Bright pink lipsticks like MAC’s Impassioned…

There’s nothin’ like a quick pick-me-up after a long day, ya know? A glass of lemonade, a couple dozen kitty hugs, a splash of perfume, a swipe of gloss, a brush of bronzer…

And when I want my pick-me-up to take the shape of something beautiful, I almost always go with a bright lip, like MAC’s hot pink Impassioned Lipstick, because it’s easy to use and packed with POW!

Other beauty-based pick-me-ups I frequently enjoy…

• Nude Skincare Hydrating Water ($20) and MAC Fix+ ($21). I keep both refreshing bottles on my desk and spritz them on my face throughout the day to keep my skin hydrated and give my mood a quick lift.
• Annick Goutal Neroli Les Colognes ($175). I like to dab a small amount on my wrists… First thing that comes to mind whenever I catch a whiff: summer vacation.
• CND Solar Oil ($7.50). This one’s a little unusual, I know, but I get a thrill out of moisturizing my cuticles and nails with brush-on conditioners, perhaps because my mom’s always going on and on about how “you need to take care of your cuticles!”
• MAC Plushglass in Nice Buzz ($20). The tingle tells me I’m alive! ALIVE! And the shimmery golden color looks great layered atop almost anything.

What about you? What are some of your best beauty pick-me-ups? Sock it to me in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Nestled among the junk mail you don’t want about “Niice&SeexxyPiils” from taylorzmark69@yahoo.com, get something you actually do want delivered to your Inbox, like pics of the resplendent red lipsticks in Tom Ford’s Jasmine Rouge Collection or photos of a husky tabby cat in compromising positions…

Save the time and energy it takes to wonder what MAC’s latest release looks like, and get the answer automagically by email.

Automagically! (Note: that is not a real word.)

If you aren’t already subscribed to my once a day emails, click here. Thanks for visiting.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for May 13, 2013

You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”

Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

1. How do you feel about music festivals?
   I’ve gotta say…I’ve been to a few, and they’re just not really my thing.

   I can never see what’s happening on stage (#shortpeopleproblems), my feet ache from standing so long (again, while unable to see the stage), and porta potties just really, REALLY freak me out.

   Most of the time, I’d rather watch pre-recorded performances on TV from the comfort of my living room couch.

2. Something you used to wear that now makes you cringe whenever you see yourself wearing it in old pictures?
   Egad, remember those cheesy plastic choker necklaces from the late ’90s? I’m wearing one (and sometimes two) in almost every one of my “We’re going to da club!” pics from that era.

   I had ‘em in a bunch of different colors, too, haha!

   Last time I went home, I saw one hanging from a hook as a decoration in my parent’s bathroom…

3. What’s more fun for you — doing your hair, nails or makeup?
   Makeup!

   Nails are more of a relaxing thing for me, and my hair tends to be a chore.

4. Have you ever gone on vacation by yourself?
   Nope, but I’ve been thinking about taking a long spa weekend by myself sometime soon.

   I love traveling with friends or El Hub, but I also like (okay, LOVE) the idea of being able to do whatever I want, whenever I want to do it.

5. How did you meet your closest friend(s)?
   We went to elementary school together. I met Jen in second grade and Cindy in third, but it wasn’t until high school that we all started hanging out together regularly.
6. Three things you’re grateful for right now?
   The sunshine outside my window, afternoon naps (because I napped yesterday and feel well rested today), and uplifting songs.
7. What time did you wake up this morning?
   At exactly 5:55. I just opened my eyes, too. No tabby or other alarm clocks.
8. Three things on your desk right now?
   A small quartz rock, a purple gel pen (Uniball Vision Elite Micro 0.5…the BEST!) and a bottle of Vitamin Water Zero in Squeezed.
9. Something you’d like to do this summer?
   Swim in a lake.
10. Did you pick up any new makeup or beauty products last weekend?
    I swung by a MAC counter on Saturday to get a new 224 (misplaced mine), a 109 Small Contour Brush and a Veluxe Brow Liner in Deep Dark Brunette

To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le List

1. How do you feel about music festivals?
2. Something you used to wear that now makes you cringe whenever you see yourself wearing it in old pictures?
3. What’s more fun for you — doing your hair, nails or makeup?
4. Have you ever gone on vacation by yourself?
5. How did you meet your closest friend(s)?
6. Three things you’re grateful for right now?
7. What time did you wake up this morning?
8. Three things on your desk right now?
9. Something you’d like to do this summer?
10. Did you pick up any new makeup or beauty products last weekend?

How are you feeling this morning? Do you feel ready for the week?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

You may know Tabs as a playboy, jet-setting kitty supermodel extraordinaire, but he’s also just a very sweet boy.

Most of the time.

Today I expected flowers, or chocolates, or a day off, or at least some little recognition for Mother’s Day, but nope. Nada. No brunch, nothin’. He didn’t even get me a card.

I don’t know… Maybe he’s saving up for Admin Assistant’s Day.

He has been busy, so maybe that was the reason. Who knows? The phone’s been ringing off the hook with kitty modeling jobs, so he decided to take a break this week from working on his Husky Tabby comic to model for MAC, Benefit, Dior, Urban Decay and Milani.

He wanted me to ask which of this week’s campaigns you like best. He’s partial to the Dior one for Jet Ski Jet Black Waterproof Mascara. He says it was a lot of fun to shoot.

(more…)

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

Rise and shine, my friend. I hope you slept well and had makeup-filled dreams.

And if you did, hey, how ’bout we try to make those dreams come true with this weekend’s Sephora giveaway?

It only takes to a minute to enter with a comment on this post and/or a Twitter tweet (see details below).

Have an epic day!

What folks are saying…

“Hi Karen!!! Wow, that news definitely gets a hoo ray ray and an elephant!!! (I’ve maybe been watching too much Boardwalk Empire.) Thank you so much!!!”
-Shana

“What a lovely surprise it was to see your announcement (after completing one of many exams/papers/projects I have this crazy week)! The eCard will definitely ease expenses for this broke, beauty-obsessed college student. Thank you, Karen and Tabs!!”
-Katie

“Thanks so much, Karen. Just in case you were wondering what I got with it, I decided to go with the Clarisonic Mia–I’ve been wanting it for years now, but have never purchased it because of the price. Your eCard helped me finally buy it! I look forward to using it. Thanks again!”
-Jane

“Shut the front door! OMG Karen, you have made my day. I’m sick in bed with the flu and this has just cheered me up immensely!!!!!!!! BTW, I’m the one that sent you that pic of my pug in a wig a few weeks back LOL! Thanks again, honestly, I’m beyond giddy right now.”
-Angel

“Thank you SO much Karen! OMG! Wishes really do come true! I can’t believe I won! You have no idea how much this will help me through the holidays. I’ve been an avid fan of your blog for the past two years. Your witty and creative entries, informative makeup information, and beautiful photos have kept me hooked. I look forward to more of it. Goodness, you’ve
seriously just made my week and it’s only Tuesday night!”
-Zharlynne

“Oh my goodness! Thank you so much Karen (and Tabs, of course)! I really appreciate this! I’d been eyeing the Anastasia brow pencil in Strawburn to match my red hair!”
-Chelsea (and Jiji the kitten and Quincy the bunny)

• One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• 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 kind of cheese? If you could change anything about your brows, what would you change? What was the name of your first pet, and what was he/she like? Liquid, pencil, cream or gel liner? How often do you floss? If you could go anywhere in the world today, where would you go (it doesn’t have to be far)? What are some of your hobbies? — 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 $50 eGift Card from Sephora! http://bit.ly/10LTqd5

• The deadline to enter is Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 11:59PM (PT).
• 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 of any country 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).
• Sephora eGift Certificates can only be redeemed online and are not valid in stores or available for purchase or redemption in Canada. International winners may opt to substitute the Sephora eGift card prize for $50 sent directly to their email address by PayPal instead.
• 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 Daniela! Congratulations, Daniela! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet.