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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

Stila Goes Indian Summer 2009

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Stila Indian Summer 2009 all

On Sunday mornings I love watching Indian music videos on Namaste America. I have absolutely *no idea* what the performers are saying, but I love the costumes, choreography and Bollywood style.

Indian-themed makeup has been all the rage lately (Givenchy Sari collection, anyone?), and now it’s Stila’s turn.

With shades of gold, bronze, pink, plum and teal, Stila’s Summer 2009 collection goes on sale this May.

My girl Saniya at I Heart Makeup has more of the deets on the launch. From the few items I’ve seen so far, Summer 2009 is rockin’ my boat.

The Charmed Eyeshadow Quad and the 24 KT Smudge Pot in Golden Noir are my favorites, but I also like the 24 KT Glosses, Mango Crush Lip and Cheek Stain and Marigold Duo.

Charmed Eyeshadow Palette, $28

Stila Indian Summer 2009 Charmed Eyeshadow Palette Closed

Isn’t Charmed Eyeshadow Palette’s packaging cute? How about the bindi appliques and matte gold compact?

Stila Indian Summer 2009 Charmed Eyeshadow Palette Open

The four shades of deeply pigmented and shimmery bronze, dusty rose, eggplant and teal look just as elegant on the inside as the packaging looks on the outside, and I think Stila thought ahead because the colors go well with the Smudge Pot in Golden Noir.

Yesterday I layered Golden Noir beneath the bronze and eggplant shades and got a surprise compliment from a makeup artist at the Nordie’s MAC counter. 🙂

Stila Indian Summer 2009 Charmed Eyeshadow Palette swatches

Be prepared to handle the quad with kid gloves, though, as the bindi decorations fall off easily with just normal handling. It’s just as delicate as it looks.

24 KT Smudge Pot in Golden Noir, $20

Stila Indian Summer 2009 Golden Noir 24 kt Smudge Pot

Golden Noir applies as a deep, true black infused with golden glitter — sooo pretty!

As I sit here thinking, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything like it before. I wouldn’t be surprised if it sold out early.
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Alicia Keys: Her Best Hair? (Part 1)

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Alicia Keys hairstyle poll

Born Alicia Augello Cook on January 25, 1981 in the Hells Kitchen part of Manhattan, New York, singer-songwriter (and pianist, cellist, actress, etc.) Alicia Keys can do it all, and she does it with style.

Her creativity shows in everything she does, including the hairstyles she wears, which have ranged from cornrows to loose curls to updos, ponytails and more!

Which of Alicia's hairstyles do you like best?

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Do you have a favorite Alicia Keys song? Here’s mine:

Ahh… Gotta love starting the day with some good music. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

My Philosophy? Unconditional Love Is Berry Good

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philosophy unconditional love

Heya, girls. What’s shakin’? El Hub and I are cruising the mall after finishing lunch at the Cheesecake Factory (can I just have cheesecake for the rest of my life, please?). Now I’m looking at makeup at Nordstrom while El Hub sits patiently on one of those black leather “boy benches” by the escalators. He has his iPhone and a full belly, so he’ll be fine for a while. 🙂

I’m on my way to the MAC counter for Sugarsweet goodies, but first I wanted to mention what I found at Philosophy. It’s a new fragrance called Unconditional Love. Have you caught a whiff yet?

The Philosophy counter folks tell me it just came in this week. It’s described as a fruity fragrance with notes of blackberry, vanilla and musk, and there are three items in the line: an eau de toilette ($40), a body wash ($22) and body lotion ($34).

I was just walking by the stand when I thought someone nearby was eating berry Life Savers, which I love. I stopped and realized the scent was coming from the Philosophy counter.

Combine the distinct but light blackberry scent with rain-kissed skin and a steaming hot cup of vanilla rooibos tea, and that’s how I think of Unconditional Love.

It has been raining since dawn, and the fragrance fits well with the weather.
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Thanks for Sharing Your St. Patrick’s Day Look

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makeup tips how to apply makeup beauty blog

Thanks for sending in your looks for St. Patrick’s Day. Ya’ll are so beautiful and creative! 🙂 Among the submissions, green eyeshadow was well represented, but there were also some fun neutral looks, too.

MBB Babe: Wendy from The Netherlands

makeup tips how to apply makeup beauty blog

  • Eyes: MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre, MAC Shadestick in Sharkskin, MAC Eyeshadow in Topknot, MAC Eyeshadow in Phloof!, MAC Pearlglide Liner in Wolf, MAC Dazzle Lash Mascara in Dazzle Black
  • Lips: MAC Hello Kitty Lipstick in Big Bow
  • Face/Cheeks: MAC Blush in Gentle

Describe Your Look: “Just a bad kitty.” 🙂

MBB Babe: Felicia from Texas

makeup tips how to apply makeup beauty blog

  • Eyes: MAC Liquidlast Liner in Greeplay, L’Oreal HIP Duo in Riotous (light shade applied dry on the lid, dark shade applied wet on top of Liquidlast Liner on upper lash line), Lancome Color Design Blush in Freeze (on browbone), Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner, Ardell Fashion Lashes #124, Lancome Definicils Mascara
  • Lips: MAC Hello Kitty Tinted Lip Conditioner in Popster
  • Face/Cheeks: Sonia Kashuk Creme Blush in Rosey, Tarte Mineral Powder Bronzer in Hotel Heiress, Neutrogena Mineral Sheer Mineral Powder Blush in Illuminator, Prescriptives AnyWear Multi-Purpose Makeup Stick SPF 15, Prescriptives Flawless Skin Total Protection Powder SPF 15

Describe Your Look:
“I just wanted to see how the Prescriptives foundation and powder I tried on at Nordstrom earlier would look like with some eye and cheek color. And since it was St. Patrick’s day, why not play with some greens? 🙂 The green came out lighter because of the flash and the lighting in my room is all whacked so it turned out a little lime/yellowish. It’s more smokey in real life.”
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Swatch Out! Swatches and Pics of Some Current and Upcoming Makeup Collections

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Tabs loves swatches

  • Bobbi Brown Platinum Collection — This time Bobbi gives us several new lipgloss and cream eyeshadow colors, along with a limited edition Shimmer Brick. The color palette’s a mix of cool gray, pink and peach, with a dash of purple.
  • Chanel Summer 2009 Cote D’Azur — Unlike the smokey eyes and creamy bold lips of the Spring 2009 Bohemian Fantasy Collection, Cote D’Azur is all about soft bronzes with pops of vibrant, glossy color on the lips.
  • MAC Grand Duos Mineralize Blush Collection — MAC added a twist to these new Mineralize Blushes by injecting each pan with a complementary solid shade in a frosty finish. The result is a split personality blush duo, half multi-colored shimmer, half solid frost, meant to be swirled together and worn on the cheeks for a shimmery glow.
  • Barbie Loves Stila — Each of the new BLS beauty cans comes with lipgloss, mascara and a gaw-geous coordinating palette with two eyeshadows and a blush. The Foxy can’s sassy, summery orange, gold and berry shades command attention, while the Jewel can’s makeup in shades of pink, peach and brown is all about flirty and fun.
  • MAC Sugarsweet Collection — Just one look at the MAC Sugarsweet Collection set my sweet tooth throbbing. This pastel confection of pink, green and peach eyeshadows, lipsticks, glosses and Mineralize Skinfinish Powders reminds me of cupcakes, candies and all the tasty goodies associated with stretchy pants.
  • Dior Cristal Collection Summer 2009 — There’s shimmer in them thar hills! These blues, corals and pinks get me so excited that my mind feels like it’s going a zillion miles a minute.

Bon dia!

Good morning, ladies. 🙂 I hope yours got off to a good start. I’m sitting here nursing a cup of coffee, surfing the web and waiting for my Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Mask to dry.

This morning I got a nice e-mail from reader Megan letting me know about an amazingly awesome sale going on at Too Faced right now, with select items up to 75 percent off.

vintage-too-faced-cosmetics-1

I’ve got a whole lotta $5 eyeshadows in my cart right now, LOL! The sale ends April 6.

How’s your Saturday so far?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Dior Cristal Collection Summer 2009: A Few Swatches and Product Pictures

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dior cristal collection electric lights palette

‘Sup, pretties! Here’s a peek at three products from Dior’s upcoming Cristal Collection, which arrives at Dior counters in May — Electric Lights eyeshadow palette ($56), Coral Riviera blush ($42) and Addict High Shine lipstick in Artist Pink ($26).

dior cristal collection coral riviera blush product shot

These blues, corals and pinks get me so excited that my mind feels like it’s going a zillion miles a minute. I have no choice but to spew with a list!

  • The Electric Lights eyeshadow palette is giving me hella good MAC Cool Heat flashbacks. The shimmery purplish blue shadow in center? Instant love!
  • Coral Rivera blush, a shimmery gold coral, is already available for purchase on the Nordstrom website. It bears a striking resemblance to one of my favorite Nars blushes, Torrid.
  • Right after I applied Artist Pink lipstick on my lips I did a little jig in my living room, fo’ reals! It has the cutest tiny flecks of pink and gold glitter.

dior cristal collection artist pink addict high shine lipstick lip swatch

This Dior-inspired conniption may cause me to spontaneously combust in front of my computer! If that happens, please remember that I loved you all as much as I loved concealer.
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