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With the Sonia Kashuk Reach for the Stars Nail Trio, Sonia Hopes You’ll Reach for Your Wallet

December 13th, 2010 by Karen 41 Comments

Sonia Kashuk Reach For the Stars Nail Trio Holiday Set swatches

When the goin’ gets tough, the tough paint their nails! Okay, so maybe that’s not exactly how the saying goes, but you know what I mean. 🙂 And when a nail polish goes on with near perfect application, like the pretty polishes in the Sonia Kashuk Reach for the Stars Nail Trio ($10), well, ain’t nothin’ gonna break my stride.

The limited edition holiday set comes packed to the gills with glitter in three full-size bottles — a warm peachy gold (looks like a sunset!), a gunmetal gray and a magenta. Sonia filled all three with pounds of pigment and sparkle to spare.

Where’s the party at?! I ask because these festive shades hit all the right notes, but the formula’s what elevates these polishes from good to great. The smooth, thin texture goes on without any streaks (reminds me of OPI’s texture), and because they’re so pigmented, the color is easy to build up with layers. Last week I painted my toes with the gunmetal gray, and it was one of the fastest and easiest at-home pedicures I’ve given myself in ages. Just two coats produced a solid, opaque layer of color. Heck, I probably could have gotten away with one layer if I’d been in hurry.

Sonia Kashuk Reach For the Stars Nail Trio Holiday Set swatches gray

Sonia Kashuk Reach For the Stars Nail Trio Holiday Set swatches gray and gold
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There are 41 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Nails, Product Reviews Keywords: sonia kashuk

You Might Need a Row of Diplomas to Open the Benefit Crescent Row Coffret Set

December 13th, 2010 by Karen 37 Comments

Benefit Crescent Row Coffret Set with box

Don’t let these sharp dressers fool you. The adorable tiny bottles in the Benefit Crescent Row Coffret Holiday Kit ($36) look like they’re begging to be spritzed, but you might need a degree in rocket science to get ’em open.

The limited edition set comes with four almost impregnable bottles of 0.34-oz. eau de toilette — the light and fresh Laugh With Me LeeLee and Garden of Good and Eva, and warm and cozy Lookin’ To Rock Rita and So Hooked on Carmella.

The official fragrance notes…

  • Garden Of Good And Eva: pear, watermelon, ozone accords, muguet, rosebud, jasmine petals, green violet leaves, freesia, sandalwood, musk and cedarwood
  • Lookin’ To Rock Rita: lemon, coconut, freesia, fig, hyacinth, violet, sandalwood, Brazilian rosewood and vanilla
  • So Hooked On Carmella: lemon, grapefruit, rhubarb, cyclamen, peony, tiare flower, vanilla, sandalwood, amber
  • Laugh With Me LeeLee: cassis, melon, citrus, black violet, lily, jasmine, blonde wood, amber and santal

I’ve been fiddling with them for days and still can’t tell if the tops are designed to snap or screw shut. I like all four of the long-lasting fragrances, but truth be told, the packaging’s been a bit of a distraction. Maybe they need a special chant or a sacred dance to close, haha!
[Continue reading…]

There are 37 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Fragrance, Product Reviews Keywords: benefit

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Dec. 13

December 13th, 2010 by Karen 69 Comments

  1. Mood:
  2. I was a little agitated earlier (the Christmas tree fell over this morning so there were broken ornaments and pine needles all over the living room floor, plus the carpet was soaked, ugh), but now I’m feeling pretty good. It’s amazing how a quick run and some endorphins can change everything.

  3. Three winter beauty essentials you can’t live without?
  4. Clarins HydraQuench Cream for my hella dry face, Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Creme for my gnarly feet and Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream for my shredded carrot cuticles, LOL!

  5. Red lips: matte or glossy?
  6. Both. 🙂

  7. One of your life goals?
  8. To visit the pyramids in Egypt.

  9. When it comes to holiday entertaining, would you rather be the host or the guest?
  10. The guest, for sure.

  11. If you were a dessert, what would you be?
  12. A mini cupcake, because it’s small and sweet.

  13. Have you finished your holiday shopping?
  14. No, and I still have a long way to go. 🙁

  15. Your favorite meal of the day?
  16. Hmm, probably breakfast. French toast, banana pancakes, hash browns, omelettes… man, I’m hungry right now.

  17. What sounds do you hear right at this very moment?
  18. Cars driving by in the distance, my fingers typing on the keyboard and Tabs purring up a storm (he’s making biscuits on my lap).

  19. Weekly goals:
  20. Drink three big bottles of water every day (been dehydrated lately), log in 10 hours of reading and eat plenty of veggies at dinner every night.

There’s nothing like a portly tabby cat sitting on your lap and tearing the crap out of your clothes to start your week off right, LOL! Other than this morning’s Christmas Tree Incident (I still don’t know how it fell over), things have been just dandy on this end.

What’s shaking out in your neck of the woods? When you get a moment will you let me know what’s going on with you by filling out the Monday poll?

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



1. Mood:
2. Three winter beauty essentials you can’t live without?
3. Red lips: matte or glossy?
4. One of your life goals?
5. When it comes to holiday entertaining, would you rather be the host or the guest?
6. If you were a dessert, what would you be?
7. Have you finished your holiday shopping?
8. Your favorite meal of the day?
9. What sounds do you hear right at this very moment?
10. Weekly goals:

Raise your chai lattes with me, and let’s toast to a spectacular week ahead!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 69 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 117

December 12th, 2010 by Karen 68 Comments

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is AmyVA! Congratulations, AmyVA! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

Enter Today's Tabs Caption Contest

Makeup and Beauty Blog Caption Contest

  • $25 (U.S.) sent via PayPal to the winner’s PayPal account (that’s Christmas money, yo!)

  • There are two ways to enter, and you can do both of them for two chances to win. First, you can enter by leaving a caption in the comments for the picture at the top of this post, preceding it with the word CAPTION:
  • Second, you can enter by following me @karenmbb and tweeting a different caption, preceding it with the words @karenmbb CAPTION:

  • The deadline to enter is Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 11:59PM PST.
  • Entrants must have a valid email address and PayPal account to win.
  • A maximum of two entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
  • Contest is open to individuals of any country who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
  • Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “the judges”) will select our favorite caption (1 winner) from all of the caption contest entries that are either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
  • The decision of the judges is final and binding.
  • All entries become the property of Makeup and Beauty Blog (specifically Tabs) and will not be returned.
  • The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
  • If the winner cannot be contacted or does not respond within three (3) days, an alternate winner may be selected at the sole discretion of the judge(s).
  • Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is AmyVA! Congratulations, AmyVA! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

There are 68 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun Keywords: giveaway, tabs

It Kiehl’s Me How Much I Like Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter

December 12th, 2010 by Karen 25 Comments

I wonder if The Pioneer Woman consulted with Kiehl’s to create Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter ($32 for an 8-oz. jar), because it smells like something that would be wafting out of Ree’s kitchen. Like warm milk and honey with a dash of coconut, YUM!

This newest member of the moisturizing Creme de Corps line goes well with hot cocoa after coming in from the cold (perhaps after an afternoon spent ice skating).

The lightweight, whipped consistency absorbs in a jiffy, which means it gets a lot of everyday use.

Nothing against body butters that take longer to massage into the skin, but practically speaking, I use the ones that take the least amount of my time and effort to apply (like this one) more often on a daily basis. Like, when the bathroom floor is freezing cold, the last thing I want to do is spend 15 more minutes in there moisturizing after a shower.


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There are 25 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Product Reviews, Skin Care Keywords: kiehls

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

December 12th, 2010 by Karen 9 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Weekly Roundup

Rise and shine, morning glory. It’s a beautifully foggy here day in Novato, haaaaay!

