Makeup

Checking In: The Gift of Vegetables, Cabbage Rolls and Chanel Tweed!

September 1st, 2022 by Karen 16 Comments

The bounty of produce being gifted to me by my neighbors continues! Check out these beans…

What does one do with purple beans? I’m thinking of roasting them, but I dunno. A heat wave is coming in, and I don’t fancy turning my oven on when it’s boiling outside.

Oh, remember that massive head of cabbage my other neighbor gave me last weekend? I ended up making cabbage rolls with ground beef, rice and parsley.

This was my first time, and they turned out OK!

I found the recipe on the Jenny Jones cooking blog. Remember Jenny Jones, the talk show host from the 90s? A few years ago she was active on YouTube and did a whole bunch of cooking videos, and they’re fun to watch. It’s been years since she’s posted, though.

Jenny Jones fun fact: before she rose to fame, she owned her own catering business.

I’ve tried two recipes from her site so far, the cabbage rolls and a 20-minute meal called spaghetti with cherry tomatoes, both of which were light, easy and excellent.

Back to the cabbage rolls. Jenny says they’re great as leftovers the next day and suggests frying them in a pan with a little bit of olive oil. That’s what I’m gonna have for lunch today. YUM!

On a beauty note, the tweed quads are up on the Chanel website. The one with browns, taupes and rosy shades, Brun et Rose, looks really lovely.

There’s also new nude nail polishes that look good, too. I don’t know what it is about Chanel, but they do such a good job of hitting all the right notes when it comes to neutrals and basics. UGH, WANT.

What else is going on, hmmm? Oh, forgive me for living underneath a rock, but I’ve only recently discovered the singer Harry Styles.

I’ve been listening to a random assortment of his music, and these are the two songs I’ve had on repeat.

Sometimes he reminds me of Prince and sometimes he sounds like the band Phoenix; it’s hard to pin his genre down. If you get a moment give his songs a listen.

Alright, I’m off to start my day. I hope you’ve had a wonderful week so far! Did you wake up this morning just as surprised as I was to find out that it was Thursday? Yes? No? Whatever you’re up to today, I hope you find a way to find joy in your tasks — even the mundane ones.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Beauty Chat! Big Cats for Chantecaille and the Rise of the Instagram Face

August 25th, 2022 by Karen 15 Comments

I like big cats and I cannot lie!

By the way, if you sang those words to yourself with the melody from “Baby Got Back,” PROPS.

Big cats, specifically black jaguars and cougars, decorate the newest fall eyeshadow palettes by Chantecaille. As a feline enthusiast, all I have to say is MEOW!

I’m intrigued by the blue and bronze shadows in the Black Jaguar palette ($75). I’ve been into luminous lids lately, and the colors and finishes seem purr-fect for glowing lids with a soft swish of liner.

The neutrals in the Cougar collection palette (also $75) look so chic, though. I know I’d reach for it often, although I’m not sure how the shades would translate on tan skin — might be a touch too light.

If you had to choose between the two, which one would you take home? I’m going to put both in my cart, along with a jar of Future Skin which I’ve wanted for ages, just for fun.

There are also four gorgeous new Lip Chics, too. I think I would like either of the shades from the Cougar Collection. Both Prairie Smoke (a mocha nude) and Yarrow (a peachy nude), look like colors I would love.

Side note, it’s cray how makeup pricing has increased with the times. Back in 2010 a Lip Chic was $30! Now it’s $48.

On another beauty note, I read a story about the rise of “Instagram Face” in the “New Yorker” this morning, and it bummed me out.

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Apparently the accessibility of fillers combined with little-to-no recovery time plus the Instagram algorithm are changing how women want to look, and there’s a movement toward everyone looking like the same “sexy baby tiger” on social media.

How do you feel about this?

I want to be diplomatic about it because hey, if it’s what you like and you have the means, do your thang, right?

But I can’t help but feel sad reading this story because I can also see myself as a young, impressionable preteen or teen, and I know this relentless messaging would make me feel bad about myself.

I realize wearing makeup, changing you hair color, getting a perm or shaving your legs is also altering one’s appearance to fit into a certain idea, but filling in your brows with a pencil to enhance them doesn’t seem as extreme as spending thousands on filler to look like every other Kim K. clone on Insta.

Anywho, these are the beauty-related things that are on my mind right now.

Unrelated, but I didn’t realize it was Thursday until, like, 8 in the morning! Been a crazy week. Connor already caught her first cold of the school year and nobody in our house has been sleeping well.

I’m off to buy chicken soup and Vicks (the Filipino mom’s cure for everything).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What Type of Makeup Looks Are You Liking Right Meow?

August 24th, 2022 by Karen 8 Comments

Rosie says hi. I’m obsessed with her ear tips, OMG!

1. A softly shimmering lid.

For a while I was all about mattes because I like how they create an illusion of a deeper crease, but now I love softly shining lids. I think it’s casually chic, which is the vibe I go for these days. By the way, Chanel’s quads are great for this type of shimmering lid look! Today I’m wearing an old school fave, Codes Subtils, which unfortunately is no longer available (boo), but you can get a similar look with any of Chanel’s shimmery quads, like Tisse Rivoli.

2. Blurred lines.

Give me all the smudgy, please. No crisp edges here — too harsh! A cat eye with a blurry edge and a flick that softly fades into its end point? That’s all I want at the moment. Anywho, lately I’ve been getting this by wetting a flat eyeliner brush with setting spray, then loading it with a dark brown, navy, plum or khaki eyeshadow.

Today’s Makeup: Chanel Codes Subtils quad, MAC Glow Play Blush in No Shame and MAC Sugar Sweet Cameo Lipstick

3. As much natural skin peeking through as possible.

A dollop of Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (Wheat) applied all over works wonders. Then, I dab Hourglass Retouching Fluid Concealer (Sand) underneath my eyes, around my mouth and on my cheeks, and then I blend-blend-blend. I set both with the sheerest amount of MAC MSF Powder (Medium Golden). If I wear too much base it just looks heavy and fake, so I try to get away with as little as possible these days!

4. A soft, semi-sheer matte lip color in a bright pink or coral.

Just like the shimmering lid, I feel like this lip look is casually chic. I also like how the matte finish contrasts with the shimmery lid and the natural, glowing skin.

5. Leaving the lower lash line alone!

Dang, girl! I can’t believe there was a time when I’d pile on all the things along my lower lash line. Now I just leave it alone because the more I wear, the more it seems to draw attention to how tired I look and feel. LOL! For me, less has been best for the last year or so.

I think it’s really interesting to see one’s makeup taste evolve and change, don’t you? What type of makeup looks are you liking right now? Please let me know in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

First Day of First Grade, and the BEST MAC Mascara

August 18th, 2022 by Karen 14 Comments

Well, I guess it’s a good thing I wore waterproof mascara today just in case.

My fave at the moment is an oldie but goodie– MAC In Extreme Dimension Waterproof Lash.

mac in extra mascara review — The best mascara in MAC’s entire makeup line is this one!

Anywho, I dropped my not-so-little one off today for her first day of first grade. She was feeling a little nervous, so we spent the morning focused on getting her in a good place.

I’ve always believed if you’re feeling anxious about something, it really helps to prepare yourself as much as you can and to go about your business with a light and happy heart.

Picture what your day will be like, mentally run through your schedule, anticipate what you can (like, by prepping your clothes and deciding on your lunch the day before), think about anything that might surprise you, start your day early so you don’t feel rushed — those kinds of things.

So, we chatted about all this while we did her school morning routine, and then we were off and running!

I didn’t really get the chance to feel any big mom feelings until I dropped her off at her classroom; the emotions hit me when she almost forgot to turn around and kiss me goodbye. (I’ve been told this is a good thing.)

The passing of time is brutal! One day they’re clinging to you at preschool drop off. Then, it’s the first day of first grade. Next thing you know, it’s the first day of college.

I didn’t expect to get teary today, but dang, this squishy heart! Gets me every time.

Happy Thursday, by the way. How are things going on your end? Good, I hope.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’m Loving the Laura Mercier Petal Soft Lip Crayons

August 4th, 2022 by Karen 5 Comments

As someone perpetually dealing with a time crunch EVERY MORNING (sigh), makeup in crayon form is now my beauty BFF. Drawing on your face is just that much easier when you don’t have to contend with a brush, ya know?

My latest loves are these twist up matte crayon lippies by Laura Mercier. The new Petal Soft Lipstick Crayons offer sheer, easy-to-apply color, so I don’t have to worry about precisely drawing a crisp edge. (Side note: you can easily build up the opacity if you want more intensity, FYI.)

I’ve been doing a layer or two for a casual, effortless summery lip look, but I can see these working year round.

The formula feels lightweight and smooth on my lips, and I like that its unscented and unflavored. Comfy!

I’ve been rollin’ with Augustine, the coral shade, all week, and when I wear it on video calls, I look brighter, and dare I say, less cranky? LOL!

There are 20 shades to choose from, and each is $28 for a 0.06-oz tube.

The Laura Mercier Petal Soft Lip Crayons

300 Lea – Warm brown nude

301 Augustine – Deep coral nude

302 Ella – Warm mid-tone nude

303 Jeanne – Rich warm nude

320 Amelie – Coral pink

321 Ophelie – Bright bluish pink

322 Camille – Neutral pink

323 Maia – Peachy pink

324 Louise – Bright yellowish pink

340 Elodie – Dusty mauve

341 Simone – Rosy berry

342 Zoe – Bright berry

343 Noemie – Mid-tone plum

360 Agnes – Pinkish coral

361 Alma – Reddish coral

362 Leonie – Orangey coral

363 Adele – Bright warm coral

380 Sienna – Orangey red

382 Laura – Plummy red

You can find the Petal Soft Lip Crayons on the Laura Mercier website, Sephora and Ulta.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Summery Coral Lips and Cheeks, and What Adulting Equals

July 26th, 2022 by Karen 13 Comments

Coral Lips: MAC Crossfade. Coral cheeks: Laura Mercier Corsica.

Adulting equals…

Saying things like “wood rot” and “gum recession” and “deployment calendar” and “reparenting yourself.”
Packing emergency go-bags for fire season.
Being tormented by aggressive hyphenation.
Flossing, and liking it.
Tracking your protein portions.
Listening to easy listening (96.5 KOIT, you know what’s up) while you chop vegetables for dinner.
Knowing you need rest in order to keep functioning, and then (GASP) taking that rest.
Forever drinking water.
Keeping a stash of two-minute makeup specifically for video work calls on your desk.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Rose Inc Skin Enhance Luminous Tinted Serum: A Summery Staple

July 8th, 2022 by Karen 4 Comments

This is my partner in crime! Side note: I’m a law-abiding citizen, and the only crime I’m guilty of is loving a base with barely-there coverage.

Rose Inc Skin Enhance ($49) is designed purposefully to add a little something-something to your skin. If you’ve ever tried any of the OG sheer bases (Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, IT Cosmetics CC, NARS TM, First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Tinted Moisturizer, etc.) and felt like you were wearing too much makeup, this is the base for you.

It caters to a very specific makeup person. Someone who wants…

Skin to look like real skin;
A finish that has subtle pearly shine without glitter;
Freckles and variations of texture and pigment to still peek through; and
A base that feels and looks lightweight.

It’s fresh, summery skin at its finest. This style of makeup speaks volumes to me at the moment, and I’m really into it!

My skin is combo oily and dry, and I wear the shade 080. Two pumps subtly blurs my pores and adds a hint of tint to even everything out. On super hot days I set it with the least amount of MAC MSF powder I can get away with, and then I douse my face in UD setting spray to keep it place. Otherwise, it will slide right off my face.

I’m wearing Rose Inc Skin Enhance in 080.

FYI, when I reapply sunscreen on top of it in the afternoon, I have to take care to pat the sunscreen on gently. If I’m too aggressive, then I end up just rubbing it off.

This is one of those products that you’re either going to love or loathe. Just in case you fall in the latter camp, I’d suggest buying it at Sephora and saving your receipt. If it’s not enough coverage for you and/or you feel like it just doesn’t stay on, then I’d gently steer you towards Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, which is a beast (in the best possible makeup way).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Summery Taupe Smoke

June 29th, 2022 by Karen 12 Comments

Oh, smokey eyes, I’ve missed you!

I wore shimmery, summery, taupe-y smokey eyes to take Connor to gymnastics camp and swimming lessons yesterday. I can say with 100% certainty I was the only person in both instances wearing smokey eyes, which kinda bums me out. Think of how visually interesting it would be if you could stand in a gymnastics camp line at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday and stare at a variety of smoked out lids. I may be alone in wanting this to be a thing, but whatevs!

The star of this summery smoke show is a liquid shadow by Chanel called Vastness. It’s a warm, bronzy taupe with a deliciously subtle shimmer. It used to be part of Chanel’s permanent collection but appears to be missing in action on the Chanel website, which is a bummer, because it’s SO GOOD. It’s easy to blend, has a perfect level of pigment and you don’t need much at all. I did some digging and found it on the Macy’s website, but it’s low stock, so grab it while you can!

I’m wearing Vastness with Espresso liner, a Chanel workhorse. I lined my eyes, then applied the shadow using this technique to smoke it out.

For my lips and cheeks, I went with a bright, juicy pink, Honest Beauty Liquid Lipstick in Goddess. I swiped a layer on my lips, blended it with a finger, then used the same finger to tap the lipstick onto the apples of my cheeks as blush. Then, I dabbed Ilia Lip Tint in Tahiti on my lips for a touch of shine.

The glowing base is Rose Inc Skin Enhance Tinted Serum (I wear shade 80)! It’s quickly becoming one of my favorites for sheer coverage. More on this in a few.

Hope your week is going great so far and that life is treating you well. Has anything good happened to you lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen