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

If you ever have absolutely NOTHING to wear, makeup-wise, all I have to say is, “When in doubt, bold lip it out!” Seriously, dude. Bold lips are going to save us all. Or rather…a bold lip has been saving me lately! 😁 When you literally have only 10 minutes to do your makeup, that one bright statement piece will do most (if not all) of your makeup heavy lifting.

Now I’m starting to question all of my years of wearing neutral lips here, there and everywhere. Have I just been looking like an undead zombie this whole time?

Wait a second — you don’t need to answer that. LOL!

By the way, the bright berry I’m wearing is very creatively called “MAC Make It Fashun.”

I have a very (not-so-pressing) question for you: what are your thoughts on perfume that smells like soup? Good? Gross? Crazy genius?

See, yesterday I was eating these soup dumplings they have at Trader Joe’s, and they’re like savory mini meatballs enclosed in a sealed wonton envelope.

Inside each sealed dumpling envelope is a mini meatball in a savory broth, and sometimes when you bite into one, the broth will accidentally squirt out. 😬

Sometimes it ends up on the table. Other times, which happened to me yesterday, it ends up on your pants and the sleeve of your shirt.

I didn’t have time to change right afterward because I had to jump on a call, and you couldn’t really see the broth on my clothes anyway, so I was like, “Eh, I’m just gonna lean into it,” and I smelled like eau de soup for the rest of the day.

Right after the call, I went to go pick up Connor from school, and when she hugged me she said I smelled really good!

Of course, this got me thinking as to whether a soup fragrance could actually be appealing. 🤔 I understand that food fragrances are huge and have been for a while now, but they tend toward sweet scents, a la cupcakes and frosting. That said, I feel like there might be people out there who would actually like a savory food perfume. Maybe?

Side note, my friend Cindy once dated a boy very briefly but ended up breaking up with him because she said he smelled exactly like vegetable soup!

I almost forgot to mention that I’m wearing a couple of things from the Ipsy box in this makeup look — the Visart Petite Pro Un Palette and the Il Makiage Icon Mascara. The palette is so teeny-tiny and fits in the palm of your hand! I like the purple tones in it and the coolness of the matte browns, but the mascara is just OK. I like the length and lift but could use more volume at the roots, which, apparently, is the story of my life.

One last thing before I jet — here’s what I’ve been watching on Netflix lately: “Maid” (I finished the series, although I fast-forwarded through the middle episodes), “Midnight Mass” (SO SLOW) and the latest season of “The Great British Baking Show” (now I want to make a cake!).

How about you? What have you been watching? Inquiring minds want to know. 😃

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Do you love them or loathe them, and why? I’m contemplating signing up for a subscription or two, mostly so I can have an excuse to try some new brands. There’s a few that are new to me in the October Ipsy box (pictured above), like Dermalect and Buttah Skin.

If you have a favorite beauty subscription, please let me know!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Tuesday!

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). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start. ?

1. Tie dye or floral print?

Floral print, please! 🌺

2. When was the last time you walked a dog?

I honestly can’t remember, but I’m guessing it was around 2014… Whenever it was, it’s been too long.

Last time I walked a cat, though, was yesterday, ha ha ha.

3. Cute Halloween decorations or scary Halloween decorations?

Cute ghosts, cute cats, cute pumpkins… I’ll take all the cute! 👻

4. How well would you handle being a famous rockstar?

If I were in my early 20s and single without any kids, I’d probably really love it, at least for a year or two. I’d love the rehearsing and performing, and I’d love the perks. I’d also love the financial freedom that usually comes with it, but I know myself. After a while, I’d dislike not being able to do what I wanted, whenever I wanted to. Oh, and I wouldn’t like having every single thing I ever said picked apart and scrutinized in public. That would get old fast.

In short, I’d probably be great at it for a year, and then I’d be terrible!

5. A superstition you have?

Whenever I go to a funeral, I never drive directly home after the service. My mom always told me to stop by a store or a park or a restaurant before coming home to “drop off” any ghosts that may have hitched a ride with you!

It’s a Filipino old wives’ tale, and I’m not about to mess with it.

6. Fancy expensive candles: worth the price or a waste of money?

If I can get them from Bath & Body Works on sale, totally worth the price; otherwise, they aren’t really my thing. I’d rather spend the money on expensive hair products!

7. Do you prefer a window or an aisle seat?

Aisle seat. I like to get in and out without having to touch anybody else’s knees with my butt.

8. Don’t be afraid to (FILL IN THE BLANK)?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to speak up. Don’t be afraid to eat another slice of pie.

9. Sweet or spicy perfume?

Just a li’l bit sweet. 😊

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. Tie dye or floral print?.
2. When was the last time you walked a dog?
3. Cute Halloween decorations or scary Halloween decorations cute Halloween decorations?
4. How well would you handle being a famous rockstar?
5. A superstition you have?
6. Fancy expensive candles: worth the price or a waste of money?
7. Do you prefer a window or an aisle seat?
8. Don’t be afraid to (FILL IN THE BLANK)?
9. Sweet or spicy perfume?

P.P.S. Have a wonderful Monday, my friend! 🤗 Miss you.

Good morning! Rise and shine, pal o’ mine! 🤗

So…it’s really starting to feel like Halloween here. Not only is there a chill in the air (why is the bathroom always so cold in the morning?), I’ve got things on my list, like building this adorable haunted house cookie kit I found at Trader Joe’s. I’m gonna make it with Connor. The only thing we’re missing is a big bag of Mini Snickers, but that’s on purpose. You see, I leave all the candy buying till the last minute, because otherwise I’ll keep snacking on them all month long, ha ha ha!

Are you doing anything Halloween-y today? Do tell. 🎃👻🦇

This week’s reading

• According to makeup pros, these are the best foundations for flawless-looking skin.
• Frédéric Malle on his latest scent, Synthetic Jungle…
• Are they perfume bottles or works of art? Inquiring minds want to know. The bottles for the new Louis Vuitton Les Extraits perfume collection were designed to convey “liberation” and “absolute movement.”
• These are supposedly the 10 best hair bonding treatments.
• These are things one should never put in their hair. (Side note: I’m guilty of applying glitter.)
• If you’re losing your hair, it may be due to “The Great Stem Cell Escape.”
• According to derms, these are the best products for oily skin.
• Does skin care with caffeine actually work?

Have a wonderful and hopefully relaxing Saturday! 😊 Talk to you soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I figure if Dolly Parton can go to bed wearing a full of makeup, I can curl my lashes with a lash curler before and after I’ve coated them with mascara. Mind you, I’m always very careful! I purposefully use slow movements when I clamp down and release the curler, and I try my very best to gently ease it out so I don’t lose any lashes.

What about you? What’s your most controversial beauty opinion?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

1. Monochromatic makeup

I love how matching your cheek, eye and lip color makes putting on makeup so much easier!

You don’t have to think as deeply about “does this color goes with that shade?” and if you find a single multitasking product, that makes it even easier. (I’ve got my eye on a couple of these multitasking cream mattes by Danessa Myricks.)

2. Trader Joe’s Apple Caramel Greek Yogurt

This yogurt is so good! It’s like a slice of caramel apple pie in a cup. There’s even tiny little apple pieces in it, and whenever I find one, I feel like I just won the yogurt lottery.

Sometimes I like to add a small handful of TJ’s Candied Pecans to take it to the next level.

3. Trainer Fred

I love his playlist, his energy and his striped elf socks! The part of me that randomly bursts into song while in public also appreciates his penchant for singing while he’s in the middle of a tabata sprint.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself working harder than usual when you take this spin class.

4. Color Wheel Page Markers

Speaking of pie, these are pie slice-shaped sticky notes, and they’re absolutely glorious.

They’re tiny enough to tuck away into text, yet big enough to pen a quick note to self.

5. “All the Way Up”

Another shout-out to Trainer Fred, who put this on his playlist in a recent spin class. I haven’t heard this song in ages, but when I was on the bike I started pedaling like I was in the last leg of the Tour de France!

Oh, and while I was trying to find the song on YouTube, I randomly ran into this other song called “All The Way Up” by a singer named Jay Park.

Do you feel like dancing now? I sure do! 😺

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen