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

Blackie’s Pasture in Tiburon, California

July 11th, 2017 by Karen 13 Comments

So, this morning I drove down to Southern Marin for a dental appointment, and sigh… What I can I say? I feel like I’ve gone to the dentist every other day this summer. Heck, though, I’m thankful for modern dentistry, because I can only imagine medieval dentistry being a million times worse.

I left Novato super early to avoid the weekday traffic, and what’s usually an hour-long drive took only 30 minutes. Surprisingly, traffic wasn’t too bad today, so I ended up with time to spare in my old stomping grounds of Mill Valley. Small victories! Since we got there so quickly, I took Connor to this place El Hub and I used to go jogging around called Blackie’s Pasture, which is in the lovely Town of Tiburon.

There are usually people jogging and walking their dogs, and, on sunny days, you can see Sausalito on the right, Belvedere Island on the left and San Francisco across the Bay.

There was a fog bank hanging around today, so we couldn’t really make out SF in the distance, but I could kinda see a little bit of the skyline.

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Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette

July 11th, 2017 by Karen 14 Comments

You can pretty much get the gist of this Chanel palette’s raison d’être from its name, Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette.

To put it another way, is this the type of glow that refers to the women of GLOW, the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling? Meaning, would you see a bunch of lady wrestlers in the ’80s wearing this in the ring for a performance? Nope! Absolutely not. These beige, brown and black shadows create a much more natural look, with a lot less wrestling.

I totally get that this is so not exciting for some makeup lovers, but I love this kind of makeup. And I know I’m not the only one! I went to high tea at the Fairmont in SF last weekend with some girlfriends, and, not just one of them, but two of them pulled me aside separately and said, in so many words, “I need to know what’s on your eyes, and I need for you to teach me how to do that ASAP.”

Les Beiges Healthy Glow is a beautiful palette for natural, elegant makeup that’s “there-but-not-too-there.” For me, it’s the definition of clean beauty, which is a look you see a lot in bridal magazines here in the U.S., where there’s soft definition on the lids and lash lines, and you can tell there’s makeup in the mix, but it still looks natural and not O.T.T. Les Beiges is great for that.

I do have to say, though, that I’m surprised by the amount of fallout I’m seeing with this palette. First time I used it, I was so excited that I forgot to tap off my brush, and I ended up with more shadow than I expected on my cheekbones.

If you’re a Chanel enthusiast (like I am), it’s bearable, as long as you tap off your brush, but the palette is $65… Just something to think about.

Other than the fallout, I think the shadows work great. They mesh and blend together well, and they’re perfect shades for natural looks. They also last all day long for me.

chanel les beiges healthy glow natural eyeshadow palette k2 — Natural glow!

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R+Co Sail Soft Wave Spray Sets a Course for Good Hair Days

July 11th, 2017 by Karen 17 Comments

Did I wake up with my hair looking like this? HELL NO, GIRL! This is all R+Co’s doing. I’ve been using a styling product in their line called Sail Soft Wave Spray ($29).

It’s the one in the blue bottle with the sailboats on it (kinda looks like a Monet painting).

Basically, it’s beach wave witchery, and I loooove it. It’s a salt spray that encourages a wavy texture, and then locks that wave into place with medium-level hold. It also lifts hair for loads of volume and, here’s the kicker, leaves your strands feeling super soft.

If you know your salt sprays, then you probably also know that in order to get that roughed-up beach waves effect, most salt sprays will leave your hair feeling crunchy (*ahem*, Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray).

Yes, all that wavy texture is awesome, but the trade-off is hair that doesn’t feel great when you run your fingers through it. At least I don’t think so.

That crunchiness is an issue for me. I don’t like it when my hair feels stiff, overworked or lacquered into place. Even when I have styling product in my hair, I still want my mop to look and feel like clean, just-washed, regular ol’ hair, ya know?

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Too Faced Melted Latex Liquified High Shine Lipstick: It’s a Sticky Situation

July 10th, 2017 by Karen 20 Comments

too faced hopeless romantic — Hopeless Romantic

OH, MY GOSH. These new Too Faced Melted Latex high-shine lipsticks are fascinating. They are SO shiny and SO opaque, and when you wear ’em, it looks like you’re wearing patent leather on your pout.

The new line of cool, artsy, edgy lipsticks reminds me of thick, pigmented, sticky lip glosses with full-tilt coverage, and they’re available now in 16 $21 shades. Here are swatches of 14 of them.

I think they look super cool, but man! — they sure are uncomfortable. I can’t really have them on my lips for long, but not because they’re drying, because they aren’t, or because they taste or smell funny, because they don’t (they taste/smell like Hawaiian Punch, which to me is a good thing because it brings back childhood memories).

I can’t keep them on my lips because they’re just really, REALLY sticky, and really thick. Like, if you’re familiar with the MAC Lipglasses and how sticky they are, multiply that feeling by 10, and that’s how these sticky these feel.

I tried to make it through the day wearing coral Safe Word (swoon!), but I felt like I was making out with a jar of caramel all day long.

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 483

July 10th, 2017 by Karen 40 Comments

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past 10 (!) years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

1. A piece of advice you would give to someone just getting started in makeup?

Before you pull the trigger and buy that foundation/tinted moisturizer/BB cream or whatever it may be, check to see how it looks on you outside using a mirror, because store lighting can make a product look COMPLETELY different than it looks in sunlight, or the shade, or even a different type of artificial lighting (light soft white bulbs vs. daylight bulbs). It helps to check whether a base product is a good match for your skin when you’re in natural light.

I would also say that you usually don’t have to wear as much makeup as you think.

2. Say something positive about your beautiful body.

My body kicks butt! It can run. It can surf. It continually keeps trying to do yoga, even though downward dogs are like the most challenging thing in the world…

I’m glad it’s healthy, and I appreciate all the thing it does.

3. How much does packaging matter to you?

It matters to a degree. Obviously, I want the product in the packaging to be good, but it’s nice when something also looks pretty sitting on your bathroom counter or when you pull it out of your makeup bag, ya know?

If I had to choose between the same product in not-so-cute packaging and the same product in cute packaging, I’d choose the cute option, for sure!

4. What’s something that you didn’t expect to like but ended up liking anyway?

Peppermint ice cream from Baskin-Robbins (I’ve only seen it during the holidays), because MAN! — it looks so nasty, like Pepto-Bismol ice cream. It tastes really good, though.

5. Someone that you hope is thinking about you today?

My li’l coywolf. I hope she thinks fondly of me.

Mondays are for magic

May a little bit of magic find you today. 🙂 Have a great one, friend!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy and paste.

1. A piece of advice you would give to someone just getting started in makeup?
2. Say something positive about your beautiful body.
3. How much does packaging matter to you?
4. What’s something that you didn’t expect to like but ended up liking anyway?
5. Someone that you hope is thinking about you today?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 457

July 9th, 2017 by Karen 6 Comments

Two toothsome morsels made this morning’s MBB perimeter patrol more interesting than usual.

A pair of petite plumed hooligans were hanging around the office, and they kept Loss Prevention Officer Tabs busy.

They were sneaky little ragamuffins, popping in and out of hiding places and fluttering from one perch to the next. Their goal was clearly to taunt the tabby.

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Saturday Surfing: July 8th, 2017

July 8th, 2017 by Karen 8 Comments

I honestly don’t have a good explanation for this picture…

Babe, if you’re one of those lucky people able to sleep in Saturday mornings, I’m majorly jealous. I get up at 5:30 during the week, and I really, REALLY wanted sleep in till at least 7:30 this morning, but alas, my body had other plans… I’ve been up since 6, GAH!

Oh, well. At least I’ve gotten a few things done. I watered the plants in the Lady Sanctuary, made food, fed the baby, ran on the treadmill (BTW, one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Got it in 2011 with an extended warranty, and it still gets use.), and now I’m about to go KonMari Method on the mountain of miscellaneous baby accouterments, like giant pregnancy pillows and too-small diapers, that now lives in the middle of my bedroom.

So at least there’s that… No sleeping in, but at least I’ve been moderately productive.

What’s new in your neck of the woods? How are you doing? If you have a few moments to unwind, stay a while! Put your feet up, kick back, relax, and check out some of these stories online. For one reason or another, all of these caught my eye this week…

Yo, Tabs and I are doing this! Up your crazy cat lady game by getting a matching mani…with your cat. (I love scarymommy.com, BTW. Lots of interesting articles.)
It’s a trip down the Internet rabbit hole, but visit the Skincare Addiction subreddit if you can. There’s lots of handy info, even in the sidebar, which has fact sheets on topics ranging from stretch marks to paraben safety.
Can Container Store’s Luxe makeup organization system handle my your next-level hoarders lipstick stash?
QVC is buying HSN for $2.1 Billion to form…wait for it…QHVSCN! Not really though. 🙂
The best of the best from Bobbi Brown
Fun fact: when you eat a dried fig, you are probably also nomming on wasp mummies. Bon appetit!
Sabrina has the skinny on the best summer foundations.
BareMinerals wants to make a statement with their latest lip collection.
This bestselling gadget on Amazon allegedly obliterates your lady mustache, so, obviously, I wanna try it.
Among others things I learned from this post on weirdly accurate Amazon reviews, I learned that cat food allegedly tastes pretty good… Allegedly.
Congress doesn’t feel that sleeveless clothing is appropriate work attire for women.
5 modern day Shakespeares (including one of my favorite lyricists, hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar)
The most annoying mistakes you can make on a résumé, according to an expert who’s reviewed more than 40,000 of them.

(That’s a lot!)

Have a good rest of your Saturday, OK? I hope it’s a nice day there. I have a few more chores to do and one errand to run, but them I’m driving into the city for high tea at the Fairmont with a few friends from school. That should be fun. Scones and lemon curd for everyone!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

#FragranceFriday: Pinrose Fragrances in Lil’ Dipper, Sun Saint, Pillowtalk Poet, Secret Genius, Wild Child and Tambourine Dreamer

July 7th, 2017 by Karen 6 Comments

pinrose lil dipper — I may or may not have sprayed this everywhere…including my elbows

You know, ultimately, it’s all about the scent. When it comes to perfumes. I know this. But I can’t help it. The visuals have a big say in the matter. They go a long way toward determining whether I’m going to like a fragrance. I just LOVE me a beautiful bottle! I love walking into my room and seeing my display of perfumes and all the pretty bottles sparkling in the morning sunlight.

Their bottles are what drew me to Pinrose. The Bay Area-based perfume brand was started by two friends in 2014 (GO, BAY AREA BEAUTY BRANDS!).

Right now it’s still a small niche brand, but you can find them at Sephora. I was at the Novato store a few weeks ago, and the display…oh, my gosh. When I saw all the bottles lined up together like a pretty perfume rainbow, I stopped in my tracks!

All of their fragrance bottles are eau de parfums, and they last a good, long while. I can still smell them after a full eight hours on my skin.

Pinrose also sells these fragrant pre-soaked towelettes called the Petals Packs.

So if you don’t wanna carry a bottle around (which I totally get), you can still touch-up your scent on the go. You can build your own Petal Pack of 25 towelettes for $30 on the Pinrose website, and they’re a good gift idea and a way to test drive the different aromas without committing to one of the $65 bottles, or you can get one of the pre-selected Petal Packs on the website, where you get 20 towelettes for $24. (FYI, but the Petals do smell strongly of alcohol when you first open them, but the alcohol scent dissipates after about 30 seconds.)

Oh, and Sephora has a set of nine little roller balls for $47, so that’s another way to try a bunch at once.

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