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

Latest Ulta Haul, and a Thursday Hello!

October 6th, 2022 by Karen 8 Comments

Happy Thursday, my friend. How goes it? You know what I discovered in the past few weeks? If you need someone to chat with for 45 minutes about blinds versus roller shades versus curtains, I AM YOUR GIRL.

Did I actually create a slideshow about curtains? YOU BETCHA.

Nobody ever told me that adulting would involve being annoyed by cords on blinds or thinking about various roller shade mounting techniques at 3 a.m.!

Anyway, hi from my hopefully soon-to-be roller-shade-filled home, LOL! I gotta keep telling myself it will be squared away soon, otherwise I may lose my mind very soon.

On a beauty note, I went to Ulta last week because 1) I needed a treat yourself moment, and 2) I was running low on staples.

Why is it that whenever you run out of basics like toothpaste or lotion or razors that it all happens at the same freaking time? It’s crazy.

Back to Ulta. I bought body lotion (good ol’ CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, with a pump, of course), a Hask Repairing Deep Conditioner Hair Mask (my mane needs some serious TLC), an OPI gel polish in the shade Half Past Nude (it’s a pale warm pink that’s slightly darker than Bubble Bath), and because Connor was with me, I bought her a bottle of orange nail polish from the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri line.

If you have a little girl who loves painting her nails, the Insta-Dris are the BEST! It only takes about 10 minutes for your nails to fully set. It’s the only nail polish she’ll sit still for.

The last thing I bought was another bottle of Avene Solaire UV Mineral Sunscreen. I wore it to the pumpkin patch last weekend and even though I was in the sun all day — and without a hat on, my bad! — I didn’t pick up any color. I hope Avene *never* discontinues this sunscreen because it’s my favorite face sunscreen out of all the ones I’ve tried in the past two years, and girl, I’ve tried a ton. Try it if you haven’t already!

Life on this end has been good but busy. When I’m not juggling our family calendar or shuttling Connor to a playdate or a dance class, I’m balancing life, work and all the things. You know how it is. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to manage it all, and I was wondering what systems you use to keep track?

We have a central family calendar which me and El Hub share. I also just recently started using the reminder feature on my phone, and it really helps a lot because I don’t feel like I have to carry so much in my head. Anyway, I would love to hear what you use to keep your life and your family’s life organized.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Shopping My Stash: Honest Beauty Off Duty Liquid Lipstick

October 4th, 2022 by Karen 6 Comments

This is the face of a lady who desperately needs a haircut, LOL! Oh, and a lady who’s about to jump on a video work call in about 15 minutes. 😬

Do you ever have one of those days when you look inside your makeup bag and find a long lost gem? That’s what happened this morning when I unearthed this warm pink liquid lipstick by Honest Beauty called Off Duty ($14.99). When you wear it full on, it looks pastel and opaque and has almost a ’60s vibe to it; it really comes through if you wear it with winged liner! I’ve been really into that look lately.

Anywho, the formula is pretty good as far as matte liquid lipsticks go. Not drying at all, and it stays out of my lip lines.

As for wear, it’s just OK. I blame it on the Rouge Dior Forever matte lipsticks, which have RUINED me for all other matte lipstick in terms of staying power. Off Duty is decent enough at staying on if you’re just gabbing, but it will lift if you’re drinking water or snacking on gummy bears.

Speaking of video calls, do you ever feel like all you do all day long is hop in and out of meetings? That’s my life for half the week!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 749

October 3rd, 2022 by Karen 15 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. Your favorite fall drink?

Hot apple cider, yum! I’m still a pumpkin spice latte kinda girl, but I gotta be in the mood because now they’re a little too sweet for me.

2. Scarves or mittens?

Scarves because it’s too hard to do anything when my fingers are enclosed in mittens. Plus, I can’t stand a cold neck (although having long hair helps a lot in terms of insulation, LOL).

3. Apple picking or pumpkin carving?

Honestly, I’d rather just buy some apples at the store. Pumpkin carving is so much more fun for me!

4. Boots or clogs?

Hmm. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m going to go with clogs. They’re great if you’re on your feet for hours at a time, and when worn with wide-leg jeans, they’re super cute.

5. Blue, brown, black or purple mascara?

Let’s do a bright blue.

6. Halloween or Thanksgiving?

Halloween! 🎃 There’s candy and I don’t have to cook!

7. Something on your beauty wish list?

I’m looking for a thick, rich hair mask. Do you have one that you like?

8. Apple pie or pumpkin pie?

Apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

9. Have you ever been in a haunted house?

Yes. I knew it the moment I stepped through the door, too!

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. Your favorite fall drink?
2. Scarves or mittens?
3. Apple picking or pumpkin carving?
4. Boots or clogs?
5. Blue, brown, black or purple mascara?
6. Halloween or Thanksgiving?
7. Something on your beauty wish list?
8. Apple pie or pumpkin pie?
9. Have you ever been in a haunted house?

P.P.S. Good morning, my friend. I hope this week brings you so many good things! 🤗

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 730

October 2nd, 2022 by Karen 1 Comment

What is it with pumpkins?

Is it because they’re so rotund? So majestic? So orange? So round? What is it about them that makes them so hard to resist?

Tabs loved pumpkins so much that he had his own pumpkin patch in Petaluma, and every year he took a group of employees up there to pick the best ones to decorate the office with. (Also, of course, to incorporate into his fall fashion line.)

Rosie

Rosie has kept the company pumpkin patch going, but there was a huge problem this year.

One of the pumpkins we picked for the office was vandalized, and we still don’t know by who. All we have are the following clues to go on…

The claw marks shown in the exhibit above
Paw prints leading away from the scene of the crime
A suspicious note…

Our fur-ensics team analyzed the paw prints and believes they were left by a medium-sized rodent, perhaps a husky squirrel or a svelte raccoon.

The note simply said, “Leev nuts or u get mor scriches!!”

Rosie’s hot on the case.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, October 1, 2022!

October 1st, 2022 by Karen 5 Comments

Happy first day of October, friend. We’re headed to the pumpkin patch today, so to celebrate this exciting event, Connor asked if we could do matching orange manicures. 🎃 I let her pick out a shade at Ulta, and she chose a creamy pumpkin shade of Sally Hansen Insta-Dry (768 Tis the Sea-Sun). Considering that I painted our nails last night while I was half asleep, I think our matching manis turned out OK!

What are pumpkin patches like out your way? The ones in our area have hay mazes, corn pits, games and petting zoo animals, and at some farms, they even have pumpkins which you can even remove fresh off the vine.

I’m just hoping it’s not going to be too hot at the pumpkin patch today because in the past, we’ve baked in the heat! I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I can’t wait for the weather to be cool and cold again.

This week’s reading

Does using powder before foundation lead to longer lasting makeup?
Yes, Harry Styles has a beauty brand, and yes, there’s makeup.
Winter makeup trends that I can totally get behind: ’90s monochromatic makeup, single color eyeshadow and glowing skin.
I honestly never realized how many variations of clown costume makeup existed, LOL!
If clowns aren’t your thing, then how about cat makeup?
Aaaaand now I want to try ALL THE FOUNDATIONS!
Lining the waterline is having a moment.
Here’s how Mally Roncal created Beyoncé’s legendary “Dangerously in Love” look. Hint: she used gloss on B’s brows.

I’m here for this.

And now I can’t wait to watch this, too!

Rosie Pose, I’m lookin’ at you.

Note to self.

Gorgeous!

Have a great Saturday, and please make a little time for rest today! It’s important.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What’s Your Skin Story?

September 29th, 2022 by Karen 6 Comments

You can start anywhere you want, but I think I’ll start at the beginning, because that’s usually a good place to start, to borrow a sentiment from The Sound of Music.

I was lucky. I didn’t have any skin issues when I was very young, but I did started breaking out when I reached the sixth grade. I’d get these little pimples on my forehead, and I remember my mom taking me to a dermatologist, who gave me something called a PanOxyl Bar, which was a soap that smelled awful and bleached all my t-shirts, and a tube of super strong benzoyl peroxide.

They made my skin feel raw, but they kinda helped. Basically, I didn’t know what I was doing, and I didn’t incorporate any moisturizing products. My mom, who has perfect skin, really didn’t know how to help me either.

I pretty much continued to break out through high school, but the breakouts were minor. Just a few small pimples here and there. I used the benzoyl peroxide consistently, and it did help.

But things got more complicated in college. In my second year, I went through some sort of hormonal shift (my acne has always been tied to my hormones), and the few small pimples I’d been dealing with turned into big, painful pimples on my cheeks.

I started taking Accutane, and it was the only thing that really helped. It’s still controversial, and it was even more controversial back then, but it helped me a lot. It cleared up my skin, which remained clear until I hit my mid-30s.

I think that’s when I went through another hormonal shift. I started getting chin acne (but you already know about that).

I’m in my 40s now with drier skin (which used to be super oily) that’s still acne-prone. I still use benzoyl peroxide (Kate Somerville Anti-Bac Clearing Lotion), either in the morning or at night.

Now I’m more concerned about evening out my skin tone and dealing with fine lines than I am about preventing and treating breakouts.

I do have some fine lines under my eyes and around my mouth, but I like to attribute them to smiling. 🙂 I guess I smile a lot, because I’ve got the wrinkles to show it, LOL!

[Continue reading…]

3 Recent Revelations, and Ilia Rococco Lipstick

September 27th, 2022 by Karen 12 Comments

ilia roccoco hourglass ray — Key products: Ilia Rococco Lipstick, Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow in Ray and Chanel Malice Blush

1. Re: buying blinds for your house

We finally caved in and went to a store that specializes in blinds because all the options and colors have just gotten too overwhelming.

We had someone come out yesterday to measure and walk us through the process, and the biggest takeaway I got was that continuity is key when you’re buying blinds.

For example, when all the shades or blinds are down and you’re looking at your house from the outside, it’s really nice to see all the window treatments matching.

If you don’t want to do that, and say, you have a two-story house, you can match all of the blinds on the first floor, and then have a different type of matching treatment on the top floor.

My point is, you ideally want to have some sort of continuity with your window treatments! Who knew?

2. Ilia Rococco Lipstick is lovely, but…

I got this a while back but haven’t worn it in a bit. It’s a beautiful warm rosy pink lipstick that’s loaded with pigment, but be mindful of it transferring onto your teeth. That’s why I’m smiling with my lips closed in the top pic, LOL!

ilia tahiti rococco — Fun with Ilia lip products!

3. You can wear a bodysuit unsnapped

Holy crap, this has been one of those weirdly surprising game changers for me. I love having the longer length of a bodysuit because I don’t like it when tucked-in shirts ride up, but sometimes I just can’t deal with snapping and unsnapping the crotch part. I recently read that if you’re not in the mood to snap, you can just skip it and wear the bodysuit loose. That’s what I’ve been doing lately, and it’s been glorious.

Here’s the thing, though: You have to make sure that the bottom of your bodysuit doesn’t escape. It’s easier to keep track of the front, but the back it can be tricky. I get around this by wearing pants with a high rise and/or a long blazer.

Have you had any revelations (beauty related or otherwise) lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 748

September 26th, 2022 by Karen 15 Comments

How cute is this? Look at the little brush!

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. Chewing gum or gummy bears?

Gummy bears. I haven’t chewed gum in years! It bothers my jaw for some reason.

2. Something in your skin care routine that you’re running low on and need to replenish?

My current bottle of Avene Mineral Sunscreen is down to the last few drops. I’m debating between buying a new bottle or trying something new; maybe the Isdin Eryfotona Favorites Set? Still not sure yet.

3. One thing you need to do with your hair to avoid disaster?

If I skip conditioner, then I’m in for a world of hurt.

4. Leggings — in a print or in a solid color?

I’ll go with the print, but it has to be a floral print.

5. Where is the best place to buy skin care in your town?

I’m lucky in that I live relatively close to both a Sephora and an Ulta! I bounce back and forth between the two.

6. A brand that you absolutely love?

Although I don’t own a lot of their clothes, I’ve always admired Patagonia for always doing cool sh*t.

7. Low pony or low bun?

Low pony because it’s less likely to give me a headache.

8. Your lip product of the day?

I’m wearing Ilia Rococco lipstick today.

9. Pick one — body oil, body lotion or body cream?

A thick, rich body cream in a jar, 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. Chewing gum or gummy bears?
2. Something in your skin care routine that you’re running low on and need to replenish?
3. Pick one — body oil, body lotion or body cream?
4. Leggings — in a print or in a solid color?
5. Where is the best place to buy skin care in your town?
6. A brand that you absolutely love?
7. Low pony or low bun?
8. Your lip product of the day?
9. Pick one — body oil, body lotion or body cream?

P.P.S. Happy Monday, beautiful lady. Here’s a big hug. 🤗 I think you’re amazing!