• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

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

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

  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
    • Advertising & Media
  • Categories
    • Product Reviews
    • Makeup
    • Skincare & Fragrance
    • Style & Fashion
    • Hair
    • Nails
    • Tips & Tutorials
    • Just for Fun
  • Brands
  • Store

Unsung Makeup Heroes: The Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tints

March 30th, 2017 by Karen 3 Comments

clinique chubby stick shadow tint for eyes
The Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tints ($17 each)

The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of our all-time favorite permanent collection products.

My cat… He’s kind of a chubby cat, but he prefers that we call him “husky” or “big-boned.” He is the boss, so I gotta do what I gotta do, but I won’t be calling the Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tints for Eyes the “Big-Boned Stick Shadow Tints,” because that would be weird. 🙂

I freaking lurve these things! They’ve been part of the Clinique permanent line for a while, and I love ’em so much that I’ve amassed a small army. I use them all the time.

True to form, these are tints, and they’re sheerer than a lot of the shadow sticks out there, like the MAC Pro Longwears and the Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier sticks. They deposit a good amount of color, but they quickly sheer down when you blend them out.

I know that some people aren’t going to be into that, but if you’re a 10-minute-makeup gal (or dude) who just wants a little somethin’-somethin’, but you’re not about to spend hella years blending in your outer V, these are great for that. They’re fantastic for easy, colorful eye looks.

There’s a mess of neutrals in the line that I wear all the time, like Bountiful Beige, Ample Amber, Lots O’ Latte (which is a gorgeous, GORGEOUS taupe) and warm brown Fuller Fudge, which I just wore the other day. And we’ll throw Curvaceous Coal in with the neutrals, too, since it’s a shimmery gray.

If you love BBNs (browns, beige and nudes) like I do, these are excellent everyday colors.

clinique chubby stick shadow tint for eyes swatches 1
Swatches from the top in 01 Bountiful Beige, 04 Ample Amber, 03 Lots O’ Latte, 03 Fuller Fudge and 08 Curvaceous Cora

There are also some wonderful other colors. Among the greens, I like Mighty Moss and Whopping Willow. In the blues, there’s Big Blue and Massive Midnight. And oh! — the purples and pinks? You gotta give ’em a try.

All of the shades are pigmented, but they aren’t so pigmented that they take forever and a day to blend. They always seem to look elegant, refined and natural.

Well…as natural as a green or blue eyeshadow ever looks.

clinique chubby stick shadow tint for eyes swatches 2
From the top: 05 Whopping Willow, 06 Mighty Moss, 10 Big Blue, 12 Massive Midnight, 09 Lavish Lilac, 11 Portly Plum and 07 Pink & Pretty

[Continue reading…]

There are 3 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Clinique, Makeup, Product Reviews, Unsung Heroes

10 Things That Go Through Your Head When You Find Hair on Your Chin

March 30th, 2017 by Karen 15 Comments

Girl, you know it’s true
  1. WHAT!? Why is this thing SO STIFF? ?
  2. OK, how long has this been here? Because I swear to god, I just looked at my chin 5 minutes ago, and this wasn’t there.
  3. Am I growing a goatee now?
  4. Where the hell are my good Tweezermans?!
  5. I officially hate seeing my pores in this 15X magnifying mirror.
  6. Would it be lame if I just used Jolene bleach and bleached this sucker into oblivion?
  7. (As I repeatedly fail to pluck it) This thing must have roots, AAARRRGH!
  8. Maybe if I cut it real close with some scissors?
  9. I am officially the hairiest person. My next job will be the bearded lady at the circus.
  10. OH, THANK GOD, it’s out! I got it! I got it! ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 15 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

New LE Shades! NARS Pop Goes the Easel Collection Velvet Lip Gloss in Bait, Suck and Disruptor

March 29th, 2017 by Karen 6 Comments

nars pop goes the easel velvet lip glide swatches
NARS Pop Goes the Easel collection Velvet Lip Glides from the left in Suck, Bait and Disruptor ($26 each). All three are Nordstrom exclusives, and they’re available now (not pictured: Impossible Red).

Someone on Instagram asked me earlier if I could recommend a non-matte liquid lipstick, and the first thing that popped into my head were these NARS Velvet Lip Glides.

The Velvet Lip Glides are part of the NARS permanent collection, but these three — Suck (why is it called that…?), Bait and Disruptor — are LE Nordstrom exclusive shades from the Pop Goes the Easel collection.

nars disruptor
Bright cherry red Distruptor, BAM!

I think the Velvet Lip Glides are just generally BOMB. They’re super saturated, comfy, and they don’t bleed my lips dry, unlike so many other liquid lipsticks that are ridiculously drying. The formula stays a little wet on your pout. It doesn’t dry all the way down, and did I mention that they’re REALLY comfortable? They feel kinda like a moisturizing, long-wearing gloss (non-sticky), except that they last much longer.

nars bait
Bait, a cool-toned pink

[Continue reading…]

There are 6 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup, NARS, Product Reviews

What I Wore Wednesday, Vol. 6: Daytime Smoky Eyeshadow for Hooded Eyes

March 29th, 2017 by Karen 10 Comments

mac next to nothing foundation

Another day, another smoky eye! — and guuuurl, I wouldn’t have it any other way. 🙂 I did a variation, though. This one’s a little different than my usual smoky eye. I took a different path to get to my smoky place.

Smoking it out with cream shadows

I was inspired by this smoky eyeshadow look for hooded eyes on Monika Blunder’s channel.

I love her! She does lots of wearable looks. In this tutorial, she uses cream shadows to build up the smoke on her lids and lower lash lines. Normally, I would have just used powder eyeshadows, so this was a new thing for me.

I blended Clinique Chubby Stick in Fuller Fudge on my lids and MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Colour Stick in Bitter Clove in the outer corners with a MAC 217 (for haziness), and I smudged Clinique Curvaceous Coal along my lower lash lines with a pointy smudge brush.

The cream shadow sticks are SO speedy and easy to control, BTW. I’m definitely going to use these three again.

mac next to nothing foundation k2

MAC Feline Kohl Power Pencil, MEOW!

Can we just talk about this black liner for a second? One of the things that makes a smoky eye a smoky eye for me is the black liner, and this one is GORGEOUS. Since I haven’t had the chance to grab another stick of Chanel 88 Noir Intense, I used MAC Feline Kohl Power Pencil instead (another fave), which is a deep, dark, intensely glossy black.

I love how it looks with smoky eyes, especially along the water line, but it’s one of those pencils that works best if you do multiple layers, so I apply the first one, let it dry, add the second, let it dry (rinse and repeat as desired). It’s worth it, though, for intense drama for yo’ mama. I would wear it every day if I didn’t have to layer it so much, ha!

Leave it to me to go on a tangent about black liner for five minutes…

The purr-fect nude lip for pigmented pouts

Also, have you ever tried MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil in Clever? Oh! It’s a beautiful brick-coral, and if you have pigmented lips like I do, it’s a perfect dark nude. When my lips feel dry and look hella flaky, I’m all about Clever because it’s MEGA moisturizing.

mac next to nothing foundation k1

NEW! MAC Next to Nothing Face Colour Foundation and Pressed Powder

I can’t believe I almost forgot to mention this! These are both coming out from MAC next month: MAC Next to Nothing Face Colour Foundation and Pressed Powder. There’s a liquid foundation that comes in a glass bottle with a pump, and also a pressed powder. They’re lightweight, sheer and glowing, which I’m all about.

Today I blended Medium Plus with Medium Deep (because I’m complicated like that) for the foundation and used Medium Pressed Powder to set.

I’ll keep testing them over the next few days and let ya know how they do!

This makeup look: What’s in the mix?

Eyes: Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow in M-536 (crease), Clinique Chubby Stick in Fuller Fudge and MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Colour Stick in Bitter Clove (outer corner), Clinique Chubby Stick in Curvaceous Coal (lower lash line), MAC Feline (water line), NARS Audacious Mascara (lashes), MAC Brun and Benefit Ready Set Brow (brows).

Cheeks: NARS Sun Wash Diffusing Bronzer in Laguna (cheeks) and NARS Hot Sand Blush (upper cheek bones).

Face: Clarins Flash Balm (applied all over my face to moisturize and prime), MAC Next to Nothing Face Colours in Medium Plus and Medium Deep (applied all over my face), MAC Next to Nothing Pressed Powder in Medium (on my forehead, down the sides of my nose and around my mouth) and Make Up For Ever HD Concealer (under my eyes and on my cheeks).

Lips: MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil in Clever.

What did you do for your makeup today? Are you testing anything new right meow? Inquiring minds want to know.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 10 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face of the Day (FOTD), Makeup

The Unicorn Beauty Trend: Yay or Nay?

March 29th, 2017 by Karen 20 Comments

So how do we feel about the unicorn beauty trend happening now?

In case you haven’t noticed, unicorns have been spotted behind many makeup counters lately. It’s a whole trend. There’s even a unicorn-themed collection happening over at Tarte right now…

Tarte likes unicorns too!

And a while back Too Faced released a lipstick called Unicorn Tears. There’s also a beauty brand called Unicorn Snot (!).

They’re everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Which is a weird thing for a creature that has generally been quite rare…

To me, “unicorn beauty” means all things glitter, holographic and rainbow, and it’s on point right now in makeup, hair and nails.

I’d like to know how you feel about this, because I’m totally conflicted. The part of me that believes that Rainbow Dash is my soulmate is obviously into it, but then another, equally compelling part of me thinks, “I’m a 40-something lady and a mom. Do I really need to revert to the same look I wore to raves in the ’90s?”

Neither side has yet to win this debate. I’m still deliberating. 🙂

For me, I think it’s fun in touches here and there, like a holographic lip, but I gotta be careful not to go overboard.

The unicorn beauty trend — give me your thoughts.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 20 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Let the New NARS Sun Wash Diffusing Bronzer Collection Bathe You in Faux Sun Rays

March 28th, 2017 by Karen 32 Comments

nars sun wash diffusing bronzer collection 1
The new NARS Sun Wash Diffusing Bronzer Collection

Gosh, dreams ? really do come true. Cats ? rule the Interwebz, The Craft is now on Netflix, and NARS Laguna Bronzer is finally available in a matte finish sans shimmer! ?

*Raising the roof at my desk right now.*

A new sheer matte formula

Yes, ma’am, the new NARS sheer matte Sun Wash Diffusing Bronzers will bathe your skin in faux sun rays. They’re made to look smooth and feel like almost nothing at all while they crank up a soft-focus effect.

Each of the four 0.28-oz. pans is $40. Seaside (Light 1), Laguna (Medium 1), Casino (Medium 2) and Falaises (Dark 1) don’t lean too orange on my medium skin (I wear St. Moritz in the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint line, for reference). Seaside and Laguna lean more toward golden bronze, while Casino and Falaises add some red.

nars sun wash diffusing bronzer collection 2
Clockwise from the top: Seaside, Laguna, Casino and Falaises

They borrow a page from NARS Translucent Light Reflecting Pressed Powder

Like, NARS Translucent Light Reflecting Pressed Powder, a.k.a. my holy grail setting powder for under-eye concealer, you can’t see these powder particles on your skin. You see the sheer color, but the particles preternaturally disappear.

Are these toy makeup pans?

They almost look like it — like they’re solid, hard plastic — but rest assured, they aren’t. Your brush bristles will pick up the powder. It just won’t kick up a million visible grains.

nars sun wash diffusing bronzer swatches
NARS Sun Wash Diffusing Bronzer swatches from the top: Seaside, Laguna, Casion and Falaises

[Continue reading…]

There are 32 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup, NARS, Product Reviews, Top Posts

The Lust List, Vol. 2: Stuff That I Kinda Want

March 28th, 2017 by Karen 39 Comments

Imagine the damage we could do if we won a sweepstakes and had to fill a gigantic, Costco-sized shopping cart with beauty products.

Just imagine… Let that stew for a second.

Meanwhile, here are some things on my latest lust list…

  1. Chanel Le Stylo Yeux Long-Lasting Eyeliner in 88 Noir Intense ($33).

    Technically, I’m going to call this one a “need,” instead of a “want,” because I tightline every day, yo! It’s a way of life. And I just ran out of this pencil.

    THE HORROR!

    I’m not kidding, every single time I finish one of these pencils I’m shocked, like, what? Another one?! Don’t ask me why I don’t always have a backup.

    Well…it’s because of the price.

  2. Also, AHHH! I’m wanting this Viseart 01 Neutral Matte Eyeshadow Palette so hard.

    I’m new to the Viseart brand, but I’ve heard so many great things about it. Every single time I walk by this $80 palette, I’m like, “Shield your eyes, Karen! Walk faster! Look away!” because I’m the last person in the world who needs another matte brown eyeshadow in her life…but yet I STILL WANT IT SO BADLY YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW.

  3. There’s also a Viseart Blush Palette in 2 Rose Coral (also $80) calling my name.

  4. Speaking of brown eyeshadow, this Chantecaille 3 Mermaid Eye Matte trio ($95…OMG!) has three lovely-looking matte cream shadows.

    Can we just… “AHHHH!” And the clouds parted…

    It has a deep neutral brown that looks like it urgently needs to be on my lids as soon as humanly possible, a soft creamy vanilla and a soft smoky gray.

    WANTS.

  5. So, I’ve actually never smelled Acqua Di Parma Rosa Nobile Eau De Parfum ($130), but it reminds me of the hotel I stayed at when I visited Milan a few years ago. They had Acqua Di Parma bath products, and they smelled so, so good. (Yes, I “borrowed” the soap, girl, and brought it home. I’m that person.)

    I also want it because it’s pink. ?

  6. When I got my hair colored a couple weeks ago, the salon had R+Co products, so my stylist friend Alis hooked me up with some samples. She gave me this huge tub — like a big salsa container, HAHA! — of High Dive Moisture + Shine Cream, and when I’m done with it, I’m gonna spring for the full-size $27 tube, because it’s really lovely!

    Basically, it’s a smoothing leave-in conditioner that moisturizes and adds shine, but it doesn’t make your hair look greasy or feel weighed down. And it smells AMAZEBALLS, kinda like Bobbi Brown Beach perfume, but without the notes of sunscreen.

    I swear, R+Co products…if they sold their scents as eau de parfums, I’d be all over that.

    Anywho, I also have a sample size of their Death Valley Dry Shampoo Spray, and holy wow! — it’s great too. Now I also want a $29 full-size bottle of that. It’s one of those dry shampoo sprays with a powder so fine that you don’t even see it on your roots, even if you have dark hair, and it doesn’t make my scalp itch. No greasy roots, either.

  7. And yeah, I’m still on that Smith + Cult train. Now, I think I need their Basis of Everything Base Coat ($18) and Above It All Top Coat ($18), partly because I want to try them, and partly because I keep having this vision of a shelf in my office dedicated to my Smith & Cult polishes, and I want to make that dream a reality.

[Continue reading…]

There are 39 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Makeup, Top Posts

How Well Has Curel Hydra Therapy Helped My Perpetually Parched Skin? #EndDrySkin #sponsored

March 28th, 2017 by Karen 9 Comments

curel hydra therapy post 2
Super obsessed with Curel Hydra Therapy!

This post is sponsored by Curel. As a participant in the #EndDrySkin campaign, I received product samples and compensation for my time and effort. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are always my own. curel.com #sponsored


So remember when I talked about going to Redding and how the dry air up there always wreaks havoc on my skin? And I talked about Curel Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer?

I’ve been using it religiously now for a few weeks, and dang if it isn’t a minor miracle. I use it every night in the shower — actually, while I’m still in the shower — and the way it works, how you don’t have to rinse it off or wait for it to dry, never gets old. I put it on while my skin is still wet after I turn off the water, then pat dry and hop out.

Call me easily amused (hello, easily amused!), 🙂 but this stuff is revolutionizing the way I moisturize.

curel hydra therapy
Step 1: Pump a little into your palm…

Curel Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer has a proprietary water-activated Advanced Ceramide Complex that dives deep into your skin to moisturize and repair its moisture barrier. Just apply it to wet skin after you finish showering, then pat dry with a towel, and for best results, use it daily. It’s unscented and doesn’t feel greasy. Plus, it’s fun to use and incredibly moisturizing.

Seriously, what dry skin? My skin is so much smoother and softer since I started using it regularly. The scary, scaly bits that had been bugging me on my arms and legs, especially when I went to the gym, are gone. I don’t even think the dry air up in Redding would give this grief.

Step 2: Rub on wet skin

There was a while there when I didn’t feel like wearing cropped workout pants because those scaly spots looked super obvs, but they’re gone now.

Step 3: Towel dry

[Continue reading…]

There are 9 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Curel, Skin Care, Sponsored Post

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 409
  • Go to page 410
  • Go to page 411
  • Go to page 412
  • Go to page 413
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 1912
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

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.

Recent Posts

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 878

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 894

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 893

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 892

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 891

/* real people should not fill this in and expect good things – do not remove this or risk form bot signups */

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Featured Posts

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 771

Lady Unicorn

Weird Things I Like to Do

brows fill out beforehand

Before You Pluck or Wax Your Brows, You Must Do This

current bare skin status

What’s One Thing That Drastically Changed Your Skin for the Better?

Copyright © 2025 Makeup and Beauty Blog. Get in touch.