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Comment to Win $150 in Rimmel

June 22nd, 2009 by Karen 386 Comments

This giveaway is closed. Thanks for entering!

rimmel-giveaway

One thing I’ve noticed about getting older is that time seems to move a lot faster than it used to. It must be a side effect, ha!

Like, I can’t believe 1999 was 10 years ago…

In the summer of 1999 I was hooked on Krispy Kreme and Cibo Matto. I’d moved back home after college and remember how tough it was adjusting to life back under my parents’ roof.

As much as I love my family, that summer was rough. Turns out I wasn’t the same person I’d been when I first left for school five years earlier.

There were lots of arguments, and sometimes I’d have to just get away. Most of the time I’d hit the local drugstore to hang out in the makeup aisle, like some weirdo lipgloss stalker.

It was on one of my late-night drugstore runs that I discovered the Rimmel makeup line.

I dug the simple packaging, price and mix of bright and neutral colors right from the start, and since then several Rimmel products have become staples in my makeup bag.

Some of my Rimmel favorites…

  • Kajal Pencil in Jungle Green
  • Gentle Eye Makeup Remover
  • Rimmel Light Beam After Dark Lipgloss

This summer Rimmel celebrates their American 10-year anniversary, so I figure let’s do this right and mark the milestone with a super summer giveaway. 🙂

The prize!

One lucky lady will win a Rimmel prize package worth $150. Among the products in the giveaway: previews of Rimmel’s upcoming Sexy Curves Waterproof Mascara and Glam’Eyes Lash Flirt Mascara (arriving in stores next month).

The complete prize package includes…

  1. NEW Sexy Curves Waterproof Mascara
  2. NEW Glam’Eyes Lash Flirt Mascara
  3. Lash Maxxx Waterproof Mascara
  4. Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in Jet Black
  5. Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in Deep Ocean
  6. Colour Rush Eyeshadow Quad in Chocolatine
  7. Colour Rush Eyeshadow Quad in Bronzed
  8. Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer
  9. Stay Matte Clarifying Matte Foundation
  10. Natural Bronzer in Sundance
  11. Mono Blush in Peach
  12. 1000 Kisses Lip Liner in Natural and Indian Kiss
  13. 1000 Kisses Lip Liner in Indian Kiss
  14. Lasting Finish Kiss & Stay Gloss in English Rose
  15. Lasting Finish Kiss & Stay Gloss in Lustrous Nude
  16. Lasting Finish Intense Wear Lipstick in Pink Champagne
  17. Lasting Finish Intense Wear Lipstick in Alarm
  18. Lasting Finish Intense Wear Lipstick in Crush
  19. 60 Seconds Nail Polish in Camouflage
  20. 60 Seconds Nail Polish in Shocker
  21. 60 Seconds Nail Polish in Pulsating
  22. A red and purple cosmetics train case

How to enter

To enter, just leave a comment at the bottom of this post. In it, tell me what you were doing in the summer of 1999. Were you living at home and going to middle school, graduating from college, starting your first big job, training for the next Olympics or cultivating your own Krispy Kreme addiction like moi? 🙂

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59PM PST Wednesday night.

Good luck!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

This giveaway is closed. Thanks for entering!

There are 386 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

MAC Graphic Garden and Look in a Box Swatches and First Impressions

June 22nd, 2009 by Karen 43 Comments

mac-nordstrom-beauty-exlusives-1

I’m getting fired up, fellow MAC fans! Next month two exclusive, Nordstrom-only MAC collections arrive, the first for ladies who love bright colors and the second for gals who gotta go neutral.

Both Graphic Garden and Look in a Box are Nordstrom Beauty Exclusives, special limited edition items made by big cosmetics lines like MAC and sold only at Nordstrom stores.

If you’re on the market for bright summer colors, consider the Graphic Gardens collection’s black and white flower print makeup bags and eyeshadow palettes, lip kits and brush kits ($35-50) in greens, blues, pinks and grays.

Or, if you’d prefer basic neutrals for your eyes, cheeks and lips, check out Look in a Box, which offers three color-coordinated makeup kits ($60 apiece, but valued at $100), each one with six pieces — eye, lip and face makeup as well as a kabuki brush — designed to create a complete look.

Last weekend I spent a few minutes with both of the upcoming collections — now available for pre-order at Nordstrom stores and online (for pick up or delivery next month).

Graphic Garden

mac graphic gardens eye shadow palette
Graphic Garden Palette, $35

I’m a palette kinda girl, so I was most interested in Graphic Garden’s two eyeshadow palettes, Graphic Garden and Fresh Cut ($35 each).

The Graphic Garden palette comes with six shimmery shadows in cool-toned shades of green, blue, gray, beige, purple and black. Each of the colors has excellent color payoff (soo rich!), and one could easily mix and match the shades for a variety of different looks.

mac graphic gardens fresh cut eyeshadow palette
Fresh Cut Palette, $35

Now, Fresh Cut kinda fooled me at first. Its pink, bronze and brown shades looked warm in the pans, but the shadows apply super sheer, requiring several layers on both my tan NC 35 skin as well as lighter NW 20.

mac-graphic-garden-baby-blooms-lip-bag
Baby Blooms Lip Bag, $35 (includes Lipglass in Baby Blooms; Lipsticks in Soft Illusion, Amplified Spice Flower; and a black makeup bag with a white floral print)

mac-graphic-gardens-summer-crop-lip-bag
Summer Crop Lip Bag, $35 (includes a Lipglass in Summer Crop; Lipsticks in Semi-Annual and Garden Bed; and a white makeup bag with a black rose print)

mac-graphic-gardens-brushes-define-and-blend
Define and Blend Brush Set, $50 (includes short-handled versions of the MAC 168 Large Angled Contour Brush, 190 Foundation Brush, 252 Large Shader Brush, 219 Pencil Brush and the 209 Eye Liner Brush, as well as a white makeup bag with a black rose print)

mac-graphic-gardens-brushes-shape-and-perfect-brush-kit
Shape and Perfect Brush Set, $50 (includes short-handled versions of the MAC 187 Duo Fibre Brush, 129 Powder/Blush Brush, 275 Medium Angled Shading Brush, 212 Flat Definer Brush and 194 Concealer Brush, as well as a black makeup bag with a white floral print)

Correction: it looks like two of the brushes in the sets were mixed up in the store. The Define and Blend Brush Set should have the 128 Powder/Blush Brush, and the Shape and Perfect Set should have the 168 Large Contour Brush.

mac graphic garden swatches nc35
Graphic Garden on NC 35 skin

mac graphic gardens swatches eye shadow palette nw 20
Graphic Garden on NW 20 skin

mac graphic gardens swatches fresh cut nw 20
Fresh Cut on NW 20 skin

mac graphic gardens swatches summer fresh cut graphic garden palettes-1
Graphic Garden on the left and Fresh cut on the right; both on NC 35 skin

mac graphic gardens swatches eyeshadow palettes fresh cut graphic garden-on-nw-20
Graphic Garden on the left and Fresh cut on right; both on NC 20 skin
[Continue reading…]

There are 43 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: MAC Makeup

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, June 22

June 22nd, 2009 by Karen 50 Comments

christian-louboutin-sparkly-silver-shoes
Heels by Christian Louboutin

  1. Mood:
  2. Mellow… I’m lusting after those shoes up top.

  3. What are three random things you’re great at doing?
  4. 1) Baking Italian cream cake from scratch, 2) parallel parking (even on hills!) and 3) striking up conversations with complete strangers.

  5. What’s one makeup product you find yourself buying over and over again?
  6. MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer ($15.50).

  7. Best/worst part of last weekend?
  8. On Saturday El Hub and I went house hunting and found a condo we both really liked — nice lighting, good neighborhood, and it was in our price range, too.

    We noticed railroad tracks in the open space directly behind the unit (a stone’s throw away) but didn’t think much of them at the time, having never seen or heard an actual operational train in Marin County before.

    That was our mistake. We’d gotten our hopes up about the place, started making life plans, and then BAM!

    A Google search confirmed it: trains are scheduled to start running along the tracks behind the unit in a few years.

    End of story. No condo.

  9. Name a song that always brings a smile to your face:
  10. Natasha Bedingfield’s Love Like This.

  11. What are you looking forward to this summer?
  12. Comic-Con!

  13. Eyes/cheeks/lips:
  14. A bunch of stuff from Clinique’s new Bamboo Pink collection — Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Bamboo Pink ($25) and Cream Shaper for Eyes in Chocolate Lustre ($15) on my eyes; Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Bamboo Pink ($30) on my cheeks and Butter Shine Lipstick in Bamboo Pink ($14) on my lips.

  15. Outfit:
  16. A black t-shirt and green khakis.

  17. Something you’d like to improve about yourself?
  18. How I handle stress.

  19. Weekly goals:
  20. Spend at least five hours reading, eat some fruit every day (it’s good for the constitution!), go to yoga class at least once, and organize at least one of the out-of-control piles of paperwork on my desk.

Hi, ladies. I hope your Monday got off to a good start. If you have a minute, check in when you get a chance. Just copy Le list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le list

1. Mood:
2. What are three random things you’re great at doing?
3. Makeup product you keep buying over and over again?
4. Best/worst part of last weekend?
5. A song that always brings a smile to your face?
6. What are you looking forward to this summer?
7. Eyes/cheeks/lips:
8. Outfit:
9. Something you’d like to improve about yourself?
10. Weekly goals:

Viva la Monday! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 50 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Jun 21

June 21st, 2009 by Karen 6 Comments

  • Whispers abound that DuWop’s getting ready to release a Twilight makeup line. If they do, the lipsticks better be long-wear *and* fang friendly!
  • I’m gonna immortalize Tabs in one of these awesome custom-made, vintage Victorian pet photos.
  • Is the bowl cut the next big do?
  • Learn how to make your own NARS the Multiple makeup palettes by following this tutorial.
  • Soon you, too, could be sampling fragrances from the comfort of your laptop with i-Aroma, a new fragrance communication system that makes sending scents over the web a reality.
  • I stumbled upon some of Trish McEvoy’s summer makeup tips.
  • Doesn’t Dior’s Fall 2009 Smoky Jazz collection look smokin’ hawt?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 6 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun Keywords: tabs

21 MORE Drugstore Beauty Tips

June 21st, 2009 by Karen 13 Comments

21 MORE Drugstore Beauty Tips

Happy Sunday, ladies! I hope yours got off to a good start. Today is Father’s Day here in the States, and what better way to celebrate than with a post highlighting something dads often preach: fiscal responsibility. 🙂

Here are 21 more drugstore beauty tips to help keep that budget on track.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like…

  • 21 Drugstore Beauty Tips
  • 21 Skin Care Tips
  • 21 Makeup Tutorials
  • 101 Hairstyle Tutorials
  • 10 Fantastic Smokey Eye Tutorials
  1. Crest Advanced Seal Strips: A good pros/cons review with a glowing endorsement of the product from a top beauty blogger.
  2. advancedsealbox1

  3. Dove Beauty Bar: A drugstore beauty staple for generations, it’s always there in a pinch.
  4. Dove Beauty Bar

  5. Nadinola Cocoa Butter Cream: It’s hard to believe, but this highly-rated moisturizer often sells for under $1!
  6. nad

  7. Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation: Some beauty tips actually warn AGAINST a product, like this one does for a popular drugstore foundation.
  8. mayb

  9. Sally Hansen No Chip Polish: I love chips, but not on my nails. 🙂 In this post Blogger Vanessa gives a glowing 5/5 review to a can’t-miss $4 nail polish.
  10. sally2

  11. Biore Skin Preservation Line: Here’s a look at a drugstore skin care line for women 25-35, with skin that’s out of the “acne/breakout” phase but not yet ready for wrinkle fighters or thicker night creams/moisturizers.
  12. Biore skin care line
    [Continue reading…]

There are 13 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Beauty Tips, Drugstore Beauty Finds

Illamasqua Lip Look: Thinking Outside the Box

June 20th, 2009 by Karen 31 Comments

illamasqua-box-lipstick-1-final1

KAPOW!

Illamasqua’s Lipstick in Box ($23 USD before shipping) hits like a heavyweight champ, and it may even give MAC Russian Red a run for its money.

Both are creamy bluish reds, but Box’s teensy touch of orange adds a warmth not present in Russian Red.

If you wanted to knock ’em out with Russian Red but found it too cool for your skin tone, don’t forget about Box.

illamasqua-box-lipstick-2

Named after Illamasqua co-founder Alex Box, it applies with opaque, rich color and lasts all day long without feathering.

I think I’m in lurve. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 31 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup

MAC Cosmetics Meets Star Trek in This Face of the Day

June 20th, 2009 by Karen 13 Comments

Guest blogging from Argentina, MBB reader Marcela shares her take on a Star Trek inspired face of the day using some of her favorite products from MAC Cosmetics.

Star Trek inspired makeup

Hi, everyone!

My name is Marcela. I’m no trekkie, having never watched any movies beginning with “Star” (Star Wars, anyone?), but hey, there are a couple (or a lot) of you out there who DO like sci-fi movies, so this FOTD is for you.

Now, this look is a sultry and dark, smoky black and gold eye — maybe a bit over the top, but you can tone it down (or switch it up!).

I don’t know why, but I didn’t line my bottom lash line with black. I’m sure that would have given the look a bit more va va voom!

The long winged liner was inspired by Spock’s upturned eyebrows, and the colors by — wait for it — a starry night!

Very original indeed… 🙂

Anyway, I liked how it turned out. I hope you do, too.

black-ore-eye-close-up-copia

Here are the products I used:

Face

Foundation: La Roche Posay Toleraine (applied with a sponge wedge)
Powder: MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Medium Dark (applied all over)
Blush: A shimmery golden bronze blush
Contour: MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Dark
Highlight: The shimmery side of the MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Duo in Dark

Eyes

Primer: Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Eyelid base: Any black cream shadow (applied to the outer 2/3 of the lid)
Eyelid inner corner: A mix of MAC Eye Shadow in Sumptuous Olive and MAC Flip (or any other bright gold shadow)
Eyelid: MAC Solar Bits in Black Ore (applied with MAC Mixing Medium over a black cream shadow)
Crease: MAC Eye Shadow in Carbon
Brow Highlight: MAC Eye Shadow in Modest Tone
Tearduct: MAC Eye Shadow in Solar White
Liner, Upper: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
Liner, Lower: MAC Eye Shadow in Flip
Mascara: Givenchy Eye Fly

Lips

Lipstick: A flesh-tone lipstick like MAC Lipstick in Myth
Lipgloss: The peachy bronze gloss from Tarte’s Purse Your Lips Clutch applied under MAC Lipglass in Pink Grapefruit
Finish: A dab of a peachy gold pigment in the middle of the bottom lip
[Continue reading…]

There are 13 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup Keywords: guest post, mac

Do You Shave Your Toes?

June 20th, 2009 by Karen 93 Comments

toes-in-pool

I’m not sure exactly when it happened or what I did to deserve it, but seven long, wiry hairs have sprouted up on each of my big toes.

It’s as if I have El Hub’s feet attached to my legs!

I used to think of my feet as pretty darn cute. I was always a hairy Sasquatch everywhere else, sure, but my toes had been gloriously fur free.

shave-yer-toes-dammit
Cartoon representation

Shaving them off seems kind of weird to me, ya know? I shave my legs all the time, but for some reason I can’t wrap my head around shaving the hair on my toes.

What should I do? If you have hairy tootsies, do you shave, pluck or wax?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 93 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Hair, Just For Fun

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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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