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What is Twitter? — As far as I can tell so far (and I’m VERY late to the party), Twitter is at least two different things, the first of which is the reason I refrained from using it for so long.

The beauty of Twitter

1. It’s an instant messaging/chat service similar to the old AOL chat rooms, AIM or MSN, except that it makes it easier to carry on conversations with large groups of people (from one to potentially millions of people in the same conversation!) and archives each individual message (aka a Tweet) on the web.
2. Twitter’s also a great way to find and instantly communicate with people and businesses with similar interests (in my case cats, photography, blogging, writing, randomness, makeup and beauty).

How do I know this?

Because of something that happened last week…

It was early on Thursday morning. I was at my computer, drinking coffee in my pajamas and catching up on beauty news online. I saw a blurb in my feed reader for a blog post titled, “Illamasqua Coming to Sephora!!!!”

Holy shizz! Fo’ reals? I couldn’t believe my eyes, so I Googled for info and called Illamasqua to confirm.

It was true, and guess where the news first broke — where did it first appear?

You guessed it: Twitter.

Even though I’m afraid I’ll get sucked in, that I’ll need a Twitter intervention by Christmas, who cares? All of the big cosmetics and beauty companies are tweeting out coupon codes, announcing new products, events and sales on Twitter; I can no longer resist.

If you have any Twitter tips or just want to scold me for taking so long to join, let me know in the comments (or via Twitter, ha! Love the irony). I pledge to make up for my lateness with frequent Twittaway beauty giveaways and breaking beauty news.

Quick and easy

I was also really surprised by how easy it was to make a Twitter account. It’s free and easier than ordering a book on Amazon. The toughest part was choosing a username.

My first choice (mbb) was already taken. I’d wanted something short because of how people send messages on Twitter, and “makeupandbeautyblog” isn’t exactly short, right?

So, on Twitter I’m karenmbb. Tweet ya later.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Do you use Facebook? On Facebook I’m at facebook.com/makeupandbeautyblog. I have my Twitter and Facebook accounts linked, so you can reach me at either one.

Upstart British makeup brand Illamasqua will soon be crossing the pond.

I spoke with a contact at Illamasqua this morning and confirmed that in addition to the upcoming July 30th launch of their first counter at the new Sephora flagship store at 5 Times Square in New York, the line will also be available at 27 Sephora stores across the United States starting September 2009.

Rollout to be completed by Christmas 2009

The brand plans to launch at a select number of stores starting on September 15th, with plans to fully rollout counters to all 27 by Christmas.

Locations will include Sephora stores in Honolulu, Las Vegas, Miami, Seattle, Boston and San Francisco (Powell Street, WOOT!). I’m currently working on finding a full list of the stores and will update this post once I’ve tracked it down.

Select, best-selling items

Illamasqua plans to sell a limited range of 200 of their best-selling items. Included will be their entire range of nail varnishes, as well as select items for eyes, lips, cheeks, face and body. Prices will range from $18-30.

Online availability

If you don’t live near a Sephora — don’t fret. The brand will also soon be available at Sephora online. I’m still confirming the date of online availability but will let you know as soon as I know more.

Can I just say, YAY? What great news to wake up to on a Thursday morning!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’ve always wanted a Burberry coat like the one Harry Potter alum Emma Watson has on here, but the coat wasn’t what first grabbed my attention about this new ad campaign. It was her smoldering, smokey eyes!

The one-minute smokey eye

The look, in its many incarnations, never really goes out of style, and one of my favorite things about smokey eyes is how little effort they can take.

Take, for example, this one-minute smokey eye by MAC Senior Makeup Artist James Malloy, which breaks down a little something like this:

1. Start with a jet black eye kohl pencil like MAC Technakohl Liner ($14.50). Really get the black in between the root of the lashes and build outward.
2. End with a blackened silver shadow over the top of the kohl pencil, adding a spot of a steely gray, gunmetal shadow pressed in the center of the lid to add a highlight.

Or how ’bout a shimmery midnight blue?

A brownish black with false lashes?

This look by makeup artist Nancy Spencer starts with a base on the eyelid and an eye primer like Urban Decay Primer Potion ($17) to help the eyeshadow stay put.

Or a sexy red carpet look?

Experiment with your smokey eyes, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes! Like MAC Pro Artist Neil Young says, “It’s not a tattoo; it [makeup] comes off.”

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Have you peeped the new Benefit Smokin’ Eyes Palette yet? With seven products for $36, I think it smacks of a pretty good deal.

Two women I love — my mother-in-law and my good friend Mary Anne — are breast cancer survivors (click here for info on performing monthly breast self-exams), and I know that many of you have also been touched by cancer in one way or another.

With their Nail Lacquer in Bubble Bath ($7), OPI is trying to help women cope with changes in their appearance that can result from cancer treatment. Part of every sale goes toward Look Good…Feel Better, a national public service program with more than 50,000 participants each year.

Easy-to-wear color

Part of OPI’s Soft Shades Collection, Bubble Bath hides chips well, which is one reason I like it a lot. It applies as a non-streaky pale pink and dries quickly to a shiny finish.

Because it hides chips so well, I think it makes a great low-maintenance shade if you’re rough on your fingertips like I am (lots of typing).

Boosting self-esteem

Through the Look Good…Feel Better program women are able to take free workshops on makeup application, dealing with hair loss and taking care of nails both during and after cancer treatment.

Where to buy

Over 10,000 salons and beauty retailers nationwide will be selling OPI Bubble Bath this July and August, so look for displays featuring OPI Bubble Bath and information about Look Good…Feel Better.

Every bottle helps

OPI will donate a portion of proceeds from the sale of every bottle of Bubble Bath Nail Lacquer, with a minimum contribution of $25,000.

I like the idea of something as seemingly insignificant as a little bottle of nail polish making a positive difference in someone else’s life.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. The fabulous Christina over at Dishiness has chosen to donate her hair in honor of Farrah Fawcett. The decision is between two worthy groups, Locks of Love or Pantene Beautiful Lengths, that make wigs for cancer patients. If you’ve ever donated your hair before or know of someone who has, please let Christina know.

I bet this happens to you, too, but I miss so many awesome deals and announcements that come through as e-mails. Sometimes they get mistakenly dumped into my junk mail filter, especially when the titles sound overly advertorial: “Free and Heavily Discounted Makeup! Don’t Miss Your Special Chance!”

Sometimes I’m just not able to get to them before the deals have expired.

This morning, however, I managed to read a couple of the timely ones in time to pass them on.

Shu!

These are the last few days of Shu Uemura’s Art of Hair Sweepstakes. Click here to enter. The grand prize? A year’s worth of Shu hair products valued at $1,680 smackers! The deadline to enter is 11:59PM ET June 30.

Bobbi B

Looks like Bobbi Brown’s new Nudes Collection is almost here. Here’s a mini-PR snapshot. It looks pretty textbook Bobbi to me, but I respect how she stays true to her style. In her own words, “Nude makeup doesn’t mean monochromatic, barely-there makeup. It means makeup that’s right for your skin.” Expect to see it on counters in July (I’ll post a review soon).

A star is born

This one caught Tabs’ eye! Elle is looking for their next video star. Submit a video of your best/favorite makeup tips, and you might take home $250 in beauty swag. Each week Elle will give $250 to the person (or cat) who submits the most popular video tip of the week. Winners then have a chance at the $3,000 yearly grand prize.

If you submit a video to Elle, LET ME KNOW! We can mention your creation on the blog here and maybe help you become a star.

BEMATTE

In Sephora news, they’ve got a few ongoing deals good both in stores and online using coupon code BEMATTE at checkout. I’m interested in the free 10-day sample of Bare Escentuals’ Matte Foundation (free with any purchase). I might do it for the bonus baby kabuki brush.

Nailed!

I just looked down at my bare fingernails, le sigh… I need something to wear on ‘em while I wait for Duri’s Fall/Winter 2009 Rags to Riches Collection of fairy tale colors (click here to visit the Duri site). I haven’t seen any pics yet, but the names are cracking me up: Silver Spoon, Dress to Impress, Social Ladder, Trophy Wife and Formula for Success? LOL! I wonder what Trophy Wife looks like… Each will retail for $5, and the first six arrive this September.

Bon voyage

Lisa Hoffman must know how difficult it is to pack beauty products. She’s got these little travel packets that let you take a little of each product from the line wherever you go, and for the price they aren’t half bad. I like the sound of the 24-Hour Skincare one, but there’s also one for spa baths and another for showers. All three sell for $9.99. I couldn’t find them online, but I’m sure the folks in their customer service department can track ‘em down (info@lisahoffmanbeauty.com or toll free at 1-800-231-8311).

How’s it going today? It has been hot out here in Norcal this weekend, and our apartment doesn’t have AC! Even Tabs is uncomfortable. He’s sleeping next to his water bowl.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I’d like to apologize to those of you who e-mailed asking if there was something I could do to honor the passing of Farrah Fawcett and MJ, both historic style icons, but I was so overwhelmed by the news myself that I couldn’t think of anything worthy of them. I didn’t want to just throw something up and was too shocked to think straight. I may try after some time passes.