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

Post-Dental Beauty Bribery Featuring Yves Saint Laurent and Bobbi Brown Fall 2013 Swatches

September 25th, 2013 by Karen 25 Comments

K in the mirror — Who’s that cat lady at the mall?!

Okay, so I know I always hem and haw whenever I have to go to the dentist (I can’t help it. I’m a crybaby.), but I had some seriously traumatic dental experiences as a child.

I’m way better now, though. Now I only slightly freak out before my appointments. 🙂

Today my plan of attack was pretty simple: just don’t cry. So I took a ton of deep breaths, tried not to clench my fists in the chair, said comforting things to myself like, “You’re doing great. Everything’s going to be fine. This isn’t bad at all.” And, of course, I exercised beauty bribery.

I gotta admit, that stuff really works. I told myself that if I didn’t cry at the dentist’s office today, I could pop by the mall on my way home, and wouldn’t ya know it? I didn’t shed a tear, which goes to show ya — that’s the healing power of shopping centers right there.

Of course, the mall doesn’t get all the credit. It also helped that the gal who did my cleaning, Kim, happened to be a beauty junkie and fellow MAC fan (Hey, Kim!), so we had a lot to talk about.

When Kim finished and I left the office with my new toothbrush, some floss, a freshly cleaned night mouth guard (SEXY) and one of those pointy rubber thing-a-ma-bobbers to clean my gums, I made a b-line for Nordstrom’s Yves Saint Laurent and Bobbi Brown counters.

Sigh… I could’ve stayed there all night long, but then I thought, Who would do my tubby tabby’s bidding?

Must hurry up and get swatches.

YSL Fall Look 2013 Swatches

Starting with the four swatches in the top row from the left: the City Drive Classy Palette ($55)
Top row, three swatches on the right: the Top Secrets BB Cream Skintone Perfector in Light, Medium and Dark ($50 each)
Middle row: the City Drive Arty Palette ($55)
Bottom row, the two swatches on the left: Blush Radiance in 09 and 10 ($45 each)
Bottom row, the three swatches on the right: Rouge Pur Couture Lip Color in 1, 51 and 54 ($34 each)

Bobbi Brown Katie Palette, $68 — The Bobbi Brown Katie Palette ($68)

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Sometimes I Wonder…

September 25th, 2013 by Karen 20 Comments

…if anyone else out there gets really, really excited about the first spaghetti squash of the season. 🙂

I mean, it’s like spaghetti inside!?

Will wonders never cease?

Ask MBB: Fall Lipsticks for Lighter Lovelies

September 25th, 2013 by Karen 26 Comments

Hi Karen!

I’m a huge fan of your blog, sooo I hoped you could help me out. I’m a pale gal (NC 15) with dark brown hair, and the lipsticks I own are mostly in variations of pale pink.

But I think these aren’t very appropriate for fall, so I hoped you maybe had some recommendations for me? The only good fall colours I own are MAC Red, Viva Glam V and my newest one, MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick in Lush Life, but a girl needs more than three options, right?

Much love from Germany,

Julia

P.S. I LOVE your new hairstyle.

Hi Julia,

Much love right back at ya from Novato, California (about 25 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, to be exact). 🙂

I’m so glad you asked this question because I’ve been watching this video by Lorde…

…and I just can’t stop thinking about the dark lip look she’s wearing and how striking and lovely it looks against her pale skin.

KILLER! — and so epic for fall.

I’m feelin’ it, but I realize that it might be a little artsy-fartsy for some people…

For something a little more wearable, how about Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Shame? It’s what I’m wearing in that pic at the top.

Smooth with a creamy finish, deep berry Shame looks amaze-balls on light skin.

Scratch that — all skin tones, really. I’ve never seen Shame look anything other than great, and it’s probably my overall favorite fall berry lipstick right now.

But if Shame seems too intense for you, you could opt for a less opaque plum/berry. That way, you still get the same vibe, but in less dramatic fashion.

If that sounds good, MAC released a really beautiful sheer glossy plum lipstick with the Indulge collection called Sweet Succulence ($15).

Might be something to consider if you can track it down… It’s limited edition, and it sold out pretty quickly on the U.S. MAC website. I’m not sure if it’s available out there, but I think it’s worth trying to track down. It’s absolutely gorgeous.

MAC Sweet Succulence on the left and Urban Decay Shame on the right

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Cheeks Are Having Deep Rose for Dinner With MAC Glamour Feast Cremeblend Blush

September 25th, 2013 by Karen 10 Comments

It took me a few unsuccessful attempts to get the hang of deep rose MAC Cremeblend Blush in Glamour Feast ($21). For me at least, it’s a little testier than neutral pink Tease Your Tastes, its comrade in the MAC Indulge collection.

Feast is darker and more pigmented than Tease, and where Tease requires an easy swipe, blend, blend, Glamour Feast takes a swipe, dilute, dilute, blend, blend…then blend some more. LOL!

It can look a little patchy if it doesn’t have a smooth surface on which to work. I introduced it to a bunch of different foundations but got the best results with a Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick as a base. Then I applied Feast with a MAC 188 Duo Fibre Brush.

The 188’s small brush head precisely deposits product in thin layers, making it really easy to control and place the blush exactly where I want.

If you’re blessed with a darker skin tone, this should look AMAZING on you! — especially when worn with berry or plum lipsticks.

Feast your eyes on MAC Glamour Feast Cremeblend Blush…

Glamour Feast is available now with the rest of the MAC Indulge collection on MAC counters, in stores and online.

Nom, nom, nom…

Declare Victory Over Weak Water and Lash Line Colors With This Easy Eyeliner Trick

September 25th, 2013 by Karen 51 Comments

There I was, doop-da-doo, sitting in front of my mirror with a purple eyeliner in my paws…

You know the type — a really fun, cute shade, but one that takes a bit of babying, because you have to apply a few layers to build up the color.

Most of the time, I don’t mind having to put in the extra labor, but you know me — always looking for beauty shortcuts. 🙂

“Hmm,” I thought. “There’s gotta be a quicker way…”

I quickly rifled through my makeup bag until I found my favorite black liner du jour, Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion.

And just then, I got an idea…

DING-DING-DING-DING-DING! We have a winner. (I’m wearing MAC Fixed on Drama Lipstick from the Retro Matte collection, by the way.)

I peered down at Tabs, who was chillin’ in a sunny spot next to my desk. “Tabs, what if I layer this purple liner [which I held in one hand] on top of UD Perversion [which I held in the other]?”

He shrugged.

“I bet that’ll really make the purple pop. If layering a black base beneath a colorful eyeshadow amplifies that color, it should work the same way for liners, right?”

Lazily, Tabs blinked twice and looked away, which usually means, “If you’re not going to feed me, woman, just leave me to my thoughts.”

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A Fabulous Fall Wardrobe Update for the Price o’ Lunch! The $13 H&M V-Neck Jersey Top

September 24th, 2013 by Karen 31 Comments

H&M is totally my jam right now.

There’s a store at the Northgate Mall about 10 minutes from here, which I guess is both a blessing and a curse, haha!

Sometimes I’ll walk in there, and the sudden barrage of stimulation — the loud music, the excess of cheesy faux fur, the wall-to-wall racks all jam-packed — is too just too much for me, and I’ll walk right out. But other times, I’ll walk in and it’s like the budget fashion heavens have opened up, and it’s raining cute clothes. 🙂

That’s what happened when I came across this V-Neck Jersey Top.

First off, it’s only $12.95, which DUUUUUUUDE, is about the same amount as a soup/salad combo with a large iced tea.

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A Backup Roll-Up Bag

September 24th, 2013 by Karen 12 Comments

I went to Target the other day for a backup Sonia Kashuk Roll-Up Valet bag (in short, this bag is awesome!) and managed to snag the very last one, WOO HOO!

I couldn’t find the exact same print online anymore, but I did spot this blue one with a funky geometric print, if you’re interested.

Like the other print, it’s only $19.99, which is a bargain for a bag this good.

Tom Ford Shows His Softer Side This Fall With In the Pink, One of Two New Ombre Eye Color Trios

September 24th, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

Tom Ford In The Pink — Question: What’s the secret to this Ombre Eye Color’s supreme softness? Answer: It must be In the Pink.

In the Pink, a Tom Ford Ombre Eye Color trio ($60), has powder shadows so soft that they make velvet jealous. We’re talking softer than soft — even the glitter, which is weird, because I usually associate glitter with grit.

Running my fingers across these pans is like a fingertip massage… While some eyeshadows scoot along the skin in fits and starts, these skate, and whether I’m patting or swiping them on my lids or along my lash lines, I always come away impressed.

The second of Tom’s two new Ombre Eye trios released for fall (the other being She Wolf), In the Pink is the soft-spoken option. While She Wolf howls at the pale moonlight (AWOOOOO!), In the Pink purrrrs, its dainty paws padding as if on clouds.

Like She Wolf’s shades, these — a matte pale pink, shimmery shell pink and a sheer, silvery pinkish glitter — were designed to be worn together for an ombre effect.

Of course, you could break that rule and wear the colors alone, or create interesting effects by layering the glitter atop or beneath the matte or shimmer.

It would be our little secret. Tom would never know. 🙂

In the Pink lights up my lids without announcing to the world, “She’s wearing eye makeup!” And that’s what I like about it. It’s understated and sophisticated.

Lighter lovelies who don’t mind paying extra for luxury lines, and who like the way they look in neutral and cool-toned shades, might find it particularly appealing. Pair it with cat eye liner and your favorite berry lip, and you’re ready for fall.

Tom Ford In The Pink Swatches — Tabs, and swatches from the left in matte light pink, shimmery seashell pink and the sheer, silvery pinkish glitter…

I like In the Pink well enough but, truth be told, if I were forced to Sophie’s Choice it and had to pick one of Tom’s two trios this fall, I wouldn’t hesitate to join She Wolf’s pack.

Sure, In the Pink is a solid trio of everyday eye makeup, but its colors are more dupe-able — and probably for less than $60. She Wolf, on the other hand, is something that doesn’t come along every day.

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