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

I do! At the moment I’m very into the Boy de Chanel Brow Pencil. It really isn’t that much different than a brow pencil made for ladies, because it’s pretty much a regular ol’ brow pencil, but the packaging is slightly different.

That said, it’s got a lot going for it! I love the semi-sheerness of the pigment. It isn’t too dark, but you can tell it’s there, and the big, bushy brush combs through brow hairs super quickly. It’s easy to draw in full, but natural-looking brows with it in flash, and it lasts all day long, too.

So, that brings me to the following question: do you wear any men’s makeup, a.k.a. beauty products that are marketed toward dudes? Spill the details, so I can add your faves to my wish list. ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Still here in Hawaii! We’ve mostly been going to the beach, eating shave ice and hanging out with family. It’s been nice. Hope you’re having a good week so far.

1. Old-school Gap body splash scents from the ’90s

Remember Grass? And Dream?! I loved those back in the day. I found them recently at a Gap Outlet near my house, and I had to grab a bottle just for fun. I didn’t get Heaven though because one of my college roommates (who I eventually had a falling out with) wore it all the time, and every time I catch a whiff of it now, all I smell is betrayal, ha ha ha!

2. This $15 racerback tank dress from Eddie Bauer

It’s light as a feather and isn’t see-through. Oh, and did I mention that it’s only $14.99? I bought the solid black and blue and white striped!

3. Girl’s lunch dates at Panera

This is my favorite place to take Connor on lunch dates when it’s just us two, because THERE IS SO MUCH GLUTEN! ? I know it’s not super fancy or anything, but if you’re living that mom life, or if you just don’t want to cook, Panera has a lot going for it.

Logistically speaking: 1) there are always tables available (having a readily available place to put all your crap down is key), and 2) the bathroom is roomy, clean and easy to get to. Food-wise, I know Connor can always find something to eat, which is usually their mac and cheese, and I can always find a salad and soup that’ll suit whatever mood I’m in. Last time we were there, I got the Strawberry Poppyseed Salad with Chicken and the Broccoli Cheddar Soup. The prices aren’t too steep, either.

Sometimes we’ll split a cookie or a brownie for dessert, and occasionally on my way out I’ll grab a loaf of bread to go!

4. Fuji Apple Salad Dressing from Panera

Speaking of Panera, the Fuji Apple Salad is one of my favorites! I like to make different versions of it at home with this salad dressing, which I get at Target.

5. Ranier Cherries

Are you obsessed? BECAUSE I TOTALLY AM. I could happily eat an entire XXL bowl of these sweet and juicy cherries all by myself! Where I live in Northern California, though, the window to buy them is narrow. One week you see ’em, the next week you don’t. Poof! They’re gone until next year. So, whenever I run into them at the market, I buy as many as I can.

What have 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 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. Golden brown or reddish brown?

Golden brown, baby!

2. Skincare advice you’d give to your teenage self?

Girlfriend, step away from the Sea Breeze toner. DON’T DO IT! Also, get thee a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream ASAP, and don’t be chintzy with it, either.

3. Name three beauty products you’ve used today so far.

Korres Greek Yoghurt Cleanser, Skinceuticals CE Ferulic and Avene Solaire UV Mineral Multi-Defense Tinted Sunscreen Fluid…because I’ve keeping it “minimal” in the morning since we’re traveling and all.

4. Basil or cilantro?

Basil, please.

5. Who’s the best at doing makeup in your family?

Allegedly, it’s me, but I think Connor’s editorial style is much more interesting.

6. How do you like your toast?

I like it when my bread is lightly toasted. If it’s overdone in any way I won’t have anything to do with it! My teeth and I can’t deal with bread that feels like a scouring pad.

7. Pickles: dill or bread and butter?

Bread and butter; I like the hint of sweetness.

8. Boy George or George Michael?

DUDE. How can one even choose? I guess I’d go with George Michael since his songs were basically the soundtrack of my childhood and teens.

9. What’s something you have to remember to do this week?

I have to remember to reorder migraine medicine, or else I’m gonna be in a world of hurt!

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. Golden brown or reddish brown?
2. Skincare advice you’d give to your teenage self?
3. Name three beauty products you’ve used today so far.
4. Basil or cilantro?
5. Who’s the best at doing makeup in your family?
6. How do you like your toast?
7. Pickles: dill or bread and butter?
8. Boy George or George Michael?
9. What’s something you have to remember to do this week?

P.P.S. A bright and sunshine-y aloha to you this morning, sweet girl! It’s a new day, and I have a feeling you’re going to have a good one. Please take time to enjoy a simple pleasure — a hot cup of coffee, a hug from a loved one, a text from a dear friend. The small things are ultimately the big things, you know?

I’m going to try to take this to heart today, too. In case you missed it, I’m currently visiting family on Oahu who I haven’t seen since pre-pandemic times, and I’m especially enjoying the small things that I love and have missed doing. It’s amazing how much the beach (with warm water!) does for the heart and soul. ?

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Well, hi there, sweet cat ladies and dog ladies and bunny ladies and horse ladies and parrot ladies, and all my ladies!

If you saw a plane over your head somewhere around the San Francisco Bay Area early yesterday morning, FYI, that might’ve been me waving to you from the sky above. The fam-bam and I got out of dodge — REALLY OUT OF DODGE. We had an opportunity to take a last-minute trip to visit our family on Oahu (El Hub’s parents, who we haven’t seen in two years), so this Saturday Surfing is coming to you from the other side of the Pacific.

If you’re a new friend here, hi! My husband is from Hawaii (Oahu), and back in ye olden times before the pandemic, we’d go back to visit that side of the family once or twice a year, but the past year changed that, of course, so it’s been a long time. El Hub is going to be doing some work from here remotely, but he gets to do it from home with the family.

This particular water baby is looking forward to getting sand between her toes and dipping said toes into a warm blue ocean later this morning.

If you need me, I’ll be at the beach…

This week’s reading

• Everyone and their mother is launching a new skincare line! See: Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade, influencer Hyram Yarbro, and Vanessa Hudgens and Madison Beer.
• In case your strands were in need of a new scent!
• Important milestones for your feline bestie.
• Speaking of cats, here’s why they’re always swatting at things.
• Does the perfect MLBB lipstick exist?
• How to remove long-lasting makeup, according to a drag makeup artist.
• NYX becomes the first makeup brand to partner with an esports team.

I love me some gadgets.

I’m a little obsessed with Dr. V

Please talk to me about Vitamin C.

Like I said, I LOVE ME SOME GADGETS.

I may have watched her eyeshadow the entire time, LOL.

How are things going this weekend? How was your week? What are you up to?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How to play

Pick one or the other for each of the questions below, and copy/paste your answers in the comments. Can’t wait to see your picks! Mine are listed below. ?

This or That: The Skin Care Edition, Part II

• A matte dark navy liquid lipstick or a glossy YLBB (your lips but better) shade?
• Sugar lip scrubs: yes or no?
• Sticky or non-sticky gloss?
• Frosty lipstick or frosty lipgloss?
• ’90s-style brown matte lips or an early 2000s glossy lip?
• Overnight lip masks: necessary or unnecessary?
• Do you tend to wear “safe” lip combos you know well, or do you prefer edgier, more editorial lip looks?
• Lip plumping glosses that tingle: yes or no?
• Pick one: lipstick only, lipstick with gloss on top, or lipgloss only?
• Lip brushes: yes or no?
• Sunscreen lip balm: give it to me, or no thank you?
• Which of these have you finished down to the last drop: lipstick, lipgloss or lip liner?

A matte dark navy liquid lipstick or a glossy YLBB (your lips but better) shade?

Glossy YLBB, please.

Sugar lip scrubs: yes or no?

Naw, but I like ’em in theory!

Sticky or non-sticky gloss?

While I don’t mind either, I’ll take the non-sticky today because my hair is down, and I don’t want it to get stuck in my gloss… ?

Frosty lipstick or frosty lipgloss?

Frosty lipgloss, because most frosty lipsticks end up just sitting in my vertical lip lines after a couple hours (not a cute look).

’90s-style brown matte lips or a an early 2000s glossy lip?

OH, THIS IS SO HARD! I’ll go with the brown matte, but it has to be something approachable, like a pinkish-brown. The dark browns, much as I love ’em, make me look too vampiric!

Overnight lip masks: splurge or skip?

Skip.

Do you tend to wear “safe” lip combos you know well, or do you prefer edgier, more editorial lip looks?

Do you know me at all? Safe all the way! (Well, lately, at least.)

Lip plumping glosses that tingle: yes or no?

No thank you! I don’t need pain in my pucker.

Pick one: lipstick only, lipstick with gloss on top, or lipgloss only?

Lipstick only.

Lip brushes: yes or no?

NOPE!

Sunscreen lip balm: give it to me, or no thanks?

Give it to me, please and thank you. ?

Which of these have you finished down to the last drop: lipstick, lipgloss or lip liner?

It’s been a minute (a.k.a. a few years) since I’ve finished any one of them, but I’ve finished all three at different points in time.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! ?