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

Beauty Snacks: Sites of the Day, July 27

by 24 Comments

Reiss Online
I wish I could get my entire wardrobe at Reiss. A British chain store with nine stores in the United States, Reiss’ clothing evokes Jackie-O elegance — simple, modern, yet classic pieces with personality. Shopping there will put a serious dent in your wallet (many of their skirts, coats and dresses cost upwards of $200), but damn, baby, you’ll sure look good!

Spectra Visual Newsreader | msnbc.com
For all you visual learners out there (like moi), the Spectra Visual Newsreader might tickle your fancy. It’s a colorful, new way to read the news. News topics and headlines are represented by a range of rotating blocks of color. How cool is that?

COLOURlovers
If you need quick inspiration for a makeup look or design project (or even painting the walls at home), just head over to COLOURlovers. I could spend hours surfing the bajillion color patterns and palettes on the site and thinking of all the lid, crease and brow bone possibilities.

Now Smell This
I’ve learned a lot about perfume and fragrances reading the Now Smell This blog. With posts written by several contributors, the site covers breaking perfume news along with in-depth scent reviews.

[Continue reading…]

YOU MUST CHOOSE: Friday Randomness

by 30 Comments

  • Would you rather have a forked tongue or very long, skinny, pointed teeth? YOU MUST CHOOSE!

  • Would you rather have to live six months without toilet paper or six months without a toothbrush (yes, this includes Sonicare)? YOU MUST CHOOSE!

  • Would you rather spend an entire night dancing to Prince songs or dancing to Michael Jackson songs?YOU MUST CHOOSE!

  • Would you rather be forced to endure every single episode of American Gladiators (those girl gladiators are no joke) or every episode of Shot at Love with Tila Tequila? YOU MUST CHOOSE!

  • You’re on a date with a really cute guy (a boy you like A LOT). Unfortunately, you’re out of antacids and you have terrible gas. Would you rather pass silent but deadly gas every 15 minutes (you could always blame it on the waiter) or let out dainty burps that smell like sausage and onions? YOU MUST CHOOSE!

  • You’re trapped in an 80s music video. Which one is it? YOU MUST CHOOSE!

  • You get an urgent phone call. It’s Beyonce. She wants to know if she can wear your favorite pair of high heels to the Grammy Awards, but she still hasn’t returned the Juicy Couture terry cloth track suit you let her borrow in 2002. Do you loan her the shoes? YOU MUST CHOOSE!

  • Keanu Reeves circa Speed or Tom Cruise circa Top Gun? YOU MUST CHOOSE!

  • Wow, lucky you! You’re getting a live performer for your wedding reception; unfortunately, it must either be Bobby Brown or Jodeci. YOU MUST CHOOSE!

LOLOLZ… I think I’d have to go with Jodeci (I’ve left the rest of my answers in the comments).

You can play too. Just copy this list and add your answers. 🙂

YMC 1: Forked tongue or pointed teeth?

YMC 2: Toilet paper or toothbrush?

YMC 3: Prince songs or Michael Jackson?

YMC 4: American Gladiators or Shot at Love?

YMC 5: Silent but deadly or dainty burps?

YMC 6: 80s music video?

YMC 7: Yes or no to Beyonce?

YMC 8: Keanu or Tom?

YMC 9: Bobby Brown or Jodeci?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

7 Lip Looks

by 19 Comments


OH. SO. EASY. Now get your mind out of the gutter, dirty birdy. I’m talking about lip looks! A new lipgloss or lipstick shade is the easiest way to switch up your makeup look. Red, pink, coral, gold — the possibilities are endless for the canvas that is yo’ sexy pucker. 🙂 Try a few of these looks on for size, won’t cha?

  • Lip Look: Chanel Equinoxe Glossimer Lipgloss
    “Two coats of Equinoxe Glossimer layered on top of MACs Syrup lipstick give me what I like to call ‘fight the power’ glow. A product with purple and gold flecks may not sound appropriate for the workplace, but Equinoxe is subtle enough for most office environments.”

  • Lip Look: Avon Glazewear in Juicy Apricot, On Sale Now
    “Not quite a lipstick, not quite a gloss, this shimmery peachy-coral shade delivers shiny, sheer color that feels light on my lips. Avon calls it feather-light and says the non-sticky texture has to do with their Color-gel formula.”

  • Lip Look: Chanel Rouge Hydrabase Leopard Lipstick
    “This leopard deserves her big jungle cat name. She’s an awesome, semi-matte golden coral, and she makes me look and feel ready to pounce! Even though I’m looking pretty tow up right now in my stretchy pants (had to have ice cream after dinner) and oversized UC DAVIS ALUMNI t-shirt, with Leopard on my lips I still feel hot enough to stalk unsuspecting man prey.”

  • Lip Look: Clinique Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Bamboo Pink
    “Clinique Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Bamboo Pink is a cool-toned pink with silver shimmer, and it’s a perfect, wearable shade for days when you just want a lil’ somethin-somethin on your lips but aren’t in the mood to spend too much time on your look.”

  • Lip Look: Crushing on Three Custom Colors Papaya Crush!
    “If you’re color shy but have been wanting to try a cute coral lipgloss, Papaya Crush should be a good way to get your feet (lips?) wet.”

  • Lip Look: Shu Uemura Gloss Unlimited in RD 165N
    “Gloss Unlimited RD 165N has a light orange scent and feels thinner than Clinique’s Cherry Bomb. Despite its consistency, Gloss Unlimited didn’t dry out my lips when I used it on Friday. I had to apply it a few times throughout the day, but because of how moisturizing it is, I didn’t mind.”

  • Lip Look: Flirt! Glamourazzi Extreme Lip Lacquer in 07 Spotlight
    “Spotlight is one of three lip colors ($12 each) in Flirt’s Glamourazzi Extreme Lip Lacquer line. A peachy bronze with a touch o’ sparkle, Spotlight has staying power and lots of shine. I applied it before leaving for work this morning and didn’t have to reapply for four hours!”

Pretty Lippies

The gods o’ speed were on my side this afternoon. I just got back from a run and felt like I was flying! Other than my run, today was ok. I was busy at work doing a lot of number stuff, which my brain finds quite exhausting.

What was the best part of your day?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, July 21

by 73 Comments

  1. Mood: Optimistic 🙂

  2. Eyes: A really simple, neutral look today with Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Love Connection Mineralize Eye Shadow, Lancome Le Stylo Noir eyeliner and MAC Mascara X.

  3. Fragrance: Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker

  4. Breakfast: Oatmeal with milk, sugar and fresh blueberries

  5. Lips: Chanel Candy Glow Aqualumiere Lipgloss

  6. Eye Shadow Lemming: Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Pink Idol 770

  7. Outfit: Dark skinny jeans from J. Crew, white tank top, striped tan and white sweater and black strappy high heel sandals

  8. Two cents of advice (makeup related): Swipe your mascara brush against a tissue to remove excess product before applying it onto your lashes.

  9. Two cents of advice (non-makeup related):The glass is half full, girlfriend.

  10. Goals for the week: To make an appointment to try a Bar Method workout, eat a bunch of salads, read a good book and go to bed early

Your turn! Just copy the list, insert your answers and leave ’em for me in the comments. 🙂

Le list

Mood:
Eyes:
Fragrance:
Breakfast:
Lips:
Eye Shadow Lemming:
Outfit:
Two cents of advice (makeup related):
Two cents of advice (non-makeup related):
Goals for the week:

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Beauty Snacks: Sites of the Day, July 21

by 10 Comments

Daily Beauty Reporter: allure.com
Former Allure Staff Writer Jessica Matlin knows how to represent. They should call her Scoop Matlin. I love Allure, and the Daily Beauty Reporter rocks. Gotta love the hawt site layout, too. I swear it looks and feels more like a beauty print mag than anything else in beauty blogging today.

Pandora Radio
Where have you been all my life, lover? I only have eyes for your free Internet radio (and my boy toy C. Bale.) Pandora is a music lover’s dream come true; search for an artist or song, and Pandora will create an entire radio station of songs in the same style.

Naturally Curly
YaaAAAargh! Take a deep breath, curly haired beauties. NaturallyCurly.com has come to your rescue. With tips and testimonials for girls with naturally curly hair, the site has tons of useful info on curl products, salons and curly celebrities.

Perfume Posse
One’s taste in fragrance is a personal thing, but you know when you’ve read a good review. It makes you close your eyes, tilt your head back and breathe it all in. Good reviews smell like the real thing. Those are the kinds of reviews the gang at Perfume Posse writes on a regular basis.

[Continue reading…]

The $29 Drugstore Beauty Roundup

by 44 Comments

I love drugstores, and not just for the ice cream. Entering Walgreens is like entering another realm. I love everything about drugstores — the soothing soma-esque music, how they lock up the perfume in glass cases, the weird seasonal lawn gnomes, the Christmas ornaments, the kiddie pools — I love it all.

And weird people always hang out at drugstores in the middle of the night. I know this because I am one of them, and I’m never the only person there. 🙂

No self-respecting drugstore is complete without a beauty section, and here are some of my favorite drugstore beauty finds, all together costing a whopping $29.

  • Bag Balm is Udderly Fantastic, $6
    “[From the label]… thoroughly wash treated teats and udder with separate towels before each milking. To avoid contamination after each milking, bath the udder with plenty of hot water, strip milk out and dry skin. Apply BAG BALM freely and massage gently with this proven ointment twice daily. This product contains no alcohol.”

  • Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother SPF 20 Lipgloss, $6
    “At $14 bucks a pop, I’m not about to risk losing Glosswear, so on beach trips I’m bringing along my tube of Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother SPF 20 in Sheen ($6). This lil’ tube of gloss works like a charm, costs half as much as Glosswear does and still provides great SPF protection.”

  • Rimmel London Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil in Jungle Green, $3
    “This beautiful emerald eyeliner is soft, glides easily, has all-day lasting power and gives a shimmery pop of color. And it’s only $2.99 at Walgreens, hello! If you’re feelin’ the itch to try a jewel-toned green liner, this is the perfect way to test the waters without having to spend a lot of money.”

  • Freeman Papaya and Lime Overboard Shine Conditioner, $4
    “I got softer hair this week for $3.99. I think that’s quite an accomplishment. I’ve been conditioner washing with Freeman Papaya and Lime Overboard Shine Conditioner, and now my hair is so smooth and bouncy-looking that I feel like I belong in a hair commercial, running like a fool with my arms up through a field of flowers while dappled sunlight caresses my new $3.99 hair. Fo’ reals.”

  • Maybelline Pure Makeup Foundation, $6
    “I lurves my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, but truth be told my cheap ass hates having to pay $42.00 for it. There’s got to be a decent drugstore foundation out there that doesn’t cause break-outs. Could the answer be Maybelline’s Pure Makeup foundation?”

  • Crest Vivid White Toothpaste, $4
    “Just when I thought that I met the coolest dentist ever, she frightened the bejeebus out of me by giving me a totally scary lecture on the importance of gum health. There were many, many, many frightening pictures of gingivitis and swollen gums. It ain’t pretty, folks. I’ve been touting the virtues of mint floss ever since.”

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

7 Scents That Moved Me

by 54 Comments

Coco Chanel MademoiselleEstee Lauder Private Collection Tuberose GardeniaElizabeth Arden Mediterranean Breeze PerfumeLancome Miracle ForeverBritney Spears Midnight Fantasy

I have openly confessed to having questionable taste when it comes to fragrances (hello, Britney), but I can’t help it — I like what I like. These are just a few of my favorite scents.

  • Chanel Coco Mademoiselle
    “Even though Coco Mademoiselle is in the oriental fragrance family, it doesn’t smell stuffy or old-lady at all. It’s youthful and sophisticated. You won’t smell like an old lady who lunches and totes small terrier dogs in Burberry outfits. You will smell like a confident young woman strutting down the street in a classic black suit.”

  • Estee Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia
    “To closely match the scents of flowers in nature, Lauder used a fragrance technology they refer to as ‘Nature Intact,’ and with it the perfumers really hit this one on the nose (pardon the pun). Wearing the scent makes me feel like I’m wearing a tuberose lei.”

  • Elizabeth Arden Mediterranean Breeze
    “Something about the fragrance reminds me of fresh, clean water (similar to Aqua di Gio Women and Cool Water Woman), like I’m sipping lemonade on the verandah of a fabulous Spanish villa overlooking the sea.”

  • Lancome Miracle Forever
    “I sometimes find food-based perfumes overly sweet, especially when fruit scents are involved, but Miracle Forever mingles the fruit and cream well; one scent never dominates the others. You get just a touch of black currant, not a whole basket up in your grill. The result is warm and chic.”

  • Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy
    “It’s a fun, flirty, youthful smell. I’d wear it on date night or the weekends but not to work because it can be a lil’ bit too Wet Seal/Forever 21/Limited Too if administered in too heavy a dose.”

  • CAN CAN by Paris Hilton
    “… she [Paris] went home to do a little good ole’ fashioned market research. ‘I’ll have them smell,’ said Paris of her friends and family, ‘and see what they like best.’ With their input, she chose the fragrance she thought would appeal to the widest audience. The result was CAN CAN, a fruity floral with notes of clementine flower, cassis, nectarine, musk and amber.”

  • Covet by Sarah Jessica Parker
    “… when I got this wee bottle of Sarah Jessica Parker’s Covet I was more than prepared to haterade all over it, but a mix of curiosity and masochism drove me to place a few drops on my wrist. I waited and waited and waited for the eau de self-centered celebrity to kick in … but then was pleasantly surprised to find that I liked how it smelled. In fact, it actually smells pretty good — like lemons, your boyfriend’s sweater and baby powder brewed together in a cauldron for a really long time.”

Since we’re on the subject of fragrances, do you have a fragrance crush? If so, what do you like about it?

Happy hump day, friends! Let’s make it a good one. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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