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

Vera Bradley Shakes Things Up With New Scents in the Mini Eau de Toilette Spray Set in Multi 2016

March 21st, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 7 Comments

The Vera Bradley Mini Eau de Toilette Spray Set in Multi 2016 ($48)

As I was going through my products before my recent move, I realized something.

I am a serious hoarder!

I had a lot of expired products, and even for the ones that didn’t have an expiration date, I still knew they were due to be discarded.

This was further proven when boyfriend was putting away the kitchen items and found, and I quote, “Tea from 2007. 2007 BABE!”

I just hate throwing things out, guys. Like the authentic Chinese black tea from my old neighbor who invited me over for a traditional tea and chit-chat after I asked to borrow a screwdriver to put together my roommate’s shoddy Ikea bed? That was only two years ago. Who cares if the box says 2007 on it!

Tea aside, I really needed to go through my products before this move, and when I got to my perfumes, I noticed that I had almost completely full bottles of Victoria Secret Body Mist, something I had been into for a while, circa 2009.

I was an especially loyal fan of Fresh & Clean, with the matching body lotion.

I knew they were old, but I wasn’t sure just how old until I opened them and detected something quite unlike the apples and lilies described on the label. Instead…they smelled mostly like alcohol. I hadn’t kept them in the best places. They were often housed on windowsills where they were exposed to sunlight.

So away they went, along with an old bottle of Calvin Klein for women that had also seen better days.

Despite the fact that, nowadays, I prefer body oils and lighter perfumes, I don’t turn my nose up at unique sets from established companies, which is why I was curious about the new Spring Mini Eau de Toilette Spray Set ($48) from Vera Bradley.

vera bradley, perfume, Eau de Toilette, perfume set, — From L-R: Appleberry Champagne, Cotton Flower, Macaroon Rose, and Vanilla Sea Salt.

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Dream Big (Like, Unicorn Big!) With Pacifica Dream Big Lash Extending 7-in-1 Mascara

March 21st, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 23 Comments

My seven-year-old is pretty adamant that unicorns exist…somewhere. They’re rare, and we don’t have them where we live, but they’re real because, “You don’t know. You just don’t know that they aren’t out there somewhere… People don’t know for sure!”

* Insert insistent head shaking and hand gestures to go along with this exclamation. *

Pacifica Dream Big Lash Extending 7-in-1 Mascara ($14) is as rare as a unicorn.

To begin with, the packaging is to. die. for. It’s got a Disney Fantasia vibe that I love, and as a makeup lover I’m all about the adjustable “magic wand” that allows you to select either volume or length (or both).

But what makes this mascara so exciting for me is that it contains natural plant fibers to take lashes to great heights. In my experience, it’s not easy to find a natural lash product that can make as big of an impact as this one — so when I find a plant- and mineral-based mascara this good, I’m convinced that there must be unicorns out there, somewhere.

Armed with an adjustable brush, Pacifica Dream Big mascara is “flexible.” I’ve been favoring applying the first layer (or two…) with the wand extended for length, and then twisting the cap to shorten the wand and adding a few coats for volume. There are no rules to makeup, though, so if you favor one or the other, there’s no need to change the wand. But I have to tell you that it’s fun!

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 415

March 21st, 2016 by Karen 55 Comments

You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past seven years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

On a typical day, what kind of clothes do you wear?
I’m starting week three of temporary baby jail today, and one thing I’ve learned so far is that I absolutely need to get out of my pajamas, take a shower and put on real clothes in the morning in order to function during the day; otherwise, I feel like absolute crap.

I dunno… Maybe the act of putting on jeans temporarily erases the fact that I’m not getting any sleep?

Anywho, to make a short story exceptionally long, on a typical baby jail day, you’ll find me in maternity jeans with a little (OK, a LOT) of stretch to them and a loose button-up flannel.

Why the flannel? Well, it makes it easier to whip out the boobs to feed Connor Claire.

Sexy schtuff, I know…

What’s the last song you sang in the shower?
Hmm… What was it?

I think — yeah, I’m pretty sure it was Hey Jude, by the Beatles, which I got stuck in my head after I played it for Connor Claire during one of her daytime feedings.

Yes, while she enjoys the fine gourmet fare known as Boobs du Mom, I play music for her. 🙂

So far we’ve covered about a quarter of the Beatles catalogue, with some Stevie Wonder thrown in there too.

Do you have split ends?
At the moment, I do. It’s been a while since my last haircut.

Last TV show you binge-watched?
I feel like this is turning into “A Very Special Boobs Episode of the Monday Poll,” but so much of my life right at the moment is devoted to feeding the baby, so please bear with me.

Anyway, I use a breast pump throughout the day, and while I’m pumping, I watch TV to pass the time. I’ve been binge-watching this show on Hulu called Broad City, and it’s HILARIOUS.

What refreshes and reinvigorates you?
Um…a completely uninterrupted night of sleep?

Also, washing my face with cold water first thing in the morning, hanging out with good friends, exploring new places with El Hub, an ice cold Power C Vitamin Water and afternoons spent at the beach (ideally, one with warm water).

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. On a typical day, what kind of clothes do you wear?
2. What’s the last song you sang in the shower?
3. Do you have split ends?
4. Last TV show you binge-watched?
5. What refreshes and reinvigorates you?

Have a great week, my friend, and I’ll try to do the same.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

An Easy, Beautiful Golden Bronze Eye Makeup Look Using the $5.49 Essence All About Bronze Eyeshadow Palette

March 21st, 2016 by Jen Clark 28 Comments

Is the weather starting to warm up where you live? I’m looking out the window at a gloomy night that is chucking it down with SNOW. Waahh! I just went on (what I thought was) a spring walk the other day, and now I have to bring out my winter coat again! If any of you are familiar with Utah weather, you know that, unfortunately, this isn’t that weird.

I’ll probably have to scrape off my car in the morning, but I’m choosing to be more optimistic with my makeup choices. I’m channeling sunshine with this springtime golden/bronze eyeshadow look.

This look is so flattering on every single eye color, and it’s so easy to do. AND the palette I’m using is only $5.49! It’s the Essence All About Bronze Eyeshadow Palette.

You guys, every single one of you needs to go out and buy one of these palettes. If bronze-y shades aren’t your thing, they’ve got a bunch of different options. Nudes, Roses, Greys, and more! They blend out like a dream and are so pigmented. Love, love, LOVE.

I started out with a matte transition shade in the crease to help the gold blend better with my skin. That’s the thing about this palette — the one con. There are no matte shades.

But, no worries. If you have one, just use a different shade from your stash. I actually used my contour powder today as my transition shade.

IMG_6499_edited-1 — I’m using the three “starred” shades in this look!

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Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 390

March 20th, 2016 by Karen 8 Comments

My darlings,

One of the questions I’m constantly asked while on location posing for kitty modeling campaigns is, “Tabs, how can I be as fabulous as you are?”

First of all, it is possible. I know that I make it seem easy sometimes, but I wasn’t always this fabulous. It took a lot of hard work and purr-severance, and now I’d like to share the lessons I’ve learned with you.

1. Cultivate a network of fabulous friends (and frenemies)

One of the best ways to learn how to be more fabulous is to spend time with other fabulous friends. Watch how they handle professional and personal situations. When do they purr? When do they meow? How do they strut and pose? Observe their attitude and mannerisms, and take every opportunity to network and meet even more fabulous friends. Pretty soon, as some of their fabulousness rubs off on you, you’ll start acting more fabulously too.

While you’re at it, it’s also important to cultivate a few frenemies as well, because you know what they say about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer. That, and there’s also no such thing as bad press when it comes to being fabulous.

2. Hire a social media strategist

Social media is a key component of brand management these days, but in striving to become a world class kitty supermodel, your time will be limited, so I suggest hiring a professional to help you handle the day-to-day upkeep of your many social media channels, someone who can post daily glamour pictures of you and carry around your iPhone. This way, you’ll have more time to connect with your fans.

3. Shop where other fabulous cats aren’t shopping

Because true fabulousness is about paving your own way, be a trendsetter, instead of a trend follower.

For instance, if all of your friend cats are shopping at Chanel this season, buck the trend and shop at Prada or Dior. Forge your own path, and be your own cat.
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MAC Charlotte Olympia Collection: Golden-Age Glam

March 18th, 2016 by Anna Oh 32 Comments

Hi, everyone! MAC is back with one of the most exciting releases of the year, the MAC x Charlotte Olympia Spring 2016 Collection, and this is one of the bigger MAC collections, too, with an emphasis on lips and accessories.

For those not familiar with the designer, Olympia is a luxury shoe and accessories designer obsessed with the bygone era of old Hollywood glamour and unafraid of a little humour.

The MAC x Charlotte Olympia collection has strong retro-glam vibes packaged in adorable printed boxes. They’re a collector’s dream come true.

MAC Charlotte Olympia — Charlotte Olympia for MAC Spring 2016

mac charlotte olympia spring 2016 — Wearing Retro Rouge Matte Lipstick!

There are no fewer than three different types of lip products (lipsticks, lip pigments, and pro lip liners), and all of them are in various shades of red.

You know how every now and then you’ll bump into a friend looking for their “perfect red lipstick”? Well, you should direct their attention to THIS collection, because each red is GORGEOUS, but just a little different.

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Dare to Go Bare With Rimmel “Essential Nude” Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate

March 18th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 19 Comments

Is there anything more Kate Moss than a smoky eye and a nude lip? Rimmel’s collaboration with the iconic Brit supermodel has given us countless iconic shades of lipstick, but none more iconic than the Essential Nude Lasting Finish Lipsticks released for Spring 2016 ($5.79 each, available exclusively at Walmart).

From the soft peach packaging marked with Kate’s signature — equal parts modern and evocative of classic vintage lipstick tubes — to the chic range of 10 nudes in varying hues and undertones, all lipstick lovers are bound to find a nude lip to love.

Like Kate’s celebrity status, nude lips can be intimidating. Some may elect to gleefully experiment with all of the shades, while others may want to more carefully follow a playbook. Alas, I belong to the latter group.

Nude lipstick can be a bit of a challenge for me personally — finding the “right” shade can be overwhelming, like picking a foundation! Like all skin-toned products, there are things to consider, from the shade, to the undertone, and a whole host of other aspects from opacity to texture that make a nude lip perfect for an individual’s beautifully unique complexion.

What I love about this collection is the fact that Rimmel seized the opportunity to make nude lips more approachable. At $5.79 each, the Essential Nude Lasting Finish Lipsticks aren’t cost prohibitive, meaning that you can pick up several shades and experiment with them, or mix, match and layer to create a customized hue.

Each lipstick is tagged with an associated undertone (more on that in the captions), making it simpler to target your “my lips but better” shade.

On the other hand, the array of diverse nudes allows you to achieve a particular effect — brightening the overall complexion, adding dimension or adding warmth — should you choose to use your lips as a way to change the overall appearance of your makeup.

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