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

What’s a Skin Care Product You Always Have Around?

March 22nd, 2023 by Karen 10 Comments

You know the ones I’m talking about — the tubes and jars, which, when you come to the last bits and bobs, cause a minor panic!

Because my skin is so dry, I would absolutely not be able to function without a rich moisturizer for my face. I’d probably short circuit; it’s that serious, ha ha ha!

Right now I’m really into Naturium Plant Ceramide Rich Moisture Cream. Before that I was all about Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Cream. I’m probably switching to Naturium for good, though, because it’s more affordable at $25 for 1.7 ounces (Biossance is $60 for 1.6 ounces) and more moisturizing compared to the Biossance one.

I also always have benzoyl peroxide up in the mix. Kate Somerville Anti-Bac has been my fave for over a decade.

Hmm. I’m adding sunscreen to this list, too, but since I always have extra tubes around (seriously, I’m obsessed), I can’t imagine actually running low on sunscreen. Perish the thought!

How about you? What are the skincare products you never allow yourself to run out of?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 773

March 20th, 2023 by Karen 18 Comments

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. London, Paris, Tokyo or New York?

Tokyo because I’ve never been and would love to go. I’d eat all the sushi and stock up on sunscreen and brushes. Ideally it would be during cherry blossom season, which apparently is right around meow!

2. Bright orange lids or neon pink lips?

Both are fun (and I’d even consider doing them together because why not), but today I’ll take the neon pink lips.

3. Your signature scent at the moment?

I mean if we’re being totally honest it’s Vicks VapoRub! It’s been rough around these parts — just one cold after another since January. Everyone in our fam is getting their immune system worked out, for sure.

4. What do you like most about your job?

I love that I’m able to channel my creativity. I’ve had many non-creative jobs before, and they don’t light me up the way that writing does. It’s also remote, so the flexibility is a HUGE plus.

5. What do you think you’d be doing if you weren’t doing what you’re doing?

Hmmm, it would still be something closely tied to beauty, probably in marketing. If pursuing art was an option for me at a younger age, maybe I’d be on a design team. I can see myself doing either.

6. Tights: yes or no?

I don’t mind them as long as they stay up!

7. What are you binge watching right now?

I started watching a Korean drama series on Netflix called “The Glory.” It’s bananas.

8. Who are some of your style icons?

For beauty, Pat McGrath, especially her runway makeup for Dolce & Gabbana. For fashion, lately I’ve been loving the street style of actress Tracee Ellis Ross.

9. Something funny that happened to you recently?

I don’t know why or how this keeps happening, but I’ve accidentally put clothes on backwards a few times in the morning and didn’t figure it out until the afternoon. HA HA HA!

10. Pointy flat shoes or platform tennies?

Platform tennies, please.

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. London, Paris, Tokyo or New York?
2. Bright orange lids or neon pink lips?
3. Your signature scent at the moment?
4. What do you like most about your job?
5. What do you think you’d be doing if you weren’t doing what you’re doing?
6. Tights: yes or no?
7. What are you binge watching right now?
8. Who are some of your style icons?
9. Something funny that happened to you recently?
10. Pointy flat shoes or platform tennies?

P.P.S. Happy first day of spring, my beautiful friend! I hope that the new season brings you so much joy. Have a spectacular Monday!

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 753

March 19th, 2023 by Karen 2 Comments

The flight back from Stockholm this morning was a little bumpy, but Rosie sure is happy to be back home.

As you know, she won her first (of many, we hope) Nobel Cat Prize this year for her groundbreaking research into creating the most delicious and nutritious cat treats in the world. With her team of dedicated scientists at the Cat Treat Research Institute (CTRI), they created some amazing new treats she can’t wait to share, including a new tuna-flavored crunchy made from 100% cheese.

For cats who live in inland countries far from the ocean, it promises to greatly improve their quality of life.

The view from Rosie’s 5-star hotel room in Stockholm the night before she received her Nobel Cat Prize.

She only had a couple days in Stockholm, but she did spend one of them sightseeing around the city with her friend Dr. Koko, who’s also a renowned torbie scientist.

Wait — have I mentioned about the Nobel Cat Prize before? I just realized that I’m not sure I told you about it.

Yeah! She was thrilled and honored by the news. She’s dreamed about winning a Nobel Cat Prize ever since she was a kitten, so this was one of her greatest accomplishments.

We’re all very proud… 😊

Tabs

Tabs, of course, was brilliant in a multitude of ways, but he was more of a party animal than a scientist.

When it came to cat treats, he dabbled in new cat treat development, but he was always more interested in eating cat treats than making them…

And he was much better known for his kitty supermodeling and his ability to throw amazing parties than for his work in the kitchen or the research lab. 😸

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, March 18, 2023!

March 18th, 2023 by Karen 8 Comments

Happy Saturday, my friend. I went to a local bookstore in our town called Copperfield’s Books a couple days ago and saw a cover which perfectly captures two of my life goals. (See above.)

Now you know there’s a step-by-step guide available should you need help with staying sexy and alive!

I wasn’t there to buy this book, by the way. I was there to get a magazine. Yup, I still 1) go to the bookstore, and 2) buy magazines at said bookstore. Old school, baby.

Anywho, a while back I started getting “Vogue” in the mail as a replacement for “Allure.” I really enjoyed the issue with Erykah Badu — read it from cover to cover!

The stories, especially the longer features, are so good! I usually blow through magazines quickly, but this particular issue forced me to slow down and savor the stories, which covered a wide range of topics: fashion, sports, politics, art, home design and more.

But back to the bookstore. I went in thinking I’d get something like “Vanity Fair” or “Harper’s Bazaar,” but I ended up with British “Vogue.”

How does it compare? Well, it seems to have shorter stories. And it’s much heavier on celebrity coverage. There’s also more traditional beauty writing, like roundups of new launches and Fashion Week looks, like you’d see in “Allure” back in the day.

I like it just fine, but I don’t know… I probably won’t be seeking it out again soon.

Speaking of finding good stuff to read, what’ve you been into lately?

This week’s reading

Can rice water help your hair?
Give me all the shadow sticks, please.
New beauty launches to look out for.
Get to know more about the buzzy skin care brand Topicals.
Ulta’s 21 days of beauty sale has a lot of skin care deals!

OMG, yes!

Love this.

Don’t ask me why I love home tours so much, but I do.

I love it when science and makeup collide.

I’m going to go work out and then hang with my peeps (aka Connor, El Hub and Rosie). Today is a day of rest, and we’re taking that rest seriously!

Enjoy the remainder if this beautiful day, OK? Take care of yourself.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Checking In: Minestrone Soup | Signs It’s Time for a Haircut | ’80s Bangers at Trader Joe’s

March 16th, 2023 by Karen 10 Comments

Girlfriend, I can’t believe I’m getting excited about soup, but apparently that’s where I am in life. HA HA HA!

I’ve been craving minestrone something serious lately, and the stuff at the store just won’t do. Side note: Is it just me, or does store-bought soup sometimes taste metallic? As much as I like it for convenience, I’m not as fond of it as I used to be.

Anywho, I finally got around to making a big ol’ pot of it yesterday (I used this recipe), and seriously, it was just what I needed. It was like a hug in a bowl!

This was my first time making minestrone from scratch, and I’m definitely going to do it again. Not only was it delicious, it seems like one of those recipes you can endlessly customize to whatever you like or happen to have on hand.

Case in point. The original recipe called for green beans, which I swapped out for zucchini. I’m glad I did because green beans don’t do much for me; zucchini, however, took it to the next level!

Bonus? It’s easy to make. Seriously, try it. You’ll get quite a few satisfying meals.

On a beauty-related note, this morning I realized I’ve hit that point where I absolutely need to get a haircut, and if I don’t do it soon, I’m going to chop it all off in the middle of the night with craft scissors.

This got me thinking about how one knows when they’ve reached their maximum hair threshold…

What are the signs for you? How do you know when you’re overdue for a cut?

For me, the tell-tale sign is weight. When I have my hair down and it feels just a touch too heavy to wear it comfortably, and I’m putting it up all the time, that’s when I know it’s time for a choppity-chop-chop.

Oh, I can also tell when it’s too heavy by how I have to position the topknot on my head! At a certain point after my hair gets too long, I can only wear it comfortably up in a bun only if it’s at a very specific angle. LOL! Super weird, but true.

I’ve got a meeting in five, but here’s one last thing before I head out. I was at Trader Joe’s the other day (buying the zucchini for the soup, ha) and a song was playing that I haven’t heard in ages!

No money man, can win my love!

Do you remember this ’80s banger from Neneh Cherry? I used to think she was so cool! I gotta say, the song holds up, and so does her style.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Do You Use Products Made for Kids or Babies?

March 15th, 2023 by Karen 18 Comments

Early last week I ran out of my fave Bumble & Bumble shampoo. I couldn’t pop by Ulta for a restock until the weekend, so I ended up washing my hair with what was in the shower – my daughter’s Johnson’s Baby Shampoo.

You know what? I didn’t mind it at all. In fact, I actually like it enough to keep using it, LOL!

This got me thinking about products made for kids, and sharing what great things we’ve all found from this specific corner of bath/skin/hair products.

But back to me raving about the Baby Shampoo. Reasons why I’m into it:

My strands feel clean but not stripped; same thing with my scalp.
The shampoo is lightweight and doesn’t leave a film on my hair.
Around this time of year, my allergies kick in and everything I come into contact with seems to give me hives. This shampoo doesn’t seem to do that.
I like the scent, which is present but not obnoxious.
It’s affordable!

If you’re looking for a gentle shampoo you can find at the drugstore, it might be one to consider.

OK, how about you? Do you use any skin, hair or body products made for kids or babies? Please share your gems!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Wednesday. The sun is out today and I gotta say… My mood is so much brighter! I’m happy for all the rain we’re getting, but I definitely start to feel a little blah if I don’t get enough sun. Anyway, I’m going outside for a walk in a few. Gotta get that Vitamin D!

Checking In: Dance Competition Makeup Musings, Sunscreen on Rainy Days and Soup!

March 14th, 2023 by Karen 19 Comments

Connor’s first dance competition is now officially on the books.

The girls did great last Saturday! Although I don’t understand anything about how the teams were ranked and scored, I do know that when Connor’s team got called, the faces of the girls reflected pure joy.

Oh, and I have to say, I was kinda surprised (but also not) when I saw Connor leap up to claim the team trophy on stage, LOL!

On the makeup front, I’m happy to report that NARS Dragon Girl lasted most of the day, and hung on until the early afternoon. I could’ve touched up her lips right before they went on stage, but I skipped it as she still had enough pigment on. Seriously, this matte red is a classic for a reason. Grab it if you don’t have it already.

Because it was raining and I knew we were in for a long day, I actually didn’t wear a lot of makeup to the competition on Saturday, although if I did go full on, I I probably wouldn’t been right at home with all the lewks the ladies were serving.

One team had at least 20 girls rockin’ a full beat—big lashes, bright lips, cut creases paired with wings so big they could take off at any moment. You get the picture. And don’t even get me started on the hair! There were many big and elaborate styles. I couldn’t help but wonder if certain teams hired on-site glam professionals to get everyone ready.

If I wasn’t so preoccupied with trying to keep track of my child, I would’ve taken more pictures to appreciate all the artistry. Next time, perhaps.

One last thing re: makeup. Just in case Connor wanted to wear something more than lipstick, I brought “emergency” blush and glitter with me in my bag, but I think I was hoping for too much, LOL!

Anywho, it’s cold and rainy today again here in the Bay Area, and even though I haven’t seen the sun in days, out of sheer habit I put on sunscreen first thing in the morning.

Lately I’ve been into BSG Kids because I like how it doesn’t leave a film on my skin and layers well with all my lotions and potions and whatnot. If you haven’t tried this one yet for your face and neck, grab it! It’s affordable and comfortable. Looks great under makeup, too.

I’m off to chug another mug of green tea. (Did I mention how cold it is here?) Later on this afternoon, I’m going to attempt minestrone soup! Here’s the recipe I’m going to use in case you want to check it out. Seems easy enough.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 772

March 13th, 2023 by Karen 26 Comments

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. Did you catch the Oscars last night?

Nah, I missed it. I was really tired (I caught the cold Connor had last week) and passed out early.

2. Garlic bread: yes or no?

Sure, I’ll take some! Better yet, let’s have some spaghetti and meatballs with it.

3. Last lipstick you bought?

NARS Dragon Girl. It’s a cool-toned red lip crayon that’s easy to wear. LOVE IT!

4. Retinol or Vitamin C?

Yes please to both, LOL!

5. Have you ever owned a classic car?

So, according to my mechanic, the ancient Toyota 4Runner that I’ve driven for years is now old enough to be considered a classic car, OMG. So, yes.

6. Funnest beauty counter to shop at?

I don’t even know what the answer to this question is anymore. I used to really love visiting the MAC store back in the day, but it’s been ages since I’ve stopped in anywhere and played. When I shop for products in person now, I usually go in with one thing in mind, and then I bounce.

7. If you had to eat one food every day for a week, what would it be?

Probably peanut butter. It keeps me full and there’s so many different varieties. You can eat it on a sandwich, with carrots and/or celery, with bananas, you can make peanut butter cookies … Now that I think about it, I actually wouldn’t mind doing this at all.

8. Where would you like to travel next?

I’d love to go back to Kauai. It’s been several years since we’ve visited, and I would love to go back so I could start a campaign for us to move there, ha!

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. Did you catch the Oscars last night?
2. Garlic bread: yes or no?
3. Last lipstick you bought?
4. Retinol or Vitamin C?
5. Have you ever owned a classic car?
6. Funnest beauty counter to shop at?
7. If you had to eat one food every day for a week, what would it be?
8. Where would you like to travel next?

P.P.S. Hi, beautiful! It’s the start of a brand new week, and I hope you’re feeling good today. I sure am. I have a little more breathing room in terms of deadlines (just a little, ha), and that makes all the difference. This week I hope to do things that fill my cup: chatting here with you, making a few yummy meals (I really want to try making minestrone soup this week), cleaning up my house and filling up my creative well in all the ways I can.

I hope that your day so far has been good. Treat yourself with extra kindness this week, OK? Sending you a hug.