Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

The New Bobbi Brown Summer 2011 Almost Bare Collection Should Look Great with a Tan

May 2nd, 2011 by Karen 42 Comments

Bobbi B. is back with a new makeup collection for summer, and judging by the look of things, she’s been chillin’ at la playa.

The new Bobbi Brown Almost Bare Collection, available now in stores and online, looks just like a day at the beach. As she so often does, Bobbi kept things simple and clean, incorporating two dark matte bronzers, three glittery glosses and a repromoted scent (from where the collection gets its name). I think the products seem more Mexican Riviera than Jersey Shore, but the two bronzers, which are both quite dark, will probably thrill Snooks all the way from the top of her pouf down to her Uggs.

“From bronzers to the light shimmery glosses, The Almost Bare Collection creates the gorgeous sun kissed look you get after a day at the beach, one of my favorite sources of inspiration.

— Bobbi Brown

High Shimmer Lip Glosses, $22 each

From left to right: Bellini, Citrus and Pink Tulle

Am I the only gal who gets grumpy about tiny 0.14-oz. tubes of $20+ gloss? I bet I’m not. By comparison to 0.17-oz. MAC Lipglasses, these new 0.24-oz. limited edition High Shimmer Lip Glosses are practically huge! And they come with a doe-foot applicator, too.

Despite the glitter they contain (there’s a lot, but it’s not party glitter), they don’t feel gritty. They also don’t feel sticky, either, which surprised me considering how thick they are. The sheer-to-medium pigmentation makes them easy to apply. As for taste and scent, let me put it this way: Violet Beauregarde would probably approve. 🙂 Both faintly remind me of spearmint gum.

They’re still kind of expensive, but I can’t wait to wear these to the beach! MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

Bronzing Powders, $33 each

Rich Cocoa (left) and Deep Chocolate (right)

I’ve always loved how Bobbi caters to a wide range of skin tones (remember how hard it was to get good colors for brown girls back in the ’80s and ’90s?). This release comes with two limited edition Bronzing Powders perfect for darker-skinned damsels. The Deep Chocolate and Rich Cocoa Bronzing Powders contain a blend of red and brown tones, which Bobbi says mimic and complement real tans.

I like the colors and how smooth they feel, but I wish they shimmered, as mattes tend to take me longer to blend. I’m more of swipe-and-go girl when it comes to bronzers, but if you’re willing to spend the time, I can see liking these a lot. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B

Swatches from the left: Rich Cocoa, Deep Chocolate, Bellini, Pink Tulle and Citrus

Rich Cocoa on face and Citrus on lips
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This Diamond Is a Girl’s Best Friend: Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner in Diamond Black

May 2nd, 2011 by Karen 61 Comments

make up for ever aqua liner top

Freakin’ epic! I can’t remember ever getting this fired up about a black eyeliner before (maybe MAC Feline? — aka one of the most purrrfect black pencils evah), because, c’mon, it’s black eyeliner. Are they useful? Absolutely, but sometimes it’s hard to get stoked about a staple when there are so many fun, distracting colors around.

That is, unless that staple is Make Up For Ever’s new Aqua Liner in Diamond Multicolor Black ($23). When it reached out and grabbed my attention, it almost knocked me down! If you’re able to try just one thing from this new line of waterproof liquid eyeliners, please make it Multicolor Black. No kidding — this shade is the bidness in a glittery jet black.

So what are the Aqua Liners? They’re a new range recently added to the Make Up For Ever permanent line. Available in a mix of bright and neutral shades in matte, iridescent and diamond finishes, they’re a lot like the other pigmented, long-wearing, quick-drying waterproof liners that’ve been popping up over the past year. Like the MAC Superslick Liners and Stila Sparkle Waterproof Eyeliners, they sport long, skinny applicators with pointy tips, and they last a really long time, withstanding sweat, running water and occasional (hella weird) eyelid kisses from husky tabby cats (SIDE NOTE: Yes, it feels strange to have your eyelids licked by a cat).

make up for ever aqua liner ps

MUFE’s Aqua Liners have a shorter, stiffer tip applicator (very precise) than those other liners and a formula that’s less determined to settle into my fine lines.
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Benefit Ultra Radiance Facial Re-Hydrating Mist: New from Benefit!

May 2nd, 2011 by Karen 4 Comments

Hey, Benefit beauties. Keep your eyes peeled this July for Benefit’s newest addition to their B. Right Radiant Skincare Collection, Special Ultra Radiance Facial Re-HyDrating Mist ($26, currently available now online).

Designed for all skin types, this moisturizing mist contains magnesium PCA; sodium hyaluronate; extracts of white and blue lotus; and what Benefit calls their exclusive tri-radiance complex (aka a batch of ingredients that supposedly help the skin retain moisture). Wear it on bare skin or on top of makeup to add a boost o’ hydration.

I spritzed some on this morning and love its light, fresh cucumber scent. I think it’ll come in handy when I hit the pool this summer and need a little moisture to soothe my dry skin while I’m out in the sun.

I plan on keeping it off my neck, though, because when it dries I feel a slight film, and I can’t deal with having a sticky neck!

Benefit Ultra Radiance Facial Re-Hydrating Mist box

Benefit Ultra Radiance Facial Re-Hydrating Mist back 1

Benefit Ultra Radiance Facial Re-Hydrating Mist ingredients

Benefit Ultra Radiance Facial Re-Hydrating Mist bottle small

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, May 2

May 2nd, 2011 by Karen 83 Comments

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. 168. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

Mood:

Absolutely sparkly! 🙂

Something you’re coveting at the moment?

A vacation. Big time. One where the only things on my to-do list are adventure, photography and delicious food (oh, and warm beaches). I was hoping to visit Italy before my birthday in June (I really want to see the Cinque Terre), but it doesn’t look like that’ll happen unless I win the lottery and/or get all my sh*z together by mid-May.

In your opinion, what’s an overrated beauty product?

YSL Touche Eclat. I know lots of women love it, but it doesn’t really do it for me.

An underrated beauty product?

CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion! My skin love, love, LOVES how moisturizing it is. It’s also non-comedogenic and available at most drugstores for about $11.

What was your best birthday party?

Well, I’ve never really had a big one, mostly just small get-togethers with a few friends. Last year’s was one of my favorites. My two BFF’s, Jen and Cindy, took me up to Napa to get pampered and stuffed with good food and wine. That was such a wonderful day…

Where do you go when you need to clear your head?

If it’s warm outside and I have the time, I’ll go to the beach. Everything seems better after a few minutes of listening to the waves break and feeling the sand between my toes. If not the beach, then I usually work things out on the treadmill. I figure a lot of stuff out when I’m putting one foot in front of the other.

Your favorite local eatery?

Tuttimelon! It’s a self-serve frozen yogurt place about five minutes away. Seriously, I could eat a cup their taro fro-yo every single day.

Guys in jeans shorts — yea or nay?

I’m gonna have to go with nay.

Favorite post-hangover meal?

Back in my 20s I had a stomach of steel, so it was either a massive stack of pancakes or a veggie cheeseburger and fries. These days, it’s saltine crackers, oy!

Weekly goals:

To remember to believe in myself, and to try to make some headway on a difficult writing project I’ve been putting off for a while. I also want to start fixing up and decorating the deck off my living room. Right now it’s completely empty, just a big wooden box, but I’d love it to be a place where El Hub, Tabs and I can spend time this summer.

To that end, I went to a gardening store last weekend to look for cat-friendly plants but got totally distracted by their roses. The red ones get most of the love, judging by how few of them were left in stock, but I prefer the yellow ones, like in the pic at the top. Aren’t they bright and cheerful? 🙂

Is there someplace where you like to spend warm days and weekends, like a park, patio or garden?

You have a great day today, okay? I hope things haven’t been too crazy so far. If you have a moment, let me know how you’re doing today by filling out the Monday Poll. I always like to hear from you.

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

1. Mood:
2. Something you’re coveting at the moment?
3. An overrated beauty product?
4. An underrated beauty product?
5. Your best birthday party?
6. Where do you go when you need to clear your head?
7. Your favorite local eatery?
8. Guys in jeans shorts — yea or nay?
9. Favorite post-hangover meal?
10. Weekly goals:

Let’s all have a wonderful week and get May kicked off to a good start. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Never in My Life Have I Been This Excited to Do Laundry

May 1st, 2011 by Karen 10 Comments

Fragrance line Tocca just launched a set of laundry washes designed for delicates.

The Delicato da Viaggo set ($22) includes four 2-oz bottles with classic Tocca scents — Touch, Cleopatra, Stella and Florence. Find it now at Sephora stores nationwide.

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 137

May 1st, 2011 by Karen 12 Comments

Tabs for Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Liner

While I’ve been sweatin’ my tail off cleaning the house and organizing my makeup collection, Tabs spent the day at the beach. Can you believe that? The nerve, right?

He said it was for “a work thing” with Stila. Yeah, right. If you call surfing “work.”

I remember when Tabs and I used to go to the beach all the time, but that was before he got famous. We would tandem surf, with him in front and me steering on the back of the board (Ha! Could you imagine!?). Those were good times…

Here’s a quick look at some of the kitty modeling jobs Tabs had this week. 🙂

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).

Tabs for Milani Cat Flash Liner

Tabs for MAC Prism Fur Tint
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How Do You Apply Blush? Do You Bounce or Swirl, or Do You Have a Different Method?

May 1st, 2011 by Karen 51 Comments

Mission: Impossible. That’s what I’m going to start calling my efforts to organize my makeup collection. At the rate things are going, I should be done in roughly 10 years, give or take. I just keep getting distracted/hypnotized by all the pretty colors and end up spending more time playing than actually organizing. Instead of putting things into the appropriate bins, I put them on my cheeks. 🙂 I’ve also been staging things for pictures like the one above…

Seriously, I’m not getting anywhere, and, yes, I’m sitting here with hot pink blush on my right cheek and a shimmery plum on my left.

About blush, that reminds me. How do you apply it? I usually do it one of two ways, either bouncing or swirling the brush, and the brush is usually just a standard blush brush like the MAC 129 ($34), unless the blush I’m going to apply is highly pigmented or dark. In those cases, I’ll go with a fan or duo fibre skunk brush instead, both of which apply a little less product per layer.

mac 188 small duo fibre face brush
My current favorite blush brush, the MAC 188

Sometimes, when I want to lay down more concentrated color on the apples of my cheeks or if I’m applying a cream blush, I’ll ditch the brushes altogether and use my fingers.

Just like women did in ye olden days. Almost. Back then they’d use their fingers, too, except sometimes without the blush. They’d just pinch their cheeks to turn them rosy red. I’ve done it before…in a pinch (sorry!). 🙂

In choosing a brush for blush, I also consider the size of a brush’s head and the size and shape of my face. I don’t have a lot of room on my cheeks for big brush heads, so I prefer small-to-medium ones. Big ones tend to splay on me, depositing color like a puff on the skin around my cheeks.
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