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News: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; Product Reviews, Makeup, Makeup Tools/Accessories:Breast Cancer Awareness Products from Clinique, Prescriptives, Splendid and Smashbox!

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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

When they first arrived they were not met with a happy welcome.

Of course the first step was denial. Never mind that whenever I ran or cartwheeled or climbed trees they were always bouncing every which way. I was 11. I was a tomboy. My agenda involved riding bikes, playing baseball: I absolutely had no plans to grow up, acquire boobs or wear bras in the near future.

But then there they were. And one day, when my best friend and I were running around her yard pretending to be Olympic track stars, her mom noticed that I was sprinting in the most peculiar way. Without thinking, I cradled my arms underneath my bosoms to prevent the No-These-Aren’t-Boobs from bouncing around as I ran sans arms for the Gold.

Her mom made a quick jaunt to our house and gently mentioned to my mother that I might want to get something to rein those suckers in. And although in my mind tomboys didn’t need no stinking bras and I was determined to live in my life of boob-denial, my mom sat me down that evening and declared, “YOU WILL BE GETTING A BRA THIS WEEKEND.”

And so I went to bed that night in tears.

Even though I was just 11, I knew that my life was changing, and that from now on, things would be different because I was growing up. That frightened me most of all.

While the relationship between my breasts began with a rocky start, I can say now that I appreciate them. They’ve helped me score numerous free beers. Oh, and my husband claims they were really “easy on the eyes” on our first date.

But in all seriousness, I thank the powers-that-be every day that the boobs been healthy thus far. Within the past few years I’ve had a few friends who’ve been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. These amazing women are survivors, and are my heroes.

So, in honor of these wonderful ladies I’ll be doing several posts this month dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Several of my favorite beauty lines are selling special products with proceeds that go to different Breast Cancer organizations. If you’re planning on buying a lipstick or a blush this October, please think about purchasing something that supports the cause. It’s a small step, but you can still make a difference. See – makeup can be a powerful thing!

clinique-dramatically-different-moisturizing-lotion-bca

Product: Limited Edition of Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. Check out the cute Clinique and Pink Ribbon cell phone charms!
Use: As a moisturizing facial lotion
Price: $35.00 for a 6.7 fl. oz pump-top bottle
Who this benefits: $10 per Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding the most innovative clinical and genetic research at leading medical centers worldwide. For more information about BCRF, visit www.bcrfcure.org or call 1.866.FIND.A.CURE.

prescriptives-breast-cancer-awareness
Product: Prescriptives’ Limited Edition Pink Ahead Colorscope Eye Color
Use: A shadow trio to highlight, define and contour eyes – wear each shade alone or blend them together to create your own customized look.
Price: $17.50
Who this benefits: Purchasing a product from this collection helps Prescriptives donate $40,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

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smashbox-blushing-pink-fusion-soft-lights

Product: Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights and Smashbox Face & Body Brush #19
Use: Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights is a powder highlighter that gives skin a natural-rosy hue. Apply with Face & Body Brush #19 to your face or décolleté.
Price: $59.00
Who this benefits:A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the set will go directly to the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund, a grassroots advocacy group dedicated to finding a cure.

splendid-bcrf-tank
Product: Splendid and Estee Lauder’s Limited-Edition Pink Camouflage Tank Top
Use: To cover your bosoms and to raise awareness that early detection saves lives!
Price: $42.00
Who this benefits: Splendid will donate 25% of the proceeds from the sale of each tank top to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

I hope you get the chance to hug the women you love on this wonderful Wednesday.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup Storage for Traveling and Vacation; Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Travel Makeup List

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Here’s a pic of my travel makeup:

travel-ziploc-makeup1

Ziplocs aren’t sexy, I know.

I go on trips a few times a year, and at the airport I always see at least one cute girl hauling a sleek, heavy-looking train case full of makeup to her gate – and I’m always glad it’s not me.

While I like the thought of having access to all of my makeup while I’m on vacation, I don’t want to have to carry it around from plane to train to car to boat to rickshaw to … well, you get the picture. Basically I don’t want to haul around more than I have to. And I also don’t want to risk breaking or losing blushes, eye shadows and other products while I’m in transit. [Continue reading…]

The Mighty MAC 266 Small Angle Brush

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mac-266

Product: MAC Eye Brush — 266 Small Angle Brush
Use: For application of eye shadow, liquid liner and other eye products.
Price: $18.50
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

Behold, beauty obsessed readers — the MAC 266 brush! Bow down before it! Worship it for its magical ability to create eyebrows out of thin air! SHHHHH – speak only of it in hushed tones – for it is the 266 and your new favorite brush.

Okay, okay, so maybe you’re not about to start chanting “266! 266! 266!” But after you try this brush you may not be able to live without it.

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MAC Tips and Tricks: Brushes

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I’m getting so much mileage from the Barbie Loves MAC Seminar I went to a few weeks ago. I finally rifled through the technique folder they gave us and found some cool tips and tricks pages. Here are the best tips from the page for brushes:

Tips and Tricks: Brushes

When choosing brushes consider the following…

  1. Firmer fibers tend to deliver a faster application than softer fibers.
  2. Softer fibers tend to offer greater control of color application.
  3. Try applying skincare with brushes for a luxurious experience.
  4. The 190 brush works well for applying masks and moisturizers.
  5. The 194 brush words well with eye cream.
  6. The 180 brush works well to lather shave cream on the face or body.
  7. When dipping brushes into pressed powder products, like eye shadows, do not mash the brush into the pan. This causes breakage of the fibers. It’s better for the brush and more effective to either swipe from side to side or run the brush around in a circle to gather powder.
  8. Try using two brushes for some of those tricky applications, like smokey eyes. Use one brush to pick up and apply the color and the other brush to blend.
  9. When applying makeup, try holding the brush further away from the hair bundle, almost like holding chopsticks. This allows for greater control in application. Not to mention, with the hands out of the way, greater visibility!
  10. Brushes for personal use should be cleaned about once a week. For emollient-based product on the brush use cleanse off oil to emulsify and then brush cleanser to clean and condition.
  11. If after makeup application you find it necessary to throw your brushes in the bag before cleaning, be sure to store the brushes you used for liquid or cream products separately from the ones used for powder products, to avoid the cream dirtying the other brushes. And if using the same bag for both, try wrapping the brushes for cream products in plastic wrap or a tissue before tossing them in the bag. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Face Brush Review – 182 Buffer Brush

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Do you love MAC brushes as much as I do?

mac-182-buffer-brushProduct: MAC 182 Buffer Brush
Use: For application of loose powder, pressed powder and pigment
Price: $45.00
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+

I know, I know — $45 for one stinkin’ brush? For $45 dollars at the MAC counter you can get 3 eye shadows, or 3 Lipglasses or even 15 pencil sharpeners! If you wear powder every day, then consider investing in this brush. Save your pennies, wait until you get a gift card, or even ask a friend who is a MAC artist buy one for you and then pay her/him back, because this brush will become a staple in your collection.

I was lucky enough to get the 182 Buffer Brush as a Christmas gift from my beautiful and talented sister-in-law, who is a MAC makeup artist. The brush has a short, fat handle and a full dome made out of goat hair bristles.

And who knew that goat hair could feel so soft? The 182 bristles feel silky and dense, and when you apply product the brush feels like velvet on your skin. You can use this brush to apply loose powder, pressed powder and pigments, and I’ve found it to be pretty much a fool-proof brush. Even if I mistakenly overload it with powder, as long as I dilute the powder (by either tapping the brush or blowing off the excess) the 182 gives smooth, even application.

I use the 182 Buffer Brush with MAC Select Sheer Loose Powder in NC 30, MAC Couture Sheer Mystery Pressed Powder in Dark and MAC Blot Pressed Powder in Medium Dark.

If I use Select Sheer Loose Powder, I open up the powder jar, tap some powder onto the lid, gently dip the 182 brush into the powder on the lid, and either tap brush handle on the side of the powder jar or blow on the brush to dilute excess powder.

If I use it with Couture Sheer Mystery Pressed Powder or Blot Pressed Powder, I gently swirl the 182 in the compact, and then tap the handle or blow off the excess powder.

I like powder to look light and sheer, so I use a light touch as I apply the powdered 182 brush to my face in a circular, buffing motion.

If it weren’t for the steep price I’d give this brush an A. Plus, if you keep your brushes in a brush roll, you may have to store the 182 in a separate cosmetic case when you travel because of the short handle.

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