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Mantra of the Day, According to Bobbi Brown’s Pink Peony Illuminating Bronzing Powder

February 18th, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Pink Peony Be Bold
Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Pink Peony Be Bold
Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Pink Peony Be Bold, $38

Be bold!

Alright then, Bobbi. If you say so.

I will be the boldest cat lady I can! 🙂

This sheer rosy pink ALL-CAPS compact, which Bobbi calls a bronzer, is from the new Uber Pink collection.

Just dust it on your face wherever the sun naturally falls, like your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin, for a natural-looking glow, thanks to its pearly finish.

I don’t really use this for heavy-duty contouring, obvs, because it’s pink, but I do use it for all-over warmth. I’ll swipe a little across my cheeks (by itself or atop a rosy pink blush) and across my forehead with a fluffy brush.

The pink is super subtle, so unless you build it up on purpose, you won’t end up walking around with a pink forehead, LOL!

Oh, and sometimes I also wear this as a basic blush.

It’s available now at Bobbi Brown counters and bobbibrowncosmetics.com for $38.

Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Pink Peony Be Bold

Bobbi Brown Pink Peony Swatch
Pink Peony built up on the left and sheered out on the right
There are 11 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty

Blooms To Brighten Your Day

February 18th, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments







Because it’s always nice to get flowers. 🙂

Are you willing to try something potentially amazing with me right now?

It’ll only take a minute, but I really believe it’ll work.

Are you ready?

OK, first, I want you to quiet your mind and hold your body very still… For things like this, it helps if you sit as still and relaxed as possible. No tapping your feet, typing, clenching your shoulders or moving of any kind. Try to relax every muscle, all the way from your ears through your jaw to your shoulders and down through the tips of your toes.

Now…close your eyes and let a smile creep across your lips (the smile is very important). Lean forward a little closer to the monitor, and take a slow, deep breath…

It may take a few tries, but I think if you stick with it, something amazing will happen. I’m almost positive you’ll be able to smell these pretty roses no matter where you are right now.

Thank you for keeping an open mind. 🙂

There are 18 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo

Currently on My (Latest) MAC Wish List…

February 18th, 2014 by Karen 32 Comments

MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul
MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul

Rise and shine, you marvelous Tuesday morning makeup warrior! 🙂

I neglected to mention my MAC mall adventures at Nordie’s yesterday, and you’re the only person I know who would appreciate them.

So, when I stopped by the MAC counter yesterday I had the best intentions, I swear. All I meant to do was pick up a bulk pack of MAC Wipes and leave. Zip in, zip out.

LOL! Yeah, right though. When has that ever happened?

I expected to only be there for a minute or two, but the Nordie’s in Corte Madera rearranged their entire beauty department into these long aisles, like in a Sephora, instead of the regular department store layout, where the different brands have their own circular islands.

In other words, I got distracted. I started swatching on the back of my hand and snapping pics on my phone, lost track of time, and before you know it, I’m typing a new MAC wish list on my phone.

This is only about the ten thousandth time this has happened…

I’m saving this list for the next time I need to do some serious stress shopping.

My Feb. 2014 MAC Stress Shopping Wish List

  1. MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul ($25): I wish the swatch below of this mid-toned beige with gorgeous golden pearl conveyed the shimmer better because it looks deceptively flat in the pic. In person, I think it’s breathtaking… Reminds me a little of the Hourglass Ambient Powders. I bet it would look incredible on cheeks as a subtle blush/highlighter and partner well with the bolder smokey eye looks I love.
  2. MAC Pro Longwear Lipglasses in Whoops and Forever Rose ($20 each): I always get so distracted by the regular Lipglasses and Plushglasses that I usually forget about the Pro Longwear Lipglasses, which is terribly unfortunate and silly of me because I also think they’re great. 🙂 These two — bright coral Whoops and mid-toned neutral Forever Rose — really stood out to me yesterday. Both look perfect for spring and summer. Gloss lust! I haz it.
  3. Eye Shadows in Coppering, Antiqued, Twinks and Mythology ($15 each): I’ve been on a MAC permanent eyeshadow kick for…I dunno. I was gonna type “weeks,” but it’s almost certainly been longer than that. I’ve also been mining my makeup bag for old favorites, like last weekend, I spent some time with Amber Lights, a warm and shimmery peachy brown I’ve loved for years. I started looking for shades to wear it with at the counter yesterday and found this combo of warm colors, which I think should complement Amber Lights nicely, along with Costa Riche Eye Khol (my current liner jam!).
MAC Pro Longwear Lipglasses in Whoops (left) and Forever Rose (right)
Pro Longwear Lipglasses in Whoops (left) and Forever Rose (right)
MAC Swatches, clockwise from the upper left: Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul, Pro Longwear Lipglass in Whoops, Pro Longwear Lipglass in Forever Rose, and Eye Shadows in Mythology, Twinks, Antiqued and Coppering
MAC Swatches, clockwise from the upper left: Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul, Pro Longwear Lipglass in Whoops, Pro Longwear Lipglass in Forever Rose, and Eye Shadows in Mythology, Twinks, Antiqued and Coppering

There you have it — the three latest things on my latest MAC wish list. How about you? Is there anything new on yours?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. No heat in the house yet, but my love for makeup is keeping me warm (that and a space heater). 🙂 You have a great day, ‘k? Talk to you soon.

There are 32 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: MAC Makeup

The Bobbi Brown Nectar & Nude Collection Intoxicates Makeup Lovers With an Ambrosia of Beige, Brown, Peach and Coral

February 17th, 2014 by Karen 23 Comments

The new Bobbi Brown Nectar & Nude Collection
The new Bobbi Brown Nectar & Nude Collection

Truth be told, I was not expecting to run into this ray of sunshine when I swung by the Bobbi Brown counter at the mall today.

I was just stopping by to spritz a little Beach on my wrist (seriously, on a cold day, that stuff is better than an electric blanket), but then I spotted this limited edition collection…

Bobbi Brown Nectar & Nude Collection
Clockwise from the round pan in the lower left: the limited edition Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks in Hibiscus ($26); limited edition Nectar & Nude Eye Palette ($48); limited edition Glitter Nail Polish in Bare Peach ($15); and the limited edition Lip Glosses in Nectar, Nude Pink and Bare Peach ($25 each). Not pictured from the collection: limited edition Nail Polish in Nectar ($15) and the permanent Nectar Shimmer Brick ($42)

It reminds me of 2012’s Neons & Nudes collection (remember that one?), but with peach and coral instead of purple and hot pink.

I do wish the eyeshadows weren’t so…well, nude. I would’ve loved to see some darker, richer browns, but that’s probably just my tan talking (“Please, Bobbi! Don’t make me have to apply so many layers!”). Lighter lasses should be able to pull off these shades (and do great things with them) more easily.

Bobbi Brown Nectar & Nude Eye Palette
The Nectar & Nude Eye Palette ($48)
Bobbi Brown Nectar & Nude Eye Palette
The eyeshadows in the Eye Palette
Bobbi Brown Nectar & Nude Lip Glosses
Nectar & Nude Lip Glosses ($25 each)

[Continue reading…]

There are 23 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Bobbi Brown, Collections

A Multitude of Mattes Make the New Laura Mercier Artist’s Eyeshadow Palette Quite Flexible

February 17th, 2014 by Karen 28 Comments

The new Laura Mercier Artist's Palette, $80
The new Laura Mercier Artist’s Palette ($80)

First, before we get to Laura Mercier’s new Artist’s Eyeshadow Palette (in case you’re wondering, though, yes, it does have African Violet), a quick and (hopefully) amusing story…

Ugh, constructionSo I decided to grab lunch at the mall this afternoon to take a break from all of the construction racket directly below my window (Oh, did I mention the new gas line trench being dug through my front yard? Good times…) and, let’s be honest, try to get warm, so I zipped up the jacket I was already wearing (in the house), grabbed my keys and iPhone and said “BRB!” to Tabs (who doesn’t seem to mind the cold at all). “Call me if you need anything, sir!”

The second I opened the door and stepped outside, I realized — holy sh*t! It’s warmer out here than it is inside.

Yay! 🙂

Laura Mercier Artist Eyeshadow Palette
A closer look at the palette…

At Nordstrom, one of the first things I spied was the new Artist’s Eyeshadow Palette from Laura Mercier. Part of a three-piece $80 kit, it also comes with a small Caviar Stick in Cocoa and a mini Full Blown Volume Mascara.

As a side, I love the number of mattes in this palette. Laura stocked the entire top row with really useful non-shimmery shades perfect for lining lash lines, contouring creases and smoking outer corners.

Laura Mercier Artist Eyeshadow Palette

[Continue reading…]

There are 28 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Laura Mercier, Palettes

Sonia Kashuk’s Yellow Alluriana Body Lotion Is Putting a Spring in My Step and Grapefruit on My Mind

February 17th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments






Oh, winter…

You saucy minx.

For a while there, you had me under your spell. You lured me in with those crisp December mornings and snuggle sessions with El Hub, me and Tabs on the couch, then kept me close with those cozy holiday evenings at home in front of the crackling yule log channel on TV.

Now though…? Now you’re just so damned cold, and I’m totally over you.

Spring can’t get here soon enough. I’ve even been trying to accelerate the process, primarily through the strategic use of bath and body products, particularly grapefruit scents, because, I don’t know why, but they just seem springy and fresh to me — like Sonia Kashuk’s grapefruit-scented Yellow Alluriana Body Lotion (has notes of grapefruit, lemon verbena and musk).

“An all-day moisture-replenishing wonder that helps restore skin’s suppleness, elasticity and tone with regenerative botanical oils and shea butter. Absorbs easily, leaving skin soft and smooth.”
— target.com

The fragrant, springy formula and mega moisturizing mojo temporarily erase my memories of winter and make me forget that I’m actually typing this sentence while wearing a down jacket, scarf and two pairs of socks.

Thankfully, Yellow Alluriana is available now for $8.99 exclusively at Target stores and target.com.

Random fun fact: “pamplemousse,” which is the word grapefruit in French, is my favorite word en Français!

There are 13 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty

Tabby Spring Training

February 17th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments







Tabs trained all weekend long for his Major League debut with the Giants later this year.

His workout regimen was intense, too! — hours of posing, stretching and high-intensity napping in his new jersey.

Gotta get that low-hanging tum in tip-top shape for the big leagues.

There are 15 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Photo

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 310

February 17th, 2014 by Karen 36 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for February 17, 2014
The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for February 17, 2014

You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”

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

  1. Your favorite pair of pajamas?
    This really cozy, cute and boxy two-piece white flannel set with little pastel pink, blue, yellow and green drawings of little high heels all over it. They’re hella warm, too, and the bottoms also have big pockets, which I like.
  2. Do you still de-fuzz your legs in the winter?
    Well…I do when I have running hot water, LOL! Our gas is still off because of that construction project, so I’ve been taking zombie apocalypse-style showers since last week, heating up big pots of water on the stove that I then dump into a bucket in the tub.

    It’s really quite luxurious… Not! I sit in the back of the tub behind the bucket and use a big (Simpsons) cup to pour warm water from the bucket all over myself.

    And there ya have it! — improv shower 101!

    Yeah, I try to be in and out of there pretty quickly, so no shaving for me since last week, and the situation has gotten rather Sasquatch-y south of my neck.

    On the positive side, I think the extra layer of fur insulation keeps me a tad warmer.

  3. When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes?
    Yesterday. I usually do it once a day in the evenings.
  4. Have you ever worn eyelash extensions?
    Nope. I had a long discussion about them with a friend a couple weeks ago, and I although I’ve never tried them before, I’m not sure I’d like them.

    I’m the kind of person who notices every little uncomfortable physical difference, like when there’s a single grain of sand in one of my shoes. I’ll freaking notice it! — and it’ll drive me crazy.

    So I can just see myself going absolutely batty, even from the almost-imperceptible weight of a few lash extensions on my eyes.

  5. What are three of your eye makeup staples?
    NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, MAC Pro Longwear Concealer and the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil.
  6. What’s your stance on long, pointy nails?
    I think they look wicked cool on other gals, especially when the nails are all blinged-out and intricately painted, but not so much on me.

    I don’t think I’m hip enough to pull it off, and I can see them as a disaster waiting to happen… I’d probably have ’em on for less than a day before I accidentally scratched my eyes out or something.

  7. What’s one weird thing your pet does?
    When Tabs is in lovebug mode, he’ll hop up on my lap, climb up my torso, and drape his paws over my right shoulder.

    Always, always the right shoulder. Never the left.

    I’ve tried to interest him in the left shoulder a bunch of times, but he’s just not into it. 🙂 It has to be the right; otherwise, no dice.

  8. Are you more of a palette or a singles girl?
    Yes, please! Both.

    It depends on my mood and what I’m doing. Sometimes I like singles, like when I’m going somewhere and need to be streamlined, and can only bring one or two shadows, or blushes, or whatnot.

    Other times, I prefer palettes, like when I know I’ll want to do a number of different looks from casual to dressy.

  9. Do you take cream and/or sugar in your tea?

    It depends on the tea, but usually, yes. If it’s Earl Grey, English Breakfast or Darjeeling (YUM!), I take both cream and sugar. For green tea, though, or brown rice tea or something flowery or herbal, I’ll have it plain.
  10. To do great things, you must _____.

    Take the first step! — even if it’s just a baby step. Momentum is a powerful motivator.

Le List

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

1. Your favorite pair of pajamas?
2. Do you still de-fuzz your legs in the winter?
3. When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes?
4. Have you ever worn eyelash extensions?
5. What are three of your eye makeup staples?
6. What’s your stance on long, pointy nails?
7. What’s one weird thing your pet does?
8. Are you more of a palette or a singles girl?
9. Do you take cream and/or sugar in your tea?
10. To do great things, you must _____.

Hello, sweetpea. 🙂 It’s brisk in the old MBB offices this morning (which is code for “REALLY, REALLY COLD”) because, along with the lack of warm water, our furnace uses gas, so it’s been an interesting and educational few days, to say the least.

I’ve learned some interesting things, too, like just how cold couch cushions, bra straps and jeans can get in an unheated house overnight.

If you’re around today (Happy President’s Day, by the way), come say hi. Let me know how you’re doing in the Monday Poll.

Have a nice day today. Try to stay warm!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 36 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

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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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