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

What Are You Wearing on Your Nails Today?

February 19th, 2010 by Karen 49 Comments

TGIF, rockstars! Congrats on making it to the weekend, *raises teacup.* Just a quick polish check in — I’m wearing China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy ($6.50) on my fingers and toes, ’cause I want to pretend it’s summer. How about you?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Speaking of nail polish, Illamasqua’s hosting a contest to create their next hot Nail Varnish colors.

Submit an image, photograph and/or swatch of your dream color along with a description of it in 50 words or less. Tell ’em what inspired you and why the shade should be one of Illamasqua’s next polishes (one entry per person, please).

From February 21 through March 14, send your entry via e-mail to competition@illamasqua.com; bloggers who post an entry on their sites can send their link to competition@illamasqua.com. Snail mail more your thang? Send your entry to Competition c/o Illamasqua, 6-8 Amwell Street, London, EC1R 1UQ.

On May 5, two winners will be selected to see their dream colors created and sold exclusively online at Illamasqua.com and at select Selfridges department stores in England. They’ll also get a bottle of their winning colors before anyone else. Kinda cool, yah?

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Aqua Flash

February 19th, 2010 by Karen 12 Comments

One of the four Liquid Eyeshadows from the Bronze Goddess 2010 collection, $17.50.

What say you?

Daffodils

February 19th, 2010 by Karen 3 Comments

Farewell, NY Fashion Week, and Your Colorful, Chunky Highlights

February 18th, 2010 by Karen 10 Comments

Just like my time-traveling DeLorean, the bodaciously bright highlights all over the runways in New York this week were taking me back to the future! — all the way back to 1997, when I was all about fatty-bo-batty chunks of highlighted hair. 🙂 My coif was definitely BOLD and BRIGHT back then… I loved it, except when the streaks started red but ended up an unappetizing orange!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Fashion Week: Funky, Chunky Haircolor

by Megan McIntyre, Daily Makeover

Looks like it’s time to break out the Manic Panic.

The big beauty trend for hair at Fashion Week was bright, chunky streaks of color that brought to mind punk-inspired street style circa 1996.

At the Cynthia Rowley Fall 2010 fashion show, Eva Scrivo for Wella Professionals custom colored hair extensions in shades of emerald, lapis, amethyst, navy and turquoise to replicate the rich jewel tones present in the collection.

Each hair extension was completely saturated with professional salon haircolor and then woven into the hair and styled, creating an element of surprise and intrigue when models hit the runway.

Check out more of the recent beauty coverage on Daily Makeover

9 Things: Beautiful Things I Saw Today (Makeup and Non-Makeup Related)

February 18th, 2010 by Karen 33 Comments

Today I left Tabs in charge of the homestead while I met a friend in SF for lunch. Along my way I bumped into a bunch of beautiful things like…

1. Daffodils

These smiling beauties were right outside of a Nordie’s (I stopped by the MAC counter), all in full bloom. 🙂

2. Chanel Eau Tendre Perfume

While at Nordie’s, I couldn’t resist spraying the new Chanel Eau Tendre ($65) on my wrists. It’s the third version of their Chance perfume (muskier and less citrusy than the previous two) and reminds me of one of my favorite fragrances of 2009, Estee Lauder’s Pure White Linen Pink Coral.

3. Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess is back

Swatches of ye olde bronze bombshell: 1. Liquid Eyeshadow in Aqua Flash, 2. Liquid Eyeshadow in Molten Brown, 3. Liquid Eyeshadow in Sand Shimmer, 4. Liquid Eyeshadow in Ultra Violet, 5. Lipstick in Cherry Ice, 6. Lipstick in Wild Plum, 7. Exotic Lip gloss in Wild Coral, 8. Exotic Lip Gloss in Wild Orchid, 9. Exotic Bronzing Blush, 10. Shimmer Bronzer, 11. Bronzer Duo, 12. Bronzing Gel, and 13. Liquid Bronzer

The lovely EL makeup artist who helped me at Nordie’s (Hi, Stephanie!) said Bronze Goddess would probably sell out soon, and it’s only been out a week! Matter of fact, I’d snagged the LAST Liquid Eyeshadow in Aqua Flash ($17.50; the bright, shimmery teal) and Exotic Lip Gloss in Wild Orchid ($18; the shimmery fuchsia with hints of purplish blue). If you’re at all interested in this year’s Bronze Goddess collection, you better get on that, STAT!
[Continue reading…]

If It Doesn’t Clear Up in a Week, Try Physicians Formula Organic Wear Makeup Remover Towelettes

February 18th, 2010 by Karen 14 Comments

You know that old saying, “Third time’s the charm”? It came to mind when I started putting Physicians Formula Organic Wear Makeup Remover Towelettes ($7) to the test.

They’re the third products I’ve tried so far from Phys Formula’s line of Organic Wear makeup removers (check my first attempts here and here).

Like the lotion and eye makeup remover pads I tried, these towelettes look *faboo* on paper, with excellent bona fides. 🙂 Bio-degradable, with a soothing lavendar scent, and manufactured without the use of funky chemicals or animal testing — yay, right? They look good both for peeps AND the planet.

So, do they hit it out of the park?
[Continue reading…]

New in Beauty, Feb. 18: Chanel’s $75 Temporary Tattoos and La Mer’s Regenerating Serum

February 18th, 2010 by Karen 19 Comments

New in Beauty

Chanel’s fashionably expensive new temporary tattoos ($75) are now on sale. Are they something you’d wear?
For the La Mer lovahs: Regenerating Serum ($250)
It’s a little early to think about Mother’s Day, but I bet Mom would like this yellow Clarisonic Mia ($149).
Pink Sugar wants to scent your coif with Hair Perfume ($15).
The bottle for Givenchy’s Ange ou Demon Le Secret Perfume ($73) looks … interesting.
I hope Sedu’s new Revolution Pro Tourmaline Ionic 4000i Dryer ($150) works as well as their flat iron.
I love Clinique’s Even Better Skin Tone Corrector and can’t wait to try their Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector ($50).
Something tells me Mimi/MC/Mariah would love these Hello Kitty Lip Gloss Rings ($5)
Speaking of pop beauties, I’m curious about Pop Beauty’s No Show Correct & Protect SPF 30 ($28) and Smokey Eye Magnet Primer ($18).
It’s time to JAM! — Pop Beauty Petal Jam ($14).
Cheetah print makeup bags ($14-24): cute or cheesy?
I wonder how well Laura Mercier’s Under Eye Perfector ($22) hides INTENSE dark circles.
Hmm… Must try Shu Uemura’s new makeup primer: UV Under Base Fluid SPF 20 ($35).
The Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection – N line looks promising…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How Well Do You Know Your MAC Mineralize Eyeshadows?

February 18th, 2010 by Karen 6 Comments

Test your knowledge, fair maiden!