Ooh, I loves me some Mariah…

I like her *almost* as much as I like Nutella. Nevermind the wardrobe disasters, Nick Cannon, or even Glitter. I’ve been a fan of hers for almost 20 years, and I still get psyched when she comes out with a new song, or in this case a new perfume.

Are you ready to wrap up the weekend with a giveaway?

The prize

One lucky lady will win a bottle of Mariah’s new Forever Eau de Parfum (a $55 value).

Got room for a sensual feminine floral on your dresser? How ’bout one with notes of gardenia, tuberose and musk? Mariah says it’s like a dash of Hollywood glamour, ooh la la!

How to enter…

Entering 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. In it, tell me about the last time you felt glamorous.

It was my last trip to the salon to get my hair did. The stylist blew it out, and I felt ready for the red carpet (or the beige carpet at home, ha!).

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

RT @karenmbb: RT to win Mariah Carey’s Forever Eau de Parfum (a $55 Value) http://bit.ly/aQnhMY

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’s Forever Eau de Parfum (a $55 Value) http://bit.ly/aQnhMY

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Tuesday, February 2.

Oodge uckle!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Greetings, humans. My assistant Karen hasn’t returned from the mall yet, so I’ve commandeered “the blog” this afternoon. I don’t know if I’m doing this correctly because she usually handles the tech, but here are some of the sites I’ve been visiting lately.

Blythe Blythe Blythe! — Flickr Group Pool

If you can get past the initial shock of eye contact with the Blythe dolls in this Flickr pool, you might find them quite pretty. Some look straight-up FIERCE in their ’60s clothes and bright makeup!

Aerial Virtual Tour of New York City

WHEE! It’s like I’m flying. Wait — I think I see a squirrel in the park. Up here, little guy! Yeah, above you, the cat in the sky, LOL!

kandee the make-up artist

Celebrity makeup artist Kandee seems like such a nice person that you almost forget you’re following a gifted professional. Check out her blog, and don’t miss her on YouTube, Twitter or Facebook.

LOOKBOOK.nu: collective fashion consciousness

Are you proud of your look? Want to share it with the world? Join LOOKBOOK.nu to share your style with the global community or to comment on user-submitted looks. Members hype the looks they like to push them onto the front page.


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MY BEST:

Trying Clinique High Lengths Mascara! I forgive it for having a brush that resembles an insectoid alien’s claw, but who cares when it lengthens, holds the curl and makes my lashes look dark and glossy? The more I wear it, the more I fall in love.

MY WORST:

My two weeks of great skin ended last Friday when these two ill-tempered pimples vandalized my chin. It was like they came out of nowhere, too, all “What’s for dinner, beeyotch!?” And they still hurt like hell! Shoot…

What were your best and worst beauty experiences of the week? Share yours in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Just a lazy day out here in Marin County, California. I don’t have much to report other than the fact that it didn’t rain a lick today. I can hardly believe it!

I hope your Sunday’s gone well. I’m dashing out the door to hit the mall before it closes… Gotta find a new outfit. Wish me luck!

Last week I asked you about your favorite beauty tools and mentioned a couple of mine. Here are 10 of our favorites among favorites — the beauty tools we can’t live without.

1. Tweezerman Tweezers

An Allure Best of Beauty winner nine years running, the Tweezerman just might be the finest general purpose tweezer in the world! Whether you’re an eyebrow artist or the girl next door, the Slant Tweezer’s ($20) perfectly aligned, hand-filed tips will grab every hair, every time. Available in classic stainless steel finish, Signature Red, Neon Pink, Blooming Lilac and Khaki Gold.

TIP: Tweeze in the direction your hairs grow to keep from breaking strands. Tweezing is also easier after a hot shower, or you can use a warm washcloth to open pores. To close pores when you’re finished (and reduce redness and irritation), rinse with cold water.

2. MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush

I like everything about the MAC 239 ($24.50). It’s soft and dense (just like Tabs!), and shades and blends eyeshadows like a dream. The head is tapered and rounded, with smooth, firm fibers that deposit lots of color. It’s one of the beauty tools I’m not sure I could (or would rather not) live without.

TIP: You can use it to apply powders AND creams, and when you’re done using it, if you don’t have time for a thorough brush cleaning with brush cleaner or a gentle shampoo, you can wipe the bristles down with a Wet Ones Wipe.

3. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

The Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler ($19) is practically iconic! — a legendary beauty tool, perfectly balanced and precise like a ninja’s sword. The shape of the curling surface, frame length, ergonomic handles and hinge help it to deliver the right amount of pressure to delicate eyelashes. Amazingly enough, it also suits just about every eye shape out there.

TIP: Curl before applying your mascara to reduce the risk of pulling out or breaking your lashes, and here’s a tip to get a natural lash curl.

4. MAC 217 Blending Brush

An everyday brush for shading and/or blending color or cream products. With fine, densely packed fibers and an oval head, the MAC 217 ($22.50) will take your makeup game to the next level.

TIP: A super versatile brush you can even use as a crease brush or to apply/blend cream or liquid products (like concealer).

5. Clarisonic Skincare Brush

Heavy duty hardware like the Clarisonic ($195), a gentle, sonic micro-massager (ala the Sonicare Toothbrush), removes makeup better than anything I’ve ever used before. Gentle enough to use twice/day, it also helps reduce oily areas, dry skin patches, blemishes and the appearance of visible pores, fine lines and wrinkles.

TIP: If you’re gonna pick one up, shop at a store with a good return policy (like Sephora) because it may take a couple weeks to see results (and they’re HELLA expensive). You want the option of being able to take it back if you need to.

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Why is web surfing so much more fun than EVERYTHING on my to-do list? I could be vacuuming, catching up on laundry or cleaning the windows, but instead I’m watching Cameo videos and reading about the weird stuff people put in their coffee.

Next stop: Cyberspace!

Random bright spots

• 50 ways to put the light back in your heart — Icing
• Top beauty trends at the SAG Awards — Now That’s a Makeover!
• Everything you ever wanted to know about mineral makeup application — BellaSugar
• Have you figured out your V-Day makeup yet? How about this sultry look with neutral eyes and red lips? — Temptalia
• Weird, amusing and LOL-able black and white photography — Black and WTF
• MAC heads to the beach this summer – Cosmetosaur
• Love these beachy rooms — Elements of Style
• J-Lo’s beauty secrets — Daily Makeover
• Unexpected stuff you can borrow from the library — Dry as Toast
• How NOT to hurry — Zen Habits
• A weekend guide to home and garden sales nationwide — Apartment Therapy
• Make a jewelry mirror to carry your accessories — Daisy Janie
• LOL! Birth of a Golden Girl — Popped Culture
• Raw eggs, blue cheese — you won’t believe the weird things people put in their coffee! — Putting Weird Things in Coffee
• 3 simple tips for effortless writing — Write to Done

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