• 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

Product Reviews

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Clinique All About Shadow Quad in Teddy Bear

August 2nd, 2019 by Karen 9 Comments

clinique teddy bear
“Yeah, don’t even TRY to take my palette. I’m warning you!”

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

One of these Teddy Bears is not like the other (and it’s more comfy to hug).

But right now, I’m talking about the makeup one, and it’s a quad of all-matte eyeshadows from Clinique. If I were a betting gal…I’d wager that the Clinique All About Shadow Quad in Teddy Bear is probably better than the other neutral palette in your makeup bag, and it’s the most “neutral” of the neutral palettes I wear. The shadows are neither too warm nor too cool (they’re in the coveted Goldilocks Zone), and there’s very little burnt orange, brick red, gray or pink undertones in sight.

clinique teddy bear swatches
Yup, still an NC42 in MAC

The powder shadows in Teddy Bear are just as soft as the bear at the top of this post, and Clinique stuffed it with all of the basics to contour lids and add depth to eyes, including a matte beige bone, a matte golden brown, a peachy golden tan and a dark chocolate brown. In MAC-speak, I’d call these the matte (so, neither warm nor cool) equivalents of Brule, Soba, Soft Brown and Brown Down.

clinique teddy bear
Teddy Bear on my lids and MAC Half ‘N Half Lipstick on my lips

clinique teddy bear
[Continue reading…]

There are 9 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Clinique, Eyes, Makeup, Palettes, Product Reviews, Unsung Heroes

New From bareMinerals: The Dusk Eyeshadow Palette and the Bounce & Blur Blushes

August 1st, 2019 by Karen 6 Comments

bareminerals bounce blur
Bounce & Blur, by bareMinerals

Everything in my condo is bumping. The walls are rattling, floors are clanging… Oh, and these four new bareMinerals blushes and eyeshadow palette are bouncing.

We started doing the household repairs I mentioned the other day, which means LOTS of noise and workmen doing stuff right now, but I should be living like royalty (“I’m the queen of the world!”) with a new furnace, new water heater AND a working air conditioner by the end of the week. YAY!

With the tools banging and the classic rock blasting from the very nice workmen, concentrating has been…a challenge, so if I seem a little disheveled, that’s why.

Hella random side note regarding classic rock and misheard lyrics, but Bad Moon Rising just played a few minutes ago, and when the chorus started, instead of thinking, “There’s a bad moon on the rise,” I thought, “There’s a bathroom on the right.” THANKS, SUZANNE!

OK, bareMinerals has a few fun new powder products for fall that bare fingers will be bouncing over, literally. The items in their new Bounce & Blur Collection (two eye palettes and four blushes) have a squishy, soft texture that boomerangs right back at ya when you press on the pans. They’re purposefully made to lay down diffused, hazy color, so they’re better for washes of color than precise placement.

I’ve seen this bouncy formula before from Chanel, MAC, Maybelline and Kaja Beauty, and the bareMinerals formula is comparably slick and smooth (it’s not wet, though, like cream blush). The powder skates across the skin.

Bounce & Blush Eyeshadow Palette in Dusk ($29)

I like using these eyeshadows as single washes of color on the lid, because fading the edges doesn’t require any work. Of course, you could use ’em with a brush, but for me, fingers work best both for application and blending.

It’s like working with a crayon cream shadow, but in a pot, and it’s easy and, most of all, fun. If you like simple, diffused glowing lids, I think you’ll have a blast with these.
[Continue reading…]

There are 6 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: bareMinerals, Collections, Eyes, Face, Makeup, Product Reviews

New From Wander Beauty: Trip For Two Blush and Bronzer Duo, Hidden Glow Brightening Cream, and the Trip for Two Blush and Bronzer Brush

July 30th, 2019 by Karen 7 Comments

wander beauty trip for two
The fastest route to glowing

Filed under “Weird Things I Could Do in Less Than 5 Minutes if I Absolutely Had To”? 25 Spartan Race-style burpees, immediately followed by putting on minimal makeup.

Fore sure, I’d use mascara, a gloss and these new products from Wander Beauty.

(Side note: This occurred to me in HIIT class as I sprinted around a parking lot carrying a 15-pound medicine ball. Amazing the things you think about when you’re out of breath and about to toss your cookies.)

Trip For Two Blush and Bronzer Duo ($36 and available in two shades)

Some bronzer/blush duos are so saturated that you can easily end up looking like you’ve got Duran Duran stripes on your cheeks, but these matte duos have purposefully pared down pigment for the quickest blending you’ll ever experience. I like to start by buffing the blush on the apples of my cheeks, then blending it out with the bronzer for a fast, natural-looking cheek flush.

wander beauty trip for two swatches
Bellini/Costa Rei is the lighter option, and Daiquiri/Tulum is the darker one.

[Continue reading…]

There are 7 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face, Makeup, Makeup Tools, Product Reviews, Wander Beauty

Keanu Reeves Is My Boyfriend, Vol. 2: Revlon So Fierce! Vinyl Eyeliner

July 29th, 2019 by Karen 5 Comments

revlon so fierce liner
So fierce, babe!

This is a series featuring stellar drugstore gems in which my (very much pretend) boyfriend Keanu Reeves helps me test makeup… He’s gallant like that, you know? ?

Last night, Keanu and I laughed and cried our way through The Notebook (he’s so sensitive!), and even through all the tears, my new Revlon So Fierce Vinyl Eyeliner stayed put. I know this because at the end of the move, Keanu ever-so-tenderly cradled my chin and said, “Babe, even when you’re crying like a baby, you and your winged liner are absolutely perfect.” Later he added: “Your liner looks almost as good as mine.”

Revlon So Fierce Vinyl Eyeliner ($8.99)

  • A waterproof long-wearing gel pencil liner with a glossy — but not shimmery — finish that dries in less than a minute
  • Available in three shades
  • Completely budge-proof through tears, sweat and splashes with water
  • Highly pigmented
  • Applies smoothly
  • Doesn’t transfer up into my crease; however, when I aggressively rub it with my fingers, it smudges, so if you rub your eyes you’re probably better off with something long-wearing and liquid like MAC Liquidlast instead.
  • Stays put on lash lines and water lines, but I wouldn’t use it on water lines if yours are very dry.

[Continue reading…]

There are 5 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Eyes, Makeup, Product Reviews, Revlon Keywords: Keanu

New From Urban Decay: Stay Naked Foundation and Concealer, and Vice Lip Chemistry

July 26th, 2019 by Karen 5 Comments

urban decay stay naked foundation concealer top
At Urban Decay, nudity rules.

Keep your underwear on, please. Even though Urban Decay wants you to Stay Naked, I would strongly urge you against going completely commando, because hello! — air conditioning is no joke!

Stay Naked, a new collection available meow from UD, includes a liquid foundation, concealer and sheer lip tints.

STAY NAKED WEIGHTLESS LIQUID FOUNDATION, $39

What is this — blood magic? Because one layer of Urban Decay’s new medium-coverage, pore-blurring Stay Naked Foundation hides uneven pigmentation on my cheeks without masking my freckles. It’s exactly the kind of sheer, barely-there coverage I love, and even though the matte finish is juuuuust starts out being a tad too matte for my taste (I’m a dewy kinda gal), it mellows out over the course of about an hour into something more satiny and natural looking — like an ever-so-slightly perfected version of natural skin. It’s one of those base products that looks better and better as the day goes on.

urban decay stay naked foundation swatches
I tested the following shades of the concealer and foundation, and the closest foundation match to my skin is 51WY, although right now it’s a little light for me because I’m tanner than usual at the moment. The concealers I tried are waaaay lighter than I’d normally wear, but I tried them anyway to see if I liked the texture and finish. By the way, I’m an NC42 in MAC.

If you’ve ever tried and liked Estée Lauder Double Wear Light, you’ll probably love Stay Naked, too. It very much looks and feels like that underrated foundation hero, but UD’s comes in a BILLION different undertones for cool, warm and olive tones, as well as 50 different colors.

Site note: The Fenty effect is still alive and well!

STAY NAKED WEIGHTLESS LIQUID FOUNDATION

  • Doesn’t oxidize
  • Lightweight and breathable
  • Touchy pump! (Mine squirts stuff halfway across my desk if I’m not careful.)
  • I’m a MAC NC42 and wear 51WY.
  • I like to apply it with a synthetic buffing brush for the most natural coverage.
  • Looks like real skin in all types of lighting.
  • Long-wearing and sticks to skin like glue, even if you rub at it aggressively.

You’ll probably also like this if you like the sheerness of a BB cream, tinted moisturizer, or even something like MAC Face and Body, but you just want a little more coverage (but not full-on opacity). I think it’s more like an intense tinted moisturizer — like, if you took Laura Mercier’s classic TM and added a few drops of a full-coverage concealer to it.

STAY NAKED CORRECTING CONCEALER, $29

Along with the foundation, UD also recently launched a new line of complementary liquid Stay Naked Concealers. Like the new base, Stay Naked Concealer is lightweight and long-wearing with a matte finish, but the coverage is completely opaque, with high pigment on par with full-coverage baddies like Tarte Shape Tape. Just for fun (and for old time’s sake), I packed it on beneath my eyes and was wowed by the fact that it refused to settle into my fine lines and did not look heavy at all.

urban decay stay naked foundation concealer
I’m wearing the foundation in 51WY, concealer in 50WY, and Love Child Vice Chemistry

[Continue reading…]

There are 5 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Collections, Face, Lips, Makeup, Product Reviews, Urban Decay

Keanu Reeves Is My Boyfriend, Vol. 1: Maybelline Superstay Ink Crayon Lipstick

July 24th, 2019 by Karen 16 Comments

maybelline super stay ink crayon
(Pretend) boyfriend approved.

This post is the first in a series of stellar drugstore gems in which my (very much pretend) boyfriend Keanu Reeves helps me test makeup… He’s gallant like that, you know? ?

I can confirm that these pigmented, matte twist-up crayons by Maybelline are kiss-proof because I made out with Keanu Reeves for 20 minutes while wearing one of them (Lead the Way), and it didn’t move at all!

It smelled and tasted like vanilla-spiked Hawaiian Punch, which Keanu adored, but ewww! — it made my stomach churn. My boo likes it, though, so I guess I’ll have to endure… The things I do for that man, le sigh!

maybelline super stay ink crayon
So many colors!

Maybelline Superstay Ink Crayon Lipstick, $9.49 each

  • It’s available in 12 shades for less than $10 each.
  • The formula is almost as smooth as Keanu’s raven locks, with nary a vertical lip line in sight.
  • The attached sharpener (which is hidden in the base of the pen) keeps the tip tapered.
  • It’s long lasting (from 3-4 hours), but it quickly melts away with makeup remover.
  • The matte formula isn’t drying; it IS comfortable; and it doesn’t make your lips look a billion years old.
  • It looks expensive.
maybelline super stay ink swatches
I’m an NC42 in MAC for reference.
maybelline enjoy the view
Enjoy the View

maybelline treat yourself
Treat Yourself

[Continue reading…]

There are 16 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Just For Fun, Lips, Makeup, Maybelline, Product Reviews Keywords: Keanu

Before and After: Tarte Big Ego Mascara

July 23rd, 2019 by Karen 9 Comments

tarte big ego mascara
Before and after Tarte Big Ego Mascara

This mascara’s hot pink tube means there’s a 99.999% chance I’ll be able to find Tarte Big Ego Mascara in the black hole that is my makeup bag. (Also, I’m wondering if I’m the only person who secretly wishes that the actual color of this mascara was hot pink to match the packaging. Hmm…)

tarte big ego mascara brush
Tarte Big Ego Mascara, $23

Two coats of this featherweight formula, which Tarte designed for mega length and volume, sweep my lashes up waaaay past their tips, hoisting them up and out. The curved, slightly hourglass-shaped brush (which is like a mellower version of Too Faced Damn Girl), is surprisingly easy to tuck under the lash base, too.

That said, the part of me that will happily wear bat wing falsies to go buy a loaf of bread at Target demands (politely) more volume…
[Continue reading…]

There are 9 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Makeup, Product Reviews, Tarte

Unsung Makeup Heroes: It Cosmetics Brow Power Micro Eyebrow Pencil in Universal Taupe

July 23rd, 2019 by Karen 4 Comments

it cosmetics brow power micro
Universal Taupe doing its thang

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

There’s a ton of brow pencils out there, but it’s hard to find one that ticks all the boxes. Is it long lasting? Easy to use? Does it look natural?

It Cosmetics Brow Power Micro in Universal Taupe ($24) totally gets it right. It has everything to do with the super thin pencil point. Shaped like a tiny, slanted dash — essentially, it’s a microscopic version of the best brow pencils around for drawing realistic-looking brow hairs (Tom Ford’s, the MAC one and the NUDESTIX Stylus).

it cosmetics brow power micro
Skinny mini!

it cosmetics brow power micro swatch
It’s available in one shade, Universal Taupe

[Continue reading…]

There are 4 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, It Cosmetics, Makeup, Product Reviews, Unsung Heroes

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 13
  • Go to page 14
  • Go to page 15
  • Go to page 16
  • Go to page 17
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 414
  • 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.