WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winners is Justine! Congratulations, Justine! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet.

Hooray! Hooray! It’s finally spring.

Just about time to put away the winter coats and boots and bust out the cute spring dresses and sandals.

Hmm… Now that I think about it, along with revampinng my wardrobe, now might also be a good time to rethink my skincare regime, to stay on top of the weather (not as cold and drying anymore).

How did your skin fare this winter? If it could use some tender loving care, you’ll definitely want to enter this weekend’s Neutrogena giveaway, which features five skincare products to cleanse, exfoliate, heal and protect.

One (1) Neutrogena Spring Cleaning gift basket valued at $40 filled with the following goodies:

• Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser ($8.99)
• Pore Refining Exfoliating Cleanser ($6.49)
• Deep Clean Long-Last Shine Control Cleanser Mask ($7.49)
• Oil-Free Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 35 ($9.99)
• Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes ($6.49)

• There are two ways to enter, 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, a comment about anything at all, like, what’s your favorite color (mine changes a lot, but right now it’s purple)? When was the last time you rode the rails? Do you prefer hard or soft pillows? Do you go all out for spring cleaning? Do you play any musical intruments? Which Neutrogena product/s would you stockpile if you found out they were going to discontinued soon? Are you a fast talker, or do you speak slowly? How do you feel about flip-flops to work? — you get the idea.
• Second, you can enter by following me on Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
  • Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a Neutrogena Spring Cleaning Skincare Gift Basket! http://bit.ly/13GC6hN

• The deadline to enter is Sunday, March 31, 2013 (Easter!) at 11:59 p.m. (PST).
• Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
• A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
• Contest is open to individuals in the United States who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
• Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
• The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
• Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy early Easter!

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winners is Justine! Congratulations, Justine! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet.

Five of six new $8.49 Neutrogena Crease Proof Eye Shadows, available now at drugstores and online

El Hub and I have been talking about taking a trip somewhere soon. It’s been about a year since the last time we got well out of Dodge, and even though we have no definite plans whatsoever, the very mention of the word, “trip,” is enough to get me thinking about travel makeup.

I’m wondering if these Neutrogena Crease Proof Eye Shadows should tag along…

The formula for this new line of six smartly priced $8.49 shimmery cream shadow sticks contains a primer, supposedly reducing/eliminating creasing and fading, while the colors brighten and revive your eyes.

Not a bad idea for the price, right?

Sounds good to me. I like the convenience of stick products like these and love the notion of skipping primer. And then there’s the price, which works out well for travel, seeing as accidents (crushed or missing makeup bags, GASP!) occasionally do happen when I’m out and about.

Five of the six Neutrogena Crease Proof Eye Shadows from the left: Perfect Pink, Constant Copper, Stay Golden, Forever Platinum and Stay-Put Plum

Swatches of the Neutrogena Crease Proof Eye Shadows from the left: Perfect Pink, Constant Copper, Stay Golden, Forever Platinum and Stay-Put Plum

Wearing Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Bright Berry 40 ($8.49), one of eight new MoistureSmooth Color Sticks available now at drugstores, grocery stores and online

Remember when you’d get that rush as a kid from opening a fresh box of crayons? (Um…or was that just me?)

That’s kind of how opening one of these new $8.49 Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Sticks feels. Suddenly, I’m in art class again, daydreaming about where these colorful sticks will take me.

Don’t they seem a lot like Clinique’s line of Chubby Sticks (which cost almost twice as much, BTW)?

Sure, they might not be all that original (they also look and feel a lot like Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balms), but I gotta say — downright stellar for the price!

Smooth, light, moisturizing and non-sticky, they leave a soft wash of shiny color that lasts from 2-3 hours.

When my lips are dry, the MoistureSmooth Color Sticks moisturize ‘em, and give them a nice, sheer-to-medium tint, without drawing any unwanted attention by highlighting flakes.

My nose and taste buds also like the faint peach gummy candy flavor and scent, which fades within a few minutes…

Neutrogena’s MoistureSmooth Color Sticks ($8.49 each)

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick Swatches from the left: Juicy Peach 10, Fresh Papaya 20, Sweet Watermelon 30, Bright Berry 40, Warm Caramel 50, Warm Caramel 50, Soft Raspberry 60, Plum Perfect 70 and Rich Raisin 80

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Juicy Peach 10

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Fresh Papaya 20

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Sweet Watermelon 30

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Bright Berry 40

Wearing two coats of the new Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara in Carbon Black ($8.49), one of three shades available now at drugstores and online

If you’re into no-makeup makeup looks that go the extra mile, don’t forget your lashes. Swing by the Neutrogena section at your favorite drugstore the next time you cruise the beauty aisle (Can I come with?? We can get Thrifty brand ice cream after), and peep the new $9 Healthy Lengths Mascara.

Supposedly able to make lashes look 100% longer — or twice as long — it’s also designed to strengthen lashes over time from the inside out with vitamin E and olive oil.

Hmm… I’ll pretend that by “100% longer,” Neutrogena meant to say, “slightly longer.” LOL! Because 100% might be a bit of a stretch.

Two coats and my lashes appear lifted, curled, separated and just ever-so-slightly thicker and longer…for the ultimate in no-makeup makeup lash looks.

No mascara on the left, and two coats of Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara on my upper and lower lashes on the right

Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara tube

The Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara brush

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Tatyana G! Congratulations, Tatyana G! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet.

Cold enough for ya? Happy caturday! Tabs woke me up this morning by climbing on my chest in bed and making biscuits on my hair. He does things like this under the guise of love, but really, we all know what he wanted (gravy). For him, the end game is always about gravy.

So far today, I’ve had a croissant, watched this weird children’s show on TV called The Wiggles… Well, not weird for children to watch, but weird if you’re watching it as an adult, and now I’m here giving greetings to you and prepping a pretty sweet Neutrogena gift basket for this weekend’s giveaway.

There’s a bunch of good stuff in it, but my favorite product’s the Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser. I’ve been using it for the past two weeks, and I’m in lurve. It removes just about all of my makeup; I still have to use a separate eye makeup remover for liner along my water line, but besides that, it removes everything, and it does it without drying my skin.

Details to enter just down below. Have a great weekend, and I’ll talk to you soon.

One (1) Neutrogena gift basket valued at $75 and filled with the following goodies:

• Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser ($8.99)
• Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Oil-Free Cleansing Wipes ($7.49)
• Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum ($20.99)
• Neutrogena Naturals Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Moisturizer ($13.99)
• Neutrogena Make-Up Remover Moistureshine Gloss ($7.99)
• Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream ($4.99)
• Neutrogena Clear Face Broad Spectrum SPF 55 ($10.49)

• There are two ways to enter, 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, a comment about anything at all, like, are you right- or left-handed? What time did you go to sleep last night? What was the name of a stuffed animal or doll you loved as a child? Do you ever wear multi-colored toenail polish? Do you have any weird skills? Do you have any Neutrogena products on your bathroom counter or in your shower now? Are you a fast texter? How do you feel about infinity scarves? — you get the idea.
• Second, you can enter by following me on Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
  • Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a Neutrogena Gift Basket Worth $75! http://bit.ly/VdlJVY

• The deadline to enter is Sunday, January 20, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. (PST).
• Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
• A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
• Contest is open to individuals in the United States who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
• Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
• The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
• Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Tatyana G! Congratulations, Tatyana G! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet.