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

For the past few years now, the undereye color corrector, Hourglass Retouching Fluid in Sand, has been a staple in my makeup bag. It’s the only thing that I can wear underneath my eyes that doesn’t look heavy or thick or obvious.

I usually buy it at Sephora, but I started freaking out a little bit recently when I couldn’t find it during the last couple of visits.

I also looked on the Hourglass website and while the product is still up, several colors are suspiciously MIA! I also can’t find it at all the places I used to be able to, so now I’m getting a little nervous because all signs point to it being discontinued.

Now OG Karen from back in the day would’ve started panicking and taking this opportunity to stockpile as many as I can. But I know from experience that even when I do this, the backups will sit in a drawer, sometimes for years.

So this time, I’m breaking the cycle and trying something new! GASP! I know.

I found an undereye corrector from Rare Beauty that looks promising, so I grabbed that instead when I was beauty shopping last week. I’m going to give it a go to see if it stacks up!

I keep telling myself, “You know, if this isn’t IT, it’s gonna be OK. Take a deep breath. You’ll find something that’s just as good because something always comes along.” We’ll see how long this train of thought keeps up, ha.

This is a very new strategy for me so I’m hoping it works out. If I find any good stuff along the way, of course I’ll let you know.

Anywho, this was my long-winded way of asking you the following question:

What you usually do when a product is discontinued? Do you try to find something new to replace it, or do you stockpile as much of it as you can?

Let me know in the comments, and have a happy, joyful and relaxing Caturday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I think that technically this striped number by Marine Layer is called a full-length dress rather than a muumuu, hmm. It’s a long dress with bright colors and a pattern, though, so I think it’s close enough. 🙂

I bought it recently at Nordstrom Rack and have absolutely no regrets!

Not only is it cute, it’s made out of 100% cotton, so on really hot days, it feels airy and light against my skin. Super comfy.

I usually wear a size 6, so I followed the size recommendations and ordered a medium, but I think I could’ve sized down with the small too. I don’t mind the slightly larger fit, though. I like that it’s roomy and how it looks like a maxi dress on me. Side note, I’m 5 foot one, by the way.

For summer outings, I think this dress is perfect. You could probably wear it to work too, but I would pair it with a jacket or a sweater because I feel like the neckline does go a little bit low and I like to be covered up.

As for the material, the cotton is soft, but not stiff, and it doesn’t feel crispy against my skin. Oh, and bonus, it’s purposefully crinkly so you don’t have to iron it. You can just wash and wear it. Easy peasy.

Unfortunately, now the dress is sold out on the Nordstrom Rack website, but it’s still available on the Marine Layer website and it’s on sale! And if colorful, rainbow stripes aren’t your thing, they also have it in other striped combinations and solids too. Highly recommended, especially if you live someplace that gets hot during the summer, and you’re looking for is chic, easy-to-wear dress that keeps you cool!

Although I love this dress, I don’t think it’s half as cool as the ’80s themed outfit Connor wore to her school’s closing assembly yesterday.

The theme was new wave music, and so the kids sang a bunch of songs from that musical era. Honestly, I don’t think that half the parents got the references because they’re younger than I am, but whatevs. I rocked out to Tears for Fears and Billy Idol and have no regrets!

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 more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. Apple pie or cheesecake?

Ideally both, ha! You know I’m down for double dessert. If I had to pick one right meow, though, I’d do cheesecake.

2. Something summery that you love?

Cold lemonade with lots of ice on a hot day. Early mornings when it’s comfortably warm enough to go outside in shorts and a t-shirt. The smell of beachy sunscreen.

3. Tofu: yes or no?

Yes! Love it, but I’m picky about how it’s prepared.

4. A piece of makeup that you have with you today?

I’m still on a Rare Beauty kick (side note, I just bought some more things this weekend), so their Glossy Lip Balm in Nearly Apricot is chillin’ in my purse today.

5. Setting spray or powder?

Setting spray, please. I’m old school–Urban Decay All Nighter all the way!

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. Apple pie or cheesecake?
2. Something summery that you love?
3. Tofu: yes or no?
4. A piece of makeup that you have with you today?
5. Setting spray or powder?

Hi, friend. I had grand plans to do a bunch of writing this morning but a fast-and-furious migraine decided that wasn’t going to happen, LOL! Staring at a computer screen seems to amplify the symptoms, so I’ve been lying down in a dark room for the last hour waiting for the nausea to subside. Anywho, I’m feeling a little better now, so I wanted to quickly check in to say hi.

Between the last couple weeks of school, dance season wrapping up and adjusting to living with a high energy herding dog, we’ve been going through a lot as a fam-bam lately. Every morning I remind myself that in 10 years, things won’t be this hectic. Ten years from now, Connor will be wrapping up her final year in high school, Marnie will be a mellow senior doggy and I’ll have more time to do things like, oh, vacuum my floors, ha ha ha! Until that time comes, it’s get up, go-go-go, rinse and repeat through the exhaustion. 🙂

Oh, tomorrow is my birthday, and I had to do the math to figure out how old I’m going to be. All I want to do to celebrate is eat little sandwiches and scones at high tea, so we’re going to do that, and I’m very much looking forward to it.

On that note, this week’s very abbreviated reading list:

• Do you see any of your favorite scents on this list of long lasting florals?
• Honestly, I love a body mist, especially in the summer.
• Summer’s the time to wear a sunny, beachy perfume
• Designer fragrances dominated this year’s Fragrance Foundation Awards.
• Vogue says these are the best Chanel scents.

This migraine is finally peacing-the-eff-out, so I’m starting to feel like myself again. Have a wonderful rest of your weekend, OK?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

You know what’s kinda funny to me? Those scenarios when people ask what your must-have makeup items are for a deserted island scenario. Presumably the least of your worries would be whether or not you had your favorite lipstick or blush. If there’s anything I’ve learned from side-eye watching “Alone” with El Hub, it’s that you want to take care of food and shelter first, not your brows.

At the same time, I gotta say that I would low-key freak out a little if I went someplace and forgot a tube of mascara.

In my journey of going from wearing all the products to only wearing the bare minimum in makeup, there’ve been several items I’ve happily bid adieu: orange color corrector, face primer, eyeshadow base, brow gel (!) and brow highlighter pencil, among other things. I don’t miss them.

There are items I don’t wear right meow, but I still think of them fondly because I’ve always loved them and probably will come back to them someday when I have a little more breathing room, like bronzer (still love it), powder (le sigh!) and foundation.

But one thing I’ve realized I could never say goodbye to is mascara. I was putting it on in my car yesterday (because that’s how I roll now, ha), and after I layered on that first coat, I looked at myself in the mirror and said, “Ah, there she is.” I just feel more like me when I’m wearing it, you know?

I can’t remember when I realized that life is much better with mascara; I must’ve been in college? Even though I wore makeup in high school, for some reason, my mom wouldn’t allow me to wear mascara. I basically wore whatever makeup I wanted, bright lipstick, loads of blush, eyeshadow, you name it, but mascara was forbidden fruit in my house.

I wish I could remember that first tube. I’m guessing it was Clinique because they had a counter at the college bookstore, and when I’d go there to buy my books at the start of the quarter, I’d check out at the Clinique counter and pick up a few things.

Hmm. There’s a chance it was the green and pink Maybelline mascara because that was all the rage back in the day.

Maybe I’ll remember it in my sleep tonight, LOL!

At one point in time during my makeup journey, I would layer multiple mascaras on my lashes. At the height of wearing ALL THE THINGS, I had a specific mascara for locking in the curl, then another for length and then another just for my lower lashes.

The only tube I roll with these days is a keeper from Rare Beauty. If you haven’t tried it, you’ve gotta get it in your life ASAP. I’m talking major lash lift, curl and length, and absolutely no smudging, even when it’s hot out. I need to use an oil-based cleanser to take it off at the end of the day, but that’s no biggie. The only thing I don’t like about it is kinda silly; the pale pink tube gets dirty so easily and that gets on my nerves.

Anyway, I hope your lashes today are lovely and lifted! No mascara smudges for any of us! 🙂

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 more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. Call or text?

Text for silly things or middle-of-the-night musings, and call for important things.

2. Black and white or color?

Color, 100%. Side note (and sci-fi moment), this question makes me think of the new “Dune” movies and the planet called Geidi Prime, which is black and white and shades of gray. Everytime I see those scenes, I think to myself, “I could never live in a place without any color.”

3. Sushi or ramen?

Sushi all the way, babe.

4. Brow pencil or brow powder?

Brow pencil but only if it’s a twist-up pencil!

5. Something you have to do this week?

So many things – support Connor during her dance team auditions, finish a whole lotta stuff at work, train Marni and so much more. I do want to do some fun things for me, though, and that includes reading a book I just started called “Fourth Wing.”

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. Call or text?
2. Black and white or color?
3. Sushi or ramen?
4. Brow pencil or brow powder?
5. Something you have to do this week?