Don’t these pics of flowers from my birthday bouquet remind you of Paul & Joe?

I can’t believe these are still hangin’ on. Yay for Safeway flowers that last two weeks!

The MAC Smokeluxe Veluxe Pearlfusion palette in action

Every weekday at 5 p.m. on the dot, the children in my neighborhood leave their homes and start yelling like banshees in the street.

I’ve tried to figure out why they do it, and what they’re yelling about, but as far as I can tell, there’s no rhyme or reason.

This really has nothing to do with my makeup today (I’m wearing the new MAC Smokeluxe Veluxe Pearlfusion). It’s just that I can hear the kids outside as I type this, and I want to open my office window and yell back at them, “JUST WAIT UNTIL YOUR 30s!! THEN YOU’LL ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO SCREAM ABOUT!!! GAHHHHH!”

Oh, but the 5 p.m. outburst is nothing compared to the ice cream truck ruckus. That’s when all hell breaks loose, and I’m usually one of the kids screaming. “ICE CREAM! YAY, IT’S THE ICE CREAM TRUCK!!!”

Haha! Okay, I’m putting away the all-caps and exclamation marks (for a minute).

Cheeks: Guerlain Terra Nerolia Bronzer (just below cheekbones), Too Faced Sweet Pink Blush (apples); Lips: MAC Gingerroot Cremestick Liner (discontinued) and Too Faced Sweet Shines Lip Gloss in Mocha Freeze

Too Faced Cosmetics’ Who’s Your Poppy Blush

I’m this close to putting my beloved/beat up pan of NARS Orgasm out to pasture for the summer and replacing it with Too Faced Cosmetics Who’s Your Poppy Full Bloom Ultra Flush Blush ($19).

More than just a’ight, this peachy pink’s a powder blush hidden gem! — and if you haven’t tried it yet, I hope you will, ’cause I believe it’s the bomb.

It’s as if some intrepid makeup lover at Too Faced HQ took a pan of NARS Orgasm, added a little more pink to it and gave it a softer golden shimmer.

BOOM! Take that. Who’s Your Poppy now, blush!?

Sometimes with NARS Orgasm, I think its pearly golden shimmer takes over my looks. It’s like, dayum, Gina! You got hit by the glitter truck.

Who’s Your Poppy isn’t like that. Instead of kicking down the door with steel-toed boots screaming, “HEY, Y’ALL, LOOK AT MY PORES!” its golden pearl tip-toes through the tulips on ballet slippers. It’s still shimmery…but think brunch shimmer, as opposed to bachelorette party.

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New on Gloss Daily: More Summer Polishes on Which to Splurge and Steal

Looking for a fun new nail polish to wear this summer? Check out these luscious limes, outrageous oranges and yummy yellows from Essie, Sally Hansen, MAC and more in my newest post on the Ladies’ Home Journal beauty blog, Gloss Daily.

Oh, and if you have a moment, please leave a comment, like the post on Facebook, tweet it on Twitter or pin it on Pinterest. Buttons to do all three are at the top of the post.

If you do it, Tabs will purr extra loudly and flash his tum.

Scandalous!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Wearing products from the new MAC Smokeluxe Veluxe Pearlfusion Palette ($40)

Is it drawing the perfect cat liner flick, blending beautiful gradients, or figuring out ways to make your eye makeup last through work?

My biggest eye makeup challenge is getting things properly lined up and even, particularly when it comes to shadow. I’m right-handed, and when I apply products on my left side, I push a little harder with the brush, and reach a little further, which can make the end result uneven.

I have to remind myself all the time to use a lighter touch on my left eye. “Use a lighter touch on your left eye, Karen.”

Lately my brows have also been a challenge. I’m trying to grow them out, and my left brow is just being a pain in the you-know-what. My brow bald spot (whom I call “Raul”) simply refuses to go away.

Dangit! Grow brows, grow!

Last thing is probably just remembering to try new looks and be adventurous! It’s easy to fall back on my safe colors and routines because I know they’re easy and work for me, but where’s the fun in that? It’s makeup, right? If it ends up looking wackadoo, just wash it off.

Do you have any eye liner/shadow/mascara/etc. issues? What are your biggest challenges when it comes to eye makeup?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen