Product Reviews

Rose Inc Skin Enhance Luminous Tinted Serum: A Summery Staple

July 8th, 2022 by Karen 4 Comments

This is my partner in crime! Side note: I’m a law-abiding citizen, and the only crime I’m guilty of is loving a base with barely-there coverage.

Rose Inc Skin Enhance ($49) is designed purposefully to add a little something-something to your skin. If you’ve ever tried any of the OG sheer bases (Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, IT Cosmetics CC, NARS TM, First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Tinted Moisturizer, etc.) and felt like you were wearing too much makeup, this is the base for you.

It caters to a very specific makeup person. Someone who wants…

Skin to look like real skin;
A finish that has subtle pearly shine without glitter;
Freckles and variations of texture and pigment to still peek through; and
A base that feels and looks lightweight.

It’s fresh, summery skin at its finest. This style of makeup speaks volumes to me at the moment, and I’m really into it!

My skin is combo oily and dry, and I wear the shade 080. Two pumps subtly blurs my pores and adds a hint of tint to even everything out. On super hot days I set it with the least amount of MAC MSF powder I can get away with, and then I douse my face in UD setting spray to keep it place. Otherwise, it will slide right off my face.

I’m wearing Rose Inc Skin Enhance in 080.

FYI, when I reapply sunscreen on top of it in the afternoon, I have to take care to pat the sunscreen on gently. If I’m too aggressive, then I end up just rubbing it off.

This is one of those products that you’re either going to love or loathe. Just in case you fall in the latter camp, I’d suggest buying it at Sephora and saving your receipt. If it’s not enough coverage for you and/or you feel like it just doesn’t stay on, then I’d gently steer you towards Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, which is a beast (in the best possible makeup way).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Bronzed and Glowing Makeup With Rose Inc and Laura Mercier

June 22nd, 2022 by Karen 14 Comments

Hi, friend! I had to put on makeup today because I had a short video presentation to give to everyone at work today. Was I a little nervous? Yeah. Makeup always helps me feel more confident, though. 🙂

I’m really on a non-powdery makeup kick, so I picked up some new-to-me things from Rose Inc and Laura Mercier.

Rose Inc Skin Enhancer Luminous Tinted Serum is a sheer, lightweight skin tint with a glowing finish. You pump a little bit on the back of your hand, mix the pigment spheres into the serum with a finger or a brush, and then blend the product onto your face. Kinda fun! A 1-ounce bottle is $49 at Sephora, however if you don’t mind waiting for shipping, Rose Inc currently is hosting a 25% off site-wide sale on everything, including this skin tint.

By the way, it’s available in 14 shades, and mine is 80, in case you’re wondering.

If this formula looks similar to something you’ve seen before — good eye! Chanel makes something similar both in the form of Les Beiges Water Fresh Complexion Touch ($65) and Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint (also $65). I’ve worn the Chanel Water Fresh Tint before, and the Rose Inc version seems to have less pearl.

Anywho, this is my first time taking it for a spin, and so far I like it! I need to wear it for a few more days to figure out if it’s something I can enthusiastically recommend, so I’ll get back to ya.

Also new to me in this look are the Tinted Moisturizer Blushes by Laura Mercier ($28 each). I picked up Corsica, a sparkling peach, and Coastline, a warm bronzy brown. I’m wearing Corisca in the pic at the top.

It temperature hit the low 90s today and Corsica has so far managed to stay on my cheeks! In a magnifying mirror, I can see a little bit of patchiness (I have to look *really close*), but considering how sweaty I’ve been all day and the mask that I wore at Trader Joe’s, I think it still held up well.

I’m going to try it next on bare skin to see how it holds up!

What makeup did you wear today?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sunscreen Shout-Out! Black Girl Sunscreen Kids SPF 50

May 31st, 2022 by Karen 8 Comments

Good morning, friend! Right before I sat down at my computer I slathered myself with my new favorite sunscreen, Black Girl Sunscreen Kids SPF 50. If you find yourself constantly annoyed by greasy, sticky, sunscreens that take forever to rub into your skin and leave a gray cast behind, then you’ll need to grab a tube ASAP.

It’s a chemical sunscreen with the following actives: avobenzone 3%, homosalate 15% and octisalate 5%. It doesn’t have parabens, fragrances, silicones or aluminum, and it’s cruelty-free.

I picked up at tube at Target for $9.99, so it’s pretty affordable and easy to find, although I do wish the 3-ounce bottle was a little bigger.

Anywho, it’s one of the most comfortable sunscreens I’ve worn, hands down. It’s not sticky, sinks in fast and doesn’t have an overly obnoxious sunscreen scent. Connor and I wore it last weekend to an outdoor festival in our town, and she didn’t protest as much as she usually does when I put sunscreen on her, LOL!

The festival was held by the local Greek Orthodox Church, and we specifically went to watch a dance performance by the kids dance troupe. They performed traditional dances from the island of Crete.

I loved seeing their sweet faces as they danced, and the details on their costumes were so intricate.

I hope you had a nice long and relaxing weekend!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. If you happen to have any sunscreens that you’ve tried lately and liked, please let me know. I’m always on the hunt!

Eyeko Cocoa Edit: A Long-Wearing Liquid Liner Loaded With Pigment!

March 8th, 2022 by Karen 6 Comments

I guess I’m not the only person who thinks Eyeko’s Cocoa Edit liquid liner ($22) is all that because it’s sold out in all the usual haunts (including Ulta, where I just added myself to a restock notification list). BAH! Still, SO. SUPER. GOOD.

It’s a rich, intense, dark chocolate brown with a shiny finish and a long-wearing formula that just keeps going. I can wear it all day, and it won’t transfer into my crease or smudge along my lower lash line, yet when it’s time to take off my makeup at night, it easily slips off with an oil-based cleanser.

The thin felt tip is long enough for me to easily draw an uninterrupted line from inner to outer corner, and because the tip’s flexible, I can flick the ends of my lines with very little drama. When I’m done, my liner is crisp and sharp with a shiny finish.

It’s so much better compared to the Clinique Easy Pen liner in brown. I bought it a while back thinking it would be just as life changing as the black Easy Pen liner, but the brown version isn’t nearly as pigmented as the black one, and it lacks staying power.

Hopefully Ulta will restock Cocoa Edit soon, and when they do, I’m buying two!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Speaking of things to fall in love with, get thee to Trader Joe’s and buy a pack or two of these Rosemary Croissant Croutons, and then thank me later.

Ilia Lipstick in Rococco and Lip Oil in Tahiti

November 19th, 2021 by Karen 4 Comments

ilia tahiti rococco — Fun with Ilia lip products!

Why snag one Ilia lip product when you can snag two? I enthusiastically believe this needs to be added to a fortune cookie. Don’t you? 😁

I picked up the Lip Oil in Tahiti and the Lipstick in Rococco a while back, and I love how lightweight and comfy Tahiti feels. You get the shine of a lipgloss without the stickiness, and it barely feels like anything at all.

ilia tahiti lip oil — Ilia Lip Oil in Tahiti

ilia lip oil in tahiti — Ilia Lip Oil in Tahiti

That said, I do wish it was a bit more moisturizing, because after wearing Tahiti all day, I’ll often need to apply a thick layer of soothing lip balm before bed.

It sure is pretty, though. If your lips aren’t as dry as mine, it might be better for you than for me, especially if you love shiny corals.

As for rosy brown Rococco, what a gem! If you like pigmented, long-lasting lipsticks with a hint of shine, check it out.

ilia rococco lipstick — Ilia Lipstick in Rococco

Oh! — and if you’re picky about scents or flavors, FYI, both of these lip products smell and taste very faintly of vanilla, but it’s a barely there situation and not overpowering at all. I’ve been getting a few migraines lately, and strong fragrances bother me when my head is acting up, but I can wear either of these without incident.

ilia lipstick in rococco — Ilia Color Block Lipstick in Rococco

I’ve heard rumors that Ilia does a pretty good Black Friday sale, so if that’s on…I’m definitely getting another lipstick or two.

Hope things on your end of the keyboard are good. I’m hanging in there. Lots of meetings and deadlines, per usual. Thankfully, lipstick makes everything a little better. 😘

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! 😺🎈🤗✨😸

A Daytime Look With Shimmering Taupe-Gold Lids, Bronze Liner, Peachy Cheeks and a Pink Stained Lips

November 18th, 2021 by Karen 5 Comments

jane iredale solar flare fotd products — Feeling like a fancy lady in Jane Iredale!

One of the things I love most about Jane Iredale makeup is how I still feel like “me” when I don it, but just a little more put together version of myself. I had a bunch of meetings yesterday (three hours in front of that tiny camera), and I wore this look with shimmering taupe-gold lids, bronze liner, peach cheeks and a lovely pink lip stain.

A few quick thoughts on the Jane Iredale items…

Eye Shadow Kit in Solar Flare: Blends flawlessly! I like how my eyes look defined but not overly done. The shimmer on these powders is more intense than I expected (could be a good, or a not-so-good, thing, depending on how your lids do with frosty finishes).
GreatShape Contour Kit in Warm: I’m wearing the peach and tan shades on my cheeks, and the beige shade as a highlight on my upper cheekbones and underneath the arch of my brows. Like the eye kit, the powders blend seamlessly. I bet this kit could also double as an eyeshadow palette in a pinch. Lovely!
Lip Stain in Forever Pink: OH! SO! GOOD! It’s a lovely, lightweight and long-wearing stain that feels oh-so-moisturizing on my dry lips. Apparently, you can also wear it as a blush?! I can’t wait to try that ASAP.
PureLash Lash Extender & Conditioner: A lash primer you layer under mascara. I didn’t really see a big difference from it…but I’m going to try it with a few other mascaras, just in case.
Longest Lash Mascara in Black Ice: I did a couple coats on top of the primer, and my lashes didn’t look as big and curly as I usually like… I ended up layering Laura Mercier Caviar Mascara on top to bump up the volume.

How do you usually feel after long meetings? I get really antsy… My body REALLY wants to move after sitting for a while. In fact, after my video calls were done, this is how I felt! 😁

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Karen | Makeup and Beauty Blog (@karenmbb)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Thursday! 🤗

Food-Related Things, Beauty and Otherwise: dpHue Hair Products, Chocolate Hummus and PIE!

November 10th, 2021 by Karen 8 Comments

Hey, babe. Talking about food today, with a little bit of food-related beauty, of course, because you’ll always and forever be my virtual sister — but without the sibling rivalry, hahaha! –across the keyboard in all things makeup, hair, nail polish and perfume.

I just started using a couple products from dpHuE, a hair care line known for their star ingredient, apple cider vinegar. They make shampoos, conditioners and stylers for all hair types with products available at Ulta and Sephora ranging from $26-$57.

My hair is wavy on dry side, and my color is naturally dark brownish black peppered with gray. I just started using the Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse to shampoo and the Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Mask as a conditioner.

You might be thinking, “Eww! That sounds like it could be potentially funky smelling,” and yes, you are correct. Their ACV shampoo definitely smells vinegary, but trust me on this, you won’t be walking around smelling like a side salad doused in vinaigrette. Once it rinses out, you don’t really smell it, and if you follow up with the hair mask, your mane will not only smell like a bottle of expensive perfume, but those strands will feel so damn silky you won’t even know what to do with yourself. Because, truth be told, I didn’t. I wondered for a moment if my consciousness had been uploaded into a different body in the Matrix because 1) I’m a sci-fi nerd like that, 2) my hair NEVER feels this soft after using just shampoo and conditioner. I always have to layer an additional leave-in conditioners or hair oils, always. But with just these two products, it was crazy soft.

FYI, the Hair Rinse isn’t like a traditional shampoo because there’s no foam. Still, my scalp and my strands felt surprisingly clean for shampoo that didn’t have any foam or bubbles.

How to use the hair rise, step by step

Both the rinse and mask are made for all hair types, and I think you’ll love it if your hair is dyed, going gray or dry too, or if you work out a lot, or if you just like to wash your hair everyday. I am full-on obsessed and want to try the Hair Gloss, the Apple Cider Vinegar Leave-In Hair Therapy spray and the Color Fresh Oil Therapy now.

Both items are on the pricey side, but know that a little goes a long way. If you’re looking for soft, bouncy hair that feels clean and refreshed but not weighed down by product, look into them ASAP!

OK, while we’re on the subject of food, I tried this Chocolate Hummus from Trader Joe’s for the first time ever, and it is absolutely delightful.

I put off trying it for the longest time because I was kinda grossed out by the idea of sweet hummus, but it doesn’t taste like hummus at all. It’s more like a pulverized, mushed up brownie in a dip, and it’s especially yummy with sliced fruit (Honeycrisp apples for the win) or dried banana chips. Try it!

If you were around earlier this week, I hope you got a chance to check out the comments in the Monday Poll and 5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately posts because there was a LOT of really great information about making pies from scratch, along with a couple of recipes for pecan bars (I’m so intrigued). Thanks, gals, for always coming through with the baking advice! Now I’m feeling confident enough to tackle pie again.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Trying the Jane Iredale Beyond Lash Volumizing Mascara, and Happy Friday!

November 5th, 2021 by Karen 3 Comments

jane iredale beyond lash mascara — A new mascara for volume by Jane Iredale

Happy Friday, friend! Question for ya: when it comes to mascara, do you tend to stick to the same thing, or do you like to bounce around and try different formulas? While I do have my favorites (here’s looking at you, Laura Mercier Caviar!), I’m always down to discover something new, especially if it’s the type of formula that maxes out volume. Jane Iredale’s new Beyond Lash Volumizing Mascara does just that. Two coats and my lashes look thicker and longer, and dare I say, beyond!

Some info on key ingredients

Bamboo Stem Powder: A natural alternative to nylon fibers, bamboo stem powder has been shown to help add length and volume to lashes.

Basil Root Extract: A strong antioxidant that helps lashes feel fuller and look healthier.

Rice Bran Wax: A vegetable wax used as a vegan alternative to beeswax that helps provide a strong yet flexible coating.

Additional info: Made without carbon black, parabens or teflon. Made from 98% naturally-derived ingredients.

— Jane Iredale PR

I appreciate the hourglass-shaped brush because the curves hug my lashes tightly and coat each lash from root to tip. I also like how lightweight and flexible my lashes feel after two coats.

jane iredale beyond lash mascara closeup — After two coats!

Because my fringe doesn’t have a lot of natural curl (thank goodness for lash curlers), I need lots of curl hold, and although this mascara has a good amount, I feel like it could use a little more. If you’re one of the lucky gals/guys blessed with plenty of natural curl, then you should be good to go. If you’re like me, then layer your favorite waterproof or curling mascara underneath first to retain that sky-high lift.

If you’re curious, a tube is $28, and there’s one shade to choose from, black. You can find it online and at Jane Iredale counters right meow!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Friday! TGIF!