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

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. Winged line with (pick two): pencil, gel, liquid or eyeshadow?

I love all the options, so it’s hard to pick just two. If I had to, though, then pencil to first sketch out the shape and then eyeshadow to soften the edges. I’ve been into a softer wing lately!

2. A hair length that works for you?

Long hair is the easiest for me to manage because I don’t have to do much to it. A little past my shoulders is my sweet spot.

3. Which one would you rather carry with you in your purse: a travel-size hand cream or a travel-size perfume?

I’d go with the hand cream to go with my travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer.

4. If you were a pie, what type of pie would you be?

Strawberry rhubarb — a little sweet, a little tart! Either that or pecan pie, because pecan pie is bomb dot com.

5. Tweed jacket or tweed skirt?

I’m short waisted and skirts never fit me quite right, so I’d pick the tweed jacket in a neutral color.

6. What was the last concert you went to?

Honestly, I have no idea! I had tickets to Lizzo in the fall of 2019 but didn’t go because of the fires in the Bay Area. The last event that I went to where a group was a stage singing was Connor’s preschool graduation last June. Does that count?

7. Something you have on your to-do list for today?

Sneak in a load of laundry. I’ve found that if I do one or two loads every day, it’s easier than doing everything in one fell swoop on the weekend.

8. Dresses worn with tennis shoes: yes or no?

Heck yeah, girlfriend, but only if the tennis shoes are clean and neat-looking. If they’re too lived-in, then I feel sloppy.

9. File your nails with a nail file or clip them with nail clippers?

Nail clippers, 100%. So much faster! I no longer have any patience for filing my claws down.

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. Winged line with (pick two): pencil, gel, liquid or eyeshadow?
2. A hair length that works for you?
3. Which one would you rather carry with you in your purse: a travel-size hand cream or a travel-size perfume?
4. If you were a pie, what type of pie would you be?
5. Tweed jacket or tweed skirt?
6. What was the last concert you went to?
7. Something you have on your to-do list for today?
8. Dresses worn with tennis shoes: yes or no?
9. File your nails with a nail file or clip them with nail clippers?

P.P.S. Hey there, friend. How’s it going? I think I need an extra cup of coffee this morning, how about you? A gentle reminder — you’re doing just fine. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, and hold your chin up high. 🤗 Have a great rest of your day and an amazing week!

Good morning and happy Saturday to ya, friend! You’re going to have to put up with me raving about these OPI Infinite Shines for a while because while El Hub and I were talking about a show we watched last night called “Foundation” (have you seen it? It’s on Apple TV), I was casually checking out my manicure and realized that there is not a single chip on any of my fingernails, and the top coat is just as shiny as it was when I painted my nails on Monday.

Wow! I’m half-tempted to apply another clear layer of OPI Infinite Shine topcoat just to see how long I can stretch this mani out, but I also really want to try some other colors.

Basically though, this line is looking like a winner, winner, chicken dinner.

So, allegedly, Coywolf, El Hub and I are all taking it easy today, so our only plan is to stop by Target or Michaels to find Halloween decorations for outside the house. Of course, if we happen to swing by Ulta as well, I won’t resist. I want to peep more of the OPI Infinite Shines. I’m even going to retire a few old bottles of polish in my nail drawer to make room in case something moves me, because I’m still trying my best to not be a beauty hoarder anymore… I have a feeling these will be replacing a few of my old Essie Gel Coutures!

Speaking of Halloween decorations, I’m aiming for cute, as opposed to scary, decorations. Adorable pumpkins and cute ghosts and whatnot. If you’ve found anything lately that you love, please give this gal a heads up! I need some ideas. 🙏🎃

This week’s reading

• Sarah Tanno, Lady Gaga’s makeup artist, recommends these makeup tips for beauty lovers over 40.
• Looks like there’s a Sour Patch Kids makeup collaboration. Um…weird!
• While there isn’t currently an official definition for what “clean” means in beauty products, if you’re into the idea, here are 12 products in Sephora’s “clean” category to check out. I really want to sniff the Radiant Nectar perfume by Clean Reserve because I’ve worn and loved their Velvet Flora scent for years!
• What exactly is an “active” skin-care ingredient?
• Now skin care micro-dosing is a thing. (Side note: does this sound like a whole lot of marketing to anyone?)
• I’ve just added Grasse, France’s perfume capital of the world, to my travel bucket list.
• You know I love a good body mist! I’m definitely putting a few of these on my wish list.
• Amazon has a new high-tech hair salon now.
• One woman’s journey navigating hair loss.
• 23 cats that act like dogs.

The chances of me watching this are 100%.

I love her glasses.

The eye makeup!

I could spend all day watching organization videos.

So what’s the plan for the weekend? Does it feel like fall yet where you live?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hello, my friend! Good morning. 🤗 I hope you’re having a wonderful Friday so far. This was my first week at my new gig, and it’s been great. I’ve already had a few assignments and even turned in my first deliverable this week. Oh, and if I could toot my own horn a little bit, I turned it in early. TOOT-TOOT!

It’s been a while since I’ve started a new job, and I’m only just now remembering how low-key terrifying it is! You don’t know anything or anybody, what people have been working on, and, of course, there are those moments when you wonder, “Am I going to be able to do this?”

I try to remind myself that it’s like this for everyone (unless you’re Superwoman?). I just have to hang in there. It’s definitely been good for my soul.

It has been quite an adjustment not being able to hang out with my sidekick as much lately, because before I started the gig, I had more time with Coywolf after I picked her up from school in the afternoons. Sometimes we’d go to the bakery to get a cookie and talk about her day, or we’d swing by the library, or run a few errands at Target. I mean, we still hang out, and she usually plays right next to the door to my office. She has a little desk and likes to keep herself busy there, especially with Lego, crayons and makeup (often all at the same time).

Can you believe she did all of these looks on her own without any direction from me? My favorite, of course, is the smokey eye-inspired princess panda.

Oh, and speaking of makeup, I don’t know what I was thinking because I thought I would have all the time in the world to put on face paint before video meetings, but that has so not been the case this past week. I saw myself doing a cool daytime friendly smokey lid or a super sharp cat eyes.

If I’m lucky, I get maybe 10 or 15 minutes to get ready. Yesterday morning I only had five.

Seriously, the pieces I bought from Ilia have been saving my butt, though. No joke. Oh, and the Chanel brow pencil of course. Maybe next week will be the week I do something fun like glitter on my lids? I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed.

How are things on your end of the keyboard? What’s the funniest thing that happened to you this week? How about the weirdest thing somebody said to you? Did you meet any new friends this week, human or feline?

Talk to you soon!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

1. The Taste Like Schitt Unofficial Cookbook of Schitt’s Creek

Schitt’s Creek fans, now you can cook Moira Rose’s famous cheese enchiladas for dinner (“Fold in the cheese”). I have yet to make anything, but I’ve read the recipes are supposed to be legit.

2. OPI Infinite Shine in I’m Not Really a Waitress

Speaking of Schitt’s Creek, I feel like this is totally a Moira Rose nail polish. Right?

I just recently picked this up and so far am in love with the color and formula. Loads of pigment, super shiny and a 20-minute dry time from start to finish. I’m three days into this manicure and have no chips so far.

3. The Morning Show

Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon both have major game in this show! I’m totally hooked.

4. Creekside Bakery Pie

This bakery in Marin county makes the best pie. The crust is super flaky and buttery, and the fillings are the perfect balance of sweet and tart. I highly recommend the cherry pie. Strawberry rhubarb is great, too.

5. It’s a Good Day by Peggy Lee

My jam lately. Plus, look at her makeup in this video! Classic. I LOVE IT.

What’ve you been loving lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hello, friend! Happy Tuesday. I hope all is well. In news around here…an Ulta recently opened in my town (it’s less than five minutes away), and it’s been both wonderful and terrible at the same time. I went in last weekend solely intending to replenish a couple things I’d finished recently, but I ended up leaving the store with a few unintended extras. Whoops! Here’s what I grabbed:

• Bliss Poetic Waxing Kit: The easiest and quickest way to get rid of that upper lip hair. ‘Stash no more! This is my third (or fourth? I’ve lost count) box.
• Curel Makeup Cleansing Oil: Removes waterproof mascara gently. I love this almost as much as the DHC one, and I’m now on my second bottle.
• OPI Infinite Shine Nail Polishes: I think this is OPI’s version of the Essie Gel Coutures, and it’s new to me. I grabbed two colors, a dark burgundy pearl called I’m Not Really a Waitress, and a creamy burgundy called Malaga wine. I also picked up the top coat too.
• Grande Lash-MD Lash Enhancing Serum: I watched a before-and-after review video on this lash serum on Milabu’s channel on YouTube and was like, WOW. Lashes for days. This was totally an impulse buy, and so I’m still deciding whether I’m going to keep it. If you have any thoughts on it, please let me know!

Thank you for your well wishes on the first day of my new job yesterday. It went well! I’ve got a lot to learn, but I’m looking forward to stretching my writing muscles again.

If my posts are a little shorter than usual this week, please know it’s because I’m trying to get my feet under me as I navigate this new terrain!

How’s everything going on your end?

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

1. Eyeshadow palette or blush palette?

Ooh, I love both! Right now, though, let’s go with the blush palette. I could use a new one.

2. A color that looks good on you?

Hmm, if we’re talking about clothes — which I have on my mind right now because I should buy some new shirts for work, but currently I loathe clothes shopping — warm pastel pinks are flattering on me. So are certain shades of pastel blue.

3. Horizontal or vertical stripes?

Vertical, please!

4. Have you ever been in a car accident?

Yup. Two, knock on wood. The first one happened in high school. My mom was driving me to class, and we were at a stoplight when my classmate, who was driving to school a few cars behind us, rear-ended the car in front of her, which then caused a chain reaction of accidents! I’ll never forget seeing her face when she stepped out of her car. (“Hi, Karen. I guess we’re gonna be late for biology.”) The second was in college, two hours after I’d been given the keys to a brand new Honda Civic. Yup, good times.

5. The names of few of pets that you’ve loved?

Tabs (miss you extra today, sweet boy), Rosie, Shauna and Bell.

6. French manicure on your toes: yes or no?

Not for me! My toes are long and thin, so a French manicure on my toes would make it look like I had fingers on my feet.

7. Something you love about fall?

I love cooler weather much more than I used to, and so I live for the crisp chill in the air. I also love Halloween because it’s the only fall holiday where I just get to show up and eat candy — no cooking or cleaning involved!

8. Black boots or brown boots?

Dark brown, babe.

9. Pumpkin spice latte — yes or no?

Yes! With oat milk if you have it, please.

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. Eyeshadow palette or blush palette?
2. A color that looks good on you?
3. Horizontal or vertical stripes?
4. Have you ever been in a car accident?
5. The names of few of pets that you’ve loved?
6. French manicure on your toes: yes or no?
7. Something you love about fall?
8. Black boots or brown boots?
9. Pumpkin spice latte — yes or no?

P.P.S. Good morning, my friend! 🤗 I hope you’re feeling rested and ready to conquer the week. You’ve totally got this, OK? I believe in you!