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

Five Days –> Five Months –> Five Years

March 2nd, 2021 by Karen 23 Comments

Happy birthday to my kind-hearted, smart and funny little girl. Today she turns five years old! The last five years have passed in the blink of an eye! Everyone says that the days are long, and yet the years are short, and it’s so, so true.

Connor Claire enjoys coloring, counting numbers (the bigger the better!), and she especially enjoys reading. Her favorite books are the Disney 5-minute storybooks. Give her a story about Elsa and Anna from Frozen, and she’s one happy girl!

She’ll happily cook you a five-course meal (including dessert) in her play kitchen, or race you outside on her Pegasus, who lives in the imaginary stables right outside our house, along with all her other horses.

Currently, animals are a minor (actually major) obsession. She loves unicorns, horses and *all* the animals at the zoo. The other day she told me she wants to be a zookeeper when she grows up, but last week she wanted to be a marine biologist, and the week before that a veterinarian…

She likes to pass the time by building with her blocks or singing songs. She’s got a musical ear and knows how to stay on key, and she knows all the words to any and all the Disney princess songs with a big, belting chorus.

Dance is a big part of her life! She takes ballet classes and just started tap dancing class.

Pretty soon we’ll officially have a kindergartner on our hands, my friend, and I can’t wait to see how much she grows this year!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

March 2nd, 2021 by Karen 15 Comments

1. Doughnuts and tea

Is it “doughnut” or “donut?” Because I dough-not know. HAHAHA! Sorry…I had to go there. ?

My brother brought us some sweet treats from this place called Vegan Donut Gelato in Oakland the other day, and my life is forever changed. The Oreo cookie doughnut is, in a word, epic, especially with a cup of Earl Grey with a splash of half-and-half in it.

YUM!

2.ALL THE LOTIONS

Well, I guess having dry skin from head to toe is good for something? This week I’m trying a new retinol body lotion from Josie Maran and two things from First Aid Beauty — Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration and their Ultra Repair Firming Collagen Cream.

3. Close the window, calm the light

Sing it with me: “And it will be alright…”

I used to listen to the Rita Coolidge version of this song (We’re All Alone) on the radio when I was a kid… I hadn’t heard it in years, so when it randomly popped up on YouTube last week I clicked to listen and started reading the subtitles for the lyrics.

HOLY EFFING CRAP, I’ve been singing it wrong this whole time! I always thought it was “Close the window, come alive,” but nope. It’s “close the window, calm the light.” WHOOPS.

Another mind-blowing realization: the lyrics are kinda depressing. I never thought that deeply about them when I was kid, but yeah. I only heard the music and Rita’s soothing voice.

4. Doing liner with an angled brush and a powder eyeshadow

It’s been my jam lately. Easy to clean and super quick to do, and I like making the line super thin. Sometimes I’ll tightline with an additional liner, but sometimes I won’t.

5. Emma

The 2020 version of the movie directed by Autumn de Wilde, specifically. I watched it again last weekend, and I’m gonna watch it again the next chance I get. I love the pacing, the costumes, the acting, and you’re probably going to laugh, but I also really, REALLY love the sets and (weirdly) the paint colors they used for the different indoor rooms.

There are so many vibrant pastel greens and blues. Seriously, you should watch it just to admire the paint on the walls. Not kidding!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 667

March 1st, 2021 by Karen 20 Comments

good morning spring flower — To brighten your Monday! ?

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. Can you dance?

I want to say “YES!” because, you know…I just want to. 🙂 I used to take dance classes back in the day, and when I was in my 20s and early 30s, you would have found me dancing until the wee hours every weekend. Now, though? GIRL! My dance skills are questionable. I mean, I can still stay on the beat, but it’s not like I’m doing anything cool while I’m moving. My arms swing, my feet shuffle, but that’s about it.

Soooo, I guess my answer is “yes, kinda. But mostly no.” Hahaha!

2. Tote bag or backpack?

Backpack, because my hands need to be free!

3. Would you rather go running or swimming?

Swimming, ideally in a heated pool or a tropical sea, because I do not relish cold bodies of water.

4. Worst haircut you ever grew out?

There’ve been so many, but the one for the infamous Razor Incident of 1999 was the worst! A stylist at a bougie SF salon hacked away at my hair with a razor like she was cutting a path through the Amazon jungle with a machete.

It was a mess. The top part of my head puffed out, and the bottom half was super flat. I ended up with a mullet that took me two years to grow out.

As you can see…I never gotten over the trauma.

5. One of your favorite spring flowers?

All of them, but I particularly love freesia because they’re so dainty and fragrant. Note to self: plant some freesia bulbs this year.

6. Fringe or feathers?

Fringe. Why not?

7. What was your highest maintenance hairstyle?

It was in middle school in the late ’80s. I had this whole “hair bear” situation happening, and the prep work for it was INTENSE. Every morning, I curled my bangs, then cemented them into place with layer upon layer of hairspray.

It was huge! I swear, a strong breeze would have carried me away. It took about 30 minutes every day to do. All the girls did something similar, though. I remember what a big deal it was to go to school without your bangs, LOL! So silly. I should’ve just taken that time to sleep in.

8. How are your cat eyeliner skills these days?

100% adequate!

9. And how about your cat (as in the animal) assisting skills?

Totally on point, because I get a lot of practice assisting all of the neighborhood cats.

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. Can you dance?
2. Tote bag or backpack?
3. Would you rather go running or swimming?
4. Worst haircut you ever grew out?
5. One of your favorite spring flowers?
6. Fringe or feathers?
7. What was your highest maintenance hairstyle?
8. How are your cat eyeliner skills these days?
9. And how about your cat (as in the animal) assisting skills?

P.P.S. Hello, my friend. Wishing you a joyful and productive Monday. You’re strong, and you’ve got this. If you ever need a buddy to lean on, I’m here. ?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 648

February 28th, 2021 by Karen 6 Comments

Rosie is a multifaceted cat. Yes, she has a knack for numbers and science and logic, but she also loves getting lost in a good story. I found out that she really enjoys being read to, especially storybooks. We’ve gone through half of Connor’s library, and Rosie just can’t seem to get enough. Her favorites, surprisingly, are the picture books with a soft, dreamy feel to them. I think she likes exploring other worlds through fiction and stories.

She’s also a dreamer, which I didn’t expect based on our initial conversations about dark matter and astrophysics. I used to wonder if she ever led with her heart, and I think she just might. I catch her sometimes thoughtfully staring out into the distance watching butterflies and looking as though she’s crafting an elaborate storybook world in her head.

Well, duty calls. Rosie just asked if I’d read her another book (Hans Christian Andersen’s Complete Fairy Tales). A cat lady’s work is never done. 🙂

Of course storytelling always came naturally to Tabs. He was a true showman (cat?), after all. One of the things that made him such a great kitty model was his ability to convey a story with just his body, or with his eyes. He could convey the emotional depth in a 300-page novel with a single flick of his whiskers!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, February 27, 2021

February 27th, 2021 by Karen 14 Comments

Good morning, my friend! Rise and shine, morning glory! I see signs of spring around these parts! I know we’re still a ways away, but just think — pretty soon the trees will be filled with lush, green leaves and pink and white flowers. This year the Lady Sanctuary is gonna be LIT! LOL. ?

lady sanctuary with coycoy reading — The lady sanctuary: for girls only!

coycoy reading in lady sanctuary — We’re going to read so many books out there…

This weekend we’re celebrating Coywolf’s 5th birthday. It’s actually March 2, but we’re doing a few things this weekend to celebrate. The festivities kick off today with a small outdoor get-together with a couple of the children from the neighborhood with cupcakes and pizza. The two children are brothers (4 and 6) that Connor plays with all the time, and I’m hoping that even though it’ll just be a few socially distant kids and a low-key party, Connor will really enjoy it.

Truth be told, way back before 2019, I originally envisioned Connor’s fifth birthday would be a Disney princess blowout at Disneyland, but ya know, pandemic times. We gotta adapt.

After the party today, the fun continues tomorrow when we spend the day with her uncle outdoors at the San Francisco Zoo! ???

Anywho, that’s what’s going on here. What are you up to?

BECCA is going out of business.
Bright, dewy undereyes? Yes, please!
These entrepreneurs show that science can be smart and stylish.
My makeup spirit animal Sir John predicts these three beauty trends will be big.
Fun fact for your next trivia night: hair embroidery used to be a thing.
NOOOOOOO! Caroline Hirons says she’s leaving YouTube!
Typology is a minimalist French brand to keep on your radar (side note: I just put a crap ton of stuff in my cart).
Allegedly this is how to make your cat use a freaking litter mat. Um, good luck with that!
This may be the world’s oldest pet cemetery.

LOVE this whole look

I’ve had this on repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat… ?

LEGEND

Note to self

Yet again, NOTE TO SELF

Have a great weekend!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Smudged Cat Eye | Day 4 With the Honest Beauty Get It Together Eyeshadow Palette

February 26th, 2021 by Karen 9 Comments

honest beauty smudged cat eye side — Today’s smudged cat eyes; I really love this!

Leave it to the cat lady to love a smudged cat eye, hahaha! This is yet another look — I’ll say “inspired by” the tutorial card that comes with the Honest Beauty Get It Together Eyeshadow Palette.

honest beauty smudged cat eye swatches — Just four eyeshadows

The tutorial suggests using the beige shade all over the lid as a base, but I thought that might look a little weird on me, so I buffed the matte brown shade (Soft Bronze) on top of the beige to define my crease.

Gosh, these shadows blend so well! But that’s just one of the great things about this palette.

Can we talk about lips for a second, because I need to know if anyone else out there has been into tinted lip balms lately? They’re SO MY JAM, which is kinda funny because until recently I’ve been solidly Team Liquid Lipstick for the last few months. My previous lip logic was that if I’m going to wear something on my pout during the pandemic…it had to last long enough under my mask to ensure that I wouldn’t have to keep removing my mask to reapply it.

I know, interesting logic. ?

Turns out tinted balms are a great no-drama/low-effort option, since I can 1) easily apply one without a mirror (doing it right now, as a matter of fact), and 2) remove it just as quickly with a tissue when I’m about to mask up. Plus, hello moisture! (Side note: my lips have been dry lately.)

This sheer plum tinted balm by Origins is called Night Bloom, and it’s low-key epic in terms of moisture. I get old-school Clinique Black Honey vibes from the color because it looks crazy dark in the tube, but it’s just a sheer plummy tint when it’s applied.

Night Bloom pairs really well with mauves, taupes, browns and bronzes, a.k.a. all of the colors in the Honest Beauty Get It Together Palette. It’s also sheer enough to wear with just bare skin and mascara.

In case you’re wondering, it smells and tastes a little minty, but it’s not overwhelming.

origins night bloom — Moisturizing, sheer and just lovely

Another thing I’ve been into: the look of barely-there blush. MAC Warm Soul is great for this!

honest beauty eye palette mac warm soul — Love ya, MAC Warm Soul!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! ?

Classic Smokey Eyes | Day 3 With the Honest Beauty Get It Together Eyeshadow Palette

February 25th, 2021 by Karen 5 Comments

The Honest Beauty eyeshadow palette comes with a card with four looks you can do with the palette. I followed the one called “Classic Smoky Eye” for this post, although with one tweak. I started by buffing the matte beige shade (Vanilla’d Velvet) all over my lids as a base so the subsequent colors would pop a little more.

I was a wee bit nervous about using the shimmery gold all over my lids and the shimmery dark purple on the outer corner because…I’m in my 40s now, and shine doesn’t always play well with my 40-something skin, particularly in the crease. Some may even say that I’m “overly picky about shimmery finishes,” *ahem*. Can you blame me though? One false move and you see every fine line!

Buuuut, I decided to go for it anyway, hoping that the matte beige underneath would tone down the shine, and it did!

As I was blending, I realized another reason to love this palette. The more you buff and swirl these shadows, the less intensely they shine, until they have more of a satiny finish. The finish ends up as a soft, pearly glow, which makes this classic smokey eye very workable for daytime wear! When I dropped Connor off at school this morning, I didn’t feel like I was wearing “too much.”

Oh, I’ve been meaning to tell you — I found the most beautiful cream blush by Chanel! It’s Les Beiges Blush No. 20, a stick blush, $45 (!), but dang, lady! It’s so good. It’s a bronzy, peachy tan with the finest flecks of pearly gold, and it adds a hint of natural-looking color to cheeks. I love how easy it is to blend and that I can’t see it sitting on top of my skin or in my pores.

If you’re a real stickler for blush that doesn’t heavy on your cheeks, then you might want to consider it because it’s so natural-looking on skin.

FYI, if you’re lighter than I am, No. 20 will probably function more as a straight-up bronzer on your skin, and if you’re darker, then you might better off with one of Chanel’s brighter cream blushes like No. 21 or No. 22, since I’m betting No. 20 won’t show up as readily on darker skin.

