Karen

November 2018 Favorites

December 10th, 2018 by Karen 18 Comments

Because it’s cold, I’m already getting nostalgic for November! Here are some things I loved the heck out of last month…

1. Onomie Boosting Lip + Cheek Sticks ($30 each)

These are super sheer compared to some other creams products out there, like the MAC Cream Colour Bases, but don’t walk away just yet. I don’t really use them when I’m gonna be taking pics for MBB, because they’re too subtle for photography, but for regular life, like when I’m wearing the most minimal of minimal makeup (a recurring theme when you live with a demanding tabby and a toddler), they’re B-O-M-B. They add just enough color to cheeks and lips to liven things up so I don’t look totally dead, ha ha.

I blend concealer under my eyes and skip the tinted moisturizer/foundation completely, then plop on a coat of mascara, and dab and blend one of these tints on my cheeks and lips.

It’s a very Megan Markle makeup look, and I’m into it.

Comes in six shades. I wear the Berry the most.

2. Juno & Co Microfiber Velvet Sponge ($6 each, or four for $20)

You can use this soft and squishy makeup blending sponge wet or dry to apply or set foundation, powder and/or concealer. The surface of the sponge feels velvety, similar to velvet fabric, which makes a big difference in the finished look. It’s a more airbrushed and polished look than you get with the beautyblender-y makeup sponges out there.

3. R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo and Conditioner ($30 each)

You know when your hair feels coated, weighed down and heavy? UGH, I hate that feeling. It’s like living with a family of filthy forest animals on your head 24/7. Anyway, with this shampoo and conditioner, you can completely avoid that issue. They’re for smoothing, moisturizing *and* volume, and they’re made for all hair types, from fine to thick and wavy like mine, and everything in between. When I use this set, my hair is what I call, “light and fluffy.” My only wish is that they came in bigger bottles!

The scent is lovely, too. I detect lavender, pineapple, tangerines and warm, white musk.

4. R+Co Waterfall Moisture + Shine Lotion ($29)

Again for the girls and guys who like hair that isn’t coated with a thick layer of goo. (R+Co is good at that.) This intense leave-in conditioner and frizz-fighter is just as moisturizing as their High Dive Moisture + Shine Cream (don’t even ask me how many bottles of that I’ve gone through), but it retains more volume in your strands, so it flattens the hair less than High Dive.

Both are brilliant, but if you have long or medium-length hair, and you’re all about floofy marshmallow volume, this is the one you’ll want, especially if you like violets, oranges and caramel, which is how it smells.

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 554

December 10th, 2018 by Karen 39 Comments

It’s a Dolly kinda mornin’.

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start. ?

1. Winged liner or glitter shadow?

Glitter shadow. I love me a wing, but I feel like you get more bang for your buck with a glitter shadow. Plus, it’s less stressful.

2. Cheese or chocolate?

EHRMAHGAWD. Well this is hard…but I’m going with chocolate, since the chocolate cravings I get are more intense than the cheese cravings.

3. Over-the-knee boots or ankle booties?

Over-the-knee boots. But only if they’re flats.

4. Would you rather 1) run into your ex while buying granny panties at Costco, OR 2) have your mom or dad see you making out with someone on the street? And I’m not talking a cute little church kiss. I’m talking full-on, grabby-hand making out, HA HA HA!

Granny panties at Costco, for sure, because chances are I’ll never see the dude again.

5. Would you rather have your dream job or your dream house?

GIRL, don’t make me choose! OK…dream house, please. Ideally, one that also comes completely organized and with cat-friendly furniture. 🐱

Something to stream ASAP

Super cute Netflix movie starring Jennifer Aniston

On your list of things to do this week — watch Dumplin’ on Netflix, because any movie 1) with a soundtrack comprised solely of Dolly Parton songs, and 2) in which drag queens save the day, is A-OK with me.

It’s about a Texas teenager dealing with the loss of her beloved aunt, and her rocky relationship with her beauty pageant mom (played by Jennifer Aniston). It’s very sweet and fun.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Question time! Here they are to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to you soon.

1. Winged liner or glitter shadow?
2. Cheese or chocolate?
3. Over-the-knee boots or ankle booties?
4. Would you rather 1) run into your ex while buying granny panties at Costco, OR 2) have your mom or dad see you making out with someone on the street? And I’m not talking a cute little church kiss. I’m talking full-on, grabby-hand making out, HA HA HA!
5. Would you rather have your dream job or a your dream house?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 531

December 9th, 2018 by Karen 1 Comment

Only two weeks to go before Catsmas! 😺🎁🎄

Some of the employees have been taking advantage of the season to crawl into work a little late and sneak away a little early, which Tabs ain’t having none of, so he guarded the front entrance today to make sure there weren’t any stragglers dilly-dallying.

Because, as you know, according to the Tabs the Cat Industries LLC Employee Handbook, employees must be seated in their chairs or on top of their desks 30 minutes prior to their official start time, with their computers booted up so they can peruse the latest kitty modeling pics of Tabs on the company website.

While Tabs was outside, he spotted a rival doing a photo shoot in the area and surveilled her to assess her kitty modeling potential.

After determining that her posing wasn’t all that, he did a little gardening, and then returned to his security duties…

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Saturday Surfing, December 8th, 2018

December 8th, 2018 by Karen 5 Comments

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Fresh paint with @smithandcult Vegas Post Apocalyptic 😍 #glitternails💅 #smithandcultnailpolish

A post shared by Karen | Makeup and Beauty Blog (@karenmbb) on Dec 7, 2018 at 8:37am PST

G’morning! Got glitter on my mind today because I painted my nails for the first time in weeks yesterday (FINALLY), and I used Smith & Cult Vegas Post Apocalyptic. It’s a clear glitter base with mostly lavender glitter flecks in it, but also some holographic blue, pink, yellow and green flecks as well.

Yup, this is my idea of holiday nails. 😊

I don’t really do traditional Christmas color combos like red and gold anymore because one year everyone I ran into (SERIOUSLY, EVERYONE) assumed that whenever I wore a red/gold mani, it was a shout-out to the San Francisco 49ers, which was fine…but that wasn’t what I was going for. I must’ve said, “Christmas nails, not 49ers nails” three thousand times, ha ha! So, yeah.

This particular glittery polish isn’t on the Smith & Cult website anymore (boo!), but there’s a super similar color called Take Fountain, which I think might actually be the same polish with a different name.

Also, I think A Little Lovely looks very cool, too…

ALL TEH GLITTER! AAAAAH!

On that note, today’s reading…

What it’s like to spend 48 hours in New York with Chanel’s global creative director for makeup and color, Lucia Pica.
Shout-out to my alma mater UC Davis for their cutting-edge burn treatments for cats and dogs injured in the Camp Fire last month. The vets apply sterilized tilapia skin to wounds because the fish skin contains collagen, a protein that can help prevent infection and encourage the skin to repair.
Fun facts about Ulta! Did you know that the store used be called Ulta3??
Cat ladies, you’ll want to grab these adorable holiday-themed cat scratchers and kitty gear on your next Target run.
Feel free to forward this post on the five beauty products to get when you start wearing makeup to all the dudes you know.
Here’s how many makeup artists like to apply makeup on people with freckles.
The NY Times and I agree — you should walk your 😸 cat.
Here are the two artists who did the special effects makeup for the Swedish movie Boarder, a dark fantasy about two trolls, and the winner of Cannes’ Un Certain Regard prize.

The post describes the technical aspects of the makeup, including the use of old-school gelatin, rather than silicone, for the actors’ prosthetics.
The reason why Queen Elizabeth I caked her face in a mask of white makeup.
There’s a movement happening in South Korea called “Escape the Corset.”
Just in case you would like a nail polish to match the Mercedes-Benz you’re getting for Christmas, LOL!

That Lil’ Kim sample, tho!!!

Old school! I love the styling in this video. (I used to dress like this back in the day!)

Note to self: Watch this.

Somebody please 1) kidnap this cat for me, and 2) make me this omelette.

OK, now we’re off to get our Christmas tree 🎄 and to decorate the house.

So…how long do you think it’ll take before Tabs 🐱 attacks the tree…? One day? A week?

What are you up to?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyeliner Pen

December 7th, 2018 by Karen 17 Comments

clinique pretty easy liquid eyeliner pen 2 — I love this so much that I rubbed off the writing on the package!

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.

OK…I don’t know how you feel about liquid eyeliner in general, but this is THE best black liquid eyeliner in the known universe, IMO, and yes, I think it’s just as good as the Tom Ford pen.

(Yup, *that* $58 Tom Ford Liner.)

It’s the Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyeliner Pen, and it’s a comparatively bargain $22. It does so many of the things that the Tom Ford liner does, and does them just as well. It’s a deep, dark black; it draws super skinny lines; dries quickly; it’s really, REALLY easy to use.

It’s got one of those long, flexible felt tips, so if you want to draw an ultra-fine line on your upper lash line or a precise cat flick in the outer corner, you can easily do it, even if you’re all thumbs, half-asleep or in a hurry.

Normally, I’d never dream of applying liquid liner when I’m in a rush, but it’s totally doable with this one. There’s something kinda magical about it and very user-friendly…which is probably why they call it the Pretty Easy Liquid Eyeliner Pen, ha!

clinique pretty easy liquid eyeliner pen 1 — When you try to make kissy faces and look awkward but decide to just go with it anyway. (That’s the liner on my upper lash lines, by the way.)

One of my favorite things about it is the ~20-second drying time, which doesn’t sound like a lot of time, but it’s just enough to either 1) let the line dry on its own, or, 2) and this is what I like to do, I grab a smudge brush and feather out the edge of the line to make it look blended and smooth.

And after that 20 seconds, you can blink, roll your eyes or whatever, and your liner won’t transfer up onto your lids! Once this stuff is dry, it’s smudge-proof and budge-proof.

But that’s not all! You can also find it pretty much anywhere. I love that I can just pop into the Novato Sephora and grab one if I “need to,” or that I can stop by a Clinique counter at Macy’s or Nordstrom.

I should probably get a new one soon because mine is looking very…well-loved, ha ha ha!

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