A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict
Just an FYI, I’m not playing peek-a-boo (although it does kinda look like that!). The simple act of covering your eyes when you’re misting your face with makeup setting spray stops it from touching your mascara.
And no wet lashes = no mascara smudging! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
There aren’t many makeup compromises I won’t make when I have to, because life happens, and necessity is the mother of invention. But whenever I do commit to doing something, anything, and as long as I have enough time for 5-minute makeup, I’ll always do the following…
Also known as the tail end of my brows, which tend to disappear like ghosts! I’m currently loving Hourglass Arch Brow Gel.
Will I ever stop talking about this product? Um…probably not!
Well, not until something better comes along. 😉 It’s pretty amaze-balls.
Every time I do them (the Surratt is my go-to these days), I pray that nobody sneaks up behind me and yells “BOO!” while I’m in the process… I have an irrational fear of accidentally pulling out big chunks of lashes while I’m curling.
Anyone else suffer from this affliction? Anyone? Bueller?
What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.
Burnt Spice… That name always cracks me up. I picture the (hopefully it didn’t actually happen, and if it did, I’m sorry) rejected member of the Spice Girls who got cut at the last minute and therefore did not experience worldwide fame and fortune. She still holds a grudge against Baby, Sporty, Scary, Posh and Ginger…
LOL.
Matte rosy brown Burnt Spice MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour adds just enough color to my face without overwhelming whatever else is going on, and it superbly complements smoky and winged eye looks IMO. And bright blush.
It reads as a nude on my NC42 skin #nudelipsforlife #nudelipsforever and may look more lusciously brown and dramatic if you’re a lighter lass.
MAC’s liquid lipsticks are some of my favorites out there because they don’t make my lips peel or crack. I thought I was the only person who was all about them for that reason, but nope! I was texting with my friend Jen, who’s really not even a hardcore makeup person like you and I are, a few weeks ago, and she said that she loves Topped With Brandy. The Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolours are the only liquid lipstick formula that doesn’t dry out her lips, and I was like, “Me, too!” And when a liquid lipstick formula can ignite zeh passion in someone who’s only marginally interested in makeup, you know it’s good.
That was my long-winded way of saying it isn’t drying. ?
“Favorite,” singular, implies just one, which I know is perhaps impossibly hard, so feel free to list them all . 🙂
Mine are, in no particular order…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
“Because Old Navy” is as good a reason as any to sport sparkly skin on a typical spring Tuesday. Or Wednesday. ?
I mean, I really just want to get out of my pajamas before noon and feel cute again on the regular, truth be told. If there’s a maximum number of days a person should spend in sleepwear per year, I’ve definitely exceeded that limit!
Like the subtle spring sparkle look I did for last weekend’s luncheon, this one also took about 10 minutes. The spring sparkle comes courtesy of glossy coral lips, khaki lids and lash lines with subtle shimmer, and glowing skin.
All of the primary face products I used — the tint, powder, bronzer, highlighter and even the setting spray — have subtle shimmer and create a dewy, glowing look that’s perfect for a sunny spring day.
I hadn’t been to Old Navy in a while, and guuurl, sometimes when I go in there the store looks like the ninth wrinkled polyester circle of hell, but yesterday, not so much.
Ugh, SO MUCH CUTENESS! They’ve got this retro tropical vibe happening, and it speaks to my soul. Hibiscus, parrots, palm trees left and right. Good thing I had Connor with me and she was getting antsy for lunch because I would’ve been tempted to stay a lot longer and try everything on.
QUICK EYESHADOW TIP FOR HOODED LIDS: Looking straight into the mirror when you’re applying your eyeshadow, as opposed to holding your mirror at an angle, helps you tell how far up to take the shadow on the hooded portion of your eye — but don’t stop there! If you also turn your head from side to side, left to right and back, you can keep checking the outer corner of the hood to tell how far out to take that eyeshadow, too. 😉
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Am I in my 40s? Yes. Do I still love wearing glitter? Yes… Is there a way to reconcile both of these things without 1) trying too hard or 2) looking like I’m trying too hard?
Let’s find out, haha! 🙂
Last weekend I went to a Sunday lunch at a fancy brunch place in town with the new members of the moms group I belong to, and I was really excited to go because when do I ever dress up anymore and enjoy a meal that doesn’t involve me getting food on myself as I feed or pet a little animal?
Answer: hardly ever.
I wanted to do something that felt a little glamorous and special, but, you know, for lunch, so I still wanted it to be somewhat reserved.
This look took 10 minutes, and I can confirm that it only took 10 minutes because that’s exactly how much time I had to put on makeup before I had to leave the house.
Of course, the original plan was to take my time and enjoy the process, leisurely get ready (that’s half the fun of going out, right?), but as usual, even though I woke up super early and had a detailed checklist, everything came down to the wire.
I had to be out of the house by 11:15. At 10:45, I still hadn’t gotten dressed (which is another story, oy!) or done my makeup and hair.
So, yes, this look DOES come together really quickly, in case you were thinking, “Eh, I don’t have time for that!”
For the subtle shimmer, I used two of my current faves from the MAC Dazzleshadow line, which I patted on my lids with a finger. A few flecks fell onto my cheeks, but overall the fallout with these shadows is so minimal, and I usually just incorporate it into the look. 🙂
I’m convinced that my Trader Joe’s on Redwood Blvd. in Novato is the best Trader Joe’s in all the land, and I say “my” like I own the place or something, LOL! I don’t own it (I wish), but I might as well be the mayor because I’m there practically daily.
In case you were wondering…they still have that excellent Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask in stock (in case you were wondering), and if you haven’t tried it yet, ya need to get on that, sister! It’s worth a trip to TJ’s all by itself.
But since you’ll be there anyway, the Coconut Body Butter is also epic. 🙂
While you’re at it, toss a few of these into your cart…
I never leave the store without getting at least a couple of these frozen Reduced Guilt Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Shells. They’re 270 calories, with 33 grams of carbs and 20 grams (!) of protein, which is more protein than three eggs! Since the last thing I want to do at 7:30 at night when I get home from the gym is make something from scratch, these are great for quickie post-workout meals.
NOW THIS IS THE STUFF —->
When I get a hankerin’ for crab, which happens fairly often because I love crab, a box of this is where it’s at.