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

Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Mini Gloss Collection: Good Things Come in Small Packages

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Do good things come in small packages? I think so! Consider Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Natural Lip Gloss ($15).

The set comes with four 0.3-oz mini-tubes of Burt’s Super Shiny Lip Gloss, each packed with hydrating sweet almond oil and made with 100% all natural ingredients. Even though they apply thin, they keep my lips moisturized and kissably soft. They’re not sticky at all, and I even like the light citrus flavor and scent, so I’m giving this set two (admittedly miniature) thumbs up. 🙂

  • Nectar Nude: sheer shimmery cool pink
  • Pucker Berry: sheer shimmery peach
  • Sweet Pink: sheer shimmery pink berry-brown
  • Zesty Red: sheer shimmery brick red

I think these are great weekend lip shades, very casual, with lots of shiny, sheer color.


From left to right: Nectar Nude, Pucker Berry, Sweet Pink, Zesty Red

The Mini Collection comes boxed and ready to be stuffed into stockings, maybe as a gift for your homegirl who always moans about perpetually dry lips (everyone has at least one of these friends, yah?). I’m thinking it might also make a good gift for my mum because she doesn’t really wear a lot of makeup but likes natural-looking lipglosses and lipsticks.

More Mini-Madness

In part of my ongoing transformation into a CCL (that’s Crazy Cat Lady, yo), I’ve been looking at random pictures and videos of cats online.

What do you think of these munchkin cats? Their legs are even shorter than mine, LOL!

I found a gazillion videos of them on youtube…

*SO CUTE!*

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What’s on Your Christmas Lemming List?

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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

  1. MAC 228 Mini Shader Brush
  2. Kate Spade Pasadena Neda Wallet in Yellow
  3. Tiffany Notes Letter K Round Pendant
  4. Lululemon Althletica Course-ette Jacket
  5. Chanel Allure Eau de Parfum Spray

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Stila Surprise and Shine Talking Palette Has Something to Tell You about Red Lipstick

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If you have at least one tube of red lipstick stashed away somewhere at home, you gotta peep the Stila Surprise and Shine Talking Palette ($45).

Why?

Because these ivory, beige and brown colors will perfectly balance out a bold red lip.

In the palette you get…

  • Nude eyeshadow: shimmery pink
  • Wheat eyeshadow: beige pearl
  • Espresso eyeshadow: shimmery gray-brown
  • Convertible Color in Peony: creamy peach-brown

In the pic above I’m wearing the palette colors with MAC Red She Said Lipstick and MAC Clear Lipglass. Don’t the shadows and blush highlight the eyes and cheeks without competing with the lipstick?

Stila calls it a “Talking Palette” because — big surprise — the palette talks. No kidding! There’s a built in microphone and speaker, with the idea being that you can record a special message for someone and give the palette away as a gift. Not only does the recipient get the gift of great makeup, but they also get to hear your lovely voice, too. Cute, yah?


Clockwise from upper left: Nude, Wheat, Peony, Espresso

Or… you could keep it for yourself and spend countless hours playing back messages like, “Girl, you are so hot it burns me just to think about you!” 🙂
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Essie Mega Mini Treasures: Great Gift for Your BFF

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If it weren’t for Essie’s hot holiday collection, I might actually feel the cold this winter. Their Winter 2008 Collection totally rocks, and now they’re coming at me with the Mega Mini Treasures set ($15). Way to go, Essie!

It comes with mini-bottles of Essie polish (0.16-fl oz each) in four easy-to-wear shades…

  • Imported Champagne: metallic golden beige
  • Jelly Apple: creamy red
  • Berry Hard: creamy dark berry
  • Pink Glove Service: creamy translucent petal pink

What do you think of the red case? Looks like a nice stocking stuffer, right? You don’t even have to wrap it! Just pop on a ribbon and voila… regular Santa’s little helper. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Beauty Snacks: Sites of the Day, Dec. 3

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Hi, girls. Well, yours truly left the Chanel counter dejected and empty handed yesterday afternoon. Yup, I just couldn’t bring myself to pull the trigger. Note to Chanel: LOWER YOUR PRICES!

Anywho, guess who spent way too much time browsing the web this morning… but it wasn’t all for naught. I found some cool stuff to share. 🙂

Ready, Set, Drool

I doubt Santa will bring me any of these Chanel handbags for Christmas, but, hey, a girl can dream.

A Little Help From the Stars

The December forecasts are up over at Astrologyzone. Fellow Geminis, beware of the mid-month full moon!

Please Don’t Bury Me Alive

I love going to the spa, but I think I’m going to pass on the cedar shavings treatment.

Please Go to Tiffany and Remedy This Sitch ASAP!

Spencer and Heidi eloped. I know, who cares, right? Still, you gotta check out their wedding rings. What do ya think of the leather AND dangly charms? LOLOLOL!

Fakin’ It, One Day at a Time

New to the world of false lashes? Me too! Here are a few helpful false lash application tips.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Chanel, I Need You! Retail Therapy, Part 6489

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Hey, ladies. WOW, I’m having a rough day today. Sorry I haven’t posted a review yet, but I’m hoping that some quality time at the mall drooling over the two new limited edition Multi-Use Makeup Palettes ($85) from Chanel will get my creative juices flowing again. Each one comes with four eyeshadows, four lip colors and a blush in some of Chanel’s bestselling shades.


Chanel Multi-Use Makeup Palette in Romantique


Chanel Multi-Use Makeup Palette in Tendresse

I want to see the Romantique palette’s warm shades in person, but I bet I’ll like the cooler Tendresse shades, too.

Of course, both palettes cost an arm and a leg, but that’s Chanel for ya. Sure would be nice if they held a SALE from time to time (hint hint!).

I’ll BRB in a few… Please tell me you’re having a better day than I am!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Have You Already Made a New Year’s Resolution?

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A recent Quirkology study (LOL!) found that most people who made New Year’s resolutions didn’t accomplish them. While a full 52% of the participants were sure they’d succeed, only 12% of them actually did!

Men were able to increase their odds of success by 22% when they engaged in goal setting, a system where small measurable goals are set (lose a pound a week, instead of saying “lose weight”), while women increased their rate of success by 10% when they made their goals public and got support and encouragement from friends and family. 🙂

Hmm…

I haven’t decided on my New Year’s resolution yet, but I’ve started a list to help me narrow ’em down. The research also shows that people do better when they plan ahead and focus on just one resolution at a time.

Women — How to keep your New Year’s resolutions

Go public
. Most women keep their resolutions to themselves, but that makes ’em easy to forget. Instead, go public. Immortalize them in print on huge pieces of paper, and post them like signs all over your house. Tell your friends and family what you’re trying to achieve, and ask them to pick you up if/when you stumble.


Be persistent. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don’t beat up on yourself if you fall off the wagon once or twice. Old habits die hard. Remember that everyone messes up from time to time. Keep the goal in sight and your eye on the prize, even when you falter.

Have you already made a New Year's resolution?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

JK Jemma Kidd Plumping Gloss: Angelina, Where’s the Blue?

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Years ago I read that wearing blue lipgloss could make your teeth look whiter, and ever since then I’ve been on the lookout for shades of blue…

…like Angelina, a shimmery blue from the JK Jemma Kidd Plumping Gloss line ($17).

First, the good news: Angelina doesn’t sting! Unlike so many of the other lip plumping formulas I’ve tried, Angelina doesn’t hurt. Some lip plumpers chemically burn the lips, causing them to swell, or “plump,” but that’s not the kind of plumping action I’m looking for, thank you very much.

I also like the lemony taste and fragrance and that the formula doesn’t feel too sticky or thick, despite the inclusion of subtle blue glitter in the mix.

Now, the not-so-good news: this isn’t much of a lip plumper. The formula didn’t make my lips look any fuller than usual (as far as I could tell), and the blue tint is barely noticeable (shoot!). Oh, and the teeth? No difference in whiteness. My fangs looked their normal shade (I drink coffee every day, yo).
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