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
4-0-0!
That’s the magic number. How many years is that…? Four hundred Sundays with Tabs. I’m no mathematician, but I know that’s a lot of years.
Four hundred Sundays where Tabs has made us laugh and cry with joy, and 400 Sundays where he’s bossed us around in his own special kitty way.
I hope you enjoy this very special edition of Sundays with Tabs. 🙂 Here’s to 400 more.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addicts,
Karen, Tabs and Connor Claire
So, I have been wanting to try Zoeva makeup brushes and cosmetics for the longest time. I’ve seen so many bloggers and YouTubers rave about them — the pigmented eyeshadows and gorgeous brushes — and the day has finally come. I’m finally trying Zoeva!
I wanted to share my excitement with you guys, so I filmed my first impressions in this video:
I also have photos and swatches of everything I talk about in the video (down below), so that hopefully you guys can get a good idea of what Zoeva has to offer.
ZOEVA History
“ZOEVA is a German brand, founded in 2008 by Zoe Boikou. The brand name ZOEVA is composed of ZOE, the Greek word for ‘life’ and EVA, the very first woman. From a basic range of only 10 makeup brushes, ZOEVA now offers a professional portfolio of over 50 makeup tools and 100 colors for a full face makeup routine. Our products are designed to make a real difference in the way women experience their beauty rituals.”
Zoeva Warm Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette swatches from top to bottom:
“ZOEVA is dedicated to the self-confidence and unique beauty of all women. Every ZOEVA product is made with love and designed with conviction and passion for makeup. Our ultimate goal is to offer luxurious, high quality products. Helping every woman to discover her individual beauty is our highest ambition. ZOEVA means celebrating yourself and being aware of your individual beauty.”
For size comparison, here are the Zoeva blushes compared to NARS and MAC blushes:
There should be a video right up here in this post, but if it isn’t appearing for any reason, you can click here to watch it on YouTube.
Green.
Like the coat of moss the oak tree outside my window is wearing, and the color of the tiny buds springing to life on the tips of its beautiful branches.
Green means spring is coming! 🙂
Aaand green also happens to be the color of baby poo…which is neither here nor there, but you can’t really blame me for mentioning it because, SERIOUSLY, I am so ready for this baby to check out of Hotel Karen already.
Ugh. Still. So. Pregnant.
Yup, greens: they aren’t just for smoothies anymore. Green is good, and I thoroughly support wearing green eyeshadow, especially in the spring.
Green gets top billing in this shimmery, springy makeup look I’m wearing with a bunch of products from the Chanel spring 2016 collection, which is brimming with bright shades of green, teal, purple and pink, but they’re handled in that elegant Chanel way.
I think that if my granny saw me wearing this look, she’d still recognize me, ya know what I mean? I feel like I still look like me, because sometimes, when I’m experimenting with colorful makeup, I look into the mirror and think, “WHOA! Who is that girl?”
To subdue some of the bright green intensity on my eyes, I incorporated a satiny pink, and then also a black liner on my lower water lines to sort of neutralize some of the intensity of the purple and bright blue. Then, to balance, instead of compete, with my eyes, I’m wearing soft peach, pink and tan on my cheeks, and pink lips.
[Continue reading…]
There should be a video right up here in this post, but if it isn’t appearing for any reason, you can click here to watch it on YouTube.
You wouldn’t think that hair ties would be something to be particular about, but I’m so particular about my hair ties. They can’t give me a headache; I don’t want them to leave a weird bend in my hair; I don’t want them to snag my hair, and these Tony Ties by Mia don’t do any of those things. They’re my new favorite hair ties, and I love them so much that I packed them away to bring with me to the hospital on B-day (birth day).
That’s when you know your love for something is real deal — when you’re willing to go into labor for an unspecified amount of time with it…
Here are five things (one of them’s a combo) I’ve been loving lately. How about you? What are some things you’ve been loving too?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF!
There should be a video right up here in this post, but if it isn’t appearing for any reason, you can click here to watch it on YouTube.
I can’t even believe it. The finish line is in sight! Early March is right around the corner, and BG (a.k.a Baby Girl) and I, as usual, have been up to no good. 🙂
Totally kidding, LOL! Here’s what we’ve been up to over the past few weeks: lots of baby classes, and she’s been getting bigger and BIGGER by the minute. And we’re both just enjoying each other’s company as long as we can.
Oh! I mentioned my friend Arianne from Glitter Geek in the video. She’s been a big help with pregnancy information, and I love her cute pics of her daughter (and my cat niece Scherbie) on Instagram.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
There should be a video right up here in this post, but if it isn’t appearing for any reason, you can click here to watch it on YouTube.
How good is new Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Concealer?
To put it in heavily hyphenated terms, it’s get-out-of-your-pajamas,-put-on-your bra-again-(right-after-you’ve-taken-it-off-for-the-evening),-and-drive-straight-to-Sephora-immediately good.
Yup, that good!
If you haven’t seen the swatches yet or read the review, here you go.
And here it is in all its magical action (in the video), along with a few more observations and a mini-review. 🙂
As always, thank you for watching!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
There’s a video review in this post, but if it’s not appearing, you can click here to watch it on YouTube.
Well rock my world, why don’t you, NARS!? I’m officially in lurve with new NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint SPF 30, and because it helps sometimes to see a product in actual action (I got ‘chu, visual learners!), here’s a video showing it do some work.
For a while now I’ve been all about skin that still looks like skin, and this new NARS tinted moisturizer offers just that. It does many of the same things as the brand’s epic Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (blurs pores, evens skin tone, looks HELLA natural), but instead of a dewy finish, the finish is matte.
If you want a full review (including swatches of all 12 shades), check it: NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint SPF 30 Makes Makeup Life Easier With Sheer, Natural Coverage.
How do you feel about NARS Pure Radiant, and, since we’re on the subject, how do you feel about tinted moisturizer in general? Inquiring minds want to know.
As always, thank you for watching!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
There’s a video review in this post, but if it’s not appearing, you can click here to watch it on YouTube.
Ya know, I never would have thought to wear icy mint with rose gold — never in a million years! — but because NARS is NARS, for some reason, they go together. Who knew?! I sure as heck didn’t.
I really appreciate how NARS gets me out of my usual color comfort zone, and it’s their unexpected color combos that I think make their seasonal collections some of the most interesting ones around.
This year for spring 2016 we get a small, succinct NARS launch of nine products — about half of them eye products, half lips products, and a powder blush — mostly in sweet rosy and beige tones.
There’s also that icy mint up in the mix and a shimmery blue for a fun, springy touch.
I tried something a little different with this video by filming my first impressions as I use each of the products.
Um…please excuse mah crazy hair! It’s been raining cats and kittens here in NorCal this week, and I haven’t wanted to bother, LOL!
As always, thank you for watching!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen