Just For Fun Reviews, Swatches and Pictures on Makeup and Beauty Blog

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

Just For Fun

Two Ways to Win ALL FIVE Harajuku Lovers Snow Bunnies Fragrances (a $150 Value)

by 209 Comments

The giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted. Please check the home page for current giveaways.

harajuku-snowbunnies-top-3

For the holidays, our girl Gwen Stefani decided to give her Harajuku Lovers fragrances a makeover, dressing G, Love, Lil’ Angel, Music and Baby in limited-edition Snow Bunny outfits.

With button-up winter coats, scarves and mittens (awww!), the girls look ready to strut their winter stuff!

The outfits are different, but the scents remain the same:

  • G: A blend of coconut, apple, mandarin, freesia and sandalwood notes
  • Love: A sensual floral with bergamot (a citrus fruit), peach, jasmine and musk
  • Lil’ Angel: A fruity floral with raspberry, pineapple rose and amber
  • Music: A delicate floral with clementine, pear, sweet pea and vanilla
  • Baby: A powdery scent with freesia, rose, musk and violet

Can you picture ALL FIVE Harajuku Lovers Snow Bunnies posing on your dresser? So cute!

Methinks it’s time for a giveaway! 🙂

The prize

One lucky lady will win all five Harajuku Lovers Snow Bunnies fragrances: G (pictured at top), Love, Lil’ Angel, Music and Baby (a $150 value).

harajuku-snow-bunnies-giveaway love-lil-angel-1

harajuku-snow-bunnies-giveaway music-baby

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, tell me about your favorite winter coat.

It’s gotta be my puffy black jacket with the faux fur hood. It makes me look like the Michelin Man, but I don’t care. That sucker keeps me warm!

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

RT @karenmbb: RT to win ALL 5 Harajuku Lovers Snow Bunnies Fragrances (a $150 Value) http://bit.ly/4CVnIQ

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:

    RT @karenmbb: RT to win ALL 5 Harajuku Lovers Snow Bunnies Fragrances (a $150 Value) http://bit.ly/4CVnIQ

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Saturday, November 7.

Bahati njema!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted. Please check the home page for current giveaways.

Bloggerati Spotlight

by 1 Comment

The Beauty Bloggerati

Good morning, chicas. How was your night? Mine was blissfully mellow and ended without fireworks (went to bed early).

I did manage to squeeze in some web surfing before watching the new episode of The City (OMG, could Freddie Fackelmayer be any more suspect?).

From my girls in Daily Makeover’s Beauty Bloggerati…

Have a good one today. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Jared Leto: His Best Hair?

by 21 Comments

jared-leto-hair-poll

Jared Leto became the object of many teenage fantasies in the mid-’90s when he was cast as heartthrob Jordan Catalano on the TV show My So-Called Life.

Born the day after Christmas in December of 1971, the vegetarian artist/actor/musician is a man of many talents.

Before hitting it big, he studied painting at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts. He originally moved to Los Angeles in 1992 to pursue music, only taking small acting parts to pay the bills.

After his stint as resident hottie on My So-Called Life ended in 1995, Jared went on to star in several films including American Psycho, Fight Club and Panic Room.

These days Jared stays busy singing lead and playing guitar in the rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. The band’s third album, This is War, arrives next month.

Before picking him for today’s poll, I had no idea how adventurous homeboy was with his hair! I’m liking most of the styles, except for the braids. Those bring back too many bad memories of K. Fed in his heyday. 🙂

Oh, and while I’m not normally a fan of guyliner, how HARD does Jared rock that black liner on his waterline?

I wonder how he feels about MAC Fluidline…

Which of Jared's hairstyles do you like best?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What Do You Use to Apply MAC Mineralize Skinfinish?

by 42 Comments

mac-mineralize-skinfinish

I was digging through some unpacked boxes this morning when I came across a buried treasure — my beloved stash of MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powders. 🙂

They’d been MIA since the move last month, lost at the bottom of a dark cardboard prison.

But they’re finally free! Free to shine!

With their frosty metallic finish, these colorful pressed powders work great as highlighters for face and body.

While I was lining ’em all up on my dresser like little makeup soldiers (yes, I’m a weirdo), I remembered an e-mail from MBB reader Bernice.

Hi Karen,

I’ve been a silent reader of MBB for a few months now and recently hopped onto the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish bandwagon. Ohmygosh, they are soooo pretty! 😀

There’s just one thing — I have no idea what brush I should use to apply them.

I tried searching the ‘net, but it seems that views are generally rather divided, and I can’t quite decide which brush I should use.

Could I get some advice, please? Thank you!

Bernice

Hi, Bernice. WOO HOO! Welcome to The Cult of MAC MSF-Loving Babes! 🙂

I just love the soft candle-lit glow they give to my skin — when I get the application right, that is. With the wrong brush, they’re easy to over-apply.

So, how to get the right shimmery glow without looking greasier than a bucket of KFC?

I’ve tried using them with a bunch of different brushes (blush, powder, even a kabuki), and these are the ones I like best: the MAC 187 ($42) and 188 ($35) Duo Fibre Brushes.

Both deposit whisper sheer layers of powder, providing for a lot of control to build up color and shimmer slowly.

  • 187 Duo Fibre Brush: Often referred to as “the skunk brush,” this synthetic brush head feels wonderfully soft to the touch.
  • 188 Small Duo Fibre Brush: A smaller version of the 187, the 188 has a smaller brush head with a flatter top.

Neither one is cheap, but they are versatile. I also use my 187 to apply liquid foundations, cream blushes and even loose powders, so I think you get a lot of brush for your money.

Also, if you happen to have a fan brush at home, give it a try because they tend to lay down super sheer layers of color — perfect for MAC Mineralize Skinfinish.

Sometimes I use Shu Uemura’s 5.7EX ($35), another fabulous multitasker (it excels at applying bright/intensely pigmented blushes).

I hope these suggestions help. 🙂

Keep me posted on your progress!

MACaholics, it’s time to pick your brain. What do you use to apply Mineralize Skinfinish Powders?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Have You Ever Hidden Your Beauty Purchases From Your Partner?

by 93 Comments

110209-do-you-hide-your-beauty-purchases

Sometimes, when I go shopping for makeup, I bring along my “BIG PURSE.” That way I can sneak my purchases back into the house without hearing El Hub ask, “Do you really need more lipgloss?!?”

On the phone with a friend the other day, I found out that she does the same exact thing (except that her BIG PURSE is way bigger than mine, LOL!).

Are we the only ones?

Have you ever hidden your beauty purchases from your partner (or your parents, if you live with ’em)?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Nov. 2

by 98 Comments

110209-monday-poll

  1. Mood:

    2. The time change is playing tricks on my internal clock, so I’m a little sleepy, but otherwise peachy. 🙂

  2. Do you consider yourself a good cook?

    3. When I have enough time and the help of a good recipe to follow, I think I’m decent, but I’ve never made a dish that made anyone’s eyes roll back in their head.

  3. Are you a spender or a saver?

    4. A little bit of both! Makeup and shoes are my weaknesses…

  4. What do you think about black lipstick?

    5. With the right outfit, accessories and attitude to go with ’em, an opaque black lip could look super hot.

  5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:

    6. I haven’t finished getting ready yet, so for now just some basics: MAC Eyeshadow in Concrete in my brows, Dior Sculpt Concealer on my lovely dark circles and Dior HydrAction Tinted Moisturizer all over my face.

  6. Last movie you loved?

    7. Management, starring Steve Zahn and Jennifer Aniston. As weird as he is in it, Steve Zahn cracked me up. It’s a quirky romantic comedy with some great unexpected twists.

  7. Spiders?

    8. I can deal, as long as they aren’t too big or too furry.

  8. What’s the weather like out your way?

    9. Cloudy with a chance of meatballs! Okay, not really. It’s clear and bright this morning. Temps up around 65 right now.

  9. Outfit:

    10. Dark skinny jeans (a big fat YAY for stretchy denim), white t-shirt and a tan blazer.

  10. Weekly goals:

    11. Get to bed before midnight every night, squeeze some push-ups and sit-ups into my workout routine, stay loose while writing, and give Tabs a good brushing.

Yikes, when did November happen? I can’t believe it’s almost 2010!

Before you start tackling your responsibilities today, take a second to check in. To fill out the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le list

1. Mood:
2. Are you a good cook?
3. Are you a spender or a saver?
4. Black lipstick?
5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:
6. Last movie you loved?
7. Spiders?
8. What’s the weather like out your way?
9. Outfit:
10. Weekly goals:

I hope your Monday’s being good to you. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 60

by 12 Comments

I need your help, ladies! This afternoon I sent Tabs to the grocery store to pick up some macaroni and cheese (I had a craving), but he hasn’t come home. I think he might be lost. Can you help him find his way home?

Please use the map below to help T-Money find his way home. 🙂

Can you help Tabs find his way home?
Click here to see the solution…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Are you ready for the new week, chicas? I think I already have the Monday blues. I’ve been trying to chase ’em away with leftover Halloween candy, but it’s not working… Maybe I just need one more Snickers. 🙂

Right now I’m eating canned chili over rice and downloading Adventureland in iTunes. What are you up to tonight?

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

by 30 Comments

110109-best-and-worst-beuaty

MY BEST:

With the move, I fell off the cardio wagon about a month ago, but I finally started exercising again this week. I think I already notice a difference. I’m sleeping better, my skin looks a little clearer, and I have more energy throughout the day. Yay for endorphins!

MY WORST:

Trying to make Lippmann Collection’s Funky Chunky nail lacquer look pretty. Seriously, what do you do with something that looks like glittery tar on your nails? Not a lot of options…

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

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. How was your Halloween? Did you OD on candy (damn snickers)? We got just a handful of trick or treaters and were about ready to put on jammies when the neighbors invited us to an impromptu block party next door. They were all nice people (had a fire pit going, beer, ice cream, good convo). It was a lot of fun. 🙂

Copyright © 2025 Makeup and Beauty Blog. Get in touch.