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Makeup

Working with Bobbi Brown Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Starry Purple

September 2nd, 2009 by Karen 42 Comments

bobbi-brown-metallic-long-wear-cream-shadow-starry-purple-redux1

Despite a valiant effort to channel my inner Tim Gunn, I just couldn’t MAKE IT WORK with Bobbi Brown’s Starry Purple ($22) cream eyeshadow.

Argh!

Maybe my recent luck with Bobbi’s products (Ivy League, yo!) led me to expect too much.

Blah-chaay — that’s all I can say.

Starry Purple’s one of eight new Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadows.

bobbi-brown-starry-purple

I’m bummed because the shimmery purple, with all of its multi-colored glitter, really got me pumped! I had visions of turning out serious Purple Rain worthy looks.

Oh, well. Problem is I just can’t get the color to translate well on my lids.

It’s not a highly pigmented shadow and applies with just a whisper of color. Layering seems to punch up the purple, but not in a uniform way. The resulting application looks blotchy and uneven.
[Continue reading…]

There are 42 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup, Product Reviews

Estee Lauder Tawny Lip Pencil Plus MAC Nymphette Equals Pure Genius

September 2nd, 2009 by Karen 39 Comments

estee-lauder-double-wear-stay-in-place-lip-pencil-tawny-top

Oh, happy day, fellow Liz Lemons! I just found an *awesome* lip pencil that looks like one of my favorite MAC Lipglasses but comes in stick/pencil form.

It goes by the name of Tawny (sooo ’80s Whitesnake video); it’s a shimmery golden pink — one of the 14 new Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip Pencils ($19).

Almost a dead ringer for MAC Nymphette, yah?

estee-lauder-double-wear-stay-in-place-lip-pencil-tawny-swatch
A swatch of Tawny

I’ve always worn Nymphette all by herself, but I’ve often wished for a coordinating pencil that I could wear with it to make it last a little longer on my lips.

mac-nymphette-with-estee-lauder-tawny
Nymphette layered on top of Tawny

EL must have ESP because a base layer of Tawny totally extends Nymphette’s wear time, and because the two colors go together so well, Nymphette’s looks just as gorgeous as ever.

estee-lauder-double-wear-stay-in-place-lip-pencil-tawny-tip

Everything about this pencil rocks. The formula? Smooove, lightweight and creamy … like a lip glider.

Nymphette fans, you gotta give Tawny a try. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 39 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup Keywords: estee lauder

We’re Living in a Material World, and I’m a Benefit Matterial Girl

September 2nd, 2009 by Karen 28 Comments

benefit-matterial-girl-review-0

Happy late mornin’, ladies. 🙂 Here’s some good news to go with your afternoon tea or coffee — the makeup world’s latest gift to oily gals, Benefit Matterial Girl ($24).

Previously only available in Asia, it’s a loose, blendable mattifier — an ultra-sheer beige powder to camouflage even the greasiest patches (I use it on my forehead and nose) and create a fresh, matte look for use from dawn till dusk.

Cutie pie packaging

The pink bows on the jar had me at hello…

For starters, I love how compact it is (it fits in my palm) and that it doesn’t take up a lot of space in my makeup bag.

This bad boy takes me back…

I remember dancing to Madonna’s Material Girl (I had that shizz on tape) as a kid, rewinding for DAYS. I still hold out hope of one day being carried across a stage in a pink dress, le sigh. 🙂

material-girl

Application tips

Although it comes in just one shade, it was developed to flatter a rainbow of skin tones. I’d call it a sheer beige tint. I bet it’d work well for most gals, but I’m guessing pale-to-medium skinned beauties will be able to rock it hard.

benefit-matterial-girl-review

But if your coloring is similar to mine or darker, well, you may have to get a little creative with how you use it.
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There are 28 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup, Product Reviews

Benefit Benetint Lip Balm SPF 15 and a Quick Holla at My Girls

September 1st, 2009 by Karen 34 Comments

benetint lip balm review 1

Hi gals,

Hello and good morning — oops, more like good afternoon. I’ve been MIA because I spent the morning plastered to the couch watching The Family Stone with Tabs, my favorite blanket and a box of Kleenex.

Last night I got nada for sleep, and this morning I woke up with a migraine and an overwhelming feeling of weepy, PMS-y yuckiness. You ever have one of those days? Ugh.

I’m sure it’ll pass quickly, but for now I think I need to let it work through my system. I swear tears sometimes feel like fibrous roughage for the soul.

Of course, I couldn’t leave you hanging without a beauty fix, which is why I wanted to quickly share my new favorite lip product, Benefit Benetint Lip Balm SPF 15 ($20).

It tints lips with a hint of shiny red color, creating an effortless, easy look in seconds — perfect for minimal makeup days when you’re running errands, or when you need a mental health day involving the couch, the remote and your trusty cat/dog/iguana/etc.

benefit benetint lip balm swatch

Even with jacked-up hair, hella sketchy breath and ratty jammies (which, coincidentally, are covered in crumbs and Nutella), I feel a little better with this lightly tinted, non-sticky, ultra-moisturizing balm on my pucker.

benefit benetint lip balm review 3

I hope your Tuesday is treating you well. BRB in a few …

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 34 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup

THIS Purple Reigns: Bobbi Brown Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Starry Purple

August 29th, 2009 by Karen 46 Comments

bobbi-brown-metallic-long-wear-cream-shadow-starry-purple

G’morning, my indigo girls and violet vixens! 🙂

You know what they say — Saturday mornings are made for sparkly purple shadows like Bobbi Brown’s new Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Starry Purple ($22).

I was so entranced by it this morning that I forgot to fill my first cup of joe, and believe you me, it takes something mighty fierce to make me forget my morning caffeine.

bobbi-brown-metallic-long-wear-cream-shadow-starry-purple-swatch

Pretty, yah?

It’s one of the eight shimmery cream shadows Bobbi released for fall.

I almost got lost this morning, star gazing into the pan of shimmery deep purple. Thanks to all the glitter — green, red, purple, blue and silver flecks — I think Starry Purple has enough personality to carry off lid looks without the help of other eye products, not that she wouldn’t also complement mascara and maybe even a set of false eyelashes.

I haven’t tested it for durability, yet, but I’ll let you know how it stands up to some daily wear this weekend.

How was your evening last night? Did you do anything fun? Let’s see… We stayed in, ordered pizza and re-watched the governator and badass Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2 for the ga-jillionth time.

Speaking of science fiction, is anyone else looking forward to James Cameron’s Avatar? Have you seen the new trailer yet? Some folks on Twitter are saying that they think the special effects look too “shiny,” as in artificial. I don’t know. I like what I’ve seen.

Hope you’re Saturday got off to a faboo start. 🙂 What’s the plan for today?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 46 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup

Green Means Go: Tarte Green Siren Cheek Stain

August 26th, 2009 by Karen 21 Comments

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I suppose I could drop and do pushups to wake myself up. Then again, Tarte’s new limited edition Green Siren Cheek Stain ($30) works much faster and requires significantly less effort.

tarte-green-siren-swatch

Weightless and blendable, this shimmery golden peach cheek stain (Tarte says it’s 100% natural) delivers dewy flushes in a flash. Just a dab on the apples of my cheeks, a little blending, and 10 seconds later I’ve got a post-workout glow sans the perspiration.

I’ve worn it on bare skin and also tried it above my foundation and powder. No matter what, I think it’s always looked fab.

tarte-green-siren3

For my time-stapped girls who love quick, natural cheek looks, Tarte’s got a great option for fall. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+

Where’d the summer go?

Happy hump day, chicas. We’re half way through the week, huzzah!

It hit me today that summer is just about over… Can you believe it?!

I can handle the boots, cozy sweaters and rich colors that come with fall, but I’m nowhere near ready for a return to the cold.

How do you feel about fall? Are you starting a new semester in school or getting ready to send the kids back to class?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 21 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: tarte

Lip Look: Plum Diggity with MAC Make-Up Art Cosmetics

August 26th, 2009 by Karen 32 Comments

mac-makeup-art-cosmetics-hold-the-pose-lip-look-with-flash1
With flash

G’morning, ladies!

I was in a plummy mood last night, so while I sat on the couch watching The Closer season finale on Tivo (sidenote: ’twas sooo good!), I played with some of the plum-diggity lip colors from the MAC Make-Up Art Cosmetics collection.

This shiny golden plum lip look comes courtesy of Hold The Pose Lustre Lipstick and On Display Lipglass layered on top of Beurre Cremestick Liner.

mac-makeup-art-cosmetics-hold-the-pose-lip-look-without-flash
Without flash

I think she’ll look really pretty with a wash of shimmery taupe over the eyelid (Satin Taupe, maybe?) and some thick black cat eyeliner from Lorac! 🙂

What would you pair with this lip look?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I saw that that Benefit now has a new loose matte powder called Matterial Girl ($24, online only for now).

benefit-cosmetics-matterial-girl

I’m a total loose powder fiend!

There are 32 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup

Liquid Liner Made Easy with Lorac Front of the Line Pro

August 25th, 2009 by Karen 48 Comments

Because cat eyes aren’t just for kittehs

lorac-front-of-the-liner-pro-liner-review-eye

In the 15-year battle of Karen versus liquid eyeliner, I’ve never been able to prevail.

This fall victory is finally mine, *mwwwahahahaaa*!

Gone are the days of uneven, messy, Shakes the Clown lines, and I owe it all to the bad-assness that is Lorac’s Front of the Line Pro ($22).

Drawing crisp, dark, dramatic lines is easy-peasy with this liquid pen liner.

The genius lies in Lorac’s firm felt tip pen. It glides smoothly against skin, depositing sharp lines with precision — fantastic for cat eyeliner looks.

lorac-red-carpet-reveal-collection3

And the staying power? To die for. Front of the Line Pro lingers on lids longer than the Birthday Sex techno remix (aka the longest song EVER).

Just for fun the other day I swatched some on my hand, and it stayed for two days through multiple hand washings *and* a shower.

lorac-front-of-the-line-pro-karen
Watch out, Tabs!

Front of the Line Pro is the real deal, homies. If you love the cat eye look but haven’t been able to perfect it, you might want to give it a whirl. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

Howzit?

Chicas, I feel like this morning’s brow incident shot me into a weird alternate universe, but I think I’m finally falling back down to earth. How have things been for you on this otherwise lovely Tuesday? Any epiphanies or Elvis sightings to report? 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 48 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: lorac

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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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