Just For Fun

I haven’t been wearing a lot of color on my eyes lately, but on my arm? That’s another story, ha!

These pretty eye makeup brights are by Urban Decay. Do you recognize any of them?

The hello in dark purple, the green hearts and the black outlining the hearts are Glide-On Eye Pencils — Psychedelic Sister, Freak and Zero. The blue is Chaos, a shadow stick. And the lighter purple lines are a powder shadow called Free Bird.

I’m thinking of doing an ombre-style winged liner soon, with the green in the inner corner, the blue in the middle and the purple on the outer half and wing. Maybe tightline with the black? Or maybe not. Decisions, decisions…

Whatcha got going on today? It’s blazing hot here in the North Bay Area, so you’ll find me indoors enjoying the fans and air conditioning.

This week’s beauty reading

• Just in case you need some neon eye makeup inspiration this weekend.
• The beauty game in ancient Egypt was lit.
• Brace yourself! In-store free food and makeup samples are coming back. Side note: How does this make you feel?
• Your step-by-step guide to ’60s eye makeup.
• Lazy ladies, unite, for now we can outsource washing our makeup brushes to a machine.
• Here’s a list of cream stick products for those who love twist-up makeup.
• 13 pregnancy-safe skincare products.
• Rodan + Fields is getting sued.
• Do people want to actually buy a product called Snake Oil sold by a self-professed “scammer”? Seriously, what is this mess?
• Here are a bunch of new skincare products launching this month.
• PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, and it’s a hydrating ingredient used in skincare.
• A Dubai salon paints microchips onto customers’ fingernails, which can then be used as digital business cards.
• Robots are painting nails now. ?

More for your wish list

You had me at hyperpigmentation, Dr. Dray.

Someone make this for me, please.

These things, too, please.

Old-school fave

Selfie secrets

Should you ever find yourself with dinner rage

I thought this was interesting.

Hey, docs

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend, and don’t forget to reapply that sunscreen!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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 listed below. ?

This or That: The Eyeliner Edition, Part II

• Smudgy or crisp edge?
• Edgy graphic eyeliner: yes or no?
• Soft or stiff pencil liner?
• Cake liner or cream liner?
• Matte or metallic?
• Eyeliner stickers or an eyeliner stamp?
• Oversized or skinny pencil tip?
• Liquid liner: wand or pen?
• Pen tips: short and stiff, or long and flexible?
• Pencil or a twist up?
• What happens to you more: liner smudging along your lower lash line, or liner that transfers into your crease?
• Spend or splurge on your liner?

Smudgy or crisp edge?

I like both equally (smudgy because it’s forgiving and so much easier to do when I’m in a hurry, and crisp because it looks more pulled together), but today I’ll go with a crisp edge.

To be blunt, I’m working my way through a winged liner phase, and sharp, crisp edges have been doing a lot for my makeup soul.

Edgy graphic eyeliner: yes or no?

Yes, let’s do it! ?

Cake liner or cream liner?

Cream for the longer wear time on my lids (but I also like that I get to skip a step by not having to wet my brush and mix it into the cake liner!).

Anything to save a few extra nanoseconds, ya know?

Matte or metallic?

Hmm… This is a surprisingly tough one for me to answer. I want to say matte because I love the classic look of a striking matte liner, but sometimes the flat finish seems borderline harsh on my 40-something lids.

That said, I love how a flash of shimmery liner on my upper lash line instantly brightens my eyes with very little effort, but I feel like it doesn’t pack the same punch as matte liner does (and, dare I say it, it can look a little dated sometimes?).

I’m torn, but I’ll go with the matte option this time… Seems like it stands the test of time better.

Eyeliner stickers or an eyeliner stamp?

The stamp! — because I can just see the stickers falling off my face at inopportune moments, haha!

Oversized or skinny pencil tip?

Skinny, so I can draw those crisp edges without any drama.

Liquid liner: wand or pen?

Pen. Seems more “writerly.”

Pen tips: short and stiff, or long and flexible?

Long and flexible, with lots of glide!

Pencil or a twist-up?

Twist-up, a la the Chanel Stylo Yeuxs.

What pains you more: liner that smudges along your lower lash line, or liner transferring up into your crease?

I feel like liner smudging along my lower lash line is a bigger pain because it’s more obvious. At least when it’s up in my crease, it’s only really visible when I’m looking down for an extended time or I’m sleeping, both of which don’t really happen all that much throughout the day.

Spend or splurge on your liner?

Splurge on it, baby!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Tuesday to you! Good morning! ? I’m back in the Bay Area and ready to rock ‘n’ roll this month. Here’s to a great July for all of us.

What are you up to?

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 five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start. ?

1. Desert or beach?

Beach. ?️ My skin likes the humidity.

2. If you had to tend bar for a friend’s wedding, how would you do?

If the drinks were limited to beer and wine, and the wedding wasn’t too crazy big, I’d be fine… Maybe I’d even get some good tips! ? But, if there were elaborate drinks involved, forget about it. LOL!

3. Sushi or fried chicken?

Sushi! ?

4. Inner corner highlight or brow bone highlight?

I love frosty late ’90s brow bone highlights, but I’ll take the inner corner highlight today because it makes my eyes look perkier.

5. Makeup you’d wear on a casual hot day?

Chanel Boy de Chanel Brow Pencil, Urban Decay Cannonball Waterproof Mascara and Avene Tinted Sunscreen.

6. A scent that soothes you?

Anything with lavender usually does the trick, and morning coffee also does a lot for my soul/wellbeing.

7. Quick! — name the first lipstick that comes to mind.

MAC Velvet Teddy…always and forever.

8. Your potato dish of choice?

French fries, baby! ?

9. What topics do you know well enough to do a Ted Talk on?

Um…befriending stray cats? LOL! I would love do a talk on starting your own beauty blog, or on being a mom in your 40s, or discuss fun books to read on the beach.

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. Desert or beach?
2. If you had to tend bar for a friend’s wedding, how would you do?
3. Sushi or fried chicken?
4. Inner corner highlight or brow bone highlight?
5. Makeup you’d wear on a casual hot day?
6. A scent that soothes you?
7. Name the first lipstick that comes to mind.
8. Your potato dish of choice?
9. What topics do you know well enough to do a Ted Talk on?

P.P.S. Happy Monday, beautiful girl! ?

Good morning, friend, and happy Saturday! ?

It’s our last full day here on Oahu, and it’s always so bittersweet when vacation ends, isn’t it? I’m looking forward to being able to sleep in my own bed, and I can’t wait to see Rosie-Pose, although I’m pretty sure she’ll be annoyed when we finally get home because we’ll just be in her way while she reads her astrophysics books…but I’ll sure miss being able to jump in the ocean whenever I want! Oh, and papaya just doesn’t taste as good in California as it does in Hawaii.

This week’s reading

• Everything Joan Higginbotham, former NASA astronaut, uses in her skin care routine
• Scarlett Johansson is launching a skin care line.
• How to prep your skin for an outdoor wedding
• Traditional beauty brands are morphing into personal care brands.
• You might be surprised to find these celebrity-favorite beauty brands on Amazon.

Because I “need” more sunscreen, ha!

Do lips need SPF?

I love this so much.

Teach me your ways, Rae.

What are your plans today? I’m going to swim and eat as much shave ice (my fave is lychee-lilikoi from Kokonuts Shave Ice & Snacks in Hawaii Kai) as I possibly can before we leave…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I do! At the moment I’m very into the Boy de Chanel Brow Pencil. It really isn’t that much different than a brow pencil made for ladies, because it’s pretty much a regular ol’ brow pencil, but the packaging is slightly different.

That said, it’s got a lot going for it! I love the semi-sheerness of the pigment. It isn’t too dark, but you can tell it’s there, and the big, bushy brush combs through brow hairs super quickly. It’s easy to draw in full, but natural-looking brows with it in flash, and it lasts all day long, too.

So, that brings me to the following question: do you wear any men’s makeup, a.k.a. beauty products that are marketed toward dudes? Spill the details, so I can add your faves to my wish list. ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Still here in Hawaii! We’ve mostly been going to the beach, eating shave ice and hanging out with family. It’s been nice. Hope you’re having a good week so far.

1. Old-school Gap body splash scents from the ’90s

Remember Grass? And Dream?! I loved those back in the day. I found them recently at a Gap Outlet near my house, and I had to grab a bottle just for fun. I didn’t get Heaven though because one of my college roommates (who I eventually had a falling out with) wore it all the time, and every time I catch a whiff of it now, all I smell is betrayal, ha ha ha!

2. This $15 racerback tank dress from Eddie Bauer

It’s light as a feather and isn’t see-through. Oh, and did I mention that it’s only $14.99? I bought the solid black and blue and white striped!

3. Girl’s lunch dates at Panera

This is my favorite place to take Connor on lunch dates when it’s just us two, because THERE IS SO MUCH GLUTEN! ? I know it’s not super fancy or anything, but if you’re living that mom life, or if you just don’t want to cook, Panera has a lot going for it.

Logistically speaking: 1) there are always tables available (having a readily available place to put all your crap down is key), and 2) the bathroom is roomy, clean and easy to get to. Food-wise, I know Connor can always find something to eat, which is usually their mac and cheese, and I can always find a salad and soup that’ll suit whatever mood I’m in. Last time we were there, I got the Strawberry Poppyseed Salad with Chicken and the Broccoli Cheddar Soup. The prices aren’t too steep, either.

Sometimes we’ll split a cookie or a brownie for dessert, and occasionally on my way out I’ll grab a loaf of bread to go!

4. Fuji Apple Salad Dressing from Panera

Speaking of Panera, the Fuji Apple Salad is one of my favorites! I like to make different versions of it at home with this salad dressing, which I get at Target.

5. Ranier Cherries

Are you obsessed? BECAUSE I TOTALLY AM. I could happily eat an entire XXL bowl of these sweet and juicy cherries all by myself! Where I live in Northern California, though, the window to buy them is narrow. One week you see ’em, the next week you don’t. Poof! They’re gone until next year. So, whenever I run into them at the market, I buy as many as I can.

What have you been loving lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen