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Time Flies When You’re Having Fun

February 19th, 2008 by Karen 18 Comments

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T-minus one day ’til the blog turns one, homies! Hope you stop by to celebrate with me on Wednesday. 🙂

This morning I slept in a lil’ bit (hallelujah) and caught up on some much needed Z’s. I also worked on a MAC Fafi tutorial featuring the Fafi Eyes 1 Eyeshadow Quad (hello, awesomeness) and the Nice Vice Paint Pot. Expect that later today!

Whatcha up to on this fine Tuesday?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 18 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

A Frederic Malle Perfume Adventure: Barneys New York in Las Vegas

February 18th, 2008 by Karen 43 Comments

Once inside the fantastical world of the Barneys New York department store in Las Vegas, I felt like I was trapped on an expensive planet. The native inhabitants were friendly and well groomed, yet there was something off about them. Maybe it was the scent of money in the air. I felt sweaty and nervous when the staff spoke to me, like they might be cyborgs. Expensive cyborgs.

If this is your first time to Makeup and Beauty Blog, welcome and thanks for visiting. For a review of one of Frederic Malle’s newest fragrances, check out Frederic Malle Geranium Pour Monsieur Is for Ladies and Gentlemen.

I made my way toward the cosmetics department. I was looking for makeup and beauty brands I’d never seen before, and my research before the trip suggested that Barneys, located in the Palazzo Hotel on the Vegas strip, wouldn’t let me down.

My first reaction was disappointment. I was seeing all the same high end stuff also carried by Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s — YSL, Chantecaille, T. LeClerc. Yawn.

The street entrance to Barneys New York in Las Vegas
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I’d almost given up, and then it was there, at the very heart of the store. They resembled two empty telephone booths, or perhaps teleportation chambers, standing beside a display with several scientific looking bottles and a sign that read, “Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle.” Holla!

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I began at one end of the display and sniffed my way to the other. With each scent, I grew more intrigued. Raul, a Barney’s sales associate with the smoothest hands I’d ever seen on a man, noticed my eyes rolling back into my head (seriously, some of the scents were *that* good) and proceeded to fill me in on the line.

One of the perfumes, Carnal Flower
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Nine famous perfumers (noses) developed their own individual perfumes for the Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle collection. These are some of the most famous noses of our time. Without limits or boundaries placed upon them by anyone, each perfumer received free reign over their creations, resulting in the 16 scents that make up the line. You won’t find watered down eau de toilettes or body splashes here; each of the scents is complex and interesting in its own way.

When you test perfumes sprayed onto paper strips at a perfume counter, the scent’s top notes grab you (the initial burst of fragrance). If your nose is hyper-sensitive like mine, you might even smell the paper.

But you could be missing the more subtle aspects of the fragrance — the middle notes (which occur after the top notes fade), and then the dry down (which is like the scent’s finale). To appreciate the fullness and complexity of the Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle scents, Raul suggested I ditch the paper strips and use one of the store’s special scent chambers to fully appreciate the line.

A little scurred of the chamber…
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The two phone booth/teleportation chambers are actually scent chambers. I’m claustrophobic, but Raul assured me that I wouldn’t have to step into the chamber to get the full experience, just stick my head in.

Raul explaining how the chamber works
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Raul flipped a switch to activate fans installed in the ceiling of each chamber and then sprayed a fragrance from the line into each one — En Passant (a light floral) on the left, and Noir Epices (a spicy Oriental) on the right.

I took a whiff of each and instantly fell in love with En Passant. Created by perfumer Olivia Giacobetti and described as an “impressionistic” fragrance on the Editions de Parfums Web site, En Passant combines the scent of white lilac flower with orange tree leaves, cucumber and wheat. I could detect all of the different layers and rich fullness in the scent chamber. I couldn’t help but picture fields of lilac flowers and freshly laundered cotton sheets. Heaven!

Sniffing En Passant perfume is heavenly
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A few other fragrances that I smelled and liked were…

Iris Poudre by Pierre Bourdon – Tonka bean, musk, vanilla, sandal wood and vetiver.
Nose fun fact: In 1988 Pierre created one of my favorite men’s fragrances of all time, Davidoff Cool Water.

Carnal Flower by Dominique Ropion – Tuberose, coconut and musk.
Nose fun Fact: Dominique, along with perfumers Loc Dong and Carlos Benaim, created Calvin Klein Euphoria, winner of the 2006 Fragrance Foundation (Fifi) Award, the equivalent of the “Oscars” in the perfume world.

Lipstick Rose by Ralf Schwieger – Violet, musk, vanilla, vetiver and amber… and it really does smell like a tube of lipstick!
Nose fun fact: Ralf has created several famous perfumes, including Yves Saint Laurent’s Baby Doll and Marc Jacobs’ Men.

This refrigerator, located beneath the display, keeps the fragrances fresh
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Prices range from $115-$330, depending on the scent (some are more expensive then others) and size (50-100ml). Here in the US, the Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle line is exclusive to Barneys New York stores. To find the one nearest you, check out their Web site. If you don’t live near a Barneys, you can also order the scents online or call a store and place your order over the phone using a credit card.

Aren’t you glad we’re done with Monday? I’m still tired from traveling so it’s early to bed for this girl tonight. I hope your day was good and that you’re feeling relaxed and happy.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. If you enjoyed this post, check out the home page before you go.

There are 43 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Fragrance, Product Reviews, Travel Keywords: Las Vegas

Vegas Jackpot, Kinda

February 17th, 2008 by Karen 20 Comments


It appears I won’t be quitting my day job any time soon, ha! But winning a whopping $25 is better than nothing (that’s one Chanel Glossimer). I’m headed back home tonight, so tomorrow I’ll put up a post of my Barney’s New York in Vegas adventure. Hope you’re having a great weekend so far!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 20 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Gimme, Gimme Moisture: Peter Thomas Roth Mega Rich Moisture Masque

February 16th, 2008 by Karen 18 Comments

An oasis of opulence and glam, Las Vegas sits in the middle of the Southwestern American desert, and the dry air here zaps what little moisture exists in my already parched skin, leaving it feeling tight and uncomfortable. Before braving the casinos this morning (momma’s gotta win big to fund her Sephora run!), I remedied the situation with facial moisturizing TLC, courtesy of Peter Thomas Roth’s Mega Rich Intensive Anti-Aging Cellular Masque.

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Product: Peter Thomas Roth Mega Rich Intensive Anti-Aging Cellular Moisture Masque
Use: A moisturizing masque to hydrate normal, dry or sensitive skin
Price: $60
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+

Unlike clay masks with thick, heavy consistencies, PTR’s moisturizing mask feels light. The consistency upon application reminds me of Lubriderm body lotion but feels even lighter and less sticky than that. A product’s scent helps determine whether or not I would use it regularly, and PTR’s light, slightly medicinal scent smells nice and fades quickly.

I slathered a layer upon my face, neck and decollete and left it on for 10 minutes. The mask dried but didn’t flake off like most clay masks will. The formula actually seemed to soak into my skin. After rinsing it off and looking at myself in the mirror, my skin looked and felt smoother and less irritated.

What’s in this magical, moisturizing brew? Let’s see… in addition to edible-sounding (although the product is not approved for consumption) ingredients like sweet almond oil, aloe vera and pomegranate, PTR contains a laundry list of scientific-ish anti-aging compounds like Firma-Cell-4, Syn-Coll and Argire-Line, which, according to the product packaging, work together to combat fine lines and deep wrinkles. I have to be up front — I find it really hard to quantify how effective anti-aging products are because I’m 32 and don’t have a lot of wrinkles (yet, ha!). Looking in the mirror, I tried to see a difference in my fine lines but couldn’t really detect a change, so I’m not sold on the anti-aging aspect. To be fair, my results could be different after a more extended bout of testing.

But the mask is still incredibly moisturizing, making it a fantastic addition to any dry skinned gal’s (or guy’s) skin routine. I could really feel the difference out here in the dry desert air.

Today, I’ve got a few fun things lined up. First up, breakfast at our hotel, the Golden Nugget.

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At some point today, I plan to win a jackpot while playing the slot machines (gotta think positive!). Then, I’ll head to the strip to visit Sephora and the cosmetics section of Barney’s New York department store. I hope to find a bunch of brands I can’t get back in the Bay. I suspect El Hub will drag me out of makeup nirvana and force me to eat lunch at a buffet, sigh. Viva Las Vegas!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 18 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Product Reviews, Skin Care Keywords: Las Vegas

Jump Start Your Morning: Wei East Intensive Herbal Eye Treatment Pads

February 15th, 2008 by Karen 18 Comments

Non-morning people of the world, unite! Before my morning coffee, I’m a puffy-eyed, grumpy beast. If you are, too, then I’ve got your new best friend right here: Wei East’s Intensive Herbal Eye Treatment Pads.

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Infused with an herbal blend of green tea, chrysanthemum extract and peppermint, these disposable herbal eye pads refresh and de-puff tired, sleepy eyes (like mine). This morning I crawled out of bed, fired up the coffee and tore open a pack. The pads rest gently upon your puffy eyelids. There’s no adhesive, so you have to lie down or tilt your head back to keep them in place. I chillaxed on the couch for 10 minutes while the coffee brewed.

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They’re wonderful right after getting up in the morning, when you’re mind is in that shady zone between fast asleep and half-awake. With subtle notes of tea and peppermint, the soft pads cool and refresh the senses. Relaxing on the couch, I let my mind wander, reflecting upon the day ahead. After 10 minutes, my eyes weren’t as puffy as they were before, and I felt invigorated, refreshed and ready to rumble.

One box of 16 packets (each packet holds two pads) runs $36, which breaks down to about $2.76 per pack. Yes, I probably could have simulated a cheaper version of the experience with a candy cane and a wet washcloth, but on extra-rough mornings when I can barely even grunt or gesture, these pads will be worth it. Sometimes, you need all the help you can get in the morning, and Wei East’s pads could be just the thing to make the morning a lil’ bit easier.

Purchase Wei East Intensive Herbal Eye Treatment pads at at Weieast.com.

Well, we *finally* made it to Friday! Are you ready for this jelly? You better be! Reporting live from Las Vegas, Nevada…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 18 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Product Reviews

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About Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my three-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my kitty supermodel cat (Tabs).

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