So what happened last night? Did you party like a rock star or become one with the couch at home like an overworked student/cog in a wheel? I did the later (watched a couple missed episodes of 30 Rock on my laptop in bed), but Tabs and I DID get a Christmas tree before I conked out. 🙂 A small 4 footer. We haven’t decorated it yet, so it’s just sitting in the stand filled with water, and so far, Tabs has partaken of more of the water than the tree has. I’m not sure if that’s a good idea…

Oh, what was the highlight of your week from a beauty perspective? The very best thing that happened? Was it a new product discovery, a sale on something you love, a fantastic hair/skin/makeup day? Mine was going to the hair salon, because I like how it turned out. And I always learn something new from the stylists (this time, Kerastase hair oil is great, but Orofluido is also great, and cheaper).

Before this week becomes yet another fond (hopefully) memory, here’s a brief look back at some of the things we talked about on the blog…

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Weekly Roundup

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

NYX Eye & Lip Makeup Remover $8 NYX EYE & LIP
MAKEUP REMOVER

Um, why do I feel like rubbing orange slices all over myself? Oh, yeah — I remember. NYX Eye & Lip Makeup Remover ($8), one of the best smelling makeup removers I’ve EVER sniffed.

Fo’ reals! This dual-phase liquid (an oil and water emulsion; it turns a pale blue when shaken) smells fresh and sweet like a yummy (blue?) orange, and it digests le war paint almost as well as the much more expensive Lancome Bi-Facil, also a dual-phase formula.

They say the nose knows. Well, mine stopped paying attention as soon as it caught a whiff of this fragrant potion of orange and papaya extracts. As a matter of fact, I like the smell so much that I’m willing to overlook its few shortcomings, one of which has to do with mascara. It’s not that good at removing it as Bi-Facil (or any number of other eye makeup removers), but nothing’s perfect, right? Except perhaps the way NYX Eye & Lip Makeup Remover smells, LOL! Read more…

Urban Decay Greed Eyeshadow Primer Potion URBAN DECAY GREED
PRIMER POTION

Blending powder, cream and pencil eyeshadows on top of the new Urban Decay Greed Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($18) might not be as effortless as it is to blend shadows on top of NARS Pro Prime, arguably one of the best eye primers on the market, but there are times (like these) when beauty trumps ease of use. The newest shade in Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion Line and the most glittery one yet, its striking shimmery gold intensifies eye looks with a long-lasting, water-resistant formula that helps it make up for sub-par blending.

My non-scientific tests involved a swipe on the back of my hand (it lasted through four vigorous washings and only came off with an oil-based makeup remover) and a late night out with the girls (dinner, drinks and then four solid hours of dancing). Greed withstood everything with nary a crease and no fading at all.

Girls who go ga-ga for golden glam looks might love Greed’s flexibility. Not only does it amplify the wear time and vibrancy of shadows when worn beneath them, but I think it even looks great all by itself.

Or how about supersizing your eyes? Use Greed’s light-reflecting golden metallic color to create an eye-widening effect. Pat and blend it into the inner V (the area next to the tear ducts) to cancel out any darkness from the eye and nose area. Then, dab a little under the brow bone to give your eyebrows a lift. Read more…

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencils URBAN DECAY 24/7
GLIDE-ON LIP PENCILS

So who’s ready to go nude with me? Wait — button up those skinny jeans, ya perverts (although I applaud you for your willingness to let it all hang out!); I’m talking about the two newest additions to the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil line ($18 each).

Waterproof, with a matte finish and a creamy texture that’s smoother than my favorite werewolf’s chest, rosy nude Illegal and plummy nude Midnight Cowboy live up to the long-lasting standard set by UD’s pencil liners, staying put for about six to eight hours on my lips.

This morning I slipped into Illegal, and two big @ss bottles of water, a chai tea latte and a bowl of pumpkin soup later it still looked (almost) as good as new.

These also don’t leave my lips flaky or dry like some of the other matte lip liners I’ve tried, perhaps due to the jojoba oil and vitamin E they contain.

Mostly I’ve worn them by themselves — just line, fill and go — but you could easily spruce ‘em up by adding your favorite clear or nude gloss on top. Read more…

5 Easy Steps to an Even Skin Tone 5 EASY STEPS TO
AN EVEN SKIN TONE

Oh, to have perfect skin again… Wait, I’ve never had perfect skin. I’ve always wished I could just peel my head off the pillow in the morning, splash a little water on my face, tie my hair back into a ponytail and face the day with clear skin, bright eyes, my chubby cat and a smile.

I can handle the smile part by myself, but I need feline cooperation and makeup assistance for everything else.

Luckily, great looking natural skin tone doesn’t require hundreds of layers of foundation and every minute you can spare. Follow these five easy steps to an even skin tone.

1. Get Wet — Moisten a makeup sponge with water or a multi-purpose spray like MAC Fix+ ($19). It’ll thin out the liquid foundation we’re about to use it with and help it adhere evenly to your skin. Read more…

Makeup for Men MAKEUP
FOR MEN

Yes.

Recently, I’ve turned three of my good friends, all male, onto makeup. Now, not full-on, dare-I-say, girly makeup, but simple, natural, corrective aesthetic enhancements.

Makeup has done more for my self-confidence than any amount of plastic-surgery, psychology, and good friends who lie really well could ever do. I don’t use it to change anything about myself, but to “correct” minor tarnishes to my ego — blemishes, spots, and the dreaded dark under-eye circles. Since converting them to my faith, these male friends have all thanked me profusely, saying they’ve gotten more attention from girls and just feel better about themselves around other people.

Mind you, these weren’t easy converts — I had to drag them kicking and screaming into Sephora and plunk them down in front of the Make Up For Ever aisle while I shopped for them before I got even a smidgen of cooperation — but you should see ‘em now!

Hooked.

Most men could benefit from three things: foundation, concealer, and blush or bronzer (depending on their skintone). I’ve found that Make Up For Ever is a great brand to get ‘em started on, as the packaging is relatively indiscrete, the products are easy to use and relatively foolproof (even the foundation), and the display is far from daunting. Read more…

Benefit Bella Bamba Face Powder BENEFIT BELLA
BAMBA FACE POWDER

Bus riding babes and y’all on-the-go lovelies, feast your eyes on this: the new Benefit Bella Bamba Face Powder ($28) promises to change the face of quick touchups this spring.

You know how Benefit’s boxed blushes have that unattached lid (see: Sugarbomb and Coralista)? Well, as much as I love the colors, I’m always afraid they’ll open in my bag. Once, while I was applying blush on the train to work, one of the lids got away from me and shot straight up in the air, OOPS! Luckily it landed in a cute boy’s lap, but I digress…

Bella Bamba comes with new improved flip-top cap that uses a magnet to stay shut. And that’s not all. It even has a mirror inside, so you can stare at your sassy self while you’re sweeping on this shimmery golden pink.

Benefit calls Bella Bamba a 3D, multi-dimensional pink face powder (what is this, Tron? LOL!), and it’s designed to brighten, sculpt and define.

I don’t know much about 3D, but I do like using this as a blush.

It applies as a neutral watermelon pink (even smells like watermelon, too!) with a generous amount of golden pearl. Sparkle-shy gals might want to go easy on the application here, because it is very, VERY shimmery. Read more…

The Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil 15-Year Anniversary Set URBAN DECAY 24/7 GLIDE-ON
EYE PENCIL 15-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SET

Girl, Urban Decay knows how to throw a party. They do it by releasing great stuff! Great stuff like the 15-Year Anniversary 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil Set ($92; 15 pigmented pencils; 15 heart palpitations, oy vey!).

Many makeup mavens consider these pigmented, long-wearing eyeliners, which also happen to be smoother than silk, some of the best and brightest in the biz, and seeing so many of them together in the same place is enough to drive me to drink…bourbon (my favorite one).

With the set, a limited edition release for spring, you get nine classic 24/7 colors in Baked, Binge, Bourbon, Electric, Mildew, Ransom, Rockstar, Stash and Zero, and six brand new shades — Asphyxia, Corrupt, Midnight Cow, Perversion, Stray Dog and Uzi. Purchased individually, the whole kit ‘n kaboodle would set you back a painful $255 (they’re regularly $17 apiece), but here they work out to just $6 each. Read more…

JK Jemma Kidd Catwalk I-Kit JK JEMMA KIDD
CATWALK I-KIT

Like the Dom Pérignon of drugstore makeup palettes, the $26 JK Jemma Kidd Catwalk I-Kit will set your holiday budget back, but you may not mind if you’re a lover of sheer shadows and/or the classic neutral colors across the way at MAC.

The kit comes with a single creamy eye primer, a pair of dual-tipped mini-brushes and eight shadows (two of them, the highlight shadows, share a single large pan), quite a few of which look like sheerer versions of staple MAC neutrals to me.

At least they picked great products to use for inspiration, right? 🙂

Shimmery taupe Editor reminds me of MAC Satin Taupe, shimmery golden beige Vintage of MAC All That Glitters and matte brown Vanity Fair reminds me of MAC Cork. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 9 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun Keywords: weeklyroundup

Concealer Comparison: MAC Select Moisture Cover and Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer

December 11th, 2010 by Karen 32 Comments

Jessica

Friend me on FacebookWritten by Jessica

It’s a battle of epic proportions! Blogger Jessica pits two powerhouses of the beauty world together in today’s guest post. Dark circles better hide!

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t suffer from dark circles, yet I only recently discovered the wonders of a nice concealer. I’m an avid viewer of Pixiwoo on YouTube and noticed that both Sam and Nic use different products to deal with their under-eye circles. I purchased MAC Select Moisture Cover Concealer after watching one of Nic’s videos, and I instantly fell in love. Then, later, I found Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, and now I love both of them so much that I decided to do a product comparison.

I began by taking a photo of myself not wearing any makeup. AHHHH! I know. Shameless. Well, I wanted you to be able to see the unevenness of my skin. I have pretty heavy dark circles that are very noticeable if I don’t wear concealer, and I also have large cheeks which cast a shadow on my dark circles, making them appear even worse!

Not wearing any makeup
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer on the left, MAC Select Moisture Cover on the right

I proceeded to do all of my makeup without using concealer. As you can see, I get quite dark near my tear ducts, and my cheeks, again, cast a nice shadow over my dark circles! 🙁

Makeup without concealer

Then, I put the two products on each of my eyes, Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer on the left and MAC Select Moisture Cover on the right.

Unblended concealer
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer on the left, MAC Select Moisture Cover on the right

After blending, I took several photos to show the differences. The left side is Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Sand, the right is MAC Select Moisture Cover in NW25. As you can see, the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer covers a little bit better. It’s also a bit thicker in consistency, which I believe is why it conceals my circles so well. MAC Select is more of a liquid. Although the shades look really different before they’ve been blended, both of them actually blend quite well into my skin. I also like how they each reflect the light, and both of them have nice finishes.

The two blended concealers
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer on the left, MAC Select Moisture Cover on the right

I think the difference is the most obvious in this photo. The left eye (Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer) shows less of the purple/brown color that’s usually present in my under-eye circles. Unfortunately, the MAC Select Moisture Cover on the right side looks sad.

Looking down
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer on the left, MAC Select Moisture Cover on the right

THE OVERALL WINNER: Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Sand!!! Although I originally believed it might settle into the fine lines under my eyes, it held up quite well. Creamy, easy to blend, smooth and good coverage — I would definitely repurchase this concealer again. 🙂

To see a comparison of Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer vs. Laura Mercier Secrete Camouflage Undercover Pot, click here.

Jessica

Friend me on FacebookWritten by Jessica

I’m a little bit like Batman — a law student by day, and a makeup enthusiast/beauty product hoarder by night! I started my website, BellaLiberté, to trade beauty tips and info on the best sales, and to make sure my stash of beauty products wouldn’t go to waste. Whether you’re a beauty aficionado or brand new to makeup, come say hi.

There are 32 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup, Video Keywords: bobbi brown, guest post, mac

Any Way the Wind Blows Doesn’t Really Matter to Me

December 11th, 2010 by Karen 11 Comments

NYX 10 Color Palette in Bohemian Rhapsody, $9.75.

What say you?

There are 11 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo Keywords: nyx

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog! My name is Karen, and I’m a freelance writer obsessed with makeup.

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