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A Mother’s Day Shopping Trip: Self-Care at Ulta

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Good morning, my friend. I’m raising my cup of coffee to you in a *toast.* Here’s to another beautiful day (it’s a sunny one here in Marin county this morning), and to being tender and gentle with yourself.

I’ve been needing TLC, so last Sunday, I took a Mother’s Day self-care trip to Ulta.

My brows and lashes have been driving me crazy, so I decided to restock some old school favorites in the hopes they’d help.

For my brows, I grabbed the OG of brow fillers, Anastasia Brow Wiz (my shade is Medium Brown) and Clear Brow Gel.

As for mascara, I turned to an old friend, MAC Extended Play Gigablack, which I’ve been wearing on and off since 2013 (!). If you want curl hold, length and separation, this mascara is great.

I’m trying to get back into the habit of painting my nails! Right now I’m using the three-step OPI Infinite Shine system, which combines lacquer and gel technology. I already have a couple of colors and the top coat, so during this trip I bought the base coat and a nude pale pink, Bubble Bath.

Oh, and since Connor was with me, I let her pick out a polish. She close Turn It Up by Orly, a glittery beauty!

My hair… I can’t even. It desperately needs some TLC! I’m scheduled for a cut next Tuesday, thank goodness. I just gotta make it to next week without chopping it all off in the middle of the night.

To tide me over until then, I thought it might be nice to try some new things: a claw clip by Kitsch (I’ve loved everything I’ve tried from them so far), a minty scalp conditioner by Not Your Mother’s Naturals (I’m hoping it will make a good co-wash) and a leave-in by Verb (ended up returning it because the scent was too strong).

You know what? I’ve decided to fully embrace the fact that I’m a lady who loves fancy body lotion. With that in mind, I bought this gorgeous, heavy glass jar of Body Cream by KEYS Soulcare, which is the skin care line by Alicia Keys (yup, the singer).

It’s a shea and cocoa butter body cream, so it’s rich and thick, and it’s scented with a gorgeous warm, herbal mix that smells like sandalwood and sage to my nose. The scent is present enough to notice, but it doesn’t overwhelm my senses. I really love it.

Oh, and random, while I was reading the copy on the box, I noticed that e.l.f. is mentioned as the distributer. Neat!

Last but not least, I bought some cotton pads and a nail polish remover. All in all, a very satisfying self-care trip.

Building those happiness muscles, day two

For the next fourteen days, I’m noting a couple things that I’m grateful for. If you care to join me, please share in the comments.

Anywho, today it’s sliced fruit in my water (strawberries are especially yummy) and mechanical pencils. Both are simple pleasures which make my life so much better.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Nails of the Week, Smith & Cult Bitter Buddhist | Your Thoughts on Lash Serum?

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smith cult bitter buddhist 2022
Smith & Cult Bitter Buddhist

Hi, guys! This is an OG fave shade that I’ve had and loved for years, Smith & Cult Bitter Buddhist. It’s a pale spring green with gray undertones and a fun alternative to the typical pastel mint greens that so often pop up in the spring.

I love it because it’s one of those colors that can look completely different depending on the light. Sometimes it’s more green, other times it’s more blue!

I was poking around the Smith & Cult website recently, and noticed there’s a similar shade with a different name — Bitter Cashmere Daydream. If you love complex pale greens, this is definitely one to consider.

Your thoughts on lash serum?

spirit rainbow mane
Why yes, I added big lashes to this pony.

I’ve been trying to figure out why every mascara I’ve worn in the last few months has been sorely disappointing, and I think I might’ve found the reason. After years of using lash serum to bump up my fringe, I quit last fall. There was really no rhyme or reason to the decision; I was mostly too tired to remember to put it on before bed! Days turned into weeks, then weeks turned into months, then next thing ya know, every mascara bums me out.

I think my lashes have slowly returned to their natural state, which is in the grand scheme of things is no big deal. But still.

On one hand, it’s one less thing for me to do in my routine (YES), but on the other hand, my hella basic lashes are back. LOL.

