Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. Side part or middle part?

A side part that’s not too far from the middle, but it all depends on how my cray-cray baby hairs are feeling at any given moment. They run the show.

2. Lavender or rose?

If we’re talking about color, then lavender. Scents? I’ll go with rose.

3. What’s the key to being a successful adult?

I don’t know. Maybe it’s always reading the directions thoroughly? Paying your bills? Learning to let sh*t go? If you figure this out, please let me know.

4. Makeup brands that you’re into at the moment?

Chantecaille, Kosas, Laura Mercier and Chanel (always Chanel).

5. Could you pull off a mullet?

Hard pass. I don’t have the hair texture or the wardrobe for it.

6. Are you grossed out by any vegetables?

Slimy okra in stews is not my jam. Neither is bittermelon, yuck!

7. Is it sunny out your way today?

Yup! Blue skies today, but it’s chilly because of the wind. BTW, chilly where I live in California is a high of 68.

8. Croissant or danish?

A fresh, flaky butter croissant with a side of butter and strawberry jam. Don’t forget the cafe au lait.

9. Something that makes your life better?

My husband and daughter, this blog (thank goodness for creative endeavors), socks that don’t fall down while I walk, duo fiber cheek brushes and having something to look forward to, like a vacation or a brunch. Whoops! That’s more than one thing.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.

1. Side part or middle part?
2. Lavender or rose?
3. What’s the key to being a successful adult?
4. Makeup brands that you’re into at the moment?
5. Could you pull off a mullet?
6. Are you grossed out by any vegetables?
7. Is it sunny out your way today?
8. Croissant or danish?
9. Something that makes your life better?

P.P.S. Good morning, beautiful friend (you’re beautiful inside and out). It’s a fresh week and a fresh start. I hope you’ve got your to-do list ready and that you’re feeling prepared and calm. You’re competent and will always land on your feet. You can do it! 🤗

Good morning, friend. Guess what? It’s CATURDAY! Rosie-Pose kindly reminded us of this by dragging a bag of beef jerky up the stairs and into our room in the wee hours. Of course, she mewled the entire time, loudly and obnoxiously, to let us know that she had captured her “prey.”

(Apparently she got into El Hub’s work bag and found his stash of snacks, LOL!)

This week’s reading

• Experts say hair slugging actually works.
• Is shopping for either natural or synthetic skin products really more sustainable than the other?
• There is a way to ease your skin into prescription-strength retinoids, hooray!
• For the ingredient enthusiasts: the most commonly used gums in beauty products and what they do.
• There’s been a significant move towards more sustainability within the fragrance industry.
• Musk perfumes are having a moment.
• This family uses nail polish to keep track of their identical triplets.

Love her and her cat!

Give me all the tips, JVM. My hair needs the TLC!

Oh yes.

Featuring El Debarge!

I want to eat all the things.

Interesting!

Yummy.

It’s a skill you can develop.

Get rid of your sun mustache.

What’s the plan for this weekend? Are you doing anything fun? If you are, please let me join you in spirit because I will be cleaning and organizing all weekend long.

It’s been two weeks since construction on our place ended, and we’re still living out of boxes. I’m really trying to take my time to figure out what to keep and what to donate, and it’s taking forever!

We’re also trying to find furniture that will 1) solve our storage issues, 2) fits the space properly and 3) hold up. Side note: why is everything made with flimsy particle board? If you have any affordable, well-made furniture brands to recommend that aren’t super pricey, please let me know.

Anywho, my goal is to have the place comfortable and ready for friends and visitors by June. On today’s agenda is to clean the windows to prepare them for new window treatments. I’m thinking automated roller shades are the way to go because they’re minimalist and not too fussy.

Fun stuff! And yes, I just watched a tutorial on how to clean window sills. LOL! There’s a first time for everything.

Drop that knowledge on me.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’m in the process of going through the boxes we packed up before the remodel, and in the attempt to declutter my life, I’ve been saying goodbye to the things I never use, including beauty products.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m still nowhere near close to being a makeup minimalist, because you just never know when you’ll get the urge to wear a bright blue eyeliner or a sparkly purple lipgloss. (I like to be prepared.) But there are certainly things that I rarely have a need for these days.

Beauty Products I Never Use

• Dry shampoo – Makes my scalp itch.
• Cream bronzer – I prefer powder, and the only one I like these days is MAC Give Me Sun.
• Full-coverage foundation – Not my jam anymore.
• Colored brow gel – Too difficult to control; give me clear gel any day.
• Flat irons, blow dryers and anything designed to straighten hair – I have no patience to fight my natural wavy texture.
• Strong hold gel or hairspray – I like it when my hair doesn’t feel stiff or crunchy.
• False lashes – Even the lightest ones feel too heavy, and they bump into my glasses.
• Highlighter – So over it. LOL!
• Contour products – Again, so over it.
• Heat protectants for hair – I air dry.
• Any sort of specialized pencils for brow arches and whatnot – I will say these highlighting pencils work if you’re willing to put in the effort.
• Nail stickers and press-on nails – I’d rather paint.
• Professional gel manicures – I had one once and it was mildly traumatic.

What about you? What’s on your list of beauty products you never use?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Oh, my goodness, friend! I had a five-hour meeting today, and although it was very interesting (I learned so much about marketing and branding, which was cool), I am SPENT.

After my meeting ended, I started thinking about what I wanted to do this evening to give myself some TLC, and this led me to thinking about self-care, and what it means and the different forms it can take.

For me, self-care sometimes is an occasional spa day, but that typically only happens once or twice a year. Those rare deep tissue massages or facials are lovely, but they’re not enough to refill my well.

When I need physical or mental rest, self-care for me usually means giving myself the space to do absolutely nothing (this is REALLY difficult for me, as I’m a recovering workaholic). Then, I cover the basics in some form, which usually means…

• Eating things that make me feel good. Usually some combination of veggies and/or fruit that isn’t too processed. Drinking lots of water helps, too, as well as not overdoing it with the coffee.
• Moving my body in some way. Even just 20 minutes of stretching helps.
• Getting enough sleep. This is a challenge for me. Sometimes I just want that extra downtime with Netflix because it turns my brain off, ya know?

Sometimes self-care comes in other forms.

For example, about a month ago, El Hub and Connor went to a father-daughter dance at school, and I had a Friday evening all to myself. Even though I could’ve easily vegged out on the couch, I took myself out for a “me time” date! I went window shopping at Nordstrom Rack and then treated myself to frozen yogurt afterwards.

Other times it’s connecting with someone whom I haven’t seen or spoken to in a while. Or re-watching a movie while doing beauty upkeep. Never underestimate the power of painted nails, an at-home wax and brow trim, and watching “Sense and Sensibility” for the ga-zillionth time.

What does self-care look like for you? Feel free to list anything and everything in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. While we’re at it, here’s a gentle reminder that you don’t need to earn rest. You can just rest!

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. How often do you wear winged liner?

Pretty frequently, like three or four times a week. Lately I’ve been really into a tiny flick.

2. Pink hair or pink eyeshadow?

In my current circumstances, I’ll go with the pink eyeshadow. However if I was independently wealthy and had all the time and money in the world to go to the salon frequently, then I’d pick pink hair, for sure! It would be pastel pink, ooh la la.

3. Have you stretched today?

I stretched for a few minutes after working out this morning (I did a mini band leg workout, and it was really good!). I’ll probably stretch a little after lunch, and then before I go to bed tonight.

4. Slicked back hair: yes or no?

On myself, no. My hair wants to be wild, man!

5. Something you’d like to accomplish this week?

I need to measure out some places in the house so I can find storage solutions. Oh, and I also need to book a hair appointment! Mine is crazy long at the moment.

6. Have you ever participated in a beauty pageant?

Nope, although I remember watching a lot of them when I was little. My mom liked watching the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants; I remember enjoying the sparkly gowns and big hair and wishing I could go to school dressed like that.

7. Do you still have your prom dress?

No, and I have no idea what happened to it. I think my mom gave it away!

8. Ice cubes or crushed ice?

Crushed ice.

9. Something kind you can do for yourself this week?

I’m going to paint my fingers and toes because they need a little (OK, a lot) of TLC.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.

1. How often do you wear winged liner?
2. Pink hair or pink eyeshadow?
3. Have you stretched today?
4. Slicked back hair: yes or no?
5. Something you’d like to accomplish this week?
6. Have you ever participated in a beauty pageant?
7. Do you still have your prom dress?
8. Ice cubes or crushed ice?
9. Something kind you can do for yourself this week?

P.P.S. Hello, my sweet friend. Happy Monday, and may this week bring you lots of good things! 🤗