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Search Results for: illamasqua

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 200

July 15th, 2012 by Karen 14 Comments

Tabs for L'Oreal Paris Hollywood Hair Shampoo and Conditioner

Two hundred Sundays. You and I have spent 200 Sundays with Tabs.

What does that mean? Well, it means that Tabs may be the Linda Evangelista of feline supermodels, and the funny thing is, he never imagined he would go this far. Back when a talent scout discovered him wandering the streets of Mill Valley, he thought, “Sure, maybe I’ll book some catalog work or a runway show at the mall.” And look at him now — the number one most requested plus-size kitty model in the entire world.

Do I feel crazy working for a cat? No. Absolutely not. I’m really proud of Tabs and how far he’s come. A lot of the time people think that plus-size kitty modeling is just turn your head here, move your tail there, but it’s actually really hard on your body and mentally exhausting as well.

Of all the campaigns Tabs has worked on over the years, I think the most memorable for me was the MAC Reel Sexy campaign, just because it took forever to get that huge purple wig into place, LOL!

That was a fun one. The shoot was in this big vintage theater, and the photographer, Mario Testino, had to get really creative to get the shot he wanted. Tabs loves old Bond films, so Mario had the theater owner play Goldfinger on the big screen.

It worked. Tabs was totally enthralled, forgot that the camera was there, and Mario got the shot. The rest is kitty modeling history.

Tabs doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon. In fact, he had a bunch of big jobs this week, and here they are. Hope you enjoy.

Onward to 300! 🙂

Tabs for the Illamasqua Eagle Eyes Quad

Tabs for Make Up For Ever Tail Tint
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There are 14 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun Keywords: tabs

The Surf Was Up at Sephora This Week With Beachy Keen Products From NARS, Hourglass, Dolce & Gabbana and More

June 7th, 2012 by Karen 24 Comments

nars beach lover box

I wonder if the airlines have done studies on how much the temperature on the mainland affects demand for flights to the tropics, because it sure seems like there’s a relationship to me. The colder it gets, the more I long for the tropics.

And wouldn’t ya know it? We went from upper-80s here two weeks ago to a week of 60-something-degree days, with a very chilly breeze, and so, of course, I can’t stop thinking about warm beaches…

You know that old saying about missing the beach, right? — “A trip to Sephora heals all wounds.”

Okay, so maybe that’s not a real saying…but it should be! 🙂

Can’t you see it across the front of a Roxy rash guard? Or cross-stitched on a big beach towel hanging on the wall of a surf shop?

Because not even Tabs can change the weather (lord knows he’s tried), I headed to Sephora yesterday looking for beach-themed beauty…

And I started at NARS! — with the new $49 limited edition Beach Lover Set.

It comes with a Medium Laguna Illuminator, a Mini Orgasm Blush/Hungry Heart Highlighter Duo, a Skorpios Mini Soft Touch Shadow Pencil and a Medium Laguna Lip Gloss.

nars beach lover in hand
From the left: Laguna Illuminator, Skorpios Shadow Pencil, Laguna Lip Gloss and the Orgasm/Hungry Heart Highlighter Duo

I’ve been meaning to swatch Laguna Lip Gloss for a while (every time I hear the name, I think Laguna Beach and say “Stephen!”). It’s a bronzed brown with golden shimmer.

nars beach lover swatches
Swatches from the left: Hungry Heart Blush, Orgasm Blush, Skorpios Shadow Pencil, Laguna Lip Gloss, Laguna Illuminator unblended and blended

It’s pretty, isn’t it? Kind of a less disco version of MAC Oh Baby Lipglass?

I hope NARS releases a full-size tube…

On the topic of glosses, a couple others also caught my eye — the two new shades of the Larger Than Life Lip Glosses in Gold Digger (a sparkling peach shimmer) and Born This Way (a light lavender pink).

nars gold digger
Gold Digger (top) and Born This Way (bottom)

nars gold digger swatch
Gold Digger on the left and Born This Way on the right
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There are 24 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Dolce & Gabbana, Hourglass, Makeup, NARS Keywords: dolce & gabbana, hourglass cosmetics, nars

In the Bronzer Olympics, the NYX Matte Bronzers Get the Gold

May 30th, 2012 by Karen 13 Comments

nyx matte bronzer
Wearing NYX Bronzer in Medium

To the uninitiated, spotting the differences between the new NYX Matte Bronzers and the many other compact bronzing powders currently on counters is like trying to tell the difference between Coke and Pepsi blindfolded without tasting either one.

In other words, it’s tough.

After all, like most of the bronzers vying for our attention this summer, these new ones from NYX promise to do the same things — deliver a natural-looking, honey-like glow for your skin.

But if MAC is trying to rule the department store market with their Pro Longwear Bronzing Powders, NYX is going after drugstore divas and budget-minded babes with their five new Matte Bronzers.

At $9 each, the prodigious 0.33-ounce pans shout “BARGAIN!” from their perches in drugstore makeup aisles. For the price of one MAC Pro Longwear Powder, you could get two of these from NYX and still have enough change left over for a drugstore ice cream cone (do you like mint chocolate chip?). 🙂

I’ve been wearing three of the five shades this week, and impressed doesn’t come close to describing how I feel. Blown away is more like it.

nyx matte bronzer

nyx matte bronzer
Clockwise from the lower left: Medium, Deep and Light

None of that “BS” Oompa-Loompa orange business here. No way. The golden russet glow these bestow upon skin is worthy of beach barbeques and pool parties.

Very long beach barbeques and pool parties.

How long?

Well, starting with that first buttery cob of sweet corn, they last past the late-night singalongs and woozy revelations (like “S’mores are so genius!” and “Whoever invented nude wedges deserves a medal!”), and all the way until you’ve said your goodbyes before packing up the cooler to head home.
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There are 13 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Face, Makeup, NYX, Product Reviews Keywords: nyx

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 193

May 27th, 2012 by Karen 10 Comments

Tabs for Buxom Big Tabby Mascara

Saint Tabby de la LoireNext time you go to Trader Joe’s and find yourself in the wine aisle, look for a bottle of Saint Tabby de la Loire. Trust me on this. If you like cats and white wine, you’ll love Saint Tabby de la Loire.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to point out that Tabs owns a controlling stake in the winery, which is in Yountville, in Napa County, California.

If you’re ever out this way, you should totally go!

Let me tell you, the grounds are breathtaking. Tall cedars line the long driveway that leads to a huge Tuscan estate atop a hill that overlooks the vineyard. Row upon row of red and white grape vines, a huge tasting room, and the whole place caters to cats and cat ladies.

Well…cats mostly just like to explore the vineyard, which is stocked with imported mice from France, while cat ladies partake of the wine and play with the kitties.

As for the wine itself, c’est magnifique! Sweet and smooth, like the owner himself.

When he isn’t inspecting the vineyard at Saint Tabby de la Loire, Tabs is busy padding his kitty modeling portfolio and growing his fashion and media empires (Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC.).

Here are the latest pics from his portfolio this week… 🙂

Tabs for the Deborah Lippmann Caviar Collection

Tabs for Illamasqua Lipstick in Frisky
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There are 10 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun Keywords: tabs

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

May 27th, 2012 by Karen 4 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Weekly Roundup

Tut-tut, sailor! Time to swab the deck, etc. our starboard bow! And haul in the sails and whatnot, and so forth!

Yeah…I don’t know a lot about sailing. 🙂

Rise and shine, morning glory! I hope you’re having a good weekend so far.

I’m quite proud of myself. I did a lot of much-needed housecleaning yesterday, and I’m starting to feel better about the condition of the house. Still have an unfurnished dining room filled with cardboard boxes from the move here three years ago, but every little bit helps (keep me from completely losing my sh*t).

I’m not sure what’s on my agenda today… Maybe a drive up to wine country around lunchtime, just to get out of Dodge for a while.

What have you been up to? I hope there’s been some room for fun.

Surf’s up! Or, where I’ve been, what I’ve read and what I’ve been lemming lately

  • MAC Nail Lacquer Swatches — Nail Art Junkie
  • Tia Williams’ writing moves me. That is all. — Shake Your Beauty
  • Marian Newman for Vogue Japan — British Beauty Blogger
  • The forecast calls for clear skin, according to Philosophy — Sicka Than Average
  • ***NOTE TO SELF*** Add MAC Touche Lustre to makeup bag ASAP — This That Beauty
  • Thoughts have power: choose the good ones! — Purpose Fairy
  • FYI, if you’re a married cat lady, resist the temptation to adopt that 550th cat — Jezebel
  • 10 Things Lucky People Do Differently — Marc and Angel Hack Life


iPod magic!


The legendary documentary filmmaker Ken Burns on what makes a great story


THANK YOU, MOM!


I. Can’t. Stop. Dancing!


My new favorite running song…

The posts you might have missed

Yves Saint Laurent Majorelle Blue Volume Effet Faux Cils Waterproof Mascara Yves Saint Laurent Majorelle Blue Waterproof Mascara

MAC Hey, Sailor Eyeshadow The MAC Hey, Sailor! Eyeshadows Are Anything But Boring

MAC Hey Sailor Lipstick MAC Hey, Sailor! My, What Rich Lipsticks You Have

Laura Mercier Sheer Creme Eye Color Swatches of Yves Saint Laurent and Laura Mercier Summer 2012

Illamasqua Naked Strangers Collection The Illamasqua Naked Strangers Collection

Korres Cheek Butters Cheek Tints Summer From Tokidoki, Korres, Smashbox and Laura Mercier

MAC Extended Play Lash Mascara MAC Extended Play Lash Mascara

MAC Hey Sailor Pro Longwear Lip Pencils The MAC Hey, Sailor! Pro Longwear Lip Pencils

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 4 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun Keywords: weeklyroundup

Today I Saw a Rainbow

May 25th, 2012 by Karen 6 Comments


A rainbow of Illamasqua Nail Varnishes! $15 each, available now at Sephora and sephora.com.

There are 6 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty Keywords: illamasqua

Mascara Madness! Let’s Do a Haiku Review: Rimmel Scandal Eyes

May 11th, 2012 by Karen 23 Comments

rimmel volume flash scandal eyes mascara

Long lashes sans clumps!
Thickening? Meh, just a’ight.
Yay! No flakes, smudges.

rimmel volume flash scandal eyes mascara
Rimmel Volume Flash Scandal Eyes in Black

What about the shades?
There are two, both permanent.
Black and Extreme Black.

rimmel volume flash scandal eyes mascara brush comparisons
Brush comparisons from the left: Rimmel Scandal Eyes, Illamasqua Masquara, Maybelline Full ‘N Soft, MAC Zoom Fast Black Lash, Hourglass Film NOir and Tarte Lights, Camera Lashes

Sculpts, lengthens and plumps.
The brush is larger than most,
And easy to use.

rimmel volume flash scandal eyes mascara
Bare lashes

Flexible bristles,
They squeeze into corners well.
They waste less product.

rimmel volume flash scandal eyes mascara
Front view after two layers: some thickness, but not nearly drag-queen worthy as I’d like

Curled lashes relax.
Boo! That’s the biggest bummer.
I can live with it. 🙂
[Continue reading…]

There are 23 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Eyes, Makeup, Product Reviews, Rimmel Keywords: rimmel

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 184

March 25th, 2012 by Karen 17 Comments

Tabs for Illamasqua Feline Fundamentalism

Someone left the house intending to go grocery shopping this afternoon, only that someone then got sidetracked on the road somewhere near the Novato movie theaters. Then, that someone — I’m not naming any names here; we don’t judge — went to go see The Hunger Games for the second time.

Wow, I like movies, don’t I? I see a lot of movies. Some of them even twice! 🙂

Actually, this was the first movie I’ve seen twice at the theaters in years. I can’t even remember the last one.

In other news, Mad Men! I did end up doing my grocery shopping after the movie, and as soon as I change into my jammies and whip up something quick to eat, I’m gonna watch the season premiere.

It’s weird. Mad Men has been on hiatus for 17 months. That’s what I read somewhere. Dang, that’s a long time. 17 months? The actors have to look a little different after that much time.

Tabs is in charge of the remote tonight, so I better go prepare his gravy. He had a pretty busy week of kitty modeling. He worked with China Glaze, Illamasqua, MAC, Rouge Bunny Rouge (actually, an affiliate of theirs) and Urban Decay.

Tabs for The Hungrier Games Collection by China Glaze

Tabs for MAC Eye Shadow in Cattail
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There are 17 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun Keywords: tabs

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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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