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

10 Days of Giveaways: Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku Lovers Love Fragrance

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The giveaway is now closed, and I’m contacting the winner by e-mail. Good luck!

harajuku-lovers-love-giveaway

Dangit! I ain’t no hollaback girl!

Dear Gwen Stefani…

Please send tickets to your next show.

Kind regards,
Tabs

I was able to see her perform with No Doubt all the way back in 1994, and I still remember the way she strutted across the stage in her blonde locks and red lips. It was pretty obvious even by then that she was going to be a HUGE star.

And she hasn’t stopped with music, either, having ventured into the fashion, accessories and fragrance businesses, too.

Remember last year’s Harajuku Lovers collection? My favorite one by far was Love — coincidentally, she’s the star of today’s celebrity fragrance giveaway. 🙂

The prize

One lucky lady will take home a bottle of Harajuku Lovers Love Fragrance (a $25 value).

Isn’t the bottle super cute!? I love (ha!) the avatar’s (where can I buy her hairdo?) oh-so-coy pose on the top.

Inside the bottle awaits a floral with notes of pink peony, pink pomelo, rose, vanilla, orchid and musk.

How to enter…

2ways2enterEntering is easy. There are two different ways, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

First, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post — a comment about anything at all (doesn’t even have to be about Gwen).

I love Gwen’s style and stage presence. She *hella* brings the rock!

Follow me
Second, enter by following me on Twitter and retweeting (RT) the following message:

RT @karenmbb: RT to Win Harajuku Lovers http://bit.ly/18FNBT

Recap…

  1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
  2. Follow me on Twitter and retweet the following message:

    RT @karenmbb: RT to Win Harajuku Lovers http://bit.ly/18FNBT

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Thursday, September 24.

Alles Gute!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The giveaway is now closed, and I’m contacting the winner by e-mail. Good luck!

MAC Dazzleglass Creme, DSquared, Trend FW ’09: What Would You Get?

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mac-what-would-you-get

It’s raining MAC, hallelujah! Are you ready to get your MAC attack on? — because the collections are falling faster than you can say, “Put it on my charge card, please.”

There’s Style Black, which launches on Thursday, along with four more releases either out now or available soon after that.

  • Trend F/W ’09 — A collection for lips and eyes (there’s a scent, too!), featuring colors inspired by an urban landscape.
  • DSquared — With products for cheeks, lips and eyes, DSquared is all about sooty eyes, sculpted skin and soft, kissable lips.
  • Dazzleglass Cremes — Shimmery versions of MAC’s incredible Dazzleglass glosses.
  • Zoom Fast Black Lash — The latest member of the MAC mascara family should deliver hella dark, dramatic lashes.

Are you ready for another installment of What Would You Get?

Your makeup mission (aka your virtual haul), should you choose to accept it: If you could get any one of the following three options in its entirety (and entirely free!), which one would it be? Peruse the pics and deets, and share your answer in the poll at the bottom. 🙂

I’m going with DSquared… LOVE those Greasepaint Sticks, and that brush belongs in my grubby little paws!
[Continue reading…]

Makeup Tutorial: Red Hot Lips and Shimmery Teal Eyes

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Red lips and teal eyes makeup tutorial

Do you remember the look I tried last week that featured red lips and teal/brown eyes?

I felt like doing it again today, but this time I snapped a few extra pictures for a quickie tutorial.

mac cosmetics tutorial fashion week look eye 1

After the post last week, reader Jenna left a great tip in the comments that I also wanted to try… She suggested adding some black eyeliner to ramp up the drama, and here’s how it turned out:

mac cosmetics tutorial fashion week look eye 2

Better, right? Thanks for the tip, Jenna! 🙂

If you’d like to give the look a try…

What you’ll need

  1. An eyeshadow primer like Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($17)
  2. A creamy pearl eyeshadow like MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl ($17)
  3. A dark brown pencil eyeliner like MAC Eye Pencil in Coffee ($13)
  4. A dark brown eyeshadow like MAC Brun ($15)
  5. A warm matte brown eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Brown Script ($15) or Soft Brown ($15)
  6. A matte peach eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Arena ($15) or Bamboo ($15)
  7. A shimmery teal eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Aquadisiac ($15) or Steamy ($15)
  8. A matte black liquid eyeliner like LORAC Front of the Line Pro ($22)
  9. A shimmery golden brown eyeshadow like MAC Soba ($15)
  10. A black mascara like MAC Mascara X in Black ($13)
  11. A matte red lipstick like MAC Lipstick in Chili ($14) or Russian Red ($14)

NOTE: I ended up using MAC Eyeshadow in Waternymph instead of the teal eyeshadows and MAC Mattene in Classic Dame instead of matte red lipsticks listed above. Both are limited edition and tricky to track down, but they’re similar to the colors mentioned.

mac cosmetics tutorial fashion week look swatches 1
Swatches from left to right: Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl, MAC Eye Pencil in Coffee, MAC Eyeshadow in Brun, MAC Eyeshadow in Brownscript

mac cosmetics tutorial fashion week look swatches 2
From left to right: MAC Eyeshadow in Arena, MAC Eyeshadow in Waternymph, LORAC Front of the Line Pro Liner, MAC Eyeshadow in Soba
[Continue reading…]

10 Days of Giveaways: Mariah Carey Luscious Pink Perfume

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The giveaway is now closed, and I’m contacting the winner by e-mail. Good luck!

mariah-carey-luscious-pink-giveaway

It all started in 1990. Mariah Carey had just released Vision of Love, and I was unable to contain my glee. One could even say I was obsessed… 🙂

And I dragged my family into it, too, making my poor little brother sit through Glitter with me on opening night (LOL!); a few years before that I dragged Mom to an MC concert here in the Bay.

FUN FACT: I attended said concert dressed up like Mariah, with frayed-at-the-waist jeans, a belly-bearing pink crochet shirt and big hair. Yup…

I think it’s time for a giveaway — time to share some mad MC love! 🙂

The prize

One lucky lady will take home Mariah Carey’s Luscious Pink (a $55 value).

The delicate pink bottle (love the butterfly top!) houses a fresh, feminine fragrance with notes of Sicilian bergamot, pink peony, lily of the valley and white musk.

How to enter…

2ways2enterEntering is easy. There are two different ways, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

First, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post with the name of your favorite Mariah Carey song (here’s a list of some of her biggest hits).

There are SO MANY to choose from! But I think Breakdown will always be my fave.

Follow me
Second, enter by following me on Twitter and retweeting (RT) the following message:

RT @karenmbb: RT to Win Mariah Carey Luscious Pink http://bit.ly/d8lAz

Recap…

  1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
  2. Follow me on Twitter and retweet the following message:

    RT @karenmbb: RT to Win Mariah Carey Luscious Pink http://bit.ly/d8lAz

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Wednesday, September 23.

Pob lwc!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The giveaway is now closed, and I’m contacting the winner by e-mail. Good luck!

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque Lipsticks: High Shine, Medium Coverage, Pure Chanel

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chanel rouge allure laque review

It’s sure been an exciting couple o’ days in Coco-ville…

As if the new Jade Collection nail polishes weren’t hot enough, Chanel junkies can also drool over the new Rouge Allure Laque Lipsticks ($32).

The eight new liquid lipstick colors offer medium color coverage and high shine, with shades including Santal (a nude), Ming (a nude rose), Phoenix (a candy pink), Mandarin (a coral), Dynastie (a rosy pink), Coromandel (a red), Dragon (a true red) and Imperial (a deep rose).

What do you think about Dynastie and Imperial? Good colors for fall?

chanel rouge allure laque swatches
Swatches from left to right: Dynastie, Imperial

I haven’t felt my prettiest lately due to the packing I’ve been doing, but these two cuties have certainly helped.

chanel rouge allure laque swatches 74
Chanel Allure Laque in Dynastie

chanel rouge allure laque review swaches 73
Chanel Allure Laque in Imperial

Both shades are taste-free but have a light rose scent. Texture wise, they feel smooth, thin and non-sticky on my lips — reminiscent of Dior’s Creme de Gloss.

I haven’t had enough time with them to offer a full review yet (I’m unsure about wear time and hydration), but I’ll followup with more details soon.

All this Chanel-ness invigorates me! It’s like the makeup equivalent of push-ups. 🙂

My sisters in the Church of the Double C’s, can I get an AMEN?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What Makeup Would You Wear with a Red, White and Blue Uniform?

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Makeup for a red, white and blue uniform?

Put on your most fashionable thinking caps, gals, because Jessica needs our help. 🙂

Karen!

I’m hoping you’ve got the answer to my major problem!

I work on a cruise ship (I know, tough work) and I wear the TACKIEST red, white and blue tracksuit uniform.

What are some eyeshadow looks that I can wear every day that won’t make me look overdone, but still can help me look put-together and sassy in the world’s worst uniform?

Hi Jessica,

How super cool! I’ve seen every episode of Love Boat and circa 1982 had grand plans to become a cruise ship porter/activities director/bartender-extraordinaire.

Your uniform doesn’t sound too bad (well…). At least it’s stretchy, right?

As for your eye makeup, what about something neutral and work-appropriate that leaves room for flexibility when you’re feeling sassy?

Start with a shimmery neutral

You might start with a shimmery neutral like Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit ($19). It’s a shimmery champagne cream shadow that really brightens up the eyes and looks pretty much fab on *everybody*.

Apply over the entire eyelid with a finger or a synthetic brush (because they aren’t as absorbent as natural fibers, synthetic bristles work well for cream products) like the MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush ($25).

To complete the look when you’re pressed for time (maybe late for bingo on the ship?), just curl your lashes and add mascara.

Consider a black liquid liner

When time isn’t of the essence, sassify the look with some liquid liner along your upper lash line. I like Lorac’s Front of the Line Pro ($22), a new liquid liner pen that just hit shelves this fall. It makes lining a cinch, and the rich black color lasts all day long.

Do a thin line when you want subtle definition or a thicker cat eye line (with a flick at the end) when you want a more dramatic version.

Crank it up with colored mascara

Sassify the look even more by replacing your regular mascara with a tinted shade — perhaps a green, blue or purple. I totes adore Estee Lauder’s Sumptous Color Mascaras ($20). They deliver eye-popping color while adding lash thickness, length and lift.

Have fun on the high seas! 🙂 Drop me a line (or a message in a bottle) once in a while to let me know how you and your makeup are doing.

Ahoy, ladies! What else could Jessica do with her makeup considering her red, white and blue cruise ship uniform? Use your imagination, and share your ideas in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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