Honest Beauty

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

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.

Quick list of the makeup I’m wearing…

Rose Inc Skin Enhance Tinted Serum in 080
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation in 8 Warm
Hourglass Retouching Fluid in Sand
Dior Backstage Concealer in 4W
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden and Give Me Sun
Anastasia Brow Wiz in Dark Brown
Tower 28 Mascara in Jet
Honest Beauty Get It Together Eyeshadow Palette
MAC Costa Riche liner
Hourglass Voyeur Gel Liner in Cave
NARS Blush in Amour
MAC Lip Liner in Talking Points
Hourglass Lipgloss in Canvas

Hope your day is peaceful and joyful!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Shopping My Stash: Honest Beauty Off Duty Liquid Lipstick

October 4th, 2022 by Karen 6 Comments

This is the face of a lady who desperately needs a haircut, LOL! Oh, and a lady who’s about to jump on a video work call in about 15 minutes. 😬

Do you ever have one of those days when you look inside your makeup bag and find a long lost gem? That’s what happened this morning when I unearthed this warm pink liquid lipstick by Honest Beauty called Off Duty ($14.99). When you wear it full on, it looks pastel and opaque and has almost a ’60s vibe to it; it really comes through if you wear it with winged liner! I’ve been really into that look lately.

Anywho, the formula is pretty good as far as matte liquid lipsticks go. Not drying at all, and it stays out of my lip lines.

As for wear, it’s just OK. I blame it on the Rouge Dior Forever matte lipsticks, which have RUINED me for all other matte lipstick in terms of staying power. Off Duty is decent enough at staying on if you’re just gabbing, but it will lift if you’re drinking water or snacking on gummy bears.

Speaking of video calls, do you ever feel like all you do all day long is hop in and out of meetings? That’s my life for half the week!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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

Braids, a Bright Lip and Blush Blended With Bronzer

January 4th, 2022 by Karen 15 Comments

I’ve been hesitant to post any FOTD’s lately because I don’t feel like the makeup I wear on a daily basis is fancy enough. Most of the looks I’ve been wearing are in the “five minute makeup range” these days, but ya know what? I figure I can’t be the only person out there who loves fast, fresh real-life looks. Like, I just got off a video call 15 minutes ago and this was the makeup I was wearing! Hello, real life. So here we go!

I want to call out a couple things. The lipstick is a workhorse liquid lipstick I love, Honest Beauty Liquid Lipstick in Goddess. If you’re into bright corals that light up your face in an instant, you need it in your life ASAP. It’s non-drying and totally comfy.

Another makeup item of note: for a quick hit of color on your cheeks, load up your blush brush with bronzer and blush. I just take my blush brush and dip it into both pans and then swirl the mix onto my apples. It’s the fastest way for me to get a good amount of color on my face without having to deal with layering and blending. Here I mixed Laura Mercier Blush in Rose with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Give Me Sun.

I’m about to jump on my second video meeting of the day! How’s your Tuesday going?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Get Glowing With 5 Products From Honest Beauty

August 25th, 2021 by Karen 6 Comments

honest beauty glowing skin august 2021 — Saying yes to all the things!

You’d think logic would dictate that a makeup look with a minimal base would equal minimal products on your face, but if you love beauty products as much I do, you know that’s not always the case.

It’s a little something I like to call “the project junkie’s curse” — when you willingly and happily slather on every lotion and potion in the pursuit of an allegedly minimal look.

The curse hit me hard this morning. I was getting ready to meet my friend Judy for coffee and only had 10 minutes before I had to get out door, and, so, of course, I applied all the skin care products. Then, I applied some more and then even more after that. I know you feel me! 😊

For glowing, healthy-looking skin, I used five hydrating products from cruelty-free brand Honest Beauty.

Oh, by the way, you might’ve noticed that some Honest Beauty products look a little different than they used to. The brand recently changed their packaging to make it more sustainable and recyclable, so if one of your favorites is on this list, and it looks different; that’s why!

1. Elevated Hydration Mist

Oh, is today spa day? Because whenever I spray this lavender-scented face mist, it certainly smells like I’m cocooned in a candlelit room with a soundtrack of gentle whale sounds. The ultra-fine spray showers skin with delicate droplets and, not one, but two types of hyaluronic acid level-up your mug’s moisture. Made for all skin types. J’adore! $17.99.

2. Everything Primer Glow + 2HA

Hyaluronic acid and fruit extracts moisturize thirsty skin! If you love a glowing fresh face, this primer is for you. I wear it on minimal makeup days along with mascara and brow pencil, because it smooths out pores and imparts a barely-there pearly sheen. Of course, you could layer it underneath your favorite tinted moisturizer or foundation for an extra-smooth canvas, too. $22.99.

3. Depuff +C Eye Cream

There’s all kinds of stuff in this lightweight eye cream, like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid — two kinds, sodium acetylated hyaluronate and sodium hyaluronate — and a host of botanicals, including sunflower seed oil, daisy extract, hieracium pilosella (commonly known as mouse-ear hawkweed) extract and shea butter. When I pat-pat-pat this cream on my eyes, I swear it feels like my skin is tightening up a little, and, dare I say, I look a teensy less tired. It could be wishful thinking, but I do love how my skin feels, so I keep using it. $23.99.

4. Calm & Porefect Serum

Made for all skin types, even the most sensitive skin (it has even the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance), this serum moisturizers and exfoliates. I feel like a fancy lady when I hold the glass bottle, which, FYI, is recyclable. Just be sure to completely rinse out all of the product before chucking it in the recycling bin. $29.99.

5. Hydrogel Cream

Jojoba, squalane and hyaluronic acid nourish thirsty skin in this lightweight but moisturizing face cream. Its dewy finish is key to the whole fresh-faced aesthetic, which is why I love it. $19.99.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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

July 23rd, 2021 by Karen 25 Comments

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…

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 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

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! 🤗