Archives for September 2017

5 Recent Makeup Revelations

September 22nd, 2017 by Karen 17 Comments

1. Nobody rocks bold lips to baby story time.

And all I have to say to that is WHY?! There’s a severe lack of bright red lips and hot pink lips on display at baby story time at the library, which bums me out, because moms needs a little fun sometimes (yes, I’m always checking out everyone’s makeup, even at baby story time).

Two weeks ago, one gal wore a medium pink gloss, and I wanted to high-five her!

I’m thinking about going with deep green lips next time, just to keep things interesting.

2. Speaking of lips, Urban Decay Rehab Makeup Prep lip balm is really, REALLY good.

It tastes and smells like coconut, fits in the pocket of my Kate Spade wristlet (which is basically a massive wallet with a strap), is hella moisturizing, and my hair doesn’t get stuck in it.

That’s a lot of good all around for $15 at UD counters.

3. There isn’t a single clean eye brush anywhere in this house at the moment.

Not one. I haven’t washed my eye brushes in WEEKS, and I don’t have a good reason. I’ve just been been putting it off, but I used the last clean one this morning (a flat shadow brush from NARS), so sh*t just got real.

In my defense, waiting as long as I have has forced me to get creative with my blending and to use my fingers more often.

As the saying goes, laziness is the mother of invention. 🙂

[Continue reading…]

Bumble and Bumble Prêt-à-Powder Très Invisible Dry Shampoo: Another Great Dry Shampoo to Add to Your List

September 21st, 2017 by Karen 9 Comments

bumble and bumble pret a powder tres invisible dry shampoo — I may or may not have just sprayed half a pound of this new dry shampoo on my roots…

Man, this stuff smells good! It’s all powdery and musky…and naughty, with just a hint of sweet jasmine.

Can a fragrance smell like you’re purposefully trying to get in trouble? Because that’s how this dry shampoo smells to me. 🙂

There are actually two versions, both of them new from Bumble and Bumble, and both of them with darned-near impossible-to-pronounce (for me) French names, seeing as how I butcher everything en français.

I think I’ll just call them “the new Bumble dry shampoos.” They’re available now in pretty blush pink packaging for $29 each, which gets you a 3.1-oz. bottle.

One of them, Très Invisible, is for normal-to-oily hair, and the other one, Très Invisible Nourishing, is the more moisturizing version for dry, damaged or coarse hair.

They’re called “invisible” because that’s how they’re supposed to look in your hair, even if your hair is dark.

The directions say to spray them from 10-12 inches away from your hair, and to concentrate on your roots, which is pretty is standard for dry shampoo. I can’t see the product at all unless I get carried away and use a ridiculous amount, and even then, I can’t see it anymore after I brush the powder through my hair, which is a step you’re supposed to follow with these.

[Continue reading…]

Product Shout-Out: NARS Saint-Raphael Precision Lip Liner

September 21st, 2017 by Karen 3 Comments

OK, this is one of those off-label uses of a makeup product, so if you’re a stickler about only using products in the way they’re intended, you might want to look away. For a second.

On the other paw, if you’re open to experimentation, I found a very effective color corrector completely by accident.

Well, technically, it isn’t a face product. It’s an opaque matte orange lip pencil, NARS Precision Lip Liner in Saint-Raphael. It’s one of the new NARS Precision Lip Liners.

I’ve been using it to color-correct a desiccated former pimple that’s now purple, and it totally works.

I wouldn’t use it on under-eye circles, though, because it is a lip pencil, and I don’t know if it’s approved for use along water lines or around eyes in general. But I’ll use it on my chin, my cheeks, forehead, nose and the sides of my mouth.

Here I’m using it as a color corrector on my chin to hide Julian the pimple, who is STILL plaguing me.

We (or I) could literally talk about color correcting for hours. I think it’s fascinating, but to briefly summarize (haha, good luck to me), orange color-correcting products appear to cancel out/neutralize purple and blue shades, because orange and purple sit across from each other on the color wheel, where they stare each other down 24/7, throw shade and give each other the evil eye…

Typically, you’d apply orange color correctors on purple areas, then layer concealer or foundation on top.

karen bare skin before with julian — The before shot: Julian the pimple is obsessed with me…

nars saint raphael as color corrector — It’s called makeup improv, and I’m into it.

[Continue reading…]

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit – Volume 3

September 20th, 2017 by Karen 18 Comments

hourglass ambient lighting edit vol 3 top pic — Inspiring wannabe rappers everywhere: the new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Vol. 3 ($80)

Hourglass, Hourglass,
Your makeup kicks @ss.
Hourglass, Hourglass,
Face powders lit with all the sass.
Hourglass, Hourglass,
Prepare to drop some major cash!

They say that you should never give up on your dreams…but I don’t think they were referring to me and my dream of becoming M.C. Makeup, because I’m a sh*tty rapper! I might know all the words to most of Lil’ Kim’s songs, but that doesn’t mean they come out in the right order, haha.

This palette, though? — the new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit – Volume 3? It IS coming out in the right order, because this is the third year in a row that Hourglass has done a palm-sized travel kit o’ powders for the holidays, and it’s numero three.

I love the first one, Vol. 1, and still use it all the time. The second one, however, I bought but soon returned because, even though I thought it was beautiful, it wasn’t right for my skin tone. It was too light.

Like the first one, Vol. 3 has six pans of face powder that I think will suit more skin tones than ever. It also looks pretty chic in that gorgeous rose gold packaging, but it should…because it’s $80.

hourglass ambient lighting edit vol 3 overhead — Top row, from the left: Finishing Powder in Diffused Light, Strobe Powder in Hypnotic Strobe Light (NEW) and Finishing Powder in Dim Light; Bottom row from the left: Bronzer in Luminous Bronze Light, Blush in Surreal Halo (NEW) and Blush in Pure Effect (NEW)

Of the six pans, three are re-promotes — Dim Light, Diffused Light and Luminous Bronze Light — and three are NEW! — Surreal Halo and Surreal Halo (which are blushes), and Hypnotic Strobe (a highlighter).

Both Surreal Halo and Pure Effect are darker and more intense than the colors in last year’s palette, which is potentially fantastic news for marvelous medium-toned mavens and darker damsels.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit – Volume 3: the six shades

Dim Light — This subtly luminous peachy beige can set your makeup, and it doubles as a highlighter. It creates that trademark Hourglass Ambient Powder sheen.
I dig this one. I’ve been using it as an all-over face powder and to set concealer.
Diffused Light — This warm pale yellow can set, highlight and conceal redness, but I can’t really work it now because I still have a tan from summer. For now at least, it’s borderline chalky on me.
Lighter lovelies are in luck, and I suspect that it’ll also work better for me as we get closer to winter.
Luminous Bronze Light — This medium tan has golden undertones and creates a subtle golden sheen. I think it works better as a bronzer than a contouring powder, but watch out — if I apply too much of it over large areas on my face, it looks muddy and kinda dirty (especially on my cheeks).
I much prefer Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light, which is warmer and more golden, but this one’s also very pretty if you get the amount right.
Surreal Halo Blush (NEW, exclusive to this palette) — This bright berry is absolutely GORGEOUS and creates a very natural flush. I don’t have anything else quite like it in my Hourglass collection.
I like applying it by doing big sweeps with a large fluffy brush because, for some reason, it looks REALLY good when you cover a lot of skin with it.
Pure Effect Blush (NEW, exclusive to palette) — This bright petal pink is brighter and more intense than the other pink Hourglass blushes out there.
I like layering it on top of Surreal Halo, where I’ll do a small pop of color on the apples of my cheeks. 🙂
Hypnotic Strobe Highlighter (NEW, exclusive to palette) — This shimmering champagne gold is great for subtle highlights.

hourglass ambient lighting edit vol 3 swatches — Swatch out! From the top: Finishing Powder in Diffused Light, Strobe Powder in Hypnotic Strobe Light (NEW), Finishing Powder in Dim Light, Bronzer in Luminous Bronze Light, Blush in Surreal Halo (NEW) and Blush in Pure Effect (NEW)

[Continue reading…]

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Shiseido Facial Cotton

September 19th, 2017 by Karen 20 Comments

The Unsung Heroes series highlights some of my ALL-TIME favorite permanent collection products from all sorts of brands.

Dang, I had my heart set on being crabby about these Shiseido Facial Cotton pads, because girl, they’re $10, and you only get 165 of them, which is craziness to me because you could roll up to Target right now and get a massive pack of 300 up & up brand cotton pads for $5.

But ugh, these Shiseido ones are so good!

I didn’t expect to be bougie about cotton pads, but I’m there, man. The Shiseido ones are the softest, most velvety facial pads I’ve ever used, and once you’ve felt their caress (it was unmistakable when they touched my delicate water lines), other cotton pads will feel like rough metal scouring pads. NO JOKE. Even Q-tips.

OK, that was a joke…but you know hear I mean’. The Shiseido Facial Cotton pads feel SOFT. Q-tips used to feel like tabby tum fur to me before I got spoiled by these.

I mostly use them to remove eye makeup, but you can use them like any other cotton ball or cotton pad. They’ll apply toners or liquid essences after cleansing, remove face makeup, and they’ll soften the edges of your blush, eyeshadow or your bronzer perfectly well.

I guess you could also use them to remove nail polish, but I won’t be using them for that. My fingers and toes just wouldn’t appreciate how soft (or pricey) they are.

A single pad can remove all of my eye makeup and face makeup, then STILL have enough oomph left to apply toner.

[Continue reading…]

3 Mind-Blowing Ways to Transform Your Makeup and Have Tons of Fun With Face Oil

September 18th, 2017 by Karen 15 Comments

chantecaille rose de mail face oil — Wait — what? Why would I want to mix face oil with my makeup?? Please explain.

This one never would have occurred to me on my own. I had no idea anyone was doing this — mixing face oil into their makeup. Then I saw MAC Senior Artist Alev Karli do it in a video (check out her Instagram feed because it’s gorgeous!). She blended a couple drops of MAC Essential Oil into Groundwork Paint Pot, and BAM! — ye olde proverbial light switch got flipped in my head.

Whoa! You mean that if I add a few drops of face oil to cream eyeshadow or cream blush, it’ll thin them out and change their consistency??

That’s brilliant.

mac constructivist face oil — Adding a drop of face oil to MAC Constructivist Paint Pot

Adding a few drops to cream shadow makes it easier to buff and blend (and also makes it look less cake-y and more natural). The finish changes, too. It gets dewier and glossier.

mac constructivist with face oil — The oil makes it glossier.

If you’re in the mood to mix, here are some variations to try…

1. Face oil + cream highlighter

I did this with Cream Colour Base in Hush last weekend and a few drops of Chantecaille Rose De Mail Face Oil, which someone gave me as a gift a few years ago (it’s crazy expensive!), but I bet it would work just as well with any face oil you have around.

mac hush with face oil — MAC Cream Colour Base in Hush with Chantecaoill Rose de Mail Face Oil

I added the oil right into the pan of Cream Color Base, mixed it with a face brush, then gently stippled the new concoction onto my upper cheekbones for a dewy, pearly glow.

You can wear do this on top of your face makeup (although I recommend applying it before you do your face powder so it doesn’t make whatever you’re wearing under it scoot around too much), or apply it under foundation or tinted moisturizer for a soft, subtle highlight.

[Continue reading…]

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 493

September 18th, 2017 by Karen 22 Comments

Smile, it’s Monday and Connor and I are your biggest fans!

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past 10 (!) years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

1. Is there any takeout place or coffee shop where folks usually/frequently mess up your name?

It’s Karen, spelled the conventional way, but I’ll be darned if I don’t get some very creative takes on my name at Starbucks.

I picked up a drink once that said “Cairn” on the side of the cup…like the terrier. LOL! Another time somebody wrote “Carrot,” and I gotta hand it to them for that one. 🙂 But do I look like somebody named after that vegetable??

2. Something you need to do today?

Just one of many things I need to do today, because the baby caught her first cold and it’s been…an adventure, but I need to wash the bedding in the guest room because We had company over, and I always like to keep fresh sheets in there, just in case somebody stops by unexpectedly and needs to stay the night.

Not that that ever happens… Last weekend was my in-laws, and we knew they were visiting ahead of time, but I still like to have that room ready just in case somebody ever does stop by completely out of the blue.

Weird, I know.

3. You’re out running errands one morning when you realize — OH, NO! — that you must have lost or forgotten your phone at home. What do you do?

If Connor were with me, I’d probably wouldn’t worry about it because, you know, if I really needed to get hold of someone, I’d find a way — ask someone to borrow their phone, find a payphone (do they still have those??) — but if Connor wasn’t with me, I’d probably jet back home to check, and if I still couldn’t find it, I’d use Apple’s Find my Phone and remotely wipe it if I saw it moving around on that little map.

4. Where are you right now?

In my office, which overlooks our little neighborhood circle, looking out my windows from my desk and waiting for Connor Claire and the sun to rise.

5. Finish the following sentence: I believe…

I believe that no matter what happens, you have to get back up, get back in there and try again. If you fall 99 times, you get back up and go for #100.

Happy Monday, amiga! I don’t know what it’s like out there, but we’re definitely starting to feel the effects of fall here, which means it’s almost full-time stretchy pants time, woot!

It’s getting chilly at night, and the oak trees all over our place are dropping leaves like crazy! It still warms up to about 80 in the daytime, but it’s weird. We’re on that summer-fall cusp.

About the stretchy pants, though, it’s not like stretchy pants ever go out of style (because every day can be a stretchy pants day), and I currently have my eye on a new pair of cuties with faux leather on the sides by Senita.

Speaking of stretchy pants, may each day this week be as good to you as your favorite pair of stretchy pants. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I love that picture at the top, but that was taken on Friday BEFORE Connor’s nose started running. She’s in full-on cold mode now and none too pleased about it. If you know of any good toddler cold remedies or tips, please share. There’s a very unhappy baby over here. 🙁

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 467

September 17th, 2017 by Karen 8 Comments

Every morning like clockwork Tabs follows me downstairs into the kitchen, kitty hugging my legs and meowing all the way. Then he sits in the same spot on the kitchen floor looking up at me, then up to the cabinet where I keep his extra large family-size bag of Feline Greenies Dental Treats in the Oven Roasted Chicken Flavor.

He’s always been a creature of habit, but it’s gotten freaky now. Now, if he doesn’t get his Greenies at precisely the correct time, his meows rise in pitch. After a couple minutes of that, the meows turn to concerned, longer mewls, and then basically panicked loud cat mrrrrrrrrrowwwwwws until the Greenies miraculously appear.

It’s like WTF, woman!? WHERE ARE TEH GREENIES?

And it has to be between 10-14 Greenies. No more, no less. His day can’t start without them.

After he eats them, he usually disappears and heads back upstairs to sleep on the bed for a couple more hours, but if he doesn’t get those Greenies, he’s out of sorts and extra needy the rest of the day.

Weirdly, I think he also has a sixth sense for what day of the week it is, or at least when it’s Sunday, because that’s the day when we usually go for our long walk super early and spend more time outside than usual.

[Continue reading…]