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Archives for 2013

Lancome’s Aquatic Essence Eye Palette

April 23rd, 2013 by Karen 24 Comments





Lancome Aquatic Essence Eye Palette 890

Lancome Aquatic Essence Eye Palette 610

Lancome’s Aquatic Essence Color Design Palette ($49.50) from the new Aquatic Summer collection, available now at Lancome counters and online.

What do you think of the colors?

The Lancome Aquatic Summer Collection
The Lancome Aquatic Summer Collection
Lancome Aquatic Summer Nail Polishes
Lancome Aquatic Summer Nail Polishes
There are 24 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo

Dior’s Bird of Paradise Bahia Summer Nail Lacquer Duor for Tips & Toes

April 23rd, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments




Dior Bird of Paradise Bahia Summer Nail Lacquer Duor for Tips & Toes 890

Dior Bird of Paradise Bahia Summer Nail Lacquer Duor for Tips & Toes closeup

Dior’s Bird of Paradise Bahia Summer Nail Lacquer Duor for Tips & Toes, $29. Available now at Dior counters and online.

Dior Bird of Paradise Bahia Summer Nail Lacquer Duor for Tips & Toes 610

There are 18 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty

The Franco Sarto Farley Wedge Towers Above the Rest, Takes Spring and Summer Looks to New Heights

April 22nd, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

Franco Sarto Farley Wedges
Turning heads is an easy feat for feet wearing these teal Franco Sarto Farley Wedges…

Do I really need another pair of shoes?

No.

But years from now when I look back on my life I want to be able to say that drag queens and David Lee Roth circa 1984 (the Jump era) would have approved of my footwear.

There will come a day when my arches will fall and I’ll only be able to comfortably wear lunch lady flats and sandals (sigh…), but until that day, as long as I can, I will always choose the funnest shoes for every occasion (well, most of the time).

Like these teal Franco Sarto Farley Wedges I picked up at DSW a while back.

Franco Sarto Farley Wedges
Teal + gray skinny jeans = YES!

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There are 16 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Fashion, Product Reviews

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick

April 22nd, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick Review
Dear Bobbi Brown, your Foundation Stick totally rocks. Heart you! -Karen

A girl’s gotta have options, ya know?

Well, I do. I like having ’em — that’s for sure.

I’m the gal who shows up for a flight at the airport with a suitcase dedicated to black shoes (and yet when it comes to purses, why do I try to fit everything into one?).

Guess I like being prepared…

And when I find single products that provide me with options, they’re like beauty gold! — or beauty pirate treasure, as in the case of Bobbi Brown’s Foundation Sticks.

When it comes to foundation, I also like options. The more the merrier. Options for different occasions, like tinted moisturizer for casual days, medium-coverage liquid foundations for weekdays, full-coverage stuff for pictures — and don’t even get me started about finishes and textures; we’ll be here ’til the next season of The Walking Dead.

Since I found Bobbi Brown’s $43 Foundation Stick in Honey (my shade, and one of 20 available now in Bobbi’s permanent line on counters and online), I haven’t wanted to use anything else.

I’ve worn it every day this month because, in a nutshell, it rocks. 🙂

Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Honey (a good equivalent to MAC NC42)

One of Bobbi’s top makeup artists, Marc Reagan, introduced me to it at the Saks Fifth Avenue Bobbi Brown Master class a few weeks back, referring to it as “one thing every woman needs in her makeup bag.”

Homeboy was SO RIGHT! I’m this close to sending him a fruit basket with a note that reads, “Thank you for changing my life!”

First of all, it’s like Mr. Fantastic (read: flexible). Because it’s able to go from sheer to full coverage in the blink of an eye, it’s basically like getting a bunch of different face products in a single creamy stick.

Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Honey
Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Honey, $42

Say I want a sheer look like a tinted moisturizer — very light coverage. I’ll just load a fan brush with product directly from the stick. And when I want a more polished look for pics or events — medium to full coverage — I’ll use a flat foundation brush instead.

Oh, and it even doubles as concealer! To disguise the little darkened, post-acne spots I have on my chin, I swipe a synthetic sponge across the tip, which I then pat wherever I need extra coverage. If I need a touch-up later in the day, I just reapply on top of whatever else I happen to be wearing, since it layers like a boss on top of cream and powder products.

I almost can’t trick the stuff. No matter how I wear it, I think it looks like real, skin because it has one of those matte finishes with a bit life to it. It’s not completely flat.

It also never, ever feels heavy or like it’s suffocating my pores, and it doesn’t oxidize. It lasts on my combination dry/oily skin all day long, but I’m not sure how it would fare on super oily skin types… I have a feeling the creamy formula might scoot away.

Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick Honey Swatch
Swatch out! It’s Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Honey…

Seriously, I have no idea how I made it through my days without this (well, I do, but you know what I mean). I love it.

Cat lady things, part 3,623

Thought you might appreciate this book my cat lady friend Heidi gave me as a gift last week.

(I started reading it to Tabs, but he wasn’t amused…) 🙂


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There are 19 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Bobbi Brown, Face, Makeup, Product Reviews, Unsung Heroes

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 268

April 22nd, 2013 by Karen 84 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for April 22, 2013

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 the first thought that crossed your mind this morning?
    “I can sleep for 10 more minutes…” Let me tell ya, I did not want to get up this morning. I would have kept hitting the snooze button if it hadn’t been for Tabs, who was aggressively up in my grill begging for breakfast.
  2. Have you been reading anything lately?
    The Great Gatsby. Re-reading it. I want to get through it before the new Baz Lurhmann version comes out with Leo.

    I’ve also sort of committed to reading some of the classics again this year — you know, the things they made us read in school. If you have any favorites, please let me know!

  3. When was the last time you wore false lashes?
    Valentine’s Day.
  4. What are your three secrets to happiness?
    1. To pick your battles carefully (in other words, you can’t win ’em all or do everything)
    2. To look for silver linings everywhere
    3. To adopt stray cats 😉
  5. Do you prefer eye shadow palettes or single pans?
    OOH! So tough. Well, for traveling, definitely palettes, but if I’m not going far from home, then single pans.
  6. What’s one of your imperfections that you cherish?
    I’m probably a little more — okay a lot more! — emotional than many folks, and it’s kind of a pain in the @ss, because I take everything to heart. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve cried in front of strangers on trains/on the phone/at the supermarket/etc. because of something small, and it’s a struggle sometimes to keep it together.

    But at the same time, I’m thankful for my emotions. I think they help me empathize with others and express myself creatively.

  7. Has a skincare product ever changed your life?
    Skinceuticals C E Ferulic has. It’s been a minor miracle for me. Since I started using it, my skin definitely feels smoother, I get fewer breakouts around my chin, which is one of my troubled spots, and I think my skin tone just looks more even.

    Love the stuff!

  8. Do you like your hair better long or short?
    For the most part, long. It depends. I go through phases, but I always return to long.

    I like keeping my hair short, too, but weirdly it’s so much more work. I can’t just ignore it when it’s short. I have to style it, but when it’s long, I can just throw it in a bun or ponytail and not have to think about it. Plus, when it’s cold in winter, longer hair sure keeps my head and neck warmer.

  9. Is there something you’re currently lemming?
    Yargh, the YSL Summer collection. I keep thinking about the quads and the new Manifesto perfume…
  10. Write yourself a Post-It note:
    “Be bold, take risks, and do not be afraid to fail!”

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

Le List

1. What’s the first thought that crossed your mind this morning?
2. Have you been reading anything lately?
3. When was the last time you wore false lashes?
4. What are your three secrets to happiness?
5. Do you prefer eye shadow palettes or single pans?
6. What’s one of your imperfections that you cherish?
7. Has a skincare product ever changed your life?
8. Do you like your hair better long or short?
9. Is there something you’re currently lemming?
10. Write yourself a Post-It note:

Give yourself a big hug for me today. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 84 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

It’s a Bling Thing

April 22nd, 2013 by Karen 26 Comments







Tabs insisted that I buy him this blingy new collar from Petco.

There are 26 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 240

April 21st, 2013 by Karen 9 Comments

Hello kittens,

My loves, as you can tell from my pic, I’m 1) dripping in diamonds (don’t you just love the bling?) and 2) absolutely and completely exhausted.

I’ve been working overtime this weekend, and it hasn’t all been gravy and naps. I had to practice posing in all of the windowsills at home — you know, to give the neighbors a good show — and also just for practice.

Then I put together this extra special list of possible Mother’s Day gifts for my favorite cat moms (like you!).

Yup, Mother’s Day is right around the corner (May 12), and while I’m not a super sentimental cat, just between us…I really do like my assistant/cat mom/BFF. 🙂

This year for Mother’s Day, I think we (the cats among us), should shower our loving cat moms with affection and presents, and here are 21 kitty-inspired gift ideas for $42 or less.

As always, all my love,

Tabs

21 of the Best Feline-Focused Gifts for Cat Moms on Mother’s Day

1. Kitten Infinity Scarf, $22

For the stylish, fashion-forward cat mom who loves accessories…

Available now at the Redd Apple Etsy shop.

2. Kitty Cat Ring, $9.99

Ready to fully commit to your cat mom? Then put a ring on it with one of these kitty cat rings.

Available now at the iluxo Etsy shop.

3. French Lavender Aromatherapy Cat Eye Mask, $26

Treat your cat mom to a few minutes of well-deserved “meow” time with this black satin cat eye mask filled with organic lavender flower buds harvested from the South of France.

Available now at the Naomilingerie Etsy shop.

4. Crazy Cat Lady Wayfarer Glasses Tank, $23


[Continue reading…]

There are 9 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Tabs Keywords: tabs

Guerlain’s Météorites Perles Les Ors Primer

April 21st, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments





Guerlain Météorites Perles Les Ors Primer from the Terra Ora collection for summer 2013

Guerlain Météorites Perles Les Ors Primer from the Terra Ora collection for summer 2013

Guerlain’s Météorites Perles Les Ors Primer, $71. From the new Terra Ora summer 2013 collection.

Guerlain Météorites Perles Les Ors Primer from the Terra Ora collection for summer 2013

Guerlain Météorites Perles Les Ors Primer from the Terra Ora collection for summer 2013

There are 16 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog

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

Makeup and Beauty Blog features daily product reviews, makeup tips and beauty news — like an interactive version of a monthly print magazine, except with occasional pictures of my cat.

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