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

Have You Tried Clinique Beyond Perfecting Super Concealer Camouflage + 24-Hour Wear?

June 15th, 2018 by Karen 6 Comments

clinique beyond perfecting super concealer review — uh…24-hour wear time = wishful thinking

Once upon a time, after seeing a picture of myself in cropped, flared capris with a camo print, I made a pact with myself to stay far, far away from camouflage.

“Karen,” I said to myself, “no. Stop. Don’t do it, unless you wanna look like a sassy Filipino Oompa Loompa.”

I did not.

So I stopped. (Clinique Beyond Perfecting Super Concealer Camouflage + 24-Hour Wear doesn’t count because it’s a concealer, so it’s exempt from this pact.)

Clinique Beyond Perfecting Super Concealer Camouflage + 24-Hour Wear ($19.50, 0.26-oz. tube)

It’s a highly pigmented liquid concealer available in 18 shades (including a color-correcting Apricot one), and I really like a few things about it, like the fact that it hides everything, it doesn’t settle into the lines under my eyes (although the matte finish might emphasize severely dry spots), it’s easy to blend, and it doesn’t look cake-y or obvious. Even when I get all up in my scary magnifying mirror, I can’t tell it’s there.

At least in those ways, it’s like Make Up For Ever’s amazing Ultra HD Concealer, which I love beyond reason.

“Cover up without touching up for 24 life-proof hours. Instantly and easily blends into skin to flawlessly conceal imperfections. Transfer-resistant formula stays put—even through sweat and humidity. Provides immediate hydration to keep eye-area skin feeling comfortable, looking fresh and natural. 18 shades in total—including a must-have apricot-colored corrector shade to help tackle dark circles and discolorations.”

— clinique.com

clinique beyond perfecting super concealer — I’m wearing a mix of Medium 18 (which is yellowish) and Medium 22 (which is peachy) under my eyes. Because it’s very matte, I skipped setting powder… I’m still in awe of how you can’t see it at all in this pic.

clinique beyond perfecting super concealer review swatches medium — Medium 18, Medium 20 and Medium 22

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Have You Ever Shaved Your Face?

June 15th, 2018 by Karen 20 Comments

The benefits have been discussed here on MBB before, and I have friends who swear by it, but I’ve yet to give it a try.

I thoroughly acknowledge that my upper lip and my chin could probably do with a razor shave, because, yeah, sometimes I get close to turning into a full-on hipster lumberjack, but I just can’t bring myself to do it.

This will probably sound crazy…but I think it would make me feel too much like a dude shaving his face. I know, that makes no sense at all! But I’d still rather wax or pluck.

How ’bout you? Have you ever shaved your face?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.

The Urban Decay Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette

June 14th, 2018 by Karen 16 Comments

Hello, Born to Run! Have we run into each other before…?

No, I think I’m just confusing you with another UD palette (Naked on the Run)…or maybe it’s because I’ve seen your same (or very similar) colors in other Urban Decay palettes before.

Urban Decay Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette ($49, 21 shades, full-size mirror)

According to UD, 17 of the 21 eyeshadows in the Born to Run palette are new, but I swear, the orange-y and reddish browns look like they teleported straight outta Naked Heat and the Petite version.

And the metallic magenta, green and purple could’ve been pulled out of the Distortion or Trouble Maker palettes. The peach and golden look familar, too…like a few shades from Daydream.

It’s as if UD went fishing for shadows from their other recent palettes and baked them into a wearable “everything” palette — good for anyone, any time, any place.

Makeup in my current corner of the world is usually pretty casual and conducive to writing at home, chasing Tabs around the house, running errands and taking Connor to toddler things, so I’m all about the shadows in top row, which are the most job/errand/everyday-friendly ones.

For the most part here at the headquarters of Tabs the Cat Industries LLC, the employees (haha, it’s just me) don’t like to wear makeup that looks too overdone (it’s a rare day when I don falsies or do dramatic liquid liner), so I like wearing matte beige Weekender with matte golden brown Riff in the crease, and shimmery pale rose gold Stranded on my lids with a teeny bit of satiny dark emerald Radio on my upper lash lines as a liner.

urban decay born to run natural light 2 — Don’t mind me… Just smiling to myself on this bridge, la-la-laaaaa! ?

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What’s a Skin Care Mistake You’ve Made?

June 14th, 2018 by Karen 15 Comments

Oh, gosh… I’ve made many, like picking at pimples (I know, a HUGE no-no), piling on layer upon layer of foundation, concealer and powder… I could go on. Generally, when it comes to me and makeup, the less I wear at any one time, the happier my pores are.

My last big skin care mistake, though, was starting a massively long multi-step process using a bevvy of brand new-to-me products within a short span of three weeks.

Wasn’t a good idea! Breakout City.

How about you? What’s a skin care mistake you’ve made before?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Try These Trader Joe’s Snacks

June 13th, 2018 by Karen 14 Comments

Ya know, I never used to be that big into snacks… Then Trader Joe’s entered my life. Now I’m that person who carries food in her purse at all times. ?

I’m actually 100% in favor of my in-between meals because I’m definitely less hangry when there are snacks around, and because I try to keep them healthy (for the most part), they don’t obliterate my daily meal plan.

These Honey Wheat Pretzel Sticks are my favorite snack right now.

I like the combo of salty and sweet, and crunchy foods are always so satisfying… Plus, they’re low-fat!

Speaking of crunches, sometimes I’ll add a handful of TJ’s (TJ’s’s?) Ancient Grains and Nuts Granola into some Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, along with some blackberries or strawberries, and add a drizzle of maple syrup.

Mmm…

But if I don’t have time to actually sit down and have a snack, these One Maple Glazed Doughnut Bars are fab. They have 20 grams of protein, each! That’s like three eggs! Those things carry me for a few hours.

Oh, and the Matcha Green Tea Greek Whole Milk Yogurt is a revelation, as is the Golden Oolong Tea, which tastes like…my childhood. Totally brings me back to going to Chinese restaurants with my family on the weekends and sipping hot oolong tea from tiny cups.

Also, did I mention that I’ve been trying to eat more protein? Because this sliced Rosemary Ham helps with that! Unlike making a protein powder smoothie or frying a couple eggs, nibbling on a slice or two of this doesn’t feel like a chore. Sometimes I’ll just eat them plain with a stick of TJ’s Organic String Cheese.

(Those Sweetened Orange Slices, BTW, taste just like candy.)

Also good for when you’re in the mood to crunch: the 3 Seed Sweet Potato Crackers (dip them into the Trader Joe’s Tomato Basil Hummus) or the Mini Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers.

I crack up every time I see the phrase, “The Fancy Medjool Dates.” ?

Sometimes I slice one or two open, take out the pits, and then fill the insides with a dollop of peanut butter.

I’ve yet to have one of the Freeze Dried Raspberries because Connor always finishes the bag before I get my hands on them…

The crunchy Inner Peas and Pinks & Whites Cookies are bomb, by the way.

El Hub loves the Candied Ginger (they’re a little too spicy for me) and the Black Mission Figs, which totally taste like Fig Newtons.

Ah! Now I’m super hungry!

What are your favorite TJ’s snacks?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’m Wondering What It’s Like to Be a Young Person Into Makeup These Days…

June 13th, 2018 by Karen 38 Comments

karen awkward in the 90s — Waaay back before teens contoured…

I just watched a makeup video on Instagram with a pre-teen girl with porcelain, pore-less, perfect skin applying 10 beauty products to achieve “flawless skin.”

There was baking and contouring and lots of Shape Tape involved, and she also exclusively used premium products, namely MAC, Fenty, Laura Mercier and Tarte.

Now, when I was that girl’s age, I had one Corn Silk Pressed Powder from Thrifty’s, and for me that was luxurious. My mom wouldn’t even let me wear mascara (“too mature”).

The girl in the video looked to be about 12, and she was in full-beat glam with false lashes. I think she did an excellent job. I can appreciate it from an artistic and technical standpoint, because I know how hard it is to do what she did and how long it takes…but part of me also felt awkward because of her age, like she was too young to be looking like someone about to hit the club on a Thursday night.

When it comes to makeup, what is it like for girls that age now? I don’t know many middle schoolers and don’t have friends with children that age, and I’m curious. I get that it’s much more socially acceptable now for young teens and even preteens to wear what used to be called “grownup” makeup, but is it just me, or does it seem like the minimum age when it’s appropriate to wear “adult” makeup is getting younger and younger?

No…? Do I just sound uptight and old?

I can’t lie, though. I kinda miss kids looking like kids. Childhood is so short as it is.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

June 12th, 2018 by Karen 15 Comments

1. The Scunci Fish Clip Jaw Clip for Extra Thick Hair

Otherwise know as THE JAWS OF LIFE! I bought this on a whim at Target, and now every other hair clip is dead to me. If you have long, thick or otherwise unruly hair, this will do wonders for you.

It has more teeth than your standard-issue claw clip, so it feels stronger and sturdier, and when I twist my hair up into a bun and secure the ends with this clip, the bun actually stays put, which NEVER happens when I use a single run-of-the-mill clip.

I got the large size for $3, but they also have small ones, too.

2. Edible Monterey Bay

I picked up two issues of this local magazine in Monterey last weekend (I believe it’s free in town). One was in our room, and I found the other one on the counter in a fancy-schmancy organic ice cream shop.

It has gorgeous photography and captivating writing! You’ll want to stay up reading about goat cheese all night long, even though you’re completely exhausted from sightseeing…

3. The Ninja Blender

My in-laws gave this to us while they were moving last month, and it’s the most terrifying blender I’ve ever owned.

So many blades!

I fear for my life every time I wash it…

But it slices through anything you feed it. Even lemon pits don’t stand a chance and get obliterated to bits. My green juices have been the smoothest they’ve ever been.

It’s not the most intuitive device, however (the first time I used it, I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to turn it on), but once you get the hang of it, it’s great.

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Volaire Air Magic Texturizing Spray Smells A LOT Like Eternity for Men

June 12th, 2018 by Karen 7 Comments

Whenever I hop on the Volaire site (they’re a niche hair line; Kristin Davis is their spokesperson), I feel like I’ll be buying products at 2 in the morning in an insomnia- and infomercial-fueled frenzy because there’s something enticingly late night “As Seen on TV” about it…

This particular styling spray is part of a multi-step system for volume, but you can also use it as a standalone product, which is how I tested it.

Volaire Air Magic Texturizing Spray ($34, 10.1-oz. bottle)

Smells A LOT like Eternity for Men and, thus, reminds me of making out with sweaty, clumsy dudes in college.

Oh, lord… I was a baby back then. What the heck did I know?!

Volaire Air Magic Texturizing Spray adds texture and lifts everything (roots, mid-shaft, ends, everything!) to give your hair more volume, and it does so without turning your style into an immobile ’80s hair helmet.

“Add instant lift, texture and effortless volume, and extend the life of your hair style with this multi-functional styling spray. Powered by exclusive AIRWEIGHT TECHNOLOGY™, Air Magic Texturizing Spray is part texturizing spray, part sheer hold spray with oil-absorbing properties to refresh, and extend the life of your full body style. Sulfate-Free. Paraben-free. Color-safe. Vegan.”

— volaire.com

Not to say that you can still run your fingers through your mane when you use it, because my strands feel stiff. There’s definitely the sense that this is locking sh*t into place and leaving a layer of “stuff” sitting on my hair, and when I hop into the shower at night, it’s hard to wash out… I gotta shampoo twice.

The volume is there for me, though, and it’s massive. I scrunch the ends every few hours to revive it and make the most of that big-haired glory.

INGREDIENTS
Hydrofluorocarbon 152A, Dimethyl Ether, Alcohol Denat., VP/VA Copolymer, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Flour Lipids, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Gelidiela Acerosa Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Zeolite, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Acrylates Copolymer, PVP, Acetyl Triethyl Citrate, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Benzophenone-4, Sorbitol, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Benzyl Alcohol, Magnesium Carbonate, Citric Acid, Water (Aqua), Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Limonene, Fragrance (Parfum)

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