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

3 Red Hot Summertime Lips from Urban Decay, Lancome and Illamasqua

by 48 Comments

urban decay colin
Wearing Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lipgloss in Colin

Sup, ladies? How was your Wednesday? Mine went well until a killer migraine struck me down. The ones I get are tied to sound, and loud noises make my head throb like a disco. Thankfully, it’s just been me and Tabs all afternoon, and apart from his occasional meows to go outside, it’s been quiet here at Casa de MBB.

Loud noises hurt, but makeup doesn’t, so I tried to relax with a few of the red hot lip colors I’ve had crushes on as of late…

Red often gets pigeonholed as a holiday color, but it can look great any time of year. In summer, I like reds with orange, coral or rose tones and a shiny, high-gloss finish.

lancome rose mythique
Wearing Lancome L’Absolu Creme de Brilliance in Rose Mythique
[Continue reading…]

Clarins Instant Sun Light Eye Quartet & Liner Palette: These Eyeshadows Almost Blend Themselves

by 33 Comments

Clarins Instant Sun Light Summer Colour Collection Eye Quartet and Liner Palette review

Cute black shoes, jeans that make my bum look good, pictures of men with rippled abs, and wearable neutral eye palettes — these are some of the things I love. love

Cue the band!

The Clarins Instant Sun Light Eye Quartet & Liner Palette ($36) has a lot to offer ladies who love warm, blendable neutrals. With four smooth, pigmented powder shadows and an accompanying cream liner, it’s ready and waiting to help you rock a range of casual to dressy eye looks.

Now available at Clarins counters and online, it’s part of the eight-piece Instant Sun Light summer collection.

First thing I have to say about these shadows is WOW! — they blend exceptionally well (almost blend themselves). If you’ve ever had trubs blending eyeshadows in the past and struggle to avoid those tell-tale lines of demarcation (oh, honey, I’ve been there!), I’m betting this palette helps you step up your game. 🙂
[Continue reading…]

MAC In the Groove

by 19 Comments








MAC In the Groove

A few pics from the upcoming MAC In the Groove collection, available July 8.

Pictured above: the Mineralize Eyeshadow Trios (first two rows) and Mineralize Blushes (last two rows).

MAC In the Groove Lipsticks…
mac in the groove

MAC In the Cremesheen Lipglasses…
mac in the groove

MAC In the Groove Mineralize Skinfishines…
mac in the groove

…and Powerpoint Eye Pencils.
mac in the groove

mac in the groove

mac in the groove

What do you think of that green Cremesheen? Yes, no, maybe so?

(Source)

MAC Digi Dazzle Collection

by 6 Comments



MAC Digi Dazzle Collection

Promo pics of a new line of MAC Dazzle Lipsticks from the upcoming MAC Digi Dazzle Collection.

Shades include…

Wham: a plum brown
Win-Win: a light pink
Snazzy: a deep Plum
Sweet Bits: a light lavender ink
Troublemaker: a magenta
Infused With Glam: a coppery brown
Liquid Lurex: a tarnished golden
Naughty You: a neon pink
Smash Hit: a white beige
Baby’s On Fire: a deep red
Glaringly Hip: a light peach
Hellraiser: a light lavender
Hot Sass: a bright orange

More info coming soon. 🙂

mac digi dazzle

(Source)

9 Things: I Am…

by 84 Comments

I was panning for gold (aka wasting time) on Vimeo last weekend when my mouse and I came across I Am, a short documentary in which a series of different people finish a sentence that starts, “I am…” Their answers are so revealing — sometimes cheeky, other times deeply moving — that I thought it would make a great topic for a 9 Things list. 🙂

I am

  1. I am a daughter, sister, wife, friend and crazy cat mom.
  2. I am afraid that if I have a child I might not be a good mother. I mean, I know I won’t be a monster or anything like that mom in Precious, but sometimes I think I’m too moody and not nearly maternal enough. Friends with babies tell me not to worry. They say, “You’ll be fine, Karen. Your instincts will kick in.” I don’t know… I’d like to believe they’re right.
  3. I am still trying to lose the same 15 pounds I gained 10 years ago. Apparently, something ain’t working, but I will NEVER GIVE UP THE FIGHT!
  4. I am currently obsessed with goat cheese.
  5. I am worried that my life is passing me by.
  6. I am eternally grateful to my parents. We’ve hit a few bumps along the way (who hasn’t?), but as a kid I always felt protected, loved and safe.
  7. I am funny? — and creative, spontaneous, inquisitive, musical, stubborn and outgoing.
  8. I am perpetually five minutes late. I started wearing a watch 24/7, but truth be told it hasn’t helped at all.
  9. I am not getting enough sleep. Concealer is my BFF, fo’ reals.

Would you like to give this a try (please do)? It can be very illuminating! Complete the sentence, “I am…” and share as much (or as little) as you’d like.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy hump day!

The Tokidoki Chromatico Eye Palette in Bastardino Doesn’t Just Look Good on Dressers

by 41 Comments

tokidoki eyeshadow review

Okay, so, most of us probably need another eyeshadow palette about as much as RuPaul needs another blonde wig. Perhaps that’s why the marketing mavens at Tokidoki decided to up the ante by adding an alluring treat to each of their three impossibly cute Chromatico Eyeshadow Palettes ($25 each).

Bastardino, Adios and Diamante come with a tiny charm tucked away in the bottom compartment. Aww! They’re like Happy Meals without the calories, but instead of a burger, fries and soda, you get four coordinating shades with vibrant pigmentation. 🙂

tokidoki eyeshadow review
Clockwise from lower left: Adios, Bastardino, Diamante

When the Tokidoki makeup line launched in Sephora earlier this year, I went a little crazy and picked up a few things, including the Chromatico palette in Bastardino. I’ve been using some of the other products, but the cute palette remained untouched on my dresser for all this time (I couldn’t bring myself to disrupt the pans!).

Lately, however, Sephora’s been heavily pushing the products online (have you seen the Tokidoki Me portal page?), so I pulled my palette down from its perch to finally give it a try.
[Continue reading…]

Hair Do or Don’t? Colorful Clip-In Hair Extensions in Your Team’s Colors

by 31 Comments

Just added to the list of “things I’d never thought I’d live to see” — funky clip-in hair extensions made to look like sports team logos.

These are made by an outfit called Sports Hair Styles and give women (or very brave long-haired dudes) an unconventional way to support their favorite team ($12.95 each).

For the patriotic, there’s even the US flag!

While these hair extensions aren’t exactly my style, I could see how sports fiends and/or cheerleaders could rock ’em and look legit.

Would you wear clip-in hair extensions to support your favorite team?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

What do you think? Are these a hair do or don’t?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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