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Bumble and Bumble

Hawaii Vacation Beauty Products

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You’re extra beautiful today, Oahu!

Please excuse my paws in these photos. They’re extra t-rex because I was holding these beauty products over a railing with dear life, LOL!

Anywho, I always like seeing the beauty products people bring with them on vacation. Here’s what I’ve been using on this trip!

Sunscreen

Hair

  • Kenra Volume Spray Super Hold Finishing Spray 25
  • Bumble and Bumble Seaweed Air Dry Cream
  • I didn’t bring any shampoo, conditioner or body wash because the place we’re staying at has Malie Organics Mango Nectar hair and body products!

Body

Face

Hope things on your end are great!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sephora Sale Shopping

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I’m really excited about the skin care, makeup and hair goodies I picked up recently at the Sephora sale. 🙂

A couple of standby favorites were in the mix of course; Kate Somerville Anti Bac and Anastasia Brow Wiz in Dark Brown, I’m talking to you!

I also grabbed a few new-to-me things, including this box of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Peel Pads.

I’m hesitant to add any steps to my already very simple skincare routine, but I’ve been needing some help with hyperpigmentation and heard raves from derms and estheticians about how this product works wonders on acne, uneven tone and fine lines.

You’re supposed to use it the in evenings, two to three times a week, which I can totally handle. Anything more than that, ugh, forget about it.

Have you tried it? I’m excited about it!

And because I’m a sunscreen hoarder, I bought a tube of Innisfree Daily UV Defense. Side note, I write for Innisfree! Anywho, it has chemical filters and is supposed to layer well with makeup. I plan to use it as an everyday sunscreen.

I’ve come to the realization that I really love trying foundations and concealers and can no longer fight the obsession. I couldn’t resist the siren call of Charlotte Tilbury’s Beautiful Skin Foundation and Concealer. I bought 8 Warm in the Foundation and 8 in the Concealer, by the way.

The Foundation is spot on my color, but I’m thinking the Concealer might be a little too light for my under-eye area. Hmm. I’m debating on whether or not I need to exchange it.

Last but not least, I finally gave in and bought a full-size version of Bumble and Bumble’s Hairdressers Invisible Oil. I love this stuff! It’s great for softening and smoothing ends. The trick is, though, to apply a tiny bit, otherwise your hair will feel super greasy.

I’m hoping the bottle will last me forever. LOL!

Anywho, let me know if you’ve tried any of these things. I always love to hear what you like and don’t like.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Tuesday!

Latest Hair Haul: Bumble and Bumble and Olaplex

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Yes to all the hydration and shine, please!

I’ve been all about hydrating hair products lately because the renegade silver ramen noodle hairs are taking over my life, LOL!

Here’s what I bought recently to give my thirsty strands some moisturizing TLC.

Bumble and Bumble Curl 3-in-1 Conditioner

Talk about a multitasking moisturizer! This creamy conditioner for curly hair works as a post-shampoo conditioner, a leave-in and a co-wash. I’ve only tried it as a leave-in on freshly washed hair, and so far, so good. It’s deeply hydrating yet lightweight, so my waves don’t get weighed down.

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil

How cute is this travel-size bottle? I really don’t need much, just a few drops, for soft, shiny hair from this featherweight hair oil. Added bonuses: it protects hair from heat styling and UV damage from the sun. I apply it on my ends right after washing and before air drying, and my hair looks shiny and feels soft. I love it enough to invest in a full-size bottle.

Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask

Totally bought this on a whim. I’ve yet to bust out this bad boy, which is a 10-minute reparative moisture mask for treating damaged hair, so if you already have it in your arsenal, you’ll have to let me know if it’s any good. I have high hopes!

Have you found any hair gems lately? Let me know!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Interview Makeup and Hair | Latest Beauty Buys

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Well, at least I was having a good hair day!

Hiya, and happy Thursday!

Yesterday I had two interviews lined up. I spent the entire day prepping and studying, so I’d feel extra prepared. I did full makeup and hair early, so I wouldn’t feel rushed (I even took test shots to double check everything, which is why I ended up with these pics).

I searched for “what to wear in a video interview for a creative job,” and then I tried various options in front of the camera to see what looked best. Side note: most wardrobe experts do not recommend wearing a white shirt, and after seeing various options on screen, I’d have to agree.

AND THEN…

…Both interviews got cancelled at the last minute. (The second one in the late afternoon was cancelled 10 minutes before it was supposed to start.)

On the bright side, both interviews were also rescheduled, which means the positions are still open — and I still have a chance.

Eh, at least my makeup and hair looked ok!

Needless to say, I was jumpy at the end of the day because of all the built-up adrenaline, so me, my full face of makeup and bouncy hair went to Sephora for some stress (de-stress?) shopping.

Lately the Novato store in my town rarely seems to have anything I actually want in stock, though. I ended up with just a Bumble & Bumble conditioner and a Tower 28 gloss.

I also had to stop by Target, which is next door, to buy some oat milk, so skin care landed in my cart: Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Body Lotion, good ol’ CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser and Naturium Purple Ginseng Cleansing Balm.

It’s been a long week. Oh, and poor Connor still has a cold, so none of us have slept in days. Her immune system is certainly getting a workout this school year! (And so is mine.)

Seriously, I cannot wait for the weekend.

Anywho, thank you for listening. Hope that everything on your end has been smooth sailing.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Thoughts on Changing Hair Texture as You Get Older

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How’s your hair doin’?

I have a section of my brain devoted solely to obsessing over beauty thoughts, and currently, it’s occupied by hair texture and how it changes as you get older.

In theory, I knew that as one ages and hair color changes that hair texture changes too, but I didn’t understand just how much I’d have to adapt to that particular element.

OK, let me go back a bit. Within this last year, my hair has gotten considerably more gray, and a lot of those grays have this funky, wiry texture with a tight, uneven wave pattern. They look like ramen noodles and stick out at weird angles.

These “ramen noodle hairs” used to be buried way in the back of my head, but now they’re starting to show up more and more around the visible areas closer to my face.

Before I could wear my hair down and not really have to do anything, but the presence of the wiry grays makes it difficult because they don’t flow with the rest of my hair. Unless I smooth everything down with a curling iron or a flat iron, my hair just looks messy, and not in a cute, casual and purposeful way.

And while having a unified and smooth texture looks nice to me, I then have to deal with the damage created from relying on heat tools. Sometimes it feels like a no win situation.

Anyway, I was chatting with a hairstylist a couple weeks ago, and she said from this point on there’s just going to be more and more of those wayward hairs! Oh, and apparently, the texture change also makes it harder for dye to stick, so if I decided to cover my grays again, they’d be that much more resistant to holding onto color.

In heavy rotation

  • Pureology Strength Cure Superfood Deep Treatment Mask
  • Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray
  • Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Ultra Rich Hyaluronic Treatment Lotion
  • Kristin Ess Ultra Hydrating Curl Co-Wash
  • Kristin Ess Fragrance Free Texturizing Paste

Wiry hair texture’s been my main beauty issue as of late, so I’ve been buying a lot of hair products for hydration, smoothness and building up strength. I’ve been having some luck with leave-ins and masks made for damaged or colored hair, especially. Even though I don’t have any dye in my hair at the moment, these types of products seem to help.

OH! Yet another issue I’m dealing with is that I have less hair than I used to compared to my 20s and 30s. Blame it on hormonal changes. SIGH. I can especially tell when I put my hair up or when I’m washing it in the shower. So now, I’m deeply obsessed with volume — especially at the roots. Don’t get me started on root lift. LOL!

Even though I knew that my hair was going to change, I didn’t understand the degree of how much it would, and what I’d have to do to adapt to those changes. It’s so crazy!

How has your hair texture evolved as you’ve gotten older? Have you changed your routine much?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! We made it. 🙂

Checking In: Chanel Faves, Birthday Gifts to Myself and GO Dub Nation!

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Hey, friend. TGIF and happy FRI-YAY!

No joke, I could crawl into bed right now and sleep for three days straight. My deadlines haven’t been playin’ lately! I’m so glad we made it to the end of the week.

Last week I mentioned last week I was going to buy myself a gift for my b-day. I ended up with a Kelty Cabana shade tent, a 100% spur-of-the-moment purchase from our local sporting goods store, Sports Basement.

I can safely say this is the first time I’ve bought outdoor equipment for myself on my birthday, LOL! You know what, though? I’ve always wanted a shade tent for the beach and for camping, and I’m so glad I finally did it. This one is relatively simple to assemble and pack, too. I think with practice, I can easily do it myself.

As you can see, Connor loves it! I can’t wait to take it on all our outdoor adventures this summer.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a birthday without a few beauty products. I’m still on a big hair kick, so to maximize volume and add moisture to my mane, I bought Bumble and Bumble’s Invisible Oil Shampoo and Conditioner for dry hair. Both contain six lightweight oils to hydrate, detangle and reduce frizz (among other things). I also grabbed a bottle of Alterna Caviar Foam Conditioner to use as a co-wash.

I’m currently on a Chanel kick, which seems to happen a few times a year, especially in the summer, go figure.

In these pics, I’m wearing the go-to Chanel makeup “uniform” I’ve been rocking all week: Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation (SO GOOD) on my skin; Les Beiges Cream Blushes in No. 22 and No. 20 layered together on my cheeks; and Electric Brown Eyeshadow-Liner-Khol topped with Liquid Eyeshadow in Desert Wind on my eyes. I’ll try to take more pictures soon to give you a better idea of the colors and textures, however I can safely say these pieces look great in-life and in phone selfies! Super easy to use, too.

And, oh my gosh, last but not certainly not least, I’ve gotta give a shout-out to the Warriors, aka the 2022 NBA Champions.

Did you watch the game last night? I had absolutely NO CHILL until the last two minutes, LOL!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Latest Beauty Buys List, March 11, 2022!

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pattern leave in conditioner
Waves for days

1. Pattern Leave-In Conditioner

I low-key freaked out recently when my ends felt like straw, so I zipped over to Ulta to buy some things from Pattern, a hair line by actress Tracee Ellis Ross made especially for curlies.

First up was a tube of this medium-weight leave-in conditioner. I’ve used it before and my wavy hair likes it! It’s rich and hydrating, and maybe it’s a touch too intense as it tends to stretch out my waves so they appear straighter, but I don’t mind. The dainty honeysuckle scent agrees with me, and I like that you get such a big bottle for the price.

2. Pattern Lightweight Conditioner

This doubles as a sheer conditioner and a co-wash! It has the same delicate honeysuckle scent as the rest of the Pattern products, and the 13-ounce bottle is huge. I used it last night as a co-wash, and my hair felt so clean. No silicones! LOVE.

3. Pattern Travel Size Medium Conditioner

I bought the travel-size version of this because I want to be sure I love it before committing to a full-size bottle. Anywho, it’s richer compared to the Lightweight Conditioner. I like it. My hair feels soft and moisturized.

4. Pattern Travel Size Hydration Shampoo

Lovely. Hydrating but not heavy, and my hair felt clean and soft afterwards.

5. Bumble & Bumble Hairdressers’ Invisible Oil Ultra Rich Trial Set with Shampoo, Conditioner and Hyaluronic Treatment Oil

DUDE. Like I said, I’m on a mission to rectify this dry hair sitch, so this fell into my basket in case the items from Pattern didn’t work out. I haven’t tried it yet, but I used Bumble & Bumble for years in my 20s and 30s, and my hair always liked it. I’m going on a trip soon, and I might just bring this with me.

6. Dermalogica Travel Size PreCleanse Oil

Also for my upcoming trip because I need a travel-friendly makeup remover. I used this back in the day and liked it.

Re: Innersense

There was some great feedback from reader E.D. on the hair brand Innersense in the comments yesterday, so if you’re interested in the line, you might want to skim through her quick reviews. Thank you, E.D.!

I decided to hold off buying anything from Innersense for now, but if you’re already a fan, the entire line is currently 20% off online at Beauty Heroes. No code needed.

Fun fact! Beauty Heroes is based in my town of Novato.

One last thing…

Connor is going to her first dance tonight. Her school is hosting a father-daughter dance, and El Hub will be her date! Last night when we were getting ready for bed, I explained what happens at a dance: how your date picks you up, tells your parents they’ll have you home by curfew, opens your car door, gets you punch at the dance and so on. I’m so happy she’ll be able to go to her first dance with her dad. Just thinking about her going on a real date makes me tear up a little, LOL!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Air Dry Hair Faves: Frizz Fighting and Moisturizing Products for Smoother Strands

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alterna bumble r and co
Frizz fighting and moisturizing!

Anybody else living with crazy quarantine hair?

Yeah, girl, I’m with ya. The last haircut I got was in May…of 2019, so what’s sitting on top of my shoulders at this point is basically like 90% hair and 10% head. HAHAHA! Since I haven’t really had any place fancy to go other than Target and Trader Joe’s, I haven’t styled my mop in ages; however, for the sake of my sanity, I still put effort into applying styling products and leave-ins before air drying because, if I don’t, this hair veers into mad scientist territory, and to quote Hall and Oates, “I can’t go for that (no can do).”

Cue all the quintessential styling potions and moisturizing leave-in lotions, most of which can be used on a wide variety of hair types, from fine to thick, coarse, curly and everything in between.

creamy dreamy purples open
Pandemic hair don’t care.

I have long wavy hair that naturally veers into dry, frizzy, unruly territory. The top half from my roots to the mid-shaft is my natural color, which is peppered with silvery strands. The bottom half is a melange of miscellaneous shades of hair dye.

The following products have been getting me and my mane through the last few months with my sanity (somewhat) intact…

Alterna My Hair My Canvas Easy Does It Air Dry Balm: Smooths frizz, adds lift

This vegan balm is the bomb (totally dated slang, but you know I had to go there) because it does a little bit of everything — smooths flyaways, adds shines, coaxes out curls and adds moisture to thirsty strands — all without weighing hair down. I use this mostly for my silver hairs, which when left to their own devices are hella frizzy like dry ramen noodles gone wild. I do two squeezes of this balm, each about the size of a MAC eyeshadow pan in its packaging, into the palm of my hand, working from my roots down to my ends, and my hair looks so much smoother and silkier and generally less crazy. If you deal with frizz or unruly grays, this will be your jam! $29 for a 3.4-oz tube.

INGREDIENTS

Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Isododecane, Polyacrylate-13, Octyldodecanol, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Butylene Glycol, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Charcoal Powder, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyurethane-35, Fragrance (Parfum), Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.

Alterna My Hair My Canvas Glow For It Universal Gloss: Shine without weight

This non-greasy shine-enhancing, frizz-defying serum is made for all hair types, but particularly normal, oily, coarse and/or curly hair. Like the Easy Does It Air Balm, it’s made from vegan ingredients and doesn’t leave my hair feeling like it’s coated with a thick layer of product. My hair just feels like regular hair when I use it, which I love. Universal Gloss mixes well with other styling products, too, and I like to swirl two to three pumps into the Air Dry Balm before working it in. Use this if you want shiny strands that don’t feel like greasy coated noodles! $26 for a 2.5-oz. bottle with a pump.

INGREDIENTS

Cyclopentasiloxane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethiconol, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Charcoal Powder, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Water (Aqua, Eau), Fragrance (Parfum), Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Citral, Geraniol, Limonene, Eugenol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol.

Bumble and bumble Save the Day Repair Fluid: A lightweight leave-in for intense moisture

Packed with antioxidant camellia flower oil, this leave-in conditioner repairs and moisturizes dry and damaged ends. The lotion-like formula feels thin and lightweight, but it’s also rich enough to handle the thirstiest strands. It packs a major hydrating punch! Made for all hair types and cruelty-free. $45 for a 3.2-oz. bottle with a pump.

INGREDIENTS

Water , Dimethicone , Glycerin , Cetearyl Alcohol , Hydrogenated Lecithin , Dimethicone/Peg-10/15 Crosspolymer , Dimethiconol , Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil , Caffeine , Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil , Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil , Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract , Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil , Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract , Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol , Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract , Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil , Coco-Glucoside , Hydrogenated Castor Oil/ Sebacic Acid Copolymer , Dihydroxypropyl Arginine Hcl , Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol , Ethylhexylglycerin , Caprylyl Glycol , Linoleic Acid , Saccharide Isomerate , Tocopheryl Acetate , Silica , Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane , Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate , Panthenol , Lecithin , Xanthan Gum , Fragrance , Citronellol , Citral , Limonene , Phenoxyethanol , Mica , Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891)

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