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

Oh my goodness, I do this all the time. Like, maybe more than a normal person should, LOL! I’ve asked strangers questions about makeup, hair, nail polish, perfume and everything else related to beauty under the sun. They’re usually happy to chat!

For me, it boils down to a few things:

1. I love to people watch;
2. I’m not really shy or overly concerned about rejection; and
3. I’m just plain curious.

I want to know where someone got that amazing haircut or the name of the lipstick they’re wearing, ya know?

Of course, I don’t just roll up and say, “Yo, what’s that perfume?” I’ll usually smile as I approach (yes, you can still see a smile behind a mask) and compliment them before I ask. And if someone clearly looks like they’ve got places to go and people to see, I leave them be.

Have you ever asked a stranger a beauty-related question?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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. Cleansing oil or cleansing balm?

Cleansing oil because it’s less likely to hurt my eyes.

2. Cream in your coffee?

Yes, please!

3. Things you rarely wear?

High heels, full-coverage foundation, turtlenecks, pencil skirts, itchy sweaters and oversized shirts.

4. Serums: yes or no?

Yes to Skinceuticals Vitamin CE Ferulic.

5. How’s your hair today?

Shockingly well behaved.

6. Clinique or Lancome?

I like both, but if I had to choose, I’d go with Clinique because I like their sunscreens and their casual makeup style.

7. Cucumbers or edamame?

Why is this so hard for me, LOL?! Edamame, I guess, with a generous sprinkle of salt.

8. Roses or freesia?

Freesia. It’s that time of year when they pop up in my neighborhood.

9. Something new you recently discovered about yourself?

I recently found out that I’m pickier now about scents than I used to be, especially with body lotion and hair products. I like really like subtle scents.

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. Cleansing oil or cleansing balm?
2. Cream in your coffee?
3. Things you rarely wear?
4. Serums: yes or no?
5. How’s your hair today?
6. Clinique or Lancome?
7. Cucumbers or edamame?
8. Roses or freesia?
9. Something new you recently discovered about yourself?

P.P.S. Good morning, beautiful girl. How are you handling the time change? I’m trying my best to stay perky, LOL! 🤗

Good morning, and happy Caturday to ya!

Guess what? Corsages are still a thing (just in case you were wondering). I haven’t thought about corsages since my high school prom. I just assumed they’d be out of fashion, but they’re not! — and you can still get them at floral shops. I found this out yesterday while looking for a corsage for Connor to wear to her school’s father-daughter dance. A local flower shop in town (Morning Glory Florist) made her a pretty custom corsage with pink roses.

She and El Hub danced the night away.

So I had a rare Friday night to myself. Originally, I was going to chill on the couch and veg with an episode of “The Dropout,” but I treated myself to a trip to Nordstrom Rack and a pair of casual tennis shoes instead.

These are the Winklace sneakers by Dr. Scholls, and they’re like clouds on my feet!

Years ago, I had a pair of Dr. Scholls flats and wore them practically into the ground. I loved them, but they didn’t last long — about a year or two, tops. I’m anticipating this new pair will have a similar shelf life. I’d much rather buy shoes that last, so if you know a brand that makes comfy, cute shoes that last for years, please let me know.

This week’s reading

• Ten strangers are linked through a life-saving kidney swap involving living donors.
• Ever wonder if skin-care products actually expire?
• Fifteen of the best detangling sprays to undo your knots!
• It’s all about pastels in the Sally Hansen X Peeps collaboration.
• In case you were wondering what shade of red Amanda Seyfried’s wearing in “The Dropout.”
• YSL created a portable device that prints bespoke lipstick shades. FANCY!

I’m totally watching this.

Maybe Connor and I will go here someday!

What is going on here?

YES.

I’m going to need all these tools.

Build that muscle!

Love it!

Drop that knowledge.

What are you up to today? Got any time to relax?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Girlfriend, you know I love me some lists.

I’m the type of person who writes a list of all the lists I need to make, LOL! At any given time, I’ve got at least five lists going.

There’s something about the process of getting it all out of my head and writing it down, and then organizing it in a way that makes sense to me, that I really enjoy. I guess I’m a freak show like that, ha!

Today, I wrote a beauty to-do list.

Beauty to-do list

• Get a haircut. I need one desperately. My hair’s getting heavy again, and it’s giving me headaches. BOO!
• Find a new shampoo and conditioner. I recently bought some things from Function of Beauty to try, and unfortunately it’s not working out. My ends are hella dry, ugh! So now, I’m contemplating going back to my old school hair love, Bumble & Bumble, or trying a different “clean” hair line called Innersense.
• Research Innersense products. Fun fact — they’re based out of the Bay Area.
• Rectify upper lip and brow situation. Once again, I am suddenly a sasquatch, and it happened seemingly overnight.
• Wash a few brushes. I have a few retractable brushes by Chanel which I love! I’m going on a trip soon and they need a good cleaning.

What’s on your beauty to-do list? You can list the things you need to do, or products and brands you’d like to research, or things you need to restock… Write it all down in the comments!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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. Matte, shimmer or satin blush?

Matte, please, with satin close behind. I rarely do shimmery blushes these days because too much pore drama!

2. Are you having a good day so far?

Yes, so good. I just finished working out, so my limbs have that lovely loosey-goosey feeling.

3. Mascara in mini packaging — your thoughts?

Is it just me, or are mini mascaras a total sham? They never seem to work quite as well as the full-size tubes. The ones I’ve tried are dry, dry, dry.

4. Do you have a favorite bug?

It’s a tie between monarch butterflies and ladybugs.

5. Last thing you returned?

A J. Crew white ruffle collar shirt that looked so cute on the model online but on me, not so much.

6. How often do you clean the inside lining of your makeup bag?

Um, not nearly enough. If you know of a makeup bag that I can easily throw in the wash without any drama, do tell.

7. Hair styles that remind you of your teenage years?

Big, fluffy supermodel hair a la Cindy Crawford. Even after all these years, it’s still my dream hair.

8. Are you a skin care minimalist or a maximalist?

I’m somewhere in between.

9. A teeny, tiny goal you’d like to accomplish this week?

By the end of the day today, I’d like to reschedule a dentist appointment. Oh, and I need to buy some shorts. Why is it so hard to find decent shorts? The struggle is so real.

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. Matte, shimmer or satin blush?
2. Are you having a good day so far?
3. Mascara in mini packaging — your thoughts?
4. Do you have a favorite bug?
5. Last thing you returned?
6. How often do you clean the inside lining of your makeup bag?
7. Hair styles that remind you of your teenage years?
8. Are you a skin care minimalist or a maximalist?
9. A teeny, tiny goal you’d like to accomplish this week?

P.P.S. Hello and happy Monday, my friend. Sending you an extra big hug full of support and love today, in case ya need it. Take a little time today — even if it’s just for a minute — to tell yourself how wonderful you are. You’re the bees knees! 🤗