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Crazy About Creams! Honest Beauty Creme Cheek Blush

January 7th, 2019 by Karen 14 Comments

honest beauty creme cheek blush swatches final
Affordable and long-lasting!

This month I am CRAZY ABOUT CREAMS. Stay tuned for some of my favorite cream makeup products all throughout January.

BRRR! You guys…it’s so cold! ⛄

I know that that must sound mildly hilarious coming from a ☀️ Californian, but seriously, there’s a big difference between Northern California and Southern California. Here in NorCal, it gets almost freezing…

Hardy-har-har, yes, I know that 37 degrees isn’t arctic, but let me tell ya, it’s been so cold in the mornings that my butt bones, my teeth and even my eyebrows are cold!

Now, you’re probably thinking, “DUDE, why are we talking about the weather??” Well, because — gotcha! — cream makeup makeup, i.e. eyeshadow, cream blush, foundation, what have you. When the temperature drops, cream products come in extra handy because they tend to last longer when you aren’t sweating buckets.

Truth be told, though, I’m an all-year-round cream product junkie because I like how smooth they look on my skin (unlike powder), and I’ve been all about cream everything since I hit 40.

That said, the theme this month on MBB is “Crazy About Creams,” and I’ve been wearing today’s guests of honor off and on for more than a month. They’re the Honest Beauty Creme Cheek Blushes.

“Buildable and blendable color right at your fingertips, our cream blush is your go-to for an instant, dewy flush for cheeks. The lightweight formula melts onto skin seamlessly and comes in a stashable compact for easy on-the-go application.”

— honestbeauty.com

Directions:
Use your fingers or a sponge to lightly dab the cream blush onto the apples or your cheeks. Blend upward toward cheekbones in a circular motion.

Tips:
Smile to easily find the apples of your cheeks for spot-on application every time.

“Here at Honest Beauty, we pride ourselves on delivering clean beauty products that work. Our Crème Blush is formulated with naturally derived fruit extracts (like apple, raspberry and grape!) which means that, sometimes, natural separation can occur. You may or may not notice small droplets on the surface of the product, please rest assured that these droplets are completely normal and will naturally absorb back into the formula after use. This does not impact the quality of the product. We got you, babe. Keep on being beautiful.”

I’ve been using two of the four shades — a coral pink and a wine — and both are sheer-ish, so they’re natural looking. Plus, the satin finish goes well with any number of foundation finishes, including velvet, matte, satin and even dewy finishes. It’s all good.

The shades are also super affordable at $12.99, although you’d think you were working with a $32 Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge or a $29 Laura Mercier Cheek Cream), and beyond the awesome price, these have something else elevating them beyond the average cream blushes, and that’s longevity. They actually stay where they belong and don’t pull a disappearing act halfway through the day.

Ingredients:
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Triethyl Citrate, Alcohol, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Rubus Fruticosus (Blackberry) Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract. MAY CONTAIN: Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 30 Lake (CI 73360), Ultramarines (CI 77007)

If the MAC Cream Colour Bases work well on your cheeks, you’ll probably also like these because they feel very similar. Just like you can with the CCBs, when you pick this up from a pan with a fingertip or a sponge, you can grab a good amount, even though they’re somewhat dry (as in not wet) for a cream. They apply creamy, even and smooth, even around dry spots.

[Continue reading…]

There are 14 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Face, Honest Beauty, Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: crazy about creams

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 558

January 7th, 2019 by Karen 36 Comments

When your hair is crazy and you just roll with it.

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. Hot pink eyeshadow or bright blue lipstick?

Hot pink eyeshadow.

2. High or low maintenance?

GUUUURL, high maintenance all the way. I cannot deny it!

3. Have you ever prank-called anyone?

Heck, yeah! Honestly, mine were all super dumb though. They’d usually involve me calling up a boy I liked, then hanging up as soon as someone answered, “Hello.” HA HA HA! I think it was a right of passage if you grew up in the ’80s and ’90s.

4. Sequins or leather?

Although leather would be much more practical, I’m gonna have to go with sequins…because sparkle.

5. What’s your theme for this week?

Embrace change! And eat your veggies. LOL!

BONUS QUESTION: What’s your power song for the week?

…Ready For It?, by Taylor Swift.

Back at it

Morning. ? If you’re just getting back to your desk after a long holiday absence, then welcome, friend! Just remember: It won’t feel this miserable for long, LOL! It’s like the first 10 minutes of a workout. Your knees feel crunchy, and your feet might as well be concrete bricks, and even though every cell in your body is screaming at you to stop the friggin’ jumping jacks, sit back down on the couch, and fire up another episode of Victoria, if you make it through those first 10 minutes of misery…everything will be OK. REALLY! Just keep smiling, and trust in the healing power of coffee.

You have a good one today, ‘K? Talk soon.

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. Hot pink eyeshadow or bright blue lipstick?
2. High or low maintenance?
3. Have you ever prank-called anyone?
4. Sequins or leather?
5. What’s your theme for the week?
BONUS QUESTION: What’s your power song for the week?

There are 36 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 535

January 6th, 2019 by Karen 11 Comments

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…it was the winter of Tabs’ discontent, because it was raining, and there was *no way in heck* he was going to subject his award-winning kitty coat to that much humidity on the day of the Golden Globes.

Tabs had planned to fly down to Beverly Hills today to co-host the show with Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg, but a freak Nor’wester rolled in, and the FAA (Feline Aviation Administration) grounded all feline operated airlines.

Oh, well…

He decided to take advantage of the unexpected opening in his schedule to catch up on his journal with a nice cup of catnip tea.

[Continue reading…]

There are 11 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Tabs

Saturday Surfing, January 5th, 2019

January 5th, 2019 by Karen 19 Comments

nudestix lip cheek pencils

Good morning and meow-za! Happy Caturday to ya. I hope you have toasty toes and that someone is baking you biscuits, be they of the glutinous or the feline variety.

I’m busting out the creams today because January is Crazy About Creams month here on MBB (as in cream makeup products), and it occurred to me last night that I have yet to ask you about YOUR favorite cream products. What are they? Inquiring minds want to know.

On that note, here’s some light reading for your Saturday Surfing time today…

  • Yet another sign that Lady Gaga is coming out with a beauty line…
  • Did you know there’s a wage gap between hairstylists and makeup artists working in the television and movie industries? I didn’t. Hollywood stylists are currently fighting for pay equity.
  • Chanel is betting big that 2019 will be THE YEAR for men wearing makeup.

    Also, Pharell wearing eyeliner = kind of genius.

  • I love reading about entrepreneurial women working in the beauty biz. Annie Lawless is the founder of a clean makeup line called Lawless. She also founded Suja Juice and sold a minority stake in the company to Coca-Cola for $90 million!!!
  • Fave read of the week: When technicolor film debuted in the 1930s, two beauty behemoths, Elizabeth Arden and Max Factor, battled for dominance in the movie makeup market in “the Hollywood Powder Puff War.”
  • BREAKING NEWS: Potatoes ? can be glamorous. Watch this potato (yes, as in the vegetable) get a full glam beat.
  • Vehicles may someday come equipped with rose-scented steering wheels to help people avoid accidents.
  • French fragrances for kids! (Of course I would want the one decorated in cat heads for myself.)
  • Anyone wanna go to the mall? The Bath and Body Works Semi-Annual Sale is happening now.
  • If you happen to 1) be in Moscow and 2) have a nose for obscure fragrance, the Tretyakov Gallery, home to one of the world’s largest collections of Russian fine art, is currently selling perfumes inspired by the museum’s most famous paintings.
  • Michael B. Jordan is the new face of Coach, and all I have to say is YES, PLEASE.
  • This retired social worker rescues cats from trees.
  • —–> This week, California became the first state in the nation to bar pet stores from selling dogs, cats and rabbits unless they come from animal shelters or rescue groups.
  • According to this article, the best skin care trick is being rich.
  • How do hair follicles get their start?
  • If you have toddlers or small children, watch out for these things.


I’m going through a Taylor phase.


A classic I always come back to…


This 10-minute warm-up is a good one to do on your breaks if you spend hours working at a desk.


Mother Nature is the BOMB DOT COM.

I hope your 2019 got off to a good start. You have a great weekend, k?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 19 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Fresh Friday: New Line of Organic Baby and Body Products Coming Soon to Target

January 4th, 2019 by Karen 12 Comments

made of
Soooon!

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!

Toddlers really do say the darnedest things.

I asked Connor Claire what she thought about the new Hand Soap from Made Of, and instead of commenting on the foaminess of the bubbles or how soft her hands felt afterwards, she pointed at the bottle and said, “Mama, there’s a turtle! And she’s purple and smiling and wearing a necklace!”

Aw, babylove!

made of turtle final
Exhibit A: Turtle wearing jewelry

“Made Of” is a new line of organic baby, body and home care products coming this month to Target and Buy Buy Baby. They make shampoo and body wash, baby powder, diaper cream, nipple balm (oh, I remember those days), baby sunscreen, baby lotion, diapers, diaper rash cream, baby wipes (they also have a diaper subscription service), multi-surface cleanser, dish soap and hand soap, and everything’s reasonably priced between $4 and $13.

You’ll find them alongside Honest and Babyorganics and other brands with that familiar “natural” marketing — no dyes, fragrances, colors, GMOs, suflates, parabens, that kind of thing. And they seem more upfront than usual about the business of “clean” marketing. They’re completely transparent about where their ingredients comes from and where their products are manufactured, which is refreshing.

The line also has a bunch of well-known certifications, including Leaping Bunny and the Environmental Working Group, among others, and I dig that the ingredient lists on the labels show which ingredients are organic and which aren’t.

Made Of  Ingredients
Literally a list

Connor and I have been testing a few things from the line, and the standouts have been the Foaming Hand Soap (rinses clean) and the Baby Shampoo (big bubbles).

I also like the Moisturizing Body Lotion, the main ingredient of which is aloe. It’s surprisingly hydrating for a thin, fairly runny lotion.

Everything is also unscented… And you know me — I like my body care to smell good, so I do wish that these had a little something-something scent-wise, but I understand the rationale.

Connor, of course, loves the animals represented on the packaging. #priorities

Look for the line on your next Target blackout run. If you don’t live near a Target or a Buy Buy Baby, though, they also sell samples of their products online for $2 a pop, so you can try before committing to an entire bottle (I wish more brands did this!).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.

There are 12 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Product Reviews, Sisley

Product Spotlight: Wander Beauty Dualist Matte and Illuminating Concealer

January 3rd, 2019 by Karen 22 Comments

wander beauty dualist concealer tan review
I wear it in Tan.

You guys, you gotta be able to laugh at yourself, because if you can’t laugh at yourself, you’re taking yourself way too seriously, and if you’re taking yourself way too seriously, you’re probably Kanye West, and if you’re Kanye West, you’re driving people (a.k.a. me) absolutely nuts.

Freakin’ Kanye!

Anyway, where was I…?

Oh, yeah, I’m laughing at myself SO HARD RIGHT NOW because I used to be a person who couldn’t go from point A to B without at least three different tubes of concealers on me.

NO MORE.

One of my themes for 2019 (’cause I don’t do resolutions) is to “embrace change” (and not just in my makeup life), and that’s definitely happening here with the Dualist Matte and Illuminating Concealer by Wander Beauty ($29).

Dualist has a full-coverage matte cream concealer stick on one end and a sheer illuminating liquid concealer on the other, so two products in one sleek, portable stick that’s quite the opposite of the small entourage of under-eye concealing products I used to tote around with me.

Best thing about ’em is that the products on both ends actually do what they’re supposed to do, and they do it well!

wander beauty dualist concealer tan
Tan rocks! I’m an NC42 in MAC, and a Tan in Wander Beauty’s Nude Illusion Liquid Foundation.

What it is:
Dualist Matte and Illuminating Concealer is an innovative double-sided concealer with a full-coverage matte stick on one end and a lightweight illuminating liquid on the other.

What it does:
The matte stick provides maximum coverage for discoloration, blemishes, dark circles, age spots and redness, while the moisturizing illuminating concealer can be used to awaken a dull complexion, brighten the under-eye area (and cheekbones) and diffuse fine lines with a soft and flattering glow.

The skin-loving formula is enriched with soothing, nourishing aloe vera extract, collagen to improve firmness/elasticity, and vitamin E to help block free radicals for healthier looking skin. This multitasking, globally-inspired crease-proof formula provides long-lasting, fool-proof coverage that blends effortlessly without feeling heavy. It helps you achieve the right coverage and color correction for great looking skin, and it’s ideal for quick touch-ups on the go. The matte stick and illuminating liquid can be used separately or together for ultimate complexion perfection.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Phthalates

What else you need to know:
Wander Beauty creates multitasking makeup essentials so you can look gorgeous on the go. The brand draws from global inspiration as each formula is enriched with skin-loving ingredients from around the world. “Wander Beauty is color to be carried.”

This product is free of mineral oil, fragrance and is gluten-free and cruelty-free.

[Continue reading…]

There are 22 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face, Makeup, Product Reviews, Wander Beauty

Product Spotlight: Wander Beauty Wanderess Chill Eyeshadow Palette

January 2nd, 2019 by Karen 9 Comments

wander beauty wanderess chill palette
I wore this all through December.

Ya know, with a new eyeshadow palette coming out every five seconds, you’d think that finding an awesome cool-toned palette would be easy, but noooooooo. It’s not, and not just because warm-toned orange-y browns have basically ruled the school for the last few years. I’m a warm-toned gal who just so happens to love wearing cool shades, but the cool-toned palettes I come across usually look too gray and weird on me, like I just smeared mud all over my eyes with no rhyme or reason.

Enter the endlessly wearable six-pan Wander Beauty Wanderess Chill Palette ($25 at Sephora), which is just cool enough to work on warm or cool undertones (yay!), and it’s loaded with lovely pink, taupe, purple and brown shades.

So mo weird gray tones in sight.

wander beauty wanderess chill swatches
When cool-toned palette dreams come true…

From Sephora.com:

What it is: An eye palette with six intensely pigmented cool-toned shadows in complementary shades and finishes.

Highlighted Ingredients:
– Mango Seed Butter: Rich in vitamins C and A to revitalize skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines.
– Rose Extract: Helps minimize redness.
– Vitamin E: Supports skin healing, protects skin against free radicals, and supports skin’s natural moisture barrier.

Ingredient Callouts: Free of sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, and contains less than one percent synthetic fragrances. This product is also cruelty-free.

What Else You Need to Know: Get gorgeous on the go while keeping it chill. Wander Beauty’s intensely-saturated shadows are enriched with nourishing ingredients to give a buttery swipe of color that lasts all day. This cool mix of luxe metallic, silky satin, and velvety matte eyeshadows puts infinite looks in the palm of your hand. Each luxurious shade is enriched with mango seed butter and rose extract to hydrate and protect the delicate eye area. These shades are crease-proof, fade-proof, and deliver intense payoff.

This Palette Contains:
– 6 x 0.07 oz/ 2.2 g Eyeshadows in Snowbird (satin light pink), Flushed (foil pinky purple), Free Style (matte cool nude), Gondola (satin cool taupe), Après Ski (metallic deep plum), Cocoa (satin cool brown)

I wore it pretty much every time I wore makeup through the month of December because it’s one of those “just a few swipes of color” situations. I usually do the matte in the crease, then one of the mid-toned shimmers on my lids, and then a sheer smidgen of the lightest shade on my brow bone and in the inner corners.

The formula feels a lot like Urban Decay’s, so it’s soft and easy to blend, but the colors are generally a little less pigmented and/or shimmery.

Put another way, if UD is a punk rock princess who goes hawd, Wander Beauty just wants to chill.

FYI, like with Urban Decay shadows, wayward bits of powder will travel into adjacent pans, since the powder is on the fluffier side, but I don’t really mind because there’s almost zero fallout on my face. #priorities

[Continue reading…]

There are 9 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Makeup, Palettes, Product Reviews, Wander Beauty

Awesomeness Alert! Warm Winter Tights to Keep You Toasty

January 2nd, 2019 by Karen 12 Comments

hue brushed sweater tights gray 1
Allow me to rock your world.

Greetings from The Land of No Pants.

No, I’m not just sitting here at my desk with my bum hanging out. I’m wearing these fantastic tights that I can’t believe I just found out about. They’re called the Brushed Sweater Tights, and they’re by a brand called Hue.

Normally, they’re $15, but I got them back on Black Friday for $9.99 each. Also, though, they’re on sale right now on the Macy’s website for $10.50.

These are great! They’re the warmest, most comfy tights in all the land, and they’re really thick. When you slip into them, it’s almost like you’re wearing a cashmere sweater on your legs and booty.

You’d think you’d get overheated, right? Nope. I feel perfectly toasty when I wear these tights, so you will not be sweltering.

Now, of course…I don’t just wear the tights by themselves, so no, I’m not walking around with just tights on, ha ha! I usually wear a dress on top, and then a sweater, and pair them with my khaki Fergie boots. (Which I still love! They’ve held up for years. Props to you, Fergie-Ferg.) OR, I wear them with my over-the-knee Sam Edelman boots, and if it’s extra cold, I’ll add a scarf and a winter coat.

What Nor Cal winter wear looks like…

Granted, here in Northern California, while it does get chilly (~30 degrees), the winters are relatively mild compared to the Midwest and the Northeast, where you have sleet and snowbanks and temps fall well below freezing. I don’t know if I could handle wearing just these tights in a place with extreme winter weather, but maybe if you do live someplace like that, you could wear these underneath your pants for an extra layer of warmth, or you could double up on them, which is what I would probably do, LOL!

hue brushed sweater tights gray 1
Living the no-pants dream

I think they’re great. They retain their snugness throughout the day, too, so they don’t loosen up, and they kinda hold you in… I mean, not as intensely as Spanx or anything, but I do feel a moderate sausage-y effect, which I appreciate.

hue brushed sweater tights gray 1
Super cute with brown suede boots

[Continue reading…]

There are 12 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Fashion

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog

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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