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

Hiya, beautiful! Ah, deep breath in… Deep breath out… We made it to the weekend! (And I’m assuming you’re still in one piece?! I really hope so.)

I’m in the mood for coffee and a chocolate croissant this morning because I just finished binge watching this show on Netflix…

It’s from Darren Star, the guy who also did Sex and the City, and if you and your brain desperately need to be transported to a light and fluffy, frothy universe for a few hours…it’s the way to go. It’s about an American girl who works in marketing and moves to Paris — without knowing a lick of French, SAY WHAT?! — for a new job. It’s a little soapy, a little corny, and not remotely close to realistic at all, but it’s lots of fun! I warn you…by the end of the season, you may find yourself craving a baguette, a hunk of cheese and a glass of bubbly. ?

If I get any alone time by myself this weekend, I just might rewatch a few episodes.

Anywho, grab your breakfast wine coffee or tea, and settle down for a bit with this week’s reading…

• Thick black eyeliner and matte smokey eyes are ’90s eye makeup trends that are supposed to be major next year. What say you? I’m totally down with this, 100%.
• Makeup artists break down how to seamlessly apply and blend concealer.
• Monochromatic smokey copper eyes are having a moment this fall.
• What ceramides can do for your skin, and how to add these powerful ingredients to your routine.
• According to dermatologists, here are changes you can make to your skin care as we head deeper into fall and winter.
• Interesting read —-> “Human hair is a valuable commodity traded across international borders.”
• Beauty experts weigh in on how to get healthier-looking hair if yours won’t stop thinning or straight-up falling out.
• Calling all of my friends who live in Wisconsin! I really need to know if this perfume, Eau de Wisconsin, really does smell like your state.
• Funky animal scents used to be popular with royalty back in the day. ???

I think the fam-bam and I are going to Marin French Cheese for a picnic this afternoon. It’s starting to feel like fall in the mornings around here, but we’re supposed to see a little sun today and/or tomorrow, so we’re going to take advantage of it as much as possible.

What are you up to? I hope you’re doing well.

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. One must-have product you keep in your purse at all times (besides your wallet, keys and phone)?

I would love to answer this with something quirky, like a tube of green paint or an ice cream scoop (both of which have been in my little black backpack lately), but the real answer is something decidedly more practical — an asthma inhaler. So not exciting, but necessary!

2. What’s your favorite pie?

Still trying to figure this out, which is why I recently embarked upon what I call “The Epic Pie Quest of Fall/Winter 2020.” It’s why I tried making lemon meringue pie for the first time last week.

As of this morning, I’m about 80% sure my favorite’s pecan pie, but I’m leaving wiggle room in case I find something I like more.

3. One thing you still have from your childhood?

Three scars, none of which I remember getting. I’ve just always remembered having them, but I’ve been told how they appeared. Two of them are small oval-shaped marks, one on each shoulder, which were from immunizations I got as a kid, and I also have a tiny divot on my forehead that I got from chicken pox when I was four.

4. Eyeliner: purple or bronze?

BOTH! But if I had to choose one, I’d go with a dark plummy purple.

5. What color was your prom dress?

It was a black skirt with a white top, which was surprisingly conservative now that I think about it. I took a lot of fashion risks when I was in high school and dressed kinda wacky, so I’m shocked I didn’t go with something colorful.

6. Least favorite color?

Baby poo green, blah!

7. What’s the weirdest word in the English language?

Fork. No question about it. Because when you say “fork” over and over again, it starts to sound like nonsense. Fork, fork, fork, fork, fork!

8. Stairs or elevator?

Stairs, because 1) I wear tennis shoes everywhere now so my footwear is no longer an obstacle (a legit issue for me back in the early aughts), and 2) I gotta get my steps in whenever and wherever I can.

9. A makeup skill you’re pretty good at?

Dainty winged liner is my jam, lady. I can do it pretty quickly on the fly!

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. One must-have product you keep in your purse at all times (besides your wallet, keys and phone)?
2. What’s your favorite pie?
3. One thing you still have from your childhood?
4. Eyeliner: purple or bronze?
5. What color was your prom dress?
6. Least favorite color?
7. What’s the weirdest word in the English language?
8. Stairs or elevator?
9. A makeup skill you’re pretty good at?

P.P.S. Stay calm and steady on this beautiful Monday, sweet friend. Good things are coming your way! ?

Happy Caturday, my friend! I hope you have a sweet treat on your breakfast plate this morning (sprinkle cake perhaps?). I have grand designs on a slice of lemon meringue pie (sans meringue), my second one ever, because the gluten-free one I made last night did NOT turn out hella wackadoo (unlike the first one). If I may say so myself, it’s actually pretty good! ?

Now, this does not apply to the one I made before the one last night.

That one was downright terrible…

It was my first crack at lemon meringue, so I’m not stressing it, but it was borderline comical how bad it turned out.

The custard was runny. The meringue was overbeaten. And I somehow missed adding the half cup of butter the recipe called for (whoops!).

When Connor and I took the first bite and I said, “Oh, dear. We have to throw this out,” Connor said, “It’s OK, mama. This was just a practice pie. You just have to keep practicing so you can get better and better.”

AWWW!

In addition to further “practicing pie” this weekend, I intend to reunite with Tom Ford African Violet (pictured at the top), otherwise known as “my favorite fall purple.” I looked it up today to see if it was still available, and — le sigh! — it appears to have been discontinued.

If you’re looking for something similar, FYI, Essie Flowerista is a good option.

Onto today’s beauty reading!

• Dear Astronauts on the International Space Station who will be doing beauty blogger stuff with Estée Lauder products in zero gravity…do any of you need some tips from a 10+ year beauty blogging veteran? Because if you do, I’m here for you, and I can be ready to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy faster than you can say, “skin care serum in the stars.” ?‍??
• RIP Lillian Brown. She was the makeup artist who covered the dark circles, matted down the shiny spots and concealed blemishes on nine US presidents. She also painted the faces of many first ladies as well.
• Speaking of beauty and politics colliding…
• Meet Pakistani American Kirin Bhatty, a Hollywood makeup artist who’s worked with a diverse lineup of on-screen talent, including Awkwafina in Crazy Rich Asians and The Farewell, and Frieda Pinto on Slumdog Millionaire.
• How to avoid common mistakes when doing your makeup if you have dark skin, according to makeup artist Scott Osbourne.
• Stuff on sale up to 50% off at Ulta…
• A full makeup breakdown of J. Lo’s latest look via Mary Philips.
• I am low-key obsessed with Frédéric Malle.
• Is high-tech skin care worth the price?
• For your fun fact file: the Air Force is allowing servicemen to grow out their hair a little bit more.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen