The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

Mornin’, glory. How’s it going today? I hope you’re staying dry out there, no thanks to Irene rather rudely dousing a big chunk of the Northeast (the least she could have done was wait until fall).

I hope you still had a pretty good week, though, even if you found yourself in the path of the storm.

What was the highlight of your week? Maybe a movie, a good hair day or some good news about school/work?

The best parts of my week were my movie date with El Hub (I really enjoyed Crazy, Stupid, Love.), this cool lipstick from Sula and the delicious grape tomatoes I got at the farmers’ market…

Whoa. I just pictured myself with a big bag of popcorn in a movie theater, except that instead of popcorn the bag was filled with grape tomatoes.

Yum. 🙂

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

OUTFIT OF THE DAY, VOL. 5
BASICS WITH A TWIST FOR A CASUAL DATE

Last week for date night El Hub and I went to the market! — the farmers’ market, in the nearby town of San Rafael.

Now, style icons like Carrie Bradshaw can probably strut down pot-holed streets and weave between vegetable stands in five-inch Manolos and marabou feather coats without skipping a beat, but I opted for more casual comfort in a tank top and jeans.

And basics, of course, don’t have to be sloppy or boring, not with the help of a few easy accessories.

Spruce Up Jeans and a Tank Top with A tote bag in a fun print. This spacious blue and white one from Kate Spade is perfect for sightseeing because of how much it holds — everything from my wallet, to my camera, my makeup and all the late-summer produce I love (peaches, pluots and plums, yes please!). Plus, the colors match my jeans and top. Read more…

SMILE FOR THE CAMERA WITH THESE
NEW SMASHBOX PHOTO OP EYE SHADOW TRIOS

You don’t have to be a photography nerd to appreciate these new Smashbox Photo Op Eye Shadow Trios ($28 each), but it wouldn’t hurt if you are. For gals familiar with the photographic arts, the 16 trios in the line, each with three coordinating powder eyeshadows, have fun photography-related names like Aperture and Telephoto (I’m surprised they left out ISO and Bokeh).

For the past couple of seasons, I’ve been a little unsure about Smashbox’s eyeshadows. I thought many of them were hit or miss, and I’ve had issues with texture, fallout, wear time, blending and pigment. These new ones, however, are restoring my faith in the line. Read more…

I’D GLADLY STAY AWAKE TILL SUNRISE FOR
THIS VIBRANT SULA BEAUTY LIPSTICK

Just how pigmented is vibrant orange Sula Beauty Lipstick in Awake Till Sunrise ($8)? Well, if I were ever going to scribble a note on a bathroom mirror with a tube of lipstick, I’d use it, because “YOU’RE MINE FOREVER!!” scrawled on a mirror in sheer baby pink just doesn’t have the same impact.

This — THIS! — is what I’ve been hoping for from the Sula Beauty line. Creamy reddish coral Awake Till Sunrise totally hits it out of the park (think MAC Hibiscus), and I wouldn’t be surprised if it and the other lipsticks in the line skipped right past “Go” on their way to the Drugstore Makeup Hall of Fame. Read more…

THE LORAC OOH LA LACE PALETTE
MAKES ME FEEL OOH LA LA

CAUTION: Seductive palette ahead.

LORAC’s lurvely Ooh La Lace palette ($36), the latest piece from the brand’s fall collection of lingerie-inspired delectables, has been wooing me with its smoldering selection of baked eyeshadows in neutral and smokey shades of beige, gray, black, peach, bronze and brown.

Want big, bedroom eyes? Lucky for you if you do, because LORAC chose the colors they put into the palette to create eyes just like that.

But that’s not all this palette has. I also see versatile, wearable colors here capable of going out for drinks with the girls after work. Read more…

MY DRY, SENSITIVE SKIN SAYS ‘OUI’ TO
LA ROCHE-POSAY TOLERIANE DERMO CLEANSER

Dude, I don’t know when it happened, but somehow, somewhere, I turned into a 30-something chick. In my teens and through my 20s, I thought I looked young for my age, but at some point over this past year, I started feeling like I look, well, my age. I decided to step up my anti-aging game with the help of Retin-A.

I’ve been using it for about a month so far, and overall I like the results, but in that time my face has been flakier, drier and moodier than it was when I was 14. Even skin care products I’ve known and loved for years have started giving me grief, like my usual go-to face wash, Philosophy Purity Made Simple. When it left my cheeks dry and tight one day, I knew something had to change. Read more…

BRIEF ENCOUNTER WITH BURBERRY BEAUTY’S NEW NUDE CASHMERE
LIPSTICK LEFT ME FEELING UNDRESSED

It’s true — nude lipsticks might not drive makeup lovers into frenzies like a brilliant fuchsia lipstick or a cobalt blue nail polish can, but lip looks featuring nudes are still among my favorites, just the same.

Nude lips are always in style and look great with almost anything. Unfortunately, finding a good nude lipstick can be tougher than finding a good man.

If I had a nickle for every time I tried a new nude lipstick, only to look up at myself in the mirror at something totally and completely wrong, I’d probably have between 80 cents and $1. 🙂 But seriously, the truly great ones are few and very far between. Read more…

NUANCE SALMA HAYEK CUCUMBER & ROSEWATER (AND AGAVE)
DUAL PHASE MAKEUP REMOVER ISN’T AFRAID TO FACE ANYTHING

These days, the only resident of Casa de MBB who regularly parties like a rock star is Tabs, but back in the day, gurl, my middle name was margarita (on the rocks with salt, please!).

Kidding, of course (sort of).

Interestingly enough, the new Nuance Salma Hayek Cucumber & Rosewater Dual Phase Makeup Remover ($7.99) contains two ingredients that also appear in my former favorite drink.

No, not cucumber and rose water, although I bet those could make a tasty drink. I’m referring to aqua (water) and agave. Read more…

BARE ESCENTUALS BAREMINERALS
READY EYESHADOW: ARE YOU READY FOR THESE SWATCHES?

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals has something BIG lined up for fall, and the question is, are you ready?

The line is leaping into the thrilling world (it is to me) of pressed eyeshadow duos and quads with a brand new line of permanent collection products called Ready. The 19 pieces in the Ready Eyeshadow Collection, which arrives on counters this October (ready or not), consist of four quads ($30 each) and 15 duos ($20 each), and for a brand best known for their loose mineral eyeshadows, it signifies a brave shift in a bold new direction.

But what about the minerals…? Read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen