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

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Dec. 28

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When I was checking Tabs out of Hotel Cattyfornia this morning the girl working the front desk spilled the beans on my little Lothario. Apparently, he and a girl cat named Snowflake snuck out for a few hours on the day after Christmas, presumably to take advantage of the after Christmas sales.

I asked him about it in the car on the drive home today, but he wasn’t talking. 🙂 I did find this picture on his iPhone though… Can you spot Tabs and Snowflake (click for a larger version)?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

FDA OKs 1st Eyelash Drug Latisse

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If you could get substantially longer, thicker, darker lashes, but the process risked permanently darkening your irises, would you still do it?

Earlier this month, the FDA approved the very first drug for use promoting eyelash growth, according to Allergan, the company that makes the drug.

Latisse, available by prescription early in 2009, contains the same active ingredient in the glaucoma drug Lumigan, which is also made by Allergan.

Eyelash growth has long been a known side effect of Lumigan, so Allergan figured they’d take advantage of the side effect, repurposing Lumigan as Latisse.

While Lumigan is an eyedrop, Latisse gets dabbed along the lash line on the upper eyelids, where it goes to work promoting longer, thicker, darker lashes.

How well does it work?

Allergan claims that Latisse users can expect longer, fuller and darker eyelashes in as little as eight weeks, with full results in 16 weeks, and one clinical study involving 278 adult patients (here’s the product information PDF) backs up the claim.
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Butter London Nail Polishes: Vibrant But Fleeting

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Because I love the company’s name, I buttered myself up to like Butter London nail polishes. I’d never tried the brand before, but at $12 each I expected a lot.

They’re classified “3 Free,” meaning they don’t contain formaldehyde, toluene, or DBP (phthalate). My only other experience with a “3 Free” polish is Lippmann ($15 each), and I hella love those, so you can see why I was expecting a lot from Butter London.

Last week I tested the two colors they released for fall/winter, Branwen’s Feather and Saucy Jack.

Too many coats

One coat of Butter London polish doesn’t do much, applying almost transparently. It took me four coats to get a rich, solid shade with Branwen’s Feather (a glittery dark purple) and three coats with Saucy Jack (a creamy red).

Pretty colors

I like both of these shades, particularly Saucy Jack, which I like a little more than Branwen’s Feather. Once dry they’re both vibrant, eye-catching and shiny.

Hello, Mr. Chips

But after one day of wear, half of the nails I’d painted were already chipping. My nails take a lot of abuse, so any nail polish I’m going to wear on a regular basis has to be tough. Lippmann polishes are. They’re tough as nails (hehe!), but Butter London — not so much.
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Vs. Random Acts of Nature

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Hey, ladies! I’m writing this post from my phone at the airport. I was supposed to leave Oahu last night on a red eye, but there was a massive power outage all over the island. The airport was shut down and all the outbound flights were cancelled. I managed to get on a flight this morning, though, so it’s all good. Because of these unexpected events, I won’t be able to blog until I get home later on tonight, but I’ll check in again after landing.

I just wanted to pop by to wish you a good day. Have a lovely Saturday, and I’ll talk to you soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Dior Style Liner in Argent Silver, AKA Glitter Liquid Liner for Dummies

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Add Dior Style Liner to the ranks of the GOOD GLITTERS. The small size of the flakes and softness of the their texture keeps this silver liquid liner (soo pretty!) from looking too eighth grade dance. It’s the easiest liquid liner I’ve ever used!

Because 1) I’m 33 and 2) very clumsy, I don’t wear many glittery liquid eyeliners. They can be recipes for disaster!

Most liquid liner formulas, particularly ones with glitter in them, tend to run and get all over the place. I call it the glitter conundrum; it seems like when beauty products are built to deliver glitter, glitter drives the product’s development more than the overall quality of the product itself.

That’s why I like Dior Style Liner.

The thick gel formula, the fine grain of the glitter bits (so fine that the product looks almost like metallic paint) and the fine, semi-stiff brush tip applicator make it easier for me to apply and to control than usual for glittery liquid liners.

Not only is Style Liner easy to use, but it feels age-appropriate. I can’t be running around like a wanna-be tween, ya know?
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What Is this Japanese Beauty Product?

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Okay, contestants, stretch those brain muscles because it’s time for another round of What Is this Japanese Beauty Product?

I can’t speak or read a lick of Japanese, but I love Japanese product packaging.

Without searching online or scanning the comments for clues, can you guess what this product is?

What is this?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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