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NARS

NARS Kalahari Love

November 30th, 2023 by Karen 2 Comments

nars kalahari
Love ya, NARS Kalahari!

Hi there! I’m in and out of the home office today because I’ve got various medical appointments. FUN — not really, LOL! I’m happy to report that I just got back from the dentist, though, without any cavities. I also didn’t cry while I was there, which for me is a Christmas miracle. Anywho. Re: this post. I did it a while back, and it features one of my favorite eyeshadows, NARS Kalahari. I love this duo and wear it a ton. If you get the chance to pick it up, grab it! Have a great rest of your Thursday and see ya soon.

They say, if you love something, set it free, which I guess makes sense if you love butterflies or toucans, but in the case of makeup, if you love something, I say you should talk about it ALL THE TIME, which is why I’ve been raving about NARS Kalahari for years!

Kalahari eyeshadow duo is perfect for lightly defining your lids. One side is a shimmery rosy bronze, and the other side is a shimmery taupe — two colors, granted, that you can find in almost any line, but here’s the kicker: NARS found a way to avoid all of the typically problematic side effects that befall so many shimmery shadows.

For instance, Kalahari is reflective, but it isn’t frosty, so fine lines aren’t even a thing. When you sweep and swirl it on your skin, a sweet, bronzed glow remains. It’s very “J. Lo running errands in her velour track suit.” Casual, but still noticeable. (This is a good thing in my book.)

Here’s one of my favorite ways to wear it:
Mix the two shades together with a domed shadow brush, then apply from lash line to crease (or just above the crease if your eyes are hooded like mine). Build it up if you want more color intensity, but don’t worry — this is eyeshadow that won’t look heavy, since the powder is very delicate and fine.

Next, wet that same brush, and apply more of the mix on the mobile part of your lid, which is the part of your eye that “blinks.” Leave it a few minutes to dry, and work on the rest of your face. Once you’ve almost gotten to the end — I usually wait until I’m done with almost everything, including blush and lipstick — take a clean tapered blending brush, and gently rock it back and forth in your crease and along the outer corners to blend.

nars kalahari

If you want, you can also rim your lash or water lines with chocolate brown eyeliner, which I did for these pics. I also smudged a cooler taupe liner (Urban Decay’s Mushroom) on the bottom lash line ’cause I like the subtle contrast of tones.

Makeup worn in this look

  • Eyes: Nars Kalahari (lids), MAC Coffee (water line, upper lash line, smudged between lashes and layered beneath Kalahari), Urban Decay Mushroom (lower lash line smudged with the darker side of Kalahari), It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara (lashes)
  • Blush: MAC Glow Play Blush in No Shame
  • Lips: BECCA Lush Lip Colour Balm in Almond Fraise (on sale now!) topped with BECCA Glow Gloss in Snap Dragon
  • Base: Estee Lauder in Honey Bronze, Estee Lauder 24H Hydra Prep concealer, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Golden Tan

[Continue reading…]

There are 2 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Just For Fun, Makeup, NARS

A Lil’ Fall Makeup Edit: Playing with Plum

November 16th, 2023 by Karen Leave a Comment

You know those days when you just cannot deal with your hair? Yeah, I’m having one of those right meow. LOL!

Alright, so remember the lip liner and lip balm trick from yesterday’s post? I did the same thing today but with a plummy lip with MAC Plum Lip Liner and Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Gummy Bear.

Side note, if you’re gonna go the lip liner route, it helps to have a pencil sharpener dedicated solely to your lip products. That way, you don’t ever have to deal with black or brown eyeliner bits getting all up in your soft pinks and whatnot. I use and like the one by NARS.

So I tried something a little different today; I started with the plum lip and then put on the rest of my makeup afterwards. I recently saw in a video about dark lips about how putting them on first helps you gauge how much makeup to wear with the rest of the look.

I think in my case, it totally helps because I’m always trying to see how little makeup I can get away with (it’s my jam these days).

Try it the next time you feel like wearing darker lipstick and tell me how it goes.

As for the rest of the look, to echo the plum vibe, I swept NARS Sin blush on my cheeks and Chanel Rouge Noir (one of their eyeshadow-liner-kohl sticks) on my upper lash line.

Before you jet, I just had to share this chicken enchilada recipe with you! I made it yesterday for the first time with some rotisserie chicken from Costco and it was SO GOOD.

You’ll have to excuse the pic with the half-eaten pan of enchiladas, LOL! We were really hungry. I served it with a salad and cut apple pears for dessert. Yum!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Leave the first comment on this post.

Categories: MAC Makeup, Makeup

A Lil’ Fall Favorite Makeup Edit with NARS and MAC

November 15th, 2023 by Karen 3 Comments

I’m on a mission to wear fall looks that are simple, elegant and easy. I gotta say, I feel pretty put together together in this one, which features a few of my favorites — NARS Kalahari II eyeshadow, NARS Amour blush and MAC Half Red Lip Pencil.

A lifted liner tip

For this makeup, I tried a new-to-me eyeliner technique from a makeup artist that Jane from Daly Beauty introduced me to recently, Erica Taylor! She’s been doing makeup for over 20 years and posts a lot of tips for beauties who are 40 and up.

She suggests applying liner strategically on the outer corner to make your lids appear more lifted.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Erica Taylor (@ericataylor2347)

I’m really happy with how it turned out; I definitely think my hooded bits look a little less hooded! Plus, it’s really easy to do.

Also, lip liner is so your friend

Oh, and shout-out to the Wet Seal sales associate back in 1996 who taught me about the power of lip liner, LOL! She was the one who convinced me to try lining and filling my lips in with a lip pencil, and then topping it off with lip balm.

I did that in here with MAC Half Red Lip Liner and Biossance Lip Balm. 🙂 Try it sometime with your favorite lip liner.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 3 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Face of the Day (FOTD), Just For Fun, Lips, MAC Makeup, Makeup, Makeup Tips/How To, NARS

Checking In: Matchy-Matchy with NARS Dolce Vita, a Yummy Lunch Idea and a Question for My Walking Friends

October 18th, 2023 by Karen 12 Comments

How I feel lately

Hi! Happy Wednesday. I just got back from a walk and am feeling really good.

Quick question for my walking enthusiasts out there: do you get your steps in all at once, or do you prefer to break up your walks during the day?

Over the past few months, I’ve been breaking mine up purely out of necessity, since it’s easier for me to sneak in 10- or 20-minute increments in between tasks.

Recently, though, I decided to do one long vigorous walk in the morning, and it’s been really great! It takes about an hour and 20 minutes, give or take, to hit my goal of 10,000 steps (or about 4 miles), and by the end of it, I feel like a whole new person.

Anywho, consider this your hint from the universe to go for a walk today. 😀

Speaking of messages from the universe, I’ve been thinking about this quote from actress Kim Cattrall lately.

I don’t want to be in a situation for even an hour where I’m not enjoying myself.
–Kim Cattrall

This is where I’m currently at in life, in all aspects, and especially with makeup. Like, I don’t want painting my face to be difficult in any way whatsoever, LOL. One thing I’ve been doing lately to keep things easy is a matchy-matchy lipstick and blush with NARS Dolce Vita.

I do a swipe of Dolce Vita Velvet Matte Lip Pencil and a few swishes of the blush and dang, if it isn’t the easiest lip and cheek pairing EVER. I frickin’ love it! Makes me wish more brands did the same color for lipsticks and blushes, le sigh.

It’s coming up on lunch time here in the Bay Area, so I’m going to warm up some leftovers.

I made this dish yesterday for lunch called fagioli all’olio with beans, squash and crispy sage, and oh my goodness, it’s all I want to eat now!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Natalia Rudin (@natsnourishments)

Instead of using butternut squash, I just grabbed what I had on hand, which was pre-cut delicata squash from Trader Joe’s, and it was so good.

This recipe is vegan, but I think it could be delicious topped with parmesan and/or crumbled Italian sausage, yum!

OK, must eat before I get too hangry. I hope you’re doing OK, and that life is treating you well.

What’s new on your end of the keyboard?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 12 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Dinner Makeup With the Honest Beauty Eyeshadow Palette

May 5th, 2023 by Karen 2 Comments

Happy Friday, friend!

I went out to dinner with the fam-bam last night and wore a brown smokey eye with a pink cheek and glossy pink lip. I’m a little out of practice with blending, but you know what? I didn’t worry too much about it and decided to let the whole look land wherever it wanted to land! (Side note: I’m trying to be more gentle with myself and not so persnickety about, well, everything.)

Anywho, We went to FOB Kitchen in Oakland, a cute, casual spot that serves Filipino food! I was too busy eating and having fun to take pictures of the food, but here’s a shot we got of Connor’s dessert, a Filipino shave ice concoction called halo-halo.

Quick list of the makeup I’m wearing…

  • Rose Inc Skin Enhance Tinted Serum in 080
  • Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation in 8 Warm
  • Hourglass Retouching Fluid in Sand
  • Dior Backstage Concealer in 4W
  • MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden and Give Me Sun
  • Anastasia Brow Wiz in Dark Brown
  • Tower 28 Mascara in Jet
  • Honest Beauty Get It Together Eyeshadow Palette
  • MAC Costa Riche liner
  • Hourglass Voyeur Gel Liner in Cave
  • NARS Blush in Amour
  • MAC Lip Liner in Talking Points
  • Hourglass Lipgloss in Canvas

Hope your day is peaceful and joyful!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 2 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face of the Day (FOTD), Honest Beauty, Hourglass, Just For Fun, MAC Makeup, Makeup, NARS

If There’s One Thing You Grab Next Time You’re at NARS…

April 25th, 2023 by Karen 6 Comments

Please let it be Dolce Vita. You’ve gotta get the Velvet Matte Lip Pencil version of it, though, not the lipstick. While the lipstick is pretty, I think the Velvet Matte Pencil is easier to apply and that much more user friendly.

It’s great if you want to wear something colorful on your lips that’s 1) low effort and 2) goes with most everything!

In the makeup I’m wearing today, I paired it with NARS Dolce Vita blush and Laura Mercier Strapless Caviar Stick cream shadow. I knocked a little bronzer (MAC Give Me Sun) into my crease for a touch of warmth, too.

Do you love Dolce Vita as much as I do? It’s a classic!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Hope you’re having a terrific Tuesday!

There are 6 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Lips, NARS

Unsung Makeup Heroes: NARS Deep Throat Blush

April 13th, 2023 by Karen 4 Comments

nars deep throat blush
Even better than NARS Orgasm

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

I realize that NARS Orgasm is widely believed to be the true tour de force of the NARS blush multiverse, and for sure, I totally get why so many people love it…but NARS Deep Throat to me is a far better peachy pink option. Hands down.

Like Orgasm, it looks incredible on a wiiiide range of skin tones, but it lacks Orgasm’s intensely golden pearl, which in this case is a good thing, particularly if you have pores — like I do.

nars deep throat blush
Wearing NARS Deep Throat with BECCA Tiger Lilly Glow Gloss

I actually like that I can’t see Deep Throat’s golden shimmer unless I’m way up in a magnifying mirror. Most of the time, all you see is the lovely color.

[Continue reading…]

There are 4 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup, NARS

Checking In: Dance Competition Makeup Musings, Sunscreen on Rainy Days and Soup!

March 14th, 2023 by Karen 19 Comments

Connor’s first dance competition is now officially on the books.

The girls did great last Saturday! Although I don’t understand anything about how the teams were ranked and scored, I do know that when Connor’s team got called, the faces of the girls reflected pure joy.

Oh, and I have to say, I was kinda surprised (but also not) when I saw Connor leap up to claim the team trophy on stage, LOL!

On the makeup front, I’m happy to report that NARS Dragon Girl lasted most of the day, and hung on until the early afternoon. I could’ve touched up her lips right before they went on stage, but I skipped it as she still had enough pigment on. Seriously, this matte red is a classic for a reason. Grab it if you don’t have it already.

Two girls wearing NARS Dragon Girl

Because it was raining and I knew we were in for a long day, I actually didn’t wear a lot of makeup to the competition on Saturday, although if I did go full on, I I probably wouldn’t been right at home with all the lewks the ladies were serving.

One team had at least 20 girls rockin’ a full beat—big lashes, bright lips, cut creases paired with wings so big they could take off at any moment. You get the picture. And don’t even get me started on the hair! There were many big and elaborate styles. I couldn’t help but wonder if certain teams hired on-site glam professionals to get everyone ready.

If I wasn’t so preoccupied with trying to keep track of my child, I would’ve taken more pictures to appreciate all the artistry. Next time, perhaps.

One last thing re: makeup. Just in case Connor wanted to wear something more than lipstick, I brought “emergency” blush and glitter with me in my bag, but I think I was hoping for too much, LOL!

Anywho, it’s cold and rainy today again here in the Bay Area, and even though I haven’t seen the sun in days, out of sheer habit I put on sunscreen first thing in the morning.

Lately I’ve been into BSG Kids because I like how it doesn’t leave a film on my skin and layers well with all my lotions and potions and whatnot. If you haven’t tried this one yet for your face and neck, grab it! It’s affordable and comfortable. Looks great under makeup, too.

I’m off to chug another mug of green tea. (Did I mention how cold it is here?) Later on this afternoon, I’m going to attempt minestrone soup! Here’s the recipe I’m going to use in case you want to check it out. Seems easy enough.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 19 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Black Girl Sunscreen, Just For Fun, NARS

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