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Archives for April 2011

What Are You Wearing on Your Nails?

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C is for cookie, Canada and also for Chanel. I’m feeling a little nostalgic tonight, so I’ve got 2009’s Chanel Vendetta on my fingers and Jade on my toes.

How about you? What are you wearing on your nails?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Hey, good lookin’. It’s (almost) Friday, at last. I was just thinking that we should start a petition to officially declare that every weekend be a three-day weekend. We could send it with Tabs to Washington. Maybe dress him in a sharp suit and tie. 🙂

Tonight’s my last night here in Canada, and I’m plum tuckered out. The mission, which I still have to be cryptic about for a little longer, was a success. It was like a James Bond movie, filled with intrigue, secret doors, unique technology, provocative personalities and catchy nicknames. Pretty soon…

What’s new in your neck of the woods? Anything new to report?

MAC Unsung Heroes: Blushbaby Blush

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mac blushbaby

Like many romances, this one starts with a dramatic hook: “It was a dark and stormy night…”

Okay, well, it could have been a humid afternoon, but that just doesn’t sound as good. 🙂

One fateful night about 10 years ago I stopped by a MAC counter to get a new tube of MAC Spite. One of the artists there suggested I pick up something else to go along with it, a sheer beige and pink powder blush called Blushbaby ($19.50).

Was she kidding?, I wondered, crinkling my brow. This? It didn’t look like much in the pan, just a basic pinkish beige powder, but the artist whipped out her brush, spoke some magic words (not really), and that was that. One look in the mirror and I said, “Sold!”

Before Blushbaby, I never really thought much of blush. I used to think it made me look like a tiny brown clown, but Blushbaby changed all that. Now, I’m unabashedly pro-blush — a blush ho, if you will (LOL!).

Blushbaby has MAC’s Sheertone finish, and consequently it’s super sheer. The Sheertones produce a very classic, natural-looking cheek flush. The look is gentle and soft, but the pigments can still be built up to pack a little more punch.

I think this particular Sheertone looks fantastic on a wide range of skin tones and makes a great everyday shade. I’ve seen it worn by both lighter lovelies and divas darker than me, and it has always looked good.


Swatch of Blushbaby built up using several layers


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Two Ways to Win Some Spring Makeup from Sonia Kashuk (a $75 Value)

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  • The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Bridget. Congratulations, Bridget! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

I loves me some Chanel and Dior, but I’ve always also believed a gal can still look great on a drugstore makeup budget. Sonia Kashuk, one of my favorite bargain beauty babes, offers department store quality products at a checkbook-friendly price, and the line is filled with pieces that are interesting, fun and fresh.

Take her new spring line. It’s a veritable treasure trove of value, like the limited edition Couture Flat Top Blush/Powder Brush (there’s a reason this is always sold out: it’s AWESOME!), the Super Shimmering Highlighter and the Blink of an Eye Trio Set.

Today’s giveaway features these items and four more goodies from Sonia’s new spring line. With makeup for eyes, lips, face and nails, you’ll have everything you need to spruce up your look with some trendy spring shades. 🙂

A Makeup and Beauty Blog Giveaway!

sonia kashuk spring awakenings face paletteSpring Awakenings Face Palette

sonia kashuk blink of an eye pencils
Blink of an Eye Trio Set

sonia kashuk beautiful berries lip quad
Beautiful Berries Lip Quad


Super Shimmering Highlighter


Brush Couture Flat Top Blush/Powder Brush

sonia kashuk spring 2011 nail colour
Nail Colour in Fatigued (left) and Violetta (right)

  • There are two ways to enter, 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, like, how often do you shop at Target (’cause, seriously, I’m there every other day)? What was the last piece of drugstore makeup you bought? Do you have a favorite sports team? What’s your favorite drugstore brand? Is there a song that always makes you wanna get up and dance? — the sky’s the limit!
  • Second, you can enter by following me on twitter Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
    • Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win Some Spring Makeup from Sonia Kashuk (a $75 Value) http://bit.ly/hQodQa

  • The deadline to enter is Friday, April 15, 2011 at 11:59PM (PT).
  • Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
  • A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
  • Contest is open to individuals of any country who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
  • Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
  • The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
  • Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Wondering what I’ve been up to out here in Toronto? Here’s a hint: twitter

P.P.S. Oh, and if you haven’t already entered yesterday’s giveaway (a chance to win Pop Beauty, Pixi and Senna makeup), you have until tonight (it only takes a few seconds).

  • The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Bridget. Congratulations, Bridget! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

MAC Unsung Heroes: Vex Eyeshadow

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mac vex

Wow. I just realized that my love affair with MAC Vex Eyeshadow ($14.50) has spanned almost 10 years… And you know what? I love it as much today as I did the first day we met — the first time I swiped this duo-chrome powder shadow on the back of my hand.

Vex can be vexing hiding in its pan like a boring blah gray, but it comes to life when it touches skin, gracing it with a really pretty glow. A beige with greenish pink pearl and a frosty finish, it flashes pink from some angles and green from others — almost like crushed pearls under a bright light. I think of it as the MAC Strobe Cream of the eyeshadow world.

When I first got Vex(ed), it was to wear it with smokey eyes, and I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve used it for that (usually with MAC Soft Brown, Print and Brule).

But smokey eyes aren’t the only ways I’ve worn Vex. I also love it dressed down…

  • Clean, classic cat eye: When I want to do a clean, classic cat eye with a little twist, I’ll apply Vex from the lash line to just below the brown bone, pop a matte brown shadow into the crease for definition (a few to try: Soft Brown, Saddle and Folie) and then line my upper lash line with MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack.
  • Glowy eyes: When I’m short on shuteye and lookin’ beat, I pat Vex on the lid and into the crease with either a MAC 217 (or my fingers if I’m in hurry), curl my lashes and add a few coats of mascara. It’s quick, easy, and I swear it’s looks like getting an extra three hours of sleep.
  • Glowy Eyes 2.0: After applying MAC Cream Colour Base in Hush to my lids, I apply Vex to the inner corners of my eyes with a MAC 219 Pencil Brush. A quick lash curl and a few coats of mascara later, I’m glowing. 🙂

mac vex


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Swatches of the Benefit Velvet Eyeshadows and the Summer of 2009

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I was at the Benefit counter the other day picking up my umpteenth pot of Skinny Jeans, and while I was there I figured I may as well put my arms to good use by swatching the entire line of Velvet Eyeshadows.

These came out in the summer of 2009 — a truly great year for makeup — and I think they’re still some of the best things in the Benefit line. They’re silky and pigmented with a gorgeous, subtle sheen (like a very faint shine). And coupled with a good primer, they last all day long on my skin without creasing or fading.

I’m particularly fond of Where There’s Smoke (looks FANTASTIC atop Skinny Jeans), Nice Melons (love this for that wide awake look) and Fancy Pansy (gorgeous! — flashes from pink to purple to blue), but I like just about every shade in the line.

benefit velvet eyeshadow swatches
Velvet Eyeshadow swatches from left with the flash: Leggy, Fancy Pansy, Bikini Line, Bo Peep and Rich Beach
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