Whatever you’re doing tonight, rock it out, even if it involves 80’s dance moves. 🙂
See you in 2009!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Archives for December 2008
New Year’s Eve Makeup Ideas from Benefit Cosmetics Co-Founder Jean Ford
Earlier this month I got the chance to chat with Jean Ford, co-creator of the Benefit Cosmetics line.
To be blunt, Jean’s hot (and *very* tall!), and she has lots of fierce fashion and makeup advice.
We talked about high heels and Foot Petal inserts, makeup trends and what kind of makeup to wear to parties.
Jean even offered some tips for creating a soft and subtle brown and pink look for New Year’s Eve. Thanks, Jean!
Come hither eyes
For this look, start with a deep, rich cocoa colored shimmery shadow on the lids, working the color just barely into the crease. Try the dark brown shade from the Big Beautiful Eyes Palette (a shimmery dark brown) or Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Busy Signal (also a shimmery brown).
Next, ramp it up by patting a shimmery pink eyeshadow like Lust Duster loose eyeshadow in Cloud 9 on top of the brown. Use your fingers to place the shadow on the center of the lid and to blend out the edges.
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Magic Makeup GPS
Have you ever used one of those GPS devices in a car to help you get where you were going? Well what if there was a special makeup GPS that helped you find exactly what you were looking for?
What if you had your very own Magic Makeup GPS?
Loading ...Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Enter One Final Giveaway of 2008: MAC Brunette Blonde Redhead
UPDATE: The contest is closed, and I’ll be announcing the winner shortly. Thanks for entering!
Get ready to flip, whip and work that hair because MAC’s new Brunette Blonde Redhead Collection is about to land on MAC counters nationwide, HAAAAAAY!
The mega huge release features three distinct sets — Brunette, Blonde and Redhead — with more than 30 total products (30 pieces of makeup and three brushes). Each of the three sets is made up of products designed to complement a different color hair. Clever, yah?
Click here and here to see full listings and swatches.
The MAC Brunette Blonde Redhead Giveaway
No matter what your haircolor, chances are you’ll find something to like in this collection.
Enter today’s year ending MAC giveaway by signing up to receive my updates by email or by leaving a comment on this post (or both!). If you’re already signed up for the updates, you don’t have to do anything else to be entered to win — you’re already entered — but you can double your chances by also leaving a comment on this post (a comment about anything at all). 🙂
The Prize
One lucky winner will ring in the new year with six items from the MAC Brunette Blonde Redhead Collection ($85 value).
- What A Do! Lipstick: neutral pink coral
- Soft Wave Lipglass: tan bronze
- Henna Eye Shadow: dark gold
- B-Babe Lipstick: rich pink
- Red Devil Lipglass: coral orange
- Flip Eye Shadow: bronze gold
How to Enter
Again, there are two ways to enter, and you can do both of them to double your chances.
- If you haven’t already signed up to receive Makeup and Beauty Blog daily email updates, then enter your email in the pink box below (or click this link).
- If you have already subscribed to the email updates but want to double your chances, add a brief comment at the bottom of this post (be sure to use a valid email address).
I’ll choose the winners at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 PM PST on Wednesday, December 31. The contest is open to all US and international readers. Good luck, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Chanel Spring 2009 Makeup: The Aqualumiere Lipsticks
The two Aqualumiere lipsticks in Chanel’s Spring 2009 Makeup Collection make me want to sip hot java late at night from oversized mugs while listening to spoken word poetry and whispers of revolution.
The collection’s called Bohemian Fantasy, and both of the lip shades, Malta and Positano ($27 each), ease out of winter with just the faintest hints of color.
The easy-to-wear, nude colors are tender enough to work with almost any look, like the comfy white t-shirts of the lipstick world — classic yet breezy — and will pair perfectly with floaty floral dresses, or jeans and tank tops.
Malta’s a shimmery peachy-pink copper with golden glitter, and unlike many coppers that look too Oompa Loompa orange on my lips, Malta looks just right (yay!). One layer and I’m ready to spring out the door! Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A
December Roundup: The Month in Review
A Smokey Eye Tutorial with MAC Cosmetics Metal Urge Gilded Ash Cream Shadow and Cocomotion Pigment
“I don’t know if I’ll ever tire of doing smokey eyes. There are just so many different ways to work the look, like this spin on a daytime eye for work. It’s a method I learned from my favorite MAC artist, Jen, using products from the MAC Metal Urge and Red She Said collections.”
MAC Makeup for Work: Club and Woodwinked Eyeshadows
“I’m sporting two of my very first MAC eyeshadow purchases, Club and Woodwinked (both part of the permanent collection). I could write sonnets on both of these colors, as they’ve seen me through a lot over the past few years.”
