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

Good morning, my beautiful friend. I hope you slept well. I woke up at the witching hour last night — 3 a.m. on the dot — because of a weird dream…

In the dream, I was back in my 20s and still single and dating. I was dating an up-and-coming chef, and a big group of us were out and about on a Friday night going to different restaurants and bars.

Sometime in the evening, a beautiful young woman joined us, and my spider senses started going off when I saw how she and the chef interacted with each other. I just knew there was something flirty happening between them but couldn’t put my finger on it.

My sixth sense confirmed something shady was happening when we were all at a restaurant where the chef was talking to his friends working in the back of the house, and he began introducing the young woman to everyone without bothering to introduce me.

My first thought was, “OH, HELL NO,” so I interjected loudly to the group, “Hi, I’m Karen, and I’m his girlfriend.” Then the chef said, “Um, this is Karen, and she’s, uh… Um, my, um.” So yeah, apparently at that point in the dream I’d had enough of his crap, so I started laughing, walked out of the restaurant, grabbed the first taxi I could find and went home.

Then, I woke up.

Now, normally I’d be able to fall back to sleep pretty easily after such a silly dream, but I started thinking about how someday Connor will be dating, and I couldn’t doze off.

I know, I know. It’s so far away, but I just kept thinking about how someday she could end up seeing someone like the chef in my dream — someone who leaves her feeling “less than.” It’s hard for me to accept that someday I will have no control over the people who come into her life. I just hope I can teach her enough so that she knows how strong she is and understands her worth.

Anywho, that’s what’s on my mind this morning… Well, along with these beauty products. Because it always somehow goes back to beauty, right?

I’ve been kinda “meh” about my current hair routine and have been feeling like I need something new, so I’m giving a couple things from dpHUE a try. They’re a line you can find at Ulta and Sephora, and they’re known for their ACV Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rise and ACV Hair Masque. I’ve heard from friends who’ve grown out their grays that it’s great for the dryness that so often comes with graying hair. I’m hoping it’ll do good things because my mane has been feeling extra crunchy lately!

It’s also that time of year when I feel like I can step up the exfoliating in some way, so I’ve got some glycolic items from REN (a toner and night cream) and a Vitamin C serum from Paula’s Choice on deck! I’m also trying a cleansing milk (also by REN), which I hope will offset any moisture loss from the exfoliators.

By the way, have you shopped the Sephora sale yet? If you have, you gotta let me know what you got, or what you plan on getting.

My, I’m feeling chatty this morning! I guess the coffee has kicked in. 😄

This week’s reading

• Some predictions for the best makeup and hairstyling for the Oscars 2022!
• ’60s makeup is having a moment.
• If you’re looking for a beauty subscription box, here are 21 to choose from.
• I can’t believe someone actually took the time to study this, but here are the best London underground tube lines to apply your makeup.
• Here’s how makeup artists create gory makeup effects.
• Why makeup matters for prisoners.
• Why didn’t this famous gamer’s blue-light skin-care line succeed?
• Allegedly, these are the 15 best peptide products.
• Expert tips on how to restore collagen in your face.
• For all you crafty gals, here’s how to open and refill your perfume bottles.
• In case you were looking for a big-@ss bottle of Chanel No. 5!
• What if you could make your cat hypoallergenic with biotechnology?

Mimi’s hand gestures = EPIC.

I love hearing the background story about songs I enjoy.

I’ve got no idea what’s going on here, but I’m into it.

Tell me more, tell me more.

Because public speaking is a perishable skill.

Talk to me, Stacy.

Still a fave, even after all these years.

It looks like it’s going to rain today, so I think I’m gonna work out at home, watch a movie and cuddle on the couch with the fam.

How’s your weekend looking? Talk to you soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, mostly because at all the Halloween family events last week, I had so many awkward conversations with other parents. Is it just me, or are we all collectively out of practice with how to be social in groups? I’m especially out of practice in the art of small talk. I used to be really good at it, too, especially with strangers, but last week, man! I was super uncomfortable, ugh.

I keep telling myself this is just temporary, and soon I’ll be able to socialize like I used to when I get more practice. I know it’s going to take a while, though.

How are your small-talk/social skills these days? Good? Not so good? Great? Inquiring minds want to know.

Oh, and if you have any tips on how to make it easier, please share! I could use the help.

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 five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. Orange or grapefruit?

Grapefruit, specifically ruby red grapefruit!

2. Are you better at giving yourself manicures or pedicures?

Hmmm. Probably manicures. I do OK with pedicures when I actually try to paint carefully, but lately I haven’t had the patience to be nice and neat. I haphazardly slap on a coat or two and hope that it doesn’t look too terrible, LOL!

3. Have you made any plans for Thanksgiving?

Girl… NO. We’ll be spending it at home because El Hub will be working, so I don’t think I’ll be going all out with food. I might make a ham with a couple sides and maybe some brownies, or I might just order a pre-made meal from a local restaurant and call it a day.

4. Lipstick, lip oil or lipgloss?

Ooh, lip oil please!

5. French braid or French twist?

I’ll take a French twist held in place with a few medium-sized butterfly clips.

6. What’s your go-to eyeliner at the moment?

Ilia has a twist-up gel liner that is a beast! I use Dusk, the brown shade, to tightline every day.

7. What’s worse: having to wear an itchy sweater all day, or having to wear loose socks that you constantly have to pull up all day?

Both sound pretty terrible! The itchy sweater would drive me that much crazier, though.

8. Breakfast foods for dinner: yes or no?

Yes!

9. A perfume/scent you like wearing?

Dolce & Gabbana The One. It’s an oldie but goodie for me!

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. Orange or grapefruit?
2. Are you better at giving yourself manicures or pedicures?
3. Have you made any plans for Thanksgiving?
4. Lipstick, lip oil or lipgloss?
5. French braid or French twist?
6. What’s your go-to eyeliner at the moment?
7. What’s worse: having to wear an itchy sweater all day, or having to wear loose socks that you constantly have to pull up all day?
8. Breakfast foods for dinner: yes or no?.
9. A perfume/scent you like wearing?

P.P.S. Happy Monday, my friend! 🤗 If you’re someplace rainy like I am today, stay dry and be careful on the roads. I hope great things come your way this week.

G’morning! Happy Saturday! And happy Halloween weekend.

You’ll never guess what just happened. Connor walked into my office and very firmly stated, “Mama, I want to wear lipstick.”

Then, she specifically requested a bright fuchsia from among the products I was playing with.

After she was done putting it on (and she did a good job too!), she looked at herself in the mirror and said, “I look AMAZING.” Then she stomp-walked out of the room to go watch cartoons.

I’m extra amused by this because 1) I know that exact same feeling you get when your lipstick is extra great, and 2) I was actually thinking that I need to treat myself to a new lipstick today, and I’m considering one of the Ilia Color Block High Impact Lipsticks from Sephora.

Have you tried them before? I’m still deeply enamored with Ilia, which is why I want to grab one.

So, I can’t believe tomorrow is Halloween. It feels like this month, and truthfully the entire summer, came and went so quickly! I don’t know if it was just having a few more things to do and social events this year than last year is the reason, but I remember last October seeming to drag on and on forever… I also remember, clear as day, the worry I felt last fall and winter. I mean, I still constantly live with low-level worry because of the pandemic, but being able to do things like attend birthday parties and Halloween parades without feeling like every decision is life or death has made this fall a little more exciting and, dare I say it, normal.

Now I’m off to go run some Saturday errands (Costco, groceries and Sports Basement to look into ski equipment rentals), and hey, if a lipstick or two fall into my lap…I’m just going to go with it! 😊

This weekend’s reading

• Lancôme is launching a new collection based on the Netflix show Emily In Paris.
• Meet the high-tech beauty startup aiming to make beauty products more sustainable.
• Here’s how to get back to basics with your skincare routine.
• What can caffeine in your skincare products do for?
• Colloidal oatmeal: your sensitive skin’s best friend.

Drop that knowledge on me, please.

Ooh, creepy…

Well, now I wanna eat vegetables.

Well this is some intense pumpkin carving.

YES.

Love the green top.

I loved dancing around in my roller skates to this song when I was a kid.

Oldie but goodie

I hope your lipstick looks good and you feel extra amazing today! Have a great Halloween and a wonderful weekend. 🎃🤗

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen