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Archives for July 2010

These Boots Were Made for Walking…Around a Farmer’s Market

July 16th, 2010 by Karen 46 Comments

While I was off stuffing my face with free fruit samples at the farmer’s market last night, I road tested a couple of goodies from the Boots makeup line — Natural Blush Cheek Colour in Candy Pink ($9) and Botanics Lip Gloss in Star Anise ($6). ‘Cause, you know, I’m all about beauty bargains. And multi-tasking. And free food!

Have you tried any Boots makeup before? I’m new to their makeup, but I like the few Boots skin products and makeup wipes I’ve tried.

Originally from merry olde England, the Boots line sailed onto Target shelves a few years ago. Their makeup offering looks pretty thorough with lots to choose from (foundation, blush, eyeshadow — basically, the works) in colors galore.

Candy Pink blush (a sheer matte pink) and Star Anise gloss (a sheer, creamy nude rose) represent my first dalliances with Boots makeup, and based on the two of them I’m thinking chocks away! — here’s something great for gals who love natural-looking makeup.

Candy Pink Blush

Candy Pink goes on VERY sheer. As a matter of fact, the lightly flushed look in these pics took about three layers. The powder feels velvety soft, and even though it took a few layers to reach the level of color I wanted (it may take you less if you’re lighter than moi), the blush was still pretty easy to apply and blend… Might be something to consider if you’re on the market for a natural pink cheek look.

Star Anise Gloss

I love Star Anise and her medium-weight, moisturizing texture. She’s uber-smooth, too, NOT uber-sticky, and doesn’t feel or look thick or heavy at all. She also has a wonderfully subtle shine.


Candy Pink Blush
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There are 46 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Makeup Keywords: boots

Are Ya Hungry?

July 16th, 2010 by Karen 6 Comments


How about some avocados from the farmer’s market? NOM, NOM, NOM!

There are 6 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo

Does Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer in Golden Nude Stand the Test of Time?

July 16th, 2010 by Karen 27 Comments

My eyelids and have a thing for shimmery Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer in Golden Nude ($20). Released earlier this summer with the Smasbox Naked Beauty collection, the products is supposed to act as a moisturizing base for powder and cream shadows to extend wear time and boost their vibrancy while making fine lines harder to spot.

The new color’s a riff on Smasbox’s standard issue warm beige Photo Finish Lid Primer, and the second I swatched it my heart went bumpity-bump!


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There are 27 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: smashbox

So Who’s Duping Whom? The NYX Nude on Nude Natural Look Kit vs. Urban Decay Naked

July 15th, 2010 by Karen 134 Comments

nyx nude on nude natural look kit review

Let’s strip, shall we? If you’ve been lusting after the hard-to-find Urban Decay Naked palette, NYX has some potentially great news for you and your wallet.

Swatching the NYX Nude on Nude Natural Look Kit ($11) this afternoon, one of three NYX sets released for summer, I was struck by how similar its shades are to some of the ones in UD’s $44 Naked.

Could it be?? A Naked dupe for one fourth the cost?
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There are 134 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Makeup Keywords: nyx, urban decay

Bright Colors Are Blooming with the Dolce & Gabbana Blossom Smooth Eye Colour Duo

July 15th, 2010 by Karen 40 Comments

dolce gabbana blossom smooth eye colour duo swatches review photos

The iridescent purple and shimmery reddish copper of the Dolce & Gabbana Smooth Eye Colour Duo in Blossom are so bright that they should have come with shades! Expensive ones ($36 for two shadows, oy vey!).

dolce gabbana blossom smooth eye colour duo swatches review photos

One of 10 powder eyeshadow duos in the company’s permanent line, Blossom lights up lids like a double rainbow all the way across the sky.
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There are 40 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: dolce & gabbana

Black Opal Mosaic Golden Bronzer

July 15th, 2010 by Karen 8 Comments

Black Opal Mosaic Golden Bronzer, $10.

I like the pattern in this pan (so pretty!). Have you tried anything from this line before?

There are 8 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo

Boots Breeze Mineral Perfection Eye Shadow Palette

July 15th, 2010 by Karen 7 Comments



Boots Mineral Perfection Eye Shadow Palette in Breeze, $9.

The colors remind me of the ocean. Isn’t the curved shadow applicator kinda neat?

There are 7 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty

Two Ways to Win $102 in NYX Cosmetics, a $200 American Express Gift Card and MORE!

July 15th, 2010 by Karen 996 Comments

  • The giveaway is now closed, and the winner is being contacted. Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

For turning 30, my parents threw me a birthday bash at a crowded drag queen karaoke bar in the South Bay. I wore a pink outfit, sported a jewel-encrusted tiara and wobbled across the stage singing songs in four-inch heels. When the queens, rocking fierce hair and makeup, dragged (ha!) me up on stage to harmonize We Are Family with them, I felt like a star. 🙂

I’ve always adored drag queens, so when the folks at Logo, the channel that airs the hit RuPaul’s Drag Race, offered to host today’s giveaway and share deets about their new RuPaul show (RuPaul’s Drag U) premiering July 19, I jumped for joy (not in heels, though)!

Bust out your most glittery shadow because…

At RuPaul’s Drag U, class is in session!

In the show, RuPaul serves as the Dean of Drag at Drag U, guiding women (the kind who, um, don’t have to tuck) through extreme makeup, beauty and confidence transformations — drag queen style.

The students are everyday women looking for a little help with their style and confidence (false lashes, anyone?).

At the start of the show, RuPaul inputs each student’s info into the Dragulator (cutting-edge technology, LOL!), which assigns them drag names and gives a glimpse of each woman’s potential.

With the help of Drag Race alumni, the ladies learn how to get in touch with their softer sides and unleash their inner divas! The pressure’s on, too, because each show ends with the women doing a musical number in front of a live audience of friends and family.

There can be only one — valedictorian. One of the ladies in each episode is chosen as valedictorian of her class, but every one leaves Drag U a lil’ more confident, sassy and knowledgeable about makeup and beauty.

Drag U and you

Catch Drag U on the Logo channel starting July 19 at 9 p.m. (check your local listings). You can also follow Drag U on Facebook and take the Dragulator out for a spin.


I have been Dragulated!!

Time for the giveaway!

To kick off the show, the folks at Logo put together a fantastic prize package worth $322.

The prize

One lucky lady (or gent) will win ALL of the following:

One (1) $200 American Express Gift Card!
One (1) copy of Workin It!: RuPaul’s Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style ($20)
One (1) NYX Body Glitter Gel ($6)
One (1) NYX Blotting Paper ($3.50)
One (1) NYX Cream Blush in Glow ($6.50)
One (1) NYX Concealer Jar in Lavender ($5.50)
One (1) NYX Concealer Magic Wand in Green ($5.50)
One (1) NYX Doll Eye Mascara Long Lash in Extreme Black($9)
One (1) NYX Fabulous Lashes ($4.50)
One (1) NYX The Caribbean Collection 5 Color Palette in I Dream of St. John ($8.75)
One (1) NYX The Caribbean Collection 5 Color Palette in I Dream of St. Lucia ($8.75)
One (1) NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk ($4)
One (1) NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in French Kiss ($5.50)
One (1) NYX Lip Gloss Palette in The Naturals ($8)
One (1) NYX Studio Liquid Liner in Extreme Purple ($4.50)
One (1) NYX Slim Eye Pencil in Black ($3.50)
One (1) NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Natural ($3.50)
One (1) NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker in Carbon Black ($9)
One (1) NYX Chrome Eye Shadow ($6)

How to enter…

2ways2enterEntering is easy. There are two different ways, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

  1. First, you can enter by retweeting (RT) the following message:

    RT @karenmbb: RT to win a NYX Cosmetics prize pack and a $200 gift card (a $322 Value) http://bit.ly/93t3wM Rules: http://logo.to/DUrules

  2. Second, enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, a comment about anything at all — tell me how you unleash your inner drag queen, your favorite karaoke song or why you love bold, drag queen-worthy makeup.

    How do I unleash my inner drag queen? I loves me some fierce drag queen lashes; the bigger and bolder the better! I pile on volumizing and thickening mascara (sometimes four or even five coats, yikes!), and when I’m in the mood, I’ll throw on some falsies to up the drama even more.

Follow me

  • Sorry, international babes, the folks at Logo requested that this giveaway be limited to legal residents of the U.S. and the District of Columbia; entrants must be at least 13 years of age or older at time of entry. For full giveaway rules, see here.

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. Retweet the following message on twitter:

    RT @karenmbb: RT to win a NYX Cosmetics prize pack and a $200 gift card (a $322 Value) http://bit.ly/93t3wM Rules: http://logo.to/DUrules

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Tuesday, July 20.

Sretno!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

  • The giveaway is now closed, and the winner is being contacted. Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.
There are 996 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

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