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Archives for February 2013

Dior Says Oui to Greenish Gold Micro Shimmer: The New Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit Boréale

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Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit Boreale Picture Swatch
Wearing the Dior’s new Addict Gloss in Nuit Boréale ($29.50) on my lips, one of 24 new Addict Gloss shades coming in March to Dior counters and dior.com

Channing Tatum says what now…? You’re telling me there’s another green lip gloss worthy of a spring obsession?

Unlike Illamasqua’s Shoot, and the audience’s loud shrieks when Chan-Tate starts dancing to Pony, this one is quiet. Very, very quiet… The shimmery greenish golden pearl in Dior’s new Addict Gloss in Nuit Boréale is so quiet that you have to look closely to even see it (so no Hulk lips here).

Nuit Boréale (“polar night” in French, according to Google Translate) is one of 24 shades in the recently revamped Dior Addict Gloss line, and like the other Addict Glosses, it’s all about shine.

Or rather, reflection. While most glosses refract light, bouncing it in different directions, Dior says the new Addict formula’s glass micro-beads and crystalline micro-particles line up to reflect light more evenly.

And they say that’s why it also makes lips appear so plump and shiny.

I do think my lips look a little plumper when I’m wearing Nuit Boréale… Not Angelina Jolie-levels of larger-than-life lusciousness, mind you. Just a tad.

And sure, the chrome shine grabs attention, but I think it’s the color that really sets this particular tube apart.

Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit Boreale Picture
Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit Boréale

Dior Addict Gloss Nuit Boreale Swatch
Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit Boréale swatch on NC42 skin

Dior Addict Gloss Nuit Boreale Swatch
Dior Addict Gloss in Nuit Boréale and goofy face!

[Continue reading…]

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 260

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The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for February 25, 2013
Taking a break from hiking at the Indian Valley Open Space Preserve in Novato, California

You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”

Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

  1. What’s a makeup brand you’ve been into lately?
    Hourglass!

  2. Dresses, skirts or pants?
    Dresses when it’s warm, pants when it’s cold.

  3. Do you like pastel nails?
    I do. 🙂 Shiny, opaque pastel nails, please.

  4. Describe one of your typical makeup looks for work?
    Typical? That’s not exactly the word I’d use to describe what I usually wear to work. As I work from home, my neighbors have seen quite a few interesting things through my office window over the years — Wonder Woman, Marge Simpson, Katy Perry, Katniss Everdeen and a whole ton of stuff involving a chubby tabby cat.

    I always seem to get caught/noticed when I’m testing multiple products at the same time, which I do a lot, I’ll be sitting at my desk with, say, cat eyes and a bright cheek on one side of my face and smokey eyes and bronzer on the other.

    If I had a nickel for every time the postman saw me looking completely insane (I’d have a LOT of nickels)…

  5. Rainbow suspenders?
    Um, no. Not unless I’m starring in Office Space, and they’re holding my 25 pieces of flair.

  6. What was the highlight of your weekend?
    Sunday, from start to finish. Sunday was an A+ day. I slept in, made breakfast (pancakes, and eggs over easy), and then El Hub and I went for a long hike around the Indian Valley Open Space Preserve here in Novato.

    It was so sunny and warm and just felt great to be outside.

  7. If you had to make a major life change, would you prefer to ease your way into it and take baby steps, or dive in all at once?
    All at once. I’d rather just get it over with.

  8. Where were you in 1999?
    I was in my early 20s, living in San Francisco and working as a legal assistant at a law firm.

    Not one of my favorite years… I felt like I was in constant upheaval, starting with the move to the city, living with roommates I didn’t know before moving in with them, working at a job I didn’t particularly like. Bluh.

  9. What’s something you’re grateful for today?
    Sunshine! It makes everything better.

  10. Write yourself an nice note.
    Karen, “Remember, one thing at a time. Don’t give up. You can do it.” 🙂

To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le List

1. What’s a makeup brand you’ve been into lately?
2. Dresses, skirts or pants?
3. Do you like pastel nails?
4. Describe one of your typical makeup looks for work?
5. Rainbow suspenders?
6. Highlight of your weekend?
7. Do you prefer taking baby steps or diving in all at once?
8. Where were you in 1999?
9. Something you’re grateful for today?
10. Write yourself a nice note.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 232

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Tabs in Les Chat Miserables

A RELAXING TIME: PART 8
by Tabs the Cat

The werewolves took off at a full sprint in that direction, barking, growling and leaping over downed branches. Wracked with worry for the gray cat but feeling powerless to help him, Tabs watched the wolves go until they were too far into the forest to see them.

“Mrrrrrrowww!” the gray cat had said. Help me! Please help!

Tabs had to do something.

He stood up for the first time in what seemed like hours but was really only a few minutes. Compressed as he’d been while the werewolves were searching, he was retaining some of his body heat, but the full force of the chilly wind dug deep into the downy fur of his soft underbelly now that he was standing.

The plank Tabs had used to climb up to the windowsill, and from there up to the roof, was almost directly below him on the ground, which was covered by pine needles. Lot of good that’ll do me now, Tabs thought.

The roof was long and wide and, except for a chimney and a few air conditioning units, completely empty. Tabs wondered if there might be another way down, maybe a fence he could hop down to or a stack of boxes or something somewhere on the other side.

He scampered along the edge of the roof, looking for anything he could use to climb down.

Deep in the forest, something roared. It was deep and strong and powerful. It sounded huge!

What the heck was that!?

Then, the werewolves were howling. Tabs looked but couldn’t see anything. The wolves were howling and barking and yipping. And there was something else, too. Yelping. Something was yelping in what sounded like pain.

The gray cat?

The fierce battle raged like thunder for three seconds, and then it stopped.

After that, nothing.

A minute passed. The next sound Tabs heard was his own exhaling. He’d been holding his breath.

He shook violently now, from both terror and temperature, and breathed in fits and starts.

Tabs thought he heard something at that moment, a brief groan from somewhere off in the forest, but he listened hard for it and didn’t hear it again.

He did hear something else, though, a distant whump-whump-whumping that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time, and it was getting progressively louder.

“Mrow!” Tabs exclaimed. Helicopter!

— TO BE CONTINUED —

To follow our story from the beginning…

Tabs in Life of Tabs

Tabs in Lincoln's Cat
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Two Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card From Sephora!

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WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is CS! Congratulations, CS! 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
Two Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card From Sephora!

Greetings, fellow makeup lover! I hope you’re doing well. 🙂

Not a lot happening out my way. I’m not sure where Tabs is right now (probably wreaking havoc somewhere), but I’m getting ready to run on the treadmill, then do some housecleaning (bluh), and then hopefully head to brunch.

Blueberry pancakes, here I come!

I also plan to rut around in my makeup collection to look for long-forgotten gems. Do you ever do that? I recently rediscovered some really great old-school hits that fell off my radarscreen, like Hourglass Exhibition (oh, hai!).

Got my fingers crossed that I find some more oldies but goodies to love anew.

Well, I don’t want to keep you. I know you have places to go, things to do and pets to assist, but don’t forget to enter this weekend’s Sephora $50 eCard giveaway. It only costs a comment and takes barely a minute or two (details down below).

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’s your current go-to eye shadow? Is there a scent that reminds you of a wonderful time in your life? What’s your favorite chick flick? You’re going to a potluck! — is there a dish you’d like to bring? Do you prefer wearing your hair up or down? Describe your warmest winter jacket. Liquid, pencil or gel eyeliner? What’s something you’d like to accomplish by summer? — 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/Zqh8xh

  • The deadline to enter is Sunday, February 24, 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 CS! Congratulations, CS! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

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