Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

Archives for May 2009

What Makeup Would You Start with if You Had to Start from Scratch?

by 29 Comments

makeup-case

How’s it going, ladies? I just got back from the pet store because Tabs lost yet another collar, grr!

I picked him up the cheapest replacement I could find, a red nylon breakaway for $2.99. No more $18 fashion collars until he proves he can be responsible.

Oh, I got some more bad news today. MBB reader Jackie sent a heartbreaking e-mail this afternoon. She explained how all of her makeup was stolen, and now she’s looking for advice to rebuild her collection from scratch.

“I’m heartbroken… all of my makeup, gone! I want to ask you for a list of your favorite basic makeup for daily use. I like Shu Uemura, but I’m open. I’m a basic kind of gal.”

Hey, Jackie. I’m so sorry. I’d be crushed!

I’m sure karma will come back and bite that makeup thief in the butt. Until then, try to see this as a chance to start fresh, like a makeup phoenix rising from the ashes! You don’t need a lot of different products to look great and put together.

Face

I’d start with my tried-and-true favorite face products, the ones my skin tolerates well and that look natural.

First, there’s Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer ($42), and a tube of MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer ($15) (to even out my skin and to cover up my dark circles).

mac prep prime transparent finishing powder

Then, I’d get a good powder, one that doesn’t cake, like MAC Blot Pressed Powder ($21), MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder ($21) or MAC Select Sheer Loose ($21).

Cheeks

For some color…

mac a rose romance just a pinch gel blush

… I might go with MAC’s Gel Blush in Just a Pinch ($21). It’s a sheer berry that creates a lovely natural flush.
[Continue reading…]

NARS Modern Love Palette Rocks the Cradle of Eyeshadow Love

by 33 Comments

nars modern love palette

Do you remember being an eyeshadow virgin?

I do. I remember it like it was yesterday, standing helpless and confused at makeup counters in front of rows of eyeshadow pans.

If I’d only had something versatile like the new NARS Modern Love palette ($50) back in the day, I could have saved myself a lot of trial and error.

nars modern love palette 2
First row from left to right: Alhambra, Jezebel, India Song. Bottom row from left to right: Tokyo, Habanera, Pandora
[Continue reading…]

In What Order Do You Apply Your Makeup?

by 92 Comments

040609-in-what-order-do-you-apply-your-makeup-1

The other day a friend of mine asked me what order I apply my makeup in.

Most of the makeup artists I know suggest starting with concealer, foundation and powder, but I prefer to do my eyes *first*. That way, if (when) I make a mess, I haven’t gotten too far into the overall look, and things are still easy to clean up. 😉

After completing my eyes, I’ll finish with face, cheeks and lips.

Here’s my usual order. Really, all of these steps are optional. That’s the thing about makeup. There are more options than colors in a rainbow:

  1. Eyeshadow primer
  2. Eyeshadow
  3. Liner
  4. Mascara
  5. Brows
  6. Concealer
  7. Foundation
  8. Powder
  9. Blush
  10. Bronzer
  11. Lip liner
  12. Lipstick
  13. Lipgloss

I wonder if anyone else does it like I do… In what order do you apply your makeup? 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lipgloss: Stand By Yo’ Man

by 44 Comments

urban decay pocket rocket lipgloss

I think I’m going to send a resume to Urban Decay…

I would love to get a job there. They cook up some of the wackiest off-beat products in the biz. Take, for instance, the new Pocket Rocket Lipgosses ($19).

urban-decay-pocket-rocket-lipgloss-3

There are eight glosses in the set, and each one has a hologram hottie in the cap. Each hottie has a different guy’s name, and if you tilt the gloss from side to side, its hottie transforms from fully clothed to undies only.

I think that’s just the coolest thing ever. 🙂

urban decay pocket rocket lipgloss kirk 2

And there’s more to the illusion than a simple hologram. Urban Decay says the tubes, which are flat to fit comfortably in your pocket, contain pheromones to “enhance mood and sexual attraction.” Rubbing them releases the pheromones into the air where, like a good Marvin Gaye song, they help to get the party started.

I even like the little slogans UD gave to each of the tubes. First, there’s Jesse: “Jesse owns a dingy cave of a bar on the Sunset Strip, pouring whiskey and cheap beer for rock royalty. Undress him to see where his tattoos end and your one-night stand begins.”

LOL!
[Continue reading…]

Givenchy Summer 2009: So Cool It’s Hot

by 20 Comments

givenchy summer 2009

The colors in Givenchy’s Summer 2009 collection remind me of the colors in this summer’s Laura Mercier Bohemia and Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess collections, with tan cheeks, coral and bronze lips and cool blues and grays for eyes.

I get the feeling Givenchy set out to satisfy everyone with this release by including warm cheek and lip shades and cool metallic colors for eyes.

The collection is out in stores now, with prices ranging from $24 (the Pop Gloss Crystal lipglosses) to $50 (Prisme Again Eyes quad) each. To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some swatches, pictures and first impressions of six of the nine items.

Givenchy Summer 2009: Pictures

givenchy summer 2009 pop gloss crystal sun coral
Pop Gloss Crystal in Sun Coral

givenchy summer 2009 pop gloss crystal sun coral wand
Pop Gloss Crystal in Sun Coral lipgloss wand

givenchy summer 2009 pop gloss crystal sun rose
Pop Gloss Crystal in Sun Rose

givenchy summer 2009 pop gloss crystal sun rose wand
Pop Gloss Crystal in Sun Coral lipgloss wand

givenchy summer 2009 prisme again eyes sun reflection
Prisme Again Eyes in Sun Reflection

givenchy summer 2009 prisme again sun mango
Prisme Again Visage in Sun Mango

givenchy summer 2009 prisme again sun cinnamon
Prisme Again Visage in Sun Cinnamon
[Continue reading…]

Comment to Win Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara

by 206 Comments

This giveaway is closed. I’m contacting the winner now; thanks for entering!

Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara Giveaway

It could have been called Drag Queen Lashes in a Tube.

Clinque’s new High Impact Curling Mascara ($14) adds dramatic thickness, crazy length and loads of glossy shine. It takes my ho-hum lashes from blah to KAPOW in a hot second.

Let’s power our way over the midweek hump with the help of a giveaway. 🙂

The prize

clinique-high-impact-curling-mascara-2

One lucky lady will win a tube of Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara in Black.

clinique-high-impact-curling-mascara

Brace yourself for lashes even Ru Paul would envy.

How to enter…

There are a couple ways to enter the giveaway, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

First, enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post. In it, tell me the last person you batted your lashes at.

The last person I batted my lashes at … was my fat-ass tabby cat!

Second, you can also enter by subscribing to my updates by email (if you haven’t already). They’re once-a-day emails with my daily posts. You’ll get more giveaways like this one, makeup tips, drugstore beauty finds and the occasional gross picture of El Hub’s hairy toes!
(Note: if you’re already subscribed, you’re automatically entered to win.)

Recap…

  1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
  2. Sign up for my updates by email if you haven’t already. Just enter your email address using the form below, or click this link.

Enter your email address:

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59PM PST Wednesday night (tonight).

Maayong swerte!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Congrats to Xtina for winning last week’s Covergirl giveaway and to Adrian for taking home DKNY.

This giveaway is closed. I’m contacting the winner now; thanks for entering!

Copyright © 2025 Makeup and Beauty Blog. Get in touch.