1. Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm doubles as an improv face moisturizer.
I’ve been dangerously obsessed with this $19 lip balm lately (OK, yes, I get obsessed a lot).
It is SO GOOD, hella moisturizing, but not sticky though, and it tastes and smells like honey.
That’s pure win right there.
I keep a jar on my nightstand and put some on my lips at night before bed, and in the morning my lips always feel better.
But that’s not what I learned this week. This week, while I was resting in bed (Nurse Tabs was supervising), I learned that Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm is also a boon for sore noses.
This cold I’ve had has done a number on my nostrils. 🙁 But last night I was too tired to get up out of bed and get my face moisturizer from the bathroom…so I applied a little Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm around my nostrils instead.
Um, wow? They felt much better, and now that I think about, Nuxe Rêve is probably also a totally kick-@ss cuticle softener (note to self: give this a try).
2. A fab foundation find/combo!
This was just a happy makeup accident earlier this week. Even though I’ve been really liking the new NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation, I was feeling like Stromboli, the color that most closely matches my neck, was still just a little too yellow for me.
So I mixed it with L’Oreal’s True Match Lumi (the shade I wear is called Sun Beige) to get a closer match.
Wonderfulness ensued.
The two of them together are all kinds of magical. Good on their own, they’re even better mixed together. They turn into a super foundation! Both are already lightweight with a natural-looking finish and great coverage, but mixing them together turns everything up a notch.
I mix equal parts of each (about half a pump) on the back of my hand, and then apply that to my face with my fingers. Then I gently pat it down with a damp BeautyBlender.
It covers just about everything but still looks natural, and I can even skip pore-smoothing primer beforehand.
3. When a torrent of snot is streaming out of my nostrils, the last thing in the world I want to do is wear gloss or lipstick.
Lipstick and/or lipgloss + boogers + Kleenex = hot mess.
Do not go there.
I thought I’d test some lipgloss the other day while I was mostly laid up in bed (watching Lifetime), but I kept accidentally touching my lips with the Kleenix every five minutes.
Agh!
4. Speaking of Lifetime movies…they are a LEGIT addiction.
Trailer for The Bling Ring (the Lifetime version)
Lifetime is all over Netflix right now!
Oh, boy… When you aren’t feeling well and you can’t spare any extra brain cells on anything too cerebral on TV, but you aren’t quite ready for Dance Moms (yet), GURL, let Lifetime show you the way.
I fell asleep halfway through She Made Them Do It (starring Jenna Dewan Tatum!) yesterday, but The Bling Ring and William and Kate were A-OK.
5. Tabby nurses are THE BEST NURSES.
Some of them will even supervise your naps. 🙂 And heck, if you’re lucky, you’ll get one who will nap right beside you all day and night.
Tabs has been spending the whole night with us in bed lately, which has been a rare treat.
6. Nick Jonas. Like seriously, who knew??
I may or may not have listened to Jealous 15 times today…
7. That you should never take your health for granted.
I read this quote on Instagram a few days ago, but now I can’t remember where. I wish I could because I’d really like to thank the author.
“While you’re staring at yourself in the mirror, do you ever think to thank your body for digesting your food that morning, or pumping your blood, or taking you from point A to point B, taking you to work, taking you to school?. It fights for you. It fights off germs, viruses, diseases and heals you when you hurt it. It keeps your loving, compassionate, caring heart in a cage of bones, so that nothing can touch it. Your body is a masterpiece… Your body is beautiful and amazing because it’s yours. It’s keeping you alive and it loves you. It’s performing miracles every second. Don’t forget that when you’re looking in the mirror.”
– Unknown Awesome Person
This cold or flu or whatever it was kicked my butt, but that quote kept things in perspective. When I look in the mirror and see my red nose and my dark circles, which have been even darker than usual because I haven’t slept much this week, I think about the little virus-fighting soldier girls in my body doing their best to get me healthy again.
Thanks, girls!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Jen says
I love that quote about how great our bodies are! We do take them for granted (I know I do), so what a great reminder to be thankful and maybe cherish just a bit more how awesome our body is to us!
Tatiana says
Aww! Tabs knows you’re not feeling well and is trying to make you feel better. Hope you feel better soon. With all the rain, maybe it’s best to stay in, all warm and snuggly. Hope you’re feeling much better, soon.
Jennifer says
Six things:
1. I hope you’re feeling better
2. I’d love to see Tabs all Florence Nightingale’d out in a nurse’s cap
3. Have you seen that Lifetime movie, Liz and Dick? I haven’t yet but I spied it on Netflix a few weeks ago. It looks totally soapy.
4. I bought the Nars Luminous in Santa Fe but I’m not in love with it. I think it might be too yellow. Perhaps I’ll try blending it with something as you did yours.
5. I must buy that lip balm. It sounds fab.
6. I’m really impressed with Tabs’ level of devotion to you in your time of need. He needs an extra treat this weekend.
Erin says
I’m not sure I’ve learned much this week. I’m too tired to think… I’ll get back to you.
breyerchic04 says
Thing I learned this week:
I am a very unhappy person if I don’t have a backup mascara (I did have minis but now I’m having a horrible time picking a new go to mascara!)
LindaLibraLoca says
A lot learned for someone battling a cold!
Nuxe Reve de Miel is my holy grail Lipbalm, and I couldnt agree more on lipsticks and colds.
Hope you are feeling better now.
Kiss & Make-up says
Awww, I want a kitty cat nurse to take of me when I’m sick! I hope you feel better now.
Jenny says
Aww Karen, I hope you feel better soon. I had a really bad cold that made me feel like this. I was convinced it was the flu because I hadn’t felt that sick in years, but I tested negative. Whatever cold is going around this year is awful. It took me about 7-8 days to fully recover. Get some rest, drink a ton of water/fluids, find a funny show on netflix to laugh at, pet Tabs, and try to get a good amount of sleep (I had to take nyquil in order to sleep well). Feel better soon!
xx
Jenny
Katherine M says
Feel better soon! I’ve been feeling kind of sick all week but kept pushing through my workouts. This morning I was out for a run, the cold air just hit my poor, sick lungs, and I had to turn back. I think there are days when we all need a break – I love that quote! I’ve been pushing my body hard all week for work and working out and I should have taken more of a break to rest it.
Kwmechelle says
I do hope you feel better. Colds are just the worst & they really can wreak havoc. I’ve learned to listen to my body as well. At the ripe old age of 37, I am disabled & occasionally lose my driving privileges 🙂 but I’ve learned to not push too much beyond my limits or I’ll pay the consequences. And Nick Jonas! Gurl, who da hell knew!!!! Like, for real! My brother didn’t believe me when I told him who sings this song.
And you ONLY LISTENED to this song 15 times. I think you need to listen just once more in order to consider yourself a hardcore fan and all! And accidental makeup discoveries are the best. Thing. Ever. Feel better, friend. Sending good thoughts your way 🙂
Marina(Makeup4all) says
Get better soon, Karen! With such nurse – it’s just a matter of time 🙂
Loved that quote, too. BTW, I have been doing this for a week, and I really love it so far https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene/videos
buckycatt says
Wind is heck on hair & lips! I was just going looking for something for sore noses. Human & pet life is particularly fragile in the bleak midwinter. MAC’s Cinderella palette is going to have Quarry which I love AND Satin Taupe which I’ve been wanting to try. That is what I learned this week. Take care of yourselves Karen, Tabs & El-Hub!
Fancie says
That’s a beautiful quote! Definitely makes me want to start treating my body a little better these days. Starting with my diet. It’s so terrible lol. I really hope you get well soon though! I know just how annoying it is trying to stop a runny nose with lipstick or gloss on lol
Cel says
I’ve been using my True Match Lumi to mix with other (too matte) bases and I have eczema behind my ears and the Reve de Miel is a godsend (totally worth the price considering it lasts surprisingly long)
Anyways, I don’t know how you can still blog when you’re sick, but I hope you get better real soon!
Debra says
7 things I learned this week:
1. How to put on lipstick and re-line my lower lash line by flashlight.
2. How to let go of sad memories and open up to wait for miracles to come to me.
3. How to use Hourglass Prism to create the smoky-eye of my dreams!
4. Toasted 7-grain bread for breakfast is better than Ciabatta.
5. Just because “it” hasn’t happened by now, doesn’t mean “it” won’t happen!
6. Karen’s tip for highlighter above-the-lip (Cupid’s bow) makes a difference!
7. Cheeseburgers eaten by impromptu candlelight are more romantic than a fancy meal in an expensive restaurant, even with violins.
And, yes, Karen, the wisdom of the human body is amazing and unknowable. Even dis-ease can be an attempt by the body to set things right. Treasure each sunrise and each sunset.
Alyssa Melanie says
I’ve tried #3, too, and I must say that it really is a “Don’t try this at home (or anywhere else)” thing. Lol!
Stephanie says
That quote at the end! It’s so, so hard for me to see the positives of my body because it always seems like it’s fighting me so hard (asthma, anxiety, depression, eczema, random patches of skin getting funky in a not-nice way..) I’m frustrated and at odds with it all the time, and I wish I could turn it around into that quote: my body is trying its hardest with what it’s got, and I should respect that.
So much to meditate on now.
dyan says
I hope you’re feeling better. I had the flu for 2 weeks less than a month ago and I was miserable! I still have some residual congestion. The kicker is i had the flu shot in October, much good that did!
I had to comment on mixing foundations. I mix Guerlain’s Perfection in 3 Beige with Chanel’s Vitalumiere in 40 or Perfection Lumiere Velvet in 50 and I get the perfect match and texture. I thought I was the only one who did this! I will admit it, it felt weird to do the first time for some reason.
Get better and I’m glad you have Dr. Tabs to keep his eye on you!
Majick says
Hey Karen, I’ll trade you some total VR-X for some of that lip balm. Hope you’re feeling better soon. My cold is just about gone. (Can SO relate to #3 lol)
Kim says
That’s a lot of learning this week! I know you haven’t been feeling well but it’s just like you to find the silver lining. 🙂 And, nice job keeping the blanket between your face and Tabs. Kitty love is the best, but runny noses and lip balm mixed with cat hair is not a great combo. Been there. 🙁
Betsy Clark says
Dear Karen, I LURVE #7…the comment about not taking your health for granted. I’m not venturing into Debbie Downer territory, but 5 years ago I was diagnosed with a rare, non-curable form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. In my case, the tumors appear as rashes, plaques and very itchy places on my body. I’m at an early stage still (woot!) and since this is a really odd cancer, it may never progress or it can do it’s own thing and move quickly. This has taught me to make the days I am given good ones, whenever possible! Yep, I am grounded in reality, so at times I get into “brat-mode” and mope about “Damn, this is a pain in the a$$!”, then I pull myself back up and realize that I am still here, still kickin’ it, and that lots more life is out there for me. I still play with my makeup (woot again!), have fun, and keep on keeping on. This has taught me about patience and appreciation. While I can’t say I’d wish the lessons cancer has taught me on anyone else, in many ways it’s been a good thing. I really do *appreciate*! P.S. I hope I didn’t bring anyone down with my message.