Karen

Because Three Bad Gals Are Better than One, Benefit BADgal Waterproof Liner Is Now Available in Two New Shades

February 18th, 2011 by Karen 23 Comments

Benefit BADgal Liner Waterproof (that’s what they call it) in Charcoal on my eyes… oh, and new slightly shorter hair with highlights!

Sometimes it’s good to be bad, especially when you’re a Benefit BADGal Waterproof Liner.

Don’t worry, these BADgals won’t steal your boyfriend or trash talk behind your back. They’re actually really nice. 🙂

The first time I tried the original BADgal liner, I wore it to dance class, and we became fast friends because it wasn’t afraid to sweat. SWEAT!

This spring, two new shades are joining the BADgal Liner Waterproof gang, matte brown Espresso and matte gray Charcoal ($20 each).

Benefit BADgal Liner Waterproof charcoal espresso boxes

Benefit BADgal Liner Waterproof charcoal espresso pencils
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L’Oreal Aims for Infallible with Their New Le Rouge Lipsticks

February 18th, 2011 by Karen 26 Comments

Wearing L’Oreal Infallible Le Rouge Lipstick in 812 Opulent Organza

Ironically, L’Oreal claims their new Infallible Le Rouge Lipsticks last up to 10 hours on the lips. I’ve only been getting about 6, but I think that’s still pretty great. After all, no one’s infallible. 🙂 Not even L’Oreal.

Whenever I hear about a new long-wearing lipstick, I think, “Geez, I hope it’s not too thick.” It seems like a lot of them sacrifice comfort for longevity, but this time L’Oreal managed to achieve both. Not only does the lightweight, non-drying formula feel wonderful (almost like a good pair of pajama jeans!), but it doesn’t have that cloying floral fragrance the company frequently adds (they’re also unflavored).

As for how they look, I’d say it’s like a satiny matte. The colors are rich and pigmented, not flat or heavy, and they look rather polished on the lips.

Unfortunately, packaging isn’t one of their strong points. I find them awkward to use and hard to open. I actually knocked over a cup of tea trying to pry the cap from the tube yesterday, but at least the plastic feels sturdy…

From left to right: 812 Opulent Organza, 421 Charismatic Coral and 130 Enduring Berry
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The 3 Assorted Black Eye Liners Boxed Set from MAC Packed to Go

February 18th, 2011 by Karen 24 Comments

MAC Packed to Go Travel Exclusive Eye Liners

I have always clung to the belief that a woman can never have too many black shoes, black purses or black eyeliners. It’s a world view I sometimes refer to as “smart hoarding,” and while it makes perfect sense to me, non-believers like El Hub consider it just plain ridiculous. 🙂

Maybe it is, but that doesn’t change the fact that I was pretty much pre-ordained to like the new 3 Assorted Black Eye Liners boxed set from the MAC Packed To Go collection of travel exclusives (click here for a full list of boxed sets in the release).

What are MAC travel exclusives?

Well, MAC isn’t the only brand with them, but travel exclusives are individual products (and sometimes entire collections) sold primarily through domestic and international travel hubs like airports and duty free stores. Prices and availability can vary widely, but tracking ’em down can be a lot of fun!

This particular boxed set, one of many in MAC’s new lineup of spring 2011 travel exclusives, comes with three full-size MAC eyeliners — the Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline, Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved and Penultimate Liner in Rapidblack — in subtly different shades of black.

The mighty Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline’s a must for black liner enthusiasts AND cat ladies alike. A true black matte, it applies sans any blue or green undertones at all (an issue I have with MAC Smolder), and I love, LOVE layering it beneath powder shadows for super quick smokey eyes.
Waterproof Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved feels softer than my favorite tabby’s squishy tum. It’s a long-wearing pencil perfect for those days when you go straight from work to the gym. Oh, and if you’re looking to just get this pencil on its own, it’s also available now on the MAC website.
Penultimate Eye Liner in Rapidblack is like that one guest who refuses to go home at the end of the night. It’s a liquid pen liner that stays put no matter what, through sweat, tears, unexpected slushie attacks in the hallways at school, etc. I LOVE how long it lasts, but I have a tough time drawing precise lines with its stiff felt tip. This one’s also available by itself on the MAC website.

mac packed to go 3 assorted black eye liners

mac packed to go 3 assorted black eye liners
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With These Swatches, You’re Entering Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush Country

February 18th, 2011 by Karen 28 Comments

tarte amazonian clay blush swatches

Oh, Tarte, now you’re making me blush! Let’s start this last day of the workweek with a look at the entire line of Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes ($25 each), available now at Sephora stores and online.

I reviewed these a while back, and (long story short) I think they’re AWESOME!

tarte amazonian clay blush swatches
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes: first row, Blushing Bride (left) and Amused (right); second row, Natural Beauty (left) and Blissful (right); third row, Flush (left) and Exposed (right); fourth row, Tipsy (left) and Dollface (right)

tarte amazonian clay blush swatches
Swatches from the left to the right: Blushing Bride, Amused, Natural Beauty and Blissful

Introducing another super Amazonian…

And this one goes by the name of Wonder Woman! According to MTV, actress Adrianne Palicki (Friday Night Lights, Legion, Lone Star) has been cast as Wonder Woman in David E. Kelley’s new TV pilot for NBC. At 5-foot-11, the 27-year-old must have towered over her competition for the role!

tarte amazonian clay blush swatches
Flushed, Exposed, Tipsy and Dollface
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I’m Having a Maritime with These $5 Rimmel Glam’Eyes Trio Eye Shadows

February 17th, 2011 by Karen 60 Comments

Karen of Makeup and Beauty Blog wearing Rimmel Glam Eyes Trio Eye Shadow in Maritime

It’s Maritime, young lady. 🙂 Get ready to set sail on a Trio hour tour aboard the USS Glam’Eyes. The ship is bound for the The Land of Cheap Makeup Thrills, and Captain Rimmel’s at the helm.

I absolutely love Rimmel’s Glam’Eyes Mono shadow singles, so I’ve really been looking forward to trying their new Glam’Eyes line of trios ($5 each). Maritime, one of four trios in the line, is a sea of blues designed to bring out the best in brown eyes.

Rimmel Glam Eyes Trio Eye Shadow in Maritime

Rimmel Glam Eyes Trio Eye Shadow in Maritime
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Get Shattered with the China Glaze Crackle Collection

February 17th, 2011 by Karen 78 Comments

China Glaze designed their six new Crackle Glaze polishes to create a worn-in, desconstructed look for fingers and toes.

How it works: first, apply a coat of nail polish (shimmer, cream, matte, whateva!), and wait for it to dry. Then, add a layer or two of one of the China Glaze Crackle colors. In about five minutes, you’ll see the polish separate to form shattered patterns on the nail (I’m wearing a light gray cream beneath the Crackle colors in the pics below). Check it…

From left to right: Black Mesh, Crushed Candy and Broken Hearted

Cracked Concrete, Lightning Bolt and Fault Line
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MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2: Swatches and Pictures

February 17th, 2011 by Karen 73 Comments

MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipglass atop MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipstick

What’s the story, morning glory? Happy Thursday to ya. 🙂 You know how much I love MAC Viva Glam, right? I thought that maybe you’d like to check out their latest VG color, MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2, available now in both a Lipstick and Lipglass ($14.50 each).

Unlike last year’s pale pink Viva Glam Gaga shade, the new color’s more of a flesh-toned nude. Check out the swatches below and let me know if you think it’s a go (ooh, call me MC Karen ’cause I just made a rhyme!).

MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipstick