Product Reviews

Benefit Boo Boo Zap: You Can Be My Hero, Baby!

April 29th, 2010 by Karen 44 Comments

Well, I finally get why there’s a comic book superheroine on boxes of Benefit Boo Boo Zap ($20). I just started using the stuff a few days ago, and already the best word I can use to describe it is This cult classic executes vicious beat downs on blemishes.

If you’re new to Boo Boo Zap, it’s a liquid zit zapper with pimple-fighting ingredients like witch hazel, camphor and salicylic acid (it doesn’t indicate what percentage). Designed for spot treatments with a bottle built for travel, you apply it directly to skin or on top of makeup.
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Elizabeth Arden Suggests You Get Your Bronze On

April 29th, 2010 by Karen 23 Comments

There are many things I may never understand, like chocolate-covered bacon kabobs, Spencer Pratt, guys who can’t put down the toilet seat, or why Tabs will only eat canned foods packed in gravy.

Also on the list: insomnia. Your girl hasn’t gotten zilch for sleep in days. 🙁 I can’t figure out why, but I’ve been so tired today that merely lifting my MAC 266 brush up to my brows this morning took Herculean effort, and wieug ahjiosdyox u39q8o… Oh, sorry, I just fell asleep at the keyboard.

It’s times like these I say “thank goodness” for easy makeup like Elizabeth Arden’s new Get Your Bronze On collection for summer (12 pieces ranging from $22-35 each). With some of its 12 face, cheek and lip products in your arsenal, a healthy glow gets that much easier to fake.
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Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick: A $6 Drugstore Dream

April 29th, 2010 by Karen 59 Comments

Good morning on this fine Thursday, ladies. 🙂 I finally got a chance to swatch those Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks ($6) from last week and wanted to share the pics.

After trying three of the 24 members of the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick line ($6 each), I will say I’m impressed.
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Competing Makeup Removers Won’t Benefit from Gee… That Was Quick!

April 28th, 2010 by Karen 40 Comments

AT LAST! After months dutifully removing all manner of eye makeup, my beloved bottle of Bliss Lid + Lash Wash finally gave up the ghost.

As much as I love the stuff (I’m sure it went to makeup and beauty heaven), its departure makes room to try something new.

Ideally, I’d like a remover that works just well as Lid + Lash but comes in a sassier bottle… What can I say? I like it when the stuff on my sink looks cute. 🙂

I was wandering around Sephora the other day when a pink, red and white label caught my eye. It was attached to a bottle of Benefit’s Gee… That Was Quick!
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Too Faced Perfect Lips Liner Loves Lips in the Nude

April 28th, 2010 by Karen 29 Comments

As much as I appreciate color options, streamlined makeup straight up moves me. I love efficient products, especially when I haven’t gotten enough sleep. 🙂

My latest streamlined makeup crush? — Perfect Lips Liner by Too Faced ($19). A nude liner with a matte finish, it loves looks that feature natural lips.
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MAC to the Glitter Chunks in New Superglass Lipgloss: Supersize Me!

April 27th, 2010 by Karen 36 Comments

A lot of people don’t know this, but the lyrics to Parliament’s famous 1976 single, Give Up the Funk, originally went like this:

Ow, we want the chunk
Give up the chunk
Ow, we need the chunk
We gotta have that chunk [2x]

True story. 🙂

The bodacious bits of chunky glitter in the nine MAC Superglass shades ($18 each) are so big, eye-catching and IN YO FACE that they’re making me break into song (like so many things do!).

Why don’t you stick around?

I expected glitter chunks this big to make these glosses feel gritty, but the formula slides onto my lips. They’re sticky, though, despite how gracefully they glide. As a matter of fact, I think they may be a little stickier than MAC Lipglasses are, for what it’s worth.
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Hourglass Is Warming Up To Summer

April 26th, 2010 by Karen 31 Comments

Girls who wear warm colors well may like this year’s summer collection from Hourglass Cosmetics. It’s a tiny collection (just two pieces), and they aren’t the least expensive kids on the block.

What do we mean by “warm” or “cool” colors?

Colors that lean toward red, orange or yellow, or contain their undertones (many browns, yellowish greens and orangey reds), are generally considered warm shades.

Colors that lean blue or green (or bluish pink, purple, blueish green, magenta or blueish red) are typically called cool.

These two siblings hover in Chanel price airspace…Creme-to-Powder Bronzer Duo in Sunset will set you back $40, and Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss in Fortune clocks in at $28, but Hourglass makes sure you get good stuff for your money.

Fortune on the lips; Creme-to-Powder Bronzer Duo on cheeks

Creme-to-Powder-Bronzer Duo in Sunset houses a creamy, warm pink blush and a warm golden brown bronzer in a snazzy swivel-top compact. Both the blush and bronzer have all-day staying power, resist streaking and dry to a natural-looking matte finish.
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Wimpy Lashes, Meet MAC Opulash Mascara

April 26th, 2010 by Karen 68 Comments

I just love thickening mascaras that plump threadbare lashes, boo. 🙂

Say “hi” to MAC’s Opulash Mascara in Bad, Bad, Black ($14). It’s exclusive to Nordstrom stores for now, but it’ll be rolling out to other MAC counters soon.

With Opulash, MAC is venturing into totally tubular Clinique Lash Power/DiorShow territory. I’m sure you remember DiorShow, but how about Clinique Lash Power? With its “tubes” of mascara that surround each lash? Opulash also coats with tubes of mascara, and despite how long lasting it is, it still washes right off with nothing but warm water; no extra eye makeup remover required.

To remove it, I wet a cotton pad with warm water, hold it against an eye for a few seconds, and then gently slide down the length of the lash. It takes about three swipes to do a good job, but it’s a lot easier than having to bust out another remover.

The way it’s removed is pretty cool, but by far I think Opulash’s strongest point is how well it plumps up the volume from root to tip — and not just near the base (I’m talking to you, Givenchy Phenom Eyes!).
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