Estee Lauder

Neon Lights: 3 Colorful Looks

July 1st, 2019 by Karen 18 Comments

The three colorful looks in this post have a couple things in common.

I wore them all to preschool drop-off in the last few days (the pink look at the top was from this morning!).
I did all of them using the $29 LORAC Neon Lights palette.

In the Neon Lights palette, that yellow is more of a goldenrod, which I’m kind of disappointed by because I wish the palette had a lemon yellow… The goldenrood just isn’t yellow enough for me.

Wow, that’s something I never thought I’d ever say!

Say “what,” Karen? You’re not wearing a sh*t-ton of browns for once? LOL. Neutrals are normally my wheelhouse, it’s true. I usually default to them because they fit my my lowest energy state, ha ha ha! Plus, you can’t really muck up neutrals.

Still, I’ve been itching to wear more color. I’ve just been trying to think of ways to feel comfortable doing it, because as fun as bright, intense glittery looks are, I feel a little crazy wearing that kind of makeup when all I’m doing is bringing coywolf to school or toddler ballet class.

The colorful looks here are my speed because, even though there’s a bright focal point in every one, there are still subtle-ish elements, like the foundation.

Something Sam said in that ’90s makeup video I mentioned the other day resonated with me. To paraphrase, she said that it’s not the things you pile on that make a look look cool. It’s what you leave out, so I basically went super minimal on the base in all of these colorful looks.

I’ve also been VERY inspired by Katie Jane Hughes lately. She’s a makeup artist I follow on Instagram, and she is JUST SO DAMN GOOD. She’ll paint a delicate swish of sparkly green shadow or sketch a skinny slice of neon yellow liner, so you can tell she loves wearing color, but she also likes to go minimal with the base.

I’m a little obsessed with her at the moment!

LOOK 1: PINK SUMMER SUNSET

Eyes: Bolt, Girls and Atomic eyeshadow from the LORAC Neon Brights Palette, Chanel Dimensions de Chanel Mascara, Maybelline Bold Brown Tattoo Studio Liner, IT Cosmetics Brow Power Micro in Universal Taupe, Urban Decay Yeyo liner (as a base)

Base: MAC Next to Nothing Foundation in Medium Deep (all over, applied with fingers) and Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Honey Bronze (patted with fingers on cheeks, nose, around the lips, and under the eyes)

Lips: MAC Stripdown Lip Pencil and MAC Open Presence Lipstick

LOOK 2: BLUE NOTE

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A Detailed Deep Dive Into My Current Skincare Routine

April 25th, 2019 by Karen 27 Comments

current skin care top pic — All about retinol these days, babes.

I’ve been meaning to do an updated skin care routine breakdown, and today seems like a good day for it. But before I jump in, I feel like I should let you that I’m standing in my bathroom right now looking into my cabinet, which stands just behind and above the toilet, and having PTSD flashbacks of my Velvet Teddy lipstick falling into the toilet. ?

I keep hearing that *plunk* over and over again…

That said, here we go!

Everything I’m doing in my routine now revolves around how sensitive my skin is feeling on any given day, because I started using a retinol with vitamin C recently. It’s called Kate Somerville Retinol Vitamin C Power Serum, and I’m trying to ramp up slowly to be able to use it seven days a week. Right now, I’m at three days, and I find that introducing it slowly over weeks and watching everything else that I use in conjunction with it allows me to keep going without my skin turning red or freaking out.

Morning routine

In the morning, I’ll wash one of two ways. If my skin’s feeling extra tight and red and sensitive and angry, then I’ll do a few splashes of warm water on my bare face, then gently blot with a towel. If, on the other hand, my skin’s feeling OK, then I’ll use a squirt or two of Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser directly on bare skin (I’ll work it in with my fingers). Then I’ll remove it with a washcloth dampened with warm water. After that, I’ll do a few splashes of ice cold water to help me wake up.

At that point, I’ll wait…usually between 30 minutes and an hour (depends on how much time I have and what I’m doing in the morning), and then I’ll apply all of my skin treatments.

I wait because I want my skin to be completely dry before I put anything aggressive on there, because if I don’t wait, and my skin is wet when I apply a BHA or benzoyl peroxide, they’ll just aggravate it even more.

So. Completely dry!

current skin care routine — It’s less complicated than it looks, I swear!

At that point, I’ll do an eye cream. (Right now I’m using this one by Nyakio, and I think it’s just “eh.” I’ll replace it eventually with something else when I get around it.) Then I’ll use two pumps of my ride-or-die Kate Somerville Anti Bac Acne Clearing Lotion all over my face to prevent the pimples from taking over.

After that, I’ll apply a thin layer of Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream (which has been my skin savior ever since I introduced the retinol), followed by a healthy dollop of sunscreen, specifically Clinique Super Defense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 for Very Dry to Dry Combination Skin.

Sometimes, before I do the two pumps of Anti Bac, if I feel like my skin can handle it, I’ll do a little with Fresh Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence, just because I like to sneak some exfoliation in during the day if I can. I’ll do that two or three mornings a week, so it’s not an everyday thing for me.

Fast forward to the evening…

First, a double cleanse. On completely dry skin (as in my makeup is still on), I’ll massage an oil cleanser on my face and eyes to break everything down. I like DHC Deep Cleansing Oil or Fresh Seaberry for this.

At that point, I’ll take a clean, warm washcloth and gently wipe everything off. Next, I’ll do a second cleanse with either Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser, if I haven’t been wearing a ton of makeup, or if I haven’t been sweating; or the H2O Plus Elements Keep It Fresh Cleanser. I use that one when I’ve been wearing a little more makeup, or if I’ve been perspiring a lot. It’s just a stronger, more potent gel cleanser.

Again, I wait from 30-60 minutes (this generally depends on how tired I am), then apply eye cream, and I’ve been using this one called Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Supercharged Complex.

It’s OK… I’ve yet to find an eye cream that blows my mind.
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Product Spotlight: Estée Lauder Double Wear Instant Fix Concealer 24H Concealer + Hydra Prep

April 22nd, 2019 by Karen 8 Comments

estee lauder double wear instant fix concealer — Hydration and coverage from Estée Lauder

As you know, I am solidly, steadfastly Estée Lauder #teamdoublewear (their Double Wear Light and O.G, Double Wear Foundation are iconic!), and this latest addition to the Double Wear fam has been one of my go-to under-eye concealers as of late.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Instant Fix Concealer 24H Concealer + Hydra Prep ($28, available in 22 shades) is a dual-ended situation with a brush-on moisturizer on one end and a medium-coverage liquid concealer on the other, and it’s made for dry skin with fine lines… HELLO, YOU TALKING TO ME?! LOL.

I like it because the moisturizer smooths everything out and plumps the skin. It’s kinda slippery and silicone-y feeling, and similar to MAC Fast Response Eye Cream, which is famous for under-eye concealer prep.

The concealer chills on top where it hides shadows and dark areas, and it does this without looking leathery after a few hours (again, very similar to another MAC Product — their old-school Select Moisturecover Concealer).

No likey ‘ze crepe-y concealer? This concealer combo is your dawg.

estee lauder double wear instant fix concealer before after — I’m wearing Medium Deep (Warm) in the after pic.

I do feel like the 24HR claim is a stretch, because it fades a little by the end of the day, but eh — I’d rather have a little bit of fading than a little caking and heavy concealer all up in my experience lines.

I think this product is best for peeps who like sheerer concealer coverage and have dry skin and fine lines. If you prefer Tarte Shape Tape levels of concealment, however, then something like Maybelline’s concealer would be a better fit (it hides everything!).

Also, if your under-eye area is oily, again, probably not the best fit.
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Product Shout-Out: Estée Lauder Defiant Nude Is the Neutral Palette You Didn’t Know You Needed

December 6th, 2018 by Karen 19 Comments

estee lauder defiant nude — ***ALERT*** Makeup workhorse! ***ALERT***

All through November, every single time I had to get ready for something — be it Thanksgiving dinner, a Novato Mothers Club meeting or lunch with a friend — I was always strapped for time (partly because I have bad time management skills, but I’m working on it. #keepingitreal).

With this palette, however, I was able to do a put-together makeup look from start to finish in 10 minutes time.

Yup, just when you thought when you’d seen and hoarded every neutral eyeshadow palette that you absolutely “needed” (“air quotes”) to get, along comes one from Estée Lauder to blow your mind.

Estée Lauder Defiant Nude ($54) has five powder eyeshadows — two mid-toned golden browns, a dark matte neutral brown, a neutral matte beige and a slightly darker matte peachy beige.

Do these colors sound pretty basic?

Yes, yes they do…

But let me tell ya, every single time I had to dress up and go out to see people looking respectable in the month of November, I grabbed this palette. Then I grabbed it again. And again. AND AGAIN!

It’s just so wearable, lovely and easy to use, and all of the shadows are long-lasting, with or without an eyeshadow base.

(Yes, sometimes I leave the house without an eyeshadow base… I know! Believe it or not, though, the world does not fall apart.)

estee lauder defiant nude swatches — wear Honey Bronze in Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation (NC42 in MAC)

You know me; I love my golden browns, cooler-toned browns and neutral browns, and this user-friendly palette masterfully sculpts the crease while adding an opalescent, understated glow to your lids. Plus, you can be imprecise with your application AND your blending, and your eye makeup will still look good.

That’s magical.

Estée Lauder gave it just enough pigment to define your eyes and add some color, but not so much that you’ll miss the movie because you’re stuck buffing and correcting and blending at home because you accidentally overdid it during the application.

And they also have such gorgeous finishes! The two golden browns get the most play on my lids because they’re both… Well, you know how when you want your lids to glow, but you don’t want them to be so shiny that they scream “LOOK AT MY FINE LINES”? These two golden browns are it!

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Estée Lauder Double Wear Deep Dive: Double Wear Custom Coverage Correcting Duo

August 28th, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

estee lauder double wear custom coverage correcting duo — Another fab find in EL’s Double Wear line

What is Deep Dive? I’m glad you asked! It’s a new series in which I’m reviewing a bunch of Estée Lauder Double Wear products from their permanent collection. Let’s find out what’s good! ?

Swear to gosh, ditching under-eye concealer and opting for things like tinted moisturizer and pearly eye creams instead has completely changed the game for my dark circles.

Who knew one could still look lit-from-within without having to wear layers of powder and other products?

Plus, not having to deal with creasing concealer has been SO liberating (also trimmed out about 10 minutes from my routine!), buuuuuuut…plot, meet twist. The lack of sleep in my life right now is taking a toll on my under-eye area, and I look a little more “tow up” than usual.

This morning, just as my inner dialogue was hitting the gas (“Should I just walk around with pantyhose over my head like an O.G. bank robber? Maybe I should stick My Little Pony Band-aids under my eyes?”), I suddenly remembered the Double Wear Custom Coverage Correcting Duo.

I’ve been using it off and on all summer, and today was a reminder of what it can do.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Custom Coverage Correcting Duo ($32)

“No-Sleep Karen” is all about this two-tone skin-perfecting duo, which comes in a bunch of different colors, and, depending on what shade you go for, you can use it to spot-correct dark circles, spots, redness and dullness. Technically, it’s supposed to be used before concealer and foundation, but I use it in Tangerine all by itself for dark circles without anything else on top. (For reference, I’m a Honey Bronze in Double Wear Foundation and an NC42 in MAC.)

“Correct, conceal, transform. Skin-perfecting duo helps custom-correct dark circles, spots, redness, dullness and more. Each duo has two levels of coverage. On one end, a light, luminous wears-all-day formula with brush applicator to sweep across larger areas. On the other, a full-coverage hydrating concentrate with sponge tip to cover targeted areas for up to 24 hours. Helps blur the look of imperfections for a flawless, even skintone. Creates a flawless base for concealer and/or foundation. For best results, apply before concealer and/or foundation. Gently tap on with applicator and lightly blend with fingertip or a brush.”

— esteelauder.com

There’s a satiny peach shade on one end and a darker satiny peach on the other, and both are warm enough to cancel out purple or blue areas (totally key). Neither one is too obviously orange, either (also totally key), so you won’t look like you’ve got two traffic cones under your eyes.

Both peachy shades are also opaque enough to do some serious brightening, and they do it without settling into fine lines. Best of all, once the color corrector dries, it does not move! I don’t even need to set it with a powder. It stays PUT.

estee lauder double wear custom coverage correcting duo tangerine k — Tangerine in action

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Estée Lauder Double Wear Deep Dive: Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup

August 14th, 2018 by Karen 13 Comments

estee lauder double wear stay in place honey bronze — I’m wearing your new favorite matte liquid foundation.

What is Deep Dive? I’m glad you asked! It’s a new series in which I’m reviewing a bunch of Estée Lauder Double Wear products from their permanent collection. Let’s find out what’s good! ?

Double Wear Fan Girl Badge ?️?? unlocked!

The original Double Wear Stay-in Place liquid foundation is an O.G. cult classic, and it’s gotten mad love in gazillions of reviews. Basically, you can’t turn a corner without someone practically warbling a ’90s love song about it.

All my life, I’ve waited for ~~someone like you~~ a foundation like Double Wear

That’s why I waited a hot second to put it through its paces and make sure I wasn’t just falling for the hype.

Now that I’ve been using it a few times per week for a couple months…ya know what?

I totally get it now. It’s really THAT good.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup ($42 for a 0.1-oz. glass bottle)

But before we even get into how perfectly it sits on different skin types (mine is a HELLA fussy combo of oily, dry and normal areas with a sprinkle of acne-prone spots along my jawline, and my skin loves it), this foundation is already a winner-winner-chicken-dinner for me. It’s oil-free, truly transfer-proof (so no makeup on your favorite Price tee, hooray!), fragrance-free, and — get this — available in a staggering 56 shades.

By comparison, Fenty has only 40.

“Only,” she says, ha! Remember when the biggest department store lines had maybe 14 at the most? How things have changed!

From the Sephora website…

What it is
A 24-hour-wear liquid makeup with a flawless, natural, matte finish that unifies uneven skin tone and covers imperfections with buildable medium to full coverage.

What it does
Double Wear makeup gives you 24-hour staying power for a flawless, natural matte finish. This foundation unifies uneven skin tone and covers imperfections with buildable medium-to-full coverage. The makeup feels lightweight and so comfortable, you won’t believe it is super long wear. The non-acnegenic formula won’t clog pores, which may help avert breakouts, and helps control shine. It’s waterproof, won’t run, rub off, or smudge and lasts in hot and humid weather.

Double Wear comes in Cool, Neutral and Warm undertones with shades that have been blended so they won’t look grey on deeper skintones.

What else you need to know
This product is fragrance-free and has been dermatologist tested. It is oil-free, mattifying, transfer-resistant, dermatologist-tested, non-acnegenic, and fragrance-free.

My shade is Honey Bronze, which is a smidgen warm for my (MAC NC42) skin at the moment, but it’s darn close, and even though it isn’t spot on, I’m OK with that because it doesn’t oxidize, which has always been my biggest issue with this type of base. It’s really hard for me to find a matte liquid foundation that doesn’t darken as the day goes on, and this one stays true to the original color.

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Estée Lauder Double Wear Deep Dive: Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist

August 1st, 2018 by Karen 9 Comments

estee lauder double wear set and refresh — Estée Lauder Set + Refresh

What is Deep Dive? I’m glad you asked! It’s a new series in which I’m reviewing a bunch of Estée Lauder Double Wear products from their permanent collection. Let’s find out what’s good! ?

I’ve been skipping powder as of late (’cause I’m waaaaay too deep into this whole skin-that-looks-like-skin thing), so setting spray has been vitally important to me. I literally — literally, and I don’t mean figuratively instead — haven’t left home without it in weeks.

My all-time ride-or-dies are Urban Decay All Nighter (obviously) and the lesser known Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix, but, as you know, I have to try everything, and this one from Estée Lauder is a nice surprise.

Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist ($36 for a 3.9-oz. bottle with a pump)

Estée Lauder’s Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist doesn’t actually have any Double Wear branding on it, but if you hop on their site and check out the Double Wear section, it’s there among the foundations, concealers and whatnot.

I’ve asked around, and a few MUA friends have said that this particular spray is BOSS when you use it on top of the O.G. Double Wear Foundation.

I’ve yet to try that combo, but it’s at the top of my to-do list, along with 1) mourning the loss of single Nick Jonas to Priyanka Chopra (honest to god, I thought he was gonna ask ME to marry him), and 2) eating a bag of baby carrots in one sitting (because why the heck not?).

The fine, lightweight mist, which performs like it’s equal parts primer and dewy setting spray, is made for all skin types. You can use it before AND after applying your base products.

Whenever I douse myself in it, I revel in the fresh, subtle scent, which smells like spring sunshine to me — or, less metaphorically, like pears with a squeeze of lemon, brown sugar and a handful of freesia petals.

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Estée Lauder Double Wear Deep Dive: Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick Radiant Makeup

July 27th, 2018 by Karen 15 Comments

estee lauder double wear nude cushion stick radiant makeup honey bronze — So, this applicator is a little cray.

What is Deep Dive? I’m glad you asked! It’s a new series in which I’m reviewing a bunch of Estée Lauder Double Wear products from their permanent collection. Let’s find out what’s good! ?

Estée Lauder Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick Radiant Makeup ($42 for a 0.47-oz. bottle — on sale now for $21)

Gonna keep this short and sweet (for once! I KNOW.) because, sadly, this gorgeous sheer and satiny skin tint is being phased out, but since there are still quite a few shades left on esteelauder.com, I wanted to give it a mention in case you like minimal coverage and wanna grab one for 50% off.

“Touch on, buff and blend to your perfect nude. Polishes and evens skintone for a healthy-looking glow. Skin-loving, weightless and comfortable formula instantly hydrates. 8-hour wear. Innovative stick combines liquid makeup and applicator in one. You’ll know it’s time to replenish as the stick becomes smaller until the clear window disappears.

“This makeup is a different formula than our original Double Wear Stay-in-Place liquid foundation. It is instantly hydrating and leaves skin with a radiant glow. All day 8-hour wear. In shades for all skintones.”

— esteelauder.com

Yes, the sponge applicator’s lame. You’ll end up with too much on your face if you go there, so ignore it. The trick to this is to twist the base at the bottom ever-so-slightly, so the tiniest bit comes out, and work it your skin with your fingers. Then you’re only a few pats and swipes away from radiant, glowing spahhhhhh skin that looks preternaturally smooth all day long.

Remember the fabulous LE NARS Hydrating Glow Tints? This has a very similar barely-there “Oh, hello there, freckles!” type of look. Très Megan Markle on her wedding day.

How does Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick Radiant Makeup compare to the other Double Wear Foundations?

I’m still working my way through the collection, but here’s what I have so far…

Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 30 — Cushion Stick is very sheer with a subtle glowing satin finish, while Nude Water Fresh is medium coverage with a soft matte finish. Cushion Stick works for dry skin or for those with fine lines (HELLO, MY NAME IS KAREN). Water Fresh would be a better fit for oily skin.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Light — Cushion Stick is sheerer than Double Wear Light, which has medium coverage (similar to like Water Fresh). Double Wear Light’s finish more of a velvet, so it’s compared to Cushion Stick it’s more matte, but it’s not as matte as Nude Water Fresh.

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