Chanel

Luminous Taupe Lids with Chanel Les 4 Ombres Byzance in Parure Cristal

October 12th, 2023 by Karen 3 Comments

I watched a video recently with makeup artist Mia Connor talking about how she likes to do one single block of color across the lids on hooded eyes.

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A post shared by 🤍 M I A C O N N O R 🤍 (@miaconnor)

Simple, effective, easy. Of course it totally spoke to me!

I took her advice about wearing one color this morning when I put on shadow from the Chanel Les 4 Ombres Byzance Quad in Parure Cristal.

This limited edition beauty is one of four quads inspired by precious stones and Chanel jewelry. Designed to be dressed up or down, each quad offers four coordinating shades with glowing finishes.

Parure Cristal. Yup, I’m still an NC42 in MAC.

I mixed the two darkest shades (the taupe and the rosy quartz) on the back of my hand to create a customized color, which I then buffed across my lids. Then I applied the taupe as a liner with an angled brush.

Oh my cheeks and lips I’m wearing NARS Dolce Vita

When you put makeup on just for fun and have no idea where it’s gonna go

I gotta admit, I still feel like I’m wearing a lot of makeup. I do like how it turned out, though. It feels polished but not overly done, and it didn’t require a ton of work.

I think I’m going to stick to Mia’s formula for a bit and see where it takes me on my makeup journey.

Happy Thursday to you, my friend! Keep on keepin’ on.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Beauty Q&A: Do You Wear More Makeup in the Fall?

October 6th, 2023 by Karen 2 Comments

I put this coppery fall makeup on the other day just for fun! Cheeks, lips and eyes are from the Chanel fall collection.

In the beauty world, fall typically means the return of wearing makeup. Is this the case for you? Do you wear more makeup as the weather cools down, or do you stick with your regular routine?

Speaking of wearing makeup, I put on some copper and coral tones from Chanel fall the other day just for fun. It felt a little weird wearing so much color on my lids, but I went with it!

Key products in this look from the Chanel fall collection

When you wear color on your lids for the first time in ages

Hope you’re having a fun Friday so far. I just got back from volunteering at Connor’s school. I helped setup for the Scholastic Book Fair! Remember the Book Fair from back in the day? It is so NEXT LEVEL now! They don’t only sell just books, but there are posters, toys and tons of tchotchkes.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Trying on Lipsticks Just for Fun

October 5th, 2023 by Karen 7 Comments

A few months after Connor was born, I went to a lunch mixer with a local mother’s club, and as we were all going around introducing ourselves, one of the ladies said she recently had a baby, and that day was the first day in weeks she actually got dressed and combed her hair. She then said, “I even put on earrings,” and then she started crying, and oh my gosh, I totally understood what she felt at that moment in every cell of my body.

Sometimes it’s a heavy lift just to put on earrings. Or mascara. Or pants that are acceptable to wear in public, if I’m totally being honest.

But you do it, and you keep on keepin’ on.

Anywho, I thought about that woman today as I got ready for a video meeting. I ironed a shirt, did my hair and put on makeup for the first time in, oh, I don’t know how long.

I even put on earrings…

Is it a *lewk*? Nope. Is it edgy or particularly noteworthy? Um, probably not. But I did it. And it make me feel great during my video call.

After it was over, just for fun, I tried on a few lipsticks because it’s been ages.

When you put dark lipstick on for the first time in ages

Sending good thoughts your way. Happy Thursday to you!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Checking In: New Chanel Fall Blushes, Being On Hold for Hours and Sensible Shoes!

August 18th, 2023 by Karen 7 Comments

Happy Friday, friend! Miss you.

Before I get into it, first, Chanel.

Aren’t these blushes from the new fall collection so pretty? I haven’t had the heart to mess with the gorgeous leaf designs on the pans.

How’s your week been? School starts next Thursday so Connor’s with me at home, and in between juggling back-to-school things and taking her to playdates, I’ve been on the phone doing health care stuff for the fam-bam. We got new insurance, and although I’m so glad to have access to medical care, it’s been brutal trying to learn a new system.

I’ve spent most of the week on the phone calling doctors. Apparently there’s a shortage of available doctors where I live, and most are either not taking new patients or they’re booking appointments that are one year out. ONE YEAR! It’s savage.

Most of my week has been spent on hold listening to this music!

Adulting is so not fun. I would 100% not recommend it to anyone!

To get my mind off of things temporarily, yesterday, I took Connor to get boba and then we went to Nordstrom Rack to look at shoes. I bought a pair of very sensible camel-colored loafers by Cole Haan with a birthday gift card.

Honestly, they don’t make my heart break out into song or anything, but they’re comfortable, and I know I can wear them with a lot of things. And, if I had to, I could sprint across a parking lot in them to chase a child down!

It was the best thing that happened to me this week.

How are things going with you? I hope you made it to Friday in one piece.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup of the Day Featuring a New Loose Eyeshadow from Chanel Fall 2023

August 10th, 2023 by Karen 10 Comments

Wearing (and loving!) Sycomore, a new loose eyeshadow from Chanel Fall/Winter 2023

I feel really good in this eye makeup, and the best part about it is it took very little time and effort to pull it together.

Apparetly that’s my makeup mantra now, ha!

I’m wearing a couple tried-and-true workhorses (a brown long-lasting gel liner from Hourglass and a plum shadow stick from Laura Mercier) and a new loose eyeshadow from Chanel, Ombre Premiere Libre in 402 Sycomore, a pearly warm golden beige.

It’s one of six loose eyeshadows launching this month in the Chanel Fall/Winter 2023 collection, and it’s just so lovely!

From Chanel PR:

OMBRE PREMIÈRE LIBRE Loose Eyeshadow Intense, Longwearing Colour

A longwearing shadow that delivers intense effects in a single swipe. Each of the 6 shades recalls the raw tones of nature, illuminated by sunlight. The creamy ultra-fine powder texture makes it easy to apply — just dab or press onto lids with the flexible sponge applicator. $40.00

If “swipe-and-go” is your style, I think you’ll like it.

Chanel Sycomore on my lids, Laura Mercier Rose Thorn on the outer corner and smudged on my upper lash line, and Hourglass Cave eyeliner on my waterlines

It comes in a small tube with a stubby sponge applicator which deposits the perfect amount of loose shadow. I pat and swipe the sponge onto my lids exactly where I want the color; it’s very easy to precisely go where you need to, which I love. Then, I use a tapered blending brush and my fingers to diffuse the edges.

It’s similar to a MAC Loose Pigment in that you get a lot of color intensity with a small amount of product, so you don’t have to sit there and build a bunch of layers.

However, I think what kicks the Chanel version up a notch is that the powder isn’t as messy as a MAC Pigment; the Chanel version is loose enough to easily blend, but it’s not so loose that it lands on your cheekbones, your white shirt, your cat’s fur and everything else in sight.

Cheeks are Laura Mercier Chai powder blush mixed with MAC Strobelite cream (I mixed the powder into the lotion on teh back of my hands and applied with fingers); lips are Ilia Color Haze PIgment in Temptation with a little bit of Biossance lip balm on top

I wore Sycomore yesterday without any eye primer and it stayed on all day. If you’re looking for feel-good eye makeup that’s long-lasting, polished and elegant, I think Sycomore is it!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Happy Friday, and a New Chanel Lippie

June 23rd, 2023 by Karen 3 Comments

Happy Friday, my friend! My sidekick is home with me (no dance camp today), but I wanted to pop in for a quick hello. 🙂

I told myself a while back that I was gonna quit with the nude lipsticks already, but I can’t seem to give ’em up. This lightweight peachy beige is from Chanel’s summer collection! It’s 174 Destination from the Rouge Coco Baum Flash line.

Hope you’re having a wonderful day so far!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Summer Beauty Buddies: Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint and Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream

June 22nd, 2023 by Karen 3 Comments

For me, it truly feels like summer when Chanel is in the mix. 🙂

I’ve been wearing two of their face products from the new summer collection non-stop: Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint sheer foundation in Medium Plus and Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream in Soleil Tan Medium Bronze.

I’m at a point in my makeup journey where I can’t deal with anything that feels or looks too heavy, especially in the summer. I want the sheerest coverage possible and my skin to look like real skin. Both these products achieve that very specific look!

Sheer and fresh

I wear the Water-Fresh Tint as an all over base (I use two pumps); most of the time I don’t set it with a powder, and I just leave it as is. It’s sheer and semi-matte, and I think it looks very fresh and undone.

I’m wearing Water-Fresh Tint in Medium Plus and Healthy Glo Bronizng Cream in Soleil Tan Medium Bronze

Long-wearing, too!

Then, I swipe Les Beiges cream bronzer on my cheeks and on my lids for some color and warmth. It blends effortlessly and doesn’t look obvious. FYI, I was pleasantly surprised with how long-lasting it is. Once it sets it doesn’t move!

You can find both items in several different shades at Chanel counters and online.

About that shirt

OK, so for my birthday this year, I treated myself to a cute new t-shirt from a brand that I’m kinda obsessed with called Clare V! They have lots of cute bags too.

I hope this beautiful Thursday has been treating you kindly! Big hugs from this end of the keyboard.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Favorite Chanel Dark Nail Polishes for a Short, Chic Mani

May 31st, 2023 by Karen 9 Comments

Chanel Oiseau de nuit, le diable en chanel rouge noir — Chanel Nail Polishes from the left: 141 Oiseau De Nuit, 155 Rouge Noir and 161 Le Diable En Chanel

I wasn’t kidding about short, dark nails doing *the most* for me for summer polish. These three Chanel shades, which are from the newly revamped nail polish line, make me swoon!

141 Oiseau De Nuit

My favorite is the shade I’ve been wearing on my fingers for almost a month now, 141 Oiseau de Nuit, a rich, blackened deep purple with a shiny finish. I think it’s moody and chic with just a touch of edginess, and when it’s worn with minimal summer makeup and a casual bun or ponytail, the whole look is VERY cool.

I really like the wide brush, which is flat and spreads easily across my nails. I can easily paint the polish from base to tip in a few quick strokes.

I think the formula is better than the previous iteration of Chanel nail polish, too. It does a better job of leveling out, so there’s no patchiness, and you can get a full block of solid color in two coats. It seems to withstand chips better overall as well.

I’ve been testing Osieu de Nuit out with various top coats (Essie, OPI, etc.), and the one that was best at preventing chips and holding the color onto my nails was the new Chanel Le Gel Longwear Top Coat.

If you’re going to splurge on any of the Chanel polishes, I’d highly recommend getting the Le Gel Top Coat to go along with it!

155 Rouge Noir

Another moody shade I’ve been loving is 155 Rouge Noir, a deep, dark red which I’ve been wearing on my toes.

This one feels like a shade that could easily go into fall; maybe it’s because I can really see it with a dark ’90s style matte lip and a matte base? Even so, I’ll still wear it in the summer. 🙂

161 Le Diable En Chanel

Last but not least is 161 Le Diable En Chanel, a dark glossy black.

I feel like Robert Smith from The Cure would wear this when he needs to feel pampered, LOL!

Let me know if any of these catch your eye.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen