The holiday season is just around the corner, which means it’s that time of year again. It’s time to bust out the stretchy pants (‘cause I can’t say no to that second helping of mashed potatoes, yo). It’s time to display gourds of various shapes and sizes around the house. It’s also time for makeup junkies across the land to revel in the realm of “Where’d My Paycheck Go?” because of all the limited edition holiday sets that makeup companies roll out during this time.

There are palettes, gift sets and perfumes galore. Can’t decide on what to get for the makeup lover in your life? Don’t worry, girl, I got your back. For the next two weeks I’ll be featuring several drool-worthy palettes, limited edition sets and perfumes in Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Holiday Wishlist 2007. And shhhh…I promise not to tell if you get a lil’ something for yourself.

Smile for the Camera, Pretty! Clinique Happy Pefume Custom Photo Bottle Rules

Five things that make me happy:

1. Getting enough sleep.
2. Warm chocolate chip cookies.
3. Having a good writing day when I feel like PURE GENIUS pours forth from my fingertips.
4. The scent of fresh cut flower stems.
5. Clinique’s Happy Perfume Custom Photo Bottle

Hello, awesomeness. Clinique’s got an online service this year where they take your favorite picture and replicate it on a huge bottle of their citrus-y and youthful scent, Happy. Here’s the skinny on how it works.

Find a picture that means something special to you or to the person you are going to give the gift to. I used this picture from my wedding:

I wanted a photo that brought up good memories and feelings. And I figured that the orange rose would accent the orange “happy” font on the front of the bottle. You don’t really have to worry about matching the font, but I’m a design freakazoid, so I wanted something that would be in harmony with the overall package.

Another pic with a most excellent orange accent

Log onto the clinique Web site to start your customization process!

You then follow a series of easy-to-follow instructions. When you’re done, you get your personalized bottle in 10 business days. Each is $52.00.

Voila!

Perfume is a really personal gift so I’d buy this for a friend who I knew liked citrus scents. Can’t decide which picture to use? Here are a few cute ideas:

– You and your friend during a special event, like a wedding or vacation you took together.
– A favorite pet or cartoon character.
– Something that reflects your friend’s personal interest or hobbies. Say she’s saving for a trip to France – submit a picture of the Eiffel Tower.
– A picture of her favorite hot guy, heh heh heh!

Never you mind the 20 foot of rope homeboy is carrying

Just make sure that the picture is in jpg format, less than 4.0 MB and be 800 pixels on the shortest side.

If you’re planning on getting hitched then this would be a fantastic bridesmaids gift! Put a picture of you and your ‘maids on a bottle and give it as a thank you gift on your big day.

Clinique Holiday Looks 2007 – Touches of Golden Elixer

Clinique’s two color sets for Holiday 2007 are inspired by their perfumes, Aromatics Elixer and Happy.

The first theme, “Touches of Golden Elixer,” has warm golden and bronze tones. It’s elegant and regal, and reminds me of a golden Greek goddess surrounded by men peeling her grapes and fanning her with feathers.

I like the:

Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Almond Blossom, $29.50. This tawny and nude highlighter is almost too pretty to use. Use it to on cheeks, nose, chin and forehead to get a heavenly glow.

Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Allspice, $25.00. If you collect the Colour Surge Quads then be sure to snatch this up because it’s a limited edition. You get four warm tones that easily mix and match to create the perfect golden look. Some hard core MAC Pigment lovers may find these shadows too sheer, but I actually really like the buildable color and creamy texture. A very beginner-friendly palette!

Brush–On Cream Liner in Bronze, $14.50. I can’t get enough of gel liners! This limited edition shimmery-bronze is a versatile color you can use for work-friendly day or dramatic night looks.

Colour Surge Lipstick, $14.00. A bronze lippie with lots of intense color. The lazy beast in me likes this because I can just slap it on and go.

Get this set for your mom or your favorite aunt! She’ll love it.

Happy & Bright – Perfect for Your Baby Sister!

The second look, Happy & Bright, is young, festive and fresh. The cool-toned colors are fun and perfect for a party!

Get big sis points with:

Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Pink Truffle (Limited Edition), $25.00
Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Peony, $29.50
Different Lipstick in Raspberry Glace, $14.00
Full Potential Lips Plump and Shine in Camisole, $17.50

So last night I decided to get a little extra boost before my nightly gym weight workout by drinking a cup of coffee at 5. Um, bad idea. I usually don’t drink coffee after 1:00; otherwise I can’t fall asleep. Here’s what I learned last night before I drifted off into dreamland at 4:00 a.m.

1. Weird people go to Safeway late at night on a Friday. Granted I was there, too, which technically would make me weird as well, but hey. If you can’t beat them…

2. There are a lot of blogs out there. There are a lot of crazy people out there. There are a lot of crazy people with blogs. These blogs get really funny at about 2:45 a.m.

3. It’s not a good idea to put on a purifying clay mask at 3:30. Should you perchance fall asleep at 4:00, then you’ll get all kinds of crap on your pillowcase. Not good.

Anyway, I’m going to spend the rest of the day in chill mode. Hope your Saturday has been relaxing and fun so far!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Curiositease, Part Deux!

I hate to be your pusher but you know you love it, you need it, you want it… okay get your mind out of the gutter, dirty birdy. I’m talking about the MAC Curiositease Holiday 2007 collection, which drops on November 15. If you’ve got some holiday shopping to do, then put the Softsparkle Eye Pencils, Warm Pigments and Glitter and Cool Pigments and Glitter sets on your list!

A Fab Gift For Your Teenager or Your Fave Party Girl

Got a teenage daughter, a girlfriend who loves to hit the clubs or a fellow makeup junkie that can’t get enough sparkle? These sets are great gifts for the glitter girl in your life!

If you really want the rad mom o’ the year award spring for *both* the warm and cool Pigment and Glitter sets. Each $29.50 set contains five jars of Pigment and Glitter. Don’t be put off by the small jars, because there is plenty of product here (a lil’ bit of pigment goes a long way). Buy both sets and your lucky girl will get a good amount of product, 10 colors to work with, and two pretty keepsake containers to store them in.

Still rocking it out at the club? You need your wing-woman to look as cute as you, so give your best clubbing buddy the Softsparkle Eye Pencils ($29.50), which are perfect for your late nights on the town together. The five pencils are all wrapped up in cute Curiositease packaging. Just put a bow on top and then give that bad boy to her!

MAC Curiositease 5 Softsparkle Eye Pencils – $29.50

MAC Curiositease 5 Warm Pigments and Glitter

MAC Curiositease 5 Cool Pigments and Glitter

I Don’t Shop at Wet Seal Anymore, Yo

I like these sets but don’t love them as much as the Curiositease Lipglass and Lustreglass sets. My biggest issue is that it’s too sparkle motion for my 32-year old ass. I’m bitter, I don’t wear midriff-bearing shirts and I have not purchased anything from Wet Seal since the 90s. Glitter in large doses does not speak to my soul. (I’m just kidding about the bitter part. Kind of.)

Anyway, if you’re thinking about purchasing one of the sets for yourself then I’d recommend the Cool Pigment and Glitter set. The colors were the most exciting and vibrant, especially Forest Green and Naval Blue.

Today is a WONDERFUL FRIDAY! It’s my first day off in two weeks, no joke. I spent the day writing, relaxing, and I even had the chance to go to yoga class, hooray! I really do hope that on this gorgeous afternoon you get the chance to go out, soak up some sun and work what your momma gave you.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Okay, ladies (and gents). Here’s the first of several upcoming posts featuring MAC Holiday 2007. Are you ready for this jelly?

The two-minute skinny on MAC’s Curiositease Limited Edition lip collections for Holiday 2007:

If you’re looking to *ahem* economize, then skip the Plushglass set. The Plushglasses are lip plumpers, which means tingly, which means OUCH! I don’t wear plumpers because I haven’t got time for the pain, and I haven’t got room for the pain. Plus, the Plushglasses are much more sheer than the Lipglasses and Lustreglasses, and it takes more work to get a good pop of color.

If given the choice of only one set I’d go with the 5 Warm over the 5 Cool Lipglass and Lustreglass set. The warm colors are easier to wear by themselves, and both the Lipglasses and Lustreglass formulations have fab color payoff. (Plus, they don’t sting my lips like bees, oy!) The only difference between the two is that the Lustreglasses feel slightly thinner to me and have a brush, not a doe foot applicator. I especially hearted Bada Boom and Pink Grapefruit in this set! Trust me. Your lips will heart them too.

Each is $29.50 USD and they drop on November 15th. Mark your calendars!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

5 Plushglass – $29.50

5 Cool Lipglass and Lustreglass – $29.50

5 Warm Lipglass and Lustreglass – $29.50

I was rifling around my makeup today and found a long lost friend, Rimmel London Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil in Jungle Green.

This beautiful emerald eyeliner is soft, glides easily, has all-day lasting power and gives a shimmery pop of color. And it’s only $2.99 at Walgreens, hello! If you’re feelin’ the itch to try a jewel-toned green liner this is the perfect way to test the waters without having to spend a lot of money.

In addition to Rimmel Jungle Green I used the following on the eye:

- MAC Groundwork Paintpot all over the lid
- MAC Soft Brown Matte Shadow in the crease and on bottom lashline
- LORAC Jade eyeshadow from lashline and just barely into the crease
- MAC Plushlash Mascara in Plushblack

On the cheeks:

- MAC Emote Blush
- MAC Pearl Sunshine Beauty Powder

On the lips:

- MAC Cremestick Liner in Beurre
- MAC Lipglass in Magestic

… HOLY FREAKING CRAP! Did you feel the earthquake?

I hope you are intact!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

It seems that celeb perfumes, like Barney or Paris Hilton, divide people into two distinct camps: either you LOVE THEM or you HATE THEM.

I used to be in the HATE THEM category but after sampling and actually liking Sarah Jessica Parker’s Covet perfume a few weeks ago, I realized that hating all celeb scents purely on principal was terribly unfair. A good scent is a good scent, and I can’t hate on one just because it’s being hocked by B-list singers or actors.

Maybe I’ll find at least one more celeb perfume that doesn’t make me want to throw up, I thought.

And sweet jeebus, did I find one – Britney Spears’ Midnight Fantasy. LOLOLOLZ!

Laugh all you want, ya’ll. I know I did when I first picked up the cheesy purple bottle, which is BeDazzled within an inch of its life.

I expected eau de Cheetoes/Red Bull/bad weave to be thrust into the air when I spritzed it on my wrist. Lo and behold, instead out came a really pretty fruit scent. It might be a touch too sweet for some, but on me I pick up notes of blackberries, vanilla and cherries. Yum!

It’s a fun, flirty, youthful smell. I’d wear it on date night or the weekends but not to work because it can be a lil’ bit too Wet Seal/Forever 21/Limited Too if administered in too heavy a dose.

One 5.5 oz bottle of Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy is $55.00, available on the macys.com Web site.

YOU MUST CHOOSE: The Britney Spears Edition

I must confess
That my lonliness
Is killing me now
Don’t you know I still believe?
–Britney Spears

So yeah, her personal life is a mess, and the girl can’t comb that dirty birdy weave to save her life but I gotta come clean. I’m on TEAM BRITNEY. I’ll even fess up to attending one of her concerts, and dammit, it was good!

A few weeks ago you were introduced to one of my fave time wasters, YOU MUST CHOOSE. Can you handle the Britney Spears edition?

The 10th circle of hell opens up…and it doesn’t lead into my closet! Instead, you are forced to work in close proximity as a personal assistant to either Britney Spears (who just shaved her head, is foaming at the mouth and is wielding a very large umbrella) or Rachel Ray (who speaks to you with excessive perkiness and ONLY in code – EVOO! YUM-O! – before you’ve had your morning coffee). And yes, you are on call for twenty four hours a day. YOU MUST CHOOSE!

Britney finally decides to get help, and unfortunately it’s not the mental kind. Instead, she has you choose a weave/wig to wear to court (she’s gotta get those babies back, yo!) to make her look like a model citizen. Blonde? Brunette? Black? YOU MUST CHOOSE!

You have the power to re-write history. You can either erase Kevin Federline from Britney Spears’ life OR Bobby Brown from Whitney’s life (remember “I Will Always Love You?” girlfriend KILLED that song!). Who would you save? YOU MUST CHOOSE!

You get the chance to be a backup dancer in any Britney Video that your lovin’ heart desires. Which one would you star in? YOU MUST CHOOSE!

Aren’t you glad Monday is over? I am. This week should be better work-wise for me so I’ll be back to postings in the mornings once more, whew!

Have a good night…I hope you dream of Manolos.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen