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

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

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Feb. 7

by 118 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. 156. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
  1. Mood:

    2. Relaxed and focused.

  2. When things get stressful, how do you keep a level head?

    3. Stress for me usually means I’ve got several big projects converging at once. When that happens, I pour out everything I need to get done on a single piece of paper — like written diahrrea! — and organize it into lists. Then, I pick one of the lists and tackle just three items on it, starting with either the most urgent issue or whatever I can get done the fastest. That way I start to build some momentum, which helps keep me focused enough to press on.

  3. What are you reading right now?

    4. The Best Food Writing of 2010, edited by Holly Hughes. It’s a compilation of some of last year’s greatest hits in food writing. Who knew there was such controversy surrounding the point at which you salt your meat?? Even though I don’t consider myself a foodie, I still love to read about good food.

  4. One of the best times in your life?

    5. 1998 was a great year. I was 23, a senior in college and single, and I finally found a group of girls I really clicked with (love you El, Mar and Chris!). On top of everything, I was also in pretty good shape. Ah, to be a size zero and 23 again…

  5. Have you ever had a gel manicure?

    6. Nope, but I’d like to. They’re specialized manicures where they cure each layer of polish under a UV light for a few minutes after application. It’s supposed to result in fast-drying, sturdy enamel that can last up to 14 days or longer.

    I don’t know… Because I’m always swatching, I need to have my fingers bare at a moment’s notice, and I don’t want to spend $45 on a gel mani that I’d then had to remove before its time.

  6. Three simple pleaures?

    7. 1) Waking up to find Tabs sleeping next to me, 2) the spicy chai latte at the Nordstrom Espresso Bar and 3) sunny 70-degree days.

  7. Whom do you call when you need advice?

    8. Ghostbusters! LOL, just kidding. My friends from childhood (Jen and Cindy), my brother and El Hub.

  8. A recent happy moment?

    9. Last Saturday I went hiking in Indian Valley, which is a hilly nature preserve not far from here in Novato. On the walk I wandered into a shaded grotto of oak trees. The wind was rustling through the branches up above, and the leaves crunched beneath my feet. What a peaceful, wonderful little moment.

  9. Are you a red dress kinda girl?

    10. Heck, yeah! And throw in high-heeled red pumps while you’re at it, por favor.

  10. Weekly goals:

    11. To practice staying in the moment.

Happy Monday to ya. 🙂 I trust you’re feeling rested? I actually slept really well last night (shocker!).

Kinda random, but while I was sipping on a mug of green tea this morning I got to thinking about focusing on the “now.” It’s something I’d like to get better at doing. Every day last week I felt like I woke up, parked my bum down in front of the computer and got lost typing away. Before I knew it, the sun was setting outside.

I hate it when that happens, so I’m going to make time each day to go for a quick walk. Sounds kinda hippy dippy, I know, but ya gotta find joy in everything, even the small stuff.

Anywho, if you’re game and have a few minutes to spare, how about touching base in the Monday Poll? Think of it as a long, all-day coffee break where we share what we’re doing in our little corners of the world. 🙂

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



1. Mood:
2. When things get stressful, how do you keep a level head?
3. What are you reading right now?
4. One of the best times in your life?
5. Have you ever had a gel manicure?
6. Three simple pleasures?
7. Whom do you call if you need advice?
8. A recent happy moment?
9. Are you a red dress kind of girl?
10. Weekly goals:

You have a great week, okay?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Defeat Dull with the Tarte Provocateur Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powders

by 31 Comments

Tarte Provocateur Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder
Tarte Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder in Rose on cheeks, bridge of nose and chin

And the hits keep comin’ from Tarte! The cruelty-free brand (one of Tabs’ faves) just launched two new pressed powder highlighters for spring called the Provocateur Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powders ($30 each). The name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but the powders do have some moves.

The almost weightless, finely milled grains feel like baby powder on my skin — unlike those other highlighting powders that make my pores look larger than the Grand Canyon. They can be applied to cheeks, brow bones, and décolletage for a highlighting glow. Use a little for a soft, subtle sheen, or a lot to shoot for the stars.

These continue Tarte’s Amazonian clay trend, too, supposedly adjusting to the wearer’s skin. Tarte claims they add moisture to dry spots while absorbing oil from slick ones, but in that regard I’m not totally sold.

Tarte Provocateur Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder
Tarte Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder in Champagne on the left and Rose on the right

Tarte Provocateur Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder 2
Tarte Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder in Champagne on the left and Rose on the right
[Continue reading…]

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 125

by 30 Comments

Go Pack!

When I was five, I desperately wanted to be a cheerleader. I thought the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were the bee’s knees. They had such great hair and those foxy outfits — the knee-high white boots, white shorts and that blue and white top.

I told my parents I wanted to be a cheerleader, so I asked for pom-poms for Christmas. Imagine my surprise when on Christmas morning I opened a box to find a single pom-pom. Just one, and I never figured out why. I still cheered in the backyard with it though. 🙂 I guess I figured one pom-pom was better than none.

TABS FUN FACT: Tabs worked briefly as a pro cheerleader for the Green Bay Packers. He actually did the choreography.

Did you ever want to be a cheerleader?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

by 24 Comments

Oh my gawd, horses are huge! Yesterday before we hit the grocery store to stock up for Super Bowl Snack Fest 2011, El Hub and I went for a hike through Indian Valley, and you know that Whodini song, Freaks Come Out At Night? — well, the horses come out on hikes, because it was like the rodeo yesterday, y’all, and I’m not EVEN kidding.

Have you ever ridden a horse? I never have, but it looks like so much fun. Some of the stables around here supposedly let people go for horseback rides, and I think I’m gonna look into it one of these days.

Goooood morning, young lady. 🙂 What’s on your Super Bowl snack menu today? We’re going with veggie and regular hot dogs, organic potato chips with sour cream & onion dip and sides of carrots with hummus, and sweet corn.

In other news, I think it was a pretty good week for makeup and beauty, and we had some great guest posts too.

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

What to Wear on Your Winter Trip to San FranciscoWHAT TO WEAR ON YOUR
WINTER TRIP TO SAN FRANCISCO

Adventure awaits! I think you’re going to love San Francisco, but before I jump into suggestions, please promise me something — that you’ll never, ever refer to San Francisco as “San Fran” (bluh!) or “‘Fricso” (double bluh!) while you’re here. Try “S.F.” or “the City,” and merchants will take you for a local (as opposed to a tourist).

The weather is generally mild in winter — too warm for snow, but too chilly for shorts. It rains a little more than usual, and temps typically range from the low 40s to mid 60s.

In the city itself, the different districts and neighborhoods also have their own micro climates. You can literally go from one end of the city to the other (a distance of just 7 miles) and go through banks of thick fog, patches of sun, and areas of rain, which means it helps to be prepared for anything.

I think you’re wise to leave your heaviest snow coat at home, but you’ll still want to bring a warm coat, especially if you plan to do any walking (a good likelihood considering the poor parking). It also gets colder at night. Not East Coast cold, mind you, but chilly enough. Read more…

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine LipstickCHANEL ROUGE COCO
SHINE LIPSTICK IN BOY

I know there’s probably, like, eight billion degrees of separation between Chanel’s latest lippie — the new Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Boy ($32) — and the technicolor troubadour who crooned Karma Chameleon, but my inner ’80s child doesn’t care. When it comes to cheesy pop music makeup connections, I won’t be denied!

No, Chanel didn’t name this Boy after Boy George, but it sure would have been neat if they had.

Turns out the lippie takes its name from one of Coco’s lovahs, Arthur Edward “Boy” Capel, the wealthy English polo player who played a big role in Mademoiselle’s colorful life. It was Boy who gave her the funds to open her first shop, and his clothes that influenced her early designs (their boxy, masculine shapes). Legend has it he asked her to marry him, but she refused, wanting to wait until she became financially independent first. Sadly, Boy was later tragically killed in a car accident. Read more…

Lancome Ultra Lavande CollectionHAVE YOU SEEN THE LANCOME ULTRA
LAVANDE COLLECTION?

Mr. White must have liked Mr. Purple.

Mr. White was my middle school music teacher, and one year in band he had us play a medley of Prince songs as an ode to The Purple One (I played the flute). Imagine, if you will, a room filled with 13-year-olds, their instruments out of tune, rocking out to Raspberry Beret and Purple Rain. And while it must have been painful for him, Mr. White sat through the entire thing with a straight face. I only wish I’d had the foresight to tape the ghastly tune; it would have made an awesome ringtone.

This occurred to me today while playing with the purples in Lancome’s spring collection, Ultra Lavande, a limited edition release for eyes, lips, cheeks and nails. The release recently pranced onto shelves and online, and, for the record, it went well with Take Me With You (MY FAVE!) playing in the background.

Butterflies Fever Blush was the piece I was most excited about before the collection came out, and I think it looks just as beautiful in person as it does in pictures. Read more…

NARS Spring 2011 Nouveau MondeA NEW LOOK AT
NARS SPRING 2011

When the NARS spring 2011 makeup collection sprung earlier this month, it didn’t strike with the force of a thousand Easter bunnies. In other words, it didn’t knock me off my feet.

I liked the repromoted Angelika and Super Orgasm Lip Glosses but felt the Soft Touch Pencil in Celebrate, the Lip Gloss in Nana and the Pure Matte Lipstick in Madère were just okay. Seriously, what’s a 35-year-old suburban gal gonna do with a neon green eyeshadow (Celebrate) that lasts all of 5 minutes on her skin?

And then came today.

I tried four more goodies from the collection this afternoon — the Lipstick in Tzigane, Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Hollywoodland, Eyeshadow Duo in Bateau Ivre and Eyeshadow Duo in Nouveau Monde — and now NARS is singing my tune.

THESE are the kinds of products I was hoping to find in this collection; until today, I just didn’t know they were here. Read more…

How do you handle flaky foundation?HOW DO YOU HANDLE FLAKY FOUNDATION
CAUSED BY DRY WINTER SKIN?

“I have an annoyingly dry forehead and nose area, and no matter how much I moisturize, my foundation still looks flaky!”

Girl, you’re preachin’ to the choir. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. I get patches of dry skin around my nose and at the corners of my mouth (it always seems worse in winter), and it often leads to flaky foundation.

Foundation loves having a smooth surface to adhere to, so let’s talk about skin for a moment.

Wind chill factors outside, heaters cranking inside, dehydration, Benzoyl Peroxide and Retin A — these are just a few of the things that can cause or worsen dry skin (I seriously notice a difference when I’m not drinking enough water throughout the day). Read more…

The Too Faced Romantic Eye Classic Beauty Shadow CollectionTHE 9 COLORS IN THE TWO FACED
ROMANTIC EYE CLASSIC BEAUTY SHADOW COLLECTION ARE COOL

After making it through my trip to the dentist yesterday without shedding a tear, I decided to reward myself with a quick trip to Sephora. It was all I could do to erase the memory of those silver hooks coming at me in that awful chair (have I ever mentioned that I think my childhood dentist was a sadist?)!

As I was tooling around the store, I bumped into the new Too Faced Romantic Eye Classic Beauty Shadow Collection kit.

“Oh, hai!”

For 35 smackaroos ($35), you get nine cool-toned powder shadows in a range of shimmer and matte finishes, divided into three rows of suggested “looks” — Day, Classic and Fashion. Read more…

How to look great during childbirthHOW TO LOOK GREAT
DURING CHILDBIRTH

When I found out that my due date was May 1st, my first thoughts weren’t of baby blankets and onesies. All I could think about was, how am I going to avoid looking like a wet dish towel in one of those post delivery photos? — the ones that someone always manages to snap at the exact moment when you’re the most sweaty, the most tired, and the least ready to have a remotely flattering picture taken. I’m talking about that moment when after 12 hours of intense labor, the cameras start clicking like crazy!

I never really thought of myself as a particularly vain person, and I know that when the time comes, it’s supposed to be all about the baby, but I was determined to hang on to some shred of my former makeup loving self, and come out of the whole experience glowing, despite the stretch marks and imminent hemorrhoids.

About a month before my due date, I became the lone pregnant lady haunting the aisles of my local Sephora. I rarely took a friend on these occasions, mainly because I could not have any distractions from what I saw as my personal mission. I was determined to put together a look that could withstand whatever curveball Mother Nature decided to throw my way, be it C-section or 24 hours of labor. Whatever happened to be going on below my neck, I was hellbent on keeping what was above it well controlled and looking its best. I needed the makeup equivalent of an Earthquake Prevention Kit. Read more…

The Sephora by OPI Glee Nail PolishesTHE SEPHORA BY OPI
GLEE COLLECTION NAIL POLISHES

“What does a show about high school choir have to do with nail polish?” I wondered, standing in the middle of Sephora yesterday. Gazing upon the display for the new Sephora by OPI Glee Collection, I tried to connect the dots between Mr. Shue, his band of musical misfits and OPI’s line of limited edition lacquers.

I guess the answer was obvious enough: who cares? 🙂 In a world with Spanx for Men, I suppose anything is possible.

Shoot, if Katy Perry and Justin Bieber can do it, why not the kids from McKinley High?

The lyrical line, which just arrived on shelves, contains 10 new shades ($9.50 each) and three packs of stick-on nail prints ($15 each). If $9.50 sounds like a lot, there’s also a set of six 0.12-oz. mini-bottles for $24. In true Glee fashion, the colors have names like “Slushied” and “Celibacy Club.”

I was hoping to find “The Chronic Lady,” “My Shop Teacher Has No Thumbs” and “The School Nurse Gave Me These Vitamins,” but then again I like to think of the quirky first season as the golden age of Glee.

I briefly considered the polka-dot nail stickers, but I think I was still under the influence of the drugs I got at the dentist… Adhesive beauty products aren’t usually my thing (I blame it on a traumatic experience involving Lee Press-On Nails many years ago). Read more…

How to apply liquid foundationHOW TO APPLY
LIQUID FOUNDATION

Liquid foundation is one of the ficklest products to apply. Ever. Not only is its basic application a chore, but even after you feel like you have a routine down, the smallest hiccup — anything from product buildup on your brush to a stray brush stroke — can throw off your entire look for the rest of the day.

But after years (literally, it has been that long) of trying different methods, brushes, and foundations, I think I finally have it down to a handful of simple steps that can make all the difference in the world.

Grab your favorite liquid foundation. Now, I almost always choose a full coverage one, as this method will sheer it down a bit, making it suitable for most skin types and needs. Pour or pump an amount about the size of a nickel or quarter (this will vary depending on the condition of your skin) onto the back of your hand or a palette. Read more…

Maybelline Fit Me FoundationIS IT TIME TO GET FIT WITH
MAYBELLINE FIT ME FOUNDATION?

When I think of a perfect fit, I picture J Brand skinny jeans or my yellow platform sandals; I don’t usually think of foundation.

But Maybelline hopes to change how we think of “perfect” this spring. Their new line of Fit Me foundations, concealers, powders, blushes and bronzes are designed to make finding your perfect shade that much easier to do.

Today I gave Fit Me Foundation ($8) a try — a liquid foundation designed to even skin tone without feeling heavy or looking like it’s caked on the skin.

After my date with the Fit Me Blushes yesterday afternoon, I thought the foundation would have that same casual makeup vibe.

For starters, it’s available in a whopping 18 shades with SPF 18, and the one I wore around the house today was 320 Honey Beige. The color’s not a great match for my skin tone, but it’s the closest of the ones I have right now. Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Color Me Glad About Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush

by 99 Comments

tarte amazonian clay blush tipsy k
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy on cheeks

Breathtaking is all I can say about Tarte’s new Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes ($25 each). I could tell right away that these powder blushes were something special. I mean, just look at them — the embossed leaf on the pan, how the compacts are color coordinated to match the blush inside? Beautiful.

tarte amazonian clay blush open
Clockwise from the lower left: Tipsy, Natural Beauty and Blushing Bride

The colors are based on existing shades from Tarte’s Cheek Stain and Lip Stain line, and Tarte says their not-so-secret ingredient, Amazonian clay, behaves differently depending on the wearer’s skin, by hydrating dry spots and/or absorbing oil in greasy areas at the same time.

That’s cool and all, but Tarte had me at hello with these. 🙂 The colors are just so intense that I can hardly look away…but eventually I have to, because on top of everything else, they last throughout the day!

Yesterday I spent some quality me time with three of the eight blushes in the line — Tipsy (a matte coral), Blushing Bride (a shimmery rosy plum with golden glitter) and Natural Beauty (a matte red).

tarte amazonian clay blush boxes

tarte amazonian clay blush packaging

tarte amazonian clay blush tipsy
Tipsy
[Continue reading…]

Have You Haired About Coconut Oil?

by 50 Comments

Robin of Beautyburg

Follow me on TwitterWritten by Robin

Sometimes you feel like a nut (and sometimes you don’t). Today rockin’ Robin of Beautyburg feels like a coconut, and we’re about to find out why in today’s guest post.

Have You Haired About Coconut Oil?

There’s nothing my dry, over-stylized, heat tool-abused hair loves more than super rich, emollient hair products. The only thing it might love more are products that are also natural and good for me (oh, and maybe getting all of the above at low cost).

The product behind my hair mask secret embodies all of the above, and I’m about to let you in on it! Cold compressed coconut oil is the way I keep my hair shiny, soft and hydrated, and not only is it natural and effective, but it’s also cheap.

If you haven’t heard of coconut oil, or maybe heard of it referred to in a different way (the first thing that comes to mind when I think “coconut oil” is frying in the sun with Hawaiian Tropic and pretending the SPF 2 is doing something), THIS coconut oil is totally different.

Organic Coconut Oil

First, it’s a white solid. Second, it’s food! It’s the same kind of coconut oil people cook with (vegans will be familiar with it), and you can find jars of cold compressed coconut oil at your local supermarket or natural food store (where prices range from $6-9).

Coconut oil is very high in cholesterol and saturated fats, but you don’t have to eat it to reap its benefits. You can apply it to your hair instead.

You don’t have to buy a “virgin” variety either. The FDA doesn’t set standards for “virgin” coconut oil as it does for olive. Also, the food grade product isn’t heavily scented, so you don’t have to worry about the scent if you aren’t a fan of heady perfumes.

Organic Coconut Oil

To use it, pre-wash, and then scoop anywhere from 1-3 tablespoons from the jar, depending on the length of your hair. Next, rub the dollop between the palms of your hands (NOTE: The solid will quickly become a clear liquid from the friction).

My hair BEFORE coconut oil…

Organic Coconut Oil

Organic Coconut Oil
[Continue reading…]

Two Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora!

by 644 Comments

  • WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Jessica Davis. Congrats, Jessica! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

Win a $50 Sephora eGift card from Makeup and Beauty Blog

Good morning, young lady, and happy Saturday to ya. It’s Super Bowl weekend, which for me means veggie hot dogs (they’re surprisingly good), chips and dip, YUM!

Do you plan to watch the big game tomorrow? Tabs does. He actually called his bookie this morning. I saw him sneak into the bedroom with his phone (he’s kind of sketchy like that).

What are you up to today? I’ll be keeping it low key out here, but I may go for a hike with El Hub after lunch. Right now I’m watching old episodes of The O.C. online (Ben McKenzie!) in my jammies on the couch. 🙂

But before that, it’s that time again…

A Makeup and Beauty Blog Giveaway!

Win a $50 eGift card from Sephora

  • One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (or $50 sent by PayPal instead).

  • There are two ways to enter, 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, a comment about anything at all, like, who’s your pick to win the Super Bowl? Do you wear makeup when you work out? Do you have a favorite sport? Were you a cheerleader? — you get the idea (it doesn’t have to be sports related, LOL!).
  • Second, you can enter by following me on twitter Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
    • Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora! http://bit.ly/ho2mQx

  • The deadline to enter is (Super Bowl) Sunday, February 6, 2011 at 11:59PM (PT).
  • Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
  • A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
  • Contest is open to individuals of any country who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
  • Sephora eGift Certificates can only be redeemed online and are not valid in stores or available for purchase or redemption in Canada. The winner may opt to substitute the Sephora eGift card prize for $50 sent directly to their email address by PayPal.
  • Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
  • The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
  • Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

  • WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Jessica Davis. Congrats, Jessica! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

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