Chanel

Bold Lip of the Day: Chanel Rouge Allure Ink in Luxuriant

October 19th, 2021 by Karen 10 Comments

I used to think makeup lovers adored the cat eye and bold lip combo because it’s a classic, but now I’m starting to think the reason why people love it so much because it’s 1) easy and 2) packs a major punch. That’s the main reason why I’ve been wearing it so much lately, LOL!

Today’s bold lip is with a beautiful matte liquid lippie by Chanel, Rouge Allure in Luxuriant! It’s a bright matte red with a fuchsia undertone. I like how lightweight it feels and how it doesn’t suck the moisture out of my pout. Oh yeah, I also think it looks absolutely beautiful!

BTW the liner is my go-to liquid liner, Clinique Pretty Easy Pen in Black. If you’ve ever felt like cat eye liner is just too hard, give this pen a try. It has a flexible tip, the ink flows out steadily and is smudge-proof. I always have one in my makeup bag.

clinique pretty easy liquid eyeliner pen 3 — This is the finish after it dries. Sorry for my sloppy lines… I just drank a ton of coffee and was hella shaky, LOL.

Have a very happy Tuesday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Another Way to Work Your Favorite Nude Lipstick

September 14th, 2021 by Karen 7 Comments

Check this out. I do it often. It’s one of my favorite lip tricks of all time!

Even when you regularly roll with eight nude lippies at any given moment, sometimes you still want to shake things up, which is where a sheer berry gloss comes in handy.

“Sheer” is the key word here, i.e., something to add a tantalizing touch of berry tint to tease and tempt without taking over.

Start with a layer of your nude lippie du jour.
Blot (if you want), but I usually skip it because…laziness, TBH. But it’s helpful if you’ll be taking pics because it keeps your lip color from looking thick and gooey.
Apply a layer of gloss directly on top, but WAIT! — don’t stick that wand back in the tube quite yet. Wipe off any lipstick with a tissue first so the lipstick doesn’t mix with your gloss and change the color. Optionally, instead of using the doe foot directly on your lips, you can swipe it on the back of your hand, then pick up the gloss from there, and apply it to your lips with a finger.

chanel jumbo matte lip crayon 257 — Chanel Jumbo Matte Lip Crayon in 257 Discretion

chanel rouge coco gloss 764 — Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in 764 Confusion

chanel jumbo matte lip crayon 257 chanel rouge coco gloss 764 — Just a hint of berry

You can also do this trick with reds, purples, browns — any sheer gloss you like.

Good morning, BTW. Happy Tuesday. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Building My Fall Makeup Wardrobe: The Chanel Blurry Grey Quad

August 13th, 2021 by Karen 7 Comments

Never mind that it’s supposed to be in the 90s for the next few days and that I just sent a flurry of texts to set up a pool playdate for Connor this weekend; I’m in the mood for fall, especially fall makeup…and fall boots, and fall sweaters, and all the cozy fall things. This year I’m trying something a different with my beauty strategy. Instead of having random fall makeup around willy-nilly, which is what I usually do, I’d love to treat my fall makeup wardrobe similarly to how I’ve been handling the clothes in my closet — so, in a nutshell, NO DEAD WEIGHT.

This fall is going to be different, she says, while shaking her raised fist at the sky!

I really want to build a wardrobe of fall makeup favorites with solid basics that I absolutely adore. I want each item to be purposeful and useful, but I’d also love for everything to be beautiful, too, of course. Maybe I’ll even start a checklist (I loooooove checklists) so that I’ll, ya know, actually remember this again next year, ha ha ha.

I’m starting with this quad of grayish taupes by Chanel called Blurry Grey. Isn’t she a beaut? I love the softness of the finishes because they aren’t too flat or shy. I think the cooler tones will do nicely to carve out a crease or define a lash line. Imagine all the smokey eye possibilities, ooh-la-la! I can see this being a total workhorse piece, something one could use almost every day.

Right now I’m still in the brainstorming process of the fall makeup wardrobe checklist, but one thing I know for sure is that it’s also really handy to have a great gel liner (WINGS!) and a rosy matte blush (to balance those red and berry lip colors) on standby. I’m definitely putting both Chanel Rose Ecrin blush and Hyperblack gel liner on my list.

chanel hyperblack rose ecrin blush — Hyperblack gel liner and Rose Ecrin Blush, two Chanel loves

chanel blurry grey rose ecrin swatches — Getting excited for fall

What do you think would be must-have items on a fall makeup checklist? I know for sure I’d like to add a matte berry and a matte red lip color, and a demi-matte or a matte foundation. Oh, and a darker nail polish (maybe burgundy?), of course. 😊

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! 🤗

Tell Me About Your Current Beauty Loves…

August 4th, 2021 by Karen 21 Comments

honest beauty get it together eyeshadow palette — The Honest Beauty Get It Together Eyeshadow Palette, $19.99

Inquiring minds want to know! What shampoo, zit medicine, exfoliating face scrub, mask, liquid liner or eyeshadow has been making you swoon? Hair, makeup, skin care, perfume, you name it — please share. I want to hear the deets.

I’m always curious about the things my beauty buddies adore and recommend, so please don’t hoard this critical information! Share it with me! I want to know everything you’ve been into lately and why you love it.

Truth bomb — I’m partly motivated to ask this because I’ve got a Nordstrom birthday gift card burning a hole in my Kate Spade purse. 😁

Here are some of my beauty loves as of late, and if it feels like I talk about these things nonstop here…it’s almost certainly because I do, ha! (Sorry, not sorry.)

Things have changed a bit as I’ve scaled down my beauty collection over the past few months. Like, I’ve discovered that I’m straight-up happier with a smaller number of products I absolutely adore than I am with a larger collection of items I hardly ever wear. This has also changed the focus of my coverage here on MBB, for sure, so before I get into the lurvable products themselves, I just want to say thank you for sticking around. 😊

Anywho, my current (as of right at this precise moment) beauty loves! (Note: Subject to change in about 10 minutes.)

Honest Beauty Get It Together Palette

For now at least, this feels like the only palette I need! There’s a good variety of colors and finishes in it (mostly mattes and satins, with a few non-disco shimmers). It also includes all of the practical-slash-useful shades one needs to put the fine-tuned finishing touches on an eye look, like a matte bone (which I use as an all-over lid base in lieu of a separate primer) and a matte black (handy for lining or smoking out any of the colors). Quality-wise, the shadows blend well and don’t crease, so this is a winner, winner chicken dinner. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Chantecaille Cheek Gelee and Radiance Gel Bronzer

So, it’s hot here right now, like it is throughout huge swaths of the Western United States, and the thought of wearing anything remotely powder based on my face…is very unappealing to me. I don’t want to feel like I’m wearing five pounds of product on my skin. Consequently, this gel blush and bronzer add casual, lightweight color and life to my cheeks while simultaneously not spotlighting ye olde pores, and they stay put even when I’m glistening with nature’s highlighter, a.k.a. when I’m sweating buckets. LOL!

When you wanna wear blush and bronzer but can’t be bothered with foundation, there’s Chantecaille gel blush and bronzer.

chantecaille blush bronzer swatches — Cheek Gelee Blush in Happy (cute name, yeah?) and Radiance Gel Bronzer. I’m 100% sure you’re gonna ask me about the polish. It’s Chanel Purple Ray. 😊

Chanel Boy de Chanel Brow Pencil

This brow pencil is sold in Chanel’s makeup line marketed for guys, but don’t let that stop ya! It’s sweat-proof (YES) and perfectly pigmented. Yes, you can see it, but ooh — it looks so natural!

mac crossfade april 22 — That’s Chanel Boy Brow Pencil in my brows! I’m also wearing Laura Mercier Wheat Eye Basics, NARS Isolde Duo, NARS Coconut Grove (worn wet as liner) and NARS Bengali eyeshadow singles, Chanel Espresso Liner and Laura Mercier Caviar Mascara

I rarely swoon over brow pencils, but this one will sweep even the most seasoned makeup lover off her feet, because it works so darn quickly. Figuratively, I can do my brows with a snap of my fingers! If El Hub ever asked me to buy him a brow pencil…I’d buy him this one, and then I’d keep it for myself. 😁

Can’t wait to hear about yours!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

A Summery Makeup Look With Coral Cheeks and Lips and Blue Lashes, and Carrying On

July 28th, 2021 by Karen 13 Comments

OK, so fun fact: right before I put on this makeup, I had a minor meltdown. Long story short, El Hub is back in the office and Connor’s at camp, so it’s just me and Rosie all by ourselves at home, and even though I love her torbie-tude and her sassy company, I’m having trouble adjusting to being alone again. For over a year now, I’ve constantly had someone nearby, and now that I’m by myself again for long stretches of time, well, it’s weird. It’s waaaaaay too quiet. I thought I would love having so much time to myself, but when the house is silent and all I can hear is the hum of the air conditioner…I feel isolated and very lonely.

Anyway, I’ve been trying this new thing where I “lean in” to whatever uncomfortable feelings I’m experiencing, so that instead of fighting it, I allow myself to just feel the feelings and let the sadness pass over me. Does that make sense? Leaning into it for me usually means walking for 10 minutes or so on the treadmill or outside to get my body moving, and listening to music. Sometimes I cry to get it all out. After I do this, I usually feel better.

Yesterday this was the song I listened to while I walked…

Afterwards, I felt so much better that I even put on some makeup. Not a ton, but just enough to feel like myself again. I did blue lashes with coral cheeks and lips and a touch of bronzer. Very summery!

I only used a handful of products…

The main focal point is the blue mascara, which, by the way, is Blue Ya Mind by Colourpop. I bought it on a whim at Ulta last month, and eh, it’s just OK. I probably won’t buy it again because it’s not particularly great at curling or fattening up lashes on its own, but when I layer it on top of a waterproof mascara, it’s doable. I have it here on top of a single coat of waterproof Urban Decay Cannonball Mascara.

I’m also wearing my favorite gel bronzer and gel blush by Chantecaille on my cheeks and lids. I like to do a 50/50 mix on my cheeks, let that layer dry, and then dab just the blush on the apples of my cheeks. For my eyes, I applied the bronzer on my lids with my fingers. SO EASY!

The blue lashes and bronzy coral cheeks pair well with a matte coral lipstick (MAC Crossfade), but I think a coral gloss would’ve looked good with this too.

Makeup worn in this look

BASE: Avene Solaire UV Tinted Mineral Sunscreen, Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid in Sand
EYES: Chanel Boy de Chanel Brown Pencil in Deep Brown, Colour Pop Volumizing Mascara in Blue Ya Mind, Chantecaille Radiance Gel Bronzer, Urban Decay Cannonball Mascara

CHEEKS: Chantecaille Radiance Gel Bronzer, Chantecaille Cheek Gelee in Happy

LIPS: MAC Crossfade

Is anybody else out there experiencing something similar? I can’t be the only person having trouble adjusting to the latest new normal.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

A Plethora of Plum! Plum Lids, Liner and Glossy Plum Lips (and a Poll)

July 23rd, 2021 by Karen 25 Comments

plum liner with honest beauty get it together palette — When your hair is crazy but you go with it.

I just saw a picture of Toni Colette (LOVE HER) in a magazine, and her makeup looked so beautiful… I wish I knew who the makeup artist was because I really like it. It looks like she’s wearing dark plum liner, matte neutral lids and a glossy plum lip… Anyway, I’m into it, and it inspired my makeup yesterday.

Of course, I had to put my own spin on it! 😁 Toni looks like she’s wearing full coverage based on how even her skin looks, and her brows look bold (but not too bold) and filled in, but I did a softer brow and just the sheerest amount of base I could get away with.

One of these days I’ll try a version of this look with fuller coverage and bolder brows. I think it could look very elegant for a dinner party or a night out with the girls.

I have the details listed below, but ya know, as always, if you have any questions about it, hit me up!

Makeup worn in this look:

BASE: Avene Solaire UV Tinted SPF 50

EYES: Honest Beauty Get It Together Eyeshadow Palette, Urban Decay Cannonball Mascara, Boy de Chanel Eyebrow Pencil in Deep Brown, MAC Prunella Pencil, Hourglass Retouching Fluid in Sand

CHEEKS: Chanel Blush No. 20, Laura Mercier Ginger

LIPS: Chanel Rouge Allure in 91 Seduisante and Rouge Coco Gloss in 754 Confusion

In other news…

People magazine, by the way. I don’t have a subscription, but a free issue arrived randomly in the mail, and despite the fact that I’m not really into celeb gossip…if I’m in a waiting room or at the salon, I will devour US Weekly and People with no shame.

Anywho, the feature with Toni was a Q&A with a bunch of questions I thought I’d “borrow” for us here. It might be fun if you’re up for it! You know I love me a poll, and not just on Monday mornings, ha!

Here we go. Just copy and paste, and add your answers in the comments:

Copy and paste

Last time I sang out loud

Last thing I discovered about myself

Last moment of self-care

Last time I bonded with a horse

Last moment of bliss

Here are my answers…

Last time I sang out loud

This morning in the shower, and the song was De Ja Vu by Olivia Rodrigo, which is a bit too high for my vocal range, but I try anyway.

Last thing I discovered about myself

I like rowing more than running.

Last moment of self-care

Last night. I put my phone on sleep mode and stashed it in another room about an hour before bedtime so I wouldn’t be tempted to mindlessly scroll before going to sleep. I’ve been doing this for the past week, and it helps me fall asleep faster.

Last time I bonded with a horse

The one and only time I ever rode a horse, which was in Hawaii a couple years ago.

Last moment of bliss

Yesterday morning. I’d finished a long spinning class, and my body felt so spent (in a good way). Then when I was stretching afterwards, and the sweat was just rolling off every inch of me, I just felt so relaxed and chill… It was glorious!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! 🤗

A Little Bit of Bravery

July 21st, 2021 by Karen 18 Comments

bossy cosmetics power woman essentials swatches — BOSSY!

If you’re bossy and you know it, shout hooray.

HOO-RAY! 😀

How cute is this palette? The cover takes me back to my stiletto wearing days! The palette ($25) and hot pink liquid lippie ($25) are by a small indie line from the SF Bay Area called Bossy Cosmetics. Both hail from Bossy’s Power Woman Essentials collection.

My spider sense gets tingly Urban Decay vibes from the palette! The shadows are a lot like UD’s — soft texture, highly pigmented, with a teeny bit of fallout. I’ve used the matte brown, matte black and shimmery olive, and those shades blend, well…like a boss. Sorry, I had to go there! 😂

I love the name of the pink lipstick — Bravery. Don’t let the flat matte fool ya either. It isn’t one of those lipsticks that splits into cracks as the day goes on. It moves with me as I smile and sing, and it feels relatively moisturizing as far as liquid matte lipsticks go. Oh, and it’s unscented and unflavored, just in case you were wondering!

bossy cosmetics bravery lipstick — See the shimmery olive on my lash lines?

This dynamic duo has been my go-to blush lately…

I swipe the Chanel cream blush in No. 20 on my cheeks, blend out the edges with my fingers, then set it with Laura Mercier Ginger blush.

I like how natural it looks!

Makeup worn in this look

BASE: Avene Solaire UV Tinted SPF 50

EYES: Bossy Cosmetics Power Woman Essentials Eye Shadow, Laura Mercier Caviar Mascara, Boy de Chanel Eyebrow Pencil in Deep Brown, MAC Teddy liner, Hourglass Retouching Fluid in Sand

CHEEKS: Chanel Blush No. 20, Laura Mercier Ginger

LIPS: Bossy Cosmetics Bravery

Speaking of bravery…if you have any extra courage to virtually relay my way, could you please send it on over? I could use a boost! Got big things to conquer in the next few months, with one of the biggest things being sending Connor to kindergarten next month…

I knew this time was just around the corner, but why did it have to come so soon??

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

FOTD: Glowing Rose Gold Lids With Black Winged Liner for Anniversary Date Night, Laura Mercier Rose Glow Caviar Sticks, and an Excellent, Affordable Hair Oil by Hask

July 8th, 2021 by Karen 23 Comments

I brought a whole bag of makeup with me to Hawaii last week, and I did not crack it open once…

I know! Pandemic-era K-Dawg continues to amuse me. ? Packing that bag wasn’t for nothin’, though, because I used it yesterday to put on some makeup. We went out to dinner last night to celebrate our wedding anniversary (15 years!), and, yes, I actually painted my face. Then I had to snap a few shots because if ya don’t take a pic (or two) with your cat, then it officially didn’t happen.

FYI, in case you were wondering what 15 years of marriage is like, in a nutshell…it feels like lugging around your husband’s pain-in-the-butt XXL bottle of gluten-free tamari in your Kate Spade purse when you go out to eat sushi (fun fact: soy sauce isn’t gluten-free), but then having so much fun once you get to the restaurant, HA HA HA!

The Warriors Roll from Sushi Tri restaurant in Novato: real crab and avocado topped with spicy mayo, seared salmon, tobiko, crispy fried onion and scallions with unagi sauce

The Pretty Lady Roll with fresh salmon and avocado topped with fresh scallop, ikura, lemon slices and special sauce

Anyway, MAKEUP! I HAZ IT! This look uses a mix of the products from the makeup bag I packed to go on my trip (so, lots of tried-and-true Chanel faves because I’m on a Chanel kick) and some new cream shadow sticks from the recently launched Laura Mercier Rose Glow collection, which, side note, IS GORGEOUS!

The shadows have shimmer, but it’s a low-level glow, not a high-shine metallic frosty finish, and it’s dreamy! The shadows blend like butter, too, so my eye makeup came together in a flash.

All in all, the look took about 20 minutes from start to finish…

laura mercier rose gold swatches — These swatches are Rosie-Pose approved!

I’m really happy with how it turned out, and I’ll definitely wear it again soon.

Before my Hawaii trip fades away to a distant memory, I’ve gotta give a shout-out to these travel-friendly hair oils by Hask I found at Ulta. I originally brought the Argan Oil Repairing Shine and Monoi Coconut Oil Nourishing Shine Oil vials with me because they were super compact and just $2.99 each, but I ended up LOVING them.

They’re great if you’re looking for an oil to apply to freshly washed and conditioned hair and want mega moisture without weight or greasy strands.

FYI, the oils do contain silicones, so keep that in mind if you’re particular about silicone-containing hair care products.

I spent a lot of time last week at the beach and the pool, and my hair would have looked and felt rough if it hadn’t been for these bad gals. Good stuff, and so, so affordable!

Hard to believe that we’re already in full-on summer, isn’t it? Back-to-school is just around the corner, and I’ve already noticed the beach items and swim suits at stores are starting to be replaced by notebooks, pencils, highlighters and book bags. It’s been so long since I’ve lived with the rhythm of a school year, and it’s just sinking in right now that since Connor will be starting kindergarten in the fall, this will be my schedule for the next few years.

Before you go, take a second to let me know what the weather’s like on your end. It’s been comfortable and relatively cool here in the North Bay Area…for now. It’s a dreamy upper 70s, which won’t last but a moment, I know, but I’m enjoying it while I can.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen