Archives for 2014

IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME! 7 Ways to Get More Makeup in Your Life ($355 Value, International Only)

January 3rd, 2014 by Karen 745 Comments

This giveaway is strictly for my makeup buddies outside the US. 🙂

I did my best to put together a kick-@ss package for you gals (and guys). It’s my way of saying “thank you” for visiting MBB and for spending time with me and Tabs. Even though we’re many miles (or kilometers) apart, it feels like we’re neighbors.

The prize? $355 in products from some of my favorite brands! — like MAC, Benefit, Too Faced, Stila, Laura Mercier and Hello Kitty.

I wish I could get every sponsor to include you gals overseas, but sometimes they can’t/won’t. I do try, though. I want you to know that I appreciate and love you. I’ve known many of you for years (you know who you are!). Thank you, as always, for helping to make this little corner of the Internet a better place.

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. You can read the full terms and conditions there, but here’s the gist of it: the giveaway is open to international readers only — no U.S. readers for this one, as the 12 Days of Giveaways series was closed to international readers. Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on January 10, 2014.

MAC Woodwinked Eye Shadow ($15)
MAC All That Glitters Eye Shadow ($15)
Benefit Fine One One ($30)
Benefit Bella Bamba Ultra Plush Lip Gloss ($16)
Benefit Hoola Ultra Plush Lip Gloss ($16)
Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Nylon Lash Extension System ($35)
Too Faced Beauty Blogger Darlings Set ($20)
Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer ($30)
Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($20)
Laura Mercier Lingerie Collection Eye & Cheek Palette ($60)
Stila Color Me Glossy Lip Glaze Set ($28)
Stila Color Outside the Lines Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner Set ($34)
Hello Kitty Say Hello Eyeshadow Palette in Wild Thing ($36)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup-Loving Astronauts Aboard the International Space Station Report That Guerlain’s New Météorites Blossom Spring 2014 Collection Has Entered Earth Orbit

January 3rd, 2014 by Karen 20 Comments

Guerlain Météorites Pearls in 03 Medium

Guerlain spring 2014, girlfriend!

All I have to say is “SWOON.” They reformulated their Meteorites Pearls highlighters — you know, the multicolored makeup marbles that look like hard candies? — and they designed the entire 14-piece Météorites Blossom spring 2014 collection around them.

The new pearls, which you’re supposed to swirl together with your brush and then apply, use something called “stardust technology.”

How very sci-fi-ish of the marketing department. 🙂

The new formulation is supposed to be even more luminous than before, and better at brightening and disguise…

Hello! — I am so totally down with both those things. Right now I look and feel like I could use 10 years of sleep, which is what I get for staying up too late watching Breaking Bad (watch it!).

Back to the pearls…

There are three new permanent line shades, with each one made for a specific task. The first, 02 Clair, which is shown here, corrects redness with green pearls while champagne and white pearls illuminate.

The second one is 03 Medium, a neutral combo of beige, champagne and peach pearls designed to make skin glow.

And the third new one, 04 Dore, has chocolate-colored, fuchsia and beige pearls for smoldering radiance.

Review coming soon…

Each pack of pearls is $60, and they’re available now with the rest of the 14-piece Meteorites Blossom spring collection (other than the pearls, there are shadows, a brow kit, blushes, a mascara, two lipsticks, one lipgloss, a nail polish and a brush) at Guerlain counters and online.

My, What a Beautiful Bottle: Balenciaga’s New Rosabotanica Eau de Parfum

January 3rd, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Is it weird to like a perfume because of the bottle? How ’bout the bottle and the box? ‘Cause truth be told, they’re my favorite things about Balenciaga’s new Rosabotanica Eau de Parum. I love the way it looks on my dresser.

Bee-yoo-tee-full…

I wear the original Florabotanica all the time (love that mint note!), which is why I wanted to give this new version a sniff.

Like the original, it has notes of rose, but in place of the mint, the fragrance gets its kick from spicy pink pepper. As the fragrance dries down, it takes on a warm creaminess.

I like it. But I love the bottle. 🙂

“The fragrance opens with crystalline floral accents of hyacinth and creamy green notes of fig leaf, refreshed by the natural green character of petitgrain. The experimental rose offers bright vegetal notes while sparkling, slightly bitter drops of grapefruit and fresh spicy notes of pink pepper and cardamom enhance its personality. The white ambery dry-down is cleared by a structure of vibrant and luminous white woods, made of cedarwood, vetiver and patchouli with clean woody notes.”

— neimanmarcus.com

The scent seems very intimate and kinda naughty to me, like it should be worn with Agent Provacateur lingerie in an expensive hotel room.

Very cool…and unlike your dime-a-dozen fruity florals (yawn). Worth a sniff if your nose likes complex scents, a la Frederic Malle and Tom Ford.

It’s available now at Neiman Marcus stores and neimanmarcus.com.

7 Ways to Win a $100 Gift Card From Ulta Beauty and $29.97 in Products From the COVERGIRL Bombshell Collection! (Ends Monday, Jan. 13)

January 3rd, 2014 by Karen 420 Comments

You know how in every group of gal pals, each gal kinda has her own role? You’ve got the mother hen, the braniac, the tomboy, etc.

Me? I usually fall into the role of “the funny one,” or “the weirdo writer.”

I always thought it would’ve been fun to be the one all the boys flocked to, aka “the sexy one,” but alas, seduction was never my forte.

I seriously could not seduce my way out of a paper bag. (Remind me to tell you about the time I dove into the ocean without my glasses or contacts on and swam away from a cute guy…who ended up being El Hub.)

Even though I’m not a seductive siren by nature, I still think it’s fun to role-play, especially with makeup. It’s like stepping into someone else’s shoes for a while or playing a character for a day.

Covergirl Bombshell Collection — A few things from the new Covergirl Bombshell collection…

Characters like “The Bombshell.”

Enter COVERGIRL. This spring, COVERGIRL is channeling bombshell beauty with their vampy new Bombshell collection of cream shadows, liquid liners, mascaras, lipsticks and nail polishes in colors designed to tempt and seduce.

Which brings me to this…

You know what I’m about to say, right? 🙂

IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME!!

And mini-tutorial time, too. I’ve joined forces with Ulta Beauty and COVERGIRL this week to bring you a bodacious bombshell giveaway and a sneak-peak at a makeup tutorial I’ve been working on using products from the new Bombshell collection.

To go along with this, I’ll be posting a step-by-step coppery golden eye makeup tutorial to YouTube next week.

By the way, if any of the COVERGIRL makeup in these pictures catches your eye, all COVERGIRL products will be buy one, get one 50% off at Ulta Beauty stores and online at ulta.com from January 5-25, 2014. #ULTABombshelling

A coppery golden eye look with cat eyeliner using the COVERGIRL Bombshell collection…

Applying COVERGIRL Bombshell Shineshadow in Gold Goddess ($8.99)

Applying COVERGIRL Bombshell Shineshadow in Copper Fling ($8.99) — Blending COVERGIRL Bombshell Shineshadow in Copper Fling ($8.99) in the crease

Applying COVERGIRL Cheekers Bronzer in Copper Radiance ($4.99) — Sweeping COVERGIRL Cheekers Bronzer in Copper Radiance ($4.99) into my outer crease ($8.99)

Covergirl Bombshell Intensity Liner in Pitch Black ($8.99) — Lining my upper lash lash lines with COVERGIRL Bombshell Intensity Liner in Pitch Black ($8.99); by the way, I’m also wearing COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Brilliant Glossy Nail Color in Bombshell ($5.99) on my nails

Lining my lower lash line with COVERGIRL Bombshell Shineshadow in Gold Goddess ($8.99)

Coating my lashes with COVERGIRL Bombshell Mascara in Very Black ($11.99)

Applying COVERGIRL Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Cherry Twist ($8.99) on my lips for a daytime look

Switching to COVERGIRL Lip Perfection Lipcolor in Bombshell ($6.99) to turn up the intensity

Now, on to the giveaway!

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. You can read the full terms and conditions there, but here’s the gist of it: the giveaway is open to U.S. readers 18 and up (you must be an adult according to your local laws) and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2014.

One lucky lady or gent will win…

A $100 Ulta Beauty gift card
COVERGIRL Bombshell Shadowshine Eyeshadow ($8.99, color TBD)
COVERGIRL Intensity Liquid Liner ($8.99, color TBD)
COVERGIRL Bombshell Intensity Mascara ($11.99, color TBD)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How Long Does It Take You To Get Ready in the Morning?

January 3rd, 2014 by Karen 39 Comments

Doopdadoo...just takin' my sweet time. — Doopdadoo…just takin’ my sweet time.

For the record, I’m not exactly a speed demon in the A.M. (totally not a morning person). Couple that with my penchant for, as my mom likes to call it, “dilly-dallying,” and we’re left with something other than a model of efficiency and proper time management.

Like on a typical morning it takes me…

15 minutes — wash my face, brush my teeth, do my daily morning skincare routine and “handle some business” in my office, aka the bathroom (whatever, it’s the truth)
10 minutes — shower if I’ve exercised that morning (tack on 5 more minutes if I need to wash my hair)
5 minutes (or 20) — do my hair if I didn’t wash it the night before and it’s already curled or straightened; 20 minutes if I need to style it from scratch
20-25 minutes — makeup
15 minutes — figure out the clothing/accessories/shoes situation, and get dressed

All in all, about an hour or so, give or take 15-20 minutes, and that’s assuming I’m moving at a good clip (for me), and not getting distracted by things like the #StarbucksDrakeHands videos…

How about you? How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? 10 minutes? 45? An hour or two?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Thank you for all the great blog post ideas yesterday. Apparently, among other things, I need to do a hair tutorial, STAT. Alrighty then (she starts planning…).

What are you up to today? Tabs has me running around, per usual, and I’m also waiting for a furniture delivery because for Christmas El Hub and I got each other a new media stand from Cost Plus World Market.

Finally! No more TV on the floor…

Dude…when you and your partner start getting each other furniture for Christmas and you’re both really excited about it, I think that’s when you know you’ve reached the point of no return in your relationship, LOL!

Have a good one today. 🙂

Course Description: Makeup Stress Shopping 101

January 2nd, 2014 by Karen 22 Comments

Welcome to Makeup Stress Shopping 101, students.

Is everyone in the right class?

(Waits for a couple people to sneak out of the room…)

Excellent! Now then, in this course we’ll be discussing a tool in every harried pet assistant’s arsenal (among other busy professionals). It’s a technique in widespread use today and has grown increasingly effective as life has become more complicated and hectic.

I often employ it myself, as my other job — working as the assistant to one of the world’s top plus-size kitty supermodels — can be quite stressful.

How stressful? Well, remember Meryl Streep’s character in The Devil Wear’s Prada? Yeah, my employer is like that on a good day.

There’s a word for it — anyone? Yes, you there in the back with your hand raised.

“Diva?”

Exactly! Yes, stress shopping can be a powerful tool, but with great power comes great responsibility…

Here are five tips to get the most from your stress shopping sessions. 🙂

1. No baskets

Don’t grab a basket. Seriously, if you see a harried-looking lady covered in cat hair at Sephora awkwardly carrying hella products in her hands, FYI — that would be me.

I always try to remember this one. The logic goes like this: without a basket, I can only carry so much in my hands.

Because believe you me, with a basket, I will fill that thing until it runneth over! And that’s dangerous…

It’s a low-tech trick, but it usually keeps me from overspending (usually).

2. In person rather than online

Speaking of low-tech methods, I find that it’s always better for me to stress shop in person rather than online.

First, there’s the instant gratification (no need to wait for things to ship).

Second, I don’t know about you, but those virtual shopping baskets are DANGEROUS! — because I will fill them to their virtual brims, and then spend way too much time trying to justify the purchase.

I think it’s easier to control myself when I stress shop in person…maybe because I see what’s in front of me, instead of just chucking things into a virtual basket.

3. Leave the credit card at home, and shop with cash

Another simple, yet extremely effective method. If I don’t have the cash on hand to buy that umpteenth stick of brown eyeliner (ya know?!), then I can’t get it. That’s the rule.

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Newest Obsession: Kristin Perry Ear Cuffs

January 2nd, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

Preconceived notions shattered!

I was sure these Ear Cuffs by jewelry designer Kristin Perry would be too heavy to be comfortable, but I was wrong. Gloriously wrong… 🙂

They just looked so cool in the pics I saw online (very Hunger Games: Catching Fire) that I had to give ’em a whirl. Turns out they’re surprisingly lightweight, comfy, AND they stay in place.

This one is the Crystal Embellished Punk Rock Ear Cuff, and it’s $20. It’s available online now at kristinperry.com.

5 Permanent Line Products I’ve Been Loving Lately From MAC, NARS, YSL and Perricone MD

January 2nd, 2014 by Karen 26 Comments

Hey, gurl! Hey! Let’s talk about beauty…

Hmm… Being a day late and a dollar short to the show, I should probably stop telling people that I’m watching Breaking Bad. I mentioned it to my brother the other day, and the first thing he said was…

**WARNING** **SPOILER ALERT START** **WARNING**

The first thing he said was (STOP HERE IF YOU DON’T WANT ANY SPOILERS!)…

I’m serious! Skip this entire gray box. DON’T READ ANOTHER LINE!

The first thing he said was, “Did you get to the part where Jesse’s girlfriend O.D.s?”

Uh…No, Al. I actually had not gotten to that part. 😕

Then I mentioned it to my mother-in-law, who’s never even seen the show but heard a few things through the grapevine, and she said (MORE SPOILERS!!!), “Isn’t that the show where the guy dies at the end?”

**WARNING** **SPOILER ALERT END** **WARNING**

Yeah… Insert mouth agape [HERE].

I think it’s the universe’s way of telling me that I should stick to talking about other subjects — subjects like makeup, and these five permanent collection products I’ve been loving lately.

1. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Gloss Stain in 7 Corail Aquatique, $34

Wearing Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Gloss Stain in 7 Corail Aquatique on my lips, MAC Cantaloupe Blush on my cheeks and NARS Galapagos Eyeshadow on my eyes

So, earlier this week I go to Sephora to get a birthday gift for my mom, and wouldn’t ya know it? Two tubes of Corail Aquatique mysteriously find their way into my basket/heart.

One for Mom, one for me. 🙂

My mom is so funny… I know I’m probably going to have to encourage her to wear this light pinkish coral glossy stain, because whenever I get her anything higher end than drugstore, it usually ends up displayed in the bathroom like a fancy trophy.

She never actually wears it, LOL!

The Pur Couture glosses, which apply as a gloss but wear down to a stain, are part of YSL’s permanent line, and I’ve loved them for a while.

I’ve been putting Corail Aquatique through its paces lately.

No — literally, its paces. I wore it on my walk yesterday. I think it’s a really lovely everyday lip color.

2. MAC Powder Blush in Cantaloupe, $17

MAC Cantaloupe Blush — Cantaloupe Blush (MAC Pro)

OOOH, GURL, don’t even get me started on coral Cantaloupe Blush. As Tabs would say, It’s “purr-fection!”

As a MAC Pro product, warm pinkish coral Cantaloupe is available at Pro Stores and online (but not at regular MAC stores and counters).

Officially, it’s billed as having a Satin finish, but I feel like it looks more Matte in pics… Frankly, I don’t care what they call it, because I just call it awesome and forgiving. Really forgiving, especially when you have pores the size o’ Lake Michigan (like me).

If the Magnetic Nude blushes weren’t always distracting me, I’d probably be wearing Cantaloupe 24/7.

LOVE IT!

3. NARS Coconut Grove, $24

OK, so I’ve had rich dark chocolate Coconut Grove forever, but I only recently fell in lust with it. I’ve been going through something of a brown eyeshadow phase (there are just so many great ones out there, and they’re so versatile!), and I guess I re-discovered it.

It might also have something to do with all of the chocolate I’ve been eating lately…

Anywho, Coconut Grove — bangin’ for brown smokey eyes. It has slightest sheen — barely noticeable — but enough to keep things interesting. It also prevents it from looking like a flat brown matte.

Super pretty layered on top of black or dark brown creamy kohl pencils and cream eyeshadow bases.

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