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

A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

Connor Claire Store

Makeup Inspiration This Week

by 24 Comments

I just bookmarked A BUNCH of makeup looks because one cannot extricate herself from a brown lid/nude lip rut completely on her own.

I’m tryin’, man!

OK, can we just talk about how this Kristen Stewart look has been haunting me for weeks, but, like, in a Casper the Friendly Ghost way? Makeup artist Beau Nelson did this look for Kristen recently at Cannes.

The the teal/electric blue action around her lash lines? I can’t even. It’s so bright and eye-catching, for sure, but check out the placement of the darker blue on her lower lash line. There’s some in the outer corner and just around bottom from the inner corner, and then with the teal pop in the center? That’s so cool!

I also like how restrained the rest of the look is, like the cool-toned matte brown eyeshadow in the crease and how it contrasts with the metallic on the lash line, and the subtle skin and cheeks and dainty pink lip.

I’m gonna reverse-engineer that lash line using some UD blues and teals…

rainbow brights iphone case
Got a case of the blue-teals-greens. (The case is the $24 Rainbow Brights iPhone Case from connorclaire.com.)

This next look is something I could wear on the daily. It looks like Jessica Alba is wearing bronzer on her cheeks (maybe a seamless cream with a matte finish?) in this look with satiny purple smoky lids, lots o’ lashes and a soft peachy pink lip.

I love her hair in this, too. Half up, half down with soft, defined curls. ? This look, by the way, is from MUA Daniel Martin, who also did Meghan Markle’s marvelous royal wedding makeup.

Also, I’m feeling this look by David Razzano, a makeup artist with Sephora’s Pro team. The coverage is a little fuller than I usually wear these days, but I might try it for kicks.

I’m digging her full, lush brows, the blown-out bronze shades on her lids with that spotlight in the center, and the super shiny patent-leather hot pink lip!

GAH!

I’m gonna be a mess in that lip, though, but that’s fine. I’ll deal with it.

One thing I just realized right now about all three of these looks is that there isn’t a lot of color happening on the cheeks. They all look lightly sculpted with a bit of bronzer, and I’m feeling that!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Shout-Out to the MAC Cream Colour Bases!

by 8 Comments

mac cream colour bases
MAC Cream Colour Base = LOVE (palette kitties in the bag are from the Palette Kitty Tote in the store)

Old-school MAC right hurr! It’s been a minute since I’ve talked about the Cream Colour Bases, but I’ve been wearing Improper Copper and Vintage Rose as cream blushes lately and just remembered what makes them so, so good.

mac cream colour base swatches
Hello, my pretties!
mac cream colour base insert
Not all of the shades are eye, cheek and lip safe.

These multitasking creams moonwalk across the skin and stay put on my lids, lips and cheeks. You can easily blur the edges with your finger, too, even if you consider yourself blending-challenged.

I wear Shell and Hush as eyeshadow bases and highlighters all the time, and I give them ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ out of 5 hearts for being awesome.

Do you have a fave? Which one, and how do you use it? Inquiring minds want to know.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Why Is It Impossible to Take Cute Selfies at the Gym?

by 10 Comments

winged liner tee and attention lipsticks case
Winged Liner Tee ($34) and Attention Lipsticks iPhone Case ($24) from my store, connorclaire.com

Is it because of the harsh, sickly blue-tinted florescent lighting? The mirrored walls that cast stark shadows at unusual angles and reflect said lighting up your nostrils? The layer of perspiration glistening on your forehead? The complete and utter lack of kittens, art and cute furnishings?

Or is it because I roll up to HIIT class rocking a severe high pony, which, in my mind, looks just as sophisticated as Madonna’s during her Blonde Ambition phase, but in reality never does?

winged liner tee and attention lipsticks case
Nearly impossible, I tell ya.

Or is it because everyone I work out with teases me (in a fun way!) about taking pics of myself in the mirror, so I end up smiling like someone just asked me if I’d eat a bowl of live earthworms for ten thousand dollars?

Basically, WHY IS IT SO HARD TO TAKE CUTE SELFIES AT THE GYM?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

12 Terrific Products at Trader Joe’s!

by 40 Comments

The awesome Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask next to the equally awesome Lipstick Hearts iPhone Case (iPhone 8 Plus) for scale

I’m convinced that my Trader Joe’s on Redwood Blvd. in Novato is the best Trader Joe’s in all the land, and I say “my” like I own the place or something, LOL! I don’t own it (I wish), but I might as well be the mayor because I’m there practically daily.

In case you were wondering…they still have that excellent Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask in stock (in case you were wondering), and if you haven’t tried it yet, ya need to get on that, sister! It’s worth a trip to TJ’s all by itself.

But since you’ll be there anyway, the Coconut Body Butter is also epic. 🙂

trader joes coconut body butter

While you’re at it, toss a few of these into your cart…

trader joes reduced fat spinach cheese stuffed shells

I never leave the store without getting at least a couple of these frozen Reduced Guilt Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Shells. They’re 270 calories, with 33 grams of carbs and 20 grams (!) of protein, which is more protein than three eggs! Since the last thing I want to do at 7:30 at night when I get home from the gym is make something from scratch, these are great for quickie post-workout meals.

NOW THIS IS THE STUFF —->

trader joes wild caught crab meat

When I get a hankerin’ for crab, which happens fairly often because I love crab, a box of this is where it’s at.

[Continue reading…]

My Favorite Nude Lipstick at the Moment Is Naked

by 14 Comments

urban decay naked lipstick attention lipstick iphone case final
Attention Lipsticks ? iPhone Case, available now from my store, ConnorClaire.com.

I’ve been wearing creamy nude pink Naked from the Urban Decay Vice Lipstick line almost on the daily lately because it magically matches almost every eye product, palette and blush color in my collection. It’s $18 but feels like a $60 Guerlain lippie!

What’s your current favorite nude lipstick? Inquiring minds want to know.

urban decay naked lipstick

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Copyright © 2019 Makeup and Beauty Blog. Get in touch.