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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 732

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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 fancy makeup line that you like?

    Um, all of them? I do have a soft spot for Chanel.

    2. Lip balm or lip tint?

    A moisturizing lip tint, please, in a sheer coral.

    3. Pick a face mask: moisturizing, balancing, exfoliating, calming or firming.

    Ooh, my skin could use some calming right meow.

    4. Creamy face wash or foamy face wash?

    Creamy all the way.

    5. Carnations or baby’s breath?

    Baby’s breath.

    6. Yellow or orange nail polish?

    I’d love a creamy pastel yellow, something in the same exact shade as whipped butter.

    7. Something you’re looking forward to this month?

    I want to say something fun like swimming in the pool, but honestly, I really can’t wait for my allergies to just be done already! They usually taper off in mid- to late- June. It’s been a rough year…

    8. Burpees or mountain climbers?

    Neither is on the top of my list of fun things to do, burpees seem to go by faster, at least.

    9. Skin tints: love them or leave them?

    Ooh, love them!

    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 fancy makeup line that you like?
    2. Lip balm or lip tint?
    3. Pick a face mask: moisturizing, balancing, exfoliating, calming or firming.
    4. Creamy face wash or foamy face wash?
    5. Carnations or baby’s breath?
    6. Yellow or orange nail polish?
    7. Something you’re looking forward to this month?
    8. Burpees or mountain climbers?
    9. Skin tints: love them or leave them?

    P.P.S. Good morning, my friend! Here’s to a wonderful week filled with blue skies and good vibes. 🤗

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 713

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Rosie was wondering if you’ve ever spent the night in a tent as it was being pummeled by a deluge of rain.

Yes? No? Maybe so?

When she asked me this today, for the first time ever, I answered “yes!”

We went camping this weekend at Casini Ranch Family Campgrounds on the Russian River, and because Rosie is family, I invited her to come with us. For a second there, I thought she’d say yes because she’s currently into etymology, but she meowed a soft “No thank you,” and then mumbled something under her breath about not getting along with Gordy, the current Casini Camp Cat Mascot.

You know, I’m not surprised Rosie declined. She’s the type of cat who gets too caught up in her plots, so a lot of other cats assume she’s standoffish or disinterested, but really, she’s just working out science equations in her head.

Tabs

Tabs, on the other hand, was your ultimate outdoorsy cat. He jumped at every opportunity to spend time in the woods camping, fishing and backpacking through the remote wilderness.

He started a camp, in fact, for up-and-coming kitten supermodels so they could be one with nature and use their experiences in their future modeling campaigns, and it’s still going strong. Several of his protégés are making names for themselves on social media.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, June 4, 2022!

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The best part about camping? S’mores!

Hello from the woods! I’m camping with my fam-bam this weekend, so short and sweet Saturday Surfing today.

Whatever you’ve got going on this weekend, I hope it involves s’mores. 🙂

This week’s reading


I made this with shrimp and it was absolutely delicious!


I love this show so much.


Classic Madge!


OK, so now I want that helmet.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Putting Sunscreen on Top of Makeup Is a Thing

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mac prep primes skin k
It’s a good day to (re)apply your sunscreen.

Good morning and happy Friday!

Something fascinating I learned recently about liquid sunscreen is that you can touch up it throughout the day by reapplying it directly on top of makeup.

MIND BLOWN!

This is assuming you’ve already got a layer (or two) underneath your usual face paint. Chances are you’re already wearing sunscreen underneath your foundation, blush, etc. if you’re going to bother reapplying your sunscreen in the middle of the day.

Oh, and this is also assuming you’re not wearing super dark blush or a black smokey eye! It seems to work best when the shades aren’t too intense.

That said, here’s the gist:

  • Texture is key. A liquid sunscreen with a watery gel-like consistency works best. Anything too thick or heavy will move stuff around. Two to consider are Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen and Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence.
  • You’ll want to pat, not rub. Use your fingers, a sponge (don’t wet it; leave it dry) or a synthetic foundation brush to pat the sunscreen on your skin. Patting minimizes moving the making underneath. Keep patting until the sunscreen’s fully absorbed. Wait a minute, then do another layer.
    • A kitty makeup tip
    Oh, Tabs! I miss you, buddy.
  • Start with the non-colorful areas first. If you’re using a sponge (leave it dry) or brush, start on the parts of your face that don’t have a ton of bright and intense color first, like your jaw, around your nose and mouth, and your forehead, so that you’re not mixing too much color. Wait a minute or so for the, then do your blush and eyes last.

If this seems too out-of-the box for you, then you could always go the more traditional route with a loose powder sunscreen that comes with an attached brush. Colorscience makes one that’s supposed to be pretty good.

Building those happiness muscles, day 12

The two simple things I’m grateful for today are 1) Laneige Lip Mask (this best thing for dry lips, I swear), and 2) my friend, Kelly.

So, Kelly and I met through our kids. Her daughter Kensley and Connor have been BFFs since preschool.

Not only Kelly’s super easy to talk to and the nicest person, she’s also a real-life MacGyver!

Case in point: yesterday I took Connor Claire to play at their house and as she was getting out of the car, she dropped her favorite water bottle, which then rolled onto the sidewalk and into a storm drain. 🙁

I had pretty much given it up as lost forever, but Kelly saved the day by fishing it out of the gutter using a pool noodle, duct tape and a hook.

Seriously, everyone needs a friend like her!

I hope the rest of this beautiful day treats you well. Take care of yourself!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Quick Makeup Tip: Let Your Liner Do All the Heavy Lifting

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urban decay light liner
Clockwise from the white on the upper left: Urban Decay Yeyo, Urban Decay Scorch, Urban Decay Goldmine, Urban Decay Heartless, Esum Rose and Urban Decay Cuff

When you’re pressed for time, use your eyeliner as your shadow! Pencil liner usually works best; I like pencils with a little bit of slip, but not too much, like the MAC liners — Powersurge and Teddy are two of my favorites.

I’m wearing Powersurge all over my lids in the pic below…

mac powersurge swatch

Oh, and try not to overthink it! Just sketch a rough shape on your lids with your pencil, then smudge and blend with either a finger or a fluffy domed shadow brush.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sunscreen Shout-Out! Bliss Block Star

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bliss block star

I discovered Bliss Block Star Sunscreen last year around this time, and it’s been a go-to ever since!

“Hey, now! You’re a block star. Get your game on, go play.
Hey, now! You’re a block star. Get the show on, get paid.
And all that glitters is gold;
Only shooting stars break the mold.”

SORRY, GIRL, but I had to do it. 🙂 This song burrows its way into my brain whenever I pick up Block Star, which, by the way, is the newest item to join the Bliss permanent lineup. It’s a physical sunscreen, and, like all of the items in Bliss’s skin care collection, this tinted mineral sunscreen is cruelty-free.

I wore it on my mug the other day when El Hub hugged me, and he said, “You smell really good.”

Good sign!

It smells like lavender, and it lingers for about 15 minutes or so. I like it, and apparently so do the peeps in my circle!

The tan tint is a surprise. It appears lighter and peachier than the CeraVe tinted mineral sunscreen, so I assumed it wouldn’t work for someone like myself with tan skin, but it completely disappears after you rub it in.

There’s a slight cast at first…but after it sets (about 10 minutes), it disappears, and all that’s left is a smooth, matte finish.

bliss block star

This lotion feels silky, and I don’t feel like I have to jump through any hoops to get my skin to absorb it, likely due to the inclusion of dimethicone. If you’re a fan of that distinctively smooth, silicone-style slip, you’ll probably like how this feels on your skin.

I also like how it doesn’t burn or sting my eyes, and that I can layer it throughout the day. It’s an extremely easy sunscreen to touch up and reapply with, and I think it’s even easier to use than the CeraVe.

If you’re debating between the CeraVe and Block Star, I’d say go for Block Star if you like lavender and like the feeling of a “silicone slip,” and opt for CeraVe if moisture is your top priority. Both are solid choices, IMO, and you can’t go wrong with either.

A 1.4-oz. tube is $19.99 at Target. Definitely going to keep this in the rotation.

Building those happiness muscles, day 11

Keeping it simple today. The two things that I’m grateful for: 1) sunny days that aren’t too hot, and for 2) smooth pens that don’t skip when you write. LOL!

Hope things on your end are great! Happy Wednesday.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sunscreen Shout-Out! Black Girl Sunscreen Kids SPF 50

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Good morning, friend! Right before I sat down at my computer I slathered myself with my new favorite sunscreen, Black Girl Sunscreen Kids SPF 50. If you find yourself constantly annoyed by greasy, sticky, sunscreens that take forever to rub into your skin and leave a gray cast behind, then you’ll need to grab a tube ASAP.

It’s a chemical sunscreen with the following actives: avobenzone 3%, homosalate 15% and octisalate 5%. It doesn’t have parabens, fragrances, silicones or aluminum, and it’s cruelty-free.

I picked up at tube at Target for $9.99, so it’s pretty affordable and easy to find, although I do wish the 3-ounce bottle was a little bigger.

Anywho, it’s one of the most comfortable sunscreens I’ve worn, hands down. It’s not sticky, sinks in fast and doesn’t have an overly obnoxious sunscreen scent. Connor and I wore it last weekend to an outdoor festival in our town, and she didn’t protest as much as she usually does when I put sunscreen on her, LOL!

The festival was held by the local Greek Orthodox Church, and we specifically went to watch a dance performance by the kids dance troupe. They performed traditional dances from the island of Crete.

I loved seeing their sweet faces as they danced, and the details on their costumes were so intricate.

I hope you had a nice long and relaxing weekend!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. If you happen to have any sunscreens that you’ve tried lately and liked, please let me know. I’m always on the hunt!

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 731

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essie red white blue
It’s Memorial 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. Temporary hair dyes: yes or no?

    Yes, please, but only the sprays that wash out with shampoo. When I was getting my hair colored, I loved temporary spray dyes for my roots. My favorite was Rita Hazan Root Concealer! It’s not stiff or sticky and washes out easily.

    Side note: I’m seriously thinking about doing a demi-permanent color to cover my grays. I’ve been going back and forth for the last couple weeks.

    2. Your favorite magazines from back in the day?

    When I was a teenager, I loved reading “Sassy,” “Seventeen” and “YM.” Occasionally, I’d get my mitts on a teenybopper fan magazine with New Kids on the Block on the cover, but that was rare. I was more into beauty than boys at that time.

    When I was in my 20s and 30s, my favorites were “In Style” and “Real Simple.”

    3. How’s your tennis game?

    Seriously, I’m the worst. You don’t want to play tennis with me. LOL!

    4. Houndstooth or gingham?

    Gingham, please!

    5. A hair length that suits you?

    I do pretty well with anything around shoulder length. If I go any longer my hair starts to get heavy.

    6. Something you learned recently?

    I listened to a podcast recently and found out the words quote and quotation aren’t technically interchangeable.

    7. Something beauty related that you’re excited about?

    I may or may not have just ordered some stuff from Bobbi Brown’s line, Jones Road. I’m really curious about the new foundation!

    8. Something beauty related that you’re totally over?

    Eyeshadow palettes upon eyeshadow palettes. I used to love collecting them, but now not so much. They just take up a lot of space and I only use one or two shadows at a time. The only palette I’ve consistently used in the last year has been my Honest Beauty palette. I still like it a lot!

    9. Something you can do to take care of yourself this week?

    More decluttering! It’s taking forever, but every time I say goodbye to something I really don’t need, I feel so good afterwards.

    Oh, and I can go to bed early. 🙂 Rest is a good thing!

    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. Temporary hair dyes: yes or no?
    2. Your favorite magazines from back in the day?
    3. How’s your tennis game?
    4. Houndstooth or gingham?
    5. A hair length that suits you?
    6. Something you learned recently?
    7. Something beauty related that you’re excited about?
    8. Eyeliner today?
    9. Something you can do to take care of yourself this week?

    P.P.S. Good morning, beautiful girl. It’s Memorial Day weekend here; thank you to those in the military for your service. And thank you to your families, too, as military life asks a lot of partners and children. So thank you, thank you, thank you.

    Today Coywolf and I have the day off, so I’ll be taking it easy with my not-so-tiny dancer! I’m going to take her to lunch and then we’ll be doing our nails. I’m really looking forward to it.

    Anywho, have a great day. I hope sweet things happen to you this week and that people treat you with kindness. 🤗

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