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A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Clinique Fuller Fudge

March 18th, 2019 by Karen 8 Comments

clinique fuller fudge
Woo-hoo! 10-minute makeup!

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

It doesn’t get speedier than this: Clinique Fuller Fudge.

Mmm, fudge… Now I want some See’s Candies. ?

Sorry! Sidetracked!

Anywho… I’ve talked about Clinique’s line of twist-up cream shadows before, but this shade — this one — is my favorite because it’s highly compatible with my lifestyle these days, and by that I’m talking about 10-minute makeup, which is just about all I do these days (maybe 15 minute makeup on a good day!).

The funny thing about this $18.50 shadow (well, funny to me) is that whenever I wear it, I get questions like, “What are you wearing on your lids? Is that a palette? Are you wearing a mix of creams and powders?”

People always assume I’m wearing something more complicated than it is, but nawwwww, it’s just Fuller Fudge. It just so happens to be fab.

It’s a one-stop smoky lid shop, the most delicious warm dark brown with enough soft shimmer in it to keep things from falling flat. When I wear it, I usually do a few swipes directly on my bare lids, then blend out the edges with a finger, or sometimes I’ll dip a 217 into whatever bronzer I plan to wear that day and use that instead.

A few windshield wiper motions here, a swish there, and voila! — I’ve buffed my way to elegant smoky lids that I can wear to pretty much anywhere, with pretty much any cheek and lip colors.
[Continue reading…]

There are 8 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Clinique, Eyes, Makeup, Product Reviews, Unsung Heroes

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 568

March 18th, 2019 by Karen 32 Comments

Let’s paint!

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start.

    1. How early is too early?

    5 a.m. is too early IMO. I think we should officially declare that it’s “too early” for productive work.

    And 4:30 is waaaaaaay too early!

    If I have to, though, I can do 5… If I HAVE to.

    2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner.

    My current phase is to *only* liner my upper lash line. No tight line. Just the upper lash line, and I do the thinnest line I can get away with using the Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyeliner Pen. Then I load a flat smudge brush with a dark brown powder eyeshadow and smudge the edge of the line.

    Sometimes, I’ll also wing out the outer corner ever so slightly.

    3. How often do you “overline” your lips?

    Never.

    But, um…if we’re talking about 2014, then that would be another story, LOL!

    4. Today I’m feeling ______.

    Hopeful!

    Also, truthfully, a little tired… Two-day weekends are never long enough.

    5. Bake from scratch ? or buy from the store?

    My answer to this question varies based on many factors… Right now? I’d rather buy it from a store!

Yup, I’m still going through a dainty nail polish phase…

It’s funny how one’s taste in nail polish colors ? can change so quickly! I would’ve thought that a week with a nude-ish polish on my nails would have been enough to get this pastel phase through my system so I could go back to wearing the blues, greens and yellows I’d normally wear, but alas…that’s now how it played out.

I saw this display of bridal-inspired spring Essie Gel Coutures in Target and nearly swooned in front of the greeting card aisle.

When has that ever happened? UM, NEVER! If you have a favorite pastel please let me know!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Question time! Here they are to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to you soon.

1. How early is too early?
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner.
3. How often do you “overline” your lips?
4. Today I’m feeling ______.
5. Bake from scratch or buy from the store?

There are 32 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

A Breezy New Tank for Lipstick Lovers

March 18th, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

connor claire long live lipstick version 2 tank mbb post
Declare your love for lipstick! ?

Right now, at this very moment, you might be sitting in a cold office at your computer desk wearing three layers of clothes. Or, maybe you’re tip-toeing on chilly bathroom tiles.

But listen, sandal and shorts weather is just around the corner, which means you’ll need something cute to wear with those cutoffs. ?

Behold the new Long Live Lipstick Tank Top (in style v2.0)! This cool and breezy cap sleeve tank goes with everything, including your favorite springy and summery coral lipsticks, and it’s available now in the store.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Leave the first comment on this post.

Categories: Connor Claire Store, Fashion

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 545

March 17th, 2019 by Karen 9 Comments

You’ll never guess what happened this morning!

One of the employees of Tabs the Cat Industries LLC said that they saw a rainbow in front of the office, so Tabs grabbed his St. Patrick’s Day commemorative cat collar and darted outside.

There it was! A rainbow. ? And what did he find at the end of it? You’ll never guess!

Yeah — gold! Lots of it!

I mean it makes purr-fect sense. Tabs always has had the luck o’ the Irish. ☘️

[Continue reading…]

There are 9 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Tabs

Saturday Surfing, March 16, 2019

March 16th, 2019 by Karen 7 Comments

Hello and happy Caturday!!! If you ever need shelter from the metaphorical storm, might I suggest Marshalls? — because every time I go there, I find so many cute kitty-themed things.

I went a couple days ago, and these blank kitty cards were soooo tempting, but I already have an entire drawer filled with cat steno that I need to work my way through…

I also really wanted the kitty toothbrush holder at the top, but I passed because it had a slight chip in one ear. ?

Oh, and then there were these cute jars, too…

Ah, so much cuteness! I might go back later today so see if any of these are still there, but I’m not holding out hope because you know how Marshalls is. If you snooze, you lose! You can literally turn around, and something you just saw on the shelf a minute ago will have disappeared.

But I digress…

Breakfast. It’s calling me, and I need to take care of that, so while I go do that, here’s some light reading to keep you occupied.

  • The history of how one of beauty’s boldest pioneers, Helena Rubinstein, took makeup from being an accessory for “ladies of the night” and turned it into a coveted luxury item.
  • According to Tarang Amin, the CEO of e.l.f Cosmetics, the brand’s mission is to make luxurious beauty accessible to all. “We take products that are unaffordable to so many consumers — products that are great but might cost $40 or $50 — and make them attainable.”
  • A deep dive into the skin care cult treatments on the rise and the science behind them.
  • Dang, Gwyneth Paltrow can certainly SELL SOME STUFF. In the last 10 years, she’s transformed a newsletter into a lifestyle brand and a rapidly rising e-commerce business.
  • Weirdest thing I’ve read all week: mysterious bundles of hair are turning up on the streets of Santa Barbara!
  • Minnesota “hockey hair” is totally a thing. The main ingredient? Volume. (Obviously!)
  • 5 things you should always ask at the hair salon. Side note: I would add in a sixth question, and it would be “Could you please not butcher my mane?”
  • You know what they say — it takes a (cat) village. A team of four (!) kitties played Goose the cat in the new Captain Marvel movie.
  • These pics of feline enthusiasts practicing yoga with their cats will make you wish you could downward dog with your best feline friend like right meow.
  • When a special cat enters your life, you’re hooked for life, and sometimes that love motivates a person to write a book.


Um, where is this train and how can I get on it?


British movie stars discuss which American accent is the hardest


You know I’m all about that chunky braid life.

How’s it going on your end of the keyboard this weekend? ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 7 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Fresh Friday: Malavara, an Ayurveda-Inspired Body and Hair Care Line

March 15th, 2019 by Karen 2 Comments

malavara

MBB’s “Fresh Friday” series takes a look at new beauty brands (and venerable O.G. brands that are new to me). Let’s discover new makeup!

El Hub is always in awe of the time I can spend in the bathroom, because seriously…I’m in there for a looooong time. ? One time he even knocked on the door and asked if I’d fallen into the toilet because I’d literally been in there for hours.

So yeah, if you need me, I’ll be in the… Ha ha ha! El baño.

It’s great because nobody bothers me in there. I can have some privacy. Sometimes after I put Connor down for the night, I’ll shower, do some reading and, lately, have a mini spa sesh.

Speaking of that…have you peeped this new line of Ayurveda-inspired body products from Malavara?

A luxury body care line, Malavara was started by Tejal Engman and Alexandra Turner, two gals who worked high-stress jobs on the trading floor for JP Morgan. They bonded over their love for alternative therapies, including Ayurveda, one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. It was developed in India over 3,000 ago (!).

Their Ayurveda-inspired products are cruelty-free, blended with essential oils, vegetarian, vegan and designed so that busy people can simultaneously relax, recharge and de-stress while they get their necessities done in the bathroom.

For now, Malavara’s product line isn’t huge, but they have some good goodies for recuperative “meow” time sessions in the bathroom, like a dry body oil ($48), a hair serum ($39), lotion ($32) and body wash ($28).

I’m a big fan of the Dry Body Oil Spray. I love the crisp, refreshing scent, which is a unisex blend of lime peel and vetiver, and it contains apricot kernel oil, which is just interesting to me. The spray is light and hydrating, so I use it on my upper body (my alligator legs do better with the Lime Vetiver Body & Hand Lotion) and take extra time to massage it into my arms, my upper back and my neck.

It. Is. So. Relaxing…
[Continue reading…]

There are 2 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Malavara, Product Reviews, Skin Care Keywords: fresh friday

Product Spotlight: Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream

March 14th, 2019 by Karen 4 Comments

avene xeracalm ad
And your dry skin says ahhhhhhhhhh

This cream for face and body soothes fussy skin. It’s approved for use on infants, children and adults, too. Excellent for red, dry, irritated and sensitive skin. A real hidden gem!

This cream has a weird name… Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream. Don’t expect that to roll off your tongue when your friend asks you for a mega moisturizer recommendation for super sensitive, dry, flaky and/or irritated skin while you’re attacking a basket of the epic, legendary brown bread at The Cheesecake Factory.

Side note, you’re welcome… ?

cheesecake factory brown bread
You can get this ? at Safeway now!
cheesecake factory brown bread
Just like in the restaurants!!

But I digress…

Initially, I bought XeraCalm face and body cream, which is $34 for a 6.76-oz. tube, for Connor. Poor thing gets these raised patches of red, itchy, flaky dry skin in winter, and this cream is the only over-the-counter product that soothes her discomfort and completely removes the dry spots.

And it works fast! Whenever she gets a bout of irritated skin and we use this, she’s back to her normal non-itchy self in a day.

From aveneusa.com:

“Rich, lipid-replenishing cream directly targets itching, redness and irritation to nourish and restore skin prone to atopic dermatitis and eczema. Formulated with minimal ingredients essential to rehydrating and maintaining a healthy balance in skin’s microbiome. The microbiome is the top layer of the skin filled with microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, and skin flora – their job is to defend against bad bacteria. The microbiome environment can easily be influenced by temperature, hormones, UV exposure, and even skin care. Patented I-Modulia helps to maintain a well balanced microbiome while supporting the skin’s defense system for a normal, healthy skin. Exclusive, patented airless pump keeps the cream completely sterile and safe for its entire use without any preservatives, parabens, dyes or fragrance.”

INGREDIENTS: AVÈNE THERMAL SPRING WATER, GLYCERIN, MINERAL OIL, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, OENOTHERA BIENNIS OIL, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE, AQUAPHILUS DOLOMIAE EXTRACT, ARGININE, CARBOMER, EVENING PRIMROSE OIL/PALM OIL AMINOPROPANEDIOL ESTERS, GLYCINE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, TOCOPHEROL, WATER.

But then I started using it on my face and neck about a month ago, shortly after my skin started peeling and turning red from the retinol I’m using.

Now…I am addicted.

I had been using Fresh Seaberry Oil, which I still love/like, but it just wasn’t moisturizing enough for the intense redness and sensitivity caused by the aggressively exfoliating retinol.
[Continue reading…]

There are 4 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Avene, Face, Skin Care

Product Spotlight: Flesh Fleshy Lips Lipstick

March 14th, 2019 by Karen 10 Comments

flesh fleshy lips lipstick
Like your lips, but better. Four of the 10 shades of Flesh Fleshy Lips Lipstick ($18 each)

These creamy, lightweight lippies feel like a mad makeup scientist’s ?‍? creative combo of a balm and a lipstick, and they come in natural lip tones.

I’ve been so inspired lately by “there but not obviously there” makeup and “makeup for no-makeup makeup lovers…”

I don’t know if any of that made any sense at all, ha ha! ? I haven’t had enough coffee ☕ yet, but y’all know what I’m talking about. I’m talking about noticeable products with decent coverage that aren’t necessarily pedal-to-the-metal intense.

The $18 Fleshy Lips Lipsticks by Flesh fit purr-fectly into that lane. They’re lightweight and glossy medium-coverage lippies a la Clinique’s iconic Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, only slightly more intense, and they’re available in lots of your-lips-but-better shades.

They’re the kind of sheer-ish lipsticks you’d wear with mascara, tinted moisturizer and cream blush, and the type of tube you stick in your pocket when you’re going to lunch and shopping with a girlfriend.

My lip freckles peek through when I’m wearing them, but the tint is still noticeable. If you’re wearing one and bump into a buddy who knows a thing or two about makeup, he or she might ask, “Hey, what’s that YLBB lipstick?”

OK, but what’s the scent situation, you may be wondering? Well, it’s a whole lotta nothing! — because they aren’t scented or flavored.

And the formula feels great on my dry lips, BTW. I normally reapply them every few hours.

flesh fleshy lips lipstick chew
Chew, a sheer raspberry pink

flesh fleshy lips lipstick hungry
Wearing Hungry, a sheer reddish pink

[Continue reading…]

There are 10 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Flesh, Lips, Makeup

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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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