Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup
A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict
Happy Friday, my friend! My sidekick is home with me (no dance camp today), but I wanted to pop in for a quick hello. 🙂
I told myself a while back that I was gonna quit with the nude lipsticks already, but I can’t seem to give ’em up. This lightweight peachy beige is from Chanel’s summer collection! It’s 174 Destination from the Rouge Coco Baum Flash line.
Hope you’re having a wonderful day so far!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
For me, it truly feels like summer when Chanel is in the mix. 🙂
I’ve been wearing two of their face products from the new summer collection non-stop: Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint sheer foundation in Medium Plus and Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream in Soleil Tan Medium Bronze.
I’m at a point in my makeup journey where I can’t deal with anything that feels or looks too heavy, especially in the summer. I want the sheerest coverage possible and my skin to look like real skin. Both these products achieve that very specific look!
I wear the Water-Fresh Tint as an all over base (I use two pumps); most of the time I don’t set it with a powder, and I just leave it as is. It’s sheer and semi-matte, and I think it looks very fresh and undone.
Then, I swipe Les Beiges cream bronzer on my cheeks and on my lids for some color and warmth. It blends effortlessly and doesn’t look obvious. FYI, I was pleasantly surprised with how long-lasting it is. Once it sets it doesn’t move!
You can find both items in several different shades at Chanel counters and online.
OK, so for my birthday this year, I treated myself to a cute new t-shirt from a brand that I’m kinda obsessed with called Clare V! They have lots of cute bags too.
I hope this beautiful Thursday has been treating you kindly! Big hugs from this end of the keyboard.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I wasn’t kidding about short, dark nails doing *the most* for me for summer polish. These three Chanel shades, which are from the newly revamped nail polish line, make me swoon!
My favorite is the shade I’ve been wearing on my fingers for almost a month now, 141 Oiseau de Nuit, a rich, blackened deep purple with a shiny finish. I think it’s moody and chic with just a touch of edginess, and when it’s worn with minimal summer makeup and a casual bun or ponytail, the whole look is VERY cool.
I really like the wide brush, which is flat and spreads easily across my nails. I can easily paint the polish from base to tip in a few quick strokes.
I think the formula is better than the previous iteration of Chanel nail polish, too. It does a better job of leveling out, so there’s no patchiness, and you can get a full block of solid color in two coats. It seems to withstand chips better overall as well.
I’ve been testing Osieu de Nuit out with various top coats (Essie, OPI, etc.), and the one that was best at preventing chips and holding the color onto my nails was the new Chanel Le Gel Longwear Top Coat.
If you’re going to splurge on any of the Chanel polishes, I’d highly recommend getting the Le Gel Top Coat to go along with it!
Another moody shade I’ve been loving is 155 Rouge Noir, a deep, dark red which I’ve been wearing on my toes.
This one feels like a shade that could easily go into fall; maybe it’s because I can really see it with a dark ’90s style matte lip and a matte base? Even so, I’ll still wear it in the summer. 🙂
Last but not least is 161 Le Diable En Chanel, a dark glossy black.
I feel like Robert Smith from The Cure would wear this when he needs to feel pampered, LOL!
Let me know if any of these catch your eye.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
You know when you’re so stoked about skin care that the first thing you do is open everything up and apply everything to every readily available inch of skin?
Yup, that’s what I did with all these lotions and potions from K-beauty brand Laneige! I write for them, by the way. 🙂
I’m wearing the Cream Skin Toner and the sunscreen today, and both are chef’s kiss next level. I suspect I’ll find more holy grails very soon.
I haven’t done a skittles multi-colored mani in years, but I thought about it briefly with the new Chanel nail polishes. Pretty, yah?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
If you’re going to do your hair and put on makeup and perfume to sit and work at your desk for hours upon hours upon hours on a Friday, then the makeup and perfume might as well be Chanel. 🙂
I’ve got loads of writing to do, but I just wanted to pop in and wish you a very happy and joyful Friday!
I hope the rest of your day is smooth sailing.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. What are you up to this weekend?
Things are lookin’ up, friend. I put on makeup two days in a row!
It’s a rainy one here in Nor Cal – another puuuur-fect excuse to wear Chanel.
I’m really into a pared-down makeup aesthetic right now, as you can see.
What looks are you into these days?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
My new favorite makeup philosophy is the following: “When in doubt, Chanel it out.”
I haven’t worn any face paint in weeks (!), but this morning, I promised myself that I would give it a try. When I’m feeling like everything is too hard, Chanel was the *only* answer, ya know?
I’m wearing a handful of Chanel favorites in this look!
One thing I’ve relearned recently is that subtle makeup in real life doesn’t translate as well when you’re dealing with the camera. Apparently this is a lesson that I have to learn over and over again, LOL!
Hope your Tuesday has been terrific. It’s a rainy and cold one here in Nor Cal, but I’m focusing on all the blessings.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Today I really wanted to wear NARS Dragon Girl lipstick but couldn’t find it, but I guess that makes sense seeing how The Great Makeup Purge happened around these parts in the last couple years, LOL!
This pic of me wearing it is from 2017, and ya know what? I’m actually relieved I made myself get rid of it because chances are I probably would’ve kept it and worn it still, and even I have to admit that’s pretty gross.
I’m going to pop by Ulta today because 1) I can’t believe I’ve gone this long without Dragon Girl (it’s a must-have red) and 2) I need to buy Connor a last-minute birthday present. She’s turning seven tomorrow, can you believe it?
Time really does fly when you’re having fun — and raising a tiny human!
During the last few trips to Ulta, she’s admired the Caboodles, so she’s going to finally get one this year for her birthday.
I doubt that she’ll want to put makeup in it, though, because during her last dance performance, she absolutely refused to wear any makeup beyond the dance team bare minimum requirement of red lipstick. No blush, no eyeshadow, no glitter. Just red lipstick. I KNOW. I was shocked, too.
Hmm, now that I think about it, maybe I’ll get her a stick of Dragon Girl, too.
Her Caboodle will probably hold play jewelry or art supplies (or both), no doubt!
While we’re on the subject of Ulta, GIRL… Did you know Ulta sells Chanel makeup now? Yes! It looks like they carry a lot of the line, too, including my favorite Chanel foundation, Vitalumiere Aqua. I have quite a few points saved up, so I might be doing a lil’ Chanel shopping there soon.
Question for you. Were you an “Allure” subscriber like I was before they shut down their print magazine? I still really miss it. Sigh! Anywho, they sent me the latest copy of “Vogue” as a replacement, and you know what? I’m really enjoying it! Maybe it’s because I’m starved for a beauty magazine I can hold in my hand, but I’ve been devouring the latest issue with Erykah Badu on the cover.
This is my favorite Erykah Badu song, by the way
I’m going to try to finish work early today, so I can do all the pre-birthday prep that needs to happen before tomorrow (including Connor’s annual birthday lasagna). Time to shred some mozzarella!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Have a wonderful Wednesday!