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

Ask MBB: How Can I Blend a Better Smokey Eye, and What Brushes Should I Use?

October 29th, 2013 by Karen 43 Comments

“You do such a fantastic smokey eye… Mine needs so much work.

I think part of my problem is just not having the right tools to blend with (brush recommendations would be appreciated!)… I love how, in your looks, the colours seem to flow together seamlessly. I also know NOTHING about eyeshadow bases beyond eyeshadow primer (I’m such a noob), so any tips on that would also be super helpful!”

–Jess

Hi Jess,

I’m on it! OK, so it really helps to have a good blending brush — scratch that. A good, clean blending brush, because even a good brush with a lot of gunk in the bristles will just scoot the shadows around your lids, instead of blending the colors together seamlessly.

I have a couple of favorites I love and use all the time, like the mighty MAC 217 and 224.

The 217’s brush head is a little denser and smaller than the 224’s, so I prefer it for blended eye looks with more distinct transitions between the color gradients or when I’m working with hard-to-blend eyeshadows.

Laura Mercier Artist's Palette 2013 — For this look with the new Laura Mercier Artist’s Palette for Eyes, I blended it with the MAC 217.

And when I want smoother color gradients and a smokey effect that looks really blown out, I grab the 224, which has a fluffier, wider head.

Basically, when I don’t have to be terribly precise, I go for the 224.

Too Faced A Few of My Favorite Things — Blowing it out with the Too Faced My Favorite Things Palette and the MAC 224…

Between the 217 and 224, you really can’t go wrong with either one.

Too Faced also has a tapered blending brush similar to the MAC 224 that I like. It’s a little thinner than the 224 and great for guys/gals with small lids. It’s available in their $39 Shadow Brushes Essential 3-Piece Set, which also comes with a flat shadow brush and a small smudger brush. The whole kit is top-notch, come to think of it.

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With Four Neutral Eyeshadows and More, Benefit’s New $36 Set Is a Groovy Kind-a Kit

October 28th, 2013 by Karen 27 Comments

Benefit Groovy Kind-a-Love — The new $36 Benefit Groovy Kind-a Love

I tried hard not to think about Phil Collins today while playing with Benefit’s new $36 Groovy Kind-a Love holiday kit…but it was really, really hard, man.

I told myself, “Focus! Think about the eyeshadows!” (There are four of them, all neutrals and very wearable.) and “Get your head in the game, Karen! You could use the blush combo as a highlighter if you layer it on top of Benetint.”

But nooOOOoo. I just kept hearing Phil ask, “Wouldn’t you agree? Baby, you and me, got a groovy kind of love?”

Yup.

That tune is etched in my mind as the song my college neighbor played whenever a girl would break up with him.

He’d play it on full blast, too, and whenever Phil got to the chorus, the guy’s dog would get in on the action and start howling. 🙂

It was…sweet, and yet also painful.

Hopefully, wearing this limited edition eye and cheek kit will paint a different, but just as groovy, kind of love on my memory banks.

There’s a lot to like about it. It must have been designed with girls who love natural-looking pink cheeks and shimmery brown, beige and gold eyes in mind (like me!).

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5 Ways To Go From the Office to Your After-Work Party With the RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Collection

October 28th, 2013 by Karen 47 Comments

MAC RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Collection — Go straight from work to your after-work party with the new RiRi Hearts MAC holiday collection

It’s almost that time…

Yup, it’s almost — GASP! — the holidays! YIKES!

If your calendar includes after-work fetes, congrats. But how ya gonna get to all those shindigs on time?

Between the TPS reports piling up on your desk (you and me both, babe) and your overflowing email inbox (with tasks like “organize feather toys for feline employer” marked as, “URGENT”), who has time to transform herself from cubicle cutie to party hottie?

Not to worry, fellow MAC mavens and makeup lovahs. The new RiRi Hearts MAC holiday collection has you covered.

The New RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Collectiono, coming December 2013 to all MAC locations in North America and internationally except China — Ten of the 11 pieces from the new RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Collection, coming December 2013

The new 11-piece limited edition collection is loaded with products perfect for going from the office to your after-work parties.

You can even employ these quick and easy party prep tricks from your desk. Just make sure your office crush isn’t lurking…because it’s kind of weird when someone you like hangs around to watch you line your water lines.

Trust me on this.

1. Swap that daytime nude lipstick for a bright, bold shade.

MAC RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Collection: RiRi Woo, Pleasure Bomb and Badgal RiRi Lipsticks — Lipsticks from the left: Pleasure Bomb (a matte fuchsia with a Matte finish), RiRi Woo (a matte cool red with a Retro Matte finish), and Badgal RiRi (a taupe-y nude with a Matte finish); $16.50 US and $20 CAN each

Nude lipsticks like taupe-y nude Bad Gal RiRi keep you looking polished and professional throughout the day, even when you’re this close to beating the crap out of that prehistoric copy machine (why is that thing always broken!?).

MAC RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Bad Gal RiRi Lipstick — Rockin’ the cubicle with Bad Gal RiRi Lipstick on my lips…

But when quittin’ time rolls around, swap that nude lippie for a brighter shade, like cool red RiRi Woo or fuchshia Pleasure Bomb.

BOOM! Just like that, you’re one big step closer to a party-ready look.

MAC RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Pleasure Bomb Lipstick — Getting ready for the party with Pleasure Bomb Lipstick; Nail Lacquer in RiRi Woo ($17.40) on my fingertips

A bright lip pumps up the jam but takes very little effort. Plus, this one’s long-wearing matte finish photographs very well, and it’ll last through dinner and drinks, so you won’t even have to touch-up throughout the evening.

MAC RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Collection Lipstick Swatches from the left: Bad Gal RiRi, RiRi Woo and Pleasure Bomb — Lipstick swatches from the left: Bad Gal RiRi, RiRi Woo and Pleasure Bomb

RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday Bad Gal RiRi Lipstick — Bad Gal RiRi

MAC RiRi Hearts MAC Holiday RiRi Woo Lipstick — RiRi Woo

MAC RiRI Hearts MAC Holiday Collection: Pleasure Bomb Lipstick — Pleasure Bomb

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 295

October 28th, 2013 by Karen 35 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for October 28, 2013

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 six years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

Soup or salad?
If the soup’s vegetarian, then soup; otherwise, salad…with the dressing on the side.

When was the last time you went to a haunted house?
It was a dark and stormy night back in 2010…

Ha! Not really. Well, it was in 2010. It was at a Halloween ball held on an old decommissioned aircraft carrier called the USS Hornet in Alameda (The Monster’s Ball). They turned the ship’s innards into a haunted house.

Very spooky… Every time we turned one of the tight corners in the bowels of the ship and something popped out of the shadows, I screamed, haha!

Are there any bargain beauty buys you’ve been recommending to all your friends?
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Body Butter, babe! Best $4.99 you’ll ever spend (well, maybe one of the best).

For a big event, would you rather have your makeup professionally done, or do it yourself?
Honestly, even though I think I could handle it myself, I’d rather have it done. It’s one less thing to worry about, ya know?

Pumpkin spice lattes: yes or no?
YES! Double yes. I’m craving one right now.

Where would you like to see yourself this time next year?
I would like there to be a new addition to our little family, or to have a baby on the way. Also, to have done more things with our condo to make it more comfortable (it’s only been three years, le sigh…) and to have struck a better work-life balance.

That’s one of the downsides to blogging, to be honest. It’s easy to go overboard and lose track of time. Pretty soon it’s 10 p.m. and you’re still taking pictures. Happens all the time.

Nudes or brights?
Brights.

You get to build a four-pan eyeshadow palette for a weekend getaway using any colors from any brands. What do you put in it?
MAC Soft Brown, MAC Brun, MAC Woodwinked and NARS Night Star.

Last meal you had outdoors?
Hmm… I think it was two weeks ago. El Hub and I had late lunch at Blue Barn Marin in Corte Madara.

It was nice. There was a band, and we just sat there and enjoyed one of the last warmish days for a while.

What makeup do you wear when you want to look fresh-faced?
I’ll fill in my brows, curl my lashes, and coat them with a layer or two of mascara. Then, I’ll usually apply MAC Strobe Cream all over my face, a bit of foundation, under-eye concealer and lip balm. That about does it.

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. Soup or salad?
2. When was the last time you went to a haunted house?
3. What’s a bargain beauty buy you recommend to your friends?
4. For a big event, would you rather have your makeup done or would you prefer to do your own makeup?
5. Pumpkin spice lattes: yes or no?
6. Where would you like to see yourself this time next year?
7. Nudes or brights?
8. You get to build a four-pan eyeshadow palette for a weekend getaway using any colors from any brands. What do you put in it?
9. Last meal you had outdoors?
10. How do you do your makeup when you want a fresh-faced look?

Thought you might enjoy this: Sonicaid Music to Inspire Positive Thinking.

It’s not drum circle or whale mating music or anything too out there (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Mostly just soothing instrumental piano that’s supposed to boost alpha and beta brainwave activity, which is supposed to aid creativity and relaxation.

I’ve been listening to it all morning long (happy Monday, by the way) and feeling really positive about the day.

I hope it helps you, too. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 267

October 27th, 2013 by Karen 14 Comments

Who is Tabs the Cat? About six years ago I befriended a stray, flea-bitten tabby cat with a bad case of worms. I could see he’d fallen on hard times, but his profound knowledge of high fashion and department store cosmetics led me to believe that he was more than meets the eye. We became fast friends, and now he’s actually my boss (and a successful kitty model). 🙂

Who the heck invites a bobcat to a Halloween party? That’s what I want to know.

Yeah, Tabs went to Karl Lagerfeld’s big Halloween bash last night, and there was this bobcat there — huge cat — apparently he does a lot of print ads and covers for cat romance novels. Anyway, I guess he had a little too much catnip because he went batsh*t crazy at one point, smashed a sliding glass window and fell in the pool.

Yes, it was that kind of party.

Tabs said it was OK, but if you’ve been to one kitty supermodel Halloween party, you’ve been to ’em all. Same thing, different day. Choupette, Lagerfeld’s cat, went as a dominatrix…

Yeah, bo-ring.

I mean, you work with Karl Lagerfeld, for crying out loud. Do something original.

Tabs went as a mummy cat, but only because he was still dressed up after shooting an ad campaign yesterday for Illamasqua.

All things considered, it sounds like it was a good party. Tabs said the catnip hard candies were great.

Tabs actually did do some work this weekend, so it wasn’t all fun and games. If you’re interested, here are the highlights from his kitty modeling campaigns…

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

October 26th, 2013 by Karen 398 Comments

Rise and shine, morning glory! It’s going to be a beautiful day. I can feel it in my bones…

I hope you did something fun last night. After finishing the NARS Promiscuous Lip Pencil post, I just made a quick fish dinner (pretty much just steamed tilapia filets and served on white rice with a little soy sauce, green onions and ginger), and then proceeded to watch Parenthood on Netflix from about 8 p.m. to 11.

It was glorious!

I love that show…

But enough about that. We’ve got a giveaway to start, so let’s get to it. Full deets in the Rafflecopter widget below, and the prize is a $50 Sephora gift card.

Maybe we’ll bump into each other on Twitter or Facebook today and can chat about how much we love Adam Braverman. 🙂

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:
- Best Halloween costume you’ve ever seen?
- How are you about doing smokey eyes? What’s the hardest thing about them for you?
- Do you ever use hot rollers in your hair?
- What’s your favorite musical?
- Do you ever put yourself on nail polish/makeup bans?
- Do you have naturally rosy cheeks?
- Are there any brands you wish they carried in your country?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, October 28, 2013 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

For the Lipstick Commitment-Phobes, Introducing the New NARS Guy Bourdin Promiscuous Lip Pencil Holiday Set

October 25th, 2013 by Karen 41 Comments

When it comes to lip products, “I’m not a player, I just crush a lot,” she said, quoting Big Pun as she poured her 40 on the ground (RIP).

This does not, however, apply to other aspects of my life, although it briefly did when I was in my early 20s. That’s when I had my YOLO moment and tried being a player. The results were…disastrous. (This was around the time I dated that boy I met dancing in the cage. Oh, gawd!)

I quickly learned that I’m built for long-term monogamy when it comes to real relationships, but I’m kind of a ho as it pertains to lip products. 🙂 I’ve been known to have a new crush every day!

Enter the cheeky new $45 NARS Guy Bourdin Promiscuous Lip Pencil set, which kisses lips this holiday season with five NARS Lip Pencil mini faves (all existing colors).

No need to commit to just one color when you have…

Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in New Lover, a golden strawberry pink
Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Never Say Never, a pink lilac
Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Sex Machine, a pink mauve
Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita, a dusty rose
Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella, a scarlet red

And the minis come in their very own black zippered makeup pouch, complete with shiny blue lips.

Um…weird! They look like my lips do after I have a blue raspberry Icee (I was craving one today).

I kind of wish the lips were red, though, like the box in the Fling set, but maybe that seemed too matchy-matchy to the peeps at NARS.

Whatevs, I think the set’s still more fun than Fling. It has more intense brights, like Cruella and Never Say Never.

The bulk of the set is comprised of colors from the Velvet Matte collection and ooh! — I love the textures. The pencils feel smooth on my lips, not heavy at all, and they aren’t the least bit drying. We’re talking very comfy mattes, and they last from 4-5 hours.

The Velvet Lip Gloss in the set, New Lover, has a shorter wear time of 2-3 hours, but I’m cool with that because I really like how it looks. It sure is shiny, and it’s nowhere near as thick or heavy as some glosses. It’s one of those great neutrals you can just throw on when you have to get up early for work but didn’t sleep well the night before.

But here’s a brief warning from one cat lady to another: if you’re wearing this, kitty fur will definitely cling to your lips. Yes, it’s kind of sticky.

I really like this set and can see myself wearing these glosses down to nubs, but since there are no new colors here, you may already have some of these shades in your kit.

I recommend it more for NARS newbies who want a grand tour of some of the brand’s greatest Lip Pencil hits. All in all, it’s full of win, even with the weird blue lips.

PRICE: $45
AVAILABILITY: Coming November 1 exclusively to Sephora and sephora.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

In the High Court of Holiday Makeup, What’s the Verdict on the New NARS Guy Bourdin Crime of Passion Palette?

October 25th, 2013 by Karen 34 Comments

THE SCENE: A crowded courtroom.

PARTIES PRESENT: The Honorable Judge Karen presiding, with Attorney-at-Law Tabs the Cat representing his client, the new NARS Guy Bourdin Crime of Passion palette.

NARS Guy Bourdin Crimes of Passion — Limited edition packaging

Judge Karen pounds her gavel (which incidentally looks like a lint roller) repeatedly.

JUDGE KAREN: “Order! Order in the court!

“Counselor Tabs, your client, the limited edition NARS Guy Bourdin Crime of Passion Palette for eyes, lips and cheeks, stands before the High Court of Holiday Makeup today to be judged on its shopping worthiness this holiday season.

“On the count of eyeshadow fallout in the first degree, how does your client plead?”

COUNSELOR TABS: Mrrrow. (“Not guilty, Your Honor.”)

JUDGE KAREN: “And on the count of weird color combinations in the first degree, how does your client plead?”

COUNSELOR TABS: Mrrrow. (“Not guilty, Your Honor.”)

JUDGE KAREN: “And on the count of brief wear time in the first degree, how does your client plead?”

COUNSELOR TABS: Mrrrow. (“Not guilty, Your Honor.”)

JUDGE KAREN: “Lastly, on the count of difficulty blending eyeshadows, how does your client plead?”

COUNSELOR TABS: Meeee-ow. (“Guilty, Your Honor.”)

The crowd collectively gasps…

JUDGE KAREN: “Order! Order! I will have order in my courtroom!

“Thank you for your service to the court, Counselor. You may now approach the bench, so that I may feed you turkey-flavored Temptations.” 🙂

What’s the verdict?

I’m this close to saying that the only crime the new Crime of Passion palette commits is AWESOMENESS because it has so many great things going for it, like excellent wear time (all day for the eyeshadows, bronzer and blush, and 4-5 hours for the lipgloss), super wearable colors that should suit most skin tones, and eyeshadows that stick like electromagnets to my lids.

I’m talking zero fallout — zilch — even when I packed it on, and not one grain of powder appeared beneath my eyes, not even when I used the dark black shade.

The $59 palette, which arrives at NARS counters, boutiques and online next month, comes with useful basics you can easily dress up or down.

The palette includes…

Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Deep Throat, a new shade in a shimmering sheer peach
Eyeshadow in Jezebel, a new shimmery reddish brown
Eyeshadow in Naiade, a new metallic light rose
Eyeshadow in Pandora, a re-promoted matte black
Blush in Deep Throat, a re-promoted sheer peach
Bronzing Powder in Laguna, a re-promoted brown bronzer with golden shimmer

But there’s one big catch (at least for my right wrist), and that’s blending these eyeshadows together.

I guess that’s the tradeoff (sigh). These latch on to skin so well that, yes, there’s no fallout, and they stay put a solid 10-12 hour with very little creasing or fading, but they also take near Herculean effort to blend into smooth gradients.

I definitely feel like I have to swoosh with my blending brush back and forth more than I do with other NARS eyeshadows.

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