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

Just Call Me Doe Eyes: Tarte Bottoms Up Mascara

February 3rd, 2009 by Karen 17 Comments

If you took away my Tarte Bottoms Up lower lash mascara ($14), I’d probably get the shakes and start rocking back and forth. Maybe drool a little bit too.

Tarte made it special for lower lashes. It’s a water-resistant (not quite waterproof) black, and even though I’ve only been using it for a week, I’m already hooked. *I LOVE* how this mascara makes my eyes look bigger and more alert, like I’m actually awake, even when I’m dog tired.

Tarte Bottoms up mascara brush on top, Clinique High Impact Curling mascara brush head on bottom

Don’t let the tiny bottle fool you; Bottoms Up packs some serious makeup juju. Even though the brush head and bristles are about half normal size, they work mad, crazy good. I think the smaller head helps to thoroughly coat each lash evenly because it can sneak into all the crevices. It works better at coating and separating lower lashes than any mascara brush I’ve ever used before.

No mascara on the lower lash line

One layer of Bottoms Up on lower lash line

Swatch of Bottoms Up
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Sheer Is In Bloom at Prescriptives

February 3rd, 2009 by Karen 16 Comments

For the new In Bloom collection, Prescriptives borrowed heavily from one the GREATEST painters of all time: Mother Nature.

To my eye, the palette draws inspiration from sunflowers, marigolds, petunias and lilies. The look itself features sheer eyes, cheeks and a rich, shiny lip.

It brings out my inner spring blossom … and she’s been shy ever since I hit my 30s, LOL! 🙂

The collection includes the limited edition Eye Color Duo eyeshadows ($24 each), Color Duo blushes ($24 each) and Lip Shine lipsticks ($17.50) in a mix of warm and cool shades. I tested three products from the collection: Cheer Color Duo in Warm 01, Eye Color Duo in Marigold and Lipshine in Posy.

Eye Color Duo in Marigold

Think fresh cut spring flowers. That’s what I think of when I see the shimmery gold and coral peach eyeshadow shades in the Marigold Eye Color Duo.

Both colors apply sheer with medium pigmentation because the powder’s finely milled and blends like a dream.

They should work great for semi-responsible occasions, as in work or school, but I’d think twice about using these shades for pictures.

To get the color to show well for this face of the day I had to apply three layers. Luckily, the creamy texture makes it uber easy to layer, which is why I’m keeping this duo close by this spring. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B

Cheek Color Duo in Warm 01

OOH! Check out the embossed flower design on the Cheek Color Duo. Pretty, yah?

What do you think of the Cheek Color Duo in Warm on my cheeks? It packs a shimmery coral blush on one side and a shimmery golden highlighter on the other. Each shade works when used separately or with its partner for a natural peach flush.

Though the colors themselves in the duo are gorgeous, I don’t think the powders are as finely milled as blush powders by Mac or Nars. Matter of fact, I can see some of the grains sitting on top of my skin, eek! Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B

Lipshine in Posy

I think I’m in love with Posy’s rosy coral color and her shiny finish… The taste- and fragrance-free formula feels ultra soft and hydrating on my pucker, and it’s an easy to wear shade that I know I’ll reach for often. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

Swatches from left to right: Posy, Marigold Eye Duo, Warm Cheek Duo

How do you feel about sheer shades this spring?

In how sheer some of the products are, the In Bloom collection reminds me of the Givenchy Sari and Bobbi Brown Blushed Pink collections.

Aren’t sheer washes and transparent colors all over the place right now??

I mean, I don’t mind because I’m not always in the mood to wear loads of color, but a girl expects good pigmentation when a product costs department store prices.

What do you think? Are you down with In Bloom?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Beauty Snacks: Sites of the Day, Feb. 3

February 3rd, 2009 by Karen 35 Comments

Wait, where’s my Jacob doll?

Watch your back, Ken! They’re saying Barbie’s creeping on you with the new Edward Cullen doll. He’s got the hair, the clothes AND the fangs…

Jennifer Hudson’s Superbowl look

Bellasugar breaks down the gorgeous shimmery brown eyes, glowy cheeks and nude lips J. Hud wore to the Superbowl.

Foundation: The basics

Powder, cream, mineral or tinted moisturizer? If you’re thinking about using foundation but don’t know where to start, here’s a helpful overview.

Help me get Frieda Pinto’s blue eyeshadow look

Did you catch the smoking hot blue and brown eye look Actress Frieda Pinto wore to the the Screen Actors Guild awards? I’m trying to recreate it with MAC Brule on the brow bone and MAC Soft Brown in the crease, but I could use your help coming up with a blue for the lid. Any suggestions?

Everything’s coming up roses

Roses for Valentine’s Day? — yes, please! 🙂 But en lieu of roses, I think I could hang with a selection of rose-scented products from the new Body Shop Moroccan Rose collection.

Mmm, sherbert nails…

The creamy pastel polishes in the Nubar spring collection remind me of ice cream on a hot summer day.

Hey, baby, what’s your sign?

OOH! The February astrology forecasts are up on Astrology Zone! Fellow Geminis, expect a major career breakthrough this month.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Ecotools Retractable Kabuki Brush Will Sneak Up on Ya

February 2nd, 2009 by Karen 31 Comments

Doesn’t the Ecotools Recycled Retractable Kabuki Brush ($10) look like a secret spy weapon?

LOL! Or is that just me?

Okay, so it’s not a flame thrower or a pocket super computer, but the Retractable Kabuki exudes awesomeness in other ways. It’s built for travel, fitting snugly into my makeup bag.

I like the fat and fluffy brush head, too. It feels kinda like velvet against my skin and applies the perfect amount of powder (not too sheer or heavy!) for touch-ups.

It excels at applying powders or blush, but I bet it would also work as a foundation or creme blush brush.

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Glitter Is Good: The Bobbi Brown Blushed Pink Collection

February 2nd, 2009 by Karen 47 Comments

This spring, Bobbi Brown is going beyond her famous “I’m not wearing makeup” bag o’ tricks and taking a chance on glittery pastel eyes with the Blushed Pink collection.

From left to right: Sparkle Eyeshadow in Mica, Ballet

The limited edition Sparkle Eyeshadows ($24 each) take glitter and make it sophisticated, age appropriate and totally not scary. For me, these four shades are the highlights of the release! 🙂

Bobbi also included a lovely spread of pink lip and cheek colors in her trademark classic style — colors that look natural (read: no hot pinks or fuchsias with blue reflects, yo!) and enhance, rather than disguise, one’s features.

Sparkle Eye Shadow takes center stage in Blushed Pink!

I can’t hang when it comes to big ol’ teeny bopper chunks of glitter (aye, I’m 33!), so any eyeshadow that makes me look like a Hot Topic refugee just isn’t an option.

You know those liquid shadows filled with fine grains of microscopic glitter (like Givenchy Precious Sari Glittering Eyeshadow)? The Sparkle Eyeshadows apply like that.

Seasoned makeup junkies might find them a little too sheer, but glitter shy gals (like moi) who prefer subtler looks might want to give ’em a try. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

Today’s Blushed Pink Look: Shimmery pastel eyes with pink cheeks and lips

The Blushed Pink model in the promo pics inspired my look today.

The eyes

For the eyes, I started with a thin layer of MAC Paint Pot in Painterly applied over the entire lid, followed by Mica (a shimmery gray) and Ballet (a shimmery pink) in the crease and on the brow bone.
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Feb. 2

February 2nd, 2009 by Karen 56 Comments

Mood:

Happy

Outfit:

Wide-leg Gap jeans, green empire waist shirt, gold necklace and BCBGirls heels

Nail polish:

Essie Eternal Optimist on my toes and fingers

Makeup or beauty confession:

There’s a long hair growing on top of my left knee right now… I forgot to hack it off the last time I shaved, LOL. It’s about an inch long, and now I’m tempted to see just how long it can grow.

People say I look like (insert celebrity name here):

I get Reese Witherspoon a lot.

Body lotion:

Mmm, Johnson’s 24-Hour Body Lotion

Cheeks and Lips:

Clinique Quick Blush in In-a-Rush Blush and Bobbi Brown’s Baby Glitter Lip Gloss and Blush Pink Creamy Lip Color from the Blushed Pink collection

Today, I’m hoping for a good dose of ____.

Patience

Favorite snack:

Cold, crisp and sweet green grapes

Weekly goals:

Remain open to possibility, devise a way to attend the US Open Tennis Championships this fall, eat hella fiber (LOL!) and go to dance class at least once

What’s up, ladies! Let me know how you’re doing this morning. Just copy the empty list and then paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le list

Mood:
Outfit:
Nail polish:
Makeup or beauty confession:
People say I look like (fill in celebrity name here):
Body lotion:
Cheeks and Lips:
Today, I’m hoping for a good dose of ____ .
Favorite snack:
Weekly goals:

Together, we WILL conquer Monday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Heavy Hydration on the Cheap: Johnson’s Body Care 24-Hour Moisturing Body Wash and Lotion

February 1st, 2009 by Karen 23 Comments

The Battle of Karen vs. Dry Skin is raging, ladies! And my skin needs help, fast. It’s time for a full-on blitzkrieg against scaliness.

I wasn’t sure if the new Johnson’s 24-Hour Moisturizing Body Wash and Body Lotion ($6 each) would be up to the task. My skin needs heavy hydration, especially the skin on my legs (my driest area!), and especially in winter.

In winter my legs get so dry that iguanas envy me, but after using both the 24-Hour Body Wash and Lotion for a week things changed.

I’ve got soft and smooth legs for a change, yes!

Johnson’s 24-Hour Moisturizing Body Wash

Moisturizing Body Wash looks and feels creamy and rich. It’s a low-lathering wash, so don’t expect lots of big foaming bubbles, but it rinses clean and doesn’t leave a noticeable residue.

Now, the humungo 20.3 fl-oz. bottle is bigger than Ernest Hemingway’s ego, but because it’s so big I feel like I’m getting a good deal. I even tried to see how it would work as an emergency shave cream, and it worked great. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

Johnson’s 24-Hour Moisturizing Body Lotion

Moisturizing Body Lotion penetrates quickly and leaves my skin feeling smooth but not waxy. I think it’s a fantastic hydrating body lotion. I like to apply it after rinsing and towel drying. Like the monstrous Body Wash, it’s not gonna win any awards for travel convenience (14 fl-oz. bottle), but you get a lot of product for your money. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

Johnson’s packed both products with hydrating shea butter and vitamin E and infused them with a pleasing light rose scent. I think they’re fantastic drugstore deals. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

A Quick Brush Cleaning Tip

February 1st, 2009 by Karen 27 Comments

Rise and shine, ladies! I hope you’re having a lovely Sunday morning. 🙂

I’m just straightening up my work area while I wait for the coffee to brew. Tabs was raising hell last night, running laps around the perimeter of the bedroom in the dark, so El Hub let him out just before dawn. I hope he makes it back in time for kickoff.

Here’s a quick tip for cleaning those makeup brushes (click here for the video).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen