Makeup

Summer Beauty Buddies: Supergoop! Shimmershade Illuminating Cream Eyeshadow SPF 30 in Sunset

August 1st, 2023 by Karen 5 Comments

Obvs this can’t be the only sunscreen on your lids. Think of it more as a beautiful, bronze bonus layer of protection!

I bought Sunset totally on a whim; I road tested it in Hawaii because I like the idea of extra sun protection on my face by any means necessary. Plus, it was so, so pretty — totally reminds me of Tom Ford Spice!

On my tan skin, it’s a warm copper with the tiniest flecks of amber. It doesn’t look heavy or cake-y, and it adds just enough color to my lids.

On its own with a smidge of liner and mascara, it’s just the thing for makeup lovers who don’t want a heavy lift with their eye makeup but still like a little something-something.

Do take care to make sure your lids are completely free of anything slippery before you apply it, though.

I’ve noticed when I layer it on top of mineral sunscreen that hasn’t completely dried down, the eyeshadow disappears before the end of the day.

When I apply it on my lids without anything slippery, though, it stays on, even through humidity and sweat.

There three other shades and after reading several comments about glitter on the Sephora website, it appears as though the shimmer varies in each. I haven’t tried any of the shadows, but Sunset’s shimmer is soft, subtle and elegant. It looks more expensive than it is.

It was love at first swipe with this one. Check it meow-t next time you’re perusing Supergoop!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hawaii Vacation Beauty Products, Part 2

July 21st, 2023 by Karen 9 Comments

LOL to this pic of my head and this palm tree!

I was taking a sunset walk and checking to see if the eyeliner that I had applied earlier in the day — the Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner by Rare Beauty — was still on.

It’s by far one of the best on-the-whim beauty buys I’ve made in a long time! It’s a liquid eyeliner with a long, flexible tip that’s very fine, so it’s easy to draw thin, precise lines — purr-fect for the tiny little kitten flicks I’ve been into lately.

I picked it up on a whim at Sephora before leaving the Bay Area, and it’s stayed on through the humidity, drizzle and, ahem, ~~sweating like a beast~~ glistening on a sunset walk. LOL!

Added bonus, the pigment is rich and dark, so I can scribble a quick line and flick and then be on my merry way.

I applied it earlier in the day and wore it with a cute new hat I bought from Splash Hawaii at the Kahala Mall.

Then I wore it all day, and it was still on after a long and sweaty 45-minute sunset walk.

See the tiny lil’ flick and the thin line on my upper lash line?

I love, love, love it. If you’re looking for a liquid liner that’s easy to use and stays on all day, grab it!

It’s been a while since I’ve seen an Hawaiian sunset (at least a few years), and yesterday evening Oahu reminded me just how stunning it is when the sun dips behind the horizon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

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

July 13th, 2023 by Karen 9 Comments

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

This plummy look features one of my favorite palettes of all time, the Get it Together Palette by Honest Beauty!

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

Coral, Bronze and Plum Makeup With a Natural-Looking Base for Outdoor Adventures

June 30th, 2023 by Karen 1 Comment

A quick Friday hello

Hiya! Today’s post is a repost of and oldie but goodie. I still love this look, and LOL, these pants (which I bought from Target like five years ago) are still hanging on! They’re still my “it’s time to play with Connor outside” pants. Side note: When I see pics of me wearing nice makeup outside to just hang out, I kindasorta want to get back on that train. Anywho, have a very happy Friday, and if you’re somewhere hot like in Northern California, stay cool!

Color, Bronze and Plum Makeup

This is what “fancy dress” is for me these days: a semi-wrinkled striped sweater, pants with paint spots on them (I wore them to paint Connor’s room a few months ago, and dagnabbit if they aren’t my most comfortable jeans I own!), and my “good” pair of Nike Winflos.

Oh, and a little makeup of course!

Targeted coverage

To chase PGR around the house and the Coywolf around the block yesterday, I wore bronze and plum on my eyes and cheeks with a sheer coral lip. And I paired it with what I like to call “a semi-sheer base,” which is all-over barely-there coverage with a tinted moisturizer, as well as a few targeted areas with slightly more opaque coverage. I did this by blending a sheer layer of stick foundation on my cheeks and around my mouth, and then buffing a tiny amount of liquid concealer underneath my eyes.

I didn’t set it with a powder because I wanted my skin to look as skin-like as possible, but you totally could… Just be sure to not go too heavy with it if you want to maintain the skin-like effect.

I really like this type of targeted coverage, especially how it looks in outdoor light, which can be notoriously unforgiving. Highly recommended. Try it on your next picnic.

Unearthed MAC gems

In other news…I’m weeding my way through my makeup collection right now, and I keep unearthing old gems. I wore two of my recent finds yesterday — Cheeky Bronze Mineralize Skinfinish and MAC Liquidlast Liner in Coco Bar.

Cheeky Bronze is a soft, shimmery golden coral face powder. Technically, it’s a highlighter, but you can also use it all over your cheeks as an all-in-one bronzer/blush/highlighter, which is what I have on my cheeks in these pics.

If you’re feeling creative, you can also use it as an eyeshadow. I wet a MAC 217 brush, flicked it across the pan a few times to load it up, then buffed it onto the inner part of my lids to go with the bronzed plum shadow I was wearing on the outer half (MAC Sable, in case you’re curious).

Coco Bar is a dark neutral brown MAC Liquidlast liner, and it will not move for nothing! It’s like a liquid version of MAC Coffee pencil liner, which is why I love it. I drew a line directly along my upper and lower lash lines, then smudged the edge with a flat eyeshadow brush. If you’re looking for a soft, diffused chocolate liner that stays put, you gotta give it a go, ASAP.

Makeup worn in this look

Base: MAC Peachlite Strobe Cream (to prep skin), First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Tinted Moisturizer in Tan (all over face), MAC Studio Fix Soft Matte Foundation in NC42 (cheeks, around base of nostrils and mouth), Estée Lauder 24H Concealer in Medium Warm

Eyes: MAC Teddy eyeliner (buffed all over lids as an eyeshadow base, then applied as liner on waterlines), MAC Sable eyeshadow (outer half of lids), MAC Cheeky Bronze (inner half, applied wet), MAC Hush (inner corner), MAC Liquidlast in Coco Bar (smudged along upper and lower lash lines), Laura Mercier Caviar Volume Mascara

Cheeks: MAC Cheeky Bronze

Lips: MAC Ravishing Lipglass (a sheer coral that appears to be, sadly, discontinued. BOO!)

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

Beauty Thoughts, May 26, 2023

May 26th, 2023 by Karen 7 Comments

Sheer base life

I’ve been using Rose Inc Skin Enhance Luminous Tinted Serum for the last two weeks and have been getting lots of nice compliments on my base!

It’s sheer and moisturizing with barely there coverage and a slight pore smoothing effect, and when I set it with just the teeniest bit of MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder, in real life it looks natural and beautiful, even in full sun.

If you’re into minimal foundation like I am, give it a go.

FYI, you do need to mix the pigment spheres in your palms or the back of your hand before applying it, so there’s a small extra step involved, but it’s so easy that I don’t mind it at all. I’ve been using it lately for my quick go-to makeup.

Speaking of go-to looks, what’s yours right now?

Here’s mine! It takes less than 10 minutes, which I’m all about these days.

Base: Rose Inc Skin Enhance set with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural and Hourglass Retouching Fluid in Sand
Cheeks: NARS Deep Throat Powder Blush
EYES: Hourglass Cave Eyeliner, Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Strapless, Tower 28 Mascara (it’s just OK), Anastasia Brow Pencil
LIPS: Whatever non-neutral lippie is around. Lately it’s been NARS Dolce Vita Velvet Matte Lip Pencil.

Building a pre-packed beauty bag

Memorial Day is right around the corner, which means summer trips, yay!

I was wondering, when you go on a trip, do you pack your skin care and beauty essentials beforehand, or do you keep a separate travel bag on standby?

I’ve always packed my beauty bag right before a trip, and ugh, I *really* don’t want to do that anymore. It just makes packing too stressful! Side note: I tend to overpack and overthink what I bring because I’m always worried about forgetting something. Half the time I end up bringing too much, and I no longer want it to be that way.

Anywho, all this to say I saw a video recently about keeping a travel bag of beauty products stocked and ready, and it really spoke to me!

We’re going on a few short trips this summer, so I’d like to build travel beauty bags — one for me, and one for Connor, since I usually pack her toiletries — before we go on our trips.

I’d like to fully stock it (skin care, makeup, hair products, all the things), so that when I’m done, I can photograph everything inside and write everything down into a list. Ideally I’d like to format it into an easily accessible checklist, so I can take stock of what needs to be replaced and not have to reinvent the wheel every single time.

WISH ME LUCK because I’m gonna need it, LOL!

Happy Friday to you

Hope your week has been peaceful and joyful! If you feel like sharing any good things that’ve happened to you lately, I’d love to hear about them.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Small Things That Bring Me Joy (Makeup and Otherwise)

May 23rd, 2023 by Karen 13 Comments

1.The travel-size Chanel summer collection

I’m excited about this launch! I feel like this is the collection Chanel fans (especially the ones like me, who adore the summer launches) always wanted but didn’t know they needed. It’s chic and portable, with just enough coverage and color for beautiful summer skin, eyes, cheeks and lips.

It launches in June, and includes cute travel versions of the Bronzing Cream (Tan, Tan Medium and Tan Deep Bronze), Water-Fresh Tint (in 8 shades from Light to Deep Plus) and Illuminating Oil.

There’s also two Rouge Coco Flash lipsticks (pink beige Destination and sienna red Escapade), two metallic liquid shadows (ivory beige Rayon and peachy pink Quartz Rose) and two Rouge Coco Baume sheer lip balms ( Pink Delight and brownish mauve Sweet Treat). These appear to all be in the regular size, not minis, by the way.

I’m especially excited about the cream bronzer because it was a go-to staple for me back in the day! A smaller version sounds purr-fect.

2. When exercise feels fun

I stumbled upon this fun walking workout with ’80s music this morning!

I was feeling tired and not in the mood at all to do burpees or mountain climbers, and it was exactly what I needed to get my body moving.

I have this idea in my head from years of running and doing HIIT that exercise always means one has be a little miserable in order to get the endorphins at the end, but I know now that that’s simply not true. Not all exercise needs to feel like punishment, LOL! Sometimes it’s just fun to get moving.

So, lately, I’ve been trying to incorporate more joyful movement (aka exercise that doesn’t feel like exercise) throughout my day.

One thing I love – short 8-minute walks. Why 8 minutes? Well, 10 minutes sometimes feel like too much of a commitment, and 5 minutes doesn’t feel like it’s enough. For some reason 8 is a good number for me, and if I do it three times before noon, that’s 24 extra minutes of movement.

3. These tiny lil’ lemon bars from Trader Joe’s

I bought a box of these years ago and for whatever reason wasn’t into them, but I recently picked one up on a whim, and it certainly hit the spot.

I totally just ate this. BTW, the nail polish is Chanel 141 Oiseu De Nuit!

Maybe they tweaked the recipe? Who knows. Whatever they did, they’re now perfection.

The custard is tangy, not overly sweet, with a chewy (but not too chewy) texture. The shortbread on the bottom is also present but doesn’t take over. If you’re in the mood for a lemon bar but don’t want to make them, these hit the spot. You can find them in the frozen section by the ice cream. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Dinner Makeup With the Honest Beauty Eyeshadow Palette

May 5th, 2023 by Karen 2 Comments

Happy Friday, friend!

I went out to dinner with the fam-bam last night and wore a brown smokey eye with a pink cheek and glossy pink lip. I’m a little out of practice with blending, but you know what? I didn’t worry too much about it and decided to let the whole look land wherever it wanted to land! (Side note: I’m trying to be more gentle with myself and not so persnickety about, well, everything.)

Anywho, We went to FOB Kitchen in Oakland, a cute, casual spot that serves Filipino food! I was too busy eating and having fun to take pictures of the food, but here’s a shot we got of Connor’s dessert, a Filipino shave ice concoction called halo-halo.