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

Kate Winslet: Her Best Hair?

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Kate Winslet: Her Best Hair?

James Cameron’s historic disaster movie isn’t what turned England’s Kate Elizabeth Winslet (born October 5, 1975) into a titanic success, but it probably didn’t hurt. The English actress and occasional singer, the youngest person to garner six Academy Award nominations, has been acclaimed for both dramatic and comedic performances, in productions ranging from period to contemporary, and from major Hollywood blockbusters to less publicized indie films.

Since a busy 2008 (Revolutionary Road and The Reader, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress), Kate has been keeping a low profile, but she comes storming back in 2011, starring opposite Matt Damon, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard and Gwyneth Paltrow in Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming action-thriller, Contagion.

Kate’s creativity also extends to her lovely locks, which she’s worn literally HUNDREDS of different ways over the years.

Which of Kate's hairstyles do you like best?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. If you’re new here, thank you for visiting. Makeup and Beauty Blog is a makeup blog with daily product reviews, beauty tips, giveaways and the random shenanigans of a crazy cat lady/makeup enthusiast named Karen (that’s me!). 🙂

Come and Play in the Open Thread

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The weekend might be half over (boo!), but there’s still plenty of time left to play in the open thread (yay!). Just grab yourself a snack, kick back and reeelax. The open thread starts now. 🙂

Makeup and Beauty Blog Open ThreadIf you’re new to the open thread, here it is in a nutshell:

It’s kinda like our virtual living room, where we can chill and chat in the comments about anything and everything we want — makeup, relationships, work, school, TV shows, or anything else.

Everyone here is very cool, too, so feel free to reach out. The open thread lasts all day and night, so pop by whenever you can, and as often as you like.

I saved a spot for you on the couch!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

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The Makeup and Beauty Blog Weekly Roundup

Sometimes it’s fun to be theatrical.

“I’ve never seen this side of you before, Michelle, and it’s just not pretty.”

“Gah! Has everyone gone cray-cray? The girl’s a blogger, Kim, not a singer. She takes pictures and prattles on about makeup. That doesn’t qualify her for the stage. This is Dreamgirls, for Pete’s sake! We have standards here.”

“Wait — you know what I think? I think you’re just jealous, Michelle.”

“What? No! Kim –”

“Yes, I think that’s it. I think this is really all about you and that chubby cat, isn’t it?”

“Of course not!”

“It is! You’re lashing out because you lost the Fabulous Felines job to that cat, what was his name?–”

“Tabs.”

“Yes! Tabs. And now you’re taking it out on his girl…”

“No, that’s not it. You’re wrong, Kim.”

“Sure it is. I mean, you’ve always been a diva, Michelle, but this is low, even for you.”

“Oh, spare me, Kim! You’re not the one who lost the best modeling job of your life to a fat tabby cat, so spare me your righteous indignation. I don’t need it. Not from you. I would have gotten that MAC job if it weren’t for that stupid cat, so yeah, I don’t want his girl performing on my stage, and I’ll be damned if I stand by and let it happen. Over my dead body!”

Rise and shine, morning glory. 🙂 The road to Broadway is paved with makeup, ladies! I had such a blast watching Dreamgirls in the city yesterday. Now I feel invigorated and ready to take on the world!

LOL! Not really. Actually, I feel ready to take on a second cup of coffee, but you know what I mean.

So what are you up to today? Something fun, I hope. I don’t have any plans yet, which feels nice. I may go shopping for shoes at Marshalls… That’s always fun.

Here’s a brief look back at some of the makeup and beauty products we talked about this week. Let me know if you had a favorite among the bunch.

The Bobbi Brown Black Velvet CollectionBOBBI BROWN
BLACK VELVET

Darth Vader: Bobbi, you do not yet realize your importance. You have only begun to discover your power. Join me, and I will complete your training. With our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy.
Bobbi Brown: Speak to me.
Darth Vader: If you only knew the power of the Dark Side…

Actually, Bobbi does know the power of the Dark Side. She joined it this fall, but not in an evil empire kind of way (although I would totally buy a Vader lipstick!). Read more…

A MAC Fabulous Felines Face of the Day: Cat Eyes with a Golden TwistMAC FABULOUS FELINES
CAT EYE WITH A GOLDEN TWIST

Tabs has been bugging me to incorporate his MAC Leopard Luxe goodies into a look. It’s his favorite one of the Fabulous Felines color stories, and he’s been going on and on about its warm gold, brown, peach and black shades. Today he said of the colors, “Meow, mrow mrroww ft ft,” to which I think everyone agrees.

Just because a look utilizes neutrals doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Take the standard cat eye, for example. They’re often done with black liners or other dark neutrals, and today I tried mine with a twist — a shimmery golden liquid eyeliner along the lashline. I wanted to spice up the look with glitter without going full-on disco.

Beginning with a basic neutral cat eye using a few colors from the Leopard Luxe eyeshadow quad — shimmery golden beige Wild By Nature on my brow bone, shimmery peachy gold Style Predator on the lid and shimmery brown Notoriety in the crease — I then drew a cat eye shape with shiny black Superslick Liquid Eye Liner in On The Hunt along my upper and lower lashlines. Read more…

The LORAC Evening Out Complexion KitLORAC EVENING OUT
COMPLEXION KIT

I didn’t have a cubic inch of extra room in my bag when I packed for that trip to Reno a couple weeks ago, so instead of bringing my usual brigade of face products (tinted moisturizer, stick foundation, liquid foundation… Um, have I ever mentioned that I tend to overpack?), I lightened my load with LORAC’s new Evening Out Complexion Kit ($38).

The sleek gunmetal compact must have been made with on-the-go girl secret agents in mind because concealment is the name of this game.

The kit comes with a powder foundation, two cream concealers, a sponge applicator and a tiny Jane Bond-ian concealer brush. Read more…

A MAC Fabulous Felines Face of the Day: A Russian Blue on Brown EyesMAC FABULOUS FELINES
RUSSIAN BLUE ON BROWN EYES

Vets say he’s an American Shorthair, the cat-chall breed for kitties of questionable lineage (the miscellaneous cat-egory of the kitty world, if you will).

And I’d always figured Tabs was cool with being called an American Shorthair, but ever since the arrival of MAC’s Fabulous Felines, I’ve been finding evidence to the contrary — posters of exotic purebreds on the wall, copies of Cat Fancy around the house, and his diary left open to a page in which he referred to himself as an “Egyptian Mau/Ragdoll/Toyger hybrid.” Read more…

Hourglass Film Noir MascaraHOURGLASS FILM
NOIR MASCARA

The alley grew darker the deeper she went, but she knew he came this way, the cat with the tabby fur.

She sped around a corner and almost tripped on something metal and loud, a trash can maybe. She didn’t stop. It was dark, so dark. Out of breath, her heart racing, she barely made out the silhouettes of two dogs playing cards under a fire escape before she passed them.

“Which way’d he go?” she barked, pivoting on three-inch heels.

No answer. Damn scamps. She didn’t stop, couldn’t stop, just kept running, arms flailing wildly in the dark.

“Hello!” she cried out, to nowhere, to everywhere, to him. “Please, wait!”

Still nothing. So she kept running, deeper into the night. He was here. She knew it, somewhere, the cat with the tabby fur. Read more…

Boots Botanical Conditioning Clay Mask BOOTS BOTANICAL
CONDITIONING CLAY MASK

My combination skin’s been acting up lately (annoying little pimples on my chin, clogged pores on my cheeks, dry patches around my nose… the usual crapalicious bullsh*t ), so last night I took it as a blogger’s blessing and decided to test oil-free Boots Botanics Conditioning Clay Mask ($9) for the first time.

Just shake (it sounds like canned soup!), slather and let dry for between 10-20 minutes before rinsing with warm water. The mineral-rich clay, which is harvested from the sea and combined with burdock root extract, contains a negative electrical charge that, according to Boots, draws the crud from pores without over-drying the skin.

I kept it on for a full 20 minutes before rinsing, breathing in the earthy scent and enjoying the tightening sensation. While it was on, I could actually SEE the product settling into my pores, too, hopefully working its magic. ‘Twas fascinating AND disgusting — both at the same time! Read more…

Chanel Inimitable Intense MascaraCHANEL INIMITABLE
INTENSE MASCARA

Sometimes “quick” describes something bad…

Like the blind date I went on some years ago with the Beatles-hating dude who confessed to listening to nothing but techno music 24/7. I grew up on a steady diet of John, Paul, George and Ringo, so when he dissed Blackbird five minutes into the evening, something inside me went, “OH, HELL NO!” I faked a headache halfway through my beer and hightailed it home.

And sometimes “quick” describes something good…

Like the new Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara ($30, available in four shades), a new take on Chanel’s original Inimitable (a lengthening, curling, volumizing star!).

The O.G. version was born back in 2006. This new version 2.0 extends its predecessor’s double rainbow “all the way across the sky!” — with MORE lash drama on all fronts. Plus, because it works well even with a single layer, it’s also quick. Read more…

LORAC Private Affair PaletteLORAC PRIVATE
AFFAIR PALETTE

For Christmas last year my little brother got our mom a Snuggie (“as seen on TV!”).

What’s a Snuggie? Well, if you’ve seen the late-night commercials, it’s the world famous blanket with sleeves (kinda looks like a reverse wizard’s cape), and my mum thinks it’s cooler than a young Paul McCartney in butt-hugger pants.

I talked a lot of crap about ‘em until the day I tried one on…

DANG, they’re unbelievably comfortable and soft.

Which reminds me of another “so soft!” moment I’ve had recently, this one with LORAC’s Private Affair Palette ($38). Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

$6 Olay Quench Advanced Healing Intensive Lotion Knows What Sensitive Noses Like

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Olay Quench Advanced Healing Intensive Lotion review

As much as I love Pacifica’s Body Butters, there are some days when I just don’t want to wear a scented moisturizer, like when I’m loving on a new fragrance.

I’ve been wearing a couple of new scents lately and haven’t wanted my body lotions to clash, so when I spotted this bottle of fragrance-free Olay Quench Advanced Healing Body Lotion ($6), I had to snap it up.

Talk about happy drugstore lotion accidents. 🙂

Olay recently revamped the bottle and the name, so I must have found one of the leftovers from the older packaging. The new version looks a little different (same formula though) and goes by a new name, Quench Advanced Healing Intensive Lotion.

I hadn’t been crazy about the other lotions I’ve tried from Olay’s Quench line because all of them had strong scents and contained mica (hello, shiny finish!), both of which Olay kept out of Advanced Healing. Good call, methinks, because not only will sensitive schnozzes appreciate Olay’s thoughtful little omission, but most dudes will too (I’m pretty sure El Hub’s been using my bottle on the ‘low).
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Saturday Surfing

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Hey, lady! How’s it going today? What are you up to? I’ve been up for a while but just not in front of the computer (for a change). Tabs was actually using it to write another email to MAC. He still hasn’t heard back from the company. 🙂

The stress of potential litigation is getting to him, too, because he’s been acting out lately. Dang cat has even taken to BITING THE CRAP OUT OF ME in frustration. It’s how he got me out of bed this morning — with a series of bites to my chin. I hope both parties settle out of court soon…

Did ya do anything fun last night? The highlight of my evening was the cup of coconut frozen yogurt (topped with blueberries and strawberries) that I ate for dinner while watching the most recent Project Runway online. No spoilers (the comments, however, are fair game), but what did you think of the dresses by Michael C. and Mondo?

And speaking of the show, haven’t the contestants been cranky this season? Seems like their claws are always out, and it’s flat-out getting on my nerves.

Anywho, right now I’m getting ready to head into San Francisco to see Dreamgirls with El Hub. The boy asked me totally out of the blue last week. I know, right? I’m shocked (but delighted)! 🙂 I haven’t been to a musical in years, and I must say I’m really looking forward to it.

Before I go, can you catch some e-waves with me? Come on, the water looks perfect!

Random Bright Spots

New in Beauty


Simply put, this song makes me 🙂

Enjoy the rest of your day, boo-boo!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Prada Shows Their Softer Side with New Infusion d’Iris Eau de Toilette

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prada infusion d'iris eau de toilette

Well, I guess you really do learn something new every day. I always assumed that when I was sniffing an iris flower, I was smelling the very same scent so often used in perfumes, but apparently that version, according to Prada, is actually an extract derived from the plant’s roots.

It’s also the main note in Prada’s pricey new Infusion d’Iris Eau de Toilette ($85 for a 100ml bottle), a fresher, lighter, just-stepped-out-of-the-shower take on their famously floral d’Iris Eau de Parfum, which launched back in 2007.

Keeping this iris company are also notes of neroli, lily of the valley, violet, heliotrope, ceder and galbanum (spicy, woody and reminiscent of pine).

prada infusion d'iris eau de toilette
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Two Ways to Win an Urban Decay Good Karma Finishing Brush

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  • The giveaway is now closed, and the winner is being contacted. Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

Karma: it’s not just the club where The Situation and Snooki practice their dance moves on the Jersey Shore.

It’s also a force of nature that states, like the old J. Timberlake song, “What goes around, comes around.” Both the good and the bad.

And speaking of the good stuff, have you seen the new Urban Decay Good Karma brushes? Today’s giveaway could be your chance to take one of them home.

The Prize

One lucky lady will win Urban Decay’s Good Karma Finishing Brush ($39), a Tabs-approved (cruelty-free) face brush. It’s one of 11 new Good Karma makeup brushes for eyes, lips and face.

While designed for hi-definition powders, something tells me it would handle regular face powders pretty well too. A multitasking tool, Urban Decay also recommends it for brushing away excess eyeshadow fallout from beneath the eyes or for toning down excess blush or bronzer colors on the face.

Imagine your nimble little fingers wrapped around the gunmetal handle. 🙂 It’s made from recycled aluminum, and the synthetic brush head’s made from recycled PET bottles.

The fibers feel whisker soft and feather light against skin, and they can be used either wet or dry.

When you’re done beautifying yourself with this bad boy, just put it away in its sassy purple box (made from recycled egg crates, wouldn’t ya know it).

How To Enter…

2ways2enterEntering is easy. There are two different ways, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

  1. First, you can enter by retweeting (RT) the following message:

    Follow @karenmbb and RT to win an Urban Decay Good Karma Finishing Brush http://bit.ly/aQMvCN

  2. Second, enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, a comment about anything at all — tell me what food you’re craving, describe your weekend plans, or reminisce about your favorite Urban Decay product of all time.

    My favorite Urban Decay product? I’ve been hooked on phonics on Eden Primer Potion for months. It’s a non-drying eye makeup primer (I apply it to bare lids) used to keep liners and eyeshadows from creasing and disappearing throughout the day. Stuff works! And it’s hella easy to remove.

  • Oh, yeah. International folks and readers living overseas, please feel free to enter. The giveaway is also open to y’all. Entrants everywhere, however, must be at least 18 years of age or older.

Recap…

  1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
  2. Retweet the following message on twitter:

    Follow @karenmbb and RT to win an Urban Decay Good Karma Finishing Brush http://bit.ly/aQMvCN

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, September 5.

Sağlıqla qalın!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

  • The giveaway is now closed, and the winner is being contacted. Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

How Do You Stop Eyeliner from Migrating?

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Yesterday MBB reader Megan emailed with a question about something that I’m guessing all of us have encountered at one time or another but may have been too shy to discuss: eye boogers.

Yep, eye boogers. 🙂

Megan writes: I have a problem with eyeliner buildup in the outer wrinkles between my lower and upper lids. What I can I do about it? Also, to be blunt, eyeliner builds up with my eye boogers throughout the day, and it makes me want to stop lining my upper or lower lashes. How do I remove them without messing up my makeup?

Hi Megan!

Ahh, migrating eyeliner… Such a pain, isn’t it? But there’s hope! You didn’t say which liner you’re using, but I’m assuming it’s a pencil or cream because both are rather nomadic and tend to migrate throughout the day.

Here are a couple of things you might try:

Layer a primer beneath your liner

LOL! I just made a rhyme. 🙂 Seriously, though, if you haven’t tried using an eye primer, give one a try. They’re like makeup magnets, strengthening the hold of eye products that are layered on top of them. I’ve been using Urban Decay Eden Primer Potion ($18) lately and am pretty happy with it, but Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($18) and LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer ($20) work well for me, too.

Set your liner with a coordinating powder eyeshadow

If you’re lining your eyes with pencil, it could help to set your liner by applying a powder eyeshadow directly on top. For black liners, consider MAC Eyeshadow in Print; for browns, try MAC Eyeshadow in Brun ($14.50 each). I like to use an angled brush like the MAC 266 Small Angled Brush ($19.50) for precise application.

Switch to a long-wearing liquid or gel

Liquid and gel liners can take a little more time to apply than pencils do…but they frickin’ stay on like Donkey Kong! The most smudge-proof, user-friendly ones I’ve worn are LORAC Front of the Line Pro Liquid Liner ($22) and MAC Fluidline Gel Liner ($15).
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