of us).

So, to celebrate the love and the pain of Valentine’s Day, this post kicks off Paint it Pink, Paint it Black, a series featuring pink and black themed makeup and beauty products to help you make the most of this Valentine’s Day — no matter what. If you’re ready to shout your love from the rooftops, then you may opt to paint it pink! But, if you’re ready to tell your loser ex how you never needed his/her sorry ass anyway, then paint it black, sister!

Paint it pink, Vol. 1

These hot pink beauties make me feel the love…

1. Lancome Color Fever Photonic Gloss in Seashell ($23). This lovely fuschia gloss applies sheer, is never sticky, and makes my lips look like they just powered through a heavy-duty hour-long makeout session. HOT!
2. Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Glare. A sheer, sparkly pink gloss with lots of glitter, this lipgloss is part of the awesome Light Speed Lip Gloss Set ($29). Glare is my favorite of the six glosses in the set because the glitter hits just the right sparkle without going over the top. It’s a great first date night gloss if you want your lips looking super kissable.
3. Pattern Black Pepper Body Wash ($20). Technically, I should probably list this body wash in the “Paint it Black” section because of its black pepper scent, but the cute hot pink bubble pattern on the bottle prevails. With its fresh, unisex herbal scent — a mix of black pepper, ylang-ylang and vetiver — it’s perfect for shower dates (*ahem*) with your significant other. The ingredients are all natural, and no animals were harmed in its testing, hooray!
4. Philosophy Raspberry Sorbet 3-in-1 Shampoo, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath ($16). This multi-tasking gel smells exactly like a fresh scoop of raspberry sorbet. A dollop fills the bath with bubbles and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth and ready for date night.
5. Lierac Hydra-Chrono Anti-aging Balm ($45). This thick, rich balm smells like fresh picked cherries, yum! When I slather just a little of this on my hands at night, I wake up the following morning with seriously silky paws.

Whether you spend this particular Valentine’s Day in agony or ecstasy, just remember that you’re not alone, girl. Good or bad, we’ve all been there before.

Check back for more “Paint it Pink, Paint it Black.” I’ll be doing a new one every few days until the Big V drops next month. Now, hand me that heart-shaped box of truffles, homie!

More Paint it Pink, Paint it Black…

Paint it Black, Vol. 1: Going Black to the Gym
Paint it Pink, Vol. 2: Prepping for Date Night
Paint it Pink and Black, Vol. 3: When Love Leaves You Twisted

One more thing…

The poem below is my favorite love poem of ALL FRICKIN’ TIME! What’s yours?

When You are Old
by William Butler Yeats

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim Soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen