Just For Fun

How to play

Pick one or the other for each of the questions below, and copy/paste your answers in the comments. Can’t wait to see your picks! Mine are listed below. 💋

This or That: The High- or Low-End Beauty Edition, Part II

• Loose or pressed?
• Translucent or tinted?
• Mineral or non-mineral powder?
• Baking with powder — yes or no?
• Sponge, puff or brush applicator?
• High-end powder or budget-friendly powder?
• Yellow “banana” powders — yes or no?
• Glowing or matte finish?
• More powder or less?

Loose or pressed?

Pressed, but only if it’s MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural; otherwise, loose…because I think they look more natural on my skin.

Translucent or tinted?

Li’l bit of tint please, but not full coverage, because I think it looks too heavy on my pores.

Mineral or non-mineral powder?

Hmm… Mineral powders tend to look thicker than non-mineral on my skin, so non-mineral.

Baking with powder — yes or no?

No thank you. I’m going to give this one a hard pass.

Sponge, puff or brush applicator?

Brush, baby!

High-end powder or budget-friendly powder?

There are so many great ones among both, but I’ll go with high-end because they just seem to have that little extra something-something. But I use and like both budget and pricey powders.

Yellow “banana” powders — yes or no?

Ya know, I feel like it’s just an extra step, so it’s a no for this gal!

Glowing or matte finish?

Glowing for real life and matte for pics.

More powder or less?

My “wizened” skin and face say less.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Wednesday! 😊

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. Soup, salad or a sandwich?

A lovely salad for lunch today would be great! If a mysterious lunch benefactor were to hook this lady up with a Tostada salad from Blue Barn, I’d be most grateful. I sure do love those things, but I do not love them being $20.

2. A sound you sometimes hear in your neighborhood?

“BRGL! BRGL! BRGL” Dozens of huge wild turkeys roam our neighborhood, and I hear them gobbling outside all day long. They’re so loud!

3. A piece of makeup you like?

I always end up going back to Clinique’s Pretty Easy Liner felt tip liquid liner. It really is the easiest black liquid liner to use.

4. Banana or grapefruit?

Grapefruit, but only if it’s juicy and cold (no room temperature grapefruit for this gal).

5. Cotton or silk?

Cotton, since my life is too messy right now for silk.

6. One of your hobbies?

Baking, although I haven’t had any grand ambitions to make anything too complicated over the last six months. I enjoy cookies and bars and that’s about it. But I think I’ll eventually get back to the place where doing a three-layer cake and frosting from scratch will feel good again… Maybe once life feels completely steady and even again. Hopefully soon.

7. Makeup setting spray or clear brow gel?

Clear brow gel, no question!

8. Would you rather have professional help with your hair, your skin or your makeup?

I’ll happily accept assistance in all three categories, please. HAHAHA!

9. Hair mask or face mask?

A rich hair mask would be lovely!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.

1. Soup, salad or a sandwich?
2. A sound you sometimes hear in your neighborhood?
3. A piece of makeup you like?
4. Banana or grapefruit?
5. Cotton or silk?
6. One of your hobbies?
7. Makeup setting spray or clear brow gel?
8. Would you rather have professional help with your hair, your skin or your makeup?
9. Hair mask or face mask?

P.P.S. Hello, sweet friend. Today will be is a good day, and, FYI, you’re cherished and you’re loved! Please take some time to celebrate your accomplishments this week, OK? Even the ones that seem teeny-tiny, because whenever you accomplish something it’s a big deal. YOU DID IT. 🤗

Hiya, cutie pie. Welcome to the weekend! If you haven’t done your grocery shopping for the upcoming week yet, let me drop some MAJOR citrus knowledge on you: sumo citrus is THE STUFF. You need to try one of these if you haven’t already.

They taste like a sweet mix between a Mandarin orange and a Meyer lemon, but without any of the pucker-your-lips lemon tartness. The wrinkly peel is easy to remove too, and the wedges are so, so juicy! They’re just like eating fruity candy.

FYI, they’re on the pricey, at least around here, so they’re a special treat for us. I get mine at Trader Joe’s for $1.69 each (!), and I’ve also seen them at Whole Paycheck Whole Foods for between $2 and $3…each.

Seriously, try one! Your life will be forever changed.

This weekend’s reading

• Looking to spend some lunch money? Check out these 23 Asian-owned beauty brands.
• A short history of hairstyling and makeup in movies.
• Here’s how to make your eyes look brighter and well-rested.
• Did you know that repurposed plant-based waste is used in upcycled beauty products? One person’s trash is another person’s beauty product.
• Ever wonder why luxury perfumes cost so much?
• Speaking of perfume, apparently, artfully designed perfumed bottles have been a thing throughout history.
• A simpler plan for stressed-out skin
• This is how long it takes your skin care to work.
• According to veterinarians, here’s everything you need to take care of your BFF’s (best feline friend’s) teeth.
• Why cats love small spaces
• Have you heard of “hair Botox?”

For future reference…

Love it.

Because I need all the help I can get!

This is so not my style, but I love how the kitchen and living room open up to the backyard.

Can I live here please.

Why did this make me laugh so hard?

I’m ready to join the Command Hooks cult.

Have a great rest of your weekend, my friend. 😊

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How to play

Pick one or the other for each of the questions below, and copy/paste your answers in the comments. Can’t wait to see your picks! Mine are listed below. 💋

This or That: The High- or Low-End Beauty Edition, Part II

• Drugstore brow pencil or drugstore liquid liner?
• $5 or $45 sunscreen?
• High-end or budget mascara?
• Would you rather have a makeup bag full of Chanel or a makeup bag full of ColourPop?
• Save or splurge — a manicure/pedicure?
• Save or splurge — a hair cut?
• Fancy setting powder or fancy eyeshadow primer?
• Would you rather have one $$$ lipstick that you absolutely love in every possible, or 20 inexpensive lipsticks that look amazing on you but have a smell that makes your tummy churn?
• Economical or extravagant blush?

Drugstore brow pencil or drugstore liquid liner?

I’ve found good ones in both categories, but I’ll go with the brow pencils, since they tend to work just touch better for me than drugstore liquid liners.

$10 or $40 sunscreen?

If it’s sunscreen for my face, I’ll go with the $40 option, since the pricier sunscreens tend to not give me as many breakouts and overall seem to do better under makeup.

If we’re taking body sunscreen, though…then give me the big $10 tube please.

High-end or budget mascara?

High-end, 100%.

Would you rather have a makeup bag full of Chanel or a makeup bag full of ColourPop?

I haven’t been into super trendy colors lately, so I’d go with the Chanel.

Save or splurge — a manicure and pedicure?

Save! I’m so picky when it comes to my nails that I might as well save the money and do it myself.

Save or splurge — a hair cut?

I’ve had too many bad discount haircuts to skimp in this department, so splurge baby, splurge! 🙂

Fancy setting powder or fancy eyeshadow primer?

Fancy setting powder, since I haven’t worn eyeshadow primer in forever and a day.

Would you rather have one $$$ lipstick that you absolutely love in every possible, or 20 inexpensive lipsticks that look amazing on you but have a smell that makes your tummy churn?

One $$$ lipstick! 😍

A bunch of economical blushes or one extravagant blush?

Both categories have solid options, for sure. But I’d go with one extravagant blush that would work with most looks.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Friday! 😊