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

What Were Your Best and Worst Beauty Experiences of the Week?

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Your best and worst beauty experiences of the week?

MY BEST:

The purple and blue smokey eye I did on Friday was the most glamorous I’ve felt in weeks… I wore it to get my flu shot and then to Costco for toothpaste, ha!

MY WORST:

During and after the move. Frizzy hair and shaggy legs (can’t find my Venus razor!), the nasty breakout on my forehead, the layers of sweaty dust and grime on my skin — with the exception of Friday, it was a rough week for beauty up in here.

What were your best and worst beauty experiences of the week? Do dish in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. OMIGOD! I just found My So-Called Life on Hulu. Remember that show? Now I know how I’m spending my evening. 🙂

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 57

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On the cover of Tabbies' Home Journal

Gah! I’m not ready for Monday, ladies, and neither is Tabs. Instead of having fun at the movies, I wasted spent the better part of the afternoon at Target, wracking my brain over toilet paper roll holders and bath mats.

Tabs must have been waiting for me to return home because he was sitting in the hallway staring up at the door when I opened it. There was a word spelled out on the floor in kitty litter. It said, “haunted.”

I think he thinks the washing machine is alive. Every time it turns on he darn near has a heart attack.

Target Soap & GloryWhile I was at Target I stumbled upon those Soap & Glory beauty products they’ve had for a while. I still haven’t given ’em a try. Have you? I think the packaging’s pretty cute. It reminds me of Benefit, but a reader mentioned to me that the person who created Bliss also made Soap & Glory. Interesting…

How was your weekend?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Drew Barrymore: Her Best Hair?

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I’m speeding through my chores (vacuuming and unpacking some boxes in the kitchen) so I can play hooky this afternoon and catch Whip It at the movies.

It’s Drew Barrymore’s (born Drew Blyth Barrymore on February 22, 1975) directorial debut.

Who knew Gertie (remember E.T.?) would come so far? It wasn’t easy, though (two stints in rehab before 15), but she’s carved out successful careers in acting, film producing, and, now, directing. Homegirl’s like the Jill of all Hollywood trades!

When it comes to her hair, Drew often changes the color, length and texture. It has a girl-next-door vibe and never looks overly lacquered or perfect. I like that it looks like the kinda hair I could do myself, ya know?

Which of Drew's hairstyles do you like best?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Subscribe to Makeup and Beauty Blog: Nice Way to Start Your Day

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Makeup, makeup everywhere!

Imagine it’s Monday morning; the weekend’s over, and you’re not 100% enthusiastic about work.

Why not ease your way into the workweek with some makeup and beauty? 🙂

Each morning at around 11 o’clock my time (Pacific Standard), an email with my latest posts goes out to Makeup and Beauty Blog subscribers.

If you aren’t already subscribed, the daily emails can be a nice way to start your day. I try to keep things interesting, alternating makeup and beauty news with giveaways, product reviews, photo posts, tutorials and tips. I’ll never share your address with anyone for anything. You’ll get just one email per day, delivered fresh and hot out the kitchen (not really, but you know what I mean).

Enter your email address:

Thanks for visiting.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. If you’re completely swamped with email, you can also subscribe by RSS feed or follow me on Makeup and Beauty Blog on Twittertwitter or Makeup and Beauty Blog on Facebookfacebook.

MAC Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask: Erupting with Softer Skin

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It took all of two made-for-tv volcano flicks in the ’80s (one about Mount St. Helens and the other about Pompeii) to scar me for life.

Growing up near one of the world’s most geologically active fault lines wasn’t half as scary as the thought of mountains spewing lava and ash, yikes!

But so far the closest I’ve come to anything volcanic has been my brushes with MAC’s Volcanic Ash line of skin care products.

It’s not so much a line as a duo of products, and both are part of the Style Black collection. One of the two, Volcanic Ash Exfoliator ($20), has been released before (see an earlier review), but the second, Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask ($20), is brand new.

I always get a little nervous when I try new skin care products because I can never predict how my combo dry/acne-prone skin will react.

MAC Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask

Sometimes it’s good to be dirty. 🙂 I guess that’s where the mask comes in. It’s loaded with actual volcanic ash and oils like jojoba, lavender, evening primrose and sunflower.

Add water and the paste warms ever so slightly. That’s the thermal part (Kilauea would be proud, LOL!).

MAC recommends using it one to three times per week to deep clean and moisturize the skin (should not be used near the eyes).

Is it really volcanic?

One thing those volcano disaster movies taught me was that volcanic ash can REALLY screw people up.

In dry, powder form it contains particles that can cause serious eye trauma, worsen open wounds and even lead to respiratory problems.

But in clay form — that’s a whole different story.

Throughout history, different cultures have used volcanic ash clays for health and beauty. Even our girl Cleopatra was a fan.

So, does it work?

I know a thing or two about gunk… Last week my acne-prone skin decided to freak out. The stress of moving, excessive junk food and insufficient sleep all joined forces to summon pimples on my forehead.
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Saturday Surfing

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G’morning, ladies. Greetings on this fine fall Saturday. 🙂

Did you do anything fun last night? I planned to go to a movie but ended up staying in thanks to Hulu (multimedia crack!). Have you seen Flash Forward yet?

In the pilot, the entire population of the world simultaneously experiences a 2-minute-long blackout — just passing out whatever they’re doing and wherever they are. Planes fall from the sky, cars careen into buildings and pedestrians, and people just drop like sacks of potatoes everywhere, freaky!

While everyone’s out/under, they have dreams, but the dreams turn out to be visions of the future, of the same day six months from now.

The first show centers around one LA field office of the FBI, the families of the agents and the total mayhem and communication breakdown that follows a massive global catastrophe.

I like the sci-fi aspect (you know me), and the acting’s pretty good, too.

Got any plans today? I’ll probably stay local and do some cleaning at home. Yup, big fun.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

A Homecoming Dance Makeup Tutorial Featuring Urban Decay Cosmetics

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If you’re feeling blue about Homecoming, you’re not the only one. The color’s been a popular choice this season for formals and dances.

MBB reader Cheyda is looking for makeup ideas to go with her blue dress.

Hi Karen!

I am going to my first formal dance (homecoming) in about a week.

I’m wearing a navy strapless dress with my hair down, and I have NO idea what makeup to wear.

I want it to be kind of dramatic, but not too out there. Plus, it needs to stay put.

Any suggestions as far as colors and brands?

Thanks a bunch!

Cheyda

Hi Cheyda,

How exciting! Dances are so much fun. Not only do you get to play dress up, but they’re also great opportunities to try new makeup looks.

It sounds like you want to be noticed without looking overly done. I got you. 🙂

Before we get into details, here are some things to consider:

Photography. Chances are you’ll be in some pictures, so you’ll want makeup that looks good in photos. When I do makeup for pictures, I wear a little more than I normally would. Natural, everyday-type looks, those done with a very light hand, can look washed out under flash photography.

Leading up to Homecoming, take a few practice swings at your look. Go from start to finish and ask friends or family (or use your camera’s shutter timer) to snap some test pictures with the flash. It’ll give you time to adjust your technique before the dance.

Long-wear products. If you plan to dance the night away, you’ll want your makeup to last, so primers, waterproof formulas and long-wear products (like lipsticks vs. gloss) are musts. Layering also helps increase wear time.

To go with your navy dress. I’m thinking a shimmery purplish blue smokey eye with pinkish nude lips and a sheer, matte pink cheek. What do ya think? 🙂 I can see it now… The colors should pop without looking to matchy-matchy or melodramatic.

What you’ll need

  1. A shimmery peachy eye primer like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin ($17)
  2. A shimmery golden beige shadow with glitter like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Midnight Cowboy Rides Again ($16)
  3. A long-wear, shimmery blue eye pencil like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Binge ($36, part of the Super Stash set)
  4. A shimmery purplish blue eyeshadow like Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow in Frigid ($18)
  5. A black eye pencil like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero ($17)
  6. A waterproof mascara like Stila Lash Visor in Black ($12.50)
  7. A sheer matte pink blush like Chanel Joues Contrastes in Rose Dust ($40)
  8. A nude lip liner like MAC Cremestick Pearl Liner in Gingerroot ($14.50)
  9. A nude lipstick like Benefit Full-Finish Lipstick in Lady’s Choice ($18)

homecoming-makeup-tutorial-swatches

You can find drugstore alternatives (Sonia Kashuk makes some great ones) to most, if not all, of these products. If you’re interested, shoot me a line and I’ll send some suggestions. 🙂
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What’s Your Favorite At-Home Beauty Ritual?

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Mine’s — don’t laugh — waxing my ‘stash.

Isn’t there something oddly satisfying about efficient hair removal? Maybe it’s my inner lab technician, but I just love the process. Love warming the wax in the microwave, love applying it and, most of all, love ripping it off!

BAM! — fuzz-free and smoooove.

It’s one of those little things that I’ve always liked to do myself. I also like knowing that I’m saving money, gas and time. My nearest salon isn’t expensive or far away, but it still takes time to get there, and that $8 lip wax goes up with the tip.

Do you have a favorite at-home beauty ritual? Is it deep conditioning your hair, exfoliating your heels on the back porch, or is it your weekly mani/pedi? Don’t be shy! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Ladies, do you have any movie suggestions for me? I’m thinking about catching a flick tonight. Should I see Zombieland, Couples Retreat or something else?

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