Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

Just For Fun

This or That: The Holiday Edition, 2021!

by 8 Comments

this or that holiday beauty edition christmas tree gifts
Time to play!

How to play

Pick one or the other for each of the questions below, and copy/paste your answers in the comments. Can’t wait to see your picks! Mine are down below.

This or That: The Holiday Edition, 2021!

  • Ugly Christmas sweater or matching family PJs?
  • Santa hat or reindeer headband?
  • Candy cane or hot chocolate?
  • Glittery gold nail polish or glittery silver nail polish?
  • Fresh or faux Christmas tree?
  • Pick one beauty gift set: skin care sampler or fragrance coffret?
  • Matte red lipstick or shiny red lip oil?
  • With snow or without?
  • White lights or colorful lights?
  • “Die Hard” — a Christmas movie or a straight up action flick?
  • Pick one beauty gift: limited edition eyeshadow palette or a set of mini lipsticks?
  • Perfume as a gift: yes or no?
  • Caroling or sledding?

Ugly Christmas sweater or matching family PJs?

Ugly Christmas sweater — a non-itchy one (because itchy sweaters are the worst) that doesn’t shed all over the place.

Santa hat or reindeer headband?

Santa hat! I like the casual vibe.

Candy cane or hot chocolate?

Hot chocolate, yum!

Glittery gold nail polish or glitter silver nail polish?

Glittery gold nail polish, in a shade of gold that isn’t too warm or yellow, please.

Fresh or faux Christmas tree?

Fresh!

Pick one beauty gift set: skin care sampler or fragrance coffret?

Oooh, tough. I’m going to go with fragrance coffret for now, but ask me again in 10 minutes, ha!

Matte red lipstick or shiny red lip oil?

Shiny red lip oil. My lips have been crazy dry lately.

With snow or without?

If it was just me, then without. I’d rather be somewhere warm, like Hawaii, for the holidays. Connor loves snow though, so while she’s still small, I’ll go with snow.

White lights or colorful lights?

White warm lights that don’t twinkle (it drives me nuts when strands of lights blink on and off at different rates).

“Die Hard” — a Christmas movie or a straight up action flick?

Christmas movie, all the way!

Pick one beauty gift: limited edition eyeshadow palette or a set of mini liquid blushes?

Let’s go with the blush.

Perfume as a gift: yes or no?

This really is tricky, because perfume is so personal. I’d say yes, but only if it was someone I knew very well.

Caroling or sledding?

You know, I’ve actually never gone caroling, so I’ll pick that.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Trader Joe’s Hot Cocoa Snowman, a Sparkling Shadow by Hourglass and Nomad Cosmetics

by 14 Comments

To whoever invented the hot cocoa snowman, thank you from bottom of my heart.❤️ I never knew how weirdly satisfying it is to stick a chocolate snowman into a mug filled with warm milk and watch it disintegrate until now.

The best part of this whole process is when the snowman’s tummy melts and chocolate chips and marshmallows come out of its booty. Trust me, it’s fun.

By the way, I got these guys from Trader Joe’s! If you see them, grab them. They’re super fun. If you find the drink a little too sweet (I did), then just thin it out with a splash of hot water. Works like a charm.

In other holiday news, I’m almost ready to join Team Done With Christmas Shopping. I finished most of my shopping last weekend at Sephora, and shockingly, I actually stuck to my game plan and bought gifts for other people and walked out with absolutely nothing for myself. Not to say I didn’t want to. It would’ve been a totally different story if this champagne colored cream glitter shadow from Hourglass called Ray was in stock.

I saw it, along with a slew of beautiful Hourglass lip and cheek products, in a reel on SpaceNK’s Instagram. The makeup artist, Jacinta Spencer, layers the shadow onto her lids with her fingers, and the result is a perfect mix of glitter and glam.

My heart broke a little when the sales associate told me Ray wasn’t available because I loved the shimmer — the glitter pieces weren’t too big or too small. Maybe I’ll order it online. Or maybe I’ll just put it on my wish list until my next beauty whim strikes, ha ha ha.

I think, for now, just to get the urge to wear glitter out of my system, I’m going to do something similar to Jacinta’s look with glitter in this palette by Nomad Cosmetics. They’re a vegan and cruelty-free brand that makes travel-themed products.

This palette is Venice-Simplon Express, which is a nod to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a private luxury train service that runs from London to Venice.

How about that red shade? WOW! I haven’t worn red eyeshadow in a minute, but I might just for fun to scare my coworkers on my next video call, ha ha ha!

Speaking of video calls, I’ve got a few lined up this morning, so I should go get ready. Are you working today, too? I hope things are mellow for you this week! Talk soon, ok?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 708

by 19 Comments

be proud of yourself monday poll

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

    1. A beauty topic that you’ve been interested in lately?

    Niche perfumes! I love the idea of finding scents that are a little off the beaten path. I kinda stumbled into it through work because I’ve been reading a lot of perfume reviews to feed my brain different ways to describe scents. If you happen to be into niche fragrances, please let me know your favorites. I’d love to hear about them.

    2. The name of a new product you’ve tried recently?

    Last week I took my new bottle of Avene RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream for a spin, and WHOA. I was not ready for the level of exfoliation. I sometimes forget that I need to ease myself into these things, ya know?

    3. Have you ever had really long nails?

    Yeah, I had long, natural nails up into my mid-30s. They were fun to paint but a pain to keep up.

    4. Speaking of nails, red nail polish or blue nail polish?

    Blue nail polish! Dark blue, with a shiny finish please. Yes, I’m still thinking about that Chanel nail polish.

    5. Big hoops or little hoops?

    In non-pandemic times when I didn’t have to wear a mask, big hoops. Currently little hoops, because I just can’t deal with too many things getting in the way of my mask. Between earrings, my glasses, my hair — it’s just too much!

    6. What did you have for dinner last night?

    A Cesar salad and a hunk of rosemary focaccia bread thanks to Trader Joe’s. Lately I’ve been really crabby about cooking and the salad kits at TJ’s have been saving my life.

    7. Hot chocolate with or without marshmallows?

    With tiny little marshmallows, please.

    8. Where’s the farthest place you traveled this year?

    Oahu last summer. It had been a while since we’ve visited El Hub’s side of the family.

    9. Gold, silver or bronze eyeshadow?

    I’ll take bronzer, please.

    Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

    Karen

    P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.

    1. A beauty topic that you’ve been interested in lately?
    2. The name of a new product you’ve tried recently?
    3. Have you ever had really long nails?
    4. Speaking of nails, red nail polish or blue nail polish?
    5. Big hoops or little hoops
    6. What did you have for dinner last night?
    7. Hot chocolate with or without marshmallows?
    8. Where’s the farthest place you traveled this year?
    9. Gold, silver or bronze eyeshadow?

    P.P.S. Hello, my friend! How’s your Monday going so far? I hope something unexpectedly cool happens to you today! 🤗

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 689

by 2 Comments

It’s that time of year! — time for TV binging, overindulging, and it’s also the perfect time for a side hustle!

As I’m sure you’re well aware, Tabs was never one to rest on his gorgeous laurels. This was his favorite time of year, of course, and it was so for multiple reasons. One reason was because the few days the office was closed meant he’d have time to pursue his personal projects, like building a better mousetrap (literally), taking up trout fishing, designing a new line of lightweight insulated paw mittens for kittens, or building a robot.

He was always up to something epic, even when he had time off.

Rosie

Rosie, like her predecessor, has a lot of interests and more than a couple side hustles. She also intends to take full advantage of the slowdown at the home office to pursue her own projects, and she started one of them this weekend.

She installed a high-powered telescope up on the roof so she can map the galaxy, at least the part that’s viewable from here in Novato… 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, Dec. 18, 2021

by 4 Comments

Clearly, my aloe plant is one of those souls that’s been able to kick butt during these pandemic times. Check her out. She is thriving! 🏆

Side note: I’m removing one of the leaves and using it to moisturize my cuticles tonight. ✔️

Awkward segue, but you know what I just realized today?? I haven’t given a single thought to the food situation ’round these parts for Christmas Eve. Like, I’m normally all about planning every single food-related detail weeks ahead of time, sometimes months, because I get very excited about eating all teh things at Christmas.

Seriously, it’s such a big part of Filipino culture — good food with family to celebrate the holiday, and there are quite a few dishes you only eat on special occasions — but I haven’t given any thought to it yet. Don’t have any idea what I’m gonna make or bring when we go see my family in the East Bay later this month.

I mean, hopefully, depending on the state of the world next week… 😞

Like they have for most people, the last couple years have changed me PROFOUNDLY. I used to be almost an obsessive planner, but now I’m so hesitant to make plans at all because part of me thinks, “Oh, we’ll have to change plans at the last minute anyway, so why bother planning at all? I’ll just wing it.”

I’m of the mind that things will either be great or terrible, but either way, it’s fine! LOL. Strange days. Strange days indeed…

I wasn’t really a big fan of improvising holiday plans in the “before times,” because planning gave me a sense of control, but now I’m just like Elsa. I let it go. 😂

Seriously, I’m thinking about baking chocolate-chip cookies for Christmas, making homemade pizzas at home and calling it a day. I think that might make me happy! In the end, I know it’ll be fine as long as there’s something a little special at the meal, and chocolate-chip cookies from scratch are always special.

chocolate chip cookies september 2020
The most beautiful thing I ever did see

This week’s reading


Love this look


I’m low-key obsessed with Marisa.


I don’t really know what’s going on here, but I love it.


Mood music


Trying this…


Feeling festive

What are you up to today? I have some last-minute Christmas shopping left to do, along with some last-minute Christmas returns. You know how when you go shopping, and you don’t plan on getting anything for yourself, but then you buy all of these random “just for me gifts” because you’re out of your mind? And then when you get home, you’re like, “Wait, what was I thinking?”

Yeah, that’s my life right now.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Checking In: Lemons, MOAR Chanel and a Standout Red Lipstick by MAC

by 9 Comments

Never in my life have I been this excited about citrus, ever! My Meyer lemon tree is poppin’ off!

She’s got so much ripe fruit on her right now. Later on today I’m going to pick some lemons so I can make lemon pasta tonight.

Maybe lemon bars are in the future, too, although truth be told I wouldn’t mind finding a new lemon desert to love. If you have a lemon dessert recipe that will change my life, please let me know.

OK, so do you see the color of this blue pot from my lemon tree? It totally reminds me of that blue Chanel nail polish I’ve been drooling over. I think that’s a sign telling me I need it in my life.

Yesterday, I put it in my cart and have been dancing around the check out button furiously, so to speak.

I also figured that while I was at it, I might as well put some other things in my cart!

Next thing you know, there’s a jar of New Moon in there (it’s on backorder, boo) and a tube of Dimensions de Chanel Mascara. I was also going to throw in couple Stylo Yeux eyeliners (you know, the twist ups), but I’ve been really happy with the dark brown Ilia liner I’ve been using lately, and I’m toying with the idea of actually finishing it. GASP, I KNOW!

Chanel New Moon

chanel 50 nero metallo mascara
My favorite Chanel mascara

I was just about to add a stick of the $40 Boy de Chanel brow pencil (from the line marketed to men) that I love when I noticed there is also a “ladies” version available. After some quick sleuthing I realized, 1) they both have a similar ingredient list, 2) both pencils hold the same amount of product and 3) the women’s version costs less — it’s $33! So, yeah. I love ya, Boy de Chanel, but if this haul happens, I’m gonna go with the slightly more affordable version.

If (when?) I actually pull the trigger — and I might because my will power is really starting to break down — then I should add a lipstick or two into the mix, right? Maybe a new red? Chanel does some incredible reds.

Oh, speaking of red lipstick, I put a warm red on my baby for the first time ever! I used MAC Quite the Standout on Coywolf for her dance recital last weekend.

coycoy candy cane lane 2

coycoy candy cane lane 2

I did this lip freehand without any lip pencil or a lip brush, and I have to say, I think I did OK! The girls in her group danced to “Candy Cane Lane” by Sia, which is why they were all dressed up like sweet little candy canes.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! What’s going on for the weekend? Are you doing any last-minute shopping? I SURE AM!

Checking In: Swooning Over Chanel Nail Polish, Briogeo Hair Oil and Needing a Nap…

by 6 Comments

briogeo oil laneige sleeping mask

Not that I need another Chanel nail polish because, side note, I’m trying to keep my beauty collection streamlined on all fronts, buuuuuut I saw this navy blue stunner on Chanel’s beauty community Instagram feed and swooned! It was a fainting couch moment, trust.

It reminds me a little of the shade Orage from certain angles but brighter and slightly less moody.


Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Orage, $27
Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Orage, $27

While we’re on the topic of trying to keep things streamlined, this morning I was cleaning up the little vanity area in my bathroom and debated whether or not I was going to keep this bottle of Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Strengthening Treatment Oil. I got it a while back, and it’s a little tricky to use.

ilia liptick lip oil briogeo hair oil
A little Sephora pit stop

I bought it partly because I like the flowers and partly because I like the idea of having a non-silicone hair oil, but eh, it’s just OK. I have to be very careful with the amount I use, because no joke, one drop too many, and my hair ends up super greasy and flat. Not cute!

I’ve found a way to make it work by mixing a couple drops into a leave-in conditioner (my go-to is Odele’s at the moment), but the difference in my hair really isn’t significant, so I probably won’t be buying it again. I’m still on the hunt for a hair oil without silicone, so if you have one to recommend, let me know.

Another thing I discovered while I was cleaning out my vanity — this tiny little jar of LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask. I got it from Sephora last June as a free birthday gift, and I’ve had it for months but haven’t touched it, so today, after my shower, I used it to moisturize my body. LOL! I figure it’s better than just letting it sit there.

birthday haul 2021
Well, hello there Rosie-Pose!

And you know what, my skin feels pretty soft. I might just put it on my face. LOL!

I hope everything on your end is well. Things are good here, just a little busier than usual. I had a slew of deadlines at work this week, and that coupled with all the holiday stuff Connor has going on (a recital last weekend and a Christmas performance last night), I’ve been going hard from one task to the next.

Are you feeling the holiday spirit yet? For Christmas this year, I’m thinking of asking Santa to give me a five hour block to myself so I can take a nap! Now that would be a Christmas miracle.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What Are the Driest Areas of Your Skin?

by 7 Comments

moisturizer
Moisturize meh!

Driest parts of my skin? Oy! I don’t even know where to start.

On my face, usually my cheeks, and this is consistent all year ’round, even summer. And then around the middle of winter I start getting dry patches around my mouth and my nostrils, and sometimes they’re so dry that they turn red and flaky. Weirdly, however, this wasn’t always the case. Up until my early 30s, I had straight-up oily skin and dryness was never an issue. Sometimes I’d even skip moisturizer, GASP! Now, though, that is no longer an option. When I don’t use lotion on my face, my skin feels really tight. Sometimes it hurts.

Oh, the woes of a dry-cheeked girl…

On my body, the dryness is pretty much spread all over the place. It’s equal opportunity dryness! — although there are places, like my shins, my feet and especially my hands, that do get noticeably drier in the winter.

I literally never leave the house without a tube of hand cream in my purse.

And I’ve definitely noticed that the dryness depends on the climate and the humidity. When I leave the Bay Area, like when I go to Redding to see my in-laws up north, where it’s inland and there’s much lower humidity, the dryness kicks up several notches. Same thing when I go to Las Vegas or Arizona or other parts of the Southwest.

I think if I lived in those areas I’d have to start bathing in heavy-duty cream moisturizer, LOL!
[Continue reading…]

Copyright © 2025 Makeup and Beauty Blog. Get in touch.