Back from the hospital! The surgery went well (I had a bump on my elbow that had to be removed). I was in and out of there in about an hour, and everything went smoothly…except for the part where I freaked out a little right before it started. 🙂 So what else is new?
Ah, it’s good to be home…
Now let’s talk awesome cheek combos while my sutures heal, shall we? Here’s one I wish I could take credit for because I love it so very much, but I owe it to someone else. I got it when I visited Hourglass Cosmetics headquarters in Venice Beach last summer.
One of the makeup artists I met while I was there grabbed the company’s Illume Creme-to-Powder Duo in Sunset ($40), defined my cheeks with the bronze shade and blended the rosy shade on the apples of my cheeks for color.
Then she dusted sheer lavender Ambient Lighting Powder in Mood ($45) on my upper cheekbones as a subtle highlighter.
I love this combo for “lit from within” cheeks. Here’s a shot of it in action last summer, and yes, I was super tan.
See how Mood Ambient Lighting Powder softly bounces light off my upper cheekbones without appearing frosty?
I love that. It’s très forgiving.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. So about that procedure, it was the very first surgical anything of any kind I’ve ever done. I wasn’t really scared until I had to actually climb onto the operating table, at which point something primal must have kicked in, and I just stood there for, I dunno, a good 30 seconds before I could get myself to lie down.
I think my brain was weighing its options, like, I was wondering if I could just make a break for it. What would happen if I just walked out the door? Would I lose my copay?
But seriously, I’m not a big fan of not being in control, and when it comes to medical things, that pretty much describes everything.
Even though it was a minor procedure, it’s still scary trusting your body to a stranger, you know? Or maybe I just think too much…
Anywho, now I’ll have a one-inch scar on my left forearm down by my elbow for the rest of my life. On the positive side, at least it’s not on a part of my arm where I swatch.
Always helps to look for silver linings. 🙂
Agata says
Hi Karen. I’m glad the procedure went ok. I have never had any surgeries either so I can imagine how stressful and scary it must have been. Speaking of doctors, I have a dentist apt tomorrow morning, which I’m not looking forward to…
Other than that, that Hourglass duo looks very pretty.
Karen says
Hi Agata,
Me too. Except now I’m really sleepy, LOL. I think it’s the adrenaline wearing off.
Good luck at the dentist tomorrow! Think of it this way: it’s better than going to the dentist 100 years ago. I tell myself that whenever I have to go in, haha.
Did you ever pick up any of the new Hourglass blushes? I think I’m going to Sephora tomorrow to see if they have any other colors.
Agata says
I haven’t picked them yet, my husband doesn’t let me…But they are actually fully restocked on Hourglass website, just FYI if you couldn’t get them at Sephora yet.
Annette says
Hi Karen,
Glad it went well! Tell me about it, I hate the doctor. Those blushes look so fab. I’ve been wanting to try the ambient powders form HG. Not sure what color though. I use Mac Matchmaster in 3.0.
Lauren Sutherland says
Glad your surgery went well! I’ll never forget going in for a broken wrist surgery. I was terrified, barely remember the nurse giving me anesthesia. Then I woke up in the middle of the surgery and said, “Um, I can feel that?!” I terrified the doctors because they had never had anyone wake up in the middle before. The doc literally yelled, “MORE DRUGS!”
Karen says
Holy mackerel, Lauren! That’s insane! Are you serious? That actually happened? I think I saw a horror movie something like that where a guy is conscious during surgery, but he can’t move a muscle for some reason, so he can’t signal to the doctors that he can feel everything they’re doing.
IT WAS HORRIBLE!
Chelsea says
Are you a redhead by chance? There’s something else on the redhead gene that makes us need more anesthesia.
Martha Nelson says
save and sound at home!
Sarah says
Hi Karen,
So happy to hear that everything went well! Going in to the hospital is never fun…I had one of those primal/have to get out of here feelings when I went to get my adenoids removed a couple years ago. I just saw that operating table and I wanted to bolt!
Those colours look amazing on you! And now you have me wanting to run out to Sephora and do some shopping! And what is that lovely colour on your lips? It’s gorgeous!
XO,
Sarah
Tiffany says
Hi Karen, I’m so glad you’re ok!! I want to try so many things from Hourglass, I don’t even know where to begin. The Veil foundation, the Ambient powders and now this cheek color duo?!
Jen says
Glad your procedure is over with. Let the healing begin! Put lots of moisturizer on that scar so it heals up clean. Try not to pull the stitches, either, so it heals thin and straight. In a few years, it might fade to the point of barely being noticeable.
Gowthami says
Happy to hear that all things went well! Take care… I wanted to try hour glass products so much..
Rachel says
Hey Karen! Glad everything went okay with your procedure, and hey, scars are cool, dude!
On another note, I’m going to have to get some Hourglass stuff because you keep talking about it and it looks amazing!
Rikki Poynter says
Everything looks so preeeeeeeetty.
hanna says
I love mood ambient powder, so pretty.
kristen @ glambunctious says
SO glad you’re DONE with that procedure! I had a mole removed 2 yrs ago and it was my first medical-ish thing like that and I FEEL YOU on the “something primal”! I was sweating BULLETS throughout. It was one of the most stressful things ever. It doesn’t help to have a great imagination in these types of situations, amirite?! Oy! Kudos to you for getting through it and being DONE!
That duo! NEED! And damn! I forgot how tan you were last summer!! You look super lovely all bronzed and sun-smooched!
Rae // theNotice says
Glad to hear you made it out of the hospital in one piece, Karen! I’m so sorry to hear that you had to go in at all — I’m used to clinical environments by now, but even after years of regular appointments, they can still be super unsettling.
Sending lots of <3 <3 <3 your way.
Erin says
Aww, I’m glad things went well! And glad it’s over with! I had to have part of my thyroid removed a couple years back and it was the anticipation that was the worst–when it was finally over with, it felt like I had about a zillion pounds lifted from my shoulders. Speaking of post-surgery stuff, slap some rose hip seed oil on your scar (when it’s all healed up and everything) to help diminish it. I massaged it onto the scar on my neck at least twice a day and it worked like a charm…so well, in fact, that I can’t even see it anymore. It makes me sad, in a way, since I can’t make Highlander jokes and claim that I got the thing when another immortal tried to cut my head off. Ah well, no matter–THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!!!
P.S. LOVE the blush combo. Super super pretty on you!
Erin says
Glad to hear it went well!
nai says
I think you deserve the comforting that only a Ryan Gosling pillow can provide.
Then again, loving cuddles from El Hub would be just what any doctor would order. ;P
Sunny says
Hey Karen, I’m glad to hear it went well! It’s really hard to lie down in front of a stranger. Here the doctors ask you to lie down just to take your blood, and it’s just way too unnerving. I’d fare much better if they ask me to stick my arm out on the table instead!
On a brighter note: what a pretty cheek combo! You have such a pretty tan in the photo, and the makeup really works with your skin tone!
Sylirael says
I’m glad your surgery went well! And that it was an in-and-out procedure – the worst are ones where you have to stay overnight in the hospital…! Hope Tabs is giving you lots of cuddles (or fewer deadlines?) 😀
Alison M says
So glad things went well! Here’s to Tabby head butts and cuddles to make healing faster.
What a gorgeous combo from Hourglass. Seeing your tan has me longing for a lounge chair and some sunshine!
Natalie says
I’m glad everything went well Karen! This cheek combo looks straight up beautiful!!
Fran says
Karen, I’m so glad your procedure went well and hope you’re not waiting for some kind of biopsy results. Having had more procedures than I can remember I’m very familiar with that loss-of-control feeling… I turn everything over to my Higher Power, think, “well, I’ve done all *I* can do, now it’s up to someone else” and it actually turns into a kind of exhilarating feeling (like when you’re at the top of the roller coaster and about to go down… ) If you are waiting on biopsy results, please let us know?
Speaking of Hourglass, I got a generous sample of their No. 28 Primer Serum the last time I went to Sephora, and it is a *beautiful* product. It really helps with winter dryness, helps my foundation last a little longer under tough weather conditions and when it does wear off it wears off more evenly, instead of in patches, so I don’t have to either touch it up or take it off before heading off to Zumba class after work (which was preceded by a 2.5 mile walk through the cold).
Fran says
Stephanie says
I’m glad everything worked out ok, it looks like you have a great nurse! I had carpal tunnel surgery (I spaced them 2 weeks apart since both wrists needed to be done) I was a hot mess knowing I would be back for another round. We have a few cats. I have a picture of them all sleeping around me on the bed. No room for hubby! Calories you eat after surgery don’t count, so don’t feel guilty about having a little extra ice cream.
On a makeup note, I really need to replace my brushes. Mine are old and I feel like they are the reason I’m not having trouble getting my blush to look right.
Denise S. says
Hope you heal well and fast Karen! You look pretty in this picture, can’t really see too much blush though. You just have a pretty healthy glow.
Trude says
Glad to hear you’re doing well! I’m sure that scar will heal all bad ass looking, and feel free to make up any story you like to explain it. 🙂 I am thisclose to putting some Hourglass in my next Sephora order, so many great reviews!
Chelsea says
Love the cheek combo! Glowy!
Glad you’re all okay! I’ve had two surgeries, one for my wisdom teeth, and one to remove an extra bone from my right hand (weird, right? I had a little pea sized bone at the base of my pointer on my palm, it made it really painful to write. They thought it’d be a cyst, but no, extra bone. Mom said I must not have been done evolving)
I didn’t wake up during surgery, but I woke up sooner than expected, because they hadn’t wheeled me back to my room yet, they had to yell at me to lay back down, I was all chatty and awake. (I was 12, for reference). There was also a big issue with my veins, they were too small, and the nurse accidentally poked the needle through the other side of my vein (OWWW).
I have what appears to be a cyst on my right wrist right now, but it appears to be shrinking, so I’m hoping to avoid surgery. It would be extremely minor, but still, always good to avoid surgery!
BooBooNinja says
I’m glad the surgery went smoothly. Hopefully Tabs is being the assistant this time, not you. 🙂
jess says
hey Karen what lipstick are you wearing in the above photo? the bright red-orange? it looks divine!
Karen says
Hi Jess,
It’s Hourglass Opaque Rouge in Muse topped with Hourglass Nectar Gloss.