What are your thoughts on lash serums? Do you use them? Don’t use them? If you’ve used them in the past and quit, what happened to your lashes? I’d love to hear your story.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Nail Polish of the Week: Smith & Cult Extra Ordinary

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smith cult extra ordinary

I like to think of this opaque fuchsia pink as a punk rock pink. It’s not too sweet, nor too schmexy; it’s a personable pink with an edge. It’s bright for sure, but it’s not nearly as blindingly bright as neon highlighter pink.

Anywho, I got a couple questions in the comments yesterday, so here she is in all her gorgeous glory!

If you’re new to Smith & Cult, they’re a cool indie nail polish and makeup line that you can find at SpaceNK and online.

I haven’t tried the makeup, but the polishes? LOVE. I’ve been wearing them for years because of the high pigment and long wear time.

smith cult extra ordinary

The polishes are vegan and what Smith & Cult calls “8-free” — so no dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, xylene, ethyl tosylamide and triphenyl phosphate.

Should you decide to pick up a bottle, you might also want to grab their top coat, too. It’s sturdy, shiny and seems to do the best job of extending the wear time with the Smith & Cult line.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy hump day. The end of the week is in sight! I wanted to let you know that I’m so proud of you. You’re doing great!

Makeup Musings: Finishing a Bottle of Nail Polish, and When Small Acts of Love Are the Big Gestures

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So, I realize that in the grand scheme of things, finishing a bottle of nail polish is totally not a big deal compared to, say, delivering a baby on a plane, or fighting oppression with acts of civil disobedience!

Buuuuuuuut, if you’re a beauty lover like I am, I think you’ll totally get this. See this bottle of mint green polish by Olive & June? I’ve finished almost a quarter of it, and I’m thrilled by the prospect of perhaps even finishing — gasp! — half of it soon. Or, perhaps the whole thing.

(MIND BLOWN.)

You guys, I can’t even remember the last time I finished a bottle of nail polish down to the last drop. I’m fairly sure it was decades ago.

This might have something to do with me getting rid of all of the old-@ss polishes that were gathering dust in my office for literally YEARS. I recently decided to only keep colors that I truly love, and even though I have far fewer bottles of nail polish now, deciding what to wear on my nails is so much easier than before.

I FULLY realize that I sound like a broken record there, but it’s been so liberating.

FYI, this is KMC with a slice of yellow watermelon! I bought a mini yellow watermelon from Trader Joe’s yesterday, and yes, I already finished most of it by myself, in one day, because it’s been the only decent watermelon I’ve gotten this year.

Every single red watermelon I’ve brought home in 2021 was either mealy, flavorless or otherwise inedible and gross! I’ve tried all of my “watermelon whisperer” tricks to pick them, too, like looking for the ones with the darkest yellow spot, comparing them by weight, knocking on the outsides to hear a hollow sound, but I’ve still yet to find a halfway decent red watermelon this year.

How’s your luck been with watermelon this year? Inquiring minds want to know…

Anyway, the watermelon was part of a picnic lunch that Connor “hosted” in our circle with her friends in the neighborhood. She’s with me this week because it’s the break between school and summer camp, and over the weekend she made a list of things she wanted to do while away at “mama camp.” One of the things was having a picnic outdoors with her buddies.

Guess what I figured out yesterday? If you have to feed children at a picnic — they don’t need much food! I put together a whole spread for the kids, but all they ate were slices of watermelon, homemade guacamole and tortilla chips. *shrugs*

I wanted to take a picture of the guacamole, but the kids ate it all before I could grab a shot. For the guac, I left out any strong spices, so no garlic or onion powder, and only used smashed avocado, a little bit of lime (lemon will work in a pinch) and some salt. That was it.

So, yeah, the next time you have to feed some little ones outdoors, keep in mind this *very gourmet* food combination, LOL! It’s a winner.

Oh, I almost forgot, but the kids also ate the homemade chocolate chip cookies Connor and I made the day before. I whipped up a batch of cookies to bring to my high school friends, Jen and Cindy, who I met for lunch at a sushi restaurant in Sausalito for a belated birthday fete.

I hadn’t seen them both in well over a year!

As a side, I like to get Connor up in the mix whenever I do things like write cards or make cookies for my friends because I think it’s important for her to learn about the importance of small gestures. I want her to know that this is what caring for your people looks like…doing the seemingly small things. I want her to know that there are many ways to say “I love you,” and sometimes the smallest gestures are very meaningful.

One of those “seemingly small but big” acts happened at the restaurant with Jen and Cindy. We were sitting at the table catching up, and when it was time to order, I had no idea what to choose. Ya know, you’d think that ordering a couple of California rolls wouldn’t be so damn hard, but it’s been so long since I’ve seen them (they’re like the sisters I always wanted), and I’ve been having to hold it together for everyone else around me for what feels like THE LONGEST YEAR EVER, and I just didn’t have it in me 1) to keep my guard up anymore, and 2) order food.

Because she knows me, Cindy saw that I was struggling and said, “Don’t worry about ordering. I got you, girl.” She then grabbed my menu, rattled off a meal for our table (she’s the bossy one, LOL!), and took care of it.

I don’t remember the last time I got to actually relax during a meal outside the house. I mean, yes, Connor and El Hub and I eat at restaurants every once in a while again, and even though it’s a break for me because I don’t have to cook, I’m still “on duty.” I’m watching Connor and helping her mind her manners, monitoring what comes out to our table because of El Hub’s gluten allergy, things like that. And I’m always making sure other people are set before I eat. I’m happy to do it all, of course, but when we eat out, I’m never truly relaxed. I’m mom-ing and wife-ing, and doing all the things people around me probably don’t even notice.

But, last Sunday, when I was having sushi with my friends, all I did was sit there. IT WAS GLORIOUS. Having a friend order for me (and for her to do it without me having to ask) made me feel so cared for and so, so loved.

It’s all the little things, right? In the end, they always end up being the big things.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Beauty Products I’m Excited About: The Jan Marini Skin Care Management System, OPI and a Target Gem!

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Greatest Of All Time ?

We’ve been back home in Novato since Sunday night, and even though I’m OH, SO HAPPY to be back in my own bed, I like a lot about the town of Sonoma, like there being so many animals around! We saw wildlife and ranch animals every single day. It’s rural up there with miles and miles of farms, and I’ve never lived anywhere with so many sheep! Or cows! Or horses! Or goats! It was cool to just turn my head and see animals at any given moment.

I’ve only lived in the suburbs and once in a big city (San Francisco) in my life, so to look out my car window and see gangs of goats roaming the hillsides to the left and right of me as I drove down the road was…shocking, in a good way.

Anyway, nerd moment, but every time I see a goat now I simultaneously think of the acronym ‘GOAT’ — greatest of all time, HAHAHA! ? Oh, I make myself laugh…

Goat selfies should be a thing.

Being home again, I’m back on my regularly scheduled beauty jam, and these are what I’m excited about right meow…

jan marini skin care management system
The Jan Marini Skin Care Management System Starter Kit for Normal/Combination Skin

For months now I’ve been chomping at the bit to try Jan Marini skin care, as you know. I guess the beauty gods intervened to align ye olde planets and stars, because El Hub actually *paid attention* (GASP) and hooked this mama up with the Jan Marini Starter Skin Care Management System for Mother’s Day.

It comes with five items designed to be used in the following order…

Step 1: Bioglycolic Facial Cleanser

A creamy cleanser with exfoliating glycolic acid for dry, combo and oily skin. It’s also supposed to eliminate the need for a post-cleansing toner.

jan marini bioglycolic face cleanser step 1
Step 1, Bioglycolic Face Cleanser

Step 2: C-Esta Face Serum

This is Jan Marini’s Vitamin C antixoidant serum, and the two key ingredients are DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol, which is supposed to help with fine lines and wrinkles), and ascorbyl palmitate, which is one form of Vitamin C (there are several).

jan marin c esta face serum step 2
Step 2, C-Esta Face Serum

FYI, if you’re a SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic fan like I am, C-Esta’s Vitamin C is different than the variety used in CE Ferulic. CE Ferulic has L-ascorbic acid, which is considered in many skin care circles as the gold standard for Vitamin C. It seems like ascorbyl palmitate is often pooh-poohed as being inferior to L-ascorbic acid, but we shall see.

Step 3: Bioclear Face Lotion

EXFOLIATE ME, PLEASE! This lotion has three types of acids — glycolic, salicylic and azelaic. I love me some salicylic and azelaic acids, so I’m very excited about this, which is made for normal, combo and oily skin types.

jan marini bioclear face lotion step 3
Step 3, Bioclear Face Lotion

Step 4: Transformation Face Cream

A hydrating cream with peptides, hyaluronic acid and an ingredient exclusive to Jan Marini called Thymosin beta 4.

jan marini transformation face cream step 4
Step 4, Jan Marini Transformation Face Cream

Step 5: Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF33

A water-resistant (up to 80 minutes) chemical sunscreen.

jan marini antioxidant daily face protectant spf 33 step 5
Step 5, Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant

The kit also comes with a card to walk you through the order the products should be used and whether they’re for mornings or evenings or both.

jan marini skin care management system card
Step-by-step, ooh baby!

I’ve read that the full-size skin care management system is supposed to last about eight weeks, which, truth be told, doesn’t seem very long to me, but I get the sense I can stretch the products out to four or five weeks if I use them sparingly — with the exception of the sunscreen, of course, because homegirl is not shy about applying and reapplying sunscreen!

jan marini skin care management system back
Ingredients
jan marini skin care management system back
More ingredients

I’m really excited to use it, but I think I’m going to wait until after we go camping to start. We’re heading up to Casini Ranch on the Russian River for a few days so Rosie can have quality time with her favorite pet sitter (LOL!).

casini ranch

casini ranch

When we went camping last summer, the most I could handle while we lived in the tent was to use a face wash and sunscreen… Five steps would probably be a few too many steps for me out in the woods, but if you are the girl who camps with a multi-step skincare regimen, I salute you. You are officially my hero!

On the nail front, I haven’t worn OPI in years (ya know, I’m more of an Essie Gel Couture kind of girl), but I’m very excited about this purple glitter called Leonardo’s Model Color because it was a Mother’s Day gift from Connor.

opi leonardos model color
Two layers of OPI Leonardo’s Model Color

El Hub took her to Ulta, gave her a basket, and let her pick out whatever she wanted to get for mama (within reason). Apparently, the sales associates asked her on several occasions if she needed any help after seeing her linger in the fragrance section for a really long time, LOL! She told everyone “no thank you” because she had it under control, and she choose this polish, along with some sparkly butterfly clips and a pink travel laundry bag.

opi leonardos model color swatch

miamica travel laundry bag

scuni butterfly clips

It’s purple and sparkly, and I will forever keep it in my polish collection from now until the end of time because she gave it to me. 🙂

One last thing before I head on out for now, I randomly picked up this box of Advanced Nail Polish Remover Pads last week from Tar-ghay, and they don’t play! So, so good.

A single pad removes even the most stubborn glitter mani or pedi, and it works fast! It works in less time than it takes you to convince yourself to buy another creamy pastel mint green polish, ha ha ha! If you want an easy, quick no-drama nail polish remover, grab thee a box ASAP.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Checking In: Beauty Deals at Costco, a Truly Game-Changing Tip to Make Life Less Gross, and Missing My Girl

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pretty purple flower bokeh
From me to you.

Hi there, my friend. This flower up top is for you!

Hopefully it brightens your day a little. 🙂

I went to Costco last week to buy an XXL bag of blueberries because El Hub is convinced that eating copious amounts makes his brain work better. Side note, I’m all for it, because maybe all those blueberries will help him realize that all I want for my birthday in June is expensive Jan Marini skin care, haha! Just for fun last night, I put everything and the kitchen sink from her line in my online cart, and OMG, you don’t even want to know the final price before checkout.

Anyway, Costco. While we were there, I saw some good beauty deals…

First up, this three-piece Essie Gel Couture Polish set for $19.99. It includes two different nail polishes and the awesome Gel Couture top coat. If you bought all three items separately at Ulta, you’d pay $35, so this is a steal.

essie gel couture costco

I’ve got mad love for the Gel Coutures and think they’re among the best things Essie makes. The polishes dry quickly, last a long time, and they’re soooo easy to remove (no special gel-removing accoutrements or any complicated processes with foils). They also have high-shine finish, which I love.

essie gel couture costco 3

FYI, at the Costco in Novato, the color selection’s pretty limited. There are two sets — one with a darker blue and navy (Brocade Crusade and Embossed Lady) in it, and another with a light taupe-pink and dark brown (High Sewciety and Pearls of Wisdom). Still a good deal though!

essie gel couture costco

I also saw a three-pack of L’Oréal Magic Root Cover Up for $9.99. One bottle is usually $9.99 at Target, so this is another great deal. Lots of colors to choose from too.

loreal root cover up costco

Root sprays are basically like concealer, but for your hair, and they’re great for when you’re between coloring appointments. You pick a shade that matches your hair color, spray a little on your roots to hide them, et voila! MAGIC! The color comes out the next time you shampoo your hair, so FYI, they aren’t permanent.

loreal root cover up costco

I used to use root spray back in the day, and the L’Oréal one is pretty good (although the best one, hands down, is Rita Hazan’s). If I were still coloring my mane, I’d definitely be stockpiling.

As you know, we’re all fastidiously washing our hands these days, so, with that mind, when you get a moment, place the following items into the trunk of your car: a big bottle of water, hand soap and a towel. That way, you can always wash your hands — WITH SOAP AND WATER! — when you’re out and about and return to your car.

water bottle soap trunk car
From now until the end of time, I’ll have water, soap and a towel in my trunk.

I don’t know why I didn’t think to do this until now, but a friend of mine recently told me that she whenever she has to drive to the store or go out into the world now she always washes her hands when she gets back to her car with her portable water and soap, rather than just using a hand sanitizer.

I just started doing it too, and I don’t think I can ever go back to sanitizer alone now, because it feels so good to have my hands clean, truly clean, when I get back into my car. I pop a squat next to one of my tires, and I wash my hands right there in the parking lot. Sometimes people stare…but honestly I don’t even care. To each her own. I feel a little less gross, and that’s all that matters to me.

Connor’s back to preschool this week, and I miss her terribly. We didn’t have the most exciting spring break. There wasn’t any skiing or beaches involved, but it was so nice to do little things with her every day, like going to the pet store to visit the guinea pigs, and going to the park together. We went down so many slides!

Sometimes, I can’t believe that one day she’ll probably live far away from me. For now, at least while I can, I’ll keep sliding with her…

coycoy slide with mama
Best use of a phone camera: taking selfies while you slide down “the big slide” at the park.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Rainbow Nails and Bright Lips, Funfetti Cake, and the MAC Makeup in “Promising Young Woman”

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skittles mani mac all fired up
It’s a rainbow of color

For the record, it’s very, very awkward to take a picture of yourself that has your hands in it and have it look natural! Why do I feel like my paws look bigger than my head here? ?

I haven’t worn rainbow nails in a minute, but I absolutely HAD TO after we rented Promising Young Woman last weekend. It’s a thriller starring Carey Mulligan as Cassie, a young 30-something woman who experiences something traumatic that leads her to drop out of medical school, move back in with her parent and…pursue other ends. I don’t want to give away too much, but it involves some revenge.

Cassie wears a pastel rainbow manicure throughout the movie, and it’s front and center at a few key moments.

I’ve been reading about the styling for the film, and it turns out that the manicure was writer/director Emerald Fennell’s idea, and fun fact for ya — she’s the lady who plays Camilla Parker-Bowles in The Crown!

Symbolically, Cassie’s nails and makeup represent both her armor and a weapon. Her sweet girlishness at times conceals her anger.

