Product Reviews

A Fab Friday With Rosy Brown Lids and Lips + Mauve Cheeks

February 28th, 2020 by Karen 4 Comments

I swear, in real life this eye makeup is not as orange as it looks in these pics…

I think the bright top (J. Crew, found at The Rack last fall) is throwing a monkey wrench in the mix.

Hmm… I should probably just be grateful I’m dressed in something that makes me appear to be a real, live grownup. It’s all about the little victories, you know? 😊

I was going for a springy pinkish brown for this look but ended up more summery orange… Oh, well! I like it.

I’m wearing several pieces from the new MAC Loud and Clear, and Glow Play, collections, which I’m still (clearly, ha ha ha) into. If you run across something you love, I’d suggest picking it up sooner rather than later because things are either selling out quickly or have already sold out.

One of my coworkers from the bakery is also a MAC gal, and she barely was able to get her hands on one of the lipsticks (Baroque the Internet), so don’t hesitate, MAC-aholics!

One more item of note about this look: I blended the blush I was wearing on my cheeks into my into my crease, an old trick to tie your lids and cheeks together in a neat little bow!
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NARS Kalahari Love

February 27th, 2020 by Karen 9 Comments

They say, if you love something, set it free, which I guess makes sense if you love butterflies or toucans, but in the case of makeup, if you love something, I say you should talk about it ALL THE TIME, which is why I’ve been raving about NARS Kalahari for years!

Kalahari eyeshadow duo is perfect for lightly defining your lids. One side is a shimmery rosy bronze, and the other side is a shimmery taupe — two colors, granted, that you can find in almost any line, but here’s the kicker: NARS found a way to avoid all of the typically problematic side effects that befall so many shimmery shadows.

For instance, Kalahari is reflective, but it isn’t frosty, so fine lines aren’t even a thing. When you sweep and swirl it on your skin, a sweet, bronzed glow remains. It’s very “J. Lo running errands in her velour track suit.” Casual, but still noticeable. (This is a good thing in my book.)

Here’s one of my favorite ways to wear it:
Mix the two shades together with a domed shadow brush, then apply from lash line to crease (or just above the crease if your eyes are hooded like mine). Build it up if you want more color intensity, but don’t worry — this is eyeshadow that won’t look heavy, since the powder is very delicate and fine.

Next, wet that same brush, and apply more of the mix on the mobile part of your lid, which is the part of your eye that “blinks.” Leave it a few minutes to dry, and work on the rest of your face. Once you’ve almost gotten to the end — I usually wait until I’m done with almost everything, including blush and lipstick — take a clean tapered blending brush, and gently rock it back and forth in your crease and along the outer corners to blend.

If you want, you can also rim your lash or water lines with chocolate brown eyeliner, which I did for these pics. I also smudged a cooler taupe liner (Urban Decay’s Mushroom) on the bottom lash line ’cause I like the subtle contrast of tones.

Makeup worn in this look

Eyes: Nars Kalahari (lids), MAC Coffee (water line, upper lash line, smudged between lashes and layered beneath Kalahari), Urban Decay Mushroom (lower lash line smudged with the darker side of Kalahari), It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara (lashes)

Blush: MAC Glow Play Blush in No Shame

Lips: BECCA Lush Lip Colour Balm in Almond Fraise (on sale now!) topped with BECCA Glow Gloss in Snap Dragon

Base: Estee Lauder in Honey Bronze, Estee Lauder 24H Hydra Prep concealer, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Golden Tan

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How a Sharpie and 5 Seconds Can Completely Change Your Perspective on Your Makeup Collection

February 26th, 2020 by Karen 9 Comments

neutral palettes sharpie — It’s a whole new world.

A couple weekends ago, I reorganized the drawer where I keep all of my neutral eyeshadow palettes. (Honestly, would ya expect anything else from me? A neutral eyeshadow closet perhaps?)

In the process, I discovered something surprisingly simple but deliciously helpful. With a Sharpie, on the back of each palette, I wrote the year the palette entered my collection.

Doesn’t sound revolutionary, right? Well, what a difference five seconds and a Sharpie can make!

SHARPIE DATE: WHY I STARTED DOING THIS

Short of carbon dating, I have no idea how old a lot of the makeup in my collection is… Some things could be in the decades (I know!), because I’m usually not a stickler for adhering to suggested expiration dates and guidelines.

And since I like to ~~hoard makeup~~ collect makeup and keep it for posterity, I don’t always know what’s fairly new or ridiculously old.

While reorganizing my neutral palettes, I was having a darned-near impossible time discerning between what could realistically stay and what absolutely needed to go, but seeing the dates on the palettes — and realizing just how long I’ve been holding on to some of them — made it crystal clear.

BORROWED FROM THE BAKERY

This idea to write dates directly on my makeup with a Sharpie came from my part-time gig at the bakery.

When we store food, everything and anything that enters any of the storage areas — dry storage, the fridge, the freezer — always, always has an expiration date written on it with a Sharpie, if it doesn’t have an expiration date on it already.

Also, whenever food gets stored, the newest items go in the back, and the oldest ones go up front, which ensures that the older items get used first.

I borrowed these ideas and implemented them for makeup.

“EXPIRES ON THIS DATE”

Now, if you’re super strict with the expiration dates for beauty products, you could do a version of this where you write “Expires on this date” on back of your compacts, on the bottom of your lipstick tubes or foundation etc., and if you want to “next level” it, you could even use the dates to sort your makeup by putting the oldest items in front to make sure you use them up first.
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Essie Expressie Quick Dry Nail Polish in Crop Top and Roll, Before and After 7 Days

February 25th, 2020 by Karen 5 Comments

essie expressie crop top and roll — Essie Expressie Quick Dry Nail Polish in Crop Top and Roll, before and after seven days

The “after” photo reminds me of the enchantment bewitching the self-checkout monitors at Target! I swear, those cameras could even make Dolly look haggard (and she’s practically invincible, in my book).

So, since the Essie Expressie polishes are quick drying, I wasn’t expecting this to be a super long-lasting mani, but these two layers of Crop Top and Roll held up better than I thought they would. They held up nicely over Connor’s mid-winter break, part of which which I spent chasing butterflies and birds with her and swinging on the monkey bars at the playground.

The really noticeable chips didn’t appear until day four, mostly around the base and tips of my nails, especially on my right hand (I’m right-handed), and the shine from the built-in top coat dulled over the week, but overall the mani looked good through the end of the week.

I have to say, it’s pretty good for quick dry, although I’d advise against waiting a full week to swap it out. I think four days is the max, and that’s fine with me, since the longest I usually ever get to keep the same polish on my nails is three or four days.

I have a friend who swaps out her polish every three days, so if you’re like her and you don’t wanna bother with a base or top coat (they have ’em built in), give it a try! 😊

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Electric Eyes and Urban Decay Wired

February 25th, 2020 by Karen 11 Comments

urban decay wired bright eyes — B-A-N-A-N-A-S

*ring* *ring* ☎️

Hello? Is anyone there? Hellooooo. It’s me, Karen, calling on my fruit phone, because this eye makeup is BANANAS. 🍌🍌🍌

There’s a lot going on here, I know! Not my usual neutral style at all, but I was inspired by the rainbow eye makeup on the model for the new Wired pressed pigment palette. 🌈

Plus, I was in the mood to try something new, which I highly recommend doing as often as possible, even if your cat is the only creature around to appreciate it…

Or, maybe not, since I can’t tell if Rosie likes brights! 🐈

Just in case you’re wondering, the fallout on this isn’t an issue. I hardly had to do any cleanup with a makeup wipe, which was great, but I could have done with more intensity.
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