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A Follow Up to Fenty Heat Gloss, Pie and Half, and All the Errands

December 23rd, 2022 by Karen 3 Comments

Hot Cherry Gloss by Fenty!

In the last post’s comments, Tatiana (hey, Tatiana!) had some questions about the sheer red gloss Connor and I were wearing the other day:

Does the Fenty gloss have a scent or taste? Is it super sticky or just moderately so? I keep looking at them, but haven’t bought one yet.

OK, great questions about this beautiful red gloss!

Fenty Heat Gloss in Hot Cherry smells and tastes like fruit punch. It’s very subtle, though. Because it’s not obnoxiously sweet or fake or plastic-y, it doesn’t turn my stomach, which is KEY when it comes to gloss for me!

On my lips, it’s pretty comfy. I’d describe it as moderately sticky — less sticky than a MAC Lipglass and more than a MAC Plushglass.

FYI, Hot Cherry is one of five shades in the Heat Gloss collection, which is Fenty’s line of lip plumpers. Since it’s a plumping gloss, it tingles a little bit at first.

I don’t really see a big difference in my lips after I apply it, but I typically don’t have high expectations when it comes to lip plumpers. *shrugs* I mostly wanted it because I love the particular shade of red and how sheer and shiny it is!

If lip plumpers aren’t your thing, there’s another line of Fenty glosses called the Gloss Bombs, which are also very pretty. They smell and taste a little bit like vanilla and have a similar texture to the Heat Glosses. I wore and loved the OG shade Fenty Glow when it first came out.

On a non-gloss note, I was chatting with a mom friend today, and we joked about how moms and caregivers during this time of year are seemingly always doing one ridiculous errand after the other in the days before Christmas, LOL! Sigh.

My long list of errands today included buying a couple Cara Cara oranges (I’ve only seen them in one local grocery this year!) and a couple pies — well, technically one pie and a half!

One gluten-free apple pie and a half pecan pie, please!

Do the grocery stores in your neighborhood sell half pies? I swear they’re the best thing ever! If you have a smaller family like we do, you get just enough pie to feel satisfied but not so much that you start to get sick of it. Yay for half pies!

Oh, and before I continue on my quest to conquer all the errands, a friend of mine recently started a new Amazon store featuring smart fitness watches. If you’re in the market for one, you might want to check it out.

I’m off! Here’s to smooth sailing for all of us before Santa visits.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 3 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Fenty Beauty By Rihanna, Just For Fun, Lips, Makeup, Product Reviews

Girl Chat: Girls and Gloss, Sonoma, Scones and More!

December 22nd, 2022 by Karen 10 Comments

Good morning from two girls who love their lipgloss. 🙂 In this pic, Connor and I are wearing Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Heat, a sheer shiny red. We wanted to look our best for a lady date lunch in Sonoma with my friend (and Connor’s “auntie”), Marisol.

Side note: I can’t believe gloss ever fell out of fashion! Remember how everyone was wearing liquid matte lipsticks a few years ago? Anywho, I’ve been wearing it gloss a ton lately and remember how low maintenance it is.

We had a lovely outdoor meal at a place called Sunflower Caffe, and I ordered the avocado toast, which by the way, while delicious, happened to be the messiest avocado toast I’ve ever eaten.

I’m on an unofficial mission to find the best avocado toast within striking distance, and as of right meow, Creekside Bakery’s is still the one to beat.

After lunch we took a stroll around the square and found a mysterious note in a tree!

LOL! I wonder who did this ’cause it’s totally something I would do, too. After reading it, we sealed it up again and placed it back in the tree for someone else to find. Merry Christmas to the mysterious note writer, wherever you are!

Connor has a playdate at our house today, so I’m going to be on “yard duty” supervision around these parts. If you’re around and about, come by and say hi… I have a vanilla glazed scone waiting for you.

Talk to you soon!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 10 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Top 3 Favorite Holiday Films

December 20th, 2022 by Karen 4 Comments

I feel like I should have at least one Hallmark movie on this list, or maybe even a classic like It’s a Wonderful Life, but you know what? These are the three holiday movies I can watch over and over and over again, and I unapologetically love all of them.

1. The Sound of Music

At the top of the list is Sound of Music. I try to watch this one every year, but I don’t always get to because it’s so long — almost three hours (!) — but when I was a kid, every Christmas it was a staple holiday movie in our house. I realize that it’s not a traditional Christmas flick, but for me, because we always watched it over the holidays, it will always be the ultimate holiday movie. I love the music, love the scenery, love the acting and everything about it, and my dream is to someday go and visit all of the places where the movie was filmed. I especially want to go to the gazebo where Liesal jumps from bench to bench so I can leap across the benches, too (Side note: Here’s a story with a whole lot of fun facts about that scene).

2. Love Actually

Just watched this the other day for the umpteenth time, and it always amuses me to no end how the video camera guy is Sheriff Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead. This movie has everything! It’s got the multiple story lines, the music, the cheese, the happy moments, the tender moments, the laugh-out-loud moments… I might watch it one more time before Christmas, ha ha ha! Oh, and if you watch it, stick around for the credits because there’s a Kelly Clarkson song at the end called The Trouble With Love Is where she sounds exactly like a young Mariah.

3. Elf

Um…you know you’ve been writing about beauty for a while when you first type “elf” as “e.l.f.” (as in the beauty brand, ha!).

Man, Will Ferrell just cracks me up. I can’t even look at his face without laughing! This Christmas movie always puts me in a good mood, and I love how sweet and innocent it is.

How about you? What are your favorite holiday flicks?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. OK, OK, you know I couldn’t stop at just three. I can’t NOT have Little Women with Winona Ryder and Christian Bale on this list!

There are 4 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 760

December 19th, 2022 by Karen 12 Comments

I hope your angels are with you today and every day!

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. Dior or YSL?

Dior for eyeshadows, lipstick and perfume, and YSL for mascara, concealer and foundation. But if I had to pick just one, then Dior.

2. Eggnog or gingerbread?

Gingerbread. Eggnog is too sweet!

3. Would you rather bake cookies or go ice skating?

Hmmm. Both are pretty fun! Let’s go with ice skating today, so I can move my body.

4. Does your home have a fireplace?

Once upon a time it did, but the previous owners covered it up with drywall. We had no idea that the house used to have one until someone in our neighborhood popped in and said, “Oh! What happened to your fireplace?” I wish it was still there. I would love to have it!

5. A Christmas memory from your childhood?

One year I asked my parents for pompoms, and for reasons unknown I received a single pompom. I guess it didn’t occur to them to buy a set? For years I pretended to be a cheerleader with one pompom. It’s funny that it never occurred to me to ask for a second one.

6. Something beauty-related that you wouldn’t mind from Santa?

Santa, I wouldn’t mind if you brought me a hydrating hair mask from Bumble & Bumble, or a neutral eyeshadow palette from Dior.

7. A holiday song you enjoy?

Wham’s “Last Christmas” is my jam, man.

8. Best holiday movie?

Oh by far “Love Actually.”

9. Shall we decorate a gingerbread house today?

Yes, please. Don’t expect me to eat any of it, though!

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. Dior or YSL?
2. Eggnog or gingerbread?
3. Would you rather bake cookies or go ice skating?
4. Does your home have a fireplace?
5. A Christmas memory from your childhood?
6. Something beauty-related that you wouldn’t mind from Santa?
7. A holiday song you enjoy?
8. Best holiday movie?
9. Shall we decorate a gingerbread house today?

P.P.S. Hello, my beautiful friend! I hope you’re feeling happy and healthy during the run-up to Christmas. How are your holiday errands going? What’s left for you to do? 🤗

There are 12 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 741

December 18th, 2022 by Karen 1 Comment

Oh, man! If Tabs were still here? ’tis the season for adventure! Maybe it was the densely packed fluffy fur on his tum, but that cat did not slow down in winter. Didn’t matter if it was 20 below, he did not shy away from frigid temperatures, among other things. He would have had his cup of hot catnip tea to warm his bones, but then he would have been out the door. He was just as busy adventuring in December as he was in July.

Funnily enough, but one year, he disappeared for two weeks in December. No note, no phone call, just up and disappeared. Came to find out that he hopped on a flight to the UK to meet the Queen!

Yeah, apparently, he got knighted!

She said it was for his “lifetime of service to the feline community”.

England loved him. In fact, he was bigger than Beckham there for a while. You couldn’t find a BBC channel that didn’t have at least one program with Tabs on it.

While he was out there, that’s when he also filmed his famous season of The Great British Baking Show.

He went all the way that year. Even got his paw shaken by Paul Hollywood.

Rosie

Rosie hasn’t gone on any trips lately because she’s not really that kind of cat. She prefers to stay closer to home, especially around the holidays, but she has been feeling particularly regal, thanks in no small part to a show she’s been marathoning on Netflix.

Have you seen it? It’s called Harry & Meghan.

It’s pretty good. Very interesting. Rosie likes the idea of royalty, but she wants to be the queen of her own kingdom.

I can’t blame her. 😊

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There's 1 comment on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Rosie, Tabs

Saturday Surfing, December 17, 2022!

December 17th, 2022 by Karen 2 Comments

Question for you. Have you ever eaten a gingerbread house? Do they actually taste good? I wondered this while we were building one today with Connor.

Our town has a yearly event where you can go and build gingerbread houses and have hot chocolate…

Anyway, when I was a kid, building gingerbread houses wasn’t a thing we did for the holidays, so I never made one until I had the Coywolf! It’s fun, but I wonder if anyone actually eats the houses. I have absolutely no interest because I’m kinda grossed out by all the fingers on the cookies and frosting and candy, but if I was a kid, I’d probably gobble one down, LOL!

On a somewhat related beauty note, I’m wearing a headband today as a hair accessory, and I have mixed feelings.

I bought it at Nordstrom Rack a few days ago because I loved the tweed fabric and the colors, but dang if it doesn’t squeeze the living daylights outta my head! I’ve tried to make it less tight by loosening the band… Not sure if it’s working for me.

This week’s reading

  • Oprah says these are the 18 best makeup organizers. Hey Santa, if you bring me the one from Pottery Barn, I wouldn’t be mad about it!
  • In case you’ve always wondered about the difference between BB and CC creams, FYI, “CC creams usually have a matte texture and finish, whereas BB creams are going to be more glowy due to the hydrating/moisturizing properties in them.”
  • Where are my “White Lotus” fans? Apparently there are hidden meanings in the makeup and styling during the show’s major moments!
  • Cinnamon notes in perfumes are a thing.
  • Get to know dermatologist Shereene Idriss. Side note — she creates content that I find really useful.


Love this!


I will forever be obsessed with Olivia Newton-John.


Budget skin care to check out!


Drop that hair knowledge, please.


Which one would you eat?

One week before Christmas! How’s your holiday to-do list going?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 2 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

December 15th, 2022 by Karen 5 Comments

1. Matcha Lattes

It’s like the perfect green tea and coffee hybrid! My favorite is the one at Creekside Bakery in Novato. If you ever visit, order an avocado toast along with your matcha latte, and thank me later. 🙂

2. Nikes in neutral shades

I’ve been really into camel and cream colors lately because it’s that much easier to get dressed in the morning when you’re dealing with neutrals. WHO KNEW?

Apparently this holds with sneakers, too. I usually go for colorful ones, but dang, the neutral colors in the Nike Air Max Pre-Day pair that I bought recently go with a lot of different outfits.

Oh, and just in case you’re feeling chilly, there’s a matching sweatshirt!

3. Micellar water and Mr. Clean Magic Erasers

OK, weird combo, I know, but hear me out. When you wear sneakers in light colors like the ones above, they pick up dirt so easily! Micellar water and Mr. Clean Magic Erasers remove scuffs and marks from everyday life. I keep both downstairs by the shoe rack, so I can clean my kicks immediately when I get home.

4. Wondershop Triple Tunnel

If you have a kitty that loves to hide, the Triple Tunnel for Cats is a purr-fect Christmas gift.

It collapses down which I LOVE. We’ve purged so many things from the house in the last six months, and now I’m very particular about stuff not taking up too much space. Purr-fection!

5. Good & Gather Ramen Soup Starter

Bought a box on a whim from Target and it’s absolutely delicious — just the right amount of flavor and not too salty. I add Lotus Foods Rice Ramen (it’s gluten free), a handful of spinach and a runny egg for lunch in less than 10 minutes.

What’ve you been loving lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 5 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

How Often Do You Finish Your Beauty Products?

December 14th, 2022 by Karen 12 Comments

Let’s talk empties!

You know, it really depends on the type of product it is. Skin care items, for sure. I scrape and scoop every last drop out of jars, tubes and whatnot!

For hair care, I finish most things, but not all. I like bouncing around and trying new hair stuff. With shampoo and conditioner, I get antsy really quickly, so when a bottle is mostly done, I’ll move on. Leave-in conditioners and hair styling products, though? I typically finish those, even if I don’t completely *love* something.

Makeup is a different beast, LOL! My workhorses — concealers, brow pencils and eyeliner — definitely get finished. Mascara gets finished too, and strangely enough, like hair styling products, even if I don’t completely love a mascara, I’ll still keep using it until I have to buy a new one. Weird.

I can’t remember the last time I finished a powder product like blush, eyeshadow or face powder. It’s been a minute!

How often do you finish your beauty products?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. MY FRIEND! I’m doing a dance of joy because I’m almost done with Christmas shopping! Granted, my original plan was to have everything done before December, but that’s OK, better now than next Friday, OMG!

I was Nordstrom Rack today because I recently bought this rainbow purse as a present and didn’t realize that some of the clouds were missing until I went to wrap it yesterday. I have no idea how I completely missed this critical detail, LOL!

Anyway, while I was there today exchanging the purse, I couldn’t resist this cute striped camel sweater by Tahari. It’s soft (not itchy) and comes in a bunch of colors, and it was $20! It’s adorable and should go with everything.

There are 12 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog! My name is Karen, and I’m a freelance writer obsessed with makeup.

Makeup and Beauty Blog features daily product reviews, makeup tips and beauty news — like an interactive version of a monthly print magazine, except with occasional pictures of my cat.

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