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Friday Face of the Day With Warm, Orangey Bronze Eyes and the MAC Caitlyn Jenner Collection

January 13th, 2017 by Karen 11 Comments

mac caitlyn jenner orange lip k
MAC Understanding Lipstick, MAC Caitlyn Jenner collection

So, I’m writing some lists this week, and one of my lists is titled, “Colors for eye looks” and with the #MBBInstaChallenge, which you guys are kicking so much @ss on, this month is all about busting out of my comfort zone!

Right at the top of my list of eye colors that, for various reasons, I don’t reach for that often are orange and warm red, which were huge eyeshadow trends last fall.

With that in mind, I decided to do an orange/warm reddish bronze eye look today with Malibu Bronze Eye Shadow from the new MAC Caitlyn Jenner collection, because I think it goes SO well with one of my favorite eyeliners of all time, the otherworldly MAC Teddy, a bewilderingly beautiful shimmery brownish bronze, and if you don’t have Teddy in your life, YOU NEED TO GET IT ASAP.

mac caitlyn jenner eyeshadows k
Malibu Bronze and Worthy Eye Shadows on my eyes with Buddy Mineralize Skinfinish (in the crease) and Teddy Liner; and Buddy MSF and Compassion Blush on my cheeks

Today I’m all about Teddy and Malibu Bronze. I used Malibu Bronze on my lids right up to the crease (it’s very pigmented, and it buffs out easily). Then, to transition the color, I actually used a face powder from the collection called Buddy. It’s a warm brown with lots of intense golden pearl (it reminds me a lot of NARS Laguna, but it’s waaaay warmer). I stuck that in my crease to blend out the edges, and I’m also wearing it on my cheeks and across my nose as a bronzer to tie my cheeks in with my eyes.

I experimented with a few different lip looks for this…first with a warm deep red lipstick called Authentic Red, and then added a little golden gloss on top (Kindness Cremesheen).

I thought that was OK…but it seemed like a little too much for what I’ve got going on today (which is nada). Better for date night.

mac caitlyn jenner red lip k
MAC Authentic Red Lipstick with Kindness Cremesheen on top

Next I tried a nude lip using Whirl Lip Pencil, Rockit Lipstick and Beautifully Bare Cremesheen (which looks like MAC Deelight Cremesheen’s twin sis), but I feel like it looked a little unbalanced…

mac caitlyn jenner nude lip
That’s Whirl Lip Pencil, Rockit Lipstick and Beautifully Bare Cremesheen

Finally, I tried warm, creamy red MAC Understanding Lipstick (it’s an online exclusive), and voila! Balance. That’s what I finally went with.

mac caitlyn jenner understanding
MAC Understanding Lipstick

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There are 11 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face of the Day (FOTD), MAC Makeup, Makeup

Maybelline Spring 2017 Master Strobing Liquid

January 12th, 2017 by Karen 8 Comments

maybelline master strobing liquid swatches
Two of the three new Maybelline Master Strobing Liquids in Light/Iridescent and Deep/Gold

Maybelline’s new $10 liquid highlighter is some seriously hardcore disco frost! — and it isn’t for the faint of heart. No, these big bits of glitter are probably better suited for a crew heading to da club than a gang going to a playgroup.

I’d belong to the latter group, although if somebody started bumping Murder She Wrote at the playground — not gonna lie — I’d bust out the Butterfly, no shame (but I’d have to stretch first!). 🙂


Throwback to my clubbing days

I’m going to leave this product to the ladies who don’t have to deal with pores/fine lines/being over 40. If you’re interested, they’re $9.99 each and available in three super shimmery shades.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. How’s it going tonight? I’m over here trying to find something to watch on TV… Got any recs? 🙂

There are 8 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Makeup, Maybelline, Product Reviews

Just in Time for the Spring Festival, It’s the MAC Chinese New Year Collection

January 12th, 2017 by Karen 12 Comments

MAC Chinese New Year Collection
Happy Spring Festival with the MAC Chinese New Year collection!

Here’s something I learned today: Chinese New Year doesn’t fall on the same date every year. It varies! — because it’s tied to the lunar calendar…but it does always fall between January 21st and February 20th. (I think.)

Interesting, isn’t it? This year’s date is January 28th.

So happy early Gung Hei Fat Choy! 🙂

Here’s something else you may find interesting: the MAC Chinese New Year collection arrives today, and the packaging is gorgeous! (The boxes also feel velvety). Minor quibble, but I wish that MAC had done something with the design on the product themselves.

mac chinese new year collection
Eight of 10 MAC Chinese New Year products

Ooh! It’s the Year of the Rooster. Maybe they could have coupled it with that.

Remember Year of the Snake?? They did those incredible pans with the snake design?

mac chinese new year eye palette
Eye Shadow X 9 / Year of the Rooster swatches from top to bottom: Print, Copperplate, Idol Eyes, Shale, Girlie, Honey Lust, Mulch, Wedge and Sweet Lust

Lots of old faves here

Most of the items in the 10-piece collection are re-promotes, like Russian Red Lipstick ($17, a MAC classic!), Fleur Power Blush ($23 and SO PIGMENTED), Rapidblack Penultimate Eyeliner ($21, and not my fave; the tip feels too stiff).

The Eye Shadow Palette X 9/Year of the Rooster ($32) has some of my all-time favorites, including Wedge, Honey Lust, Shale and Mulch.

It doesn’t take anything away from how good they are, but if you’re a MAC die-hard fan, there’s a good chance you’ve seen these colors before. You may even have them in your collection already.

mac chinese new year blush
MAC Chinese New Year blushes: Fleur Power (top) and Dame (bottom)

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There are 12 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: MAC Makeup, Makeup, Product Reviews

Maybelline Spring 2017: Dream Illuminating Brightening Creamy Concealer

January 11th, 2017 by Karen 10 Comments

maybelline brightening creamy concealer swatches
From Fair to Deep, the new $7.99 Maybelline Dream Brightening Creamy Concealers

[whisper] I’ll admit it, when it comes to drugstore concealers, I’ve always been kind of a snob.[/whisper]

I blame it on my teenage years… I started out wearing mostly drugstore products (back in the ’90s), and I had SUCH a hard time finding face products, like foundations and concealers, that matched my skin tone.

It was a ROUGH time for tan girls back then, lemme tell you! Thank goodness we didn’t have selfies and Instagram back in the day, because I already have way too many Polaroid pictures of myself from that era with my face and under-eye area a completely different color than my neck.

Oh, and the drugstore formulas didn’t work as well as the stuff I’d find at the mall, so I’d be wearing concealer for like two seconds before it disappeared.

When it comes to drugstore face makeup, those were not the good ol’ days…

Fast forward to today, and Maybelline’s new $7.99 Dream Illuminating Brightening Creamy Concealer, which coms in six shades designed for the under-eye area.

[Continue reading…]

There are 10 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Makeup, Product Reviews

January #mbbinstachallenge Look 1 (Week of Jan. 9-15): Minimalist Skin and Bright Pink Lips

January 11th, 2017 by Karen 12 Comments

mac candy yum yum
#mbbinstachallege!

Happy hump day! OK, here’s my second look for week #1 of the #mbbinstachallenge using the same idea of a bold, colorful element on super clean skin. Lots of you are participating, and I love what you’re coming up with!

In the look I did on Monday, it felt super weird to see myself in bright eye makeup with absolutely no color on my cheeks, but it feels TEN TIMES weirder to wear bright lips today without color anywhere else on my face.

Maybe that’s because when I normally do wear a bold lip, I’m usually also glammed up?

I dunno…

But I do know that when I look at these pics, the lips REALLY STAND OUT. All I see are lips, lips, lips! ???

instagram challenge pink lips original inspo
The pic I used for inspiration…

The model in the pic above looks like she’s wearing a bright pink lipstick outlined with a slightly darker liner. I wanted a similar vibe, so I went with MAC Candy Yum Yum and NARS Costa Smeralda Velvet Lip Liner, and I kept the liner purposefully un-blended to help it show up brighter in pics.

instagram challenge mac candy yum yum
MAC Candy Yum Yum Lipstick outlined with NARS Costa Smeralda Velvet Lip Liner

Also, it looks like this model isn’t wearing any foundation or concealer or mascara, or really anything at all, but your girl doesn’t roll like that, LOL! Oh, hell no. I had to put on a little something, so I used Make Up For Ever Smoothing Primer, and then a little bit of Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum before setting everything with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural.

I’m getting so many ideas from your looks so far!

I love how precise @jewelia13’s bright lip are…

Taking part in the #mbbinstachallenge, issued by the lovely and talented Karen of "Makeup and Beauty Blog"! This week's challenge is "a look with a single bold, colorful element", which I accomplished by using Lip Ink's "Energy Red" on my top lip (lwith Urban Decay's "Mrs. Mia Wallace" lip liner) and Tattoo Junkee's "Riot" on my lower lip (with Urban Decay's "Big Bang" lip liner) for a look inspired by Mila Kunis' makeup in "Jupiter Ascending"! #mondaymotivation #selfie #boldlip #tattoojunkee #urbandecay #lipink #energyred #bigbang #greeneyes #charlottetilbury #shorthair #pixiecut #jupiterascending #instagramchallenge

A photo posted by Julia Niblock (@jewelia13) on Jan 9, 2017 at 12:45pm PST

And the glossy finish on this purple eye by @cosmetopiadigest is GORGEOUS.

Look 1 of the #mbbinstachallenge, hosted by @karenmbb, is a "bold, colourful element". I stepped out of my neutral comfort zone and used the @katvondbeauty Metal Matte #eyeshadowpalette – shades Nebula, Velour, and Glitz. As a rule, I'm iffy about bold shades, but I have sinusitis and can't go out, so I figured that this challenge was the right motivation, and the bright shades have cheered me up no end, despite the watery eyes. Do you have this palette? It has sold out online, but launched in Sephora Dubai recently and my Mum treated me to it before Christmas. Review coming soon.

A photo posted by Renu (@cosmetopiadigest) on Jan 9, 2017 at 6:13am PST

This hot pink hotness by @niteowlchef makes me smile. 🙂 (Seriously, I have got to wear hot pink shadow more often.)

And Efrain’s double-stacked liner here is making me long for summer parties!!!

Estoy haciendo el desafío de Karen de Makeup and Beauty Blog, esta semana se trataba de hacer un look con un elemento vibrante y la piel natural / I'm doing @karenmbb #mbbinstachallenge this week was a bold element on clean skin. I used for skin @lorealmakeup Pro matte foundation in 107 as spot concealer, for my under eye I mixed it with @maccosmetics Lustre drops in Sun rush, my foundation was @natura.mexico tinted moisturizer and my powder was @citycolorcosmetics HD powder. For eyes I started with a nude pencil from Oriflame and use a green eyeshadow as first liner and @sleekmakeup Lantern blush from the Pumpkin trio as second liner; for brows I used L'Oréal Brow artist in Medium dark. Last for lips I used Sierra bees Lip shimmer in Pink. It takes a village to look this natural #nofilter #guyswithmakeup #cateye #brightcolors #makeup #slay #guymakeup

A photo posted by Efraín Gómez (@efradiario) on Jan 10, 2017 at 5:29pm PST

I’m feeling inspired!

#mbbinstachallenge Week 1 One bold color. Digging out this #sugarpill yellow eyeshadow after a while. @karenmbb

A photo posted by Chris Daniela Thomas Díaz (@chrisdaniela) on Jan 10, 2017 at 6:56am PST

#mbbinstachallenge I'm so excited for this! The first challenge is bold color on clean skin. I did dark green eyeliner: @urbandecaycosmetics 24/7 Eye Liner in Mars topped with the emerald shade from the Viseart Bijoux Royal palette. Lips are @smithandcult Kissing Tiny Flowers, cheeks @narsissist Orgasm blush and @colourpopcosmetics Highly Waisted highlighter. @karenmbb

A photo posted by Kalli McQ (@kalliope) on Jan 9, 2017 at 4:00pm PST

[Continue reading…]

There are 12 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Makeup Keywords: mbbinstachallenge

The Clinique Crayola Chubby Sticks for a Comfy, Pretty Pout

January 10th, 2017 by Karen 20 Comments

clinique crayloa chubby stick
Two of eight new Clinique Crayola Chubby Sticks, $17 each and available now

What are the odds of Connor Claire getting into mommy’s makeup someday and thinking that these Clinique Crayola Chubby Sticks are, in fact, drawing implements like actual crayons?

I place the odds at about 96.543%, give or take, LOL! Mark my words, I’ll be Instagramming some crazy-@ss wall art.

Seriously, though, how cute are these? They’re basically your standard-issue Clinique Chubby Sticks for Lips — same mega moisturizing, non-sticky formula and sheer color — but in super special Crayola clothing.

clinique crayloa chubby stick swatches
Clinique Crayola Chubby Sticks in Pink Sherbert (top) and Mango Tango (bottom)

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There are 20 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Clinique, Makeup, Product Reviews

Maybelline Spring 2017 Baby Lips Color Balm Crayons

January 10th, 2017 by Karen 9 Comments

maybelline baby lips playful purple
$6.99 Maybelline Color Balm Crayon in 40 Playful Purple

Baby lips, as in the lips of wee babes, are FASCINATING. They’re so smooth and perfectly pigmented, and completely lacking vertical lip lines. I can’t believe that I had baby lips once upon a time…

Well, other than these new ones from Maybelline. 🙂 They’re called the Baby Lips Color Balm Crayons, and they’re $6.99 each and new for spring in eight shades.

Ingredients

Octyldodecanol, Diisostearyl Malate, Petrolatum, Polybutene, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Polyethylene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter / Shea Butter, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Alumina, Silica Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Aroma/Flavor, Limonene and Silica

Are they moisturizing?

These are fairly moisturizing oil-based balms, but I wouldn’t whip one out if my lips were severely chapped. They would get the job done most of the time, but I don’t think they’re as hydrating as hardcore balms like Hourglass Lip Oil or Nuxe Reve de Miel.

maybelline baby lips color balm crayon swatches
Five of the eight shades Maybelline Color Balm Crayons, from the top: 05 Toasted Taupe, 10 Blush Burst, 20 Creamy Coral, 25 Refreshing Red and 40 Playful Purple

[Continue reading…]

There are 9 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Makeup, Maybelline, Product Reviews

January #mbbinstachallenge Look 1 (Week of Jan. 9-15): My Take on Matte Bright Blue Liner With Super Clean Skin and Nude, Glossy Lips

January 9th, 2017 by Karen 11 Comments

mac blue peep fluidline
The first look is something with a bold, colorful element on super clean skin #mbbinstachallenge

Kinda springy, yeah?

Here was my original inspiration for this week’s #mbbinstachallenge look, and you don’t have to copy this. You can do anything you want based on the idea of a bold, colorful element on super clean skin.

instagram challenge blue liner original inspiration
Matte bright blue

I used an old MAC fave called Blue Peep Fluidline for the eye makeup (it’s perm!), but I did a slightly more exaggerated blue wing.

In the inspiration pic I used, it looks like the artist concentrated mascara in the middle of the models’ upper lash lines, so I added a couple extra coats in that area on my lashes, too.

The models look like they’re wearing a bronzed nude-ish pink gloss, so I grabbed another old-school MAC fave of mine, Viva Glam V Lipglass.

mac blue peep fluidline
The eye makeup is MAC Fluidline in Blue Peep and the lips are MAC Viva Glam V Lipglass

It feels a little weird to wear absolutely no color on my cheeks, since I’m always wearing a little something, like at least a touch of blush, highlighter or bronzer, but I definitely like how the absence of color everywhere else on my face makes the eye makeup pop.

Someone on Instagram asked if they could just post an eye shot or a lip shot for the challenge, and yes, of course! — that’s totally fine! You can do as few or as many looks as you want, but please don’t forget to use #mbbinstachallenge and tag me on Instagram @karenmbb so I can find you and see your looks.

Ooh! Here’s the gorgeous look Jaclyn @strongfemininity did…

Repost of @strongfemininity's #mbbinstachallenge pic. OK, now I need to try purple brows! ? ・・・ ?Warning: makeup talk. ? I'm doing the #mbbinstachallenge with Karen from the Makeup and Beauty blog!!! This week the challenge is to do a makeup look with 1 bright color element + clean skin (I guess that means no blush?). I cheated and did 2 colors because otherwise I think neutral lips look really weird on me. ? This challenge was the perfect excuse to try colorful eyebrows. I used a dark purple eyeshadow powder from #Maybelline then topped it with some purple #Avon lipstick I have. Then, since I can't let a good thing go, I used the purple lipstick as eyeliner for a long wing. I also have hot pink Avon lip stain on my lips because I'm the boss of me. Foundation is #Fitme by Mabelline and #neutrogena mineral powder. Filter is #clarendon. ? Then I posed in my curtains because that's not weird, you're weird. The end. Back to our normally scheduled lifting program. ?

A photo posted by Karen | Makeup and Beauty Blog (@karenmbb) on Jan 9, 2017 at 1:43pm PST

And Lily @itsmrsspurgeon looks amazing with her makeup and hair!

If you are not following @karenmbb and her amazing blog, Makeup and Beauty Blog, then you are not living! She's doing #mbbinstachallenge , challenging her followers to get out of their beauty routines and do something different. Today is one bold element to your makeup look.. can you guess mine? (BTW my hair is a little darker because I went purple.) #mbbinstachallenge

A photo posted by Lily S (@itsmrsspurgeon) on Jan 9, 2017 at 1:15pm PST

To participate

  1. Any day during each week, do your own interpreation of that week’s look, and take a picture of it with your phone or other camera.
  2. Post the pic on Instagram! — and be sure to include #mbbinstamakeupchallenge, and you can also tag me at @karenmbb. That way we can search and find each other!
  3. And if you aren’t on Instagram, leave a comment on this post and a link to your makeup picture.

DISCLAIMER: this is not a judgy, serious, instense or stressful competition. This is strictly for fun and to get out of our makeup comfort zones a little, which is why I threw a couple of wackier looks into the mix. For me, it’s easy to always fall back on the same looks ALL THE TIME, so this is just an excuse to have fun and try new things.

Don’t be afraid to completely fail. No matter what (seriously), at least you’ll be able to say that you did something different and expressed yourself creatively. No big deal. Plus, it’s just makeup. It’s not a permanent commitment or anything. 🙂

Reeeeeeeeally excited about roasted vegetables

In other news, guess who’s on a roasted vegetables kick.
[Continue reading…]

There are 11 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Makeup Keywords: mbbinstachallenge

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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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