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Practical Things I Like: Caraa Non-Medical Masks

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caraa mask review universal brights
These cheerful ? masks by Caraa are the most comfy masks I’ve found.

These masks by Caraa (a New York travel bag company) are THE BEST masks I’ve tried since March, and I’m not just saying that because the colors are conducive to matching with eyeshadow and eyeliner, hahaha!

I got these after a recommendation from a friend who, using “The Patented Mom Scientific Method” (LOL), ordered several masks from a ton of different brands and had her kids be guinea pigs try them out. Based on all of the masks they tested — and there were a lot of them, apparently! — the Caraas won. The kids *and* adults loved them particularly because of how comfy they are.

coco caraa kids mask

coco caraa kids mask

After wearing them for a couple weeks, I completely agree. These are fabulous! The best masks I’ve found…which is a sentence I’ll filing away in my “Sentences One Does Not Expect to Write, Ever” and “Things One Says During a Pandemic” folders.

Customizable to fit your face

The secret sauce is how adjustable they are!

Each mask has a lightweight, bendable wire tucked into the top seam that rests on the bridge of your nose, and it holds the masks firmly in place so they aren’t constantly slipping down your face.

That’s just the start of it though.

The loops that go around your ears also have these plastic pincher things that toggle up and down the loop so you can easily tighten or loosen them to fit.

caraa universal mask adult
Toggles!

The masks themselves are double layer 100% cotton and sufficiently breathable without being flimsy. The cotton on the inner portion feels slightly thinner than some of the more robust masks I’ve tried, and I’ve read that the inner layer wicks away moisture. I’ve definitely noticed that, compared to other masks I’ve worn, the Caraas feel less humid and damp after wearing them for a while, and my glasses don’t fog up as much as they do when I wear other masks.

caraa universal mask adult
The inner lining

I guess I have a weirdly shaped head or lopsided ears or something because this is the *only* mask I don’t feel the need to constantly adjust every few minutes. I pop it on, and it stays put for hours, so I’m free to go forth on my merry way spreading glittery sparkly joy. No, really though…I’ve used masks that’ve been too hot or too tight or rubbed up against my chin, or they caused my glasses to fog up and therefore left me extremely crabby, but that never happens with the Caraas!
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 642

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show up
Just keep showing up, my friend.

So…what is the Monday Poll?

First of all, it’s late! SO LATE TODAY! I got carried away gardening and trying to beat the heat this morning, and I only just now realized the poll hadn’t gone up. WHOOPS! Better late than never.

As for what the Monday Poll is, in technical terms? Well, it’s a list of more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday 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. Your favorite type of taco?

    I love a battered fish taco with lots of veggies, crema sauce and lime wedges FOR DAYS. I could be left alone with a big platter, and I’d be a happy camper. I’m also a big fan of shrimp tacos…

    2. Light, medium or full-coverage base?

    I’m going with light today, but ideally something highly moisturizing because my skin has been so dry lately… I think it’s because of all the wildfire smoke! Like, my cheeks hurt when I smile. ? I’ve been drinking a ton of water and slathering Avene on my face, and it still hurts.

    3. Have you ever fixed a broken piece of makeup?

    I’ve stuck broken lipstick bullets back into their tubes, but that’s about it!

    4. When was the last time you went to a museum?

    Gosh, it’s been a minute… I believe the last time was 2018, and it was an exhibit at the Asian Art Museum.

    5. Gel pen or mechanical pencil?

    This is the Sophie’s choice of writing utensils for me, FOR REAL… Mechanical pencil, I guess, because they’re erasable, and I need all the flexibility that I can get in my life right now.

    6. Crab, lobster or shrimp?

    Mmmm… All of them. ?

    But if I have to pick one…crab please.

    7. Winged liner, smokey eyes or cut crease?

    Winged liner in a dark brown!

    8. What time did you get up this morning?

    I really wanted to sleep in a little, but my body (and my cat) demanded that I get up at 5 this morning. So rude!

    9. Hair spray, gel or mousse?

    I’ll take a soft hold gel, thanks!

    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. Your favorite type of taco?
    2. Light, medium or full-coverage base?
    3. Have you ever fixed a broken piece of makeup?
    4. When was the last time you went to a museum?
    5. Gel pen or mechanical pencil?
    6. Crab, lobster or shrimp?
    7. Winged liner, smokey eyes or cut crease?
    8. What time did you get up this morning?
    9. Hair spray, gel or mousse?

    P.P.S. Have a wonderful rest of your day, OK? Try to focus on the good, and smile if you can. I ABSOLUTELY recognize that it isn’t always possible to focus on the good OR to smile, as I can attest to firsthand, but they can make a world of difference when possible. ?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 623

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Today’s been the hottest day of the year, man! We’re pushing 109! It is crazy hot.

Tabs, of course, loved days like this. He thought the heat brought out the richness of his fur…

He would have been lounging by a body of water somewhere on a day like this, sipping champagne…

Traditional fashion photography rules advise against taking pics during the hottest, brightest time of day because of the harsh shadows, but Tabs didn’t go for that. He loved kitty modeling in full sun and was like JJ Abrams when it came to lens flares.

Rosie, on the other paw, would rather relax inside the house with a cool beverage than work her angles in the hot sun…

The coywolf and I appreciate the merits of both approaches. We’ll hit a couple poses in the sun before retreating to someplace with ice cream and AC inside. ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, Sep. 5, 2020

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Happy Labor Day weekend, guys. ? If you need me, you’ll find me in the front yard, otherwise known as “The neverending project that has haunted me for months.” I’ll be knee-deep in dirt today because we’re laying down sod…which leads me to these beauties! El Hub came home with these Improved Meyer Lemon trees from Costco the other day. He knocked on the front door, and when I opened it said, “Look what I got for ya!” (I’m picky about my lemons and have been known to ramble on and on about the virtues of the Meyer lemon.)

I often see these big, bushy lemon trees around the neighborhood, so I’m hoping that will happen with these guys, and the day will come when I’ll be so overloaded with lemons that I won’t even know what to do with myself. I’ll be making pasta al limone and lemon bars left and right! ? Let’s manifest that food dream, shall we? LOL!

Now, while I go set this citrus vision in motion, here’s your beauty reading for the week… ?


One of my favorite movies, ever. Easily top ten!


Fun fact: I used to eat at a Thai restaurant in Marin County where Bonnie Raitt was known to hang out, but I never saw here there.


Awww


I just watched Salma Hayek in a movie with Alec Baldwin called “Drunk Parents,” and her comic timing is impeccable. Love her!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

FOTD: Matte Monochromatic Makeup in Rusty Brown Tones (And With One Eyeshadow!)

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mac devoted to chili k down smile
This eye look involves just one eyeshadow!

Some days, you wanna wear three eyeshadows, or maybe even four or five. Or six if you’re feeling extra feisty! Other days, you just wanna wear one, and that’s what happening here in this matte monochromatic makeup look.

Gosh, don’t you love a little alliteration? I certainly do.

Now this is one of those looks that seems more complicated than it actually is. I didn’t use many products. Like, for starters, the eye look only involves one eyeshadow, and it’s a very intense rusty, reddish brown matte from MAC called Devoted to Chili.

mac devoted to chili fotd k front smile

It’s one of the new MAC Powder Kiss Matte Eye Shadows, and it’s $20. (You can also buy it as a single pan without a case for $9.)

I’ve tried a few of them, and they’re super intense when you first pile them on, but they also blend and buff out beautifully. You can layer them to amplify the saturation, and yet even when you do, they don’t look heavy on your lids, which is unusual for mattes. Every one I’ve tried so far has impressed me!

mac fotd devoted to chili swatch
Living that NC42 life

Devoted to Chili is one of those eyeshadows that looks like it would be super scary, because it’s just *so* red in the pan, but, particularly if you wear orangey browns like MAC Texture or Saddle or Soft Brown well, Devoted to Chili really pops on lids. It works very well on warm-toned skin.

mac devoted to chili fotd products
Key products in this look

And that’s it for the eyeshadow. ONE SHADE!

I mean, there’s also some liner action happening, too, but that was easier. Just a little bronze liner smudged along my lower lash line (MAC Teddy) and bronzy brown MAC Powersurge on my lower water lines.

So the eyes were easy, peasy, lemon squeezy.

Another thing that makes the look a little more glamorous is the repetition of that rusty brown matte eyeshadow shade on my lips. The liquid lipstick is also from MAC and called Devoted to Chili (also from the new Powder Kiss collection).

mac devoted to chili fotd k side

I applied it directly from the wand, where I think it looks soft and approachable. I didn’t want my lips to look too crisp or “done,” since the color is a very ’90s lipstick shade, but if you want to go full-on ’90s, I’d suggest using a reddish brown pencil liner instead, and be sure to sharpen it until the tip can cut glass if you do! Something like MAC Mahogany Lip Pencil would totally work. Then, after applying the lipstick, line your lips with the pencil, and leave it as is. Don’t blend it, because you want to see that strong edge.

Or, just wear it like this. ? It’s up to you. Next time I wear this combo, I’m going channel my inner ’90s diva, methinks.

One last thing — since the eye and lip colors here are so intense, I pulled back a bit on the blush by going with nude tones. I used a mix of two nude MAC Glow Play Blushes, which are the creams that came out a few months ago, and yes, they’re epically easy to blend. Also yes, they’re still available!

Makeup worn in this look

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This or That: Lipstick Edition

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mac lipsticks national lipstick day
Smooch!

Anybody else out there really miss wearing lipstick when they’re out and about? I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately, with fall — which usually means the return of dark, vampy lips — just around the corner. Sometimes I still wear lipstick ? around the house…and sometime I’ll rock a thin layer of liquid matte lipstick underneath my mask (which seems to transfer the least).

Anywho, it’s time for another round of This or That!

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. ?

Copy and paste

  • Matte or cream finish?
  • Coral or rose?
  • Sheer or pigmented?
  • Blended or unblended lip liner?
  • Overdrawn or not?
  • Orangey reds or bluish reds?
  • Brown or pastel?
  • Lip brush or straight from the tube?

Matte or cream finish?

I love both, but I’ll go with matte because I like how it photographs.

Coral or rose?

Coral, 100%.

Sheer or pigmented?

Pigmented, please. I like the flexibility.

Blended or unblended lip liner?

Unblended. I know, I know…but I’ve been feeling ’90s makeup lately, and I think the unblended lip looks cool.

Overdrawn or not?

Not, although I have done the whole overdrawn lip liner thing before; it’s just one of those phases you need to work through, LOL!

Orangey reds or bluish reds?

YARGH. This is hard. I guess orangey reds!

Brown or pastel shades?

Brown.

Lip brush or straight from the tube?

Straight from the tube, baby.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen ?

FOTD: A Clean Makeup Look With Chocolate Wings and Matte Peach and Pink Tones

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mac mull it over powder kiss liquid lipcolour k front smile
Forever loving and wearing peachy pink and chocolate brown tones!

Yesterday was a good day because 1) I managed to put on some makeup, and I felt really good about it (especially the base, because dang, it’s been a minute since I’ve mixed and layered and just played, ya know?), and 2) I did something almost, well…normal.

Connor’s fall dance classes started yesterday, so I took her to her dance studio for the first time since February? March? I can’t remember. It’s been a loooong time.

Underneath that mask is a smile a mile wide!

It’s still hard for me to believe it was somewhere we went every week for two years…

Anyway, she started doing outdoor, socially-distanced dance classes this week, so for the first time in six months I dropped her off to do something without me, and yeah, I teared up a little. Happy tears, though, because she was overjoyed to do something with other kids. ?

All the dance friends!

While she danced, I ran errands around town and popped into TJs, where it occurred to me that once upon a time, in pre-pademic life, days like this were commonplace, and I didn’t give them a second thought, but yesterday it just felt SO GOOD. Maybe it was because it was a little taste of normal life again, which made it that much sweeter.

Regarding my makeup, I’m wearing chocolate brown wings on my lash lines here, along with matte peach and pink tones on my lids, cheeks and lips. It’s a very clean, classic look.

I put a little more effort into the base than I usually do, and I think it made a difference. I started by applying a foundation primer, then mixed a full-coverage foundation with a pearly illuminating lotion and buffed a thin layer of that all over my face.

Next, I mixed a couple drops of face oil into a medium-to-full coverage concealer, then applied it in thin layers on my cheeks, nose and around my mouth, taking care to seamlessly blend all of the layers together.

To finish, I set everything with the lightest dusting of loose powder…

What I like about this type of base is that you get a good amount of coverage, but it doesn’t look or feel heavy!

Oh, and one last thing — I test drove a few new-ish things in this look from MAC and Laura Mercier for the first time. I used a couple of the Powder Kiss Soft Matte Eye Shadows, a MAC Powder Kiss Liquid Lipstick and a Laura Mercier Translucent Honey Loose Powder. I’ll let ya know how I feel about them after I’ve had some time to ruminate!

mac mull it over power kiss liquid lipcolour
When simple-looking makeup is deceptively complicated, LOL!
mac mull it over best of me what clout
Yeah, man, I’m still an NC42!

mac mull it over powder kiss liquid lipcolour k down smile

mac mull it over powder kiss liquid lipcolour closeup
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Summer Faves and Raves: Stila Convertible Color, Complete Harmony Lip & Cheek Stick, Double Dip Suede Shade and More!

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stila summer faves
Current summer faves from Stila

Can you believe it’s September? I can’t. It’s already the first month of fall! That’s craziness. Time really doesn’t give an eff how topsy-turvy the world gets. It just keeps on keepin’ on…

I guess makeup is kinda similar in a way… The world around us may be b-a-n-a-n-a-s, but you can count on that pan of Stila cream blush to keep doing its thing.

Speaking of Stila, their makeup has been a nice respite from the stress of this summer, which so far has been a era in which I’ve been doing things I never thought I would, like drafting a six-page family pandemic emergency response plan, or writing a pros/cons list to send Connor back to preschool — a list that includes Health Department metrics for COVID.

Like I said, bananas! ?

But blush is just blush. Nothing more, nothing less. And there’s something comforting about that.

Here are some of my faves from Stila I’ve been having fun with this summer…

Convertible Color in Peony and Gerbera, $25 each

This creamy blush blends seamless gradients and dries to a satin finish, all while adding soft, translucent color to cheeks. My pick for tanned and darker skin is Peony, a brownish rose, which I adore and have been wearing a ton for 5-minute makeup looks. If your skin is lighter than mine, try Gerbera, a rosy peachy pink.

Complete Harmony Lip & Cheek Stick in Sheer Gerbera, Sheer Lilium and Sheer Peony, $26 each

Like the Convertible Colors, these twist-up cream sticks can be worn on cheeks and lips. They’re like a less expensive NARS Multiple, but much sheerer ($26 vs. $39), so if you’re into barely-there, natural-looking cheeks and lips and a matte finish, they just might be your new favorite thing.

stila swatches summer faves
My skin tone (for the official makeup record) is NC42

Double Dip Suede Shade & Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows in Camera Ready, $24

I’m a little obsessed with this long-wearing cream shadow duo, which comes with a velvety matte purple on one side and a glittery purple on the other, because it’s one of the fastest ways I know to do an easy colorful look. Start by sweeping the velvety matte from your lash line and fading up toward the crease and brow bone. Then push the glitter toward the base of your lashes before coating them with mascara. Takes all but five minutes!

creamy dreamy purples side view glitter
I’m wearing Camera Ready on my lids, Peony on my cheeks and lips, and Magnum Mascara on my lashes!

Heaven’s Hue Highlighter in Bronze, $32

Creamy and soft to the touch (so easy to blend with just fingers!), this golden bronze highlighting powder lights up skin with a warm, shimmery glow.
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