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Archives for June 2010

Take Center Stage with Benefit Scene Queen

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benefit scene queen

So there I was, minding my own beeswax, when I caught Tabs staring at his reflection in the big @ss mirror that comes with the new Benefit Scene Queen The Annie Collection palette ($38). I think he might have been checking his eyeliner (cat’s got wicked tightlining skillz) or plotting makeup larceny…

I swear, Benefit must have a soothsayer on staff because they always know what I’m craving. The particular mix of dramatic neutrals in this stash of goodies for eyes, lips, face and cheeks is, again, right up my alley. The second of two new limited edition Sephora exclusives from Benefit Trend Makeup Artists Annie and Maggie (peep the other palette, Sunday Funday, here), Scene Queen’s big drama is designed to steal scenes (and the limelight).

benefit scene queen
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Benefit Sunday Funday Palette Looks Pretty Any Day of the Week

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The situation: The My So-Called Life marathon you hosted last night was a BIG success, but it went all night long, and now you have just 10 minutes to do your makeup before you meet your Jordon Catalano lookalike for brunch. What to do! what to do!

Yes, it’s totally unfair that dudes get to just pull on a plaid shirt and call themselves “date ready.” Life is cruel that way, but thank goodness for palettes that facilitate fast makeup like the new Benefit Sunday Funday The Maggie Collection palette for eyes, lips, face and cheeks ($38).

This cutie pie (isn’t the packaging to die?) comes with a nice mix of neutrals and breezy pops of color perfect for easy, natural-looking makeup looks in almost no time flat.
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, June 21

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  1. Mood:

    2. Cheerful, albeit a touch sniffly, on this first official day of summer. My cold’s just about gone, so things are looking up!

  2. Do you like musical theater?

    3. I was a fiend for it back in high school and college but haven’t been to a show in years. The last ones I caught were Wicked in 2004 and Lion King around 2005 (?). It’s been a while!

  3. What makes you sexy?

    4. That’s a tough one because I don’t think of myself as sexy AT ALL. I see myself more as the home girl next door, ya know? But if I had to say something…I’d say spunkiness, if that’s even a word, or maybe my hair, LOL!

  4. Which outfit makes you feel your best?

    5. A navy blue and cream printed wrap dress from some miscellaneous designer I found at a vintage store years ago. When I wear it I feel like the tallest, thinnest, cutest version of myself.

  5. Your all-time favorite lipstick?

    6. Hmm, that’s another tough one… It’s a toss up between NARS Dolce Vita and MAC Viva Glam V.

  6. Blow dry or air dry?

    7. Both, but I air dry more in the summer.

  7. Do you think men and women can be platonic friends?

    8. Definitely. I think a lot of people get in relationships and feel that the only guy/girl in their life can be their significant other, but I think that’s limiting. If you and your partner trust each other, then friendships with other guys/girls shouldn’t be a cause for jealousy.

  8. What can you hear *right now*?

    9. A truck rumbling in the distance, the hum of an air conditioner, my fingers on the keyboard and Tabs grooming himself in the corner (he grumbles and moans).

  9. Outfit:

    10. The navy blue and cream wrap dress I mentioned up above and my favorite silver heels!

  10. Weekly goals:

    11. Read at least an hour each day, get back into exercising (I laid off when I caught that cold), figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life (an ongoing project, LOL!) and cut back on the ice cream

What’s up, buttercup? Happy summer solstice, by the way (today is, quite literally, the longest day of the year for folks in the Northern Hemisphere). I’m just glad the sun’s out. We’ve had hella wonky weather lately, like chilly at night with high winds, but it finally feels like summer.

If you can, please take a minute to say hi with the Monday Poll. You know how we do it. Just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le list

1. Mood:
2. Do you like musical theater?
3. What makes you sexy?
4. Which outfit makes you feel your best?
5. Your all-time favorite lipstick?
6. Blow dry or air dry?
7. Do you think men and women can be platonic friends?
8. What can you hear *right now*?
9. Outfit:
10. Your weekly goals:

Y’all ready for this? I am if you are!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 92

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Sundays with Tabs the Cat: Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot

Complete the comic

Tabs insisted we hold another comic challenge today because he thought the gals who entered the last one did awesome! Seriously, I cracked up laughing.

Here’s a new template for you to work with. I can’t wait to see what you come up with this time! To participate, just write some dialogue for each of the 13 comic regions in the template, and then Tabs and I will pick our favorites from among your creations and share them with the world a little later this week.

Here’s an example:

PANEL #1: Mr. Tiger always knew he was different, but tonight he would show America just how different he really was…

PANEL #2: Did you ever know that you’re my hero! You’re everything I would like to beeeeeee! I can fly higher than an eagle! ‘Cause you are the wind beneath my —

PANEL #3: CUT! STOP! That’s enough, Mr. Tiger. We’ve heard enough.

