Karen

Flowers Will Bloom, Birds Will Sing and Cheeks Will Glow When You Wear the New BECCA Mineral Blushes in Hyacinth, Lantana and Nightingale

July 15th, 2015 by Karen 26 Comments

becca lantana hyacinth nightingale — New Mineral Blushes by BECCA, $32 each

Flowers, birds, brights and BECCA — four of my favorite things. 🙂

GURL, there’s so much to like about these new BECCA Mineral Blushes that I don’t even know where to start. Bright poppy pink Hyacinth, reddish poppy Lantana and deep mulberry Nightingale are the latest additions to the brand’s bodacious Mineral Blush line, and if you have medium-toned or darker skin (or, if you just dig blushes with cray-cray intense pigment), you’re gonna freakin’ flip your hair when you see these new powder blushes.

becca hyacinth — BECCA Mineral Blush in Hyacinth

becca lantana — BECCA Mineral Blush in Lantana

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Benefit High Brow Glow Pencil

July 15th, 2015 by Karen 25 Comments

High five to the bad-@ss Benefit High Brow Glow Pencil that has been taking names and kicking butts in my makeup bag for the past few months, because it has taken my brow (and other) highlights to greater heights!

What is it?

Well, Benefit High Brow Glow, a member of the brand’s brow product line, is a shimmery $22 champagne pencil intended to be worn under brow arches to make them look more arched and lifted.

How does it work?

It’s the shimmer, man! It makes wherever it’s applied appear brighter and closer to the spectator’s eye. It’s an illusion.

Yes, you could also use a shimmery eyeshadow to do the same thing, but a handy pencil makes it easier, and when every second counts, easier is awesome-r.

The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of my all-time favorite permanent collection products.

I definitely use it for its designated purpose — I think it’s a great brow lifter if you buff it down a tad with a finger or a domed eyeshadow brush because it’s VERY shimmery — but I think its other abilities are what elevate it into Unsung Heroes territory.

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The Kristin Perry Dainty Crystal Spike Ear Cuffs Are Warrior Princess-Approved

July 14th, 2015 by Karen 16 Comments

kristin perry dainty crystal spike ear cuff 890

You know what they say: “Ear cuffs are the new studs!”

Wait — is that what they say? Maybe? I hope so.

I’m going through a non-dangly earrings phase, and these extra sparkly Dainty Crystal Spike Ear Cuffs ($28) by Kristin Perry have been a perfect alternative to everyday studs.

This one is just a single cuff for the left ear only, which I like. Makes me feel like a warrior princess or something, and I think a pair of them might be a little too matchy-matchy.

I usually wear it with one of my cat studs on my other ear because…well, I’m a crazy cat lady like that. 🙂

P.S. Oh, my gosh. I’m watching Beaches for the first time, and I may or may not be a little teary at the moment. 🙁

I don’t know what took me so long to watch it. It’s really good!

MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Fix+

July 14th, 2015 by Karen 25 Comments

mac fix plus — From the left: MAC Fix+ Lavender, Real Techniques Contour Brush, Fix+ Yuzu, Fix+ Coconut and Fix+ Rose

I am totally fixated on MAC Fix+, and the obsession is so real that I can’t even figure out how many bottles I’ve gone through in my life.

Ten? Twenty??

No, it’s gotta be more than that… I usually get a new bottle about every two or three months.

I know that I talk about Fix+ a lot, but I use it every single day (I even bring a small bottle on trips).

Also known as MAC Prep + Prime Fix+, it’s a refreshing $22 mist in the MAC skincare line that you spray on bare skin or other products to moisturize and set your makeup to help it last longer. It contains water packed with vitamins and minerals and infused with a blend of green tea, chamomile and cucumber. Just spray it directly on your face for a subtle sheen.

I usually use it right when I start applying my makeup to moisturize my skin, and then again when I finish to help my face products last longer.

Starting when I’m bare-faced, before I’ve put anything else on, I spray Fix+ all over my face, where it adds a light layer of moisture and creates a wet surface upon which to more easily blend foundations, tinted moisturizers and BB creams. The end result just looks more natural and “lived in” (particularly if you tend to be heavy-handed with your product application).

After finishing my makeup, when I’m all done with my eyes, face and lips, I spray another misty layer all over my face to mellow out the powdery texture.

And there are also some other things you can do with Fix+, like using it to wet your eye brushes (it intensifies the shimmer and color of powder eyeshadows), to amplify highlights on your cheekbones and to blend foundation.

Yup!

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The Bernie Mev “Cuddly” Sneakers: Would You Wear These Shoes?

July 14th, 2015 by Karen 32 Comments

The Bernie Mev Cuddly Sneaker in Multi ($59.95) — The Bernie Mev “Cuddly” Sneaker in Multi ($59.95)

I’m conflicted…

I spotted these kaleidoscopic cuties at Nordies the other day. They’re the Bernie Mev “Cuddly” Sneakers ($59.95).

On the one hand, rainbows and comfort! On the other hand, I’m getting a distinct comfort shoes/lunch lady shoes vibe… Granted, if you wore these, you’d be an incredibly awesome lunch lady rocking the cafeteria in your awesomely colorful shoes.

My first reaction was “no,” but now I’m leaning toward “yes,” because if I’m going to wear “comfort shoes” (air quotes), they sure as heck have to be fun and interesting. And these are both.

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. How are things going? What are you doing today?

Does Too Faced Love Flush Long-Lasting 16-Hour Blush Hit All the Right Notes?

July 13th, 2015 by Karen 39 Comments

too faced love flush blush — ♥ Love is in the air ♥ with the new $26 Too Faced Love Flush Blushes in Baby Love, How Deep Is Your Love, I Will Always Love You, Justify My Love, Love Hangover, and Your Love Is King

The new $26 Too Faced Love Flush Long-Lasting 16-Hour Blushes are named after famous love songs (aw!), and one of them is called I Will Always Love You.

So, of course, I’m wondering which version.

Of the song.

The one by Whitney Houston or the one by Dolly Parton?

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Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick by theBalm

July 13th, 2015 by Karen 41 Comments

thebalm meet matte hughes 1 — The new Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long-Lasting Liquid Lipsticks by theBalm ($17 each)

“Ladies and lipstick-loving gentlemen, allow me to introduce my friend here. He’s from theBalm, he costs $17, and his name is Matt(e) Hughes Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick. Go on, Matt(e)! Say hi to everyone.”

[THE SOUND OF CRICKETS CHIRPING…]

“Oops, I’m sorry. You’ll have to excuse Matt(e). He’s not much of a talker on account of him being a liquid lipstick with a matte finish.”

thebalm devoted — theBalm Meet Matt(e) Hughes in Devoted

“Matt(e) and I have been ‘friends’ for a few weeks now 🙂 — yes, ever since he showed up in theBalm’s permanent collection — and, well, I thought you might like to meet him because we’re getting pretty serious…”

thebalm sentimental — theBalm Meet Matt(e) Hughes in Sentimental

“Yup, he’s everything my lips have ever wanted — Adoring (a merlot), Loyal (a deep red), Devoted (a bright red), Sentimental (a warm magenta), Charming (a rich mauve), Honest (a warm coral), Committed (a pinkish nude) and Chivalrous (a warm magenta).”
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 381

July 13th, 2015 by Karen 93 Comments

the makeup and beauty blog monday poll — The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for July 13, 2015

You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past seven years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

Denim or sequins?
Sequins all day, errrday, from here to eternity!

I plan to be the chick at the retirement home DJ-ing the’90s hip-hop party dressed in head-to-toe black sequins. 🙂

Have you ever popped a zit…on someone else’s body?!
GROSS! — and yes. I’ve totally done it.

Wearing high heels on a plane: do or a don’t?
At one point in my life, this was a do, believe it or not, but now that I’ve fully embraced the wonders of flats and tennies, I’m all about air travel in my crazy cat lady Vans.

What are three things on your desk right now?
1. The above card given to me by my friend Marisol
2. My kitty cat teacup and saucer
3. And an air plant (her name is Doris)
How do you feel about the return of the fanny pack (otherwise known as “the belt bag”)?
I don’t mind them (as long as they aren’t like the black leather ones all the dads wore back in the day!).

I like the practical aspects. I love the idea of having my hands free and not having to haul around a purse, so if a Chanel belt bag suddenly appears on my hips, I will not say no it.

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. Denim or sequins?
2. Have you ever popped a zit… on someone else’s body?!
3. Wearing high heels on a plane: do or a don’t?
4. What are three things on your desk right now?
5. How do you feel about the return of the fanny pack (otherwise known as “the belt bag”)?

Good morning, sweet pea! If you look outside today and see pigs flying, that’s because I’m sitting here sipping a cup of decaf green tea.

DEE. CALF.

Yeah, I’m trying to wean myself off caffeine because I think it interferes with my sleep — that, and it’s something to do, right? Actually, the transition has been easier than I thought — no headaches after a week! — because the decaf tea I’ve been drinking, Twinings Decaffeinated Green Tea, tastes REALLY good.

Sending you virtual hugs this morning and happy thoughts. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Karen

The Bernie Mev "Cuddly" Sneakers: Would you wear these shoes?