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

This Is Real Life

June 22nd, 2017 by Karen 88 Comments

This is the last of the Hawaii posts, I promise, because I know it gets kind of annoying when someone keeps pushing pics of their vacation in your face, but I took these pictures last week at the pool with my daughter, and as I was looking through them for which ones to post on the blog, I found myself vetoing most of them because I didn’t like how my tummy looked…

But the more I thought about that, the more annoyed I got, so you know what? F*ck that. This is how I look. This is real life.

And, ya know, I don’t want to feel bad about my tummy or my thighs or my elbows or my armpits anymore. I’m over it. I remember being a teenager and going to the pool and thinking that I had to wear a t-shirt over my swimsuit because I thought I looked chubby, even though I don’t think I was. I was a skinny little 13-year-old kid! I looked normal.

[Continue reading…]

Milk Makeup Lip Color Loves the Lived-In Look

June 21st, 2017 by Karen 11 Comments

milk makeup gnarly lip color — Feeling Gnarly, dude, ’cause I’m wearing Milk Makeup Lip Color in Gnarly ($22, one of 10 shades)

Special shout-out to MBB reader Tatiana for reminding me in the comments yesterday that sometimes all you need is mascara, a bright lipstick and a smile.

So right, Tatiana. 🙂

Bright lips are a good idea any time of year, but I think they’re a great idea in summer, especially if you’re into the makeup minimalist thing. You can throw on a bold, bright lip and skip the extra steps, because the lips can carry the whole look and make anything else you happen to include — mascara, brows, BB cream, highlighter, what have you — gravy.

milk makeup lip color swatches — From the top: C.R.E.A.M, Name Drop, Freshhh and Gnarly

These long-wearing matte Milk Makeup Lip Colors (I know I’ve been on the Milk Makeup train lately, but I hope you can bear with me. I love ’em!) are all in the permanent line and $22 each. And they totally work for this type of look because, dude…they’re intense! I can picture someone on the Milk Product Development Team saying, “Man, let’s load these up with as much pigment as humanly possible. I don’t want to layer!”

And that’s just what they did. One layer is all ya need.

I’ve tried four of them — hot pink Freshhh, orange-red Name Drop, fuchsia Gnarly and peachy nude C.R.E.A.M. The unscented, unflavored formula lasts about four hours, depending on what you’re doing with your lips (like whether you’re eating, drinking, smooching or just chillin’).

The matte lipstick category is SO crowded right now, but these look instantly “worn in,” and I think it makes them stand out. They almost look like matte stains, and it’s super cool and kind of unusual for a lipstick.

milk makeup cream lip color — C.R.E.A.M.

[Continue reading…]

Try Diorshow Pump’n’Volume Mascara for Lifted, Ladylike Lashes

June 21st, 2017 by Karen 6 Comments

diorshow pump n volume brush — Don’t poke your eye out, Karen

I mean…is this new Dior Diorshow Pump’N’Volume Mascara gimmicky?

Yeah, a little.

The tube is soft and squishy, like a really good pair of flip-flops! There’s an indentation toward the bottom of the tube to place your thumb and forefinger into. Then you give it a good squeeze.

BAM! — the brush loads with MOAR MASCARA for MOAR VOLUME.

I try not to squeeze too hard, though, because when I do, the brush gets overloaded and I apply way too much (and end up with smudgy mascara a few hours later).

My point here is to say that a little bit of this $29.50 mascara goes a long way. Resist the temptation to use that T-rex claw and go ham on that a$$!

I like the brush a lot. It has stubby, pointy nubs similar to those on the brush that comes with Chanel Le Volume de Chanel.

diorshow pump n volume tube — Squeeeeeeze it

[Continue reading…]

The 3 Best Makeup Setting Sprays to Stop Your Face From Melting Off in the Heat

June 21st, 2017 by Karen 27 Comments

The best setting sprays for hella hot weather!

It’s hot today in the North Bay (or, as we say in the Bay Area, it’s “HELLA hot here right now”). It’s a heat wave.

Weirdly, it’s been way hotter here in Novato than it was in Hawaii last week.

Super hot and super sweaty. Currently, my house is like an armpit, so baby and I are going to escape to air-conditioned pastures in a bit, but before we go, let’s talk makeup setting sprays…

When it’s hot like this, they’re a must for me, and here are a few I love.

1. Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix O2 ($30)

The best all-rounder. You can probably guess that this one’s my fave because — look, there’s only a teeny bit left in the bottle! 🙂 It doesn’t matter what type of finish I’m wearing (matte, dewy, glittery, shimmery, whatever!), it holds on to everything and keeps it in place.

I can sweat like crazy — even rub at my eyes or touch my face — and it keeps whatever I’m wearing from melting off or disappearing.

make up for ever mist fix — Note to self: restock this soon,
as in almost immediately

Also, I think Mist & Fix is the best spray for applying shimmer eyeshadows, glitter shadows and/or loose pigments with a wet brush because it’s almost like a lightweight liquid glue. It doesn’t leave your lids or your face feeling tacky or anything like that, and yet somehow binds those shimmery or glittery particles to the skin.

2. Urban Decay Chill ($31)

The best for dewy skin looks, and you know I’m all about that dewy skin. 🙂 I think Chill is the best spray for that type of look.

It’s weird, but there’s a very fine line between dewy skin and skin that looks oily, right? A little shine is good — great, even! — but too much shine starts to look greasy. Chill walks that line without crossing it, and it feels fab, too. There’s a slight cooling sensation, so when you spray it on a hot day, ah… It’s so refreshing.

Did I mention that it creates the finest mist ever? The droplets are finer than those of the other the sprays I use, and it’s a wide mist. A single spritz covers a lot of area.

3. Shiseido Ibuki Quick Fix Mist ($25)

The best for keeping shine in check. I use this spray when I do matte looks or when my combo skin is oilier than usual. It has what Shiseido calls an “Anti-Shine Complex” to keep greasy spots in check, and dang if doesn’t werk! When I use this, I feel like my skin looks like it did in the ’90s (from what I remember, haha) — uber-matte, with no shine whatsoever.

The mist kinda bugs me, though… Sometimes big droplets hit my face in random spots, but other than that, it’s good stuff.

Stay cool in the heat, babe!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Relentlessly Red Retro Matte Lipstick Is a Shout-Out to the Jungle

June 20th, 2017 by Karen 22 Comments

SRLSY, shout-out to the jungle for having The. Best. Plants. Ever.

I spotted this pretty plant at a place called Haiku Gardens on Oahu last week, and it’s been haunting my dreams ever since!

I think it might be a flower…? Wow, how striking is that red? It’s so intense, and the finish! I don’t even know where to start… Matte, and I love the way it contrasts with the green leaves behind it. I mean, Mother Nature? *Mwah!* Best painter ever.

Anyway, I was wanting to wear the exact same color on my lips, and someone on Instagram mentioned that the red in this pic looked like MAC Relentlessly Red ($17 and available in the permanent line), so when I was getting ready today (by the way, this is probably the most makeup I’ve worn in two weeks), I dug through my MAC drawer…

And I found it! Yay! It’s a perfect match.

mac relentlessly red lipstick 2 — I’m wearing a mish-mash of things today, not gonna lie (I just kept piling stuff on and hoped for the best!). I’m wearing Chanel Mirage Illusion D’Ombre Cream Shadow, MAC Hushed Tone Blush and Urban Decay Diamond Dog Eyeshadow on my lids; MAC Relentlessly Red Lipstick on my cheeks; Milk Makeup Lit Highlighter on my upper cheekbones; and MAC Matchmaster Concealer

One of the Retro Matte Lipsticks in the MAC permanent line, Relentlessly Red is a bright coral-red with a fuchsia spirit that sets it apart from many other MAC reds, like Lady Danger, which is more orange, and MAC Ruby Woo, which is cooler- and bluer-toned.

The MAC Retro Matte Lipsticks vary in terms of how dry the formula feels. Some are smoother, slightly more “moisturizing” (air quotes, because none of them are exactly moisturizing) and consequently easier to wear than others.

Relentlessly Red is one of the drier ones (but that’s not to say that it’s super dry) and benefits from a little babying and prep work if you have any flake action on your lips. In that case, exfoliate first; then prep your pout with a layer of lip balm, and I used Urban Decay Lip Love today. Then blot and apply Relentlessly Red.

Because I’ve been *mucho lazy* lately, I had been applying lipstick straight from the bullet, but I recently started using a lip brush to apply lipstick, usually a layer or two, and then I pat everything down with my finger.

It’s more work than going straight from the tube, but I like the look. It looks like my lipstick is merging with my lips, as opposed to sitting on top of them.

It’s all part of that ongoing phase I’m in where I want my makeup to look like I’m not trying too hard (even when I am), and that’s the effect I get with a lip brush.

mac relentlessly red lipstick 1 — Take me back to the jungle

[Continue reading…]

Streamlined Skin Care on Vacay

June 20th, 2017 by Karen 7 Comments

I know this was supposed to be my “Summer of Skin Care,” but all last week it was more like “The Summer Vacation of Minimal Skin Care,” haha!

SO different than our last trip to visit family in Hawaii. I took all of my favorite skin care products at the time and put them into these tiny sample jars I got from Nordstrom. Then I meticulously labeled each jar and kept up with my regular multi-step skin care regimen the entire trip.

Skin care-wise, this time I only brought makeup removal wipes (which I ended up not really using because I wore so little makeup), face wash, sunscreen and moisturizer, and I took my chances that if I were to get a bad pimple or something, I would either deal with it when I got home, or I’d pick up something from a drugstore. I also temporarily stopped following my anti-aging routine.

It was weirdly liberating to not have all of those little jars with me because I always bring them on trips, but after a week without my skin care bells and whistles, the sky wasn’t falling! Clearly, this concept of traveling light has been BLOWING MY FREAKING MIND, as you can tell.

Here are the skin products I did bring and how they worked for me…

Tula Purifying Facial Cleanser

Skin care brand Tula puts probiotics (like the good bacteria in your tummy!) in all of their products, and I really liked using and having their Purifying Facial Cleanser with me…although I have no idea if the probiotics have anything to do with how well it works. It smells a little like cucumbers and kept my skin clean and clear without stripping it.

Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense SPF 30

I’ve talked about this tinted sunscreen before and its gorgeous glowing finish. It’s good for everyday OR vacay.

[Continue reading…]

Some Thoughts on Local Hawaiian Makeup Trends

June 20th, 2017 by Karen 29 Comments

After all the time I spent auditioning different makeup bags and thinking about what makeup to bring on this trip, I barely wore any makeup at all, which was kind of a big deal for me.

Things were different on my last trip to Hawaii a few years ago. I was even filling in my brows, curling my lashes and putting on tinted moisturizer and blush before going to the beach.

This time, though? Nuh-uh. Most of the time it was just copious amounts of sunscreen and a hat. And that’s about it.

I did wear makeup a few times — once to a nicer restaurant for dinner (one of those places you wear your nice muumuu and your fancy dress up slippers to, LOL!) with a friend I met on the blog (hi, Fern!), and I had some of THE BEST food I’ve ever had in Hawaii.

So I put on some makeup that night, but I did, like, the bare minimum going-out makeup for me. Brows, MAC Next to Nothing, a little concealer, a hint of powder, the BECCA X Chrissy Palette on my eyes and my cheeks, mascara, a quickie coral lip, and that was about it.

I’m definitely much more comfortable wearing less makeup than I used to be, and I feel that if I’m staying up late and I’m going to look tired anyway, or if I have dark circles, or if my skin tone looks uneven, eh…I’m fine with it. As long as I’m wearing sunscreen and a smile on my face, I’m doing OK, haha! 🙂

Even though I didn’t wear a lot of makeup myself on this trip, I still paid attention to the makeup the people around me were wearing. I “people watched” pretty hard at the beach and the pool, and I even met an MBB reader (Hi, Myrna!) at the beach. She happened to be wearing a beautiful shimmery bronze eye shadow on her lids. She also introduced me to Clio, a brand she called the Korean version of Urban Decay, and I can’t wait to get on that, ASAP!

I scanned eyebrows SO HARD on this trip because of a local phenomenon El Hub, who was born and raised in Hawaii, calls, “Hawaii eyebrows.” Many local ladies rock super thin ’90s-style brows, and I did notice a little of that going on, but I also noticed more people than ever sporting full brows at the beach and at local places like the Foodland (went for some ahi poke and a chocolate haupia pie) and Long’s (the best place to get Kona coffee, macadamia nuts, crack seed, kaki mochi and local souvenirs).

I mean, most people still weren’t rocking Instagram brows or anything, but overall, it did seem like the local style was toward fuller brows than the pencil thin brows I remember.

[Continue reading…]

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 480

June 19th, 2017 by Karen 22 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. What do you have on your lips right now?

Just a little bit of Urban Decay Lip Love ’cause my lips are so dry from the plane ride home yesterday.

2. Something you’d like to accomplish this week?

Soooo many things, but the first is to unpack all my stuff because I know if I wait for too long, the bags will just sit there unopened for weeks.

3. Create or destroy?

A little bit of both? I’m going to pick create, because that’s what I like to do the most.

4. How’s your pedicure looking right now?

Girl, awful! I mean… I really should get professional help because it’s been ages since I’ve dealt with my feet, and they could definitely use some cheese grater love.

5. Something you recently learned about yourself?

Never thought I’d be able to say this but I recently learned that — yay! I can actually pack light.

Back in the bay

Hi, sweet friend! Super late Monday poll, I know, but I didn’t get any sleep last night when we got back home from the airport. The baby was grumpy, we were all jet-lagged, and because it was like a billion degrees in Novato while we were gone, the house was a pizza oven. Girl, it was rough! Please forgive me if the next few posts are short and sweet. Regularly scheduled makeup programming will resume shortly. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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

1. What do you have on your lips right now?
2. Something you’d like to accomplish this week?
3. Create or destroy?
4. How’s your pedicure looking right now?
5. Something you recently learned about yourself?