I just wanted to wear rainbows on my hands to have a little fun, but I definitely appreciate using makeup as armor.

skittles mani mac all fired up

Near the end of the film, there’s a scene with Cassie in a candy-colored wig putting on a bright lipstick, and dagnabbit, even without my glasses on, and consequently being half-blind, I knew it was MAC. The movie’s makeup artist, Angie Wells, used MAC All Fired Up Retro Matte Lipstick.

I’m wearing it here with MAC Beet Lip Pencil.

skittles mani mac all fired up
MAC attack!

Speaking of bright and colorful things…I got a gluten-free sprinkle boxed cake mix and a matching sprinkle cake frosting (both by Pillsbury) at Target a few weeks ago to make a cake, and you know what? It was pretty darned delicious. Both the boxed Funfetti cake and the frosting were surprisingly tasty and flavorful (I could really taste the vanilla). The cake was also light and fluffy, and the frosting spread easily.

Everything was so good that I went back to the store and got more for the next time I have to bake something last-minute!

You know that I’m totally 100% down to bake a cake and make frosting from scratch, but sometimes it’s sooooo nice to have something easy around for when you get a hankerin’ for cake.

While we’re on the topic of baking, look what I found at Michaels…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Elegant and Polished Makeup for All Occasions With Playful Pink Cheeks and Lips, and Cool-Toned Matte Grays to Contour Lids

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mac cozy grey honest beauty forever
10-minute makeup with cool toned lids and lips

I always say, “I threw this look on,” but I really did! This took about 10 minutes, not including the few minutes it took to gather my arsenal of supplies, which in this case was not very much. Those are cool-toned grayish-brown lids and rosy beige lips, and I did it right before going to get Connor from school the other day. The highlight was showing it off to a couple of my neighbors when we got home and practiced Connor’s bike riding and did some sidewalk chalk.

I’m telling you, these days, the highlight of my day is often those socially distanced chats with my neighbors. That’s where it’s at!

Anywho, I really like this look. I feel so polished in it and, dare I say, almost cute?!

I like the slight definition on the lids and lashes, the pink blush on my cheeks, the lipstick and the somewhat bushy brows, which are defined but not overly bold.

Here it is in action…

I’ll definitely wear this again, maybe even on a date night (if one of those ever happens again). Ooh! — or on a girl’s night out, or a Saturday at a museum, whenever we can do those things again. I think you could wear pretty much anything with it.

The full breakdown is below, but I think the eyeshadows are the key. I’m wearing two matte cool-toned shadows — a light taupe-gray called MAC Cozy Grey all over my lids. It’s a workhorse from the permanent collection. And a darker gray-brown called MAC Brun.

I have hooded eyes, and I chose the matte taupe-gray because I wanted to contour my lids. The cooler gray along with the matte finish creates the illusion of a shadow, which I think makes my lids look like they’re more deeply set.

mac cozy grey honest beauty forever
Somebody cut my hair please!

If you’re over 40, or if you have naturally hooded eye, definitely consider adding a matte cool-toned grayish taupe eyeshadow to your collection. I would go with a shade slightly darker than your skin tone — maybe one or two shades — because you want to be able to see the shadow and get that contoured effect, but you don’t want anything too dark; otherwise, you’ll be sitting there blending for days!

duri forever beautiful swatch
Here’s a closer look at my nails. I’m wearing Duri Forever Beautiful, an opaque creamy cool pale pink.

In my outer corners, I buffed a tiny touch of matte gray-brown MAC Brun. This shade… SO GOOD. You can also wear it in your brows to fill ’em out, or you can smoke it out over a dark chocolate brown or black base, or even use it as a simple upper or lower lash liner. It’s a staple I turn to over and over again… I’m never without a pan of Brun, it’s that serious!

One last thing I’d like to point out about the eyes, and it might seem subtle at first, but if you look closely at my lash and water lines, there’s a hint of shimmer, which I think really makes the eyes pop. I’m wearing a pencil liner called MAC Prunella, which is a shimmery warm dark purplish bronze. I happen to like how it contrasts with the cooler tones on the lids.

mac cozy grey honest beauty forever
Same look, different lighting

Makeup in this look

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I hope you’re having a great day so far! 🙂

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