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All Star Products for 3-Minute, No-Makeup Makeup

February 4th, 2020 by Karen 14 Comments

Some days you have 20 minutes to put on your makeup…and some days you only have three.

Yesterday was a “three” day for me. I had to drop off Connor at preschool in the morning before heading to the bakery, as usual, but because I was running late (I’d just finished making her lunch, and then I accidentally dropped EVERYTHING on the floor, ARRGHHH! It happened in slow motion, too! I’ve re-lived those sliced bananas falling to the ground about 20 times already.), I only had a sliver of time to transform myself from full-on two-month-turned zombie to quasi, two-days-dead semi-zombie. Three minutes, to be precise, and yes, I timed it, because without a timer, I’d never make it out the door on time.

I’ll be the first to admit that there isn’t anything glamorous or dramatic or life-changing about this makeup, but you know what? Sometimes I crave looks like this, like on the days when lunch falls on the ground (THOSE BANANAS ARE STILL HAUNTING ME), and the last thing I need is to be deeply challenged by my concealer or crease color.

charlotte tilbury tan flawless filter

If I were to compare this type of makeup to a hair style, it would be like running a brush through your hair, and putting it in a neat, low ponytail before donning a cute baseball cap. 🙂

The real MVP in this look: Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter

charlotte tilbury flawless filter tan

I love and wear it ALL THE FREAKIN’ TIME (my shade is 5 Tan). This tinted moisturizer has very fine pearlescent particles that make your skin look dewy (but not oily), and it gives enough coverage to hide redness and ever-so-slightly diffuse pigmentation and freckles. It’s also still somewhat sheer and doesn’t look thick.

(You will not look like you’re wearing a mask.)

From a few feet away, most folks won’t even be able to tell you’re wearing makeup. They’ll just assume you have naturally flawless skin. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOOOOOOVE IT.

Other key players

What else is doing the heavy lifting here?

chantecaille gel

I’m also wearing two gel cheek products by Chantecaille — their Radiance Gel Bronzer and Hydrating Gel-Cream Blush in Happy. I mixed a few dots of both on the back of my hand and patted/blended the combo directly on my cheeks with fingers. Just like Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter, these two moderately pigmented products deposit natural-looking color and don’t look obvious or heavy, so they’re ideal for fresh-faced cheek color that lasts all day long.

I wear them all the time and love them to bits.

Eyes and lips

I did the bare minimum on my eyes and lips.

A quick lash curl and a couple layers of mascara (IT Cosmetics Superhero, a superstar for thickness and curl) and a dash of dark brown eyeliner on the upper waterline (just at the roots of the lashes) immediately opens up my eyes.

covergirl clean fresh lip oil

Next, I quickly filled in my brows with MAC Brun eyeshadow using an angled brush, then ran a clear brow gel through them. I like to do the clear brow gel last because it mellows any overly dark spots.

Last, but not least, I lined and filled in my lips with a nude liner, then topped them off with a glossy lip tint.

Done and DONE, in less than three minutes! 🙂

Isn’t it nice sometimes to just get your face on quickly so you can jump directly into your day?!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 14 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Chantecaille, Charlotte Tilbury, Face of the Day (FOTD), MAC Makeup, Makeup, Makeup Tips/How To

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 612

February 3rd, 2020 by Karen 22 Comments

And don’t you forget it.

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. Is bronzer an everyday thing for you in winter?

    Currently, no, but circa 2014, when I loved wearing ALL THE THINGS, I’d wear at least two (sometimes three!) different bronzers every day.

    Ah, my makeup maximalist days… They were fun.

    2. What’s better — the Super Bowl, or the Super Bowl snacks?

    The snacks, bruh. And no, I’m not salty about the Niners losing! (Gotta hand it to any team that can turn things around when it counts, and the Chiefs did it in less than five minutes.)

    Mostly, I really look forward to all the snacks.

    3. I no longer have time for…

    Paying any mind to strangers who make critical comments about my appearance. I’m done with it.

    4. You must choose! — a vanilla ice cream sandwich, or a Neapolitan one?

    A simple vanilla ice cream sandwich would be great, please. I’ve always been partial to regular vanilla ice cream sandwiches, even when I was a kid.

    Funny story, but when my mom was pregnant with my brother and home on maternity leave, I remember telling her that I wanted to eat a vanilla ice cream sandwich for lunch one day, and then she got up, went into the kitchen, pulled out a loaf of bread, and put vanilla ice cream in the middle of two slices for me, and also made one for herself.

    I remember eating the very literal “ice cream sandwich” and thinking it was weird, but good.

    5. Where are you going today?

    First, to drop off Connor at preschool, then to Target (seriously, when am I NOT at target) and maybe Costco if I have the time, and then to work.

It’s a good morning!

How are ya, my friend? 🙂 I woke up this morning in my warm, comfortable bed with a roof over my head AND a functional heater, so ya know what? I’m living like a queen. Seriously! Most of the time I wake up on Mondays feeling kinda crabby because the weekend is over, but not today. Lately I’ve been reminding myself first thing in the morning to be grateful for everything, even the little things, because those things aren’t guaranteed. It checks my attitude RIGHT QUICK.

I make a list of things, like the food in my fridge; my functioning spleen (shout-out to all my organs, woo-hoo, which are doing the damn thing!); and the ability to provide Connor with steady, calm, routine mornings.


The birds are singing for you.

Gonna carry these good feeling with me into this week. 🙂 Are you with me?

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. Is bronzer an everyday thing for you in winter?
2. What’s better — the Super Bowl, or the Super Bowl snacks?
3. I no longer have time for…
4. Which would you prefer – a vanilla ice cream sandwich, or a Neapolitan one?
5. Where are you going today?

There are 22 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 592

February 2nd, 2020 by Karen 3 Comments

The following was a speech recorded in the locker room of last year’s Super Bowl, which Tabs attended:

“No guts, no glory.

“Sure, you’ll feel butterflies out on that field. It’s only natural, but the best advice I can give to you as a former elite athlete is that when you’re on the field, whether it be the Super Bowl, or the field of life, put your game face on, because you’re a champion, my friend. A champion! Now go out there and make history!”

Tabs would be so excited that his beloved 49ers ? are in the Super Bowl again. I’m sure he’s chillin’ in his kitty mansion up above, getting ready to watch the big game, all decked out in red and gold. He was always so proud he was from the Bay Area.

Go Niners! ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 3 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Tabs

Saturday Surfing, February 1st, 2020

February 1st, 2020 by Karen 3 Comments

cattitude mug target
Found this feline-friendly mug at Target!

Hmm… How many cups of coffee, imbibed from this mug, do I need to fuel myself for today?

Two?

Three?

FIVE?

I end up drinking *MOAR* coffee ☕☕☕ than usual on Caturdays because I like to be sufficiently fueled for my weekend pursuits, which today involve investigating the wares at a local restaurant supply store and playing soccer with the Coywolf. ⚽

Oh, and doing a little light reading, of course…

  • A few of my favorite MAC liquid lipsticks are on deeeeeep discount at Nordstrom Rack right meow.
  • Pinterest just launched a new feature that lets you virtually try on lipstick. ?
  • Get to know Anne Troussicot, senior vice president and global general manager for French brand Darphin.
  • Serious question: Is it summer yet? ?️ That’s when I like to wear short, white opaque nails. Here are some tricks from nail pros to help the look last a long time, along with some color recommendations.
  • Bay Area visitors and residents, just in case you choose to ignore TLC’s advice and do go chasing waterfalls, there’s a three-mile hike up to Cataract Falls in nearby Bolinas that’s supposed to be gorgeous this time of year.
  • The Humane Society of Missouri has a Shelter Buddies Reading Program where children soothe anxious shelter pets by reading to them.
  • The Barbie universe just became more inclusive.
  • New York artist Tom Bob takes common objects like bike racks from around the city and transforms them into colorful, clever pictures of animals and people (the flamingo ? is my favorite, of course).
  • A dermatologist weighs in on hair growth shampoos that actually work.
  • According to science, your cat REALLY DOES LOVE YOU. ?


Note to self…


An interesting twist on one of my favorite songs from the ’90s


Let’s do this, fam.


Love this kind of makeup

What are your plans for today? I hope you get a little quiet time to yourself. You gotta refuel your tank, ya know?

Talk to you soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 3 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Have You Ever Done a Glamour Shots Session?

January 31st, 2020 by Karen 11 Comments

glamour shots 101
Glamour Shots “Best Practices”

According to this NY Times article, there are only a handful of Glamour Shots stores left in the United States!

Do you remember when they were literally in every single mall?? I remember going to the one in New Park Mall circa 1994 with my BFF Jen, and I don’t remember if it was a premeditated thing or spur-of-the-moment, but I do remember taking Glamour Shots that involved the holding of collars and exposing of shoulders, as well as black pleather jackets and pearls.

WHY, THOUGH?!

I seem to remember that we believed they were hella cool at the time, but in retrospect? Cheesy.

Thankfully for me, they have been lost in the vortex of time… 🙂 *wipes brow*


Glamour Shots 101

Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever done Glamour Shots. I KNOW YOU HAVE if you lived through the mid-’90s and were within driving distance of a mall!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!!!

There are 11 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Easy Makeup Look Idea: Olive Eyeliner, Warm Brown Eyeshadow and Matte Fuchsia Lipstick

January 30th, 2020 by Karen 25 Comments

mac all fired up
Someone turns four this March! (No, not me.)

Some mornings are for blending six shadows on your lids, and other mornings are not.

Those are the mornings made for large quantities of coffee…and for cuddles…and for easy makeup.

Initially, when I set out to do this post, I planned to wear smokey, olive eye makeup on my lids to go with the bright fuchsia matte lipstick (All Fired Up — a MAC *must*), but Connor needed extra baby love in the morning, so that plan went out the window. *Poof!*

She’s just shy of four, and some days she’s big enough to handle ALL HER BUSINESS AND THEN SOME (“I’m a big girl, mama, and I can do it myself!”), but other days, like this one, she needs some extra hugs and songs, and I’m happy to oblige her. So, no blending of six shadows on this day for this mama, LOL!

Instead, I went with a hazy olive eyeliner (gotta love how forgiving blurred edges are), a wash o’ warm brown eyeshadow, and a matte fuchsia lipstick.

Yeah, it’s streamlined and totally unfussy, but I still like it a lot. The bold lip and the flash of shimmer in the liner give it some interesting elements.

mac all fired up
Sassypants
mac all fired up
All Fired Up is from the MAC Retromatte Lipstick family, so it has a flat matte finish and feels lightweight on lips.
mac all fired up swatch
My skin tone is MAC NC42.

mac all fired up
[Continue reading…]

There are 25 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Charlotte Tilbury, Eyes, Laura Mercier, Lips, MAC Makeup, Makeup, Makeup Tips/How To

About That Chevron Necklace…

January 29th, 2020 by Karen 9 Comments

karen loft necklace 2020
One of the most-asked questions I get on MBB is about this necklace…

When I bought this chevron necklace years ago at LOFT (it was on clearance for like five bucks!), I could never have imagined how many questions I’d get asked about it here on MBB. Every time I wear it in pics, it’s almost guaranteed that someone will ask, “Where’d ya get that?”

The bad news? I’m pretty sure it was limited edition costume jewelry, and I don’t think it’s available at LOFT anymore. Lord knows I’ve looked!

The good news? Thanks to this wonderful doohickey called “the Internet,” I found similar pieces on Etsy. ?

They aren’t exact dupes, but they have a similar vibe. I like ’em, and I think you might like them too.

MarleyJaneDotCom Gold Double Chevron Mixed Metals Necklace, $32.50

marley jane double chevron necklace

There are mixed metals in this dainty double chevron necklace, and for a little extra, you can have the chevrons engraved as well.

And if two chevrons aren’t enough, you can add a third if you’d like (!).

I can see this being a reliable everyday go-to.

AccessoriesAtelier Gold Pendant Necklace, $38

AccessoriesAtelier Gold Pendant Necklace

Tiny cubic zirconia give a sophisticated sparkle to this delicate, airy piece, which comes handmade and made-to-order from New York City.

ArtyAri 3 Chevrons Pastel Necklace, $34.33

ArtyAri pink pastel chevron

This pink enamel 3 chevron necklace is *kindasorta* similar to the one from LOFT… The chevrons are enameled on both sides, and the chain is stainless steel. Also available in mint green (cute!) and soft gray.
[Continue reading…]

There are 9 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Fashion, Just For Fun

Greens and Grays

January 29th, 2020 by Karen 18 Comments

greens and grays urban decay on the run
Greens and grays

Raise your paw if you ever get stuck in color combo ruts.

I FEEL YOU!

So, lately I’ve been trying to wear color combos that I normally wouldn’t think to pair together, but it’s hard to break out of old habits, man. Like with this green and gray look. I naturally want to wear greens with warm brown, so it was a little challenging to go against my nature and swap the brown for gray.

I ended up liking how it turned out, though, so yay for makeup experiments! I’m getting a springtime vibe from it… Only 51 days till winter is over.

There’s a ton of sh*t happening on the lids, I know. It’s A LOT of color. I started with a mid-toned matte gray in the crease, then blended a shimmery green on the lids and lower lash lines, finishing with a darker blackened green on the outer corner and a bright light green on the lower waterline (I think it pops against the darker colors). And lots of mascara, of course.

greens and grays urban decay on the run

greens and grays urban decay on the run
Key eye colors

Makeup worn in this look

Eyes: NARS Eyeshadow Primer in Medium (all over lids), Viseart Netural Matte Palette (matte gray shade in crease), UD Born to Run Palette (green is Wanderlust and Big Sky mixed together and applied with a wet brush to lid and lower lash line); the dark greenish blackened gray in the outer corner is Jet, Drift and Radio mixed together), Urban Decay liner in Freak (lower lash and water lines), IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara (lashes), MAC Brun and Omega (brows)

Cheeks: Clinique Cupid Blush, MAC Hush (highlighter), Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light (bronzer)

Base: MAC Next to Nothing Face Colour in Medium Plus and MAC Studio Fix Soft Matte Foundation Stick in NC42 (foundation), Estee Lauder 24H Concealer in Medium Deep Warm (concealer), MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden (powder)

Lips: Estee Lauder Raw Sugar Lipstick topped with Hourglass Horizon Lipgloss

Coywolf’s snow story

When I dropped off the Coywolf at school one day this week, I couldn’t help but notice some new artwork on the classroom wall. Last week the kids all got to take turns dressing up in an Olaf snowman costume and discussing snow, and the teacher took pics. I had one of those, “This is definitely my child” moments when I found Connor’s…

I like the part where she talks about ice cubes on her head, ha ha ha!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 18 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, MAC Makeup, Makeup, Makeup Tips/How To, NARS, Urban Decay

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog! My name is Karen, and I’m a freelance writer obsessed with makeup.

Makeup and Beauty Blog features daily product reviews, makeup tips and beauty news — like an interactive version of a monthly print magazine, except with occasional pictures of my cat.

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