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

Let Loose with a Splash of Color

March 27th, 2010 by Karen 6 Comments

(click the tiny arrows above)

Neutrals are like the Old Faithfuls of makeup. I love ’em, but sometimes they can get a little boring. If you’re looking for fresh ideas, why not try a splash of color?

Sometimes all it takes is a peep at the yellow nail polish on your toes or bright red lips looking back at you in the mirror to brighten your day.

Here are a few ideas to put a little color in your step. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing

March 27th, 2010 by Karen 18 Comments

What’s shakin’, turkey bacon? Are you up for a little surfing today? Tabs is napping, but I’m sufficiently caffeinated and ready to roll, WHEEEE! 🙂

Random Bright Spots

A new Q&A with makeup artist Carmindy — Temptalia
Do Chanel’s Summer 2010 polishes live up to the hype? — All Lacquered Up
Confused about luminizer? Here’s how (and why) they’re worth a try — Bella Sugar
Would your dude wear these BB Couture nail polishes? — Vampy Varnish
Twitter helps you choose your own adventure! — Jonah Peretti
What really goes down at a Benefit Power Primer Party — The Secret Life of a Benefit Gal
4 stylish spring jackets and how to wear them — College Fashion
Lina swatches a few of Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring Makeup colors — The Beauty Look Book
An orange NARS Multiple? I’m all over that — Sugar Social
Have you heard of BlackBeach nail polish? — We Heart This
I dig the packaging for Lipstick Queen (sucker for large typography) — Face Candy

New in Beauty

YAY! Nordie’s finally has the Addicted to Dior Luggage Tags ($60) online
Um… The Smoothing Lacquer Lip Polish ($30) has a “spinning applicator” that’s supposed to mimic how a makeup artist works
I think might have to pick up Murad’s Acne & Wrinkle Reducer ($58)
Bliss says their Pore-fector Gaget Kit ($185) is the next best thing to an at-home esthetician
LOVE the bottle for Viktor & Rolf’s limited-edition Flowerbomb La Vie En Rose ($80)
Cake’s Satin Sugar Powder ($16) refreshes your hair AND your bod
Yves Saint Laurent reformulated their Dessin du Regard Eye Pencils ($28) by adding richer pigments
Aerie, an American Eagle brand, just launched a line of makeup for eyes and lips called Aerie Color ($8-15)
Buy $50 in LORAC online and get a complimentary Mini Mocktail Set of six glosses (free shipping!)
Lancome’s Bronze Riviera summer collection includes glowy shades of bronze and a playful POP of pink

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Milani 3D Glitzy Glamour Gloss

March 27th, 2010 by Karen 9 Comments

A few of Milani’s 3D Glitzy Glamour Glosses ($7 each).

Marc Jacobs Daisy In the Air

March 27th, 2010 by Karen 2 Comments

What do you think of the limited edition bottle for Marc Jacobs Daisy In the Air Eau De Toilette Spray ($57)?

It’s the same Daisy scent in a different outfit for spring. 🙂

I just started wearing it, and so far, I like it — on me it’s light and floral, with a touch of apple.

I’m Dreaming of Dolce and Gabbana Midnight Bloom

March 26th, 2010 by Karen 58 Comments

Wearing some things from Dolce & Gabbana’s Midnight Bloom summer collection: Smooth Eye Colour Duo in Laguna (eyes), Crayon Intense in Blue (eyes), Luminous Cheek Colour in Tan (cheeks) and Classic Cream Lipstick in Delicate (lips)

I had a dream once where I was wandering through a beautiful tropical garden at night. It was just me by myself, exploring under the light of a full moon, and had I stumbled across it in the dream,Dolce & Gabbana’s Midnight Bloom summer makeup collection would have fit right in.

Clockwise, from upper left: Luminous Cheek Colour in Tan, Smooth Eye Colour Duo in Laguna, Crayon Intense in Blue, Classic Cream Lipstick in Delicate

The greens, corals, pinks and solitary electric blue look like the colors from a nighttime scene — soft, romantic and almost pastel — but while the colors befit a fantasy, the prices aren’t so dreamy. Ranging from $20-59 apiece, they’re definitely not as affordable as drugstore brands.

This week I took a look at four things from the collection.

Smooth Eye Colour Duo in Laguna ($36)

This powder eyeshadow duo comes with two shimmery shades, a forest and a seafoam green, that blend soooo crazy good. The soft, fine texture just melts right into your skin. And paired with a good base like Urban Decay’s Eden Primer Potion, they last all day long with very little fading or creasing. Who’s it for? Girls who love greens and don’t mind a splurge. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A
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Does Estee Lauder’s Sumptuous Waterproof Bold Volume Lifting Mascara Pass the Treadmill Test?

March 26th, 2010 by Karen 20 Comments

Deep thoughts from the males of Casa MBB:

“You don’t need to wear lipgloss to bed, sweetie.” — El Hub
“Meow. Mrrrroooow.” (Translated: “Woman, you must provide gravy for me to pose for you. Check the contract.”) — Tabs
“I just don’t see how wearing mascara while you’re on the treadmill is a necessary thing.” — El Hub

There are soooo many things dudes don’t get — like why women need 10 pairs of black shoes (HELLO!), or why it’s completely rational to wear mascara during a workout.

What can I say? I feel less Uncle Fester if I’m huffing and puffing with a lil’ bit of eye makeup on. 🙂

For today’s treadmill sesh I wore Estee Lauder’s new Sumptuous Bold Waterproof Mascara ($18.50, available in brown and black).

Aboard the treadmill

Sumptuous Waterproof (I have it in black) totally kills when it comes to lifting the lashes and keeping a curl; eyes look w i d e and awake with it on.

More reasons to like Estee Lauder Sumptuous Waterproof Bold Volume…

Deep, rich color

Smooth, non-clumping formula

Lashes feel soft and light, not crispy or heavy (dontcha hate that?), with it on

With a good eye makeup remover like Bliss Lid + Lash Wash, removal is a cinch; no scrubbing neccessary

And I gotta give props to Sumptuous Waterproof for resisting smudging and flaking.

To see how well it performs in the waterproof department, I put it to the test today, popping on three layers before I went running on the treadmill.

Nekkid lashes
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New in Beauty, Mar. 26: Chanel Pops Up Again, but NARS Is Just So Famous

March 26th, 2010 by Karen 42 Comments

Good mornin’, ladies. 🙂 I hope you slept well. It promises to be a beautiful day. The sun is out, birds are singing, and Tabs is writing an ode to Fridays in his journal on the windowsill.

I thought I’d start the day with a look at what’s new and exciting in the worlds of makeup and beauty. If anything’s missing (and I’m sure things are), please add them to the comments.

New in Beauty

Totally in with the blush, lip pencil and mini-Orgasm Multiple in the NARS So Famous Set ($44; $61 value)
Chanel’s Les Pop-Up De Chanel collection arrives this May with vibrant pops of neon pink, sunny coral and turquoise
Shu Uemura says Pro Concealer ($23) is a full-coverage concealer that really does look natural
I NEED the Tokidoki SANDy Nail File ($5)!
Would your man ever use Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Health Bronze Energizing Gradual Tan Moisturizer ($23)?
For Mother’s Day (May 9!), what about Dolce & Gabbana’s Rose The One Mother’s Day Set ($75)?
L’Occitane’s Ultra Rich Face Cream ($39) is a nourishing shea butter bath for your skin
Smashbox’s Cream Eye Liner Palette ($32) houses 10 shades in metallic hues
Guerlain’s Liquid Eyeliner ($35) sports an ultra-fine brush with a surprisingly long handle
Dior’s launching Hydralife ($39-$73), a collection of moisturizers and serums formulated with pure plant extracts
Would you throw down 30 bones for Yves Saint Laurent’s Instant Eye Make-Up Remover ($30)?
If you have any tattoos you’d like to cover, Kat Von D’s Tattoo Eraser ($14) can help
Dior’s Diorsnow White Reveal Illuminating Eye Treatment ($68) is supposed to diminish dark circles, puffiness and dark spots around those adorable eyes
If you can name the font on the Supergoop! ($12-68) packaging, I think you’re officially awesome 🙂
Tarte’s Little Black Dress Eyeshadow Palette ($21) comes with eight shadows in shades of brown, pink, purple and blue
Prada’s Infusion de Tubereuse ($74) boasts notes of tuberose and blood orange
Get a free 8-piece gift set (a $110 value) with any Estee Lauder purchase of $39.50 or more at Bloomingdale’s?
The Bare Escentuals Pink Delicious 100% Natural Lipgloss Kit ($26) looks like a yummy desert
What do ya think about the website for Dior’s Miss Dior Cherie perfume?
For my fellow Bay Area gals, Blo Bar Dry Bar, a salon specializing in blow outs, is opening a new location in San Francisco
More from Bare Escentuals: Big & Bright Eyeliner Pencil ($14) and Flawless Definition Waterproof Mascara ($18)

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!). 🙂

Milani Neon Nail Polish

March 26th, 2010 by Karen 8 Comments

What do you think of Milani’s Neon Nail Laquer ($5)?