Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 537

January 20th, 2019 by Karen 2 Comments

Some cats forget that Tabs wasn’t always just the Chief Feline Officer (CFO) of one of the largest multinational media empires in the greater Novato area. He was also the first kitty supermodel of the modern era.

In fact, he practically invented all of the major cat modeling poses in widespread use today.

He also pioneered kitty couture and cat-themed print modeling in the beauty biz.

And all of that was in his second career. Before becoming a world-renowned kitty supermodel, Tabs also played professional cat football for the Mill Valley Wildcats.

He still holds the record for the most touchdowns by a feline tight end.

The only reason he retired was because of an untimely injury…

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Saturday Surfing, January 19th, 2019

January 19th, 2019 by Karen 2 Comments

Morning, friend.

So…movies. I’m at the point in life where it takes me three days to finish watching a movie at home. I’ll watch them in bite-sized chunks on my couch, a few minutes here and there between loads of laundry and making dinner.

Last night I finished a good one called Eighth Grade, and it only took me two days! Could this be progress?? Maybe by summer I’ll be back to actually finishing a movie in a day, ha ha!

But I digress…

I liked this one a lot. It’s fictional, but it’s very true to what I remember being an eighth grader was like. The main character, Kayla, perfectly captures the awkwardness and hopefulness I remember feeling throughout middle school.

Those years were rough, man! And can I just say bravo to the filmmakers for featuring a main character with acne and eighth graders who actually look and act like eighth graders? Even though the movie is set in 2017, it still captures how I remember feeling back then. All the memories came flooding back! — the feeling of being on the edge of something, not quite a child but not yet a teenager either.

Give it a shot if you have some time this weekend. I found it on Amazon Prime.

But before you press ‘play,’ your weekend reading…

See, this is why I never accept drinks from strangers, even at fancy spas. You could walk out with a $22k bill, OMG!
Fave read of the week: Washington DC-based makeup artist Carl Ray does makeup for some of the most influential women in politics.
How Hollywood artists transformed the hair and makeup for some of the stars (including Christian Bale) of the biggest movies last year.
The history of leggings…
And how they became the most controversial members of the pants family.
Speaking of leggings, these black leggings allegedly rock, AND they’re supposed to look like real pants. Um…sign me up?
How the 10-step Korean skin care routine changed American skin care.
The Fenty effect is a real thing, and now it’s happening in skin care.
Peep these skin care innovations of tomorrow, including a wand that supposedly removes dark spots right before your eyes.

What happens when you Konmari a massive makeup collection…

Because I’m listening to Lizzo 24/7 right now

And because I still secretly believe Keanu and I will be married someday

Yes, THAT Keanu.

Oh, yeah, one more thing about that movie (Eighth Grade)… I’m no longer allowed to use young people slang, because I had to google “Why do kids say Gucci?” HA HA! I’m officially one step closer to retreating to the tomb in my pyramid with all of my cats and worldly belongings.

Have a good one!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Fresh Friday: Blending Feels Good With the Super Soft Bristles in This New Cruelty-Free Vegan Makeup Brush Line

January 18th, 2019 by Karen 5 Comments

MBB’s “Fresh Friday” series takes a look at new beauty brands (and venerable O.G. brands that are new to me). Let’s discover new makeup!

One of the issue I’ve had with some synthetic makeup brushes is how stiff their bristles are, but that is not a prob for the brushes I’ve tried from aDesign, a new makeup brush line exclusive to Amazon. The angled buffing brush, for one, is so soft that it feels like you’re getting kitten kisses. Sometimes I’ll sit at my desk just rubbing it all over my face. If soft is what you want, soft is what you’ll get with these cruelty-free vegan brushes.

The line is the beauty brainchild of Anisa Telwar Kaicker of Anisa International (Forbes recently gave them a shout-out as one of the best small companies of 2018). Incidentally, Anisa makes brushes for some of the biggest beauty brands out there (Estée Lauder, NARS, Sephora, MAC, Hourglas, La mer and Laura Mercier, to name a few), so I guess it’s safe to say they know brushes.

The new aDesign line has 30 brushes, which are sold in sets of two brushes each. The sets range from $14 on the lower end (for a pair of eye brushes, which breaks down to $7 a brush = not bad!) to $34 on the higher end (for two face brushes). The brushes are lightweight with medium-length handles, and they feel a lot like It Cosmetics brushes in my hand.

How do you choose which set to get? Well, they’re categorized by function. For example, the Eye Power Duo ($14) is all about smoky eyes and comes with two eye brushes for applying and blending cream or powder shadows for smoky looks.

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What Kind of Makeup Looks Are You Into at the Moment?

January 17th, 2019 by Karen 24 Comments

becca apres ski glow face palette k — Mine’s a very BECCA look.

I’m always curious to hear what you’re into ’cause I’m a nosy noodle like that. Myself, I’m in a bronzed lid/nude lip phase, which I know is more of a summertime ensemble, and it’s midwinter and pouring buckets here, but I’m rolling with it. Might as well let it work its way through my system. 🙂

Before this, I went through a taupe eyeshadow phase, and before that I was all about warm reds and oranges.

How ’bout you? What kind of makeup looks are you into at the moment?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Crazy About Creams! The Chantecaille Mermaid Eye Mattes

January 17th, 2019 by Karen 6 Comments

chantecaille mermaid eye mattes 1 — Hello, my pretties.

This month I am CRAZY ABOUT CREAMS. Stay tuned for some of my favorite cream makeup products all throughout January.

One of these freakin’ days, man… One of these days after I’ve finally squatted my way to a J. Lo booty (please pause while I send up a short prayer to the booty gods), I’m gonna pop-pop-pop that thing whenever I wear the matte Chantecaille Cream Shadows, because they’re worthy of a booty pop or two. Or 12.

chantecaille mermaid eye mattes swatches — Say what, Karen? You’re an NC42 for reference? NO WAY!

Unfortunately, they have a pearl-clutching price of $34 for a 0.14-oz. jar, which, I know! — so expensive — but if it’s any consolation, French brand Chantecaille has been doing high-end clean beauty since before it was trendy, and with these pots (I use Silvie, Bee and Olivia), I do think you get what you pay for. These things make my lids smoooooooth.

Mind you, these are still cream shadows, so they aren’t a Christmas miracle. Technically, yes, my ~~wrinkles~~ experience lines are definitely still there, but whenever I wear these I find myself wondering where the heck my fine lines went! Trust me, you won’t be mad about it.

chantecaille mermaid eye mattes k — I’m wearing Bee on my lids, Sylvie in my crease and a touch of Olivia on the inner lids. The bronzer/blush is Hourglass Illume in Sunset, and the lip is NUDESTIX Lip + Cheek Pencil in Sin.

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