Dior Vernis Nail Enamel in Liquorice without flash

I’d been starting to forget how much I love purple when I remembered Dior Vernice Nail Enamel in Liquorice ($19).

It came out as a Nordstrom exclusive early in the summer. With its deep, rich plum and flecks of shimmery gold, it was everything I look for in a nail polish suitable for all occasions.

Dior Vernis Nail Enamel in Liquorice with flash

Unfortunately, ye mighty makeup gods chose to make it a limited edition, perhaps to toy with our emotions, and it’s already pretty scarce.

Nordies already took it down from their site, but I’ve had some luck finding discontinued limited edition products at Nordstrom by asking counter people to check around for me. If you’re unable to track it down, don’t fret. Try Sally Hansen’s Salon Nail Lacquer in Alchemy ($6) instead. It contains a little less gold (maybe that’s why it costs so much less, lol!) but has a very similar color.

Liquorice is an elegant, dynamic shade with a hint of pimp daddy thrown in for good measure. Depending on the light, the color pivots from a dark eggplant to a warm burgundy-gold. I can totally see myself behind the wheel of an old El Camino painted in Liquorice. Add some chrome rims and I’d be hella ridin’ dirty.

I just got back from a quick run. The leaves are beginning to fall, and pretty soon at this time I’ll be jogging in the dark. Lovely… I’m gonna miss the longer days.

Now I’m eating a brownie and watching the new 90210 on TV for the first time. I’m feeling the urge to paint my toes.

Whatcha doin’ tonight?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

© Karen for Makeup and Beauty Blog: Makeup Reviews, Beauty Tips and Drugstore Beauty Finds, 2008. | Permalink | No comment |

I hate going to work completely tow’ up, but it seems like I’m always running late. What I need are makeup tools and tips to help me save time when I’m getting ready for work, and I think I found one: Stila Convertible Eye Color ($20).

Part Transformer, part James Bond gadget, it delivers three great tools in one — a twist-up eye pencil, a smudging sponge, and, when you twist the middle of the pen, a coordinating eye shadow.

Stila Convertible Eye Color in Violet made quick work of this smokey purple eye.

The Violet shade’s pencil is a shimmery, dark plum; the coordinating shadow is a shimmery lavender.

Isn’t she cute?

For the eye look pictured up top, I started by applying a thin layer of primer on my lids with Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

I used the eye pencil end of the Stila Convertible pen to draw a thick line on each lid, starting at the outer side of the lash line and working my way inward. I took care to apply as close to the base of the lashes as possible, right along the roots.

To diffuse the color into the crease, I gently rubbed the smudging sponge along the top of the liner, taking care to make the liner darkest near the lash line.

(...)
Read the rest of How To: A Purple Smokey Eye with Stila Convertible Eye Color in Violet (271 words)

© Karen for Makeup and Beauty Blog: Makeup Reviews, Beauty Tips and Drugstore Beauty Finds, 2008. | Permalink | No comment |

Clarins Wonder Plum stars as the shy Ms. Little Plum in this highly anticipated sequel to the smash hit, The Attack of the Plum Mascaras! On counters now, it’s the latest long, natural lash product release from the people who brought us the rest of the Wonder Length Mascara family.

Okay, enough with the movie hype…
(...)
Read the rest of Clarins Wonder Plum, Where’s the Plum? (498 words)

© Karen for Makeup and Beauty Blog: Makeup Reviews, Beauty Tips and Drugstore Beauty Finds, 2008. | Permalink | No comment |

1. Mood:

Nervous! I have a lot on my plate at work today, and I’m afraid I won’t get everything done.

2. Outfit:

Since I haven’t gotten ready yet, a tank top and shorts under a terry cloth robe.

3. Shoes:

None right now, but since it looks like it’s going to be chilly, I think I’ll wear my chocolate brown, knee-high boots.

4. Lips:

Softlips Lip Protectant in Cherry

5. Best thing about last weekend:

My friend Jen’s bridal shower.

6. Nails:

Sally Hansen’s The Good Earth on my toes, but I’m thinking about replacing it with Dior’s Mystic Violine.

7. Hair product I’m loving:

Bumble & Bumble’s Curl Conscious Holding Foam.

8. Book I’m reading:

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

9. Body Lotion:

Stella McCartney Soft Body Milk.

10. Goals for the week:

Organize my writing desk (NO MORE PROCRASTINATING!), do my laundry, get everything done at work and resist the urge to chop off all of my hair!

Morning, lovelies! It’s time for another Monday Poll. Just copy this empty list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le list

Mood:
Outfit:
Shoes:
Lips:
Best thing about last weekend:
Nails:
Hair product I’m loving:
Book I’m reading:
Body Lotion:
Goals for the week:

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

© Karen for Makeup and Beauty Blog: Makeup Reviews, Beauty Tips and Drugstore Beauty Finds, 2008. | Permalink | 44 comments |

Pregnant women everywhere can now rejoice as Nordstrom sets to offer two of Honeydew Skin Care’s pregnancy products to its online customers. Available online at Nordstrom.com, Honeydew Skin Care’s line promises to bring great expectations to pregnant women’s nine month stretch!

Balmy Mommy, a soothing belly balm that uses natural botanicals to soothe itchy bellies, and Bun in the Oven, a super-rich belly butter that moisturizes, soothes and guards against stretch marks, will both be available at Nordstrom.com starting in October 2008.

Nordstrom’s interest in green products coincides with Honeydew Skin Care’s line which focuses on all natural ingredients while meeting the special challenges of pregnancy skin. Honeydew Skin Care’s line is free of parabens, petrolatum, synthetic colors, dyes and fragrances. Moms will love the lightweight feel of the products and take comfort in knowing that the products are all natural. What better way to glow than nine months of pure pampering?

About Honeydew Skin Care:
Honeydew Skin Care is a new line of maternity skin care products specially formulated to meet the particular skin care needs during pregnancy with a focus on using only natural ingredients. The healthy lifestyle of California and the lack of natural skin care products for expectant moms was the inspiration behind this innovative new line. Using natural botanicals, all of the products are formulated without parabens, petrolatum, synthetic colors, dyes or perfumes. For more information on Honeydew’s products please visit http://www.honeydewskincare.com.

About Nordstrom:
Nordstrom Inc. is one of the nation’s leading fashion specialty retailers, with 159 U.S. stores located in 28 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 105 Full-Line stores, 50 Nordstrom racks, two Jeffrey boutiques and two clearance stores. Nordstrom also serves customers through its online presence and through its catalogs. Nordstrom is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.