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

What’s the Most Enjoyable Part of Doing Makeup for You?

September 16th, 2022 by Karen 9 Comments

Is it doing your eyes makeup? Putting on your lips? Smoothing your skin? I used to looove doing my eyes when I had more time, and I could be extra picky about getting everything symmetrical, which I weirdly like doing, but now that I live my life by the timer on my iPhone and 15-minute blocks, I get my makeup kicks from blush.

I love how you can transform EVERYTHING with one sweep of blush. I’m all about that blush now, man!

How about you? What part of doing makeup is the most enjoyable for you?

Oh, and if you say brows, you’re gonna make me laugh, because only masochists have fun doing brows, LOL! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Chanel Makeup: Your Tried and True Staples?

September 15th, 2022 by Karen 4 Comments

I’ve been wearing a lot of Chanel lately, and for the first time in a while, I’m feeling inspired to wear makeup again!

What are your tried and true staples from the brand?

Here are mine at the moment.

Malice Powder Blush: Oldie but goody! May the makeup gods never discontinue this beauty.
Les Beiges Eyeshadow Palettes: I wear Medium and Deep all the time. Side note: Both are still available in the permanent line.
Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation: This foundation is absolutely gorgeous and foolproof. Looks great on camera and in real life, and bonus, it doesn’t move in hot weather. My shade is 50 Beige (although I could go up to 60 beige in the summer).
Les Beiges Healthy Sheer Colour Stick Blushes: I wear these a TON. The bronzer, No.20, is my favorite.
Road Movie Eyeshadow Quad: This was an LE release from a few years back which they added to the permanent collection. The blue and teal are both surprisingly wearable.
Stylo Yeux Eyeliner in Espresso: Honestly, this is the best brown liner for tightlining. Doesn’t irritate my eyes and stays on all day.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

A Little Bit of Dior! Dior 999 Lipstick

September 14th, 2022 by Karen 8 Comments

Please excuse the cray-cray clips in these pictures. I’m about to jump on a video call, and my stray hairs needed all the help they could get. LOL!

I finally got my paws on a tube of Dior 999 Lipstick — been lusting after it for weeks. It’s an intensely pigmented matte red with a touch of orange in a long-wearing formula.

I’ve just started playing with it and quickly figured out a few things:

Use a thin layer! It’s one of those long-wearing formulas with a very specific sweet spot; apply too much, and it will lift off in patches.
Go slowly if you’re applying straight from the bullet. Or, use a lip liner to help define the edges first. I dunno, maybe it’s the slant or the thinner size of the lipstick bullet, but there’s something about it that makes it hard for me to just go in there and do the damn thing.
It won’t wear off for nothing. Dior is not kidding! This stuff stays on forever.

It’s been a minute since I’ve worn a Dior lipstick, and I can remember why I like it. I think I’m going to grab a bright pink or coral next!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Wednesday!

3 Reasons to Love Lipgloss

September 13th, 2022 by Karen 7 Comments

saint jane luxury lip shine — Saint Jane Luxury Lip Shine is where it’s at!

1. It’s nostalgic.

Well, it’s nostalgic for me, at least, LOL! Shiny, sparkly tubes take me back to my 20s, when I was living in San Francisco and rotating between MAC Lychee Luxe (a recommendation from my mom), MAC Nymphette and MAC Spite.

2. It’s joyful and fun.

What is it about that glossy, mirror shine? It’s so carefree, like the complete opposite of matte lipstick, which to me feels formal and serious.

3. It’s easy to apply!

Talk about no-brainer application, especially with certain shades which I can swipe on without much thought (gotta save my brain for adulting these days).

For me those shades are peachy pinks with shimmer, like the gloss I’ve been wearing lately, Saint Jane Luxury Lip Shine in Nectar. I grab it before hopping on a video call (which I’m about to do in five minutes), or when I’m standing in my hallway and don’t have a mirror, or when I’m just sitting in the car at afternoon school pickup and need a little something-something.

Gloss is always there for me, and it never asks for too much effort. I think this is the main reason why I love it so much!

Do you have a gloss you love, or a gloss shade with good memories attached to it?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. This morning it was chilly enough to wear a sweater! I can’t tell you how thrilling it is to wear long sleeves, ha ha ha!

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 746

September 12th, 2022 by Karen 19 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. A lip product you wear often?

The OG Laneige Lip Mask in the pink jar. I use it every night!

2. Your favorite blushes — GO!

Lately I’ve been bouncing between Chanel Malice, Laura Mercier Ginger and Chanel Les Beiges Blushes in No. 22, 25 or 20.

3. What are you up to today?

The usual mix of working, mom-ing and juggling all the things, LOL! I have a bunch of deadlines due early next week, so I’m trying to get those squared away in the first part of the week.

4. Water with or without a squeeze of lemon?

Hmm, with a squeeze of lemon please.

5. Something you can do just for you this week?

I’m going to try to exercise first thing in the morning. I got back into the habit last week and realized it sets a good stage for my day when I do it early.

6. What’s your go-to method for styling your hair?

I use a curling iron with a large barrel (the T3 Bodywaver) on a low heat setting to curl the top layers and the ends into loose waves. Then, I’ll smooth the flyaways around my part with hairspray and clip them down with flat, no-crease hair clips. I keep the clips in until I have to hop on a video call or leave the house, LOL!

7. Besides your wallet, phone and keys, what are some things you always carry in your purse?

Hand sanitizer, a disposable toilet seat cover for kids (if you have a little one who grabs onto the sides of the toilet, these are a lifesaver!), emergency snacks (cashew packets from Trader Joe’s) and a Chantecaille Lip Chic.

8. The colors you wear the most?

Hmm, well, if we’re talking clothes, I wear a lot of neutrals — black, gray, white, beige and blue. Honestly, this color palette does nothing for my soul, but it allows me to 1) get dressed without having to think too deeply and 2) appear somewhat put together, and that’s where I’m at right meow. If we’re talking makeup, then, coral, taupe, brown, pink and red.

9. Something that made you smile today?

I had my windows open this morning, and I heard the bells ringing joyfully from a nearby church.

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. A lip product you wear often?
2. Your favorite blushes — GO!
3. What are you up to today?
4. Water with or without a squeeze of lemon?
5. Something you can do just for you this week?
6. What’s your go-to method for styling your hair?
7. Besides your wallet, phone and keys, what are some things you always carry in your purse?
8. The colors you wear the most?
9. Something that made you smile today?

P.P.S. Good morning, my friend! Have a peaceful and joyful day! 🤗

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 727

September 11th, 2022 by Karen 5 Comments

Tabs recognized that good pet assistants were hard to come by, and he was a firm believer in starting one’s training early, ideally before the age of one.

When Connor was accepted into the Tabs the Cat School for Junior Pet Assistants, it was a great honor. She got to work with the maestro himself, learning the ins and outs of the pet assisting business, including developing good listening skills, proper petting, pampering, structured play time and meal preparation.

Connor graduated summa cum laude, and Tabs was kind enough to give her a glowing letter of recommendation. She was all set for her first real job as a junior pet assistant.

Rosie

When she saw Rosie’s job posting for a pet assistant, Connor applied and made it through all six interviews. She got the job! And now she’s in year two of her new career.

Rosie has been a great cat to work for. She can be tough, but she’s kind and listens. She treats her employees well.

It’s always nice when you have a great boss. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, September 10, 2022!

September 10th, 2022 by Karen 8 Comments

chanel les beiges healthy glow sheer colour stick — Current cream blush obsession, the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Sticks ($45 each)

Good morning, beautiful. Happy Saturday to you. How was your week? Mine was long and filled with SO. MUCH. ADULTING. Being a grownup is so much harder than it was portrayed in ’80s sitcoms. LOL! Needless to say, I’m glad the weekend is finally here, and yay! — the heatwave that roasted Northern California is now officially over. I woke up this morning to a gorgeous overcast sky and 70 degree temps, and it was the best thing ever.

On a beauty-related note, I’ve been thinking a lot about blush lately. It’s one of my favorite makeup things, and ya know, I never get tired of it. I love all the textures and finishes and formulas, and oh, the colors. SO MANY! All this week I’ve felt stretched to my limit between work, parenting and life, but whenever I took a minute to put a little blush on, I felt better. Blush has that power!

There’s just something about having a beautiful flush of color on my cheeks that makes me feel good. Plus, it’s an easy boost, you know? It doesn’t have the application challenges that come with eyeshadow or eyeliner on my progressively more hooded lids, for instance. I can just swipe a little on and in less than 30 seconds, I feel like a completely different person.

Would it be weird to have a beauty blog that just talked about blush? Because honestly, I could talk about it all day, every day.

Most of the blushes in my current collection are venturing into “vintage” territory, so I wouldn’t mind doing a major blush refresh. I went to Sephora yesterday and contemplated the old standbys that I know and adore, like NARS Deep Throat and the Hourglass Ambients, but I think it’s time for some new things.

If you have a blush you’re crushing on right now, please let me know in the comments.

This week’s reading

Apparently blush has an ancient and a polarizing history. Who knew!
Speaking of blush history, NARS Orgasm powder blush has remained a brand bestseller for over two decades.
I see a few of my favorites on this list of best drugstore blushes under $20.
“I may be over 40, but I will *never* stop wearing bright, colorful makeup.”
All about hair oils and their benefits, and how to find which one best suits your mane.
Olaplex has a cultish following and some unhappy customers.

Where I’ve been mentally all week long during the heat wave in California.

The glasses, the bob…

Love this makeup.

Chanel all day!

Love this.

I have a friend who keeps talking about this brand, so I’m doing some research.

Red!

Yum.

Because I never get tired of learning about sunscreen.

I’m off to make another Nespresso because it’s the weekend, and my idea of going wild now is having two coffee drinks on a Saturday. Have a great rest of your day.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Purr-Fect Cat Eyeliner Flicks Are Easy With This Quick Makeup Tip Using MAC Fast Response Eye Cream and a Q-Tip

September 7th, 2022 by Karen 2 Comments

This is one of my go-to tricks for even eyeliner flicks. I used it this morning, as a matter of fact!

Throughout the long, hallowed (not really) history of Karen’s Cat Eyeliner Life, Volume I, I’ve drawn a lot of cat eyeliner looks on my cat lady lids, and over all those years, I can count on one paw the number of times I’ve drawn two perfectly angled flicks. That’s how rarely it occurs!

Most of the time, it’s my left flick. The right will be OK, but the left will turn out wonky, angled either too low or too high, or too short or too long.

It’s pretty much guaranteed that one or both flicks will need an adjustment.

One quick way to fix your flicks is with an eye cream and a Q-tip. What I’ll do is soak a Q-tip with a little bit of the cream, then run that along the edges of the flick to instantly sharpen them and/or fix any mistakes, all while adding some extra moisture around my eye area (something I need anyway).
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