A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict
Who knew green lipgloss could be so wearable?
Kermit Bale may have known, but I sure didn’t. With Prescriptives Exhilarating Lip Gloss in Guava ($14.50), it actually IS easy being green.
It’s not easy being green… Or is it?
Guava gloss is limited edition and part of the Exhilaration collection, Prescriptives’ latest tropic-themed collection for cheeks, lips and eyes.
[Continue reading…]
Looking at Urban Decay’s Get Baked palette ($28), I can’t help but think of the summer after I graduated from college.
I had moved back home to live with my parents and brother, who at the time played guitar in a heavy metal band. His band mates — who were total stoners — stopped by the house daily. They’d arrive at the door with red, glassy eyes and always, ALWAYS had a case of the munchies.
The first thing Mom would always do was offer them something to eat. They’d say “yes,” of course, devouring whatever she put in front of them. Phrases like “Fried Spam is like a symphony in my mouth” would pepper the conversations.
Now, Urban Decay insists that “Get Baked” refers to the new palette’s bronzy summertime shades and not to the form of “herbal refreshment” my brother’s band mates enjoyed.
Sure, guys. Whatever you say. 🙂
Top (from left to right): 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Bourbon, Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin. Bottom (from left to right): Eyeshadows in Twice Baked, Half Baked, Flipside and Baked.
Get Baked comes packed with four eyeshadows (shimmery brown, bronze, teal and gold), a wee bottle of Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin (a shimmery champagne) and a travel-sized 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Bourbon (a shimmery brown).
This time of year we see a lot of colors like these, but I like the arrangement of this palette. The colors work well together, and you get everything you need in terms of creating an eye look.
[Continue reading…]
Because El Hub and I are Hawaii-bound in a couple weeks, I busted out the old swimsuit last night and somehow managed to shimmy into it without bursting too many seams (*whew*!).
Of course, I couldn’t resist checking out my bum in the mirror (yes, it was still there)…
And that’s when I noticed just how pale my thighs have gotten. We’re talking five shades lighter than the rest of me.
It gave me an idea.
As someone with a built-in tan, I’ve never had a reason to venture into the world of self-tanners … until now. I’d like to smooth out my skin tone and make everything a similar shade, so I put together some research to aid my cause.
Jergens Natural Glow Express ($9) is a favorite among beauty bloggers and magazine editors for its natural tan. It’s supposed to be easy to use, available at drugstores nationwide, and I like the price point, too.
I’m betting a few of you gals are seasoned self-tanners. Do you have any tips?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
What do you think of the yellow packaging for the new Clinique Sun with SolarSmart skin care line ($17-20)?
I think it’s cheerful…
Wish we were here.
(Pool at The Inn at Key West hotel in Key West, Florida).
Can I get a show of hands from the mascara-obsessed girls out there?
(raises hand)
Yep, few things in life bring me as much joy as a true black mascara. 🙂
MBB reader Hafsa is looking for mascara recommendations, and I’m hoping we can help her out.
Hi Karen,
I’m an avid reader of your blog and love your reviews. I read your review a while back about Lancome’s Definicils, and I couldn’t agree more — love the gloss, hate the clump.
So that brings me to my question: is there a similar product, either Lancome or another company, that gives that high gloss finish but isn’t clumping? For reference, I have pretty long lashes, so clumping happens pretty easily. 🙂 Thank you so much. Any advice is appreciated!
What’s up, Hafsa! One of my favorite high gloss mascaras is fairly new. It’s by Clinique and was released this spring. It’s called High Impact Curling Mascara ($14).
It does EVERYTHING — separates, thickens and lengthens — all while delivering loads of rich, glossy color (without the clumping). All that, and it holds a curl like a mo’ fo’!
Gloss is one of the things I look for in a mascara, and High Impact Curling mascara coats lashes with a shiny, almost wet finish. I’ve been using it a ton for the past few months and like it a lot.
You might also try Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Mascara ($20) and Tarte Lights, Camera Lashes ($18). I like both of them, too.
And if you’re looking for a high gloss waterproof mascara, check out Stila Lash Visor ($12.50). I must sound like a broken record recommending it all the time, but I think it’s a fabulous mascara for the price.
Girls, do you have any glossy lash love suggestions for Hafsa? Please share your ideas in the comments.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’ve liked having long hair, but I’m *knot* a fan of the extra work. It takes longer to wash, longer to dry, longer to style and longer to color and condition.
Long hair even takes longer to shop for! I spend way more time looking for shampoos and conditioners that not only hydrate but also deal with all of the tangles than I did when my hair was short.
I’ve been using a new line of shampoos and conditioners for color-treated hair for about a week now. It’s called Dualiste, and it’s by Nexxus.
[Continue reading…]
This giveaway is closed, and the winner will be announced soon. Thanks for entering!
Back when I was in high school about a billion years ago, one of the things I loved to do after school was hit up the drugstore with my friends to grab an ice cream cone and to check out the beauty aisle.
This afternoon, I thought it might be fun if we all did something similar together (without the ice cream, unfortch), by holding a virtual drugstore makeup party from our respective corners of the world.
And instead of ice cream, the tasty treat will be a giveaway with a chance to win some makeup from Covergirl!
One lucky lady will win a prize package containing four items from the Covergirl makeup line:
There are a couple ways to enter the giveaway, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.
First, enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post. In it, tell me your favorite flavor of ice cream, the one you’d get at the drugstore. 🙂
I’ll take a single scoop of rocky road in a sugar cone, please!
Second, you can enter by subscribing to my updates by email (if you haven’t already). They’re once-a-day emails with my daily posts. You’ll get makeup collection info, beauty news and random acts of weirdness, yea!
(Note: if you’re already subscribed, you’re automatically entered to win.)
I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59PM PST Friday night.
Lycka till (that’s “good luck” in Swedish, holla)!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Congrats to Gina and Basak for winning the MAC Dazzleglass and Physicians Formula Giveaways!
This giveaway is closed, and the winner will be announced soon. Thanks for entering!