In this week’s episode of The Mascara Chronicles: Go Drag or Go Home, blogger Karen takes a break from her seemingly never-ending quest for big, bold lashes so bad@ss that even RuPaul would pause mid-snap.

This week’s lower key lash look guest stars the new MAC Extended Play Lash Mascara ($15, available in one color called Endless Black), who some (really, just me) are calling “the next Blanche Devereaux.”

Like Blanche, the man- and lash-hungry coquette who batted wispy, come-hither lashes at suitors while seductively sipping sweet tea through a straw on the veranda, Extended Play has fun with lashes without going all the way (at least with lashes).

Simply coat lashes with one or two layers using the slim, sleek brush. Then, sit back and admire.

It makes my lashes look glossy black, dramatically longer and a bit thicker — not drag queen-caliber thick, but thick enough to notice a difference.

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Read the rest of MAC Extended Play Lash Mascara Is Something a Southern Belle Might Buy (141 words)

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Copyright Karen of Makeup and Beauty Blog: Makeup Reviews, Beauty Tips and Drugstore Beauty Finds | Read the full article

Copyright Karen of Makeup and Beauty Blog: Makeup Reviews, Beauty Tips and Drugstore Beauty Finds | Read the full article

Copyright Karen of Makeup and Beauty Blog: Makeup Reviews, Beauty Tips and Drugstore Beauty Finds | Read the full article

Tabs is quite the taskmaster, as you well know, but every once in a while, about as often as a solar eclipse, he takes pity on his lowly assistant and grants her (me) a break.

Today was one of those days. I was given a break from my official feline assistant duties and two hours of company sanctioned “me time,” or “meow time,” as Tabs likes to say.

He’s a big fan of meow time.

Behold the face of a kitty dictator!

Today, I decided to spend my meow time on a beauty break — ya know, some noms, a little window shopping and, of course, makeup.

Join me! It’ll be fun.

First order of business: Starbucks. Grab a seat, and I’ll get us some tasty beverages. Gotta fuel up before we browse.

Where should we start? How about Sephora? There’s one just down the street.

Don’t worry about spending money. We’re just going to look around. Promise.

Well…unless we come across a completely awesome life-changing color. In that case, all bets are off.

Lately at Sephora, I’ve been starting in the Tokidoki section. The cheerful packaging gets me every time, like this new limited edition Love From London Palette…

Isn’t it cute!? Eight eyeshadows, a bronzer and a keychain for $42. That’s not bad. And the pans look pretty big, too.

I like the mix of neutrals and blues — oh, but they swatch pretty sheer…

I think I might like it more for the cute factor than anything else. Let’s keep moving…

Ah, some new stuff from Korres!

The Cheek Butter cheek tints ($25 each), which are supposed to be hydrating and long-wearing, feel surprisingly thick and creamy.
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Read the rest of A Thursday Beauty Break With Starbucks and Summer Makeup From Tokidoki, Korres, Smashbox, Laura Mercier and More (469 words)

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Preparing for the Thunderdome is a pain in the @ss.

There, I said it.

So many things to consider! First, there’s the whole post-apocalyptic desert thing, with the lack of potable water and modern dentistry, and the roving mutant gangs. Then, as if the mutants weren’t bad enough, I spend half my time collecting enough pig poop to fuel my ride!

Ridiculous…

Oh, and on top of everything else, I have to stay fit and makeup ready at all times, because I never know when I’m going to be called up to fight in the Thunderdome.

Seriously, who wants to go toe-to-toe with a giant mutant wearing black studded-leather chaps without at least looking the part?

Right?

Needless to say, I’m pretty stoked about the new seven-piece Illamasqua Naked Strangers collection for cheeks, lips and nails…

The futuristic warrior princess modeling makeup for the Naked Strangers campaign looks all kinds of fierce! — like she’d be all, “Thunderdome? Sure, sign me up.” Her makeup mixes nude, pink, gold and beige shades for cheeks, lips and nails with a pair of seriously smoldering smokey eyes.

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to this whole Thunderdome thing…and I’ve mapped out a plan that utilizes tactics that usually worked for the girls who got into fights back in middle school.

1. Remove any dangling jewelry, like hoop earrings and necklaces, to maximize combat efficiency
2. Grease up with Vaseline, so that my opponent’s claws can’t get any purchase on my arms/cheeks
3. Trash talk, trash talk, trash talk
4. Apply Illamasqua Sheer Lipgloss in Intimacy (a nude pinkish brown) and Cream Blusher in Zygomatic (also a nude pinkish brown) from the Naked Strangers collection before, during and after the fight

Generally, one never wants to look too overdone for a Thunderdome duel (it’s just not professional), and both of these two neutrals should be perfect for that.

Sheer Lipgloss in Intimacy and Cream Blusher in Zygomatic

Cream Blusher in Zygomatic

See those dots of gold on the top? Purely for decoration. I dug into the pan to see if there were more pieces hiding beneath the surface, and as far as I could tell, there weren’t.

As much I like seeing them on the blusher itself, I ended up flicking them off… I just couldn’t get used to seeing myself with one random piece of gold on my left cheek.

I really like this pinkish brown because, unlike death matches, it’s pleasantly easy. The slick, thin texture melts into my skin, lasts between 6-7 hours, and I think it looks natural on both a bare face or atop foundation.

The finish also has a hint of shine to it that gives it some extra dimension, which I
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

Sheer Lipgloss in Intimacy

Tame by Illamasqua standards (remember Human Fundamentalism’s teal and purple lips?), this sheer pinkish brown gloss, which has a sprinkling of shimmer and comes with a brush applicator, has everyday color written all over it.

Thick and sticky, the consistency reminds me a lot of MAC Lipglasses; I clock the wear time at between 4-5 hours.

I’m not crazy about the fruit punch flavor and scent…but both are faint and fade within about a minute. They definitely don’t ruin the color for me, and I fully expect to finish this tube.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

Cream Blusher in Zygomatic
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Read the rest of Dueling Naked Strangers, Exposed! The Illamasqua Naked Strangers Collection Is Thunderdome Approved (285 words)

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