NARS The Multiple Duo and The Multiple Bronzer
“I’d been looking forward to trying the new oil-free, cream-to-powder The Multiple Duo ($45) in Portofino/Malibu and The Multiple Bronzer ($37) in Malaysia since they debuted last month, but because I’d never used any of the original The Multiple products, I had no clue how and where to apply ’em! Thank goodness for Nars National Trainer Janice Daoud. She was nice enough to offer a few of her favorite application tips and tricks.”
Benefit Coralista Blush Has Got Me Purring
“MEOW! I’m a packaging ho, and Benefit Coralista ($28) blush’s jungly, cheetah print box (don’t you just love the font?) sucked me in immediately. It makes me feel like a cat woman on the prowl! Arriving at Benefit counters in February, this shimmery coral powder has cult beauty fave written all over it.”
MAC Cosmetics Dame Edna Collection Swatches and First Impressions
“Like Le Grande Dame herself, the collection is a little odd. It’s heavy on blue-based shades and frosty finishes with splashes of coral. I haven’t figured out how it’s all supposed to mesh together, but I think I’ll have a better idea once MAC posts the face charts online.”
How to Cover Up Dark Circles For a Wedding, Prom or Party with MAC Cosmetics Studio Finish Concealer
“I suffered through a really bad bought of insomnia a few weeks ago, and my dark circles were extra terrible. My regular concealer, MAC Select Moisturecover, just wasn’t gettin’ it done. My friend Jen’s wedding was right around the corner, and I didn’t want to show up looking like death warmed over. I needed serious coverage, and I needed it fast.”
With Pop Beauty Cat Eyes Liners It’s Good to Be Catty
“OBSESSION ALERT! Pop Beauty Cat Eyes Liners ($16) make applying eyeliner easy and, well, kinda fun. Slanted like the tips of calligraphy pens, these three three highly pigmented pencil liners are built to hit the right angles for slick cat eyes (think Amy Winehouse pre-hot mess).”
Berry Me in Tarte Berry Couture for the Holidays
“Tarte wants to wish you a very berry Christmas with the Berry Couture gift set ($35). It comes with two products (actually, three, because one’s a duo) — one full-sized Cheek Stain and a mini-Rise and Shine lip duo with a gloss and a stain — items perfect for rushed makeup morning or for those moments when you just want a little color.
Chanel Spring 2009: Product Pictures and Description
“Inspired by boho-chic style and gypsy dresses, the new look features plum and beige colors for the eyes, fiery red and nude lip shades and a brown cheek color. I haven’t seen it in person (yet), but the product descriptions and pictures make me think of singer Stevie Nick’s early 80s witchy-boho-gypsy style.”
Go Purple with Diorshow Plum Mascara
“After fall’s flood of faux plum mascaras (ahem, Benefit BadGal Plum and Clarins Wonder Plum), I started to think plum lashes were the stuff of legend — just something from the land of make believe, like unicorns and hit movies starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. But Dior had a little something to say about that. They’ve proved me wrong with their limited edition Diorshow Plum Mascara ($24). Finally! A plum mascara that actually looks purple on lashes and not just the brush.”
Slumdog Millionaire: SERIOUSLY. FREAKIN’. BRILLIANT.
I went to see the movie Slumdog Millionaire last night, and can I just say WOW? Run to your nearest theater and watch it. Today! Brilliant storytelling and cinematography, and I wouldn’t be surprised if director Danny Boyle takes home some big awards for this one.
In the film, slumdogs are unfortunate people born and raised in the sprawling slums of India. From birth they’re almost assured a life of extreme poverty and squalor, and the story follows a small group of slumdogs trying to break free from their past.
Actress Freida Pinto plays the female lead character, Latika, and HELLO, the woman’s uber-gorgeous. I’d never heard of her before I saw the movie, but she (along with the rest of the cast) does a fantastic job.
What’s the last great movie you’ve seen?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Chanel Spring 2009 Makeup: The Glossimers
It’s that time again, ladies … time for Chanel! And time to go buck nekkid lips courtesy of spring’s two 2009 Glossimer lipglosses ($26 each).
They’re new, they’re nude, and they’re ready to bust a micro-glittery move on that pucker.
Wild Rose (my *favorite*) shimmers as a cool-toned plum pink with teeny flecks of silver glitter. She’s a beauty worn all by her lonesome, but I picture her pairing perfectly with smokey brown and plum eyes. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A
Beige Guitare grossed me out a little at first because it’s flesh-colored in the tube, kinda like Spencer Pratt’s fleshy beard, EWWW.
But I changed my tune after a quick swatch on the back of my hand. The color flashes from pink to beige to gold in the light, just like RuPaul, LOL! And there’s even glitter — hot pink, gold and silver — for extra credit.
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When It Comes to Travel Makeup…
Hi, ladies. I’m just playing around with video on the blog. Yes, I know I’m a dork.
You can do the look I describe in the video in under 5 minutes. Great for when you’re running late and struggling to catch an early morning flight.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen