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

Red Lids and Lips on a Tuesday Afternoon: A MAC Red, Red, Red Collection Face of the Day

December 9th, 2014 by Karen 28 Comments

MAC Red Red Red collection on my lids and lips — Wearing the new MAC Red, Red, Red Collection on my lids and lips

Holy kitty cats, Batman! That’s a lot of red.

I suppose I could’ve toned it down, but after vexing over the pan of matte red eyeshadow in the new MAC Red, Red, Red Collection (complete with furrowed brows) and trying to think of a way to make it seem less…terrifying? All I could come up with is “YOLO!”

So I went for it.

I’m wearing three things from the collection today, which, by the way, is available now online (got some swatches right here) — Strike While Haute (the matte red eyeshadow), 5-Alarm Fire (the soft orangey red lipstick) and Night is Young (the bright red creamy gloss).

MAC Matte Eye Shadow in Strike While Haute ($16)

[Continue reading…]

Is That a Griffin Gracing the MAC BollyDoll Collection?

December 9th, 2014 by Karen 37 Comments

Because if it is, “OH, HELL YEAH!!” Paws up for mythical creatures, yo. 🙂

Bright colors, bad@ss mythical beasts and playful prints are the perfect pick-me-ups on cloudy days like today, and the MAC BollyDoll makeup bag (and brush kit) collection is almost as potently positive as coffee.

From the top: MAC BollyDoll Brush Kit ($49.50 US, $59.50 CDN), Makeup Bag in BollyDoll/Blue ($36 US, $43.50 CDN) and Makeup Bag in BollyDoll/Pink ($36 US, $43.50 CDN) — Love those prints!

[Continue reading…]

It Keeps Getting Shorter…

December 8th, 2014 by Karen 36 Comments

As in my hurr!

It keeps getting shorter…and darker!

My latest hair adventure was inspired by this shoulder-length ‘do on Megan Fox.

My friend Alis at Fox + Stone salon in Corte Madera took off about three inches from the bottom and added more layers around the front of my face.

She also did a darker base with warmer highlights.

I’m still trying to figure out how to do the super loose and choppy waves Megan’s wearing in this pic…but I’m working on it. When I tried today I ended up with bouncy curls instead of loose and choppy waves.

Getting closer though…

The Eylure Volume Starter Kit With No. 101 False Lashes

December 8th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

Eylure No 101 false lashes — Eylure London Starter Kit with No. 101 false lashes ($5.99, or $4.99 on sale now at Ulta)

THESE LASHES HAVE A BLACK BAND!

Yes, that was all caps necessary.

I’ve often wondered why false lashes don’t always come with a dark brown or black band, like these Eylure Volume No. 101s.

Most of the time they have bands that are white, which for me means usually having to paint them with liner, either before or after applying, because I don’t want the white to peek through on my fringe.

I mean, it wouldn’t be an impossible feat of engineering or anything. Right? To make a black lash band? I’m guessing we have the technology…

Not that it’s the end of the world to have to darken them myself, but it is an extra step I’ll happily omit.

I like this particular style, the Eylure No. 101s, because the lashes are juuust long enough to be noticeable…but still aren’t super long. They’re also lightweight and a good width for me, so I don’t have to trim them down.

The lashes are staggered in length along the band, too, with the longest ones in the middle, which I think makes my eyes look larger, more rounded and open.

This kit here, the Volume Starker Kit, includes two small bottles of glue, a plastic lash applicator (which I don’t really use, since the lashes are really easy to apply without it) and an extra practice lash (because practice makes perfect!).

It usually sells for $5.99, but it’s on sale now at Ulta for $4.99 (they’re also reusable a few times if you’re gentle with them).

A fab Netflix find

I saw a lovely documentary on Netflix last weekend that I think you’ll like called Advanced Style.

It’s an offshoot of the Advanced Style blog, which has awesome pics and stories about fashionable New Yorkers in their 50s and 60s and beyond.

I just thought it was so sweet and inspiring. I love seeing stylish, creative women embracing life with a bear hug, ya know, and just doing the damn thing! 🙂

Highly recommended for when you’re in the mood for something sweet and fashionably fun on Netflix.

Dear Benetint, I Don’t Think You’re Ready for This Less Expensive Jelly: Topshop’s $14 Cheek Jelly in Reign

December 8th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

Topshop’s $14 Cheek Jelly in Reign looks like a budget-friendlier ($14 vs. $30) Benefit Benetint doppelgänger on my cheeks — same sheer, rosy red color, but I think it’s way easier to use.

The gel formula, which feels wet and slick like a MAC Casual Colour, isn’t as runny as Benetint’s liquid formula, making it easier to blend on cheeks.

I usually use my fingers or a skunk brush to stipple it on my cheeks, where it looks quite natural, especially on bare skin, but you can also build it up for a bolder flush of color.

I have combination dry/oily cheeks (read: generally fussy and unpredictable), and it lasts from 4-6 hours for me.

Cheek Jelly in Reign, one of five $14 Cheek Jelly shades (there’s also a coral called Phenomenon a plum called Sibling, a burgundy called Museum and another red called Beep), is available now online and at Topshop stores.

[Continue reading…]

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 350

December 8th, 2014 by Karen 48 Comments

The Monday Poll for Monday, December 8, 2014

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.

If there’s one thing I can do in this life, it’s __________
…befriend stray cats. 🙂

They can sense the cat lady-ness radiating off me in waves… Either that, or they smell the treats in my pocket, haha!

Also, I’m like a shoe-shopping savant. I’m the girl to call when you want/need a shoe enabler.

What product in your makeup bag/toolkit do you wear more than any other?
Over the past few months, it’s been Laura Mercier Flawless Fluide Foundation, but more immediately, over the past few weeks, the Hourglass Ambient Blush palette, and the past few days, NARS Pure Radiant Concealer.

How has your life changed this year?
Definitely for the better with my daily working workflow, thanks to a couple of tweaks.

I used to start my days at the behind-crack of dawn and have my butt glued to my computer for, literally, 12-14 hours, often without breaks.

Now, I force myself, hook or crook, to get out of my chair by 4 p.m. (and I usually start working at 7:30 a.m.)

Sometimes it’s hard. Very hard. Because I don’t nave a naturally super fine-tuned concept of time (read: I’m always running late), and I’m the kind of person who always like to do a little extra, sneak in a little extra something into her work.

But now I’m a much happier person overall, so I guess that would be the biggest change for me this year.

One of your greatest indulgences?
Ooh… Sleeping in on Saturday mornings and just waking up when my body feels like it, instead of waking up with an alarm, and then just having a leisurely day.

I like to prep the Saturday morning giveaway over coffee (as you know), and either watch some (hopefully brainless) TV or read and nom on something that, ideally, I didn’t have to make, like a croissant from a local bakery.

What beauty products are on your nightstand right now?
A tube of Hourglass No. 28 Lip Oil, which I put on every night before bed.

And a big bottle of Amlactin lotion, which I got at Costco.

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

1. If there’s one thing I can do in this life, it’s ____________.
2. What product in your makeup bag/toolkit do you wear more than any other?
3. How has your life changed this year?
4. One of your greatest indulgences?
5. What beauty products are on your nightstand right now?

Happy Monday to ya, sweetpea. How was your weekend?

Mine was nice. El Hub and I drove up to Redding to visit his parents and see their new house, while Tabs held down Fort MBB with his favorite sergeant/petsitter.

Just a laid back weekend, really, but I’m a BIG fan of those. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 325

December 7th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

Tabs puts a lot of time and effort into his kitty modeling shoots, but he doesn’t usually get into the mechanics of them in public very often (he likes to think of himself as modest). Still, it’s interesting to see what really goes on behind the scenes. Some of these shoots can be quite complicated.

Earlier this week he and I sat down briefly to discuss some of his favorite kitty modeling shoots of the year.

Here are his 10 favorite kitty modeling shoots of 2014, complete with the behind-the-scenes commentary. 🙂

American Shorthair Hustle

TABS: “We had to go through dozens of hairpieces to settle on the caramel brown I wore for this shot. The costume department had me try on — I think it was more than a 100 — 70s-style wigs. Eventually, we narrowed it down to a rich obsidian black, a strawberry blonde and this caramel brown, which made the final cut because of how the color played off the gold glints in my eyes. I think it was the right choice.”

CATEX Claw and Nosetint

TABS: “Betcha thought this was me for a second, didn’t you? Nope, this is actually my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather cat, Franklin, one of the original trendsetters in the first feline print ads for cosmetics in the 1930s and ’40s. I must admit — the resemblance is uncanny. Even I’m surprised sometimes by the depth of kitty modeling talent in my family.”

Covercat Fur Illuminator in Main Attraction

TABS: “I trained with Cirque du Soleil for two months in preparation for this shoot, which required precise timing and a keen sense of body awareness. If I’d been off a single inch, the entire shot would have been ruined. The photographer anticipated that we’d need at least 50 frames to get a usable amount of material, but I nailed it on the first shot.”

The Illamasqua Arctic Artist Palette

[Continue reading…]

7 Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card From Sephora! (Ends Monday)

December 6th, 2014 by Karen 318 Comments

Rise and shine, morning glory! It’s a beautiful day!

Well…actually, I don’t really know what kind of day it is outside because I haven’t looked (it was raining cats and dogs and frogs last night!), but I’m sure it’ll be a beautiful day regardless of the weather.

I’m sitting in my father-in-law’s quiet office in Redding right now with my laptop on the floor and typing to poo. 🙂 Yup, we drove up to Redding last night to see their new house (they recently moved), and I think I’m the only one awake.

I’m wondering if it snowed in the night… We shall see.

Good luck in the giveaway, and have a wonderful weekend, whatever you’re up to. I’m gonna see if I can find a place online now that sells doughnuts…

Not sells them online, online. I mean, find a place on the web that sells doughnuts in the area.

Never mind…

One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Open to U.S. and international readers.
You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
- A gift you’ve already gotten someone for Christmas?
- Have you ever left the house liking your outfit but then freaked out about it later at work?
- Your favorite bra and why?
- Best teen movie of all time?
- Do you ever wear lipstick on your cheeks or eyes?
- How do you feel about warm reddish-brown Marsala, Pantone’s 2015 color of the year?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, December 8, 2014 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂
Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen