Karen, Author at Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup - Page 1014 of 1879

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

A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

Karen

It Takes You to Tango With the Make Up For Ever Black Tango Palette for Fall 2012

by 22 Comments

make up for ever black tango

I tangoed this afternoon for the first time in 20 years, and my partner was Make Up For Ever.

No, not tango in the ballroom style (“slow, slow, quick-quick, slow!”), although that always looks like so much fun. This was more just me dancing away the late afternoon with some pieces from MUFE’s new fall 2012 collection.

make up for ever black tango fall 2012

Ironically…my metaphorical dancing today was much more fun than the first time I tried the real tango.

It was the spring of my senior year in high school… My friend Alex and I had taken a ballroom dance class together after seeing the movie Swing Kids (5-second synopsis: a group of teenagers in Nazi Germany band together to dance to forbidden swing music from the United States).


Yup, that’s young Christian Bale in the middle

We started out hell bent on getting good enough to do the cool aerial tricks, tosses and lifts, so every Thursday after dinner Alex would pick me up in his rickety Dodge Dart, and I’d spend the 10-minute drive to the dance studio joshing him and his ride (“Dude, if this thing breaks down, you’re gonna have to flash your hairy leg on the side of the road and pray someone pulls over to help us, ’cause there’s no way I’m pushing this boat in these heels!”).

Then we’d shuffle across the dance floor for 45 minutes, with both of us spending most of the time looking down at our feet, to learn the basics of ballroom dancing with some of Union City’s sassiest seniors.

I don’t know what we were thinking, to be honest, because we were really, really terrible. Like the worst couple in class. Alex was over six-feet tall, and I barely cleared 5 feet, even when I was stepping on his toes, LOL! Seriously, if the class had given an award for crashing into other couples and stepping on feet, that’s the only award we would have won.

As bad as we were, though, the tango was sort of our specialty, and I still remember sailing across the dance floor, repeating “slow, slow, quick-quick, slow” over and over to myself.

“Slow, slow, quick-quick, slow!” I tried to get Tabs to dance with me this afternoon, but he wasn’t in the mood… Thankfully, the new Aqua Rouge Lip Colors ($24 each), Aqua Brow ($20) and new Black Tango Palette ($45) were. 🙂

make up for ever black tango palette closed
Black Tango Palette

make up for ever black tango fall 2012 open
[Continue reading…]

Putting Jewels in Reach: The $4.79 Sonia Kashuk Fall 2012 Nail Colours Might Look Expensive, But They’re Priced Just Right

by 20 Comments

Sonia Kashuk Fall 2012 Nail Colours in Hocus Pocus, Emerald City, Two Cents, Dime a Dozen and All Vamped Up
Sonia Kashuk Fall 2012 Nail Colours from the left: Hocus Pocus, Emerald City, Two Cents, Dime a Dozen and All Vamped Up

Beep-beep-beep!

Did you hear that…? That beeping sound? Is a truck backing up outside my window? Did I suddenly get a page from 1997 (007734-411-007-911)?

Bargain Beauty Thrill-o-MeterOh, I see what it is. It’s just the sweet, sweet sound of my Bargain Beauty Thrill-o-Meter sounding off. 🙂

Even before I swatched ’em, I had a feeling Sonia Kahuk’s five new $4.79 fall Nail Colours would rock my budget-loving boat.

With finishes from creamy to metallic and colors perfect for fall, these highly pigmented jewel-toned polishes look like the kinds of nail accoutrements I’m more accustomed to seeing on Dior and Chanel counters, and with price tags closer to $30 than $5.

Looking at metallic copper Two Cents and creamy eggplant All Vamped Up, fall seems just days away, and I can almost hear the leaves crunching beneath my feet as I stroll around my neighborhood looking at Halloween decorations…

Creamy purple Hocus Pocus and rich green Emerald City should look right at home on my paws as I hoist a cup of hot cocoa up to my lips (can’t forget the marshmallows!), while gunmental Dime a Dozen looks like a lovely shade to bring to Thanksgiving dinner with the fam.

In the swatches below, I’m wearing two coats of Emerald City, Two Cents and Dime a Dozen. I think I also could’ve gotten away with two coats of Hocus Pocus and All Vamped Up, but I decided to apply a third because I noticed the faintest bit of streaking from those two in direct sunlight.

Sonia Kashuk Fall 2012 Nail Colours from the left: Two Cents, Dime a Dozen, Hocus Pocus, Emerald City and All Vamped Up
From the left: Two Cents, Dime a Dozen, Hocus Pocus, Emerald City and All Vamped Up

Sonia Kashuk Emerald City swatch
Emerald City

Sonia Kashuk Two Cents swatch
Two Cents
[Continue reading…]

Like the Sun Rising in the East, Your Lips Will Shimmer Wearing One of the 15 Moisturizing Cremesheen Lipsticks and Glosses in the New MAC Cremesheen + Pearl Collection

by 22 Comments

MAC Coral Bliss Cremesheen
Wearing MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Coral Bliss

MAC went east — faaar east — for the 15 modern pinks, nudes and corals in their new Cremesheen + Pearl collection of Cremesheen Glasses and Lipsticks with a light-reflecting finish.

Each of the eight new Cremesheen Lipsticks ($15 each) and seven Cremesheen Glasses ($19.50 each) in the Asian-inspired collection contain crushed pearl for shiny, glossy lips with a luminous glow. They arrive on North American shores August 9 (and coming to international locales this September), but if you can’t/don’t want to wait that long, they’re actually available now online.

Looking for the right light-reflecting lips to go with your favorite bold eye look? MAC’s got ya covered. 🙂

Here’s a quick look at six of the new shades. I can’t wait to wear some of these with smokey eyes!

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick Coral Bliss Pure Zen Shanghai Spice
Cremesheen Lipsticks in Coral Bliss, Pure Zen and Shanghai Spice

MAC Cremesheen Glass Double Happiness Rising Sun Pagoda
Cremesheen Glass in Double Happiness, Rising Sun and Pagoda

I LOVE the product names and the overall vibe. It reminds me of the last time I went to the cherry blossom festival in SF’s Japan Town. My favorites here are probably the comfortable Cremesheen Glasses because of how moisturizing they are. Thinner than the Lipglasses and non-sticky, too, they just feel really, really great on my lips. Whenever I travel by plane, I always bring a moisturizing Cremesheen along to help my lips cope with the dry, recycled air.

mac cremesheen pearl swatches
Swatches from the left: Cremesheen Lipsticks in Coral Bliss, Pure Zen and Shanghai Spice; Cremesheen Glass in Double Happiness, Pagoda and Rising Sun
[Continue reading…]

The MAC By Request Collection: Nine Classic Shades Return for an Online Encore

by 49 Comments

mac by request candy yum yum
Wearing Eyeshadow in Moth Brown on my eyes and Lipstick in Candy Yum-Yum on my lips

Rock the makeup vote! Power to the lipgloss-loving people!

The citizenry has spoken, and MAC mavens made their voices heard in the new MAC By Request collection, a nine-piece limited edition release featuring nine comeback colors chosen by MAC fans.

Last spring MAC-aholics worldwide voted for their favorite shades on Facebook from among a field of 18 classic colors previously featured in limited edition collections. Nine colors made the final cut — three Eyeshadows, three Lipglasses and three Lipsticks — earning spots in the new MAC By Request collection ($15 each).

Get to know the nine comeback kids in the following pics and swatches. 🙂

mac eye shadows in guacamole, moth brown and jete
Eyeshadows in Guacamole, Moth Brown and Jete

MAC Guacamole Eye Shadow
Eyeshadow in Guacamole

MAC Moth Brown Eye Shadow
Eyeshadow in Moth Brown
[Continue reading…]

MAC Unsung Heroes: Rubenesque Paint Pot

by 32 Comments

mac rubenesque paint pot

There’s an old urban legend about today’s MAC Unsung Hero, MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque…

Rumor has it that Tabs the Cat was the inspiration for this shimmery, peachy gold — more specifically, his shapely figure and the sunset-like shades that dance across his Rubenesque tum.

I’ve asked him about it a few times, but he just turns and walks away, neither confirming nor denying the rumors.

I don’t know if there’s any truth to it, but I do know one thing for sure — every year by the end of summer, this creamy shadow is my jam!

Come August, when buttery brown tans are at their peak, peachy golden Rubenesque comes out to play. I love the way it looks on bronzed skin — like late afternoon sunlight on my lids (and my face, but more on that in a few).

If you’re new to the MAC Paint Pots, picture a powder shadow with a creamier formula. I like to use them as standalone eyeshadows or as color-intensifying bases for other powder shades.

I think they’re great for when you don’t have a lot of time to get ready in the morning, or for any time when you just want to add quick color to your lids without having to bust out a bunch of brushes or spend 20 minutes blending.

When I’m sporting a tan and want to draw some extra attention to my eyes, that’s when I’ll reach for Rubenesque.

For a doe-eyed beach babe look, I’ll pat it on my lids with a finger and feather out the edges with a domed blending brush like the MAC 217. Then, to create the illusion of thicker lashes, I’ll line my upper water line with a black gel liner like MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack and apply a lash lengthening, lifting mascara like the new MAC Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara.

mac rubenesque paint pot swatch

mac rubenesque paint pot
[Continue reading…]

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 232

by 43 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll
I made raviolis with my friends Jen and Cindy last Saturday…

  • 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. Mood:
    Relieved. I just tidied up my desk and feel functional again! When I’m surrounded by a chaotic mess, I feel like a chaotic mess, but when my space is nice and neat and clean, I’m so much happier and more productive.
  2. How would you describe your current hairdo?
    It falls to about an inch below the top of my shoulders with long layers, a side part, long side-swept bangs and ombre highlights. The base color is a chocolate brown, and the highlights are caramel (Mmm… caramel).

    I’m thinking about growing it out again…but we’ll see how I feel about that as it grows and starts to feel heavy later this summer.

    I definitely do like having longer hair in winter, though. It’s like a natural head warmer.

  3. Are you a Bond girl/guy?
    Depends on the Bond, but I gotta say, I lurves me some Daniel Craig. 🙂

    I watched Casino Royale again last week and remembered why he’s my favorite Bond (sorry, Sean!). He’s got those enchanting aquamarine eyes and that “hot thug in a tuxedo” thing going on…

  4. How often do you wear concealer?
    Approximately every single day, LOL! Even on weekends.
  5. Do you believe you’d make a good reality TV show judge?
    Probably not. Actually, I’m pretty sure I’d suck at it. I’d be too worried about hurting someone’s feelings.
  6. How did you spend your Sunday afternoon?
    I caught up on some reading (five back issues of Entertainment Weekly), and also watched Enemy of the State, with Will Smith and Gene Hackman. The DVR randomly recorded it, and I’d never seen it before. Not bad.

  7. Something you’d like to learn?
    How to drive a stick shift. It’s on my list of “Skills to Have During the Zombie Apocalypse.”
  8. Do you have a signature makeup look?
    Hmm… Well, I’m fickle and like to try different things, but I guess if I had to choose one, I’d go with bold eyes and nude lips.
  9. What’s for lunch today?
    Hopefully a Panera salad if I can sneak out to the mall.
  10. Weekly goals:
    First and foremost, smile as much as possible. 🙂 I also want to visit the Container Store and look for some simple shelving or cabinetry to organize my office. Oh, and step away from the computer by no later than 7 each night.

Hey, cutie pie! So glad to see you this morning. I hope you feel at least a little refreshed after the weekend. It always makes Mondays easier. If not…allow me to introduce you to my good friend caffeine!

Do you have a sec to say hi and fill out the Monday Poll?

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



1. Mood:
2. How would you describe your current hairdo?
3. Are you a Bond girl/guy?
4. How often do you wear concealer?
5. Do you believe you’d make a good reality TV show judge?
6. How did you spend your Sunday afternoon?
7. Something you’d like to learn?
8. Do you have a signature makeup look?
9. What’s for lunch today?
10. Weekly goals:

Have a wonderful day! I hope you get some nice weather today.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Copyright © 2025 Makeup and Beauty Blog. Get in touch.