• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To MakeupMakeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
    • Advertising & Media
  • Categories
    • Product Reviews
    • Makeup
    • Skincare & Fragrance
    • Style & Fashion
    • Hair
    • Nails
    • Tips & Tutorials
    • Just for Fun
  • Brands
  • Store

Just For Fun

The Year in Review: 20 of My Favorite Makeup and Beauty Blog Posts of the Year

December 31st, 2011 by Karen 9 Comments

Some of my favorite posts of 2011

According to my blogging software, I clicked the “Publish” button on exactly 1,770 blog posts in 2011, and at an average of about 300 words each, that’s about half a million words!

I wish I could say that I remember writing most of those posts, but yeah, no way. A few of them do stand out, though, like these 20, which were some of my favorite posts of the year.

MAC Wonder Woman CollectionAre You a MAC Wonder Woman?

A visit to Urban Decay HeadquartersA Tour Through the Urban Decay Offices in Newport Beach

MAC Evolution Revolution LipglassI Love MAC Evolution Revolution Lipglass

12 ways to wear MAC Evolution Revolution Lipglass12 Ways to Wear MAC Evolution Revolution Lipglass

Bobbi Brown 1991 Lip PaletteThe Bobbi Brown 1991 Lip Palette

Urban Decay Naked2 PaletteSaying Hi to The Urban Decay Naked2 Palette

Lessons learned from going away to collegeLessons learned from going away to college

NYX Slide On Eye LinerNYX Slide-On Eye Liners or Urban Decay 24/7 Pencils?

Essie French Affair CollectionThe Essie French Affair Collection

Benefit Watts Up Face HighlighterBenefit Watts Up Face Highlighter

[Continue reading…]

There are 9 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Beauty Tips, Just For Fun, MAC Makeup, Makeup Keywords: best of 2011

Two Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora!

December 31st, 2011 by Karen 438 Comments

  • WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Jackie! Congratulations, Jackie! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

Win a $50 gift card from Sephora
When was the last time you went dancing on New Year’s Eve? For me it was probably a few years ago at a bar/nightclub called Rafters in San Rafael. Rafters ended up shutting down a few months after that, and I’d never gone there any other time, but that New Year’s Eve was probably the most fun I’ve had in years.

The dance floor was packed with people of all ages (and mylar balloons with the words, “Happy New Year!”), and everyone was smiling, from the college kids with springy legs all the way up to shuffling couples in their seventies, rocking out to a great cover band that belted out the B-52s Love Shack, Huey Lewis’s The Heart of Rock & Roll and Stevie Wonder’s Superstition like nobody’s business, except for maybe Stevie’s himself.

It was one of those crowds where everyone was sober, or mostly sober, and there were no big egos dominating the dance floor. Just a tight-knit group of people all having fun and wishing everyone around them well.

Tonight I think El Hub and I will probably just go to dinner somewhere nearby, and then maybe try to find a place where we can park the car and watch a fireworks display. If we can find a spot along the Bay and it turns out to be a clear night, we might be able to watch the fireworks across the water in San Francisco.

That would be nice… 🙂

For this weekend’s giveaway, the last one of 2011 and the first of 2012, you can enter the same way as always, by leaving a comment about anything at all (read on to find out how to get a second entry as well), but I’d love to hear about your fondest memory of a New Year’s Eve.

A Makeup and Beauty Blog Giveaway!

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 was your fondest memory of a New Year’s Eve? Do you remember what you were wearing the last time you went dancing? What would you like to accomplish in 2012? What was your makeup/beauty highlight of 2011? — 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/uISZ9U

  • The deadline to enter is Sunday, January 1, 2012 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 Jackie! Congratulations, Jackie! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
There are 438 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun Keywords: giveaway

The Year in Review: 10 More of My Favorite Products of 2011

December 29th, 2011 by Karen 9 Comments

10 of my favorite beauty products of 2011

I was writing in my journal this morning about how we’re about to end another year, and I just can’t believe it… I know that everyone says, “Where does the time go?” but I’m serious — what the heck happened to 2011?

Remember when you were a kid and every day felt like an endless stretch of open highway with no end in sight? Years back, one of my co-workers said to me, “Karen, time passes faster the older you get.” I didn’t see it then, but dang! I sure do now.

Well, at least you and I had beauty to brighten our lives this year. 🙂

Continuing with our Year in Review, here are 10 of my favorite products (and in one case, combinations of products) of 2011. All of them are things that by virtue of winning my heart also worked their way into my regular rotation.

What would you say were some of your favorite makeup and beauty products of the year? Beyond that, how about your favorite products of 2011 in general, beauty and otherwise?

Chanel Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow in FauveChanel Ombre Essentielle Eyeshadow in Fauve

A great mascara combinationMix these mascaras for longer, thicker lashes

Dolce & Gabbana Nail Lacquer in PlatinumDolce & Gabbana Nail Lacquer in Platinum

NARS Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow BaseNARS Pro Prime Eyeshadow Base

Lululemon Athletica 50 Rep Sports BraLululemon Athletica 50 Rep Sports Bra

[Continue reading…]

There are 9 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Makeup Keywords: best of 2011

10 of My Picks for Head of the Class: A+ Makeup and Beauty Drugstore Products of 2011

December 28th, 2011 by Karen 18 Comments

Best Drugstore Makeup and Beauty Products of 2011

Going to a drugstore after a long day is one of my favorite ways to unwind. I’ll flip through a few magazines, grab an ice cream cone, and cruise the cosmetics aisle looking for a little something I can get myself as a budget beauty treat.

It’s been a ritual of mine ever since I was a teenager. 🙂

Sure, I do love department store beauty and big brands like Benefit and NARS, but some of my favorite makeup and beauty products don’t reside at stores like Nordstrom, Sephora or MAC, and that’s why I’ll always have a soft spot for drugstores. Not only because they make it possible for gals on a tight budget to look great from head to toe, but because they also make it easy to treat yourself without breaking the bank.

I came across quite a few new drugstore loves this year, and here are 10 of them, each one costing less than $10. If you’re looking for a fun, affordable way to ring in the new year, try one of these A+ drugstore gems.

ELF Nail Polish Remover PadsE.L.F. Eyes Lips Face $1 Nail Polish Remover Pads

EcoTools Bath and Shower GlovesEcoTools $3 Bath & Shower Gloves

Burt's Bees Honey & Shea Conditioning Body BarBurt’s Bees $5 Honey & Shea Body Bar

Sula Beauty Lipstick in Awake Till Sunrise$8 Sula Beauty Lipstick in Awake Till Sunrise

[Continue reading…]

There are 18 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Just For Fun, Makeup Keywords: best of 2011

10 of My Picks for Head of the Class: A+ Makeup and Beauty Department Store (and Other) Products of 2011

December 27th, 2011 by Karen 16 Comments

Best Department Store Makeup and Beauty Products of 2011

2011 was another awesome year for feline and human makeup and beauty. Along with rediscovering/falling in love again with a slew of pulse-pounding permanent products from some of my favorite lines like MAC and NARS, I also bumped into bunches of beautiful products to lurve on drugstore and department store shelves.

If you’re on the market for something special to spend a Christmas gift card on, consider one of the overachieving A+ department store products below. All of them are looking for new homes just like yours and can be found in stores now. 🙂

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush$25 Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush

Chanel Sophisticated Eye Collection Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Vanites$57 Chanel Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Vanites

Pacifica Color Quench Lip TintsPacifica $9 Color Quench Lip Tints

MAC 226 Small Tapered Blending Brush$24.50 MAC 226 Small Tapered Blending Brush

Kerastase Chroma Sensitive Cleansing Balm$42 Kerastase Cleansing Hair Balm

[Continue reading…]

There are 16 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Makeup, Makeup Tips/How To Keywords: best of 2011

Two Ways to Win MAC Eye Kohl Pencil Liner in Smolder

December 27th, 2011 by Karen 278 Comments

  • WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Melissa! Congratulations, Melissa! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

MAC Smolder Eye Kohl

If you’re a card-carrying member of Club “Smokey Eye Till I Die,” you won’t want to miss a chance to win this morning’s giveaway prize.

MAC Smolder Eye Kohl, an uber-creamy, jet black pencil liner, lines, defines and shades eyes with rich color and a silky-smooth, matte/pearl finish. A go-to color for many MAC-aholics, it has been a member of the permanent line for years.

For quick smokey eye looks with it, I’ll line my lash and water lines, lightly smear whatever happens to migrate onto my lids and below my lash lines with a pencil brush, and then layer a powder eyeshadow in a shimmery gold, silver, plum, green or blue right on top.

Get ready to smolder! — because this giveaway starts in 3-2-1… 🙂

A Makeup and Beauty Blog Giveaway!

Win MAC Smolder Eye Kohl

One lucky lady will win…

  • One (1) MAC Eye Kohl Pencil Liner in Smolder (a $15 value)

  • 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, have you ever tried tinted contact lenses? What color are your eyes? How often do you wear eyeliner? Name a song with the words “eye” or “eyes” in the title. Which type of liner do you prefer (cream, liquid or pencil) and why? — 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 MAC Eye Kohl Pencil Liner in Smolder http://bit.ly/snsKAV

  • The deadline to enter is Wednesday, December 28 (tomorrow), 2011 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).
  • 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 Melissa! Congratulations, Melissa! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
There are 278 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun Keywords: giveaway

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 200

December 26th, 2011 by Karen 45 Comments

  • 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 three years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
  1. Mood:
  2. Just peachy, thank you very much. 🙂 I’ve been enjoying spending time with my family over the past few days, not that we’ve been up to very much. Just hanging out and lots of eating, but sometimes that’s all you need, ya know?

  3. If you celebrated Christmas, what were a couple of the gifts you gave or received?
  4. I did most of my shopping for the men in my life on a snarky site called thinkgeek.com. They sell a lot of great gizmos and gadgets, like flashlights that recharge when you shake them and tiny pocket multi-tools.

    My folks got me a pretty stylish camera bag (the one up there at the top) from a company called Epiphanie. It’s padded, roomy and about a million times better than the tattered bag I’ve been toting around for the past couple of years.

  5. What’ve you been up to today?
  6. Oh, where to begin… Nothing! And it’s been great. Just hanging out with El Hub and my in-laws at their new house in Redding, a town about four hours north of the San Francisco Bay. I slept in, had breakfast (Hawaiian sweet rolls and an over-easy egg) and spent the morning writing in my father-in-law’s office while El Hub played around with a Tivo. Yup, if I keep pushing myself this hard, I’m gonna pass out! 🙂

  7. Three things you feel you’re quite good at?
  8. 1) Pinching people with my toes, 2) falling asleep on planes, and 3) looking at half-empty glasses and seeing glasses that are half full.

  9. Any plans for New Year’s Eve?
  10. Nah, not really. El Hub and I aren’t big partiers, so maybe just dinner someplace where we can see the fireworks.

  11. When was the last time you went ice skating?
  12. Hmm… I know it’s been a while. At least five years. I remember going skating with my brother at the Embarcadero rink in downtown San Francisco one afternoon.

    Boy, that was such a great day… Just me and my bro.

  13. Weekly goals:
  14. To continue eating way more than I should and to enjoy the last few days of 2011.

Super quick Monday Poll today, but I couldn’t allow myself to break the chain, what with this being Monday Poll No. 200!

Isn’t that incredible? Two hundred Monday Polls? Wow, right? That’s a pretty big number.

Our little group is getting ready to grab a bite to eat for lunch at a local diner here, but I’ll be reading your poll answers from my phone, hopefully over a plate of yummy fries…

Mmm… fries.

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



1. Mood:
2. If you celebrated Christmas, what were a couple of the gifts you gave or received?
3. What’ve you been up to today?
4. Three things you feel you’re quite good at?
5. Any plans for New Year’s Eve?
6. When was the last time you went ice skating?
7. Weekly goals:

Enjoy the rest of your last Monday in 2011. The next time we meet for one of these polls, it’ll be a brand new year. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 45 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, MAC Makeup

A Cali Kinda Christmas

December 25th, 2011 by Karen 69 Comments

Hi, cutie. Hope you’re having a great night. Just a few holiday pictures from my parents’ house.

You know me… Couldn’t keep my hands off the camera for long.


Posing with a mango and the Christmas grub


My brother brought these egg tarts


Ham for the fam
[Continue reading…]

There are 69 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 456
  • Go to page 457
  • Go to page 458
  • Go to page 459
  • Go to page 460
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 651
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

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.

Recent Posts

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 878

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 894

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 893

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 892

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 891

/* real people should not fill this in and expect good things – do not remove this or risk form bot signups */

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Featured Posts

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 771

Lady Unicorn

Weird Things I Like to Do

brows fill out beforehand

Before You Pluck or Wax Your Brows, You Must Do This

current bare skin status

What’s One Thing That Drastically Changed Your Skin for the Better?

Copyright © 2025 Makeup and Beauty Blog. Get in touch.