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

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 602

April 12th, 2020 by Karen 6 Comments

Hoppy Easter! ?? Yup, there’s a little-known fact about Tabs and Easter. You see, Tabs was the one who hid the Easter eggs around the neighborhood for all the children and cats.

Thing is, he filled them with cat treats, so his efforts weren’t always appreciated.

He definitely loved dressing up on Easter Sunday. Granted, he loved dressing up every day of the week… ?

He taught Connor everything he knew about fashion and Easter egg hunting.

This morning, Coywolf, El Hub and I had our family Easter egg hunt right outside in the neighborhood common area. It was a little more low-key than usual, but still very fun.

Unfortunately, Pretty Girl Rosie didn’t want anything to do with the hunt. She opted instead to catch up on her beauty sleep on top of El Hub’s stinky flannel shirt.

Prime napping real estate, in case you were unaware. ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, April 11, 2020

April 11th, 2020 by Karen 5 Comments

saturday surfing easter eggs makeup — Happy Saturday, sweet girl!

Welcome to Saturday, mi amiga! ? At least I think it’s Saturday… I really don’t know. The days have been blurring together lately, so I’m like 75% sure? — which is good enough for now, ha ha ha.

OK, so, last night I had the weirdest dream. I was cutting my hair at home during, strangely enough, the daytime, and not in the dead of night, which would seem more likely given my history with spontaneous haircuts, and instead of trimming the ends, touching up the layers or slicing some sassy side-swept bangs, I put a bowl on top of my head, and gave myself a bowl cut.

A. BOWL. CUT. ?

via GIPHY

Shockingly, it ended up looking good, like a legit salon professional pulled it off. My hair was even on both sides, and the bowl shape was perfectly round. After I was done, I blew it out so the strands would lay all sleek and smooth, then went out into the world to show off my new ‘do.

I WAS WORKING THAT BOWL CUT, TOO, tossing my mane around in slow motion like it was a Pantene commercial. I guess that’s what happens when you read a lot of articles on how to cut your own hair at home…

There are a couple of them in today’s list of links, but none are devoted solely to the perfect at-home bowl cut, in case you were wondering. ?

“Behind every successful man is a strong woman color-correcting his butt.” <---- Best line I read all week.
Experts say that sticking to your regular routines — including putting on makeup — can help boost your mood, even during uncertain times like these.
Ulta is furloughing employees, and their executives are forgoing their salaries.
The Makeup Museum is launching a new exhibit online called Generations of Beauty, with the goal of supporting lonely seniors (shout-out to the grandparents!) during the pandemic.
Guess what? Professional hair stylists do not recommend burning off your split ends with, ya know, fire. ? Here are their pro tips for doing a not-so-terrible job of cutting your own hair at home. ?
Oh, and if you need a pair of clippers for your haircut, here are the best ones, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Factories that used to make perfume, tees and cars are now making supplies to help in the coronavirus crisis.
Note to self: When we can all go out and play again, smell all of these perfumes with rose notes, and add the ones I love ❤️ to my collection.

Apparently, videos with choreography to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September” are a thing.

Here’s another one!

Look at these littles!

Allegedly, when I play this video, I play it for Connor, but really, I’m the one who loves dancing to it, ha ha ha!

We will meet again (also, please note the Queen’s orange lipstick).

My favorite Madonna video of all time

Don’t stop believing.

I love you, Lisa, but truth be told, I mostly watched this to see your cat. ?

Be extra nice to yourself, today, ok? And drop me a line in the comments to let me know what you’re up to for Easter. We’re still sheltering-in-place here at home… I’ll be making an easy Easter brunch for us. Got plans for strawberry scones, a breakfast egg and sausage casserole and gluten-free blueberry pancakes.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Low Key “No-Makeup” Makeup With Creams (MAC Pro Face Palettes)

April 10th, 2020 by Karen 11 Comments

If the day ever comes when an inquisitive young child asks me about the meaning behind Prince’s song, Cream, I’m going to tell her it’s about cream makeup. Cream blush, cream eyeshadow and cream foundation.

CREAM!

Prince loved wearing makeup, so why wouldn’t he write a song about cream products? ?

And should I ever be moved to compose a catchy tune about creams (because I’d have to write a love song about cream, obvs!), I would have to dedicate a verse to how cream eyeshadow and blush look on skin — like you’re wearing makeup, but not the heavy, powdery obvious kind. (The second verse would be dedicated to blending with your fingers, and the chorus would be all about how much creams love dry skin.)

Anyway, that’s my plan and I’m stickin’ to it.

A few items of note about this particular no-makeup makeup look…

Here’s a way to add more dimension with your cream blush. I’m wearing two blushes on my cheeks — a sheer layer of orange all over my cheeks, with a pop of pink on the apples — to create a gradient. I diffused the edges of the pink into the orange by laying the flat side of a foundation brush against my skin and using short strokes. Try this technique sometime using two of your favorite cream blushes (one lighter, one darker) for natural-looking blush with dimension.
The MAC Pro Face Palettes rock. For a low-key look, I’m wearing sheer layers of the Bright Blush Palette on my cheeks and the Contour Palette on my lids (worn as eyeshadow and layered on top of a light wash of MAC Teddy). And if you want more dramatic glam, you can still easily get there by layering the creams for amplified pigment. SO flexible and blend beautifully, too. If you’re a fan of the MAC Cream Colour Bases, you’ll love these.
About that glossy lip. It’s a tinted lip oil — Hourglass Cameo — and it’s a gorgeous warm rose (but it’s redonk expensive at $49!). It’s next level when it comes to moisturizing dry lips, which is mainly why I wear it (mine have been annoyingly dry lately), but I also adore its “your lips but better” effect.

Makeup worn in this look:

Base: MAC Studio Fix Soft Matte Foundation Stick in NC42, Estée Lauder 24HR Concealer in Medium Deep Warm

Eyes: MAC Teddy (on upper and lower waterlines, and buffed on lids as a base), MAC Contour Pro Face Palette (Rolling Stone and Dark Honey as eyeshadows), Laura Mercier Caviar Mascara

Lips: Hourglass Cameo Lip Oil

Cheeks: MAC Bright Blush Palette (Juicy Tangelo and Pink Tulip cheeks), MAC Hush (upper cheekbones)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Good Friday, and TGIF! ?

P.P.S. Click here to read a random post!

Product Spotlight: Laura Mercier Rosegold Caviar Stick Eye Shadow

April 9th, 2020 by Karen 4 Comments

laura mercier rose gold swatch — Love this shade! ❤️

Two mind-blowing revelations I’ve had as of late:

1. The Golden Girls theme song is A LEGIT REAL TUNE, and not just a jingle. Wha!? Did you know this?? I feel like my world will never be the same again.

2. Laura Mercier Rosegold Caviar Stick is ah-mah-zing. Even more amazing than Rose from The Golden Girls.

If a doe-eyed inner corner highlight is a non-negotiable item on your must-have makeup list, Rosegold is worthy of your everyday staples bag. It’s refreshingly similar to a true rose gold, so it’s more of a peachy gold with very little pink, and if you melted down a piece of rose gold jewelry, this is the color you’d get. On my NC42 skin, it’s a gleaming, glistening golden peach that’s warm, but not too warm, and when applied to the inner half of my lids it maxes out the doe-eyed effect. I look HELLA awake when I wear it, and that’s a feat because my @ss is tired, LOL!

I usually wear it with a warm brown or bronze cream eyeshadow on the outer half/outer corner, but I think purple, copper, navy and olive eyeshadows look great with it too.

You have a good three or four minutes to blend and smudge before Rosegold sets, so you’ve got some time to play, and — bonus! — you can skip eye primer with it because once it locks down completely once it dries.

“Caviar Stick Eye Shadow from Laura Mercier is a long-wearing versatile eyeshadow stick delivers effortless application with up to 12 hours of high-impact color. Pigment-rich shades – nudes to deeps, shimmer and matte finishes – glide seamlessly onto lids. Creamy formula gives you plenty of time to smudge, blend, line, fill or define, so it’s easy to create any look.

Sets for crease and transfer resistant wear and layers easily over or under other eye shadows (including powder and liquid formulas). Layer Caviar Stick Eye Colour with Caviar Chrome Veil Lightweight Liquid Eye Colour for a high impact foil effect.” –ulta.com

Oh, and if you’ve got hooded lids like moi, load an angled liner brush with Rosegold and wear it as eyeliner on your upper lash line to instantly open up those lids.

Rosegold is $29, and here it is at Ulta.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What Beauty Services Are You Missing Right Now?

April 8th, 2020 by Karen 33 Comments

k scissors — (Me about to cut El Hub’s hair in the middle of the night)

Are you going through any beauty service withdrawals right now?

Because I am. I ran into my neighbor the other day (not literally; we obeyed the 6-ft rule), and the first thing she said was, “Look. JUST LOOK!” while pointing at the top of her head, where a fresh crop of grays had sprung up since the shelter-in-place order started. She said she really, REALLY misses visiting the salon.

I told her I felt her pain… I’m desperately missing the salon, but not for a hair coloring service (I started growing out my grays last year). I want a haircut, because this thing on my head is out of control! My last cut was almost a year ago when Tabs passed away, and now the layers have grown out, so I feel like I’m wearing a wet golden retriever on my head. ?

Man, I should’ve made an appointment back in February.

On the glass-half-full side, I’ve never been happier about growing out my grays! ? Seriously, if someone would’ve told me a year ago it would actually come in handy during an upcoming global pandemic crisis, I would NOT have believed them, but ya know…here we are.

What beauty services are you missing right now?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Shelter-In-Place Face of the Day: Soft Peach, Rose and Buttery Brown Tones

April 7th, 2020 by Karen 11 Comments

Ya know, seeing as how I spend every waking moment right now at home or somewhere within close proximity outside, and I can technically wear any kind of makeup I want, since my boss (the coywolf) is easygoing regarding the corporate dress code, you’d think I’d be all over runway-ready glossy red lids and lips and ’80s-style striped blush on my cheekbones…

My makeup situation is nowhere near this exciting at the moment…

But, alas, absolutely nothing exciting has been happening ’round these parts.

To be honest, I haven’t felt like wearing much makeup, and when I have worn makeup, I’ve only been able to muster enough to energy to do the yooj barely-there base and watercolor neutrals — a.k.a. my makeup safe place.

For now, I’m not gonna fight it. I’m just going to go with the shelter-in-place flow, and keep wearing what makes me feel good until I feel like pushing the envelope. So, today I wore peach and rose tones on my lids, lips and cheeks, with a Duchess of Sussex-caliber barely there base.

Are you still wearing makeup (or dressing up, doing your hair, etc.) at home? Inquiring bored beauty-loving minds want to know.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

April 7th, 2020 by Karen 22 Comments

1. Perfume two-a-days

This idea came about during a chat in the comments last week with Pamela (hey, Pamela!). I was feeling a little blue that day, and we were talking about the uncertainty surrounding these crazy current events. Something Pamela said stuck with me…

We are all feeling the same lows in one way, shape or form. Just remember, you cannot control everything around you. But you can control how you respond to it. I respond with a spritz of perfume.

So one thing I’ve been doing, and it has helped me feel like I have a little bit of control over life in general, is wearing my perfumes in what I call “perfume two-a-days.”

First thing in the morning after I rinse off after my workout, I spritz one perfume, and then I spritz a different one in the evening after my shower before I go to bed.

Last night’s scent was TOCCA Graciella, and this morning’s was MAC Velvet Teddy Shadescent.

This evening’s will be Dolce by Dolce & Gabbana, me thinks…

2. Nudestix Cream Lip and Cheek Pencil in Mystic

One positive thing about being stuck at home so much is that I’ve been raiding my stash and rediscovering so many good things I used to love (and still do, apparently!), like Nudestix Mystic. This pinkish brownish semi-matte lipstick has pigment for days, and it doubles as a cream blush.

It’s one of those all-around neutrals that goes with everything.

3. Oatmeal raisin cookies with chocolate chips

I’ve never lost my damn mind over or passed out from sheer ecstasy while eating an oatmeal raisin cookie…UNTIL NOW. I’m normally nonchalant about them because oatmeal isn’t high up on my list of favorite things I eagerly expend my calories on (it’s like they’re too healthy or something).

Anyway, I made some at home, and they turned out BOMB. So, my tune has officially changed.

Turns out that oatmeal raisin cookies can actually be REALLY delicious, especially when you make ’em from scratch and add a sh*t ton of chocolate chips.

The main reason I made them is because I was under baking duress, because there’s been a flour shortage here in the area (people have been hoarding it), and I only have one bag of all-purpose flour left in the cupboard. But I was desperate to #stressbake and didn’t want to use too much of flour, so I gave these cookies a try because the recipe requires less than one cup of flour.

oatmeal choc chip raisin — Who wants a snack?

Crazy about ’em!

4. Watering can outdoor activities for kids (and adults!)

If you know someone who needs to keep busy for a while, take that person outdoors and give them a watering can. Then, let them water anything and everything in your yard. THEY WILL FREAKIN’ LOVE IT. I can’t believe I didn’t figure this out until now, but better late than never I guess.

If you can, give them two different watering cans for variety. I did this with Connor this morning, and she had a good ol’ time.

Added bonus: Now El Hub doesn’t have to water the front yard.

5. This choreography video to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September”

Who are these amazing dancers, and why aren’t you and I (virtually) dancing with them right now?

We should be, really, because it looks like so much fun! Side note: The person in the background wearing the leopard shirt and the cutoff black shorts is my new style guru. ?

What have you been loving lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 621

April 6th, 2020 by Karen 36 Comments

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. Lipstick or lipgloss?

Lipstick. ? Because I can also use it as cream blush in a pinch.

2. Mascara or brow pencil?

Mascara please.

ALL THE MASCARA.

3. Blush or bronzer?

Blush! It makes a bigger difference for me.

4. Foundation or BB cream?

Foundation. Because I can sheer it out with MAC Strobe Cream if I want to.

5. Matte or dewy?

Dewy.

6. A bright color palette or a neutral palette?

Neturals-4-life, homie!

7. Glam or natural?

Natural glam. LOL. ?

Have a great day today, and this time I won’t add the ubiquitous “all things considered.” I just really, really hope you have a great day. ? Talk to you soon. ?

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. Lipstick or lipgloss?
2. Mascara or brow pencil?
3. Blush or bronzer?
4. Foundation or BB cream?
5. Matte or dewy?
6. A bright color palette or a neutral palette?
7. Glam or natural?