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

What’s on Your Christmas Lemming List?

December 10th, 2009 by Karen 51 Comments

Ho ho ho! Yea! The Great Christmas Lemming just teleported into town, plump with pagan magic and Christmas cheer (or is that a tapeworm?). Santa dispatched him to the blogosphere to find out what everyone wants for Christmas.

The first words out of his mouth were “Eek! Eek-ack! Ack!” which, loosely translated, mean “Tell me the top 5 things on your Christmas list, and I’ll take them back with me to the North Pole.” Please leave your list in the comments. 🙂

He says he’ll take all requests into consideration and encourages you to act now (because Christmas gifts are on a first come, first served basis this year).

My Christmas Lemming List

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Aw, Shiitake!

December 10th, 2009 by Karen 7 Comments

Who else thinks of Super Mario Bros when they see mushrooms?

Anyone?

Vintage Tabs, Vol. 2

December 10th, 2009 by Karen 6 Comments

An old school pic of Tabs posing with his favorite MAC Hello Kitty palette.

Lip Look: Hourglass Extreme Sheen Gloss in Siren

December 10th, 2009 by Karen 58 Comments

hourglass cosmetics extreme sheen siren lip

Well, hello, pigment! When it comes to color, Hourglass Cosmetics’ Extreme Sheen Lipgloss in Siren ($28), a shimmery reddish copper, does NOT mess around.

hourglass cosmetics extreme sheen siren swatch

It’s like a technicolor dream in tube form! Super rich, right?

And opaque color isn’t the only thing this gloss has going for it…
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DuWop Foundation of Youth, Revisited

December 10th, 2009 by Karen 30 Comments

duwop-foundation-of-youth

G’morning, ladies! 🙂 How was your night?

SIDE NOTE: Okay, I have to ask: did you watch Glee? OMG, right? The shizz hit the fan!

Oh! A few of you asked about the foundation I wore in Monday’s office holiday party look. Well, it’s my new (although the product itself has been around for a while) foundation favorite, DuWop Foundation of Youth ($38).

I discovered it some time last spring but sorta forgot about it for months, oops (makeup ADD)!

When I noticed it sitting on my counter last week, I remembered how much I liked it.

It’s the foundation I wore for both the Urban Decay Show Pony and Prescriptives FOTD’s.

Do you ever do that? — completely forget about products that you actually loved, only to remember how much you loved them many months or years later?

Weird!

I’m so glad we reconnected, though, because I’d forgotten just how natural it feels on my skin and how beautifully it photographs (takes very well to the flash).
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Holiday Party Makeup: A Casual Get-Together with Friends

December 9th, 2009 by Karen 47 Comments

holiday party makeup tips

Not being able to concentrate worth a biscuit today, I decided to skip work and play with looks for an upcoming get-together with two of my girlfriends this Saturday.

They were bridesmaids in my wedding, and they’re coming over in the morning for brunch (I think they really just want to hang out with Tabs). 🙂

It’ll be a casual weekend thang, so maybe something light and sparkly…

This cool-toned look uses products from the Clarins Palazzo D’Oro collection.

Just like Monday’s potential office party look, this look’s pretty conservative, relying on cool browns, pinks and golds for the eyes, lips and cheeks.

clarins palazzo doro collection jolie rouge gold attraction closeup

To go with their collection, the holiday elves at Clarins posted four nifty eye maps.

I chose the “Festive Evening Look” because of how subtle I think the colors look on my skin tone. I’m sure lighter lovelies could also rock it for daytime but might try using a light touch during application.
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Hourglass Cosmetics and Wednesday Tomfoolery

December 9th, 2009 by Karen 66 Comments

hourglass cosmetics review

Heya, ladies! I’m having one of those days again…

My brain feels stretched in 10 different directions!

Concentration much? I’m so jumbled up right now that I’m not even gonna attempt to form a cohesive thought.

Whenever I have days like these, I like to just braindump my thoughts into a list.

1. Have you tried Hourglass Cosmetics yet?

I’ve seen the line carried at my nearby Sephora for a while, but I only just got around to giving it a try. The prices aren’t fantastic (products in the $25-65 range), but I like the texture, pigmentation and packaging of what I’ve seen so far.

hourlgass-cosmetics-review-2
Visionaire Eye Shadow Duo in Exhibition (left) and Lagoon (right), each $38

hourglass cosmetics review primer set
Primer Set in Veil/Solar Tan $56

hourglass cosmetics review shade
Shade Eyeshadow in Petal (I have a feeling this might be discontinued; I’ve only found it online at eBay)

I’m digging the eyeshadows — super smooth with saturated color — and the Extreme Sheen Lipglosses look like standouts in the line.

Check out how opaque Siren is… YOWZA!

hourglass cosmetics swatches
First row: Visionaire Eyeshadow Duo in Lagoon; Second row: Visionaire Eyeshadow duo in Exhibition; Third Row: Calligraphy Liquid Eye Liner in Ebony, Extreme Sheen Lipgloss in Siren, Shade Eyeshadow in Petal

Oh, I almost forgot. Hourglass is hosting a friends (LOL, I almost typed “fiends”) and family sale good through December 14. Enter promo code HGFRIEND at checkout to get 20% off. 🙂