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

Ringing in the New Year With the Tarte Tartelette in Bloom Palette

January 1st, 2016 by Karen 37 Comments

Good morning, my wonderful, amazing, glorious, sweet friend, and…

I’m so happy to be spending another year with you, and this is gonna be a good one, too. I can feel it! — and no, this time the feeling isn’t gas, LOL! 🙂

There’s a lot of stuff going on in the world, but… Well, no buts. There is. Life is scary sometimes and complicated, but it’s also great.

I wish you health, happiness, fun, laughter, compassion, kindness, sweetness, beauty and love in 2016. That would make me the happiest girl in the world. May the universe bless you with health, happiness and love, my friend, because what else is there, really?

Now…we have swatches. 🙂

OK, seeing as how I pretty much wore Tarte’s $45 Tartelette In Bloom clay palette for, oh, almost the entire month of December, I figure that it’s probably time I give it a quick swatchy-poo.

Yeah, I can’t remember the last time I wore the same palette for almost an entire month, both because I haven’t been wanting to wear a lot of eyeshadow lately, and also because I have a short makeup attention span.

Basically, Tartelette in Bloom is the latest version of the last Tartelette palette (that one was $44, and this year’s is $45), but I think it’s even better.

Like last year’s, it has 12 neutral powder eyeshadows; contains Tarte’s trademark super ingredient, Amazonian Clay; lasts all day long on my lids with very minimal creasing; and it’s cruelty free (like all of Tarte’s products).

This time around, though, the shadows are richer, more pigmented, and I think they’re also more interesting.

“Introducing our tartelette 2 in bloom palette – featuring 12 brand new, never-before-seen shades. With 9 mattes and 3 lusters, these lid liner and crease pairings allow you to create stunning, smoldering looks without the guesswork.”

–tartecosmetics.com

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15-Minute New Year’s Eve/Party Makeup Look

December 30th, 2015 by Karen 20 Comments

Yeah, man! I really did do this look from start to finish in 15 minutes! — and with Baby Girl playing soccer (otherwise known as “football”) in my tum the entire time.

Picture it: it’s New Year’s Eve (um…that’s tomorrow), and you’re already in your flannel pajamas — the ones covered in rainbow cats, because, obviously, wearing a pair of PJs with rainbow cats on them is the right thing to do on New Year’s Eve.

You get a last-minute invite from a friend to grab some pizza and watch fireworks, and so you want to get a little funk-aaaay with your makeup for the night, but you don’t have the patience to sit through two hours of cut creasing and false lashing.

So what do you do?

You bust out the glitter and hot pink lipstick! That’s what you do!

If you can rustle up the glitter and lipstick, you can probably do this look with the products in yo’ makeup bag RIGHT MEOW, and you can be done in 15 minutes, which means that your belly can get that pizza in it sooner…which means that the world will be a happier place. 🙂

Products mentioned

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy new year! 🙂

What Have You Been Using Lately to Wash Your Hair?

December 30th, 2015 by Karen 37 Comments

On the days when I actually use something that isn’t a dry shampoo, I’ve been using a couple things from Carol’s Daughter: their Hair Milk Cleansing Conditioner, which I use as my “shampoo,” (you can find it at Target for about $12 a bottle) and their Hair Milk Original Leave-In Moisturizer (also about $12 at Target), which I use as my conditioner.

My hair is long, colored, wavy and naturally dry — both my strands and my scalp — and the dryness is even worse in winter, so I diligently try to avoid any products that might strip whatever remaining moisture my hair has.

I look for products that are going to put moisture back into my hair and don’t build up to a frothy lather.

Oh, and I also do more heat styling in winter, which is another reason why I like using cleansing conditioners and leave-ins, because they seem to help my hair retain more moisture and counteract more of the damage done from the hair dryer and curling iron.

I use these products once, or maybe twice, a week in the shower, and then use a dry shampoo (LIVING PROOF!)on the in-between days to freshen my roots.

If your hair happens to be on the drier side, I wholeheartedly recommend those two Carol’s Daughter products. They get two big ol’ thumbs up from me. Since I started regularly using them about a month and a half ago, my hair’s been in the best winter shape it’s been in a while…so it’s still dry, but much less dry than usual for winter.

How about you? What have you been using lately to wash your hair?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

A Conversation About Brows (Plus at-Home Brow Maintenance Tips) #Beauty360atCVS [SPONSORED]

December 29th, 2015 by Karen 28 Comments

lets talk about brows — Let’s talk about brows…

In partnering with Beauty 360 and the CVS Beauty Club, I’ve received product samples and/or compensation for my time and effort in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #sponsored #Beauty360atCVS

Girl, I don’t have much to say about green lip gloss (other than this: if you can pull it off, WERK IT), but I can talk forever and a day about brows.

Because there’s just so much to say about brows! — and not just about brows, but don’t you think that brows also say a lot about us?

They’re very expressive and revealing, like, you can tell when someone is mad, glad, surprised or sad by the angle of their brows.

Aaand they can also tell you if someone follows Instagram.

You know what I’m talking about. 🙂 The famous “Instagram Brow”? Sculpted arches with a razor sharp tail and a subtle ombre effect that transitions from lighter on the side closer to the nose to darker as it goes out?

I see so many gals who can rock that look, but man, oh, man! — I’m not one of ’em. On me, they’re a no-go. I tried them once, and I looked like an evil villain plotting to blackmail someone for a billion dollars…

It’s just not the look for me, but that’s perfectly OK because brows are so individual. They’re like fingerprints.

And just like there are dozens of different brow shapes and styles, there are also many ways to maintain them. You can get them waxed or threaded or shaped by a brow specialist. Or, you can do what I’ve always done, and take care of them at home.

Must-have brow tools from Beauty 360 — My main must-have brow tools

Yup, I pluck (and I’ve always plucked) my own brows.

I’m kind of a weirdo control freak, and the thought of putting my brows in someone else’s hands kinda terrifies me. Plus, I saw a woman walk up to a makeup counter looking for help in tears once because she said that she went to a brow specialist, and they removed half of her brows!

The incident traumatized us both.

beauty 360 brow tools — At-home brow maintenance with Beauty 360! From the left, that’s the Brow & Lash Perfector ($4.99), the Ultimate Brow Definer ($4.99), the Dual-Ended Precision Tweezers ($6.99) and the Precision Razors ($4.99)

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Ease Chocolate Withdrawal With the Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Eye Shadow Palette

December 28th, 2015 by Karen 22 Comments

Chocolate withdrawal is a REAL thing

Seriously, the closest I’ve gotten to chocolate over the past week has been this new Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Palette ($49), and oh, the sweet, sweet torture of it! Why does it have to smell like chocolate?!

“Discover a candy-coated confection of heart-shaped delights with 16 matte and shimmer shades in cool pops of color, sugary brights, and beautiful go-to neutrals—all infused with our chocolate-scented, antioxidant-rich cocoa powder formula. Chocolate Bon Bons is the third palette in our bestselling Chocolate Bar Eye Shadow Collection (and some might say the cutest!). We’ve included our signature Glamour Guide with three beauty looks to get you started, but don’t stop there—the looks are limitless.”

–toofaced.com

With the whole gestational diabetes thing, I’m on a pretty strict meal plan until Baby Girl arrives in March. I gotta eat six times a day, which sounds like it could be super cool, but it’s sooo not, on account of how carefully I have to monitor my carbs and sugar.

Yeah, the days of stuffing myself silly with TJ’s Dark Chocolate Stars are gone, at least temporarily…

“Good thing I’m seven months pregnant and have been totally craving chocolate in massive amounts!” she said sarcastically as she took a big whiff of the palette that has been haunting her for days.

To summarize, I really, really, REALLY miss chocolate.

The Bon Bons Palette has been out about a month (note: it doesn’t actually come with the chocolate bar I’m holding here), and I played it pretty safe with this look because I didn’t want to go over the top. I blended the matte beige shade, Divinity, all over my lids, then swept the matte brown shade called Mocha into my crease before taking it along my lower lash lines.

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Treat Yourself and Your Skin to Much-Needed Meow Time With CVS/pharmacy Beauty 360 Facial Masks #Beauty360atCVS [SPONSORED]

December 28th, 2015 by Karen 13 Comments

In partnering with Beauty 360 and the CVS Beauty Club, I’ve received product samples and/or compensation for my time and effort in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #sponsored #Beauty360atCVS

You should really ask me about my facial mask addiction. 🙂 Or maybe you shouldn’t. Because when I tell you that I stockpile masks like cat ladies stockpile all teh cute kittehs, you might think I’m a little crazy.

I just love masks! I think they’re great. Among my favorite skincare products, they’re probably second only to moisturizers, because of the skin benefits, but also because they’re a fun way to take a break from life.

Ya just put on your mask and chill for 15 minutes, and while I’m sitting there “in mask,” I totally forget about my chores and responsibilities. I don’t think about the dishes in the sink or vacuuming the stairs or doing the laundry. I’m totally preoccupied by the fact that I’m wearing a mask.

They’re a good way to tune out and focus on me. Plus, they’re an easy way to treat my skin.

I have masks from here to eternity, but I’m always looking for more (MOAR MASKS!). Up until recently, I had no idea there were so many different masks in the Beauty 360 line at CVS/pharmacy, and most of them are less than $8 (on sale the sheet masks are usually less than $4).

They’ve got sheet masks (sometimes called tissue masks), sleep masks, masks in tubes, masks in jars, soothing masks, smoothing masks, deep moisture masks, detoxifying masks, brightening masks, anti-wrinkle firming masks and masks just for your eyes, and they’re loaded with interesting ingredients like coffee and tomato extract, charcoal and green caviar.

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 354

December 28th, 2015 by Karen 29 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.

Did you get any beauty loot for the holidays this year?
Nope, not this year because Baby Girl got most of the gifts, which is exactly what I wanted for Christmas.

I did get a Nordstrom gift card from El Hub (YAY!), which isn’t technically beauty related, but I’m gonna use part of it at the Chanel counter because I just finished my stick of 88 Noir Intense Eyeliner, and I’m lost without it…

What are three things you do every morning without fail?

I am NOT a morning person, so everything I do is pretty much dedicated to the pursuit of waking my @ss up, LOL! After 1) splashing some water on my face and 2) cleansing it, I amble/zombie shuffle downstairs to the kitchen to make something 3) to eat and drink, which, these days, is usually a piece of multigrain toast with peanut butter and a cup of decaf green tea.

I always wake up RAVENOUS… I’m basically an angry bear until I put something in my tum.

How do you feel about wearing white liner on the water line?
I like it, but I haven’t been doing it lately because I’m too lazy.

But when I do bother to do it, I think it definitely makes my eyes look bigger, which is always a good thing IMO.

What’s something that helps you concentrate?
Well, coffee, for sure. A cup or two and I’m focused like a laser! Unfortunately, I haven’t had any real coffee since Baby Girl set up shop in my tum…

Also, silence helps too. When I have to do any heavy mental lifting, I can’t have the radio playing or other people chatting around me in the room (unless that can’t be helped).

Mascara or false lashes?
Mascara, homie! Gimme a great mascara — one that lifts, curls and adds mega-volume — any day of the week.

False lashes are fun and fab, especially for special occasions, and I think they look great in pics. I also think that I have the application mostly down to a science, but I prefer mascara for everyday makeup. They’re more natural looking, and I’m really into the natural look these days.

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

1. Did you get any beauty loot for the holidays this year?
2. What are three things you do every morning without fail?
3. How do you feel about wearing white liner on the water line?
4. What’s something that helps you concentrate?
5. Mascara or false lashes?

Wow, this is the last Monday of 2016… Can you believe it? Let’s make it a good one, OK?

Are you working this week? I’ll be around, purr usual, through Thursday or so, but then I’m taking one or two days off for the new year (if, of course, Tabs is OK with that).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen