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What Is the Nature of Your Beauty Emergency? Dial Fine-One-One for Benefit’s Latest Cheek and Lip Trio

October 29th, 2012 by Karen 39 Comments

benefit fine one one review, swatches and photos
Wearing the new Benefit Fine-One-One on my cheeks and lips

This is Benefit Fine-One-One. What is the nature of your beauty emergency?

(Mumbling) Uh…

Hello? Miss, you’re gonna have to speak up.

(Whispering) I can’t. My guy is sound asleep in the other room, and I don’t want to wake him.

Okay…what is the emergency?

Well, I’m kinda sorta panicking because it’s the morning after our first sleepover, and I forgot my makeup bag.

Seriously?

Yeah, he hasn’t seen me without my war paint on yet, and I’d like to maintain the illusion that I just wake up with great hair and makeup, ya know?

…

OHMIGOSH! I think I’m hyperventilating!!

Alright, first of all, I need you to remain calm. Can you do that for me?

Yes…okay. I think so.

Good. Now I’m going to dispatch our Emergency Glam Squad to your location and a stick of Benefit’s new Fine-One-One.

benefit fine one one box
Foxy!

Ooh, what’s that?! I’ve never heard of it before.

It’s a new brightening cheek and lip stick — a trio of creams perfect for situations like these. They can be used separately, or together, whenever you need a sheer flush in a flash.

How do I use it? What do I do when it arrives?

First, remove the cap, and twist the dial at the bottom. The stick, which has a shimmery pink champagne color, a matter watermelon and a matte coral, pops up like a tube of deodorant.

Swipe it directly on your cheeks…

benefit fine one one review, swatches and photos
[Continue reading…]

There are 39 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Benefit, Face, Makeup, Product Reviews

Neither Long Nights Nor Wig-Snatching Tabbies Can Stop the New MAC Extra Dimension Glamour Daze Eye Shadows

October 29th, 2012 by Karen 28 Comments

MAC Glamour Daze Extra Dimension Eye Shadows
The new MAC Glamour Daze Extra Dimension Eye Shadows!

Gurl, I wish I could say that during the 10 hours the ah-MAY-zer-ing new $19.50 MAC Glamour Daze Extra Dimension Eye Shadows lasted on my lids the other day, I cranked out that young adult novel I’ve been meaning to write…

But nope. That book remains unwritten.

Instead, after layering a few of the shades on top of NARS Pro-Prime (my current primer fave) in the Katy Perry Halloween look, I…

  • …was the victim of a wig-snatching! — and the culprit was Tabs. He tugged the wig off while I was sitting on the couch (and now I know how it must feel to star on The Real Housewives of Atlanta).
  • …went shopping for Halloween candy at Target still dressed as Katy Perry. Mini-Snickers for everyone! 🙂
  • …painted my nails twice! Okay, three times… Two words: OPI Skyfall.
  • …talked to my mom on the phone and got caught up on all the family gossip (“Oh, but the thing is, HE’S A MARRIED MAN!”) and her favorite Korean soaps in less than five minutes.

    (And I fear I’m beginning to confuse the family events with some of the plot lines from the soaps.)

Poster child for productivity, I’m not, but at least these shadows look good. 🙂 They up the ante on the first batch of Extra Dimension Eye Shadows MAC released last spring, incorporating the same shiny, vibrant finish, negligible creasing and smooth formula that steers clear of my fine lines with an improved wear time that lasts well beyond the original formula’s six hours.

Grayish black Tall Dark & Handsome, soft peach A Natural Flirt and pinkish purple Stylishly Merry last on my lids for at least 10 hours, which is as long as I’ve worn ’em, but I suspect their real wear time may be closer to 16!

Thing is, I haven’t had an occasion to wear them that long yet (no all-nighters at da club on my to-do list this week), but if/when I do, I bet they’ll last.

mac glamour daze holiday 2012
Four of the eight Glamour Daze Extra Dimension Eyeshadows from the left: A Natural Flirt, Stylishly Merry, Divine Blue and Tall Dark & Handsom

mac glamour daze extra dimension eye shadow swatches
Swatches from the left: A Natural Flirt, Divine Blue, Stylishly Merry and Tall Dark & Handsome

[Continue reading…]

There are 28 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, MAC Makeup, Makeup, Product Reviews

You Used to Say…

October 29th, 2012 by Karen 21 Comments





opi live and let die

opi live and let die

…live and let live (you know you did).

I have Bond fever right now and am counting down the days ’til Skyfall arrives here in the US. I may even go to a midnight show if I can find one!

Oh, and that’s the lovely OPI Live & Let Die ($8.50) from the 12-piece Skyfall collection. 🙂

opi live and let die

opi live and let die

There are 21 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 243

October 29th, 2012 by Karen 96 Comments

the makeup and beauty blog monday poll for october 29, 2012
Tabs and his pumpkin

You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”

Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

  1. Mood:
    [DEEP BREATH] Not bad. A bit of a caffeine hangover and a little tinge of overwhelmed panic gnawing at my edges, but I’ll get a grip. I’m a little freaked out about my extra long to-do list today, but all we can do is do is our best, right? Just gotta keep breathing and take one task at a time. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

    Nix that. I know I can, I know I can, I know I can.

  2. What time did you get up this morning?
    At 6:30 when my iPhone’s alarm went off. Unusually, my tabby alarm clock must have malfunctioned because it usually gets me up even earlier than that.

    You see, it’s powered by lurvies and gravy, and if I don’t remember to charge it up to 100% before bed, it goes off really early the next morning.

  3. Are you dressing up for Halloween this year?
    You know it! 🙂 Although I’m still trying to decide on a costume… I’m leaning toward this Katy Perry getup, though, because I love the blue wig!
  4. What are three things you absolutely love about yourself?
    1. That I’m not afraid to change.
    2. That I have a creative side.
    3. That I tend to see the best in people.
  5. On average, how much time do you spend on the Internet each day?
    Oh, man! One, carry the two… I don’t know, maybe 10 hours? Probably more than the average person, I imagine.
  6. What doesn’t kill us makes us…
    …completely and totally exhausted! LOL! And wiser, as long as we’re paying attention.
  7. How are your pumpkin carving skills?
    Weak but hopefully improving. They have yet to reach their full potential, as I’ve only carved one pumpkin in my life, and that was more than 10 years ago.

    My parents never let me and my brother do the carving… It was always Dad’s job, and he’d only let us watch. I think he was afraid we’d accidentally cut off our fingers.

  8. Scariest movie?
    Rosemary’s Baby. Holy crap! Every time I see that movie, I feel like I need to go to church.
  9. What’s something you hope people say about you?
    That I’m a nice, hard-working girl with a good sense of humor.
  10. Weekly goals:
    To make a gratitude list each and every morning, and to go to my first Dailey Method fitness class.

    It’s supposed to be kinda like Pilates and really good for core strength. I took advantage of one of those Living Social deals for one month of unlimited classes.

    I also really need to get back in the habit of tracking my workouts and meals with the My Fitness Pal app… Been slacking lately, but I’m not gonna beat myself up about it (seriously, what’s the point?).

Hey, hon. How’d you sleep? Can I get you a refill on your coffee?

I had a pretty nice weekend. Brunch on Saturday with a friend, and then afterward I got to be her “makeup advisor,” helping her shop for a few things at Sephora and a MAC Pro Store. Then yesterday El Hub and I did our grocery shopping and pretty much just relaxed.

It was epic. 🙂

Now, I’m watching coverage of the big storm out east. I can’t believe how bad it is… It’s horrible! They’re calling it a perfect storm… Yeah, more like perfectly terrible.

If you live on the East Coast or anywhere in the storm’s path, be careful out there.

In other news, it’s the start of a new week. If you get a chance today, come say hi, and let me know how you’re doing in today’s Monday Poll.

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

Le List

1. Mood:
2. What time did you get up today?
3. Are you dressing up for Halloween this year?
4. What are three things you absolutely love about yourself?
5. On average, how much time do you spend on the Internet each day?
6. What doesn’t kill us makes us…
7. How are your pumpkin carving skills?
8. Scariest movie?
9. What’s something you hope people say about you?
10. Weekly goals:

Try to stay dry this week, and I’ll do the same. Happy pre-Halloween.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 96 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

The Colors of Home

October 29th, 2012 by Karen 5 Comments





Fall colors in my dad’s garden. 🙂 I went to visit my parents last week and took some quick shots of autumn leaves in the front yard.

There are 5 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 215

October 28th, 2012 by Karen 19 Comments

Tabs for the Hourglass Mister Spritzer Age-Defying Fur Spray

Just as most viewers, myself included, were beginning to feel like the show had already jumped the cat/shark, Project Catwalk totally redeemed itself with a tour de force Season 3 premiere.

OMG! Did you watch last night?? So much drama! So much cat politicking! So much fierce tail flicking and cat attitude. One thing should be clear by now — this season, the contestants showed up to werk!

In Season 1, it was obvious to most feline and human viewers that Snowball was the cat to beat. She dominated from the very first challenge, winning six of the nine catwalk competitions. Honestly, was anyone really surprised when judge Tabs called her “the best damn plus-size kitty cat-walker since, well, me”? I mean, it was pretty obvious.

In Season 2, however, the maturity level just wasn’t there. All 10 kitten contestants were simply too young and hyper to compete, and none of them could concentrate for more than a few seconds.

But this season, at least four of the contestant cats appear to have what it takes to go all the way to Feline Fashion Week. The Russian Blue, the twin Siamese kitties and the Ragdoll all have professional-caliber catwalk confidence and poise.

At this point, it’s really anyone’s competition…

So the question remains, who will win this season of Project Catwalk? I for one can’t wait to find out. 🙂

Tabs for the Laura Mercier Lap of Luxury Collection

Tabs for MAC Read Between the Lions
[Continue reading…]

There are 19 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Tabs Keywords: tabs

If You Like Long-Wearing Eye Makeup…

October 28th, 2012 by Karen 15 Comments





Sephora Jumbo Liner 12HR Wear Waterproof Set

Sephora Jumbo Liner 12HR Wear Waterproof Set

…then you might like the new Sephora Jumbo Liner 12HR Wear Waterproof Set ($30).

I swatched some of these pencils last summer, and I’ve liked ’em ever since. Super pigmented and creamy, and once they set, they don’t budge.

My fave shade from this holiday kit is the purple. I wore it in the Crazy Cat Lady look the other day… So fun! 🙂

Sephora Jumbo Liner 12HR Wear Waterproof Set

Sephora Jumbo Liner 12HR Wear Waterproof Set

There are 15 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty

Flowers to Brighten Your Day

October 27th, 2012 by Karen 10 Comments

Flowers from a shop in the Marina district in San Francisco. I walked by it today after brunch and couldn’t resist taking a shot. Love how the colors of the flowers contrast against the neat rows of white pots.

There are 10 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty

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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.

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