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

Good morning to you, friend! The ladies of Casa de MBB (myself included) are sending you good vibes this Caturday morning. Rosie-Pose, in particular, is feeling pleased as punch. Her number one girl, Connor Claire, wrote her very first sentence on her own this week, and the historical literary moment involved furry friends of the feline purr-suasian. 😺

Oh, and please note the fuchsia lipstick. I gave Connor a lipstick from the MAC Alladin Collection a while back to play with and wear around the house for fun.

This week’s reading

• Get ready to bust out your favorite smudgy black liner, because dark eye makeup is having a moment.
• Blue, green and red nail polish shades that elicit good vibes.
• In this week’s edition of “Dudes Launching Nail Polishes” — ’90s band Third Eye Blind!
• Allegedly, this product from Make Up For Ever stops your makeup from transferring onto your mask.
• Is there scientific evidence to back up the claims made by functional fragrances?
• The real reason why some perfumes are so $$$…
• Oh, great — apparently, we should be doing masks on our bodies now.
• Is the concept of skin type a scam?
• Say “hello” to Willow!

Super pretty

Yes, please.

In case you want to keep talking about Bruno…

Drop that knowledge.

This week’s retro jam

Retinol tips

There’s a huge blizzard on the East Coast! I hope you aren’t in it. Please stay warm. Have a good weekend. Talk to you soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

1. The eight-minute increment

OK, this is my new trick for motivating myself when I don’t want to do something — setting a timer for eight minutes, and then focusing on one thing for that short chunk of time. I don’t know what it is about eight minutes, but that’s my sweet spot. Five is too short, 10 is too long, but eight is the perfect, snack-sized chunk of time!

2. The “Encanto” movie soundtrack

“Encanto” is a new Disney movie with music by Songwriter and Actor Lin-Manuel Miranda (you might recognize his name from the musical “Hamilton”). Anyway, it’s Connor’s new favorite Disney flick, and she listens to the soundtrack morning, noon and night. The music is super catchy, and even though I’ve actually never seen the film in its entirety, I already know most of the song lyrics.

I also know that we don’t talk about Bruno, no, no, no. WE DON’T TALK ABOUT BRUNO!

3. Monochromatic outfits

Ya know, I’ve read for years that wearing the same color from head to toe can make petite women appear taller, and yes, that’s one big benefit of wearing a monochromatic outfit. I also like it I because it makes it that much easier to get dressed in the morning! It’s nice to not think about what goes with what, you know?

I’ve been wanting more monochromatic outfits, so I’m thinking about adding some jumpsuits, like this one by Athleta, to my closet (although I’m not super keen on the having to shimmy in and out of one when I need to visit the lavatory).

4. This easy muffin recipe

Super good and yummy! I made a batch last week with chocolate chips and King Arthur gluten-free flour.

5. MAC Teddy Liner

It’s a classic for a reason. Have you ever layered it with MAC Satin Taupe? I did that today, and it was glorious.

What’ve you been loving lately?

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. Liquid blush or cream blush?

Cream blush, because it’s easier to control.

2. Mascara on the lower lashes: yes or no?

Most of the time, no, but when I do wear it, it’s usually the outer corner.

3. Someone who brings out the best in you?

The Coywolf. 🙂

4. Lipstick today?

Yes, please! I’m wearing Ilia Rococco.

5. How badly do your makeup brushes need cleaning?

You don’t even want to know, my friend. I really need to get in there and wash some brushes!

6. Sweet bell peppers or cucumbers?

Yellow bell peppers, please. I love the sweetness and the crunch! Plus, they’re so good with peanut butter.

7. Walking or running?

Walking, all day, every day. I used to be a runner back in the day, but now my knees are like, “No, thanks, girl!”

8. Full-coverage foundation or face powder?

Face powder. A light dusting of MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural is magic.

9. Something you’d like to accomplish during this last week of January?

I would love to make a big dent in my living room decluttering project by the end of the week.

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. Liquid blush or cream blush?
2. Mascara on the lower lashes: yes or no?
3. Someone who brings out the best in you?
4. Lipstick today?
5. How badly do your makeup brushes need cleaning?
6. Sweet bell peppers or cucumbers?
7. Walking or running?
8. Full-coverage foundation or face powder?
9. Something you’d like to accomplish during this last week of January?

P.P.S. Happy Monday to you, friend. Please be sure to talk to yourself this week with gentle words and a sweet tone. You deserve kindness and courtesy. 🤗

Hello and happy Saturday from me, my breakfast and Janet Jackson on the cover of “Allure.”

This is my favorite Janet Jackson song, by the way. What’s yours?

Anywho…I’ve had the magazine sitting on my desk for a few days; I’ve been saving it to read on Saturday morning with my breakfast. 🙂 Because reading a magazine on the weekend feels that much more special for some reason! (Maybe because I can relax and savor the experience.) It’s one of my favorite things.

Another of my favorite things? My Nespresso machine!

It’s basically like a fancy Keurig. I got one for Christmas from El Hub. You buy the coffee pod cups, which come in different flavors and intensities, then insert the cup into the machine, and the machine just does its thang. It makes delicious, delicious coffee! I mean, it’s some of the best coffee I’ve ever had from anyplace on earth. Also, the cups are made from aluminum and recyclable, so you can drop them into a recycling bag when you’re done, and take them to a local recycling spot.

No joke, but I will talk to anyone and EVERYONE about the glory of a cup of Nespresso coffee… It’s so creamy and full of layers of rich flavor! AH! I don’t know if I’ve just been drinking terrible drip coffee for too many years or if Nespresso is really all that and a bag of chips, but I wake up in the morning salivating at the thought of that first cup.

This week’s reading

• “I couldn’t stop buying perfume samples to make sure I didn’t have Covid.”
• Just in case you ever wondered what a perfume named “Burning Bridges” smells like…
• Does rosemary tea grow your hair?
• IGK has a new line of at-home hair dye.
• This artist created a portrait of Betty White (RIP, queen) with lipstick as her medium of choice.
• Ah, Byredo. Always doing weird, cool stuff.

Also known as “The Mothership”

Yes, please.

I hope there’s bread and cafe au lait involved.

Someone make this for me ASAP.

YOU CAN BUY CAKE IN A CAN.

Messy bun 101

Build that muscle.

Oui, oui.

I can’t wait to watch this.

In case you’ve ever wondered…

Are they really at the DMV?

It’s sunny here in my neck of the woods today, so I’m going to go for a walk and listen to a podcast.

How’s it going on your end? Got anything fun lined up for the weekend?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen