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Product Reviews

Tarte Lid Lock Clay Base 12-Hour Eye Foundation

September 7th, 2017 by Karen 8 Comments

tarte lid lock
$21 Tarte Lid Lock Clay Base

I think I’ve watched too many Lifetime movies about women who are kidnapped and forced to live in terrifyingly small spaces, because I would really like to learn how to pick locks and crack safes.

Something about those skills is very appealing to me.

That reminds me: locks. Tarte has a new vegan, cruelty-free (of course) cream eye primer called Lid Lock Clay Base on counters now for $21.

It comes in a cute little glass pot with a top that looks like petrified amber.

Pretty!

It’s a warm, opaque matte peachy beige, and I love the color. Used as a base, it neutralizes some of the purple or blue on my lids, but you can also use it by itself as a shadow with the cool side-effect of having it even out your skin.

It feels like a MAC Paint Pot to me — dense and a sort of dry, which also means that if I put too much on, it’s “Hello, Cake Town!” It’ll look thick and heavy, and then when you blend eyeshadow on top, your eye makeup looks even thicker and heavier.

Now that I think about it, Lid Lock is like a warmer, peachier version of MAC Painterly Paint Pot.

tarte lid lock swatch final
A beautiful matte warm peachy beige

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There are 8 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Makeup, Product Reviews, Tarte

Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes in Spice

September 7th, 2017 by Karen 8 Comments

tom ford spice
$46 Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes Cream Eyeshadow in Spice

I’ve been trying to get myself out there more in the beauty biz lately, going to more work lunches and work coffees, partly to get out of the house/baby jail, and when I do venture out, Connor usually chills with my mom, but also to network and get some different perspectives and career ideas.

I don’t really think about not blogging on MBB, but it’s been 10 years, and I do feel the urge to spread my wings and also try other things. I don’t know, really.

So when I’ve gone to these lunch meetings this summer, I’ve worn Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes in Spice to quite a few of them. In my opinion, it says, “Yes, I’m responsible…but I also know makeup, and I can blend the living crap of the outer third if need be.”

LOL!

Ironically, or at least interestingly to me, lately when I’ve meet people who work in the makeup industry, most of them aren’t wearing a lot of makeup. I used to expect that people in the biz would, because, you know, they’re in the trenches, but most of them don’t do a glam full-face beat to go to coffee on a Tuesday.

When I go to these meetings, I want to make a good impression, and I like the pairing of warm golden bronze Spice with a matte powder shadow in my crease (usually MAC Soba or Saddle).

Then I tight line with some black liner and add a couple coats of mascara.

I think it’s an elegant, timeless, professional eye look.

tom ford spice swatch
Spicy!

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There are 8 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Makeup, Product Reviews, Tom Ford Beauty

MEOWZA! Tarte Sex Kitten Liquid Eyeliner

September 6th, 2017 by Karen 6 Comments

tarte sex kitten
$20 Tarte Sex Kitten Liquid Liner

Let’s step into the cat lady confessional for a moment, shall we? Because I have a couple things to get off my chest…which is currently covered in tabby fur.

First: sometimes I think about kidnapping my neighbor’s cat Harris, and I may or may not have already concocted an elaborate plan to lure him into my home.

I know this is wrong, but I can’t help it.

Super obsessed with this magnificent beast! (Please don’t tell Tabs.)

Second: mostly, I like using Tarte Sex Kitten Liquid Liner because there’s a cat head on the end of it.

Look how cute he is!! He looks kinda grumpy, too, which speaks to my soul, especially in the morning.

OK…now I’m looking closely at this cat head, and I just realized that he looks a little beat up. My bad for not taking pictures of him (yes, he’s a boy) sooner.

Beauty blogging is weird, man. Most of the time I choose not to use a product until after I’ve taken pics of it first, but sometimes — LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE A CAT HEAD ON THE CAP OF YOUR LIQUID LINER — I get so excited that I forget to take the “before” pics. Then I end up with a slightly tow-up cat head.

tarte sex kitten swatch
Meowza!

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There are 6 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Makeup, Product Reviews, Tarte

Some Thoughts on Pimples and Perfectionism…and a Review of the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout Full-Coverage Treatment Concealer and Powder

September 6th, 2017 by Karen 16 Comments

it cosmetics before bye bye breakout
Meet Julian!

I have a pimple.

BAM! — right there on my chin.

I’ve named him Julian (hi, Julian!).

Julian really hurts and feels like he has roots that dig miles and miles into my skin. He probably came about due to a combination of factors — eating more dairy than usual, not sleeping enough, randomness and PMS.

Julian is kind of a pain in the @ss, but in light of everything happening in the world today, he’s manageable.

We’re all human. Bare skin is beautiful, but so is bare skin with pimples (although they can be very annoying and painful).

Now, I love Instagram. It feeds my creative well, and I just wanna gobble it all up! But sometimes all of that faux perfection makes me feel like I’m doing everything wrong in my life. I’ll be scrolling and thinking, “Geez, I must be mucking it all up royally.” All the perfect makeup, perfect bodies, perfect houses, perfect flat lays on perfect marble tables with perfect flowers. Hell, even the pets pose perfectly on perfect white furniture in perfectly lit rooms! It’s exhausting.

But you know what? I like my real life, with all of its messy mistakes and moments.

And that’s why you’re looking at Julian the pimple. 🙂

it cosmetics bye bye breakout concealer
$28 It Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout Full-Coverage Treatment Concealer (0.35 oz., available in Fair, Light, Medium, Medium Tan, Tan, Rich and Deep)

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout Full-Coverage Treatment Concealer ingredients

Cyclopentasiloxane, Aqua/Water/Eau, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Isododecane, Silica, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone, Polysilicone-11, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Butylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Methicone, Hexyl Laurate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Water, Zinc Oxide, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Colloidal Oatmeal, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer, Kaolin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Silk, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sulfur, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tribehenin, Ceramide Ng, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Steareth-20, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Magnolia Acuminata Bark Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract, Agaricus Bisporus Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499)

Weirdly enough, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, Julian has impeccable timing, because now I have a legit reason to test some new things from It Cosmetics. They launched a couple of new pimple cover-up products for fall — Bye Bye Breakout Full Coverage Treatment Concealer ($28) and Bye Bye Breakout Powder (also $28).

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout Powder ingredients

Silica, Soluble Collagen, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aqua/Water/Eau, Benzoic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Silk, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Steareth-20, Glycerin, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Zinc Oxide, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Sulfur, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Kaolin, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sorbic Acid, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Colloidal Oatmeal, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Magnolia Biondii Bud/Flower Extract, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Water, Alcohol, Mandelic Acid, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Lithospermum Officinale Root Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Mentha Aquatica Leaf Extract, Azelaic Acid, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Berberis Vulgaris Root Extract, Gluconolactone, Lactobacillus Ferment, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Alumina, Triethoxycaprylylsilane. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 77491), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140)

it cosmetics bye bye breakout concealer powder
It Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout Powder, available in Translucent, Light/Medium and Tan Rich ($28 each)

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There are 16 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face, It Cosmetics, Makeup, Product Reviews

Say Hi to the Benefit Foolproof Brow Powder Kits

September 5th, 2017 by Karen 11 Comments

benefit foolproof brow powder swatches final
New from Benefit: Foolproof Brow Powder ($24 each)

I have this theory that everyone at some point in time goes through a big ol’ bold brow phase, where all you want in life is OTT BROWS BROWS BROWS for days.

Mine happened circa 2014-2015, and when they happen, you gotta get them out of your system, like dating bad boys or wanting a pony or getting food poisoning. You just have to let it pass through you.

If you happen to be going through that era of your makeup journey right now, Benefit has three new brow kits you might like.

The Benefit Foolproof Brow Powder kits come in 1 Light, 3 Medium and 5 Deep. Each one has two shades — a lighter shade for the inner part of your brow and a darker shade for the outer tail — to get that bold ombre brow effect. They’re $24 each and available on counters right meow.

benefit foolproof brow powder swatches final
From the top: 1 Light, 3 Medium and 5 Deep

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There are 11 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Benefit, Eyes, Makeup, Product Reviews

Is Lancôme Bi Facil Face Makeup Remover a Lazy Girl’s Dream Come True?

September 1st, 2017 by Karen 11 Comments

lancome bi facil face makeup remover review
Lancôme Bi-Facil Face Makeup Remover

It’s micellar, micellar, everywhere! Yeah, here’s another micellar makeup remover, this one from Lancôme.

We JUST talked about micellar magic a few days ago in that post about the MAC Gently Off Wipes + Micellar Water Wipes, which… Ah! So pink!

Lancôme Bi-Facil Face Makeup Remover ($40) combines an oil-based makeup remover, like the one in the original Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover (which is EPIC!) — with micellar water. You shake the bottle to mix the oil and water, soak a cotton pad with said elixir, then wipe your makeup off your face.

The oil is supposed to whisk away face makeup (even the most stubborn kind) while the micellar magic cleanses your skin. Two in one.

Sounds like a lazy girl’s dream come true, right?

NOPE, I’M HELLA CRABBY.

[Continue reading…]

There are 11 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face, Lancome, Makeup, Product Reviews, Skin Care

Full-Coverage Flashy: New It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder Illumination With SPF 50+

September 1st, 2017 by Karen 4 Comments

it cosmetics your skin but better airbrush perfecting powder illumination
Cute pink packaging! The new $35 It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder Illumination with SPF 50+.

Whenever the word “illuminating” gets up in the mix when you’re talking about face powders, things can get a little dicey, because, on the one hand, like, when you’re — *ahem* — a lady of a certain age, I think a little dewiness on the face looks great, especially if you’re wearing face powder, which is why MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural has been my partner in crime for the past few years.

I like a little light-reflecting oomph on my 40-plus skin (as opposed to a flat matte), but I reeeeeeally don’t want to cross the line between dewy and straight-up sweaty, because then it’s “Whoa, Karen! Why are you so freakin’ sweaty? Did you just get kicked out of the Stars Hollow 24-hour dance marathon? Or did you just finish a hot yoga class with Viggo Mortensen?”

Side note: I wish these were plausible scenarios!

it cosmetics your skin but better airbrush perfecting powder illumination 2
So pretty…

Anyway, the unintentionally sweaty face thing is kinda happening to me when I use this new $35 illuminating pressed powder in the It Cosmetics permanent line. It’s called Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder Illumination with SPF 50+ (wow, that’s a mouthful). There are seven shades, and I wear the one called Tan.

it cosmetics your skin but better airbrush perfecting powder illumination
Swatches from the top: Fair, Light, Medium, Medium Tan, Tan, Rich and Deep

[Continue reading…]

There are 4 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face, It Cosmetics, Makeup, Product Reviews

NARS Precision Lip Liner Is Marvelously Melty

August 31st, 2017 by Karen 6 Comments

nars precision lip liner
$24 NARS Precision Lip Liner is available now.

GIRL. In the ’90s, the lip liner situation wasn’t cute.

I wore lip liner just about every other day from approximately 1993 to 1999, and I spent between 10-60 minutes on each of those days tugging liner across my lips.

That works out to between 182.5 and 1,095 total hours of my life, because skipping liner was NOT AN OPTION. There was an unwritten rule among our crew that if you wore lipstick, you also had to do the liner. Don’t know why, but this was regarded as the truth.

Now, due to modern advancements in makeup technology (ooh!), we have ultra smooth liners now, like the NARS Precision Lip Liners, which can line and fill in lips with absolutely no tugging.

nars precision lip liner
Time to draw…

These are cool. They’re new to NARS and available now for $24 each in 26 shades.

All kinds of colors, from nudes to brights to some crazy shades, like this deep, dark black shade called Nasty Girl, which I would’ve LIVED for in 1994, because that’s when I was lining and filling in my lips with black eyeliner (!).

The thing about this pencil? It glides, slips and slides along the skin, so when you trace your lips with it, it doesn’t tug or skip.

There are other liners out there that move as easily as this. I like to call them “melty” lip liners. Urban Decay’s Glide-On pencils are similar, as are the MAC Pro-Longwear Lip Pencils, but I’ve noticed a tipping point when it comes to applying those. After a certain amount gets on my lips, they starts to look thick and heavy, especially when you layer something on top of them.

nars precision lip liner

[Continue reading…]

There are 6 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Lips, Makeup, NARS, Product Reviews

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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.

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