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A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

Care to Vent About a Beauty Issue You’re Facing?

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I’m so over my chin breaking out it’s not even funny. I’m pretty sure it’s hormone related, because whenever it’s PMS time, all hell breaks loose along my jaw.

Yup, thank goodness for concealer.

It’s actually been a little better lately (knock on wood). I think I may have found a rigamarole that works, at least for now.

First, I wash my face with Peter Thomas Roth Beta Hydroxy Acid 2% Acne Wash ($35), tone with Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion Clinique ($12.50), and then apply Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion ($39) in the morning or prescription 0.1 Differin Gel at night.

I also just recently started using another one of Kate’s products, Exfolikate ($19 for a trial-size 0.5-ounce tube), but I haven’t been using it for long. I’m hoping it vacuums out my pores with its salicylic acid and fruit enzymes.

Care to vent about a beauty issue you’re currently facing? Talk to me, and if you have any recommendations for chin breakouts, I’m all ears. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Mother’s Day Gorgeous Gift Ideas: Tocca Bagno Profumato Body Wash and Crema da Corpo Lotion

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tocca giulietta bagno profumato body wash and crema da corpo body lotion

Some of my clearest, fondest childhood memories are of watching travel shows on PBS with my mom, and I think those great times we spent together exploring the world via taped broadcasts from the comfort of our couch at home are why I’ve had such a fierce case of wanderlust as an adult.

Back then my mom and dad were busy making ends meet and raising my brother and I, but now that they’re both retired, and my brother and I have flown the coop, Mom and Dad have been able to embark upon more travel adventures.

Later this month, they head to the Philippines for a visit, where they both still have lots of family, and next year, they’re hoping to explore the Great Wall of China!

They’ve yet to make it to Italy, but just as soon as I win the lottery (fingers crossed!), I’m sending Mom on an all-expenses paid, luxury vacation to explore the Italian countryside.

Until then — until my lucky numbers hit! — Tocca’s new Bagno Profumato Body Wash ($18) and Crema da Corpo Body Lotion ($20) will have to do.

If your mom dreams of faraway lands and international adventure, take a look at Tocca for Mother’s Day this year. Their products are some of my favorites for gift giving all year round, not only because they always look lovely sitting on a counter, but also because of their fragrances, whiffs of which whisk (say that fives times fast, haha!) me away on day dreamy adventures.

tocca giulietta bagno profumato body wash and crema da corpo body lotion

I think my mom will like Giulietta. One of three new Tocca Body Wash and Lotion fragrances, it’s a light and crisp fruity floral with notes of pink tulip and green apple.

(Psst!. They’re also available in a grapefruit and cucumber scent called Cleopatra and an Italian blood orange scent called Stella — ya know, in case you also feel like picking up a little something for yourself.)

tocca giulietta bagno profumato body wash and crema da corpo body lotion
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Will 6 Get You 12 With Milani’s $6 Shadow Eyez 12 HR Wear Eyeshadow Pencils?

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milani shadow eyez
Green Safari

I dream of a world where every eyeshadow on the market lasts from dawn till dusk! A world where shadow pencils like Milani’s purposefully misspelled Shadow Eyez 12 HR Wear Eyeshadow Pencils last long enough to make it through three cups of ginger tea (two words: tummy troubles) spaced four hours apart, and Aquatic Style, my favorite of the six shades, glows strong through six spontaneous chair dance sessions spread out across the entire day … because there’s nothing quite like seeing that electric teal flashing back at you in the mirror as you rock out to that part at the end of Wanna Be Starting Something. “Mamma say, mamma saw, mamaco saw!”

And most of all, I dream of a world where these $5.99 pigmented pencils last long enough to endure a full 12 hours of being ignored by the huskiest tabby in Novato, who, yes, is back to hating his gravy chef/admin assistant once again.

A full 12 hours? Do dreams really come true?

Like a powerful pegasus sweeping down from my multi-colored makeup dreams, Milani’s Shadow Eyez Pencils deliver saddlebags filled with pigment and shine, and a texture so smooth and soft that it makes baby bunnies envious.

milani shadow eyez 12 hr wear eyeshadow pencils
Shadow Eyez Pencils from the left: Winter White, Brown Deluxe, Champagne Toast, Green Safari, Aquatic Style and Royal Purple

milani green safari
Green Safari

milani aquatic style
Aquatic Style
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Reflections on Life, Lipgloss and the Smashbox Shades of Fame Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss Set

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smashbox hibiscus
Smashbox Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss in Hibiscus

Dear Self,

Please keep in mind these notes on lipgloss and life, and hold on to them when you’re feeling sad or yucky.

Remember…

…that you can always change your circumstances. It’s not always as easy as changing your lipgloss, but sometimes it’s the smallest changes that make the biggest impact (see: the Smashbox Shades of Fame Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss Set, $29, which includes five tiny travel-size glosses).

smashbox shades of fame reflection high shine lip gloss set

If you’re lonely, reach out! Put those fingers to work, and email, tweet or text a friend or coworker. Maybe make a lunch date.

When you start feeling like you’re stuck in a rut, shake things up! There are BIG shakes, like planning a trip, so you have something fun to look forward to, and little shakes, like committing to do just one thing differently today, even if it’s just walking down a street in your neighborhood that you’ve never explored before.

Always remember that you’re not alone, even when you feel lonely. The pressure you sometimes feel to be funny, creative and interesting, the doubt, the constant wondering if you’ll be able to think of exciting new ways to call something “neutral” or “nude.”

People understand that you’re only human; no one can be on all the time.

Remember what works for you, and write like a crazy person! Write with reckless abandon. Write as fast as you can! Don’t worry about word counts, deadlines and cutting stuff down, because you can deal with all of that stuff later.

Remember that you have the power to change your point of view. See silver linings, and welcome new challenges with open arms and a positive attitude.

Remember that you can do this. You can write raw, and you can write real.

Remember that everyone sees the same things in different ways. Some might see the five tubes in the Smashbox Shades of Fame Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss Set, and think, “Meh, just another limited edition batch of standard summer glosses…”

They may not get beyond the surface details, like how thick and sticky these feel, how moisturizing they are (very), their light vanilla flavor and scent, sheer-to-medium pigment or their three-hour wear time.

Others might see the same glosses, however, and think, “Wow… Lipgloss is kinda like life.”

smashbox shades of fame reflection high shine lip gloss set

Sometimes, it’s all sparkly and beautiful and everything you ever wanted it to be. Other times, it’s gritty, and not at all what you expected. Sometimes, it disappears too fast, or you get your hair stuck in it, and that really sucks … especially if you’re on a bicycle without brakes (been there, done that).

smashbox papaya
Papaya
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 219

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the makeup and blog monday poll

  • You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”
    Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
  1. Mood:
    The sun is shining, it’s warm out, my allergies are somewhat under control — all in all, today has the makings of a pretty great day.
  2. What’s your current favorite eye look?
    The Hourglass Dune duo has been my daytime jam! I’ve been wearing both shades on my lids for an olive/gold smokey look, adding a dash of black liner along my water line for dramatic effect, LOL!
  3. What’s your favorite fried food?
    It varies, but if you start with a potato, I’ll probably like it. French fries, hash browns, tater tots, yum!

    And even though the thought of ’em frightens me a little, I get the feeling I’d be all over deep-fried Snickers bars.

  4. The next book on your reading list?
    Bossypants, by Tina Fey.

    THAT WOMAN CRACKS ME UP! But I wish she’d stop trying to sell me Garnier hair dye…

  5. How’s your sense of direction?
    Alright, I guess. I can usually find my way around, unless we’re talking about South San Francisco. That town is my navigational Achilles’ heel. It’s like the Bay Area’s Bermuda Triangle, the way the streets are laid out around the hills.

    I actually got lost there once (pre-GPS) and drove around for two hours before I found a way to get back on the highway.

  6. Do you think people can change?
    Yes, most people. Most of the time. The optimist in me says “Yes.” 🙂
  7. Your favorite lipstick of all time?
    Hmm… That’s a tough one. Probably MAC Viva Glam V, because I think it looks fantastic on almost everyone, and the proceeds go to a good cause.
  8. What’s for lunch?
    I’m craving crunchy, so maybe a crisp, cold salad with some fresh cut pineapple for desert.
  9. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
    What you’re feeling is depression, my love, and there’s no reason to feel embarrassed or ashamed by it. It happens to the best of us. Start by scheduling an appointment to see a counselor, and you’ll be on the road to feeling better.

    Exercise will also help you feel better sooner, so get off your butt and start moving!

  10. Weekly goals:
    Squeeze in some extra play time with Tabs. He’s been fussy about not being able to spend the warm days outside and has a lot of pent up energy. Also, keep tracking your workouts using the My Fitness Pal app (that thing really works!), and remind yourself every day that “You’re doing just fine.”

Hello, sweets. 🙂 Happy Monday! I hope you had some time over the weekend to relax and re-charge. If you have a minute today, please swing by and let me know how you’re doing in the Monday Poll. I miss you.

  • To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.



1. Mood:
2. What’s your current favorite eye look?
3. What’s your favorite fried food?
4. The next book on your reading list?
5. How’s your sense of direction?
6. Do you think people can change?
7. Your favorite lipstick of all time?
8. What’s for lunch?
9. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
10. Weekly goals:

I hope your week gets off to a wonderful start.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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