Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

Back to the Future! One Year Ago on Makeup and Beauty Blog

April 25th, 2009 by Karen 20 Comments

1. Chanel Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow: Bonjour Credit Card Debt — Last summer Chanel brought the noise with their eyeshadow quads. They were so outstanding that I almost overlooked the singles… I’m glad I came to my senses before it was too late. 🙂

2. Lip Look: Chanel Rouge Hydrabase Leopard Lipstick — If you can get your hands on Leapard Hydrabase Lipstick, grab it up. I feel it’s my civic duty to inform coral lipstick lovers everywhere how creamy and smooth it feels on my lips.

3. 9 Things I’m Glad I Know — Ya’ll know how much I love to write lists. Among the things I’m glad I know: how to tweeze my brows and wax my ‘stache. You’d be looking at the sasquatch of beauty bloggers if it weren’t for hair removal, LOL!

4. Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eyeshadow Primer Blends Great, Lasts All Day Long — If you’re new to makeup, you might be thinking, “Uh, what’s an eye primer?” Fair enough. Eyeshadow primers create a smooth layer on top of your skin to which powder and cream shadows can better affix themselves. It translates into longer-lasting eyeshadow.

5. MAC Makeup Tips: MAC Does Makeup for Music, Too — You probably already knew that MAC provides makeup and makeup artists for fashion shows all over the world, but did you know that MAC does makeup for music tours, too? To find out more about how MAC works with performers on large concerts and events, I spoke with MAC Senior Makeup Artist Jennifer Karsten.

6. Face of the Day: MAC Smokey Brown and Purple Eye — Mama always said, “When life hands you insomnia, hide your dark circles with concealer.” Okay, my mom didn’t actually say that because she doesn’t wear makeup (I know! The apple fell so far from the tree!).

7. A Few of My Favorite Crease Colors — Which crease colors would I want to be buried with in my (presumably fabulously decorated) tomb for all eternity? That’s easy: MAC Soft Brown, Soba and Sable eyeshadow, my top three go-to crease colors of all time!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I had a good time at dinner last night with the girls. We went to Japanese. What did you end up doing?

It’s the crack of dawn here (I’m not quite functional yet), but I’ll write more as soon as I’ve had my first cup of java. Oh, how I love thee, sweet caffeine. 🙂

Lip Look: Nude Lips with Urban Decay and Cargo

April 24th, 2009 by Karen 22 Comments

cargo-belize-urban-decay-naked-lip-look

It’s my firm belief that a girl can never have too many 1) pairs of cute underwear, 2) shoes or 3) nude lip combinations.

My new favorite nude lip combo is Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil in Naked ($16) layered on top of Cargo Blue Ray High Definition Lip Gloss in Belize ($24). I’ve been wearing it all week long. 🙂

cargo belize urban decay naked swatches

Naked’s a creamy neutral pink pencil that glides on smoothly and moisturizes well, while Belize — a thin, non-stick shimmery warm pink gloss — plumps and ramps up the shine.
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MAC Splashproof Lash Mascara Lengthens and Curls, But Does It Thicken?

April 24th, 2009 by Karen 23 Comments

mac splashproof lash macara

Ah, the wonders of makeup bribery!

Yesterday I bought MAC’s Splashproof Lash Mascara in Blacksplash ($12), but before throwing down the credit card, I struck a deal with myself.

The “payment” for the mascara would have to come in the form of seven 45-minute sessions on the stair stepper machine at the gym. Hello, sweaty beast.

I figure the whole makeup-in-exchange-for-cardio thing 1) helps get my booty looking cute in time for summer and 2) provides me with an excuse to try a new waterproof product! 🙂

mac splashproof lash mascara wand

Splashproof is MAC’s only waterproof mascara, and I’ve been told it lengthens, thickens and separates lashes without clumping or flaking. Right now it’s being sold with the new A Rose Romance collection, but it’s also part of MAC’s permanent collection.

Last night I applied two layers before my first 45-minute stair session and paid close attention to how it performed…

First, it glided on without clumping or flaking, so application-wise it’s a star.
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Sonia Kashuk Freshness of Spring Palette Blooms with Delicate Purple and Pink Colors

April 24th, 2009 by Karen 27 Comments

sonia kashuk freshness of spring palette 1

Hey, ladies, TGIF! I’m feeling pretty good today because the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and my hair is somewhat under control. 🙂 It looks like it’s gonna be a great Friday.

This morning I was itching for some light, springy colors to reflect my mood, so I busted out the new Sonia Kashuk Freshness of Spring ($20) makeup palette and went to work.

sonia kashuk freshness of spring palette 2

The palette contains seven coordinating pink and purple products for eyes, lips and cheeks:

A matte pink eyeshadow
Matte purple eyeshadow
Light pink glitter eyeshadow
Creamy reddish pink lipstick
Creamy rosy pink lipstick
A sheer light pink gloss
Matte light pink blush

sonia kashuk freshness of spring palette 3

Sonia even throws in some instructional cards describing how to create her “Freshness of Spring” look.

I liked the lipsticks and glosses right off the bat but was a little wary of the eye and cheek colors. They looked tres pastel to me, and pastels can look “Hello, chalky!” on girls with tan/brown skin.
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Do You Wear Makeup When You’re Chillin’ at Home?

April 23rd, 2009 by Karen 80 Comments

smashbox-untamed-collection
Smashbox Untamed Collection

While I was at the MAC counter today checking out the new A Rose Romance collection, I overheard a girl say that she loves makeup so much that she does a full face just to chill at home.

I started wondering how many of us beauty junkies do the same thing. 🙂

If I’m at home and know I’m not leaving the house, I’ll usually do a bare minimum of makeup so that I can bear to look at myself in the mirror — concealer, brows and mascara. That’s about it, though, unless I’m playing with makeup for fun.

Do you like to wear makeup when you’re just relaxing at home? If you do, do you do a full face or stick to a few basics?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC A Rose Romance Pictures, Swatches and Review

April 23rd, 2009 by Karen 46 Comments

mac rose romance display

Roses are red, violets are blue; the MAC A Rose Romance collection arrived today, what say you?

At first I wasn’t sure I would dig it, but after previewing a few items last week and checking out the full collection today, I’m a fan.

mac rose romance summer rose
Beauty Powder in Summer Rose

mac rose romance blush of youth
Beauty Powder in Blush Of Youth

If you wear cool tones well, you’ll probably find a lot to like in this collection of lip, eye and cheek makeup (with some face, nail and perfume products thrown in for good measure!).
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Hugh Jackman: His Best Hair?

April 22nd, 2009 by Karen 23 Comments

hugh jackman hair poll

Hot dayum! Hugh Jackman is one hunky and talented piece of man meat!

Born Hugh Michael Jackman on October 12, 1968, in Sydney, Australia, he acts, sings, ballroom dances, hypnotizes women with his suave charm and wins cool things like People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” award.

I’ve been a fan since 2001’s Kate and Leopold (with Meg Ryan), and now I’m counting down the days until the May 1 release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, yes!

One of these days I’d love to visit Hollywood’s famed Grauman’s Chinese Theather in Southern California. Imprints of Hugh’s hands (sans Wolverine claws) and feet were just immortalized in its famous cement walkway. Only a handful of stars get the honor, so props to my man Hugh!

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What’s Your “Bad Day” Beauty Routine?

April 22nd, 2009 by Karen 37 Comments

042209-bad-day-beauty

Hey, girls. Do you ever have those days (or weeks!) when everything in your beauty routine goes to hell in a handbasket? Suckage, right?

MBB reader Leah sent me a note asking for help handling those bad beauty days.

Dear Karen,

I’ve been having a rough beauty week. My skin is all wonky, my hair has been a super mess, my skin is dry, etc. I need your routine for those bad beauty days when nothing seems to be going right.

Thanks,
Leah

Heya, Leah. I really wish I could claim to be one of those girls who never had days like that — you know, the gals who manage to look flawless from head to toe with perfect hair/skin/makeup 365 days a year? Yeah, I am sooo not that girl.

When I’m having a bad beauty day and feeling tow’ up from the flo’ up, I go back to basics.

Hair: On bad beauty days, the ponytail is my best friend.

I’ll do one of two hairstyles…

If I have at least 10 minutes, I’ll flat iron a few sections in the front and on the top of my hair to smooth things out. Then, I’ll work a defrizzing product like Bumble & Bumble Brillantine ($20) through those sections to add some shine and finish. I’ll then pull my hair with a low ponytail and throw on a headband. Fast and chic.

sedu-revolution-2

If I’m more pressed for time and only have a minute or two to get ready, I’ll put my mane into a ponytail and hide everything beneath a cute hat. I’ll grab some big hoop earrings (to draw attention away from everything else) and bolt out the door.

Skin: When my skin breaks out I reach for the same tried and true products I’ve been using for years.

To cleanse, tone and moisturize, I like gentle products and rely on Philosophy Purity Made Simple face wash ($20), Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion ($11), Shiseido SPF 55 Sunblock ($37) and Dermalogica Active Moist ($50) for night.

shiseido-ulitmate-sun-protection-lotion-for-face-and-body

I’ll also add some pimple fighting treatments that I know won’t dry me out, like Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment ($7).
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Which of Hugh's hairstyles do you like most?