Product Reviews

Product Spotlight: Laura Mercier Rosé Cheek Color

March 23rd, 2020 by Karen 11 Comments

laura mercier rose blush swatch — Rosé all day

“No-makeup” makeup people, take note: This warm pink powder blush will release you from your “blahs” while summoning your cheeks back to life.

I barely wore any makeup last weekend (real talk: I’ve been feeling kinda blah), but I *did* manage to put on some mascara, brow gel and Laura Mercier Rosé today, AND THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT!

Rosé is a warm-toned pink matte powder blush, and I didn’t realize just how much I’ve been neglecting my usual beauty routine lately until I looked in the mirror this morning and saw a mustache worthy of a Disney villain on my upper lip.

via GIPHY

A little makeup was definitely in order.

So, yeah, if you want to feel somewhat functional/normal, if only for a moment, wear blush — ideally, one like Rosé, which has that patented “no-makeup makeup®” thing going. It’s colorful without being intense, and matte, and it doesn’t look heavy or harsh.

Are you the type of person who skips foundation? Or do you just wear a touch of tinted moisturizer? If so, this blush is at its best when it’s dusted directly on bare skin or on top of a minimal base.

Hopefully, someday soon we’ll all have places to go with actual real live people in them again, and Laura Mercier Rosé will be ready. It’s available now on the Ulta website for $30.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Product Spotlight: Laura Mercier Caviar Volume Mascara

March 19th, 2020 by Karen 15 Comments

laura mercier caviar mascara — Ready to give you a lift

FOR DECADES I believed that a lash curler was a non-negotiable when dealing with stick straight lashes (mine will flex the curl outta everything), but that’s totally not so, man! My opinion changed when Laura Mercier’s marvelous Caviar Volume Mascara, which is part of LM’s permanent collection and available at Ulta for $25, rocked my world.

It all started one day a few weeks ago… I was running late for work and couldn’t find my lash curler, so out of desperation I whacked a few coats of this stuff directly on my uncurled lashes, and it finessed a perfectly lifted curl into place.

I was shocked! In fact, I’m still in awe, and I really have no idea how it works. I almost feel like I’m messing with supernatural blood makeup magic and probably shouldn’t go there, but I can’t help myself, ya know? Not only does this mascara lift and curl lashes without the help of a lash curler, but it also separates and elongates lashes while imparting a noticeable amount of volume, but not so much that your fringe looks fake or spidery.

laura mercier caviar mascara before after — No lash curler needed, babe.

It also doesn’t smudge or flake, and even though it isn’t technically waterproof, I’ve cried wearing it a few times (yes, I’m a big cry baby), and it didn’t run.

It comes in one shade, a glossy black, and you can find it at Ulta for $25 a tube.

Your friendly neighborhood fringe addict,

Karen

Product Spotlight: Laura Mercier Cocoa Caviar Stick Eye Colour

March 18th, 2020 by Karen 4 Comments

What you need to know: Laura Mercier Cocoa Caviar Stick Eye Color is a flexible brown cream shadow stick your time-pressed self needs, so if you’re building a better makeup bag and you love a workhorse brown neutral, this absolutely HAS to be in there because it doesn’t move, and you can wear it a bunch of different ways. (It’s available at Ulta for $29.)

This cocoa is a pain in the butt.

It’s the cocoa powder we use at the bakery, and whenever I have to dig into the bin, the powder is so fine that it gets all over the place! — my apron, my leggings, my face, everywhere. As adept as it is at making stuff taste good, it’s highly annoying, especially when you accidentally leave two big ol’ cocoa powder palm prints on your backside and don’t realize it until a stranger buying tuna at Trader Joe’s points it out.

This other Cocoa by Laura Mercier is not a pain in the butt…

laura mercier cocoa swatch — A swatch of Laura Mercier Cocoa, which is like a less red cream eyeshadow version of MAC Teddy liner. I’m an NC42 in MAC, by the way!

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Are You an Aveeno Kinda Girl or Guy?

March 5th, 2020 by Karen 11 Comments

Ahhhhh, Aveeno! Remember that ad? Whoever dreamt that up is the real MVP because here I am, years later, saying “Ahhhhh, Aveeno,” every time I use Aveeno.

I’ll admit it; I’m an Aveeno girl, and I always have something from Aveeno in my bathroom.

In fact, I just picked up a couple refills from Targhay for Stress Relief Body Wash (creamy, smells like lavender, and it’s hella hydrating and comes in a big ol’ 33-oz. bottle for $9.99) and Baby Wash & Shampoo ($8.99), which Coywolf loves because it doesn’t sting her eyes.

They’re everyday staples for us.

Aveeno is on the pricier end of drugstore skin care, but if you have dry or sensitive skin, you might want to give it a try. I’m basically a living, breathing human alligator woman (translation: I have very dry skin), and everything body-care related by Aveeno agrees with me — the body washes and lotions, especially. They moisturize all the parched places (MY SHINS) and leave ’em happy. No flakes or dry spots, ever, thank you very much.

The scent depends on the item, but generally they’re light and non-obtrusive, so the products smell good, but they don’t give me a headache or interfere with perfume. Aveeno also makes a lot of unscented versions of their products, too.

aveeno baby ingredients — Baby Wash ingredients

I’m really into the Stress Relief lavender scent right now, so much so that I plan to grab the matching Stress Relief Lotion as a treat for myself next time I do a Target run, because I’m all about the affordable drugstore luxuries lately. 🙂

Are you an Aveeno kinda girl or guy?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Essie Expressie Quick Dry Nail Polish in Crop Top and Roll, Before and After 7 Days

February 25th, 2020 by Karen 5 Comments

essie expressie crop top and roll — Essie Expressie Quick Dry Nail Polish in Crop Top and Roll, before and after seven days

The “after” photo reminds me of the enchantment bewitching the self-checkout monitors at Target! I swear, those cameras could even make Dolly look haggard (and she’s practically invincible, in my book).

So, since the Essie Expressie polishes are quick drying, I wasn’t expecting this to be a super long-lasting mani, but these two layers of Crop Top and Roll held up better than I thought they would. They held up nicely over Connor’s mid-winter break, part of which which I spent chasing butterflies and birds with her and swinging on the monkey bars at the playground.

The really noticeable chips didn’t appear until day four, mostly around the base and tips of my nails, especially on my right hand (I’m right-handed), and the shine from the built-in top coat dulled over the week, but overall the mani looked good through the end of the week.

I have to say, it’s pretty good for quick dry, although I’d advise against waiting a full week to swap it out. I think four days is the max, and that’s fine with me, since the longest I usually ever get to keep the same polish on my nails is three or four days.

I have a friend who swaps out her polish every three days, so if you’re like her and you don’t wanna bother with a base or top coat (they have ’em built in), give it a try! ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Electric Eyes and Urban Decay Wired

February 25th, 2020 by Karen 12 Comments

urban decay wired bright eyes — B-A-N-A-N-A-S

*ring* *ring* ☎️

Hello? Is anyone there? Hellooooo. It’s me, Karen, calling on my fruit phone, because this eye makeup is BANANAS. ???

There’s a lot going on here, I know! Not my usual neutral style at all, but I was inspired by the rainbow eye makeup on the model for the new Wired pressed pigment palette. ?

Plus, I was in the mood to try something new, which I highly recommend doing as often as possible, even if your cat is the only creature around to appreciate it…

Or, maybe not, since I can’t tell if Rosie likes brights! ?

Just in case you’re wondering, the fallout on this isn’t an issue. I hardly had to do any cleanup with a makeup wipe, which was great, but I could have done with more intensity.
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Product Spotlight: MAC Glow Play Blush in Grand

February 19th, 2020 by Karen 8 Comments

mac grand glow play blush swatch — 30 seconds to blush

FOR THE LOVE OF CHICKEN STRIPS (this is indicative of my colorful language these days, since Connor’s been repeating everything she hears), I’ve been pushing my luck hard in the mornings to get what I need to get done before heading to the bakery for work.

When it comes time for makeup, I fly up the stairs, grab my most reliable products and tools, and set my timer for three minutes.

One of the reliable products I know I can turn to now is peachy pink MAC Grand Blush ($30), because even in full sunlight (which, you know, takes no prisoners), it absolutely does not make me look crazy. ?

It feels like a finely-packed powder wearing a soft, bouncy cream, and as I smooth it on my cheeks, no particles pool in my pores. Also, hard edges?? What are those?

There’s a comfort in knowing that even though I rushed the makeup (seriously, it’s a miracle I haven’t poked my eye out with a mascara wand), I can dance into my day without looking like a rogue clown who terrifies children in nightmares. ?

(It’s the little things.)

Blush is that often-overlooked connective step that ties many makeup looks together, and so even when I’m doing very simple makeup looks — mascara, tinted moisturizer and a nude (or a bold) lip — I try to make time for blush.

The exceptional ones, like MAC Grand, take a mere 30 seconds to use, and they’re worth it.

mac grand blush before after — I’m wearing Grand on my cheeks. (The lipstick is MAC Baroque the Internet, in case you’re wondering.)

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Covergirl Clean Fresh Skin Milk

February 13th, 2020 by Karen 7 Comments

I just found your new favorite base for no-makeup makeup days. 🙂 And guess what? It’s less than 10 bucks! (Technically, $9.99.)

Say, “Oh, hai,” to Covergirl Clean Fresh Skin Milk, which for the official makeup record is a foundation, but performs like a sheer tinted moisturizing rock star.

Remember the limited edition Hydrating Glow Tints NARS did a couple years ago? Clean Fresh Milk has the same effect (although Covergirl’s is thinner, like a liquid, and not a fluffy cream like the tints from NARS).

It doesn’t cover or disguise freckles or pimples — don’t expect to hide anything — however, the beauty is its subtly. Clean Fresh Milk quietly evens out your complexion as it ever-so-slightly blurs pores. It slightly amplifies your natural complexion, resulting in the look of freshly washed skin that’s dewy, but not shiny. For weekend no-makeup makeup, or for de-zombifying yourself before preschool drop-off in the morning, it’s lovely.

covergirl clean fresh skin milk swatches — Swatch out…

From the official PR:

“Show off fresh, healthy skin with COVERGIRL Clean Fresh Skin Milk Foundation. Formulated without formaldehyde, phthalates, parabens, sulfates and talc, this lightweight nourishing liquid foundation gives your skin the moisture boost it craves with a delicate infusion of coconut milk and soothing aloe. You’ll experience a glowing, dewy finish that lasts all day long, blurring imperfections and creating a more even skin tone. Get Sheer, buildable coverage with 14 expertly designed shade-adaptable formulas to match 99% of the skin tones and all undertones. Pro-tip: Make Skin milk Nourishing Foundation your go-to for no makeup, makeup days.”

And yup, you guessed it. The mom in me loves that it’s so, so easy. I squirt a little bit onto my fingertips and blend it into my combo oily/dry face. I like that I don’t have to buff it in with a brush or blend it with a sponge, because, yay! — it doesn’t streak. Instantly, with a few swipes, I’m done with my base.

covergirl clean fresh skin milk tan rich final — I’m wearing shade Tan/Rich (I’m an NC42 in MAC).

Oh, and best part? I don’t feel like it’s sitting on top of my skin. It feels like I’m not wearing anything at all.
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