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Archives for March 2012

Two Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora!

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

A Makeup and Beauty Blog giveaway

I don’t mind running for cupcakes.

They’re like my carrots. If you put a cupcake at the end of a stick in front of me, I’ll run after it. Every time.

So if you think about it, someone should invent something like that for treadmills, ya know? A stick that goes into the console and dangles a cupcake out in front.

I’d be hella runnin’ after that cupcake, yo.

Right now there are two of them — cupcakes — the little mini ones, one lemon and one strawberry, on the coffee table here in front of me, and they’re taunting me… I can hear their little voices in my head: “Oh, my gosh! We’re just so sweet and yummy. I hope someone eats us soon, tee-hee!”

Rise and shine, morning glory! It’s going to be a beautiful day. 🙂

I hope your weekend got off to a great start. I’m about to head to yoga class now, and then after that maybe to a cafe to order a frothy drink and just sit with my notebook for an hour.

Tabs is in charge of this morning’s giveaway until I get back. See you soon.

Win a $50 gift card from Sephora

  • One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

  • 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, who makes your favorite cupcake? Have you ever baked cupcakes? Do you enjoy baking? What do you think of beauty products that smell like food? What’s on your makeup lemming list right now? — you get the idea.
  • Second, you can enter by following me on twitter Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
    • Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora! http://bit.ly/wd83fh

  • The deadline to enter is Sunday, March 4, 2012 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).
  • Sephora eGift Certificates can only be redeemed online and are not valid in stores or available for purchase or redemption in Canada. International winners may opt to substitute the Sephora eGift card prize for $50 sent directly to their email address by PayPal instead.
  • 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

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

These Shimmering Sands Are More Than a Mirage: Estée Lauder’s Innovative Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelèe in Shimmering Sands

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estee lauder shimmering sands

Ever since that time I sent El Hub out to buy toilet paper and he returned with four rolls of crummy one-ply paper that felt like tree bark on my booty, I take care of replenishing the TP around here.

Stay with me. I’m going somewhere with this… 🙂

As I was on my way out the door the other day to pick up some Ultra Soft Charmin (the best!) from Target, I glanced at myself in the hallway mirror and said, “Dang, K-Dawg! You’re wearing hella bronzer, girl!”

I was shimmering, and bronzed, like I’d just gotten back from a week in the South of France.

Merci beaucoup, Estée Lauder Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelèe in Shimmering Sands ($42).

estee lauder shimmering sands
Shimmering Sands on my cheeks, across my forehead and along my jaw line

I haven’t always been this inspired by the Estée Lauder brand. Matter of fact, up until a renaissance a few years ago in which I think they started cranking out some really innovative products at a rapid clip, I didn’t often think of EL as a super bold or cutting-edge line.

Recently, releases like the Cyber Eyes Collection, Pure Color Blushes, and now this here Shimmering Sands, have totally changed the way I look at the brand.

Sands is a warm and shimmering peachy golden bronze powder from the new limited edition Bronze Goddess Capri collection, and it’s designed to be worn as a bronzer, a highlighter and/or a blush.

And that’s not all. Texture really sets this multitasking powder apart. Part liquid, powder and gel, it feels lightweight, creamy and smooth on my skin.

Throw in some punchy pigments and an almost mirror-like shine, and Shimmering Sands reminds me of a marriage between a MAC Mineralize Skinfinish, with its metallic finish, and a creamy NARS Multiple. Just really super cool.

estee lauder bronze goddess capri swatches
From the left: Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelee in Shimmering Sands, Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon Duo in White Sands/Molten Lava and Pure Color Gloss in Shimmering Mirage
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Why Wait for Summer? Prepare for Poolside Afternoons Now With Benefit Cabana Glama

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benefit cabana glama

Pretty soon it’ll be spring, and then summer soon after. Before you know it, our conversations will turn more to topics like swimming pools, beaches and other things, like how…

…getting ready to chill at the pool with Ryan Gosling can be sooo stressful (or so I’ve heard). 🙂

Do I go the glamazon route, curling my hair into beachy waves and shimmying into a string bikini, a cute coverup and a pair of nude wedges? Or do I go the rough-and-tumble surfer girl route, and scoop my mop into a messy bun, slip on a practical two-piece (the one with the top that looks like an industrial-strength sports bra) and my favorite pair of ratty Reef flip-flops?

It’s a big decision — but until I make it, one thing’s for sure: the new Benefit Cabana Glama ($26) kit will have my back.

benefit cabana glama

This latest kit from the boys and babes at Benefit comes with brightening and bronzing makeup for eyes, lips and cheeks.

If posing on your beach chair beside a fru-fru umbrella drink and a stack of glossy magazines ranks up high on your agenda (I could get into something like that, hello!), do it in style with a sun-kissed glow. Just sweep Cabana Glama’s Hoola Bronzer and Some Kind-A Gorgeous in Medium on your face, followed by one (or two or three) of the kit’s Eyeshadows on your lids.

And when you’re ready to cool off with a quick dip — and maybe do a few underwater handstands or dive from the high board (you so crazy!) — Cabana Glama can also help you keep it simple, by just blending soft pink Posietint on your cheeks and lips.

Benefit Cabana Glama Your DesTANation Makeup Kit
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Do You Wear Makeup to the Gym or to Exercise Classes?

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To the home gym, otherwise known as my tabby cat’s break room, I don’t, but to places with people and/or mirrors, I do. I’ll usually fill in my brows, pat a little concealer beneath my eyes, and curl my lashes.

And when I’m feeling extra ambitious, I’ll treat my lashes to a few coats of waterproof mascara and slick a gloss on my lips. 🙂

How about you? What’s your take on gym makeup? Do you or don’t you?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.

Benefit Cabana Glama: Your DesTANation Makeup Kit

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The new Benefit Cabana Glama kit for face, eyes, cheeks and lips, $36.

It includes: Hoola Bronzing Powder (MY FAVE!), Poisetint, Some Kind-A Gorgeous in Medium, an Eyeshadow Palette with three shades (Peach Fuzz, Bronze Buzz and Cocoa Pizzazz), a bronzing brush, a double-ended sponge applicator and a step-by-step lesson with tips and tricks.

Benefit Cabana Glama Your DesTANation Makeup Kit

Benefit Cabana Glama Your DesTANation Makeup Kit

Benefit Cabana Glama Your DesTANation Makeup Kit

Find it at Benefit counters, stores and online now.

Review and swatches in two shakes of a tabby tail!

New from Roberto Cavalli: Roberto Cavalli Eau de Parfum

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A quick peek at the new Roberto Cavalli Eau de Parfum ($85), an ambery floral that purrs onto department store fragrance counters this month.

With top notes of pink peppercorn, middle notes of orange flower absolute and base notes of roasted tonka beans, this is one sultry scent. I wore it today for the first time and MEOW! Out came the my sky high, animal print Sam Edelman heels. It just seemed *right* to pair the two together. 🙂

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