Product Reviews

The Bobbi Brown Telluride Collection: If You Like Your Makeup Elegant and Easy to Wear, Check Out Telluride

June 23rd, 2015 by Karen 33 Comments

Do you know the way to [SAN JOSE] Telluride?

Getting there is actually quite easy from what I understand. No matter where you are, you can literally get there in minutes.

No, really! Would I ever pull your leg?

Nawww, of course I wouldn’t, because there’s never any joking here. Not on MBB. Not ever. Everything on MBB is completely serious all of time. 🙂

No, really though. You will not have to endure a five-hour plane ride seated next to an extra chatty dude who won’t stop talking about Colorado mining rights. All you’ll have to do is roll on over to your favorite Bobbi Brown counter when the new Telluride collection arrives this July.

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Bumble and Bumble Surf Infusion Oil and Salt-Infused Spray Waves Hello to Volume and Goodbye to Crispy Hair

June 22nd, 2015 by Karen 28 Comments

I love beachy wave sprays, but I do NOT love that crispy thing that many of them do to mah hurr.

Beachy waves = yes. Crunchy hair = nooo.

Apparently, I am not alone in this tale of beachy woe because Bumble and Bumble whipped up a solution. Their new Surf Infusion oil and sale-infused spray coaxes coifs into shiny, beachy waves without “dat crunchy feeling.” This is compared to most of the beachy wave sprays I’ve tried, which leave behind a matte finish and hair that feels a tad gritty.

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Skin Care Spotlight: Sunday Riley Charisma Creme and Ceramic Slip Cleansers

June 19th, 2015 by Karen 8 Comments

Sunday Riley’s Good Genes Serum was one of the things that rescued my chin from a bad bout of hormonal acne a couple years ago, so even though her plant-based skin care stuff is kind of expensive, I keep an open mind about her products because of the good things Good Genes did for my chin.

At SpaceNK a while back with my friend Mary (who has amazing skin), I was just getting into my usual “Good Genes saved my life!” spiel when Mary said that she had a great experience with the Sunday Riley face cleansers.

That’s all it took! I started using their Ceramic Slip and Charisma Creme Cleaners later that day, and now I know why Mary raved.

Ceramic Slip

Ceramic Slip, a gel-based cleanser with French clay, is for normal and combo skin. The clay is supposed to tighten pores and remove impurities, while vitamin C ester is supposed to make your pores, wrinkles and discoloration less noticeable.

I have sometimes oily, sometimes dry combination skin, and on the days when my skin is oilier, my face loves this stuff. When I wash with it in the morning, more skin feels tighter, and my pores don’t appear to be as “in yo’ face.” My skin also doesn’t feel dry or uncomfortable after using it.

A 4.25-oz. bottle costs $45, which, I know, is expensive for a cleanser, but you can stretch it out. I shake the bottle, then dole out half a pump for my entire face, massage that in (it doesn’t foam up), and then rinse with water.

Ingredients
-Refined French Green Clay: Tightens pores, removes impurities, and infuses skin with vital minerals.
-Vitamin C: Helps reduce the appearance of large pores, wrinkles, and discoloration while stimulating collagen growth.
-Black Pepper: Stimulates circulation for naturally warming cellular revitalization.
-Sandalwood: An anti-microbial agent that helps with skin irritation, inflammation, allergic conditions, and eczema; promotes radiance.

Jasmine, Frankincense.

FYI, the scent is something you’re probably either going to love or hate… I call it grassy and earthy, and I like it, but you might want to get a sample first to see how you feel about it.

$45 for a 4.25-oz. bottle. Available now at SpaceNK, Sephora and online.
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Fans of Frost and Bright Color Will Break Hearts Wearing the LORAC Alter Ego Eye Shadow Palette in Heartbreaker

June 19th, 2015 by Karen 20 Comments

lorac alter ego heartbreaker — LORAC Alter Ego Eye Shadow Palette: Heartbreaker ($24)

I wonder if Sasha Fierce (Beyonce’s not-so-secret alter ego/identity) would like LORAC’s new Alter Ego Eye Shadow Palette in Heartbreaker ($24).

I’m guessing she would…and it wouldn’t surprise me to also find out that she insists that every item in her makeup bag have the exact same hot pink packaging.

Heck, that’s what I’d do if I were Sasha! 🙂

This limited edition summer season palette of 10 powder shadows is available now exclusively from Ulta.

Within the hot pink packaging (LOVE IT) you’ll find a surprising number of colorful eyeshadows…

A satiny tan
A satiny peach
A shimmery reddish plum
A shimmery bronze
A satiny warm beige
A shimmery bright blue
A frosty gray
A frosty light blue
A shimmery deep purplish brown
A frosty light blue

I’d probably wear one or two of the colorful shades together, and then ground them by working in a combination of the tan, peach, beige and/or bronze.

I think you could totally incorporate more than two of these colorful shades in the same look, of course, but for me, between the shimmer and the frost, and with the intensity of the pigments, it could easily turn into a whole lotta look, you know? If you like wearing a lot of color on your eyes and you’re completely comfortable with high-shine frosts and shimmers, you could do it up with this palette and go shimmer/color crazy!

Considering the amount of shine here, the shadows are easy to work with, and they range from moderately to highly pigmented. I haven’t noticed any problems with fallout, either.

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MAC Matte Lipstick in Dangerous, and a Few Thoughts on Red Lipstick

June 16th, 2015 by Karen 27 Comments

mac dangerous lipstick — That’s MAC Matte Lipstick in Dangerous ($16), available now online and at MAC stores and counters in the MAC permanent collection

From whence, I wonder, does red lipstick derive its magical power? That’s what I’d like to know. It’s the rainbow pegasus of lipsticks, and whenever I wear it, I feel like a magically imbued, larger-than-life version of myself.

Like, if I were flying off into the sunset on the back of a giant dragon, a la Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, I would not be wearing pink lipstick, or coral lipstick or — gasp! — a nude gloss.

HELL NO. I would definitely be wearing something red. 🙂

As a kid growing up in the East Bay suburbs (which wasn’t exactly a high-fashion hot spot), I didn’t have much direct contact with red lipstick. My mom was/is more of a Chapstick gal, so the closest I ever got to red lipstick was when I saw it on the models in the pages of the fashion magazines at the dentist’s office.

I didn’t know anything about makeup at the time, but I did know that I wanted what those ladies had on their lips.

And I wanted it badly.

And now, even after all these years, I still love red lipstick, and I have a drawer filled with them — blue-based reds, creamy reds, neutral reds, glossy reds — enough to satisfy my every red lipstick craving.

One of those cravings that never stays away long are matte reds. Like a 1940s screen siren, they’re timeless and beautiful, and I love how they can look elegant and bad-@ss at the same time.

My current crush/matte red in rotation is MAC’s new warm orangey red Matte Lipstick in Dangerous. It makes me feel like I’m in charge and runnin’ sh*t, you know? Like when people hear my heels click-clacking down the hallway, they get a little scared.

Dangerous is one of the new $16 Matte Lipstick shades recently added to the MAC permanent line, and you can find it now (and hopefully eternally) online and at MAC stores and counters.

PRICE: $16
AVAILABILITY: Permanent, available now at MAC counters, stores and online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

Speaking of Game of Thrones…

**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
(I’m serious! — don’t read ANY further unless you’re OK talking about the last episode.)

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7 Things You Should Know About the $54 Nicky Hilton + Smashbox Cosmetics NY Classic Cat Eye Kit

June 15th, 2015 by Karen 13 Comments

nicky hilton smashbox cosmetics-2 — Wearing the new Nicky Hilton + Smashbox NY Classic Cat Eye Kit ($54), available now exclusively online at smashbox.com

7 Things You Should Know About the $54 Nicky Hilton + Smashbox Cosmetics NY Classic Cat Eye Kit

You don’t have to be a cat lady to appreciate it (although you may appreciate it more if you like the look of classic black cat eyeliner)
Wearing all of your cat lady accoutrements (your shirts, jewelry, cat ears, etc.) with the kit’s eyeshadow, liner and mascara qualifies as a strong “do”
When you open the bag that comes with the kit, you may catch a whiff of something that smells like fish-flavored cat treats (I do with mine, which is weird!).
I, myself, am unsure if this is a good thing, but Tabs seems perfectly OK with it.
Cat eyes aren’t the only thing you can do with the kit’s eyeshadow trio, gel pen liner and mascara (although they are the obvious choice, right?). You could also use ’em for smokey eyes.
Be prepared. Due to this kit, your cat may experience severe jealousy when he sees you rocking thick, fatty-bo-batty cat eye liner, meow!
While wearing these pieces, you may find yourself spontaneously purring.
While carrying this kit, you may also start carrying cat treats in your purse. (Oh, wait. I already do that.)

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The New Long-Lasting Sally Hansen Poolside Paradise Miracle Gel Nail Polish Collection: This Mirror-Like Shine Makes Lounging by the Pool More Fun

June 15th, 2015 by Karen 7 Comments

My version of a poolside paradise typically includes some combination of the following…

Trashy mags, and US Weekly is a fave.
Strangely, I only read it when I’m at the pool…
Iced tea.
One of those oversized fluffy beach towels that are so big that I can wrap them around my torso twice.
Because I’m not about that tiny towel life. Even when it’s 95 degrees outside, I’m always freezing when I get out of the water.
Sunscreen, obvs.
A bathing suit that stays put even after multiple cannonballs (learned this lesson the hard way).
Cheapie sunglasses, because who wants to stress out over losing or breaking their favorite pair of expensive sunglasses at the pool?
A shiny mani/pedi combo, ideally in bright shades like the ones from the new Sally Hansen Poolside Paradise Collection above, because despite the lack of verifiable scientific evidence to support this, I think they make your cannonballs more cannon-bally.
Seriously, they totally do.

I wore two of these Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polishes last week on my trip to New Orleans (creamy yellow Morning Sunshine on my toes and creamy leafy green Lip Palm on my paws), and they were all it took. Now I consider myself a card-carrying member the Miracle Gel cult.

Wait — do the Miracle Gels actually have a cult??

If they don’t, they totally should. These nail polishes are…

Long-lasting
Playful and bright
Easy to apply
And affordable

All of which add up to “drugstore gem!”

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Paul & Joe Summer 2015 Midnight Sangria Collection: A Lack of Cat Action Doesn’t Hurt These Products

June 4th, 2015 by Karen 17 Comments

Paul & Joe, those purr-veyors of pretty products for makeup-loving cat ladies, have a new summer collection out, and in a shocking development, it features absolutely no cats (other than the one I hired to model for the top picture’s background).

As in NADA GATOS.

Wait — what?

That’s right! The theme for the limited edition summer 2015 collection is Midnight Sangria.

Obviously, this is throwing off my internal crazy cat lady barometer…so I have supplemented these photos with additional cats. 🙂

The collection includes five nail polishes, three eyeshadow duos, three lipglosses, five mascaras and again, zero cats.