Product Reviews

I’ve Found the Perfect Pale Blue Denim Nail Polish, and It’s Only $8

January 21st, 2021 by Karen 13 Comments

duri when in rome — When in Rome, a stunner of a shade by Duri. Tee: Nap Then Attack

I’ve hoarded/fan girl-ed pastel blue nail polishes ever since Hard Candy Sky burst on the nail scene in the 1990s.

I kid you not — my mind was BLOWN.

For you young’ns out there, this may come as an unfathomable surprise, but the world used to have limited nail polish color options. Yes, there was a time when you couldn’t easily find a bottle of blue polish because it wasn’t a thing yet.

Craziness, I know!

In my case, ever since that fateful bottle of Hard Candy Sky, I’ve been a bonafide creamy pastel blue hoarder. If you love ’em as much as I do, don’t sleep on When in Rome, a pale denim grayish blue by Duri.

A hidden gem 💎

Duri is a small, family run under-the-radar brand from New York, but you can find them at nail salons…for whenever we all start going back to them…as well the Duri website, Walmart and Amazon.

Duri carries a full range of nail products at reasonable prices, like When in Rome, which is just eight dollars!

What make it stand out in a sea of baby blues?

When in Rome has a slightly lavender-gray undertone, which gives it a moodiness uncommon to pastel blues, so it’s less like baby blue “It’s a Boy!” baby shower decorations, and more like an expensive pair of light wash denim blue skinny jeans.

Or, imagine the sky on a cool, crisp, clear winter day. That’s When In Rome. It’s moody yet hopeful…which sounds like me in a nutshell, HAHAHA! 😹

It’s completely opaque, by the way, so there isn’t any sheerness at all, and it’s durable too! I’m already five days in, and I’ve yet to see a chip or dent.

If you happen to find yourself perusing the Duri website, FYI, the pics for When in Rome look completely different than what I see in real life! I’ve triple-checked my bottle and also searched online, and When In Rome is definitely a pale blue everywhere else. Weird!

Still, I’m lovin’ the shade, and after weeks of naked fingertips, I’m excited to paint my paws again. 😊

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

This Matte Brown Classic Eye Makeup Goes With Everything

January 20th, 2021 by Karen 7 Comments

eyeshadow breakdown eye makeup goes with everything — This is an easy, everyday classic eye look.

If I were cruelly forced to select a tiny handful of eye makeup looks to wear for ~~the rest of my life~~ the rest of the winter, this matte brown look with brownish black eyeliner would definitely make the cut.

Not only is it relatively speedy to do (say 15-20 minutes start to finish), it’s also easy because it doesn’t heavily rely on intense blending.

A banging’ brew of browns

So, what makes it relatively easy? Answer: The two brown shades — the golden brown on my lids (MAC Cork) and the warmer orangey brown in my crease (MAC Saddle) — are similar tones, which makes blending them together easier.

In fact, if you’re REALLY pressed for time, you can even skip the warm brown in the crease, and just wear the golden brown eyeshadow all over your lids.

That said, I do like the warm brown in the crease because, especially when I’m wearing a little bronzer, a warm brown in the crease ties everything together nicely.

Always adjustable

Another added bonus to this look is that it really does work with everything — bold lipsticks, nude lipