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

A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

Karen

Wimpy Lashes, Meet MAC Opulash Mascara

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I just love thickening mascaras that plump threadbare lashes, boo. 🙂

Say “hi” to MAC’s Opulash Mascara in Bad, Bad, Black ($14). It’s exclusive to Nordstrom stores for now, but it’ll be rolling out to other MAC counters soon.

With Opulash, MAC is venturing into totally tubular Clinique Lash Power/DiorShow territory. I’m sure you remember DiorShow, but how about Clinique Lash Power? With its “tubes” of mascara that surround each lash? Opulash also coats with tubes of mascara, and despite how long lasting it is, it still washes right off with nothing but warm water; no extra eye makeup remover required.

To remove it, I wet a cotton pad with warm water, hold it against an eye for a few seconds, and then gently slide down the length of the lash. It takes about three swipes to do a good job, but it’s a lot easier than having to bust out another remover.

The way it’s removed is pretty cool, but by far I think Opulash’s strongest point is how well it plumps up the volume from root to tip — and not just near the base (I’m talking to you, Givenchy Phenom Eyes!).
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, April 26

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  1. Mood:

    2. I can’t believe I woke up BEFORE my alarm clock today but still feel like I got a full night’s sleep. 🙂 Things are off to a good start!

  2. What do you have as your computer desktop wallpaper?

    3. It’s one of Monet’s Water Lily paintings… I’ve always loved the Impressionists!

  3. Can you ride a bike?

    4. Yup. I learned when I was 8. My cousin taught me, and we didn’t even use training wheels! — which I remember thinking was a big deal at the time.

  4. Oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip cookie?

    5. If there’s icing, then oatmeal raisin (but chocolate chip if the chips are semi-sweet)

  5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:

    6. Urban Decay Eden Primer Potion, MAC All That Glitters eyeshadow, MAC Graphblack liner/Hourglass Fortune Extremesheen lipgloss/Hourglass Sunset Creme-to-Powder Bronzer Duo

  6. When was the last time someone gave you flowers?

    7. El Hub got me a bouquet for Valentine’s Day in February.

  7. What’s on your desk?

    8. A small desk lamp, two huge Mead 5-Subject spiral-bound notebooks (one for planning/notes, and one for writing), NARS Sin blush, a bottle of Balenciaga Paris perfume, an external hard drive for computer backups, Clarins Sunscreen Wrinkle Control Eye Cream, Chanel Natural Finish Pressed Powder, a cup of (now) cold decaf coffee and miscellaneous MAC (Sable eyeshadow, Kraft lipstick and Opulash Mascara)

  8. I really wish I could _____.

    9. Focus on one thing at a time

  9. Outfit:

    10. My favorite pair of Lucky Jeans (the ones with the hole in the thigh), a pink Rip Curl t-shirt and silver chandelier earrings

  10. Weekly goals:

    11. Be better about avoiding distractions while I work, exercise at least three times before Saturday, keep a positive attitude, track down some new music and read something for fun at least an hour each day

Haaay, baby girl! Here we go again (on our own!). It’s another Monday, which according to my inner optimist means yet another chance to start fresh. 🙂

I hope you had a good weekend. Before you enter the rat race today, let me know how you’re doin’ by filling out the Monday Poll. Just copy the list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le list

1. Mood:
2. What do you have as your computer desktop wallpaper?
3. Can you ride a bike?
4. Cookies: oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip?
5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:
6. When was the last time someone gave you flowers?
7. What’s on your desk?
8. I really wish I could _____.
9. Outfit:
10. Weekly goals:

I’m up for having a great week if you are. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 84

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Heya, ladies. Tabs and I are kinda bummed that the weekend’s over. Didn’t this one end too fast? Grrr, we didn’t even make it to a movie.

At least El Hub and I had a good time out in the East Bay at my dad’s birthday party. We had lunch and Baskin-Robbins chocolate/vanilla ice cream cake, YUM! Tabs stayed home to work on his fitness, though. He’s trying to fit into a new pair of skinny jeans.

Speaking of the Tabinator, here are pics of the modeling jobs he took this week. He always gets busy this time of year… 🙂


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What Were Your Best and Worst Beauty Experiences of the Week?

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MY BEST:

Lately, I’ve been trying to eat less junk food and exercise more, and I’ve noticed a wee difference (aka, I feel slightly less like a sausage in my favorite jeans). Small victories, ya know?

MY WORST:

Probably TMI, but the warmer weather’s making my scalp go nuts. Thank goodness for dandruff shampoo and white shirts!

What were your best and worst beauty experiences of the week? Please share yours in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

This Week’s Top Posts

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Rise and shine, morning glory! 🙂 How’s it going today? Did you do anything fun last night? After spending yesterday afternoon shopping for plants at Costco, picking up some necessities at Target and watching at least five episodes of HBO’s Entourage online, I finally turned in around midnight.

Yesterday at Costco I was shopping for a miniature citrus tree to set in a large pot by the front door outside, one that won’t outgrow the pot or need to be replanted, but I left empty handed. No luck tracking one down. I’ve seen ’em decorating outdoor shopping centers before, and El Hub insists that whatever we get be something that produces food.

Ah, boys…

Back to beauty then — what was your favorite product this week? Was it an old standby or something new?

Bonjour! Let Givenchy Makeup Take You Someplace Special for Summer

“The blues, bronzes, pinks and peaches transport me to a tropical resort, where I’m lounging lazily beside the pool, reading some book (probably teen lit) under a stand of palm trees rustling overhead. Of course, in this fantasy I’m rocking killer abs in a Burberry bikini, and Ryan Reynolds just offered to buy me a margarita…”

Warming Up to MAC Pret-a-Papier

“If you’ve ever been a little confused by MAC’s past color collection choices, you might be in for a treat this time (at least I hope so). Everything here just makes sense to me, like a bona fide summer makeup collection with wicked versatility and potential. Almost any combination of these colors picked at random could still produce a cohesive look.”

Rimmel Lasting Finish Blendable Powder Blush Deserves a Drugstore Makeup Crown

“For $5, the Lasting Finish Blushes are tough to beat, and they’re possibly the best drugstore blushes I’ve seen in a while. What a great way to expand a blush collection without spending an arm and a leg!”

$30 Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara for a False Lash Effect

“First, I think this pricey princess does kick serious booty in a few important ways… I’ve been testing it in High Density Black, one of the eight colors in the line, and it delivers some of the best pigment I’ve ever seen. It looks deep, dark and rich on my lashes, almost like they’ve been dipped in a jar of India ink.”

NARS Sin Blush: BFF to Purple Glosses Everywhere

“Shimmery golden berry NARS Blush in Sin ($26) just may be the perfect partner for purple gloss. It’s been part of the NARS family (permanent) for some time now, but I just recently gave it a try.”

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Two Ways to Win Benefit’s Ultra Shines Lip Shine Gloss in Spiked Punch

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  • The giveaway is now closed. Congrats to winner Snoopysteph! Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

Uh, oh… Someone spiked the punch!

I’ve never heard that in reference to actual punch before, but I’ve always wanted to say it.

How goes the weekend? Good, I hope. I had a pretty relaxing afternoon, I’m happy to report. No news is good news, right? Oh, I finally caught the last episode of Project Runway online. I don’t want to spoil the ending if you haven’t seen it yet, but what did you think? Did the right person win (I think so!)?

Because it was sunny today I couldn’t stop thinking about the beach, which led me to think about coral (and surfing) and the subject of today’s giveaway, Benefit’s Spiked Punch lipgloss, one of the new Ultra Shines Lip Shine glosses I’ve been lurving lately (see it in action here).

I hope you’re ready to shine. 🙂

The prize

One lucky lady will win a tube of Benefit’s shimmery coral Ultra Shines Lip Shine Gloss in Spiked Punch (an $18 value).

Spiked Punch, like the other Ultra Shines Lip Shine glosses, radiates a mirror-like finish and packs pigment to spare. It doesn’t hit counters until May, so this is an early peak.

How to enter…

2ways2enterEntering is easy. There are two different ways, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

First, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post. In it, share a trick you use to keep your lips looking great, or tell me the name of your current favorite gloss.

For softer lips the following day, I’ll apply some lip balm right before bed.

Follow me
Second, enter by following me on Twitter and retweeting (RT) the following message:

Follow @karenmbb and RT to win Benefit’s Ultra Shines Lip Shine gloss in Spiked Punch (an $18 value) http://bit.ly/byDB1P

Recap…

  1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
  2. Follow me on Twitter and retweet the following message:

    Follow @karenmbb and RT to win Benefit’s Ultra Shines Lip Shine gloss in Spiked Punch (an $18 value) http://bit.ly/byDB1P

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Monday, April 26.

Bonne chance!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

  • The giveaway is now closed. Congrats to winner Snoopysteph! Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

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