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Trendsetting Made Easy (SPONSORED)

July 17th, 2015 by Karen 6 Comments

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Advertorials like this one are brought to you by my sponsors. They’re carefully chosen based on what I think you might like; however, this post was entirely written by the sponsor.

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SPONSORED: 4 Steps to Flawless Skin With the Four Eco-Friendly EcoTools Complexion Collection Brushes

April 21st, 2015 by Karen 25 Comments

As a participant in the #EcoInspire campaign sponsored by Paris Presents, Inc., I’ve received product samples and/or compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Until the day science synthesizes that breakthrough organic ice cream-making molecule that gives you perfect skin after you eat it (you know that would be HELLA amazing!), makeup lovers like myself are left having to fake a flawless look.

Hey, that just means we get to experiment with more products, right? — which is totally fine by me, because I’ll take any excuse to play with these new Complexion Collection Brushes by EcoTools.

April is Earth Month, and I’ve got eco-friendly beauty on the brain. Like all EcoTools brushes, these four new Complexion Collection face and eye brushes are made with cruelty-free bristles, bamboo handles and recycled aluminum ferrules. Even the pouches that come with them are made from natural materials.

Oh, and by the way, the brushes are affordable (less than $10 each, and available now at Walgreens). On top of that, with every Complexion Collection brush sold, EcoTools will make a $1 donation, up to $100,000, to Global Green USA, a national environmental organization. That’s not bad considering that the brushes cost from $5 to $9 each, so a $1 donation on a $5 brush is 20%.

Walgreens is celebrating Earth Month by featuring eco-friendly brushes and other products to help you look your best. See what else Walgreens has been up to on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Really, though, as if the packaging alone wasn’t enough. Because hello! — that packaging. Look at all teh pretties…

I’m a visual person, and that teal and gold on the ferrules is totally doin’ it for me.

Essentially (in spirit, at least), these Complexion Collection brushes tell pores, fine lines, dark circles and spots to “slow ya roll!” They’re designed to work together as you use them to get skin looking as close to perfect as possible.

Oh, and did I mention that the bristles feel as soft as the lock of Ryan Gosling’s hair that I keep in my bra…?

I wish. 🙂

Step one: Perfecting Brush ($7.99)

I usually start with the Skin Perfecting Brush ($7.99), which blends BB and CC creams to a flawless finish.

Shout-out to the angled brush head, which tucks neatly into the hard-to-get-to spaces around my nose. I’ve used this brush to apply and buff BB cream, tinted moisturizer and foundation, and no matter what the formula, it blends to a natural-looking finish. None of those telltale “Hey! I’m wearing tons of face makeup!” streaks.

With the $7.99 Perfecting Brush, it’s kind of like you’re getting a beauty multitool. I use it to apply cream contour products (the angled shape of the brush head makes it easy to get right under the cheekbone), cream highlighters and cream blushes. Yay for drugstore multitasking!

Step two: Correcting Concealer Brush ($4.99)

After I’ve evened out my skin, I do spot touchups on my cheeks and around my eyes with the Correcting Concealer Brush ($4.99). Use this one to dot liquid or powder concealer on the areas where you want additional coverage.

It has a nicely shaped head…although it took me a little while to get used to it. The brush head is bigger and wider than the head on most flat spot concealer brushes. Once I got the hang of it, I liked it. It diffuses concealer in a way that looks soft and effortless.

Oh! — and I also tried it with cream concealers, and it works great with them, too.
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Update Your Wardrobe With Fun, Flirty Florals From Macy’s INC International Concepts

March 20th, 2015 by Karen 34 Comments

It started with a pair of shoes… A pair of high-heeled caged shoes in a blush color to be exact. I spotted these high heels by INC International Concepts at Macy’s last week and was overcome with that special tingly shoe feeling — you know, the one where you know you have to get a particular pair of shoes in your life.

INC International Concepts Rammee High Heel Sandal (2) — INC International Concepts Rammee High Heel Sandal, $109

But I’m getting a little ahead of myself… This story actually starts a month ago.

I woke up one morning, opened my closet doors to pick out my clothes for the day, and realized that everything I own is gray or black.

Not that there’s anything wrong with those colors. Black is always chic, and gray effectively hides the tabby cat fur. But I came to the realization that I just don’t want to be clad in black and gray from head to toe right now.

Spring is coming, and I feel like bright colors! — like a blooming garden with flowers all over the place and rainbows and a teal pegasus soaring across the sky. 🙂 It’s time to update my clothing garden/game, and I’ve been looking for floral pieces that both match these shoes and also work with things I already have in my closet.

What do you think of this floral peplum jacket?

Macy's INC International Concepts Floral-Print Peplum Scuba Jacket — Macy’s INC International Concepts Floral-Print Peplum Scuba Jacket, $99.50

I love the different shades of pink and how they vary from soft blush to intense hot pink. I think the peplum also gives it a very ladylike sweetness, while the zipper gives it a bit of an edge.

It’s also pretty versatile. I dressed it down here with a pair of ripped boyfriend jeans and a white tee, but I think it would also look super cute with a gray pencil skirt, or perhaps on top of a white flowing dress… Or maybe with a pair of mint green skinnies, because there is a little mint green in the pattern.

I’m affectionately referring to these tapered printed soft pants as my Blanche Devereaux pants because, hello! — Blanche would have totally rocked these in the Golden Girls era, and they still look good. They’re like an updated version. They’ve got that draping, hugs-your-curves-in-all-the-right-ways vibe to ‘em.

Macy's INC International Concepts Tapered Printed Soft Pants — Macy’s INC International Concepts Tapered Printed Soft Pants, $69.50

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New Revlon Ultra HD™ Lipstick and Ultra HD™ Lip Lacquer, Available at CVS/Pharmacy Meow

March 19th, 2015 by Karen 31 Comments

As a participant in this program with Revlon and CVS/pharmacy, I’ve received product samples and/or compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m sitting here with my lips in high definition! — just for you. 🙂

So…what does HD even mean anyway?

Maybe it refers to back in the day (seven years ago), when HD filming took off on TV, and everybody was like, “Oh! Let’s do makeup for HD,” which was completely different than regular makeup (but really, a lot of it was marketing).

Hey, whatever. I’m a sucker for it.

In Revlon’s new Ultra HD™ Lipstick and Ultra HD™ Lip Lacquer lines ($9.99 each and available now in a wide range at CVS/pharmacy stores), the HD is more or less code for “Gel Technology,” which is what they say these have. Basically, you’ve got a gel base, rather than a wax, and it’s designed to deliver purer pigments that are truer to what you see in the tube. They also feel softer and bouncier on the lips.

I really get the sense that both of these are hugging my lips, and when I say “hugging,” I don’t mean like a bear hug, or one of those “Hey, girl!” hugs with the two hands, where you pat somebody’s back. I mean, like a good hug, where you feel the product caress your lips and hold them tightly.

It’s kind of a pervy hug…like if someone comes up to you and hugs you a little too tightly, and you’re like, “Oh!”

But it’s not that gross! It’s actually very nice.

Wear time depends on whether we’re talking about the lipsticks or the lacquers, with the lacquers lasting 3-4 hours, and the lipsticks lasting about half as long.

With the lipsticks — they’re super smooth, and you get a lot of color from a single swipe. I think they’re closer to really intensely pigmented lip balms than straight-up lipsticks, and even the brighter colors still have some sheerness to them.

Revlon Ultra HD Lipsticks — Six of 20 available Revlon Ultra HD™ Lipsticks

Revlon Ultra HD™ Lipstick
$9.99, available now at CVS/pharmacy in 20 shades

Smooth, lightweight, non-sticky formula, brief 2-hour wear time, and a caramel and raspberry flavor and scent (officially, it’s whipped vanilla and cream mango?). Medium coverage. And they’re all named after flowers. 🙂

Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in Azalea — Revlon Ultra HD™ Lipstick in Azalea

Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in Sweet Pea — Revlon Ultra HD™ Lipstick in Sweet Pea

Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in Rose — Revlon Ultra HD™ Lipstick in Rose

Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in Hibiscus — Revlon Ultra HD™ Lipstick in Hibiscus

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Comment to Win L’Occitane’s 28 Days Divine Skin Renewal Program (a $130 Value)

February 19th, 2015 by Karen 208 Comments

L'Occitane 28 Days Divine Renewal Program — Comment to win the L’Occitane 28 Days Divine Renewal Program, a $130 value

A lot can happen in 28 days.

Like, there could be a zombie apocalypse in England (you know what movie I’m talking about, don’t lie!!).

You could also get softer, smoother skin, and perhaps L’Occitane’s new 28 Days Divine Renewal Program ($130) can help with that.

It comes with 28 individual treatments of essential oils for more luminous, regenerated skin — one set of seven for each of the four weeks in a span of 28 days, which coincides with skin’s natural 28-day renewal cycle.

Each week in the program has a different focus.

Week 1: gentle exfoliation. Pistacia lentiscus, or “mastic tree” essential oil, acts as a gentle exfoliator by encouraging the skin’s natural process of shedding to result in softer, smoother skin.
Week 2: hydration and nutrition. A unique blend of four vegetable oils combine with cistus essential oil help nourish and hydrate the skin.
Week 3: balance. Myrtle and rosemary essential oils work together to improve skin’s overall well-being.
Week 4: renewal. Carrot, cypress and immortelle essential oils work to improve the visible signs of aging for a glowing complexion.

I’ve just about finished my first cycle of the program, and I have to say — I like the results.

My biggest skin dilemma lately has been hydration — rather, my skin’s complete lack of it — and the oils have helped. My skin feels softer and nowhere near as dry as it was before I started the program, and I also see a slight improvement in luminosity, although it’s been subtle…

No breakouts at all, though, during the program, so whoop-whoop!

The program is available now for $130 at L’Occitane counters, stores and online.

And um…it’s also potentially available right now FOR FREE, thanks to L’Occitane and today’s giveaway. 🙂

One lucky MBB reader will win the complete 28 Days Divine Renewal Program (a full set of the essential oils) to try at home.

To enter, just leave a comment below, and it can be a comment about anything at all, like…tell me about your favorite L’Occitane product, or how your skin’s been behaving lately, or type out all of the names of all of the frogs (or frog princes) you’ve kissed throughout your life.

What I’m trying to say is this: any comment at all. Yes, girl. It’s that easy.

More deets…

Enter by leaving a comment below about anything (like I said, anything at all). The deadline to enter is Friday, February 27, 2015 at 11:59 PM Pacific. Entrants must enter using a valid email address to win. Giveaway is open to individuals of the United States who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21). After the giveaway ends, my tabby overlord and I will select one (1) winner at random from the entries left in the comments below. Void where prohibited by law.

Good luck! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Trendsetting Made Easy (SPONSORED)

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