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Archives for February 2013

MAC’s Year of the Snake Aztec Brick Eye Shadow

February 3rd, 2013 by Karen 8 Comments

MAC Aztec Brick Large Eye Shadow

MAC Aztec Brick Large Eye Shadow

MAC Aztec Brick Large Eye Shadow ($21), one of four Large Eye Shadows from the Year of the Snake collection available exclusively online now at maccosmetics.com.

MAC Aztec Brick Large Eye Shadow

There are 8 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty

Blue Steel Tabby

February 3rd, 2013 by Karen 17 Comments



His Blue Steel pose.

There are 17 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo

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

February 2nd, 2013 by Karen 465 Comments

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Dunya! Congratulations, Dunya! 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
Win a $50 eGift card from Sephora

Betcha didn’t know that Tabs spends his downtime training as a ninja for an undisclosed employer. There are so many facets to this cat! I can’t believe I’ve been assisting him since 2007, and I only found this out today.

Yeah, he keeps secrets…

Anywho, good morning and happy Caturday!

Can I get an amen for 1) those rare, sweet Tabs pics (please see above) and 2) last-minute plans that actually work out?

Yesterday afternoon, I was thinking that I haven’t gone out on a Friday night in so long with a girlfriend, so I emailed one of my high school BFFs, Cindy, and asked her if she wanted to catch dinner and a movie. She didn’t have any plans either, so we decided to have a last-minute girls’ night out.

We met at a restaurant in Corte Madera, which is in Southern Marin, called Brick & Bottle. A few of the noms…


Ahi tartare


Fried brie with honey and grapes (whoever invented fried cheese deserves a national holiday, for reals)


My main dish: sole with dungeness crab mashed potatoes

After dinner, we watched Warm Bodies, the teenage zombie love story I’ve been “dying” to see ever since I read the book last year. I don’t want to spoil it for you in case you plan to watch it, but I think it was very true to the original work.

As for today, not much planned. El Hub’s visiting his parents, so Tabs and I are holding down the fort here at home. I should probably do some cleaning, but really, all I want to do is nap and relax. Maybe go to the mall and look at some makeup if I can get out of these stretchy pants. We’ll see how it pans out.

What’s on your agenda? Whatever it is, I hope you manage to clear some time in your schedule to treat yourself to something nice, even if it’s just 10 minutes of “me time” at Starbucks with a cup of coffee.

Before you head on out, though, it’s time for the weekend giveaway. 🙂

What folks are saying…

“Hi Karen!!! Wow, that news definitely gets a hoo ray ray and an elephant!!! (I’ve maybe been watching too much Boardwalk Empire.) Thank you so much!!!”
-Shana

“What a lovely surprise it was to see your announcement (after completing one of many exams/papers/projects I have this crazy week)! The eCard will definitely ease expenses for this broke, beauty-obsessed college student. Thank you, Karen and Tabs!!”
-Katie

“Thanks so much, Karen. Just in case you were wondering what I got with it, I decided to go with the Clarisonic Mia–I’ve been wanting it for years now, but have never purchased it because of the price. Your eCard helped me finally buy it! I look forward to using it. Thanks again!”
-Jane

“Shut the front door! OMG Karen, you have made my day. 🙂 I’m sick in bed with the flu and this has just cheered me up immensely!!!!!!!! BTW, I’m the one that sent you that pic of my pug in a wig a few weeks back LOL! Thanks again, honestly, I’m beyond giddy right now.”
-Angel

“Thank you SO much Karen! OMG! Wishes really do come true! I can’t believe I won! You have no idea how much this will help me through the holidays. I’ve been an avid fan of your blog for the past two years. Your witty and creative entries, informative makeup information, and beautiful photos have kept me hooked. I look forward to more of it. Goodness, you’ve
seriously just made my week and it’s only Tuesday night!”
-Zharlynne

“Oh my goodness! Thank you so much Karen (and Tabs, of course)! I really appreciate this! I’d been eyeing the Anastasia brow pencil in Strawburn to match my red hair!”
-Chelsea (and Jiji the kitten and Quincy the bunny)

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, what toys does your pet like to play with? What’s your favorite type of dessert? Have you ever tried doing nail art? What counters do you visit when you go to the beauty department? Have you ever done makeup for any of your friends or family? What lipstick makes you feel like a million bucks? What’s your favorite way to spend a Saturday afternoon? — 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/UdzpjA

  • The deadline to enter is Sunday, February 3, 2013 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 Dunya! Congratulations, Dunya! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

There are 465 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Giveaways, Just For Fun

MAC’s Year of the Snake Cockney Lipstick

February 2nd, 2013 by Karen 17 Comments




MAC Year of the Snake Cockney Lipstick big

MAC Year of the Snake Cockney Lipstick closeup

A closeup of the detailing on the side of MAC’s Year of the Snake Cockney Lipstick ($15), a yellowish red available now at MAC counters, stores and maccosmetics.com.

MAC Year of the Snake Cockney Lipstick small

There are 17 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo

Guerlain’s Météorites Perles du Paradis

February 2nd, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments




Guerlain Météorites Perles du Paradis big

Guerlain Météorites Perles du Paradis closeup

Guerlain Météorites Perles du Paradis ($70), available now at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Bloomingdales, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom and online at nordstrom.com.

Gorgeous, isn’t she? 🙂

Guerlain Météorites Perles du Paradis small

There are 20 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty

What a Bold Statement! Milani’s Affordably Bold Color Statement Lipsticks

February 1st, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

Milani Orange-Gina Color Statement Lipstick Swatch
Wearing the new Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Orange-Gina ($5.49), one of 30 new shades available now at drugstores and online at milani.com

Milani’s making one heck of a statement with their new Bold Color Statement Lipsticks, and that statement reads, “Get a great deal on pigment!”

Wow, this much pigment for $5.49? Quite a deal, but I’ll kindly pass on the cloying bubblegum scent…

Milani Color Statement Lipsticks
From the left: Sweet Nectar, Orange-Gina, High Voltage, Red Label, Cherry Crave, Best Red and Ruby Valentine

Milani Color Statement Lipstick Swatches
From the left: Sweet Nectar, Orange-Gina, High Voltage, Red Label, Cherry Crave, Best Red and Ruby Valentine

Milani Best Red Color Statement Lipstick Swatch
Best Red

[Continue reading…]

There are 18 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Lips, Makeup, Milani

MAC Welcomes the New Nicki Minaj Nicki 2 Lipstick and Lipglass to the Viva Glam Fam

February 1st, 2013 by Karen 55 Comments

MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 Lipstick
Wearing the new MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 Lipglass ($15), available now in the US and internationally at all MAC locations and online at maccosmetics.com

Truth be told, I’m totally over this blonde Betty wig because I feel completely insane when I have it on. Plus, when the UPS guy came to my door last week, he said I looked like Lil’ Kim. Um, thanks?

But I felt like swatching the new MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 Lipstick and Lipglass today, so I threw it on for just one Barbz pic because it seemed like the right thing to do.

MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 Lipglass
Dear UPS Guy, Please don’t say I look like Lil’ Kim. Love, MBB

As members of the MAC Viva Glam family, 100 percent of the proceeds from the sales of Nicki 2 Lipstick and Lipglass go to support the MAC AIDS Fund, which helps women, children and men living with HIV/AIDS.

Once again, MAC teamed up with Nicki Minaj, and this year, they’re serving up a pale pastel lavender pink.

It’s a very distinct type of lip look with lots of drama.

MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 Lipglass
MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 Lipglass ($15), a pastel lavender pink

MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 lipstick
MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 Lipstick ($15), a pastel lavender pink

MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 Lipglass Swatch
Viva Glam Nicki 2 Lipglass

MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 Lipstick Swatch
Viva Glam Nicki 2 Lipstick

MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 Lipstick
Wearing Viva Glam Nicki 2 Lipstick
[Continue reading…]

There are 55 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Lips, MAC Makeup, Product Reviews

Friday Skin Care Chitchat: Kate Somerville, Caudalie, GLAMGLOW, AMOREPACIFIC and Ole Henriksen

February 1st, 2013 by Karen 43 Comments

Skin Care Chitchat
GLAMGLOW, Caudalie, AMOREPACIFIC, Kate Somerville and Ole Henricksen…and Tabs, LOL!

Wow, it’s been a while since we chatted about skin care. Heck, I think the last time might’ve been last summer? After that trip to the Bliss Spa in SF, when those helpful aestheticians gave me those great product recs.

Anywho, last weekend I noticed I was running low on a couple of things I’ve come to adore, so on Saturday night I stopped by Sephora to restock, and I figured that while I was there, I could use one of my Christmas gift certificates to find something new. 🙂

Two of the products I picked up, Kate Somerville’s Anti Bac Clearing Lotion ($39) and Caudalie’s Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Crème ($39), I’ve loved for a while.

Absolute gold!

Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion and Caudalie Vinosource Cream Sorbet
Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion ($39) and Caudalie Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Crème ($39)

Kate Somerville’s Anti Bac Clearing Lotion

I’ve been breaking out, off and on, around my chin and mouth (hormonal acne…UGH!) this past year, and Kate Somerville’s Anti Bac Clearing Lotion, when I use it consistently, has helped clear up my skin.

An acne treatment lotion with 5% benzoyl peroxide, it layers well beneath makeup and doesn’t have that funky, tell-tale benzoyl peroxide scent found in so many other BP products.

Now, I get a tight, panicky feeling in my chest when I think about running out and not having a spare bottle around…
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+

Caudalie’s Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Crème

Second item: Caudalie’s Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Crème. I love it so much, I’m now on my third bottle.

The lightweight, mousse-like lotion absorbs instantly into my skin, and it’s moisturizing enough to handle the driest patches on my face. And WOO HOO! — it doesn’t seem to make my breakouts worse.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+

GLAMGLOW, AMOREPACIFIC and Ole Henriksen

After I re-stocked on the must-have skin care supplies, my basket still felt a little light, so with that gift certificate burning in my pocked, I also picked up…

Ole Henriksen Truth to Go Wipes, GLAMGLOW Super-Mud Clearing Treatment, AMORE PACIFIC Treatment Enzyme Peel
Ole Henriksen Truth to Go Wipes, GLAMGLOW Super-Mud Clearing Treatment and AMOREPACIFIC Treatment Enzyme Peel

AMOREPACIFIC Treatment Enzyme Peel
AMOREPACIFIC Treatment Enzyme Peel ($60)

[Continue reading…]

There are 43 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Skin Care

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog! My name is Karen, and I’m a freelance writer obsessed with makeup.

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