Just For Fun

Two Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora!

January 22nd, 2011 by Karen 621 Comments

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Tonni (@xtonners). If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

Win a $50 Sephora eGift card from Makeup and Beauty Blog

Good morning, young lady. How did you sleep? I’ve only just come downstairs from bed, and Tabs, who’s always pretty talkative and excited first thing in the morning, is zigzagging between my legs, giving me kitty hugs. It’s really quite precious.

Whoa! — I just had the coolest memory pop into my head of one of those old Folgers coffee commercials. The ones with that great jingle: “The best part of waking up, is Folgers in your cuuuuup.”

I swear, I can actually smell coffee right now after hearing a jingle! It’s fascinating.

Anywho, what’s on your plate for today? I hope you have something fun lined up. The Cargo stuff we looked at yesterday got me thinking about fun makeup and how much I appreciate when companies come up with cool themes and stories for their products.

MAC is always great about it. Their collections are so distinct and have so much personality — I LOVE that kind of thing. It’s just more fun for me than generic themes like COMPANY Z SPRING 2011 COLOR NO. 458.

I don’t know… I like it when makeup is about more than painting colors and pictures on our outsides, ya know? It can also be about painting pictures in our minds (ooh! trippy).

Which brings me to the topic of this morning’s post — Sephora, a great source of both good and bad examples of themed makeup.

If you haven’t already guessed, it’s giveaway time. 🙂

A Makeup and Beauty Blog Giveaway!

One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (or $50 sent by PayPal instead).

There are two ways to enter, 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, a comment about anything at all. What was your all-time favorite makeup collection, do you have any tattoos, where do you go when you need to unwind? — you get the idea.
Second, you can enter by following me on Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
- Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora! http://bit.ly/fQPpTp

The deadline to enter is Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 11:59PM (PT).
Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
Contest is open to individuals of any country who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
Sephora eGift Certificates can only be redeemed online and are not valid in stores or available for purchase or redemption in Canada. The winner may opt to substitute the Sephora eGift card prize for $50 sent directly to their email address by PayPal.
Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Tonni (@xtonners). If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

What Was Your Last Impulse Makeup Purchase?

January 20th, 2011 by Karen 109 Comments

Grocery stores call it Point of Sale, or POS (no, seriously, they do) — the racks of candy bars, soft drinks and magazines placed strategically in the checkout lane. It’s the stuff they’re hoping we’ll buy at the last minute before we leave the store.

I fall for it all the time… I was at Trader Joe’s last night and grabbed a chocolate bar on a whim, and it got me thinking about impulse makeup — ya know, the stuff you didn’t plan to buy when you walked into Sephora but grabbed it just the same.

The last time I did it was at the Laura Mercier counter a couple weeks ago. I went intending only to get the Eye Kohl in Stormy Grey from the Silk Road Collection, but I grabbed the Lip Plumper in Ruby Glaze at the last minute. Poor thing just looked like it needed a friend. 🙂

Do you remember your last impulse makeup purchase?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Jan. 17

January 17th, 2011 by Karen 61 Comments

Observe the low-hanging belly!

You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”
Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past three years, which I guess makes this somewhere around Vol. 153. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

Mood:

Pretty darn great. I had awful insomnia last week, but I was finally able to catch up on some sleep. It’s amazing how getting enough shut-eye changes everything. I feel like a whole new girl!

Did you do anything fun over the weekend?

Apart from sleeping so well last night (GLORIOUS!), I saw a couple of movies I really enjoyed: Charlie St. Cloud (stars Zac Efron; sad and touching with beautiful shots of the Pacific Northwest) and Knight and Day (Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz; surprisingly funny and filmed almost like a comic book). I also spent some time at the mall with El Hub (he needed new jeans) and just happened to make my way over to the Kate Spade store…which I left with a new pair of shoes. Whoops!

The new season of Jersey Shore: Love it or leave it?

Leave it. I actually enjoyed the first season (my secret shame!). I found the cast oddly charming, ya know, in their special way. 🙂 But this third season just isn’t doing it for me anymore. I think reality TV fame has taken its toll on the cast members…

What’s the last beauty-related thing you’ve done for yourself?

I just partook of Burt’s Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme. Have you tried it before? My dry hands just love the stuff.

Do you do any arts/crafts like knitting, drawing, etc.?

Yes! I enjoy knitting, although I’m not very good at it. And I also enjoy photography and drawing.

Favorite spring makeup collection so far?

Right now I’m lovin’ on Laura Mercier’s Silk Road, but I’m sure something else will come along to distract me (I’m fickle that way!).

Have you been sticking to your New Year’s resolutions?

Well, not exactly. I wanted to eat healthier and exercise more this year, but truthfully last week was a TOTAL bust (the combination of PMS and insomnia made for several poor food/exercise decisions). But this week is an opportunity to start over, and I’m looking forward to getting back on track.

What makeup do you reach for when you only have 5 minutes to get ready?

Chanel Mat Lumiere Soft Matte Makeup Foundation, MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, Urban Decay Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tint, Benefit Instant Brow, the Shu Uemura Lash Curler, Ultraflesh Pathera Mascara and Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss in Imaginaire

Outfit?

I plan to go for a run over my lunch break, so I’m wearing my gray workout capris, a multi-colored t-shirt I found on sale for $8 at Lucky Jeans (says “Rolling Thunder Salt Flats Speedway 1957” on the front) and a red button-down shirt.

Weekly goals:

Drink two extra glasses of water each day (haven’t been very good about staying hydrated), take Tabs out for walks if it gets warm enough, practice my deep breathing exercises, and look for the positives in everything.

Today’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day here in the U.S. 🙂 If you have the day off from work I hope you’re enjoying yourself. Because Tabs never gives me any time off (that cat is a taskmaster!), I’ll be at the computer today, so I’d love some company. Can you stop by to say hi in the Monday Poll?

To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

1. Mood:
2. Did you do anything fun over the weekend?
3. The new season of Jersey Shore: Love it or leave it?
4. Last beauty-related thing you did for yourself?
5. Do you do any arts/crafts like knitting, drawing, etc.?
6. Favorite spring makeup collection so far?
7. Have you been sticking to your New Year’s resolutions?
8. What makeup do you reach for when you only have 5 minutes to get ready?
9. Outfit:
10. Weekly goals:

I see great things in store for us this week. I can feel it in my bones!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 122

January 16th, 2011 by Karen 46 Comments

Even Tabs has bad hair days

Poor Tabs had a pretty bootsy week. It rained a lot here, so he never got to go outside except to go to his Bikram yoga class. And now he’s moping around the house and tearin’ sh*t up.

This is sort of random, but did I ever tell you about the time he opened for Whitesnake? Yeah, Bieber canceled on them, which really put them in a bind, and since Tabs happened to be in town that weekend, he rushed down to the Filmore in San Francisco for the show. Yup, it was all very exciting and marked a major milestone in his entertainment career. 🙂

He even got to sing one of his favorite songs. Of course, he made some minor changes to the lyrics.

“Here Tabs Goes Again”, The Whitesnake Remix

He’s just another cat in need of rescue,
Waitin’ on love’s sweet charity
An he’s gonna hold on
For the rest of his days,
‘Cos he knows what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

An’ here Tabs goes again on his own
Goin’ down the only road Tabs’ ever known
Like a drifter Tabs was born to walk alone
An’ he’s made up his mind
He ain’t wasting no more time…

Who is Tabs the Cat? About three years ago I befriended a stray, flea-bitten tabby cat with a bad case of worms. I could see he’d fallen on hard times, but his profound knowledge of high fashion and department store cosmetics led me to believe that he was more than meets the eye. We became fast friends, and now he’s actually my boss (and a successful kitty model). 🙂

Here are some other things you may not know about Tabs. He…

Started a stitch ‘n’ bitch group with the neighborhood cats

Made it to the final four in season 7 of Top Chef

Loves the look of a black liner along the waterline

Is currently obsessed with Kate Spade’s spring shoes

Has repeatedly denied any involvement in “The Christmas Tree Incident”

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The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

January 16th, 2011 by Karen 6 Comments

So if you had to summarize your entire week in one word, what would it be? Mine would be “exhausting.” Seriously, I’m plum tuckered out, and Top Chef had a lot to do with it. Get this: last night El Hub turned to me in bed all exasperated like and said, “It seems like Top Chef is always on TV in this house.” LOL! He’s right, because even when it’s not on Bravo, I usually have it streaming to my laptop. 🙂 I’m going through a phase…

Did you have a favorite makeup or beauty story this week? I’m pretty stoked about MAC Wonder Woman, but then it appeals to one of my weaknesses (comic books). I know that some of you are on the fence about the release; I feel like the packaging borders on tchotchke, but I think it’s also true to the spirit of the original comic. Judging by the promo artwork, colors and product names, I think MAC gave it some thought, which is pretty cool. I’m looking forward to seeing more.

In case you missed anything, here’s one last look at some of the things we talked about this week on the blog. I hope your day’s been treating you well.

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

THE DIOR MONTAIGNE COLLECTION
SWATCHES AND PICS

I wanted to post some swatches of the new Dior Montaigne spring collection. Here are all the products with the exception of the one lonely Sephora exclusive, Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss in Trianon Silver #707, which I’ll add here as soon as I’ve seen it up close and personal.

Now, brace yourself for a whole lotta pink and gray (aka, my favorite colors in fourth grade, LOL!). The collection’s available now at Nordstrom (both stores and online), and will be making its way to other stores and Dior counters soon. Read more…

THE LORAC MULTIDIMENSIONAL
BEAUTY COLLECTION IN 3D

The only real 3D thing I’ve ever watched was Captain EO, and I really liked it when I was 8. 🙂

The word “gimmicky” springs to mind when I look at LORAC’s new Multidimensional Beauty Collection.

It’s a spring release, but the gobs of glitter, shimmer and dark hues remind me more of fall and winter than spring. Products in the eight-piece release for the eyes, lips and face come in a variety of finishes, including shimmers, mattes and glitters, and some of them (like the shimmers and glitters) seem to fool around with light (hence the 3D). Today I took five of them out for a spin.

Like sugar free YSL Faux Cils, I like how Multiplex 3D Lashes mascara thickens at the base, but I’d love a little better curl hold. Read more…

THE MAC WONDER WOMAN
COLLECTION REPROMOTES

The official promo pics and product list are busting down our doors, my fellow wonder women. The limited edition MAC Wonder Woman Collection is still en route (ETA February 10, 2011 in North American; internationally in March), but we just received an emergency makeup cable from the super-heroine’s invisible jet. It reads, “Start the mission without me, ladies! I’ll be there as soon as I fend off the forces of anti-fabulousness that are attacking my jet!”

Since some of the upcoming products in the collection are repromoted items (like Lipstick in Russian Red, Glitter in Reflects Pearl and Penultimate Eye Liner in Rapidblack), I thought we could take an early look at a few of them today. Read more…

SUNLIT LOOKS AND THE GIVENCHY
NAIVEMENT COLLECTION

You don’t have to love the way you look in sunny shades of warm orange and yellow to like Givenchy’s new Naivement Couture collection, but it certainly helps.

The spring/summer collection beams onto eyes, lips, faces and nails with buttery colors all kissed by the sun. These orange, pink, green, beige and peach shades have me looking forward to window shopping in the springtime and cruising sunny sidewalks with El Hub. 🙂 And even the name, which means “naively couture” in French, seems to fit with that mood (as would a CaffÃ¨ Americano sipped at an outdoor cafe).

See how the orange eyeshadow extends beyond the model’s eyelids and up into her brows, and how it sweeps below her eyes and melts into the pink blush upon her cheeks? â€” like rays of sunlight painted on?

It almost looks like it’s radiating heat, which, considering how cold and gray it is here, makes me want to jump through the monitor. Read more…

TAKE A SPRING BREAK
WITH THE LAURA MERCIER SILK ROAD COLLECTION

Yesterday, my journey along the new Laura Mercier Silk Road led me to four items from the collection â€” the Eye and Cheek Palette, the Kohl Eye Pencil in Stormy Gray, the Lip Plumper in Ruby Glaze and the Stickgloss in Pink Jewel â€” and it was quite a trip, let me tell ya.

For her latest collection, foundation phenom Laura Mercier went WAY back â€” almost 3,000 years back â€” to the ancient Han Dynasty and the trade routes ancient merchants from China, India, Tibet, Persia and the Mediterranean used to sell their silk, satin, perfumes, spices, medicines and jewels.

Available now on Laura Mercier counters and online, the 13-piece Silk Road collection was inspired by the precious gemstones and raw silks that moved along those ancient routes.

All four of the products I used yesterday are JUST. SO. GOOD! As I was applying the new products I kept shouting, “Oh, my gawd!” I’m pretty sure I sounded either like I was 1) seeing a double rainbow or 2) having a bonafied makeup-gasm. Read more…

LAURA MERCIER SILK ROAD
COLLECTION SWATCHES AND PICS

I was surprised and more than a little impressed that for her latest collection, foundation phenom Laura Mercier went WAY back â€” almost 3,000 years back â€” to the ancient Han Dynasty and the trade routes ancient merchants from China, India, Tibet, Persia and the Mediterranean used to sell their silk, satin, perfumes, spices, medicines and jewels.

Available now on Laura Mercier counters and online, the 13-piece Silk Road collection was inspired by the precious gemstones and raw silks that moved along those ancient routes, but when I stopped by the counter yesterday to take a look, I found myself asking something I imagine some of those ancient merchants must asked: “Haven’t we been this way before?”

Two of the items, Persian Rose Blush and Gold Thread Liquid Liner, look familiar to me. Luckily, I like them both. 🙂 Persian Rose Blush reminds me of NARS Orgasm, and doesn’t Gold Thread Liquid Liner bear a striking resemblance to MAC Superslick Liquid Liner in Pure Show? Read more…

THE MILLY FOR CLINIQUE
PRETTY IN PRINTS COLLECTION

There really must be a “wrong side of the bed” because I think it’s the side I woke up on this morning. I needed more than mere caffeine to make it through the day today, so I stopped by my favorite chai place, the Nordstrom cafe, because it also happens to be located a few feet from the Nordie’s cosmetics department. 🙂

When I came to the Clinique counter, I almost dropped my drink! With just three pieces, the new Milly for Clinique Pretty in Prints Collection might be one of the littlest releases this spring, but I’m such a total sucker for pretty prints.

The chocolate browns and playful pinks just look so darn foolproof and wearable, don’t they? Sure, the colors themselves aren’t particularly edgy, but these look like the kinds of things I could wear when I want to look polished and professional but don’t want to spend a lot of time doing it. Read more…

5 FANTASTIC MAKEUP AND
BEAUTY PRODUCTS TO HELP WITH OILY SKIN
Is your skin slicker than a used car salesman? Do your pores ooze oil all day and night? If you suffer from oily skin, you’re not the only one. I did for years (and still do at times).

Rule No. 1: Don’t despair. There’s hope. I was constantly struggling with oily skin throughout my 20s. I know it’s all natural, but I’m still a little grossed out by it, that greasy feeling and the relentless shine. I remember back in college when I’d fall asleep in my books. I’d wake up, peel my face away and see oily patches on the page. Awesome!

Now that I’m in my 30s, my skin’s a combination of oily and dry. Some spots are dry, but others are oily, like my forehead and cheeks. I use (and love) several products to keep the oil slicks at bay. Read more…

HOW EASY IS IT TO CHANGE
YOUR AURA WITH THE HOURGLASS AURA COLLECTION?

In the Effortless Makeup category, Hourglass’s new Aura collection ranks among one of my favorites for spring.

It’s like the brand has their fingers on the pulse of lazy girls like moi. The Aura Sheer Cheek Stains and Sheer Lip Stains are designed for ease of use. No brushes are required with Aura’s portable, pen-style applicators. Twisting the bottom of each one dispenses product through the sponge tip applicator at the other end, and it makes these sheer, buildable liquid stains practically foolproof to use.

The Aura Sheer Cheek Stains ($45) and Aura Sheer Lip Stains ($26) sink quickly into my skin, but there’s still a window of drying time (about a minute or so) in which I’m able to blend out any harsh edges with my fingers if I need to. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Two Ways to Win More Than $100 in NYX Makeup

January 16th, 2011 by Karen 437 Comments

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Emilie. Congratulations, Emilie! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

Happy Sunday, ladies. How are things coming along? Is this a three-day weekend for you (and are you watching any football)?

Because we have three things to celebrate right now — 1) the holiday, 2) the long weekend and 3) the football playoff season — let’s do it right with a BIG giveaway featuring one of my favorite budget beauty brands.

Today’s kick arse prize package contains more than $100 in NYXmakeup, and it comes with a few of my all-time faves, like the Beauty To Go Box, When Leopard Gets a Tan Bronzer and the Velvet Rope 10 Color Palette.

Beauty to Go

When Leopard Gets a Tan

Velvet Rope 10 Color Palette

A Makeup and Beauty Blog Giveaway!

One (1) NYX Beauty to Go Makeup Kit, one (1) pan of NYX Tango With Bronzing Powder in When Leopard Gets a Tan, one (1) NYX Eye Shadow Palette 10 Color in Velvet Rope, one (1) bottle of NYX High Definition Primer, one (1) NYX Small Flat Top Brush and one (1) NYX Fat Shadow/Smokie Brush (a $102 value).

There are two ways to enter, 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, a comment about anything at all. Tell me what you’ve been up to this weekend, the name of the song you play when you want to feel like a bad@ss, or the one piece of drugstore makeup you just can’t live without.
Second, you can enter by following me on Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
- Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win More Than $100 in NYX Cosmetics http://bit.ly/gDbjyr

The deadline to enter is Monday, January 17, 2011 at 11:59PM (PT).
Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
Contest is open to individuals of the U.S. (sorry, international babes), 18 years of age or older, with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21.
Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Emilie. Congratulations, Emilie! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

Urban Decay Spring 2011: Uzi or Gunmetal? You Be the Judge

January 14th, 2011 by Karen 35 Comments

If you’ve been waiting patiently for Urban Decay’s recently released spring 2011 collection to appear online here (urbandecay.com) and here (sephora.com), your wait is over.

If you haven’t yet perused UD’s latest wares, well, what are ya waitin’ for, boo? The collection’s a doozy, and it introduces a handful of new products to the line — products like the Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tints ($24 each; LOVE THESE!), Greed Eyeshadow Primer ($18), the 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencils ($20) and the 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil 15-Year Anniversary Set ($92).

That reminds me — Jess had a question about Uzi, one of the shimmery liners in the Anniversary Set.

“I was lusting over the swatches you showed of the Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary Set and was wondering if there was any significant difference between, say, Uzi and Gunmetal?

I already have several of the colors in the set and am trying to figure out if the new colors are really different or not.”
— Jess M

Funny you should ask, Jess, because I happen to have both shimmery grays close at hand. I’ve been going through a may-jah gray liner phase lately.

Uzi looks a little like Gunmetal to me, but I wouldn’t say it’s a perfect match. I think it’s darker and more taupe, whereas Gunmetal’s more of a classic silver.

Uzi (left) and Gunmetal (right) with the flash
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5 Fantastic Makeup and Beauty Products to Help with Oily Skin

January 13th, 2011 by Karen 34 Comments

Is your skin slicker than a used car salesman? Do your pores ooze oil all day and night? If you suffer from oily skin, you’re not the only one. I did for years (and still do at times).

Rule No. 1: Don’t despair. There’s hope. 🙂

“Hi, Karen. You’ve said before that you have oily skin, as do I, so I was wondering what you do (what products you use/have used) to combat it?

I have literally tried EVERYTHING, but my skin is still an oil slick!

HELP!”
— Ashley

Hi Ashley,

I feel your pain! I was constantly struggling with oily skin throughout my 20s. I know it’s all natural, but I’m still a little grossed out by it, that greasy feeling and the relentless shine. I remember back in college when I’d fall asleep in my books. I’d wake up, peel my face away and see oily patches on the page. Awesome!

1. Basis Cleaner Clean Face Wash, $5 for a 6.7-oz tube

This citrus-scented cleanser for normal-to-oily skin removes everything — oil, makeup, dirt, you name it. Yet it doesn’t feel harsh or leave my skin feeling tight or dry, thanks to botanicals like aloe vera, rosemary and spearmint. I loved it so much that I stockpile it when it’s sale. Plus, it’s only five bucks and carried in most drugstores.

2. DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew, $38 for a 1.7-oz tube

Okay, it’s totally expensive, but DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew is both oil- and fragrance-free, feels light as air, sinks into my skin quickly and packs just enough moisture for my skin. Even oily skin likes moisture, and a good moisturizer slows the evaporation of water from the skin (see: Moisturizer For Oily Skin). It also never, ever gives me breakouts.

3. Olay Facial Lotion Oil Free SPF 15, $12 for a 6-oz bottle

When I was in college I went through an awful bout of acne, and a dermatologist recommended Olay Facial Lotion Oil Free. I used it for years and still love it to this day. It feels light on my skin, can be worn beneath makeup and, like DDF Ultra-Light, doesn’t give me breakouts. I don’t use it anymore because I don’t think it’s moisturizing enough for my dry parts.

4. MAC Blot, $22 for a 0.42-oz compact

If MAC ever discontinued this oil-absorbing pressed powder I’d cry a thousand tears. It comes in five shades (Light, Medium, Medium Dark, Deep and Deep Dark) and works overtime to absorb oil, reduce shine and set makeup.
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