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Face of the Day (FOTD)

Elegant and Polished Makeup for All Occasions With Playful Pink Cheeks and Lips, and Cool-Toned Matte Grays to Contour Lids

February 4th, 2021 by Karen 3 Comments

mac cozy grey honest beauty forever
10-minute makeup with cool toned lids and lips

I always say, “I threw this look on,” but I really did! This took about 10 minutes, not including the few minutes it took to gather my arsenal of supplies, which in this case was not very much. Those are cool-toned grayish-brown lids and rosy beige lips, and I did it right before going to get Connor from school the other day. The highlight was showing it off to a couple of my neighbors when we got home and practiced Connor’s bike riding and did some sidewalk chalk.

I’m telling you, these days, the highlight of my day is often those socially distanced chats with my neighbors. That’s where it’s at!

Anywho, I really like this look. I feel so polished in it and, dare I say, almost cute?!

I like the slight definition on the lids and lashes, the pink blush on my cheeks, the lipstick and the somewhat bushy brows, which are defined but not overly bold.

Here it is in action…

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A post shared by Karen | Makeup and Beauty Blog (@karenmbb)

I’ll definitely wear this again, maybe even on a date night (if one of those ever happens again). Ooh! — or on a girl’s night out, or a Saturday at a museum, whenever we can do those things again. I think you could wear pretty much anything with it.

The full breakdown is below, but I think the eyeshadows are the key. I’m wearing two matte cool-toned shadows — a light taupe-gray called MAC Cozy Grey all over my lids. It’s a workhorse from the permanent collection. And a darker gray-brown called MAC Brun.

I have hooded eyes, and I chose the matte taupe-gray because I wanted to contour my lids. The cooler gray along with the matte finish creates the illusion of a shadow, which I think makes my lids look like they’re more deeply set.

mac cozy grey honest beauty forever
Somebody cut my hair please!

If you’re over 40, or if you have naturally hooded eye, definitely consider adding a matte cool-toned grayish taupe eyeshadow to your collection. I would go with a shade slightly darker than your skin tone — maybe one or two shades — because you want to be able to see the shadow and get that contoured effect, but you don’t want anything too dark; otherwise, you’ll be sitting there blending for days!

duri forever beautiful swatch
Here’s a closer look at my nails. I’m wearing Duri Forever Beautiful, an opaque creamy cool pale pink.

In my outer corners, I buffed a tiny touch of matte gray-brown MAC Brun. This shade… SO GOOD. You can also wear it in your brows to fill ’em out, or you can smoke it out over a dark chocolate brown or black base, or even use it as a simple upper or lower lash liner. It’s a staple I turn to over and over again… I’m never without a pan of Brun, it’s that serious!

One last thing I’d like to point out about the eyes, and it might seem subtle at first, but if you look closely at my lash and water lines, there’s a hint of shimmer, which I think really makes the eyes pop. I’m wearing a pencil liner called MAC Prunella, which is a shimmery warm dark purplish bronze. I happen to like how it contrasts with the cooler tones on the lids.

mac cozy grey honest beauty forever
Same look, different lighting

Makeup in this look

  • Base: MAC Studio Fix Soft Matte Foundation Stick in NC42, Estee Lauder Hydraprep 24HR Concealer in Medium Deep
  • Eyes:Urban Decay Brow Blade in Dark Drapes, MAC Cozy Grey and Brun eyeshadows, MAC Prunella pencil liner, Bite Beauty Upswing Mascara, MAC Clear Brow Gel
  • Cheeks and lips: Laura Mercier Soleil 1 Bronzer, Laura Mercier Rose Blush, Honest Beauty Forever Liquid Lipstick

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I hope you’re having a great day so far! 🙂

There are 3 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Duri, Estee Lauder, Face of the Day (FOTD), Honest Beauty, Laura Mercier, MAC Makeup, Makeup, Nails, Urban Decay

Romantic Rose Tones With Brilliant Bronzed Browns

February 3rd, 2021 by Karen 8 Comments

mac chatterbox lmac chatterbox laura mercier roseaura mercier rose
I like this palette of luscious golden browns and dainty, rosy pinks. 😍

OK, so, I wore this look yesterday, and doggone it — I felt good about my makeup. The pink blush and lipstick spoke to my soul… You can’t go wrong with springy, romantic rosy pinks. Methinks they’re downright therapeutic. Wearing pink in winter reminds me that we will see the sun again.

mac chatterbox laura mercier rose
Just a little makeup!

I’ve been doing the bare minimum in terms of base for months, but I put a little more polish into this look, and I really like how it turned out.

For starters, I mixed a dab of pearly lotion into a matte, medium-coverage foundation, then applied a thin layer with a skunk brush all over my face. Then, for slightly more coverage, I loaded a tiny, pointy-tipped concealer brush with the most minimal amount of concealer and strategically dabbed it where I have a little extra pigmentation (spots on my cheeks and around my mouth). And those couple extra things took my base makeup to the next level! Dare I say it? — an elegant level. 🙂

mac chatterbox k down havana
Swatches of the key products on NC42 skin

I felt like myself again for the first time in a while.

Yeah…I was wearing lipstick around the house again, LOL! MAC Chatterbox is an awfully pretty, playful reddish pink, and it can be quite bold if you apply a layer straight from the tube. I was in the mood for something more mellow, so I blotted it down, then used my finger to push in whatever lipstick remained to create a beautiful rosy pink stain… I think it’s springy and cheerful, and I love it. MAC Chatterbox, man! Don’t sleep on it.

Speaking of MAC, Powersurge eyeliner with Havana eyeshadow = magic. Layer Havana on top of Powersurge the next time you’re wearing warm browns or bronzes on your lids, and don’t forget to send me a thank you note when you’re done. 😁

mac chatterbox laura mercier rose 1
MAC Havana eyeshadow + Powersurge liner = magic!

Makeup in this look

  • Base: It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare in Tan 41, Kevyn Aucoin Concealer in Medium 06, MAC Strobe Cream in Pinklite
  • Eyes:Urban Decay Brow Blade in Dark Drapes, MAC Saddle and Havana eyeshadows, MAC Powersurge pencil liner, Bite Beauty Upswing Mascara, MAC Clear Brow Gel
  • Cheeks and lips: Laura Mercier Soleil 1 Bronzer, Laura Mercier Rose Blush, MAC Chatterbox lipstick

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 8 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Bite Beauty, Eyes, Face of the Day (FOTD), It Cosmetics, Kevyn Aucoin, Laura Mercier, Lips, MAC Makeup, Makeup, Makeup Tips/How To

Chanel Eclosion Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme Lipstick and Boy de Chanel Brows: Bright Lips and a Beret

January 6th, 2021 by Karen 10 Comments

chanel Eclosion swatch jan 2021
Bonne année!

I was going for a little French girl flair today, hence the beret. Admittedly, I’m also wearing it because I didn’t feel like dealing with all the stray, crazy baby hairs sticking out of my head at every angle this morning…so I just covered them up, hahaha!

I need more berets in my life.

chanel ecolsion swatch jan 2021
I love this type of makeup look!

What, exactly, is French girl chic? To me, it’s easygoing yet elegant — makeup that isn’t heavy-handed or harsh, so no severe contouring or bladed brows or big spiderweb falsies.

I’m here for it!

Actually, I’m here for any makeup at all, LOL! I didn’t wear much over the holidays, and it feels good to get back into it.

Here I’m wearing bold but basic lips with just a single lipstick, softly defined eyes, a light cheek flush and a sheer base.

Most of the products I’m wearing are Chanel (French girl vibe and all), with a couple of the pieces from the new Chanel Spring-Summer 2021 collection.

 chanel ecolosion primtemps
Today’s color palette

First is a bright, velvety matte reddish coral lipstick called Eclosion. It’s a lightweight, pigmented lipstick that feels so smooth and soft on my lips; however, despite being full coverage and matte, it does transfer a little, so if you’re going around kissing things, including humans, dogs and cats, you’ll leave lipstick marks all over the place.

chanel Eclosion swatch jan 2021
Her little face, LOL!

The highlighter I’m wearing on my upper cheekbones is the lighter peach shade from the Fleur de Pritemps highlighter/blush duo. It has a lovely subtle, satin shine and works well with peach and coral blushes, which leads me to Malice blush… Good ol’ Chanel Malice! If you wear warm peachy coral blushes like MAC Melba well, you will LOVE this satiny blush. It’s part of the Chanel permanent collection and looks fantastic with most lip colors. I’ve been wearing and loving it for years.

Last, but certainly not least, the brows! I’m wearing a bolder brown than usual, thanks to Boy de Chanel in Deep Brown, my new favorite brow pencil. It’s from the Boy de Chanel sub-collection, which is marketed as makeup for dudes, but ya know…you won’t turn into a pumpkin or anything if you’re a lady and use it, LOL! I like it because the pencil isn’t too soft and creamy and therefore has a good wear time, and I also like how pigmented it is. Good stuff!

chanel eclosion swatch jan 2021
Thank you for your gift of brows, Boy de Chanel Eyebrow Pencil.

Makeup worn in this look

  • Eyes: Chanel Tisse Vendome Quad (light brown shade on lids, dark brown shades on lash lines), Chanel Espresso Waterproof Eyeliner, Bite Beauty Upswing Mascara, Chanel Boy de Chanel Eyebrow Pencil in Deep Brown
  • Cheeks: Chanel Malice (blush), Chanel Les Beiges in No. 50 (bronzer) and Chanel Fleurs de Printemps (highlighter)
  • Lips: Chanel Eclosion Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme Lipstick
  • Base: Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter in Tan set with Chanel Loose Powder in Translucent 3 (foundation and powder), Estee Lauder 24Hr Hydra Prep Concealer in Medium Deep Warm and Kevyn Aucoin Supernatural Concealer in EC06

Speaking of berets…

I’m still hoping to find a dark reddish purple beret in a secondhand store one of these days!


One of my favorite Prince songs

Dare to dream!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 10 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Chanel, Face of the Day (FOTD)

Hanging With the Chanel Les Fleurs de Chanel Spring-Summer 2021 Collection

December 30th, 2020 by Karen 8 Comments

chanel spring summer 2021
Chanel’s new Spring-Summer 2021 collection (yes, you read that right) is all about fresh reds, vibrant pinks, muted neutrals and terra-cotta hues.

Maaan, I gotta hand it to Chanel. They have a knack for releasing righteous reds that are preternaturally easy to apply.

How do they do it?!

I didn’t even need a lip liner or lip brush for Pivoine Noire, the matte berry red I’m wearing in this look. It’s an LE shade in the new Les Fleurs de Chanel Spring-Summer 2021 collection, and yes, I can’t get over the fact that we’re talking about a spring/summer release.

I applied it freehand without much thought, straight from the tube.

chanel pivoine noire
Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme in 136 Pivoine Noire, a dusty berry red

Now I’m wondering if I could apply it while driving a car like Jessica Chastaine’s character does in Ava in the opening scene. She’s a soldier-turned-assassin, and with one hand she opens a tube of what I’m pretty sure is a Chanel lipstick and proceeds to flawlessly apply a layer of dark burgundy while racing down the freeway.

It’s impressive!

chanel movie lipstick
A novel way of opening a Chanel lipstick while prepping for a nefarious deed…

I wonder if I could do that… Survey says, “probably not!” LOL!

This new collection is inspired by spring blooms and warm pink, red, rose and coppery brown hues, and it lands on counters and the Chanel website next month (which starts this week!). There are lots of finishes — matte, metallic and satin — in various levels of coverage.

chanel spring summer 2021
Hello spring…and summer!
chanel spring summer 2021
Swatches of the blush/highlighter duo, the mascara and the two Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lipsticks

Here are some notes on the items I’m wearing…

The powder blush/highlighter duo

The coral-pink blush lays down a sheer flush of luminous color, so if you like blushes that don’t scream “Look at me! I’m obvious!” you might like it. I also love the finish on the peach highlighter. It’s a soft eggshell shine similar to the Hourglass Ambients. No bling-bling highlighter here.

The matte red lipstick

On the opposite end of the coverage spectrum is this gorgeously opaque matte berry red. Chanel’s Velvet Extreme formula applies flawlessly and glides along the skin without tugging, but it’s not too slick to easily control. Basically, it’s suuuper smooth, and it smells and tastes like rose hard candy.

The metallic mascara

The coppery bronze color actually shows up on dark lashes, which is super cool (colorful mascaras rarely show up on my lashes), and the Le Volume de Chanel formula delivers the thick, dramatic lash look the line is famous for. If you’ve got lighter lashes, the effect will probably be more dramatic and flattering than it is on me. On me, I think the color tends to make my eyes look smaller and more hooded than a standard-issue black mascara…

chanel metal terracotta mascara
My black lashes actually look terra cotta!

The Chanel Les Fleurs de Chanel Spring-Summer 2021 collection includes…

  • FLEURS DE PRINTEMPS Blush and Highlighter Duo
    An Exclusive Creation powder duo with a satiny peach highlighter and luminous pink coral blush. Embossed
    with a floral motif. Use the included brush to sweep the blush onto cheeks and the highlighter onto center of
    forehead, tops of cheekbones, brow bones and Cupid’s bow. Limited edition. $70.00
  • LE VOLUME DE CHANEL Mascara
    Now in a limited-edition rose-copper shade, the innovative mascara adds a colourful touch to lashes. The
    CHANEL-exclusive brush and volumizing formula help achieve greater length and thickness in a single stroke.
    $32.00
  • ROUGE ALLURE VELVET EXTRÊME Intense Matte Lip Colour
    Introducing limited-edition berry red and warm coral shades of the extreme matte lipstick. The intense
    longwearing formula glides on smoothly and doesn’t dry out lips. $40.00
  • ROUGE ALLURE LAQUE Ultrawear Shine Liquid Lip Colour
    The new ultra-intense, ultra-longwearing satin shine liquid lipstick in a limited-edition metallic aubergine shade.
    The creamy, fluid texture applies easily and wears comfortably, while the special doe-foot applicator ensures precise,
    even results. $40.00
  • LE VERNIS Longwear Nail Colour
    The high-shine nail colour features carefully selected pigments for even application and lasting wear. Available in 3
    new shades: a soft peach, a light raspberry red and a metallic red. $28.00
  • AVAILABLE ON CHANEL.COM AND AT CHANEL BOUTIQUES: JANUARY 2021
  • AVAILABLE AT DEPARTMENT AND SPECIALTY STORES: FEBRUARY 2021

Adventures in bread making

So, I made my first 1-1/2 pound loaf of French bread in my new Cuisinart bread maker yesterday!

Isn’t the loaf cute? It was a test loaf. It’s pretty small, enough for about four sandwiches.
[Continue reading…]

There are 8 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Chanel, Collections, Face of the Day (FOTD), Makeup

Goin’ OTT in the Burbs! Green Lids and Glitter, and a New Favorite Nude Lip Combo

December 18th, 2020 by Karen 8 Comments

urban decay boogie braid
Going for green and glittery! Shirt is the Blush Is My Crush Tee in Ocean.

So, I was wearing this glittery green eye look yesterday when I went to pick up Connor from school, and with the foiled forrest green lids sparkling rainbow glitter in the corners, I felt full-on CRAZYPANTS!

I’ve got a rep to protect

Yesterday the kids went home early for Christmas break, and while the other adults at pickup were rocking tastefully understated tinted moisturizer and mascara, I rolled up to the classroom looking like I was going to da club, HAHAHA!

You know what? I’ve decided to lean into it. 🤷‍♀️ I’m OK being that mom.

urban decay boogie braid
Just a li’l glitter!

The inspo

I did this look because of this gorgeous green smokey eye tutorial by Hannah Martin, but instead of using the Urban Decay Born to Run Palette, I used the new UD Boogie mini palette.

It ended up a little more subdued than hers, and I think that was partly because I haven’t worn this much lewk in a while, so I held back a little because I’m just not used to seeing myself with so much color on my face. I think I’ll try it again, though, maybe with the false lashes and a lip with unblended liner to see if I can push it!

Makeup is physical

Yeah, this look was a good reminder that makeup is a perishable skill. It’s been a minute since I wore anything like this with lots of blending, and I felt rusty.

urban decay boogie braid
Smooth!

One last thing

But I really like how this nude lip turned out! I lined and filled my lips with MAC Oak lip liner, then topped it off with Chanel Amoureaux Rouge Allure Ink liquid lipstick, and I love how smooth my lips look. Definitely going to wear this combo again.

Makeup worn in this look

  • EYES: Urban Decay Boogie 70s Eyeshadow Palette, Chanel Eye Primer, Urban Decay Brow Beater, Urban Decay Cannonball Waterproof Mascara, MAC Smolder Eyeliner
  • LIPS: MAC Oak Lip Pencil, Chanel Amoureaux Rouge Allure Ink
  • CHEEKS: Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Bronzer, MAC Gingerly blush
  • BASE: Chanel Ultra Le Teint Foundation in BD51, Chanel Vitalumiere Acqua in 50 Beige, Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder and Chanel Longwear Concealer in 40 Beige

[Continue reading…]

There are 8 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Chanel, Face of the Day (FOTD), MAC Makeup, Makeup, Urban Decay

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About Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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