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
Impact: maximum ✅ Effort: minimum ✅
Curl lashes, then prime with a thin layer of your favorite black waterproof mascara (mine is MAC In Extra Dimension Waterproof, because helloooooo — length for days).
Next, grab a blue mascara, and paint two layers. Line your water and lash lines with a matching blue pencil (and get between those lash roots, just like the relatives who get all up in your business), and say PEACE OUT ✌️ to basic fringe.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
“Backcombing,” or brushing against the grain of your brow hairs, with a brow gel that’s slightly lighter than my hair color is my speedy secret to full, fluffy, but also pretty well-defined brows.
Good luck to the fool who tries to pry my tube of Hourglass Brow Gel in Warm Brunette outta my T. Rex claw because they’d be in a world of hurt! I might only be 5’1″, but this girl is feisty and has FEELINGS about this gel (all the good ones, ’cause it’s truly the best one out there IMO).
Full makeup breakdown
- Eyes — MAC Kid Eye Shadow (crease), MAC Goldmine Eye Shadow (mixed with Kid and applied on lids), MAC Prep + Prime 24/7 Eye Base, MAC In Extra Dimension Waterproof Mascara, Urban Decay Double Team Special Effect Colored Mascara in Gonzo (water line and lash line)
- Face — NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in St. Mortiz mixed with MAC Face and Body in C5 and BECCA Backlight Primer (foundation) topped with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden
- Cheeks — Hourglass Brilliant Nude Blush buffed out with Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Sheer Glow in No. 40
- Lips — Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Naked
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF!
Yo, I know I’ve been talking about cream blush A LOT this week, but I once unknowingly left the house with blush that looked like two little Raggedy Ann doll circles on my cheeks. I’ve since converted to the Church of Cream Blush because it merges with my foundation and never looks powdery. Amen and hallelujah to makeup that looks like real skin!
In other news, I’m making improv shrimp scampi tonight! It’s Good Friday, which meant seafood for dinner around here, which I’m totally cool with because I was a pascatarian for years, but when I mentioned “no red meat” to El Hub this morning his eyes got wide like we were headed for certain doom.
I googled this skinny version… I don’t know if it’s so skinny anymore because I threw in a bunch of Parmesan and extra butter, but YUM!
Hope you’re having a good night. Got any Netflix recs for me? I want to keep watching season two of Santa Clarita Diet, but I can’t watch it while I’m eating…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
That’s basically it in the gif. That’s how I use 💄 lipstick as a blush. Just rub the bullet on the back of your hand to warm it up a bit, which makes it more pliable and slippery, then dab it with a synthetic blush brush, and bounce the bristles on cheeks.
Gently, though! — because you don’t want your base makeup to shift.
Now you’re ready to come with me to Target to get plastic 
Easter eggs. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Rise and shine, pal o’ mine! 😊 Good morning. It’s the day before Good Friday. Here’s a Thursday quick tip you can use in your Easter Sunday look.
What’s the easiest way to wear those bright red and orange powder blushes you hoard 🐿️ and love ❤️ but never wear (I’m guilty)?
Try this: swirl a stiff brush in the pan, tap/brush the powder on the back of your hand, and mix in a drop or two of face primer. Finish by patting on your cheeks with fingers.
That’s it! It’s a quick way to add the perfect amount of cheek color and mellow out your pores. 🐇
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen