1. Urban Decay Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator
*Chef’s Kiss!* If you love a base that doesn’t feel or look heavy with medium coverage, this is it!
I wore it to lunch with a friend the other day (hey, Shakun!), and she gave me such nice complements on my skin. It applies easily with fingers, looks natural in person and comes in a TON of shades. I wear 51 Medium.
2. Louise Hay’s audiobook, “You Can Heal Your Life”
I just started listening to this book and can already feel a positive shift in my mindset.
One thing I’ve especially found useful is viewing present thoughts as future thoughts, meaning what you think of today also sets you up for tomorrow. For example, if I want to feel confident about writing opportunities coming my way tomorrow, then today, I’m going to set myself up with thoughts reminding myself that a new adventure is on its way.
It might sound cheesy, but it’s really working for me.
3. This under-eye concealer “hack” (air quotes)
I’ve reached that point in life where I can’t deal with a caked-on situation under my eyes, so lately I’ve been applying under-eye concealer last.
Why? Well, when I do it last, I think I can get away with less concealer, which is important to me because I cannot stand the thought of any makeup under my eyes looking thick or heavy.
I do my makeup with all the usual steps — foundation, blush, lipstick, eyeshadow, the whole shebang — and then I dab a little bit of Hourglass Veil underneath my lower lash line and set it with MAC MSF powder. It really seems to help me realize that I don’t need to wear as much concealer as I think I do.
4. 100 Grand Bars
I never really understood the hype behind this chocolate, caramel and crispy rice candy bar until now!
Last week I not-so-secretly raided Connor’s Halloween stash, and I randomly picked out a 100 Grand Bar to snack on and OH EM GEE. It tasted SO MUCH better than usual suspects that I gravitate towards; Snickers, Twix and Milky Way bars that I used to love are now too sweet for me, boo.
If you need a chocolatey caramel fix and like a lil’ bit of crunch, the 100 Grands are perfection. Site note: I went into the Halloween candy bowl this morning to find a bar to take a picture of, but unfortunately I ate them all, HA HA HA!
5. This lil’ writing project
In a few months (February 2023), Makeup and Beauty Blog will turn 15. She’ll officially be a teenager. 🙂
Through all the changes in my life, big and small, MBB has been a constant, which I cherish. I know that even though everything is in always in flux, writing about makeup (and other things, LOL), is one thing I can rely on. I feel like now, especially, I need to thank the universe for this steady aspect of my life more, so thank you, thank you, thank you!
What have you been loving lately?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Noemi Margit Bako says
Have the same cat mug, in black and in white.
🙂
Karen says
It’s a cute one! I think I have the black one around here somewhere, too. Happy Friday, Noemi!
Jennifer says
I don’t know what to comment on first, the fact that MBB is turning 15 or that you love 100 Grand Bars as much as my husband and I do.
I will embarrass myself by admitting that we went through a few bags of the fun-size 100 Grand before Halloween…Also, I get confused about their name and sometimes call them thousand dollar bars.
I haven’t read any of Louise Hay but it sounds like she believed in the power of manifestation, which I am heavily into at the moment. If you’re feeling open, give Neville Goddard a try. I just read his very slim book called Feeling Is The Secret. I think you can find a lot of his stuff on YouTube, even though he’s been dead for eons.
Thanks for the concealer tip. I think I used to do this but forgot. #50s
Karen says
Thank you so much for the book recommendation! I’ll look it up.
Happy Friday to you! Oh, and unrelated, but if you have any no-fail Thanksgiving recipes, please send them my way. 😉
Rachel says
Wow! Makeup and Beauty Blog is 15! Congrats Karen, that’s quite an accomplishment! I’m pretty sure I found you when I was searching the Barbie Loves MAC collection, which was my first foray into MAC cosmetics. It started a lifetime love of their cosmetics and your blog!
Karen says
Hi Rachel,
I’ll always have a soft spot for Barbie Loves MAC. I hope you and your girls had a great week! Do you guys have any plans yet for Thanksgiving?
Rachel says
No plans yet but will probably go to either my mom or my aunts place here in town for Thanksgiving! I think the girls will like the turkey and mashed potatoes!
Karen says
Mashed potatoes are always a hit. 🙂 I hope you guys are all having a great weekend so far!
Renee says
Hi Karen! I think the 5 things I have been loving lately is my favorite post that you do! Thanks so much. I will have to try the book–I always enjoy exploring new ideas for positive thinking. Have a great day!
Karen says
Hi Renee!
Aww, thank you. 🙂 If you have any good books to recommend for positive thinking please pass them along. Happy Friday!
Renee says
Hi Karen! I really like Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth-Awakening to your Life’s Purpose. I don’t agree with everything he teaches but most of his teachings really help me stay in the present moment and help me get out of my own head when it is all becoming too much. I also liked The Procrastination Cure which, ahem…I should probably read again lol
Karen says
I’ve seen a few of his videos on YouTUbe. I’ll check out the book. Thank you, Renee!
Renee Suhr says
Most welcome!
Renee says
Oh, I was just thinking that Oprah did a podcast with him that I listened to first. It was a great help & I am glad I listened to it first. It was accessible right from the iPhone.
icempress says
congratulations karen and MBB! thank you for being that safe and cozy corner in this crazy internet world. sending big hugs! ❤️
Anne says
15 years? That is a long time and an achievement to be proud of, well done! Here is to 15 more, so I know where to direct my daughter to for makeup tips when she will inevitably no longer want to listen to me…