Hourglass

FOTD: Khaki and Copper Tones for a Zoom Call

June 24th, 2020 by Karen 21 Comments

Wore this look on a Zoom call with a beauty brand yesterday (it was Urban Decay to talk about their latest Naked palette, for the nosey noodles who were wondering!), and in classic K-dawg fashion I banged it out in 15 minutes before it started because that’s how I roll.

And, um…Connor also had a social distancing playdate at the park shortly before the call was scheduled to start, and we made it back home by the skin of our teeth, ha ha ha! Whenever I’m pressed for time but want to look gussied up, I always fall back on smokey eyes and nude lips. This khaki and copper version relies on just two products.

I paired the eyes with peach lips and cheeks because EASY. PEASY.

I’m also wearing a little more base makeup than I have been lately because I knew that “makeup people” (air quotes) were going to be present, so if there were ever a time to load up on a little more concealer, this was it.

Since we’re on the topic of quick looks, what’s your default medium-impact makeup look when you’re pressed for time?

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Shelter-In-Place Face of the Day: Soft Peach, Rose and Buttery Brown Tones

April 7th, 2020 by Karen 11 Comments

Ya know, seeing as how I spend every waking moment right now at home or somewhere within close proximity outside, and I can technically wear any kind of makeup I want, since my boss (the coywolf) is easygoing regarding the corporate dress code, you’d think I’d be all over runway-ready glossy red lids and lips and ’80s-style striped blush on my cheekbones…

My makeup situation is nowhere near this exciting at the moment…

But, alas, absolutely nothing exciting has been happening ’round these parts.

To be honest, I haven’t felt like wearing much makeup, and when I have worn makeup, I’ve only been able to muster enough to energy to do the yooj barely-there base and watercolor neutrals — a.k.a. my makeup safe place.

For now, I’m not gonna fight it. I’m just going to go with the shelter-in-place flow, and keep wearing what makes me feel good until I feel like pushing the envelope. So, today I wore peach and rose tones on my lids, lips and cheeks, with a Duchess of Sussex-caliber barely there base.

Are you still wearing makeup (or dressing up, doing your hair, etc.) at home? Inquiring bored beauty-loving minds want to know.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Dreaming of Vacay With Wander Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, MAC and More

March 11th, 2020 by Karen 15 Comments

I woke up wishing I was on vacation this morning. There weren’t any viruses to worry about, no freaky headlines on the news, or piles laundry to fold, no meals to plan. Ah…

When I dream of vacation, it usually involves a beach, ‘cause I’m a sand, surf and sun girl.

I LIKE ALL THE TROPICAL PLACES, and I’m equally happy at remote, out-of-the-way secret beaches that are only accessible by rickety rope ladders as I am at Disneyland-like resorty beaches with all the accoutrements, including a big umbrella, a comfy chair, a clean bathroom and a snack shack. (Gimme all the snacks!)

Walking down to Hideaways beach on Kauai

A play on sheen, shimmer and shine

You know how when you’re at the beach on a hot day, you’re always kinda sweaty, even if you’re just sipping on strawberry shave ice? Well, that’s what I was aiming for with the base in this look. I wasn’t going for “sweaty” necessarily, but rather glistening. There’s an all-over subtle sheen on the skin (thanks, Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter), paired with bright, shimmery spots beaming from specific areas — the inner corners of the eyes, in particular, and the bridge of the nose. Then, there’s just the faintest amount of shine on the lips, thanks to a bright reddish coral lippie with a creamy finish.

I know I talk about “Char’s” Flawless Filter all the time, but really, it’s that good. I like it just as much as I ever have, and I still routinely say, WHAT THE HELL KIND OF MAGIC IS IN HERE? when I blend it in and look in a mirror.

If you’ve tried it and didn’t like it because you felt like the opalescent finish made you look sweaty, try setting it with a face powder that has a matte or demi-matte finish. For this, I’m a massive fan of MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural. And Chanel’s loose powder is good with Flawless Filter, too. Both temper the sheen a tad for a purrfect glow.

Cue the contrast

Did ya notice the matte lids and lash lines? Yup, that’s on purpose. I wanted a flatter finish on those areas to play against the intense inner corner highlight, and I’m wearing shadows from the new Wander Beauty Wanderess Escape Palette, which has a mix of matte, shimmer and glitter shadows in warm, summery shades of brown, bronze, gold and peach (there’s also a pop of teal in there). If you’ve ever fallen in love with any of the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess palettes, I think you’ll like it.

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The New Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss: Swatches of Canvas, Child, Provoke, Prose, Fever and Horizon

May 3rd, 2019 by Karen 8 Comments

hourglass unreal high shine volumizing lip gloss 2 — Five of 18 new Hourglass Unreal Volumizing Lip Glosses ($30)

Quick take

I’m not completely sold on the plumping…because I don’t really see it, but if you don’t mind the $30, check out these new glosses. I think they’re pretty. They’re also borderline moisturizing, highly pigmented, super smooth and easy to apply. Canvas is my favorite. It’s the perfect “just throw it in your purse and forget about it” color. You can see them all now at Sephora and the Hourglass website.

Even though Tabs will always be “the people’s cat” — that scrappy ragamuffin who strutted and clawed his way off the mean streets of Mill Valley — I’ll always remember his edgy fashion sense and impeccable style.

The fashion gods didn’t simply sculpt his glorious tum-tum from Carrera marble. They also imbued him with the gift of sight and the ability to recognize quality high-end makeup, like these tubes of Hourglass plumping gloss.

They’re from the new Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss line, which just launched today.

Thoughts and first impressions…

Not to worry. If you’re a fan of the Hourglass Extreme Sheen glosses, I believe Hourglass is still keeping them around. I don’t think they’re being phased out (which is always my first thought when new things are released).
Some of the Unreal High Shine shades are similar to the Extreme Sheens (Child, Canvas, Ignite and Icon).
The medium-weight formula doesn’t feel sticky. The texture reminds me a lot of the Chanel Glossimers.
I feel a slight (not painful) tingle when I apply them, but the tingle disappears within a few minutes.
They taste and smells faintly of mint for about five minutes.
They are CRAZY, STUPID OPAQUE (!), which you might think would make them tricky to apply, since full-on glosses will often slip beyond your natural natural lip lines, but these are actually easy to apply. They go on smoothly (the paddle-shaped applicator is fool-proof) without settling into vertical lip lines or breaking the boundary around my lips.
Wear time is from 2-3 hours.
Also, I don’t find these drying at all. I’d almost call them moisturizing!
Are they volumizing? Eh…I can’t tell. Maybe a little. Regardless, I like the way they look.

hourglass unreal high shine volumizing lip gloss — The paddle-shaped applicator makes it easy to hug corners.

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Product Spotlight: Hourglass Lip Oil in Cameo

March 29th, 2019 by Karen 10 Comments

hourglass cameo swatch — Hourglass No. 28 Lip Oil in Cameo

Remember when Marky Mark had his Funky Bunch? Well, if I were rolling with my girls, and we all were wearing Hourglass Lip Oil in Cameo, we’d be known as Bougie Bouge and the Bougie Bunch, because this tiny tube costs $49! — which is REDONK. But if you’re feeling fancy, it’s good stuff, especially if your lips are flaky and dry.

I’ve been a fan of No. 28 Lip Oil since day one (back when it was a “steal” at just $42). I’ve had a tube on my nightstand for years, and while I’ve never liked the price (I always buy mine during the Sephora VIB sale), I know that when my lips are past the point of no return, I can slick the O.G. clear No. 28 on my lips before bed (it smells and tastes a little like rosemary), and when I wake up the next morning, everything’s copacetic.

Hourglass recently added tinted versions of No. 28 to the line, and the stand-out for me is the rose shade called Cameo.

Absolutely gorgeous.

My lips are pretty pigmented, so lightly tinted products are hit or miss for me, but Cameo looks like a perfect MLBB shade. (Side note: Isn’t Cameo also an ’80s band?? So many music references in this post…)

Cameo is shiny, but it isn’t thick or goopy. It’s also gloriously moisturizing. If you want plump and juicy rosy lips — and you’re feeling Bougie Bouge! — this is it.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! 🤗