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What Are Your Favorite Imperfections?

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‘Cause a face without freckles is like a sky without the stars…

Last night I was listening to this song by Natasha Bedingfield called Freckles, and it got me thinking about all of the little imperfections that make each of us unique.

Some of mine actually bothered me growing up, but I’ve grown to love them now, like the little dent in the middle of my forehead (a chickenpox scar), and how my left leg is about half an inch shorter than my right.

Hey, don’t laugh! It’s a great conversation starter. 🙂

What are your favorite imperfections?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Breast Cancer Awareness Month Sign Project and Giveaway: Send in Your Sign Today!

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Good luck!

Heya, honeybears! I just wanted to show a few of the wonderful entries in The Breast Cancer Awareness Month Sign Project and Giveaway.

Look at these lovely ladies standing up to raise awareness this month! love


Kudos, Amber! [INSERT RAUCOUS APPLAUSE HERE]


Love your smile, Michelle 🙂

Kerry, you’re so creative!

The Breast Cancer Awareness Month Sign Project and Giveaway

Email or link to a picture of yourself holding your support sign (like the examples above), and leave a comment on the original post. Not only will you be showing your support for the cause, but you’ll also be entered to win a $400 prize package of makeup from MAC and Chanel.

To Enter…

  1. Take a picture of yourself with a sign that reads, “October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” Whether or not you show your face is up to you, but I think it would be great to see your lovely mug. 🙂
  2. Send it to me. You can either email it to karen@makeupandbeautyblog.com, OR post it on your blog/facebook page and leave a link to the pic in the comments on the original post, OR upload it to Twitter and send a tweet to me @karenmbb.
  3. The giveaway is open to US and international readers, but you must be the age of majority according to your country’s local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
  4. One entry per person.
  5. Deadline to enter is October 31, 2010 at 11:59PM PST.

You gotta comment on the original post to enter (and not on this post here).

Come on, ladies! Let’s raise awareness together, so send in your sign today.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Does your phone have a camera? You might be able to snap your pic and email your entry from there. 😉

Did You Ever Wear Braces?

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When you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you

I sure did, and I rocked my metal smile for eight — EIGHT! — years. Needless to say, if nature had been allowed to take its course without metallic intervention, my teeth wouldn’t look the same today (the phrase “jacked up” comes to mind).


Er, yes… those are mine

You wanna know something funny? I used to think headgear was cool. Mind you I didn’t have to wear it, but Jeff did. He was this really cute boy in my fourth grade class, and when he walked through those cafeteria doors with that huge strap hugging the back of his head — instant puppy love!

Man, I’m a weirdo…

Did you ever (or do you currently) wear braces?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Oct. 4

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  1. Mood:

    2. I’ve got a feeling (oooh, oooh) that this week’s gonna be a good week… that this week’s gonna be a GOOD week… that this week’s gonna be a good, good weeeeek! Sorry, spontaneous Black Eyed Peas moment, LOL!

  2. If you could redesign a single room at home, which room would it be, and what would you do?

    3. Er, all of them? I still have a room off the kitchen that’s absolutely empty with the exception of three big jugs of water. I’ve been living here a year and have yet to get any real furniture. Tabs got a cat tower yesterday, so apparently he’s getting furniture, but I’m not.

  3. What was the worst job you ever had?

    4. A biotech PR firm. It was long hours and uber-competitive. I felt like I was swimming with sharks, which is totally not my scene. I’m more of a “let’s all hold hands and kumbaya” kinda girl.

  4. Your favorite meal of the day?

    5. Dinner! — because it’s the only meal I get to have with El Hub. love

  5. Do you remember the last thing that made you crack up laughing?

    6. It was Tabs, last night as he tried and almost failed to shimmy his big ol’ kitty booty into the little carpeted nook in his new cat tower. Man, that cat’s got back!

  6. What’s the very first thing you do every morning?

    7. After turning off the alarm clock, I usually lie there wishing I could go back to sleep…

  7. What’s your favorite pair of shoes?

    8. My new Golden Girls boots (that’s what El Hub calls them for some reason). I picked ’em up at Marshall’s a few weeks ago. They’re comfy and go with everything!

  8. Today’s outfit?

    9. J Brand 811 jeans (seriously, the BEST skinny jeans for short chicks, EVAH!!) and a blue/purple/white print top.

  9. What’s your favorite upcoming holiday?

    10. Halloween! Not only do we get to play dress up but there’s candy and sweets everywhere you turn, YUM!

  10. Weekly goals:

    11. I should probably list productive things right here, but I really, REALLY just want to have fun. Screw productivity this week. Come on, who’s with me?!

Hey, hey, chica. How goes it? I hope you feel refreshed on this lovely Monday morning. I woke up this morning with a super positive attitude, which is always a good thing!

Before you dive into your work, can you check in with the Monday Poll?

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



1. Mood:
2. If you could redesign one room at home, which would it be, and what would you do?
3. Worst job you ever had?
4. Your favorite meal of the day?
5. Last thing that made you laugh?
6. First thing you do each morning?
7. Your favorite pair of shoes?
8. Today’s outfit?
9. Favorite upcoming holiday?
10. Weekly goals:

Have a fantastic week! Can ya give me a smile? 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 107

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Your Makeup and Beauty Blog October Horoscope
Disclaimer: Tabs is NOT a certified astrologer…but he does read Susan Miller, a lot.

Your October beauty horoscope

Aries (March 21- April 19)
Time to bust out the calming essential oils and brew a cup of soothing chamomile tea, awesome Aries. A full moon in your rising sign on October 22 might bring out your fussy side. Keep your anger in check with frequent beauty bribes. Consider treating yourself to tubes of lipstick and/or gloss (anything to help you keep your shizz together).

Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Work will be at the forefront of your mind this month, tantalizing Taurus, and you’ll be teaming up with your workmates to collaborate and get stuff done. Be sure to re-stock your work beauty drawer with essentials, like concealer, lipstick, gloss, mouthwash and a good face powder, just in case you need to pull a few late-nighters.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Get yourself a good mascara, gorgeous Gemini, and/or try to perfect your false lash application skills because you’ll be batting your lovely lashes a lot this month. Oh, and with the Sun, Mercury and Saturn all up in your Love love sector, you might feel extra flirtatious, wink, wink!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Try to focus on friends, family and loved ones this month, charming Cancer, as the Sun and Mercury in Libra move into your sectors of Home and Family. This would be a good time to host a family gathering or spend a night in with the girls (doesn’t an at-home spa day sound fun?). Kick back with facials and the Boots Botanical Conditioning Clay Mask.

Leo (July 23-August 22)
Skip the glitter this month, and (temporarily) put away your party makeup, lovely Leo (sorry, the feather boa too), because Saturn in Libra could put you in a serious mood. If it does, just go with it. Show off your serious side with muted shades, and perhaps wear your hair up in a bun (have you seen Goody Spin Pins?).

Virgo (August 23-September 22)
With Pluto in Capricorn, your love life could be cray-cray, vivacious Virgo. On the positive side, the planets in Libra will bring you GOOD timing and luck in money matters. It might not be the best time for serious makeup hauling, however, so if you feel like a splurge, exercise common sense and caution.

Libra (September 23-October 22)
You’re Ms. Popular and Powerful this month, alluring Libra. The Sun, Mercury and Saturn are moving through your sign this month, making this a powerhouse October. Since your social life will be in overdrive, be sure to keep your favorite long-wearing makeup staples close at hand.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)
This month’s all about transformative relationships, seductive Scorpio. The new moon in Libra on October 7, along with Venus in Mars, will help you be both cooperative and helpful — oh, a regular love lovemagnet, too! That, and your creativity will be at an all-time high, so spend at least one afternoon with your favorite eyeshadows and just let yourself go, whee!

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)
Keep your makeup bag packed (your favorite essentials) and ready at your side, stunning Sagittarius, because your social life will be hopping! Make room for new friends this month, and consider joining a new club or group comprised of like-minded folks.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)
Trick or treat, captivating Capricorn! Time to practice those Halloween makeup looks. Venus will be retrograding between October 8 and November 18, and with the Moon in Virgo, your best date night could be All Hallows’ Eve!

Aquarius (January 20-February 18)
Expect to be busy with social engagements, adorable Aquarius, but exercise caution when meeting new people. Keep your favorite primer on hand (gotta make your makeup last!), and keep your guard up, just in case.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)
You may have to focus a lot of your energy on work this month, pretty Pisces, and may even have to travel for your job done. Treat yourself along the way (starting now) with mini-makeup brushes, or maybe a quick spa treatment before things get too crazy. 🙂

May the stars be with you,

Fill in Your Brows in the Open Thread

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The case of the missing MAC Concrete!

Oh, where, oh, where could my pan of MAC Concrete be?

Oh, where, oh, where could she be?!?

I gotta go to the MAC store later today (twist my arm, why dontcha!) because — yup, you guessed it — I lost my pan of MAC Concrete eyeshadow. 🙁 And, yes, I’m stressed out. Concrete and I have a long standing relationship — almost 10 years, can you believe it?

A little back story: Concrete’s a dark, cool-toned matte brown eyeshadow (with gray undertones) from MAC’s permanent line, and it’s fantastic for filling in brows, particularly if you have dark hair (babes with lighter hair, you might want to check out MAC Omega eyeshadow instead).

I have what I like to affectionately call “ghost brows.” At the sides closest to my nose, they’re full, but they thin out as they move toward my ears. I fill the sparse areas using Concrete and MAC’s small-angle brush, the 266. It’s easy, I can do it super fast, and the results last all day long.

Brows frame the face, and well-kept brows can really make the rest of your makeup POP! — like a pretty frame makes a painting or a poster POP!

I feel that as long as my brows are filled in, I can get away with skipping the rest of my makeup if I have to. Duuuuuude, a polished set o’ brows makes a huge diff in your overall makeup look.

Without Concrete, a dark eyeshadow or a brow powder, you can improvise MacGyver-style with an eyeliner. I like Yves Saint Lauren Eye Pencil liner in Leather Brown. I fill in the sparse parts using short upward strokes, and then mellow out the color (because pencils can look harsh) by brushing through the whole brow with a lash comb.

Before I head to the MAC counter, though, we gotta catch up! I feel like I haven’t had the chance to talk to you in forever. What’ve you been up to? What’s new? And, most importantly (LOL!), what do you use to fill in your brows? Share your secrets in the open thread.

Makeup and Beauty Blog Open ThreadIf you’re new to the open thread, here it is in a nutshell:

It’s a chat fest that takes place in the comments at the bottom of this post. Feel free to talk about anything — makeup, pets, music movies, you name it!

Except for an errand or two, I’ll be around all day long, so stop by if/when you can. See you inside!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

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The Makeup and Beauty Blog Weekly Roundup

Four days, 12,000 miles, 10 pounds of gelato and a blog, DAMN! I still can’t believe I was in Milan this week. It was such a quick trip, but I hope you felt a little like you were there with me. A few weeks ago if you’d told me that Dolce & Gabbana would invite me to Milan to cover their Fashion Week show, I would have said, “Oh shut the front door!” And can I bring my cat?

What makeup have you been obsessing about lately, and what were some of the products on your mind (and your eyes) this week? Here’s some of the stuff we talked about around here.

Dolce & Gabbana, Milan Fashion Week, Summer 2011DOLCE & GABBANA MAKEUP
MILAN FASHION WEEK, SUMMER 2011

You know how sometimes you see a look come down the runway and you’re like, “Whoa! Where the heck did that beam down from? Enterprise, do you read me?”

Take the orange eyeshadow makeup artists sent Tom Cruisin’ down the catwalk in New York not long ago. Don’t get me wrong — I lurves me some brights, and I’m all for artistic expression when it comes to le war paint, but it’s also nice to see runway looks I might actually wear in real life. Read more…

Dolce & Gabbana Ethereal Beauty CollectionDOLCE & GABBANA MAKEUP
ETHEREAL BEAUTY COLLECTION, HOLIDAY 2010

Oy, what a relief! My poor luggage found its way home last night, none the worse for wear, and when I busted it open, BAM! Tabs jumped inside. 🙂

Somehow he even knew which compartment held the Dolce & Gabbana Ethereal Beauty Collection products for holiday 2010.

I’ve been meaning to swatch these for you for days! Most of the colors in the 15-piece collection, a collaboration between makeup artist Pat McGrath and designers Dominico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, are totally new. Only two of them, Volumizing Lashes in Black ($29) and Intense Nail Lacquer in Pink 100 ($20), are re-promotes from the permanent line.

None of the products, which arrive at Saks Fifth Avenue stores in mid-October, are exactly bargains, unfortunately, but the prices are typical for a luxury line, ranging from $20 at the low end all the way up to $59 at the top. Read more…

Guerlain 6 Couleurs Eye Shadow PalettesGUERLAIN 6 COULEURS
EYE SHADOW PALETTES

“Nobody does luxury like Guerlain, but not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined something as glamorous as their new Écrin 6 Couleurs eye shadow palettes that came out this fall. The pictures speak for themselves: just look at that filigree cover, the little bee (symbol of Guerlain that dates back to XIX century) on it, and the large beautiful mirror that opens up to the side of the palette. It was only appropriate to name each of the five palettes after a Guerlain boutique in Paris!

The one I ended up buying is named after Guerlain’s flagship boutique at 68, Avenue des Champs-Elysées. My choice was partly due to the fact that I like purple and don’t have enough grays, and partly because I really like the thought of looking at Champs-Elysées in the morning…” Read more…

$6 Goody Spin Pins$6 GOODY
SPIN PINS

Goody Spin Pins ($6), ohmahgawd, they’re awesome. I brought a pair with me on my trip last weekend based on your recommendations, so thank you — you were so right!

They’re basically these beefed up, coiled metal bobby pin-like doohickies (two per pack) for securing your hair into a bun; Goody says each one does the work of 20 bobbies (no, not the ones in law enforcement), and they come in two shades, one for lighter hair and one for darker. Each pack comes with two pins. Read more…

MAC Blot Powder/PressedMAC BLOT
POWDER/PRESSED

What’s up, friend? This post is getting to you kinda late, I know, and I’m sorry. Long story short, but my flight was delayed out of Milan yesterday. Consequently, I almost missed the connecting flight out of Germany to get back home (NOTE: If you’re the person I steamrolled in the international terminal of the Frankfurt airport yesterday…my bad!).

I managed to make the flight (YEA!), but my luggage didn’t (BOO!). And, of course, it contained all of the makeup I was hoping to dish about today — stuff from Dolce & Gabbana Holiday, Kiko, Madina and a brand called Fred Farrugia.

Thankfully, the airline emailed to say they found the bag and put it on the first train plane home. Read more…

Burt's Bees Cranberry & Pomegranate ScrubBURT’S BEES CRANBERRY & POMEGRANATE
SUGAR SCRUB

I find it both hilarious and totally fitting that Burt’s Bees Cranberry & Pomegranate Sugar Scrub ($13 for an 8-oz. jar) has a warning on the label that reads, “do not consume.” Seriously, they have to tell you not to eat the product because it looks and smells THAT good — like a jar of berry-licious preserves or a sugary frozen treat.

I dug into it when I jumped in the shower after I got home from the airport last night. I noticed on the list of ingredients (it’s 100% natural) that it contains a BUNCH of different oils, among them soybean, coconut, cranberry, olive and grape seed. The Zia Skin Basics Bamboo Exfoliant I was happily using last week just didn’t seem hydrating enough to restore the moisture that had been sucked from my skin by the recirculated air on the plane.

Sugar, soybean oil and cranberry oil are the top ingredients, and I swear I can feel all three. The product’s certainly rich, yet I can still feel the tiny grains of what I assume are sugar. They do have some grit to them, but they’re nowhere near as painful abrasive as the grains in Zia’s Bamboo (they may get the job done but feel like torture in a tube!). Read more…

Prestige Total Intensity EyelinersPRESTIGE TOTAL
INTENSITY EYELINERS

“Is there such a thing as too many eyeliners? I have a zillion yet I still want more. I’d always thought Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils were the smoothest liners ever with their vegan, to-die-for formula, but I think I’ve found some close competition. 🙂

Not long ago I discovered the Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliners at Ulta. My local Ulta, however, didn’t have testers. Being obsessed with color, I took a chance and picked up three of them!! For a mere $5.50 apiece, they seemed like drugstore dupes of the Urban Decay eyeliners. Luckily, all of them are super creamy, have excellent pigmentation and DO NOT budge once they’ve set. Prestige Cosmetics claims they’re paraben-free too, so what’s not to love?” Read more…

ELF Studio Powder BrushE.L.F. STUDIO
POWDER BRUSH

I have a confession to make… even though I’m a beauty blogger and people expect me to look nice all the time, sometimes I’m just too lazy to apply foundation. This is especially true when I’m rushing to get ready for class in the morning. But then I discovered powder foundation and my life was complete… except that I didn’t have the right tool to apply it.

See, most powder foundations come with those sponges that I don’t like for two reasons — they’re hard to clean, and most people never wash them anyway. So I tried a kabuki brush, which can easily be washed, except that the short stubby handle meant I couldn’t put it in my brush organizer with the rest my brushes. Read more…

The Breast Cancer Awareness Month Sign Project and GiveawayBREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
SIGN PROJECT & GIVEAWAY

Hi, ladies. As many of you know, breast cancer has touched my family, as it has many of yours. It’s something I think about all year long, but especially when October rolls around.

For the past two years I’ve run donations for breast cancer charities, but this year I’d like us to try something different — an e-rally of sorts.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is about many things — remembering friends and family, promoting the importance of early detection, helping to raise funds for research and treatment, and standing in support of those affected by the disease.

That’s why I made the sign you see at the top of this post. It’s one easy way to say, “We’re all in this together, and I’m here with you.” Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Are There Any Lipglosses You Find Yourself Buying Over and Over Again?

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Short answer: hell-to-the-yeah. I couldn’t even wager a guess at how many tubes of MAC Nymphette I’ve bought over the 10 years I’ve known her, but it must be in the double digits by now.


Wearing MAC Nymphette

What about you?

Are there any Lipglosses you find yourself buying over and over again?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Hey, Appu! I got your note about The Social Network on the way to the movie theater (thanks!), but we changed our minds at the last minute and went to go see Easy A instead. Totally fun movie, BTW. Olive Penderghast’s parents were a hoot!

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