PANEL #4: Really? But I’m not done. There’s still another verse.

PANEL #5: That will NOT be necessary.

PANEL #6: Oh, hello, Tabs… Still trying to sabotage my career, house cat?

PANEL #7: Great… This just went from bad to worse.

PANEL #8: House cat…? Who you callin’ house cat?

PANEL #9: When does Oprah come out?

PANEL #10: Oprah? I thought this was Tyra.

PANEL #11: Are you kidding me!? Tyra isn’t half the singer I am!

PANEL #12: Excuse me. I don’t know if this is the right studio, but I have a Ms. Tyra Banks waiting in a limo outside. Should I bring her in through the —

PANEL #13: Good night, Tiger. And now, your banner must fall…

Your turn!

Go on and stretch those creativity muscles, girl. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Have Some Iced Tea in the Open Thread

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Ah, the healing power of hair styling… I just finished flat ironing my mop (going through a straight hair phase) and, sure, my cold’s no less uncomfortable — nose is still stuffed and throat feels like someone took a cheese grater to it — but because I like how my hair looks right now, I couldn’t care less, ha! 🙂

The open thread has a similar restorative effect, like a healing tonic. If you’re new to the blog, the open thread is basically where we chat in the comments about whatever strikes our fancies. It can be about makeup and beauty, books, movies, work, or about anything else you feel like sharing.

A few ideas to get the conversation started…

  • How’ve you been wearing your hair lately? Since it started getting hot around here, updos and ponytails are again the styles du jour, but I’ve been wearing my hair straightened lately. That way I can either put it up or leave it down without having to worry about it getting frizzy. When I leave my hair curly and put it in and out of a ponytail, my curls go crazy and it’s total frizz-ville!
  • Would you be interested in occasionally reading reviews of men’s grooming products? I don’t think very many men read MBB (there are like 1-2, God bless ’em!), but the other day it hit me: a lot of women buy stuff for the men in their life, right? If you’re interested in reviews of men’s products, please let me know.
  • How do you make new friends? One of my summer goals is to make as many new friends as possible. Do you ever make friends online, or do most of your friendships start at school or work?

Are you ready? I’ll bring over the iced tea and meet you in the comments!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Weekly Roundup

Today it’s sunny everywhere but around my head. That is to say I believe I have a head cold, I think, or some other sinus affliction, because my node id sdubbed ub.

It won’t bring me down, though. No chance. Nope, I won’t let it, well, unless it does. 🙂

So what are you up to today? I hope you’ve got something fun lined up. I have to return a pair of shoes (they were an impulse purchase) and get a new book to read. Don’t tell anyone, but I hear there are these new places called libraries that actually — get this — loan out books to read, FOR FREE! Can you believe it?

I’m sitting here contemplating last week’s makeup and beauty stuff and trying to think of my favorite products. What would you say? Mine was probably the Bobbi Brown Beach collection, or maybe what I saw from NARS.

NARS Pro-Prime Skin Smoothing Face PrepNARS PRO-PRIME
FACE PREP

I was fashion hunting at the mall yesterday afternoon, rutting around for a respectable pair of jeans (more on that later), when I bumped into a gal with skin that looked smoother than a porcelain doll.

My curiosity got the better of me; I politely asked for her secret, to which she replied, “I don’t really do anything.”

With the otherworldly size of the pores of my face, sometimes I forget that there really are (lucky) people out there who simply never have to worry about their skin — no big-@ss pores or annoying fine lines.

For the rest of us, there’s NARS Pro-Prime Skin Smoothing Face Prep ($30 for a .26-oz jar). Read more…

Bobbi Brown Beach Shimmer BrickBOBBI BROWN BEACH
SHIMMER BRICK

Glistening like the stars of MTV’s Jersey Shore — wait, did I just write that?? For a post about a product from Bobbi Brown?

Sorry, let me try this again.

Glistening like glittery Waikiki Beach (that’s better), the Bobbi Brown Beach Club Shimmer Brick ($38) comes with a combo of five warm-toned highlighter bricks in shades from brown to beige to peach and gold.

Released earlier this month with the Long-Wearing Eyeshadows in Bobbi’s Beach Club collection, this brick is full of surprises.

Swirl ’em together for an easy shimmer pop, or apply each shade separately for five different looks.

I really like the color of the blend. I’ve been applying it to my upper cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose and at my temples. Read more…

A Blue, Teal and Golden EyeA BLUE, TEAL AND
GOLDEN EYE

Hey, guys!

Lately I’ve been loving nautical themes, and I suspect it has to do with summer. My brain’s on a sunny beach somewhere far away, and its gentle waves have shooed away the stress of my exams.

Maybe that’s a dream that won’t be happening any time soon, but I can still pretend with makeup looks like this ocean-inspired eye of the day!

First, I primed my lids with Too Faced Shadow Insurance to prevent creasing and fading. Then, using a finger, I patted the light matte shade in Revlon’s Not Just Nudes quad over my lids to creates a base to amplify the vibrance of the colors to follow. Read more…

Smashbox Limitless LinerSMASHBOX LIMITLESS
LINER

When eyeliner disappears, where exactly does it go? Do mischievous makeup angels charm it away with magic erasers while I’m drooling over pics of Jake Gyllenhaal’s muscled bod and manscaping?

Seriously, I can’t be the only person plauged by the plight of the disappearing eyeliner.

Thank ye gods for long-wearing liner formulas like the new Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner ($19). Released for summer, these creamy, long-wearing liners apply with intense color and come with the promise of eight-hour wear time, which makes the hours I’ve whittled away watching people dancing solo to Ginuwine’s Pony a little easier to bear.

Ready to rock you in shades of Black, Dark Brown, Teal, Deep Navy and Deep Purple, their creamy, easy-to-apply formula also resists water (more on that in a few) and helps protect the skin around those precious peepers with jojoba oil and vitamin E. Read more…

NARS Multiple TintNARS MULTIPLE
TINT

Last night I had a makeup dream, except that in this dream there was an ice cream truck, and instead of ice cream it sold the new NARS Multiple Tints ($38 each).

Okay, now here’s where it gets REALLY weird. Instead of applying the sheer, buildable tints to my cheeks and lips, I gobbled ’em up like they were sweet, creamy treats!

Available in three eye-popping shades — Beverly Hills (a bright red tint), Cadaques (a bright fuchsia tint) and Turks & Caicos (a bright orange tint) — these do look a lot like desserts, don’t they? Kinda like Push Up Pops, yum!

But don’t be fooled by their vibrant shades. Each adds just a whisper of highly wearable color.

I’ve been playing with Beverly Hills, the red shade, on my cheeks (NOTE: I also tried it on my lips but didn’t like the flavor…like an odd mix of concentrated Hawaiian Punch and Sour Patch Kids) this week, and, impressively, it lasts for a good 6-8 hours! — even without a primer. Read more…

What Perfume Should I Wear with My Makeup?PERFUME PAIRINGS
FOR MAKEUP LOOKS

Well, look at you, Miss Thang. Whether you’re working a smoky eye or rocking a red lip, your fine self is looking flawless (thanks to Karen’s incredible makeup tips). All that remains is a few spritzes of a fabulous perfume. Now, this perfume must do more than simply smell good. A great perfume should be the finishing touch to your look, creating an aura that matches your makeup. It should add to your sex appeal when you’re looking slinkier than Halle Berry, or create a sense of romance when you’re having an ultra-feminine, Keira-Knightley-in-her-latest-period-piece moment. Here are a few suggestions for perfumes that lend themselves to a particular makeup style; please feel free to mix and match.

Smoky eyes: Your kohl-rimmed eyes already whisper, “Come hither”. Now take your game to the next level with a sexy scent that says, “Hey, Angelina Jolie, this isn’t amateur hour.” Read more…

Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencils?NYX JUMBO
EYE PENCILS

The weekend is just around the corner, huzzah! I’m so looking forward to just vegging out on the couch, re-watching season two of True Blood and playing with makeup. Do you have any plans yet? Whatever you end up doing, I hope it also involves a fun look or two.

Speaking o’ beauty bits, what do ya think of the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils ($4)? Have you seen them before?

These four particular colors are new for summer, but the pencils themselves have been around for a while. Drugstore makeup line Nyx designed them to double as eyeliners or eyeshadows. The chubby pencils have quite a cult following these days, thanks to their smooth formula and technicolor pigmentation; with the addition of these four new shades — Pure Gold, Electric Blue, Purple Velvet and Rocky Mountain Green — they come in 28 total colors. Read more…

Bobbi Brown Beach ClubBOBBI BROWN BEACH CLUB
LONG-WEARING EYESHADOWS

There’s one Bobby Brown for recipes that call for cheese (as in cheesy ’90s R&B), and another Bobbi Brown for recipes that call for long lasting cream shadows.

Fellow fans of the later’s Long-Wear and Metallic Long-Wear shadows depend on their smooth, non-creasing formula when quick, elegant eye looks are on the menu. For this summer’s Beach collection, Chef Bobbi’s cooked up five new Long-Wear shadows, these with an ocean theme ($22 each).

They washed up on shore a few weeks ago, spotted at Bobbi Brown counters and BobbiBrownCosmetics.com. I’ve been wearing a few of the colors lately, and like a sunny day at the beach, these don’t disappoint. Each delivers a quick wash of durable color that lasts from that first gulp of coffee to that last sip of Sleepytime tea. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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