Archives for December 2009

How to Make the Most of Your Mascara and Perfect Your Lash Look

December 27th, 2009 by Karen 20 Comments

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Good morning, glories. 🙂 A few weeks ago I asked for some of your favorite mascara tricks, and the ones you left were brilliant!

So, here are five fantastic ways to work those lashes with a little help from our friend (mascara)…

1. If you build it…

Try layering multiple mascaras for a look that’s tailor made. buxom-lash-mascara-small

“I love using two different mascaras (one specifically for lengthening, and one specifically for volumizing) to get that full, fake lash look. First, I swipe on a coat of a lengthening mascara, then a coat of a volumizing mascara. If I really really want super huge lashes, I swipe on a another coat of each. Et voila! Fake lashes in a bottle!” – Carolanne

“My tip is to use a variety of mascaras to achieve the perfect look! I currently have Maybelline Full â€˜n’ Soft, Maybelline The Colossal, several Clinique samples I’ve received with free gifts and some Bare Escentuals mascara. They are all different formulas, from plumping to curling and everything in between, so I get new benefits with each coat I brush on! My friends tease me about my collection of mascaras, but trust me — IT WORKS!” – Holly G

2. Getting down to business

Business cards aren’t just for networking anymore, LOL! Keep a few of them handy for lash work. business-cards

“I use a business card to shield my lid. It helps me curl my lashes and make sure they’re all coated!” – Spiff

“[I] use a credit card beneath [my] lower lashes to get get them coated nice and good!” – Nina

“I use a business card to gently pull back my upper lid so the lashes are vertical, and I can get at every single one. 🙂 The business card also stops me from getting mascara smudges all over my eyeshadow!” – J

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10 Days of Giveaways: Two Ways to Win Estee Lauder’s Signature Eyeshadow Quad in Black Smoke

December 26th, 2009 by Karen 248 Comments

UPDATE: Dec. 28, 2009. The giveaway is now closed, and the winner will be contacted soon. Good luck! 🙂

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Happy Saturday, girls! 🙂 I hope you’ve been having a good weekend so far.

It finally stopped raining here for a few minutes, LOL! Today we went for a drive, looking for sunny weather. We found some on the south side of the island and to the east to an area called Hawaii Kai. I’m not sure what our plans are for tonight, but I’m kinda in the mood to see a movie.

Any recommendations? I’m thinking about Avatar or It’s Complicated…

Before you go (post-Christmas shopping, maybe?), take a moment to enter today’s giveaway. 🙂

The prize

One lucky lady will win Estee Lauder’s Black Smoke Eyeshadow Quad (a $35 value), a palette with four powder eyeshadows perfect for creating black/gray smokey eyes.

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7 estee closed

How to enter…

2ways2enter Entering is easy. There are two different ways, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

First, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post. In it, tell me your favorite eyeshadow palette of the year.

That’s EASY! Urban Decay Get Baked, hands down. The colors cooperate like they were destined to be together, and the texture — so smooth…

Second, enter by following me on Twitter and retweeting (RT) the following message:

RT @karenmbb: RT to win an Estee Lauder Black Smoke Eyeshadow Quad (a $35 value) http://bit.ly/5hjV2E

Recap…

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.
Follow me on Twitter and retweet the following message:

RT @karenmbb: RT to win an Estee Lauder Black Smoke Eyeshadow Quad (a $35 value) http://bit.ly/5hjV2E

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, December 27.

Go n-Ã©irÃ leat!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

UPDATE: Dec. 28, 2009. The giveaway is now closed, and the winner will be contacted soon. Good luck! 🙂

10 Tips to Help You Do a Better Smokey Eye

December 26th, 2009 by Karen 44 Comments

Written by Allison Barbera

Today Allison of Allison Barbera Makeup Artistry breaks down the Little Black Dress of the eye makeup world.

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The Smokey Eye.

Some call it the Little Black Dress of the makeup world — sexy, fun, flirty, and definitely attention-grabbing. It’s also the number one request I get as a makeup artist. And with the right tools, products, and application techniques, it can be just as easy as slipping into your knock ’em dead little black dress.

My Top Ten Smokey Eye Tips

1. Start with the eyes

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It may seem natural to apply your face makeup first, but doing your eyes first will save you time (and possibly frustration). Since you’re probably going to get some shadow fallout and smudging, it’s much easier to do a quick swipe with some makeup remover on bare skin than on skin that’s already been made-up. I’ve been using L’Oreal Eye Makeup Remover ($7) for years and love it!

2. Use a primer

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I recommend using a primer under all of your shadows, but it’s especially important with a smokey eye. The primer gives a smooth, even base, which is necessary for all the blending that goes on with a smokey eye. Primer also makes the shadow last longer and prevents creasing. I use Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($17) for smokey eyes and all of my other looks.

3. Have a good selection of colors in the same color family

You can do a black smokey eye, a silver one, a teal one — whatever you want. But since the point of a smokey eye is to have the colors form a gradient — from darkest to lightest — it helps to have a variety of shadows to work with. For example, if you’re doing a black smokey eye, you’ll want a dark black shadow, a lighter black shadow, a couple of grays, and a white or silver (for highlight). A palette like the Coastal Scents 88 Color Palette ($19) makes things easy by grouping similar colors together.

4. Keep an eyeliner handy

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Eyeliner accessorizes smokey eyes like killer heels do for the LBD. I recommend pencil, crayon or gel formulas, as liquid liners dry quickly and are harder to smudge. You’re going to need a liner to line the top lashline, the bottom lashline, and the waterline. But relax, you don’t need to draw a perfect line, because the liner is meant to blend right into the shadow. When doing a smokey eye, I always find myself reaching for the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils ($17).

5. Use a few good quality brushes

You’ll need a flat shader brush to apply shadow to the lid, a mid-sized brush for the crease, a pencil brush to work on the tearduct and lashline, and a fluffy brush to blend and apply highlight color. I prefer brushes from MAC and CVS’s Essence of Beauty line.

6. Blend, blend, blend

The last thing you want are obvious lines where one color has ended and another has begun. Use that fluffy brush to blend out any harsh lines. When blending the crease color, use small circular motions to “smoke it out.” Gently wipe the brush on the back of your hand to remove color before blending each new section.

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Best Beauty Brand of the Year?

December 26th, 2009 by Karen 62 Comments

Okay, ladies. It’s that time of year! Time to look back on the best/worst in makeup and beauty of the year. Cast your vote in the comments for the best brand, based on any criteria. Did your best brand exceed your expectations with a single particular release, or did they consistently knock it out of the park time and time again?

Who hit it f u r t h e s t out of the park this year? A titan like MAC, Chanel, Shu or Dior? Or was it a relatively new participant like Illamasqua or Dolce & Gabbana Make Up?

Cast your vote in the comments, preceding your pick with the word “VOTE:”

VOTE: Chanel

Under Peter Philips, global creative director for Chanel Makeup, every collection has been filled with surprises, like their latest holiday stuff — WOW! Not just your typical smokey eyes and red lips. They went with teals, blues and golds, and more sheer colors than I would have expected from a holiday release.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How to: A Simple Sugar Scrub for Luscious Lips

December 25th, 2009 by Karen 20 Comments

Written by Jessica of Picturesque Makeup

Today Jessica of Picturesque Makeup shares a delicious DIY lip exfoliator that costs next to nothing to do.

Here’s a quick and simple sugar scrub to soften dry/flakey lips:

Load some lip balm (a smooth one, not sticky — I prefer Rosebud Strawberry Lip Balm) onto one of your fingers.
Dip the finger into some plain old granulated white sugar (keep a small jar for beauty purposes in your vanity).
Rub the sugar balm mix all over your lips to exfoliate, wiping clean with a tissue.

It’s a great (and great tasting) alternative to more expensive lip scrubs and takes practically no time at all. 🙂 Do it before bed, and then slap on a little more lip balm for lusciously soft lips the following morning.

Written by Jessica of Picturesque Makeup

This post was written by Jessica of Picturesque Makeup. When not blogging or creating video makeup tutorials, she’s studying hard for her doctorate and working as a freelance makeup artist.

10 Days of Giveaways: Two Ways to Win Urban Decay Super Stash

December 25th, 2009 by Karen 417 Comments

UPDATE: Dec. 27, 2009. The giveaway is now closed, and the winner will be contacted soon. Good luck! 🙂

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Hi, ladies. Hope you’re having a wonderful day so far. 🙂 Things have been way mellow here. I’m just lounging around, listening to Christmas music and the occasional caw of a jungle chicken.

I really should get back to my strenuous couch sitting… but before I do, it’s time for today’s installment of 10 Days of Giveaways! I’m super stoked about today’s because it features one of my FAVORITE limited edition holiday sets.

The prize

One lucky lady will win Urban Decay’s Super Stash (a $36 value), a limited edition collection of mini 24/7 Glide-On Eye pencils in nine fun colors.

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How to enter…

2ways2enter Entering is easy. There are two different ways, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

First, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, a comment about anything at all.

Gah! Chocolate… I’m craving chocolate!

Second, enter by following me on Twitter and retweeting (RT) the following message:

RT @karenmbb: RT to win an Urban Decay Super Stash (a $36 Value) http://bit.ly/8JOheM

Recap…

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.
Follow me on Twitter and retweet the following message:

RT @karenmbb: RT to win an Urban Decay Super Stash (a $36 Value) http://bit.ly/8JOheM

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Saturday, December 26.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

UPDATE: Dec. 26, 2009. The giveaway is now closed, and the winner will be contacted soon. Good luck! 🙂

Merry Christmas from Makeup and Beauty Blog

December 25th, 2009 by Karen 43 Comments

Good morning, cuties. Merry Christmas! Just a quick note to wish you a wonderful day today and to tell you thanks for your support and friendship. It’s been a fun year (but one with its share of challenges for us all), and I hope the year to come is a great one for you.

What are your plans today? Does your family celebrate Christmas? My side of the family back in California celebrates late on Christmas Eve, so we used Skype last night to video chat with them from here in Hawaii. Today with El Hub’s side of the family, we’ll be opening presents soon and just spending the day together chilling at home (it’s POURING down rain right now).

Whatever you have going on this weekend, be safe and have fun! We’ll talk again soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Dolce & Gabbana Intense Nail Lacquers: Do They Stack Up to Chanel?

December 24th, 2009 by Karen 19 Comments

Written by Lina

Today Lina of The Beauty Look Book vets a Chanel nail polish challenger and asks, “Are they up to the task?”

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If you love bold, richly pigmented colors for nails, then you will LOVE Dolce & Gabbana Intense Nail Lacquers.

They retail for $20 each (available in 15 total shades); the first one I purchased was Ruby — a rich metallic red — and I fell in love at first swipe. I tested it at the Beverly Hills Saks and got a full coverage result with just one coat.

Since then my collection has grown!

Right now I’m wearing the one called Red on my toes. This is Day 15, and it still hasn’t chipped, having the same full coverage as the day I walked out of the salon (top coat was Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat).

You’ll find them at select Saks Fifth Avenue Locations (New York and Beverly Hills) or online at saks.com.

Here are the ones I’ve accumulated along with pictures and descriptions:

Fuschia. I find this one oddly named since it’s more of a bright iridescent coral with complex shimmers, rather than a “fuschia.” Not your typical peachy shade, this one flashes a bit of silver and pink and coral making it very unique.

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