Other things I’ve been into lately: mixing two shades of Honest Beauty liquid lipstick, namely Passion and Off Duty, to create the purrfect mid-toned coral pink; and wearing an old-school standby base combination with MAC Face and Body (I mix C4 and C5), set with the tiniest smidgen of MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder (my shade is Medium Golden).

Seriously, why did I ever take a break from wearing Face and Body? IT’S SO GOOD, especially for no-makeup makeup. I’ve talked about it ad nauseam on MBB for years, so if you’re relatively new here and want to know more about why it’s the stuff, hit me up in the comments and I will repeat myself once again, LOL! LOVE IT.

Oh, my gosh, one last thing before I leave you — have you seen the Britney Spears documentary on Hulu? I kept hearing about it, and I told myself, “OK, I’ll give this 10 minutes of my life, and that’s it,” but then I started watching it and I COULD. NOT. LOOK. AWAY.

The one-hour documentary by The New York Times charts Britney’s rise to fame, her very public issues in the press in the early 2000s, and the conservatorship that was placed on her in 2008, which some people believe was against her will. Some conspiracy theorists go so far as to think that her Instagram is an entire series of coded cries for help.

As you might know, I’m solidly on #TeamBritney, and so watching the doc left me with the hope that one day she’ll surprise us all (in the best possible, emotionally healthy way).

To Britney and all my ladies out there currently holding on, make that delicious lemonade out of those lemons, mama. You hang in there!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Mauve Smokey Eyes | Day 2 With the Honest Beauty Get It Together Eyeshadow Palette

February 24th, 2021 by Karen 9 Comments

I followed Jessica A’s tutorial to do this mauve smokey eye with the Honest Beauty Get It Together! It was pretty easy too…which of course you know I liked. ?

Here are the eyeshadows I used…

Base: Matte beige vanilla (Vanill’d Velvet) buffed from lash line to brow bone
Lid and crease: Satiny coppery brown (Sunlit Copper) on lids and in the crease in a half moon shape for soft definition
Outer half: Satiny dark mauve-plum (Chromed Petal) blended onto the outer half (Side note: at this point, I cleaned up the edges with a makeup wipe.)
Upper lash line: Matte black (Magnetic Ink) applied with a wet brush on the upper lash line
Inner corner: Shimmery gold (Strobed Champagne) mixed shimmery light pink (Iced cotton)

Pretty much, I followed everything she did step by step. The only tweak I made was buffing a couple of layers of the matte beige shade, Vanilla’d Velvet, all over my lids first to give the other eyeshadows a smoother base (handy when you don’t want to apply a separate eye primer first).

In the video Jessica calls the palette the most “non-intimidating” eyeshadow palette, and I have to agree! The colors work perfectly with each other, and they’re easy to blend. It’s the most interesting product to cross my makeup path in a while, and I’m almost excited to wear eyeshadow again.

Ooh! — speaking of shocking developments, I can’t believe I almost forgot to tell you this, but last weekend Rosie and I got a solid FOUR HOURS of quality “meow time” together on Saturday. I almost didn’t know what to do with myself because it was the first time I had a block of time alone in the house in I don’t know how long! El Hub took Connor fishing at Bon Tempe Lake, so I was left to my own devices at home.

The lake is absolutely beautiful, BTW! We all went for the first time a couple weeks ago. It’s clear like a mini Lake Tahoe.

So, even though El Hub and I have been living in Marin County for almost 15 years now (YOWZA), I don’t really consider myself a local because I’m originally from the other side of the Bay, which, honestly might as well be a completely different planet. Anyway, my point is that I don’t know how to pronounce the names of all the places around here. I incorrectly assumed that “Bon Tempe” was French for “good time,” so I was saying it with my lame high school French accent, “BAHN THAMP.”

Then, my neighbor, who grew up in this area, politely informed me that it’s “BON TEMP-Y.”

HAHAHA! I’ve been saying it all bougie-fied this entire time… Whoops! ?‍♀️

There’s a trail that goes around the entire lake that’s about 4 miles long, so if you’re in the mood for a pretty gentle hike (nothing too steep or strenuous), it’s a good one with beautiful views of the water the entire time. FYI, there aren’t any bathrooms along the way…soooo 1) if you like to drink copious amounts of water, and 2) your bladder is about the size of a pea like someone’s I know (AHEM), you may want to wear pants that you can pull on and off quickly in case ya need to pop a squat behind a tree… I’m just sayin’! ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen