Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 594

February 16th, 2020 by Karen 1 Comment

One of the craziest memories I have of Tabs, and I have QUITE a few, was the time we encountered Godzilla!

We were on our walk right outside on the oak-covered hill. Tabs was inspecting the trees for squirrel intruders, making sure Harris the cat wasn’t trespassing, luxuriating in the shade, and looking for the rare blade of green grass to nibble (it was summer in California, after all) — you know, the usual.

Harris the cat doing what he does best — skulking

One minute, it was Tabs being Tabs. Next minute, it was Tabs fighting for his life against Godzilla.

Tabs learned a valuable lesson that day. He learned that lizards can bite, and when they do, it hurts.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, February 15th, 2020

February 15th, 2020 by Karen 10 Comments

Good morning, my sweet! Happy Saturday. 😊

Crazy cat lady moment: aren’t these the cutest CCL socks? They’re a Valentine’s Day gift from El Hub, and I gotta say, when he gets it right, he *REALLY* gets it right.

I’m pretty sure Tabs briefly dated the kitty model on these socks…

So, don’t laugh, but I’m heading to Target in a few because I’m in the mood for a pale pastel pink polish, so I’m thinking either Buns Up or Crop Top and Roll from the Essie Expressie line will do the trick.

I might be a little obsessed. 🙀

While I contemplate the life-changing nature of quick-drying nail polish, you can catch up on your reading for the week.

Ever wish you could spring out of bed with all your face paint already in place? Here’s everything you need to know about permanent (and semi-permanent) makeup.
It looks like brands are once again shifting their marketing focus to makeup artists, rather than social media influencers.
Beauty Chemist Alyssa Space recently opened a non-profit in Detroit, Myspace Beauty Lab, where kids can explore and create makeup through STEM. I would’ve LOVED this as a child!
Beautycounter (which is sold through a multi-level marketing program) aims to be the first beauty brand to have physically audited every one of their mica mines to guarantee a fully traceable supply chain by the end of 2020.
“Ambergris is, well…no one really knows, but it either comes out of the back end of whale, or it’s regurgitated. But it is not usable when it first comes out of the whale. It needs to float around on the sea for a couple of years, and then it gets cast up on the beach before you can use it.” <---- This is from a perfumer’s take on the recent wave of vagina-inspired scents made by celebrities (side note: did I really just write that sentence??).
A matchmaker breaks down how to smell like the best version of yourself when you’re on a date.
HOW RUDE! A 4-year-old French bulldog was stolen out of a Bay Area salon by a man who allegedly lured him away with mangoes.
This salon in Indiana offers sensory-friendly haircuts for children by playing music on low and handing out toys so kids can feel calm and free of stress while they’re getting a trim.
Cats in China are wearing face masks amid the coronavirus crisis.
Ah, the eternal question… Does your cat really hate you?
For my beauty friends on Oahu, there’s a new cat cafe in Kaimuki called Popoki and Tea. (side note: this neighborhood is El Hub’s old stomping grounds!).

Connor’s fourth (!) birthday is coming up in March, which means I’ll probably cry tears of nostalgia as I watch this…

Welcome to the soundtrack of my pre-teen and teenage years (I played A LOT of Chopin on the piano).

The song I’ve been listening to first thing in the morning

Oh, and let me know what you think of the last video (the Sigrid song). I’m getting Adele vibes from it.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

3 Unexpected Beauty Lessons I Learned This Week

February 14th, 2020 by Karen 11 Comments

expressie express to impress — Things I learned this crazy week!

Happy Valentine’s Day, my friend!

My goodness, it has been a week. The run-up to Valentine’s Day at the bakery was cray! Yesterday, I made frosting for 4 hours in the biggest mixer we have. Simply put, I was buttercreamed out by the end of my shift.

Somehow, I still had it in me to wear some makeup this week, believe it or not, and in the process I may have stumbled upon a few new beauty lessons.

Just goes to show ya — not even buttercream can stop the beauty learnin’. 🙂

Unexpected Beauty Lesson #1: A 24-hour mint green mani is totally worth it.

We don’t wear nail polish while working at the bakery, but I painted paws on my day off with Essie Expressie Polish in Express to Impress.

It’s a quick-drying formula with a base and top coat built in, and it takes me about 5 minutes to do two layers — and that includes drying time.

expressie express to impress swatch — Two layers of Expressive Express to Impress

Unexpected Beauty Lesson #2: Face oil is a friend to your lashes and lash curler.

Does your lash curler ever crimp your lashes with an overly aggressive curl? — like, when the bend is almost at a crisp 90-degree corner? If it does, try massaging a little of your favorite face oil on your lashes beforehand, and the lash curl should be curved — more like a letter “c” than a hard, right angle.

I’ve been doing this all week long with Kahina Giving Beauty Prickly Pear Seed Oil, and my lashes have been curling perfectly! The moisturizing face oil makes lash hairs more receptive to a softer curl.

Unexpected Beauty Lesson #3: Use the “leftovers” in your brow brush.

I found the best shortcut for busy ladies and gents who rush through filling in their brows with an angled brush.
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Covergirl Clean Fresh Skin Milk

February 13th, 2020 by Karen 7 Comments

I just found your new favorite base for no-makeup makeup days. 🙂 And guess what? It’s less than 10 bucks! (Technically, $9.99.)

Say, “Oh, hai,” to Covergirl Clean Fresh Skin Milk, which for the official makeup record is a foundation, but performs like a sheer tinted moisturizing rock star.

Remember the limited edition Hydrating Glow Tints NARS did a couple years ago? Clean Fresh Milk has the same effect (although Covergirl’s is thinner, like a liquid, and not a fluffy cream like the tints from NARS).

It doesn’t cover or disguise freckles or pimples — don’t expect to hide anything — however, the beauty is its subtly. Clean Fresh Milk quietly evens out your complexion as it ever-so-slightly blurs pores. It slightly amplifies your natural complexion, resulting in the look of freshly washed skin that’s dewy, but not shiny. For weekend no-makeup makeup, or for de-zombifying yourself before preschool drop-off in the morning, it’s lovely.

covergirl clean fresh skin milk swatches — Swatch out…

From the official PR:

“Show off fresh, healthy skin with COVERGIRL Clean Fresh Skin Milk Foundation. Formulated without formaldehyde, phthalates, parabens, sulfates and talc, this lightweight nourishing liquid foundation gives your skin the moisture boost it craves with a delicate infusion of coconut milk and soothing aloe. You’ll experience a glowing, dewy finish that lasts all day long, blurring imperfections and creating a more even skin tone. Get Sheer, buildable coverage with 14 expertly designed shade-adaptable formulas to match 99% of the skin tones and all undertones. Pro-tip: Make Skin milk Nourishing Foundation your go-to for no makeup, makeup days.”

And yup, you guessed it. The mom in me loves that it’s so, so easy. I squirt a little bit onto my fingertips and blend it into my combo oily/dry face. I like that I don’t have to buff it in with a brush or blend it with a sponge, because, yay! — it doesn’t streak. Instantly, with a few swipes, I’m done with my base.

covergirl clean fresh skin milk tan rich final — I’m wearing shade Tan/Rich (I’m an NC42 in MAC).

Oh, and best part? I don’t feel like it’s sitting on top of my skin. It feels like I’m not wearing anything at all.
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A Simple Everyday Makeup Look That Fits in the Palm of Your Hand

February 12th, 2020 by Karen 10 Comments

mac yash in hand — I gotta hand it to these products…

Just a quick reminder that makeup doesn’t have to be overly complicated. 🙂

I did this look with makeup that I could quite literally carry in the palm of one hand!

It’s non-fussy, natural-looking makeup that I wore to go to dinner and window shopping with the fam-bam last Saturday, so, minimal base coverage with an ultra sheer tinted moisturizer and soft, barely-there color on my lids, lips and cheeks. There’s also the teeniest, tiniest wing on the outer corners.

The liner was the most “complicated” (air quotes) part. First, I drew a line of black liquid liner along my upper lash lines, then winged out the ends. Then, after it dried, I layered a light-colored liner directly on top, stopping about three fourths of the way from the inner corner to the outer corner. I did this to open up my eyes a bit so they appear a little less hooded.

mac yash lipstick — My makeup on most weekends looks like this.

Makeup worn in this look

Base: Covergirl Clean Fresh Skin Milk Nourishing Foundation in 590 Tan/Rich

Blush: MAC Glow Play Blush in Grand

Brows: MAC Clear Brow Gel

Lips: MAC Yash (from the Loud and Clear collection)

Lashes: It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara

Liner: Charlotte Tilbury Liquid Liner (black liquid liner) and Urban Decay Scorch (lighter pencil liner)

Lids: MAC Omega and Tromp L’Ol

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy hump day to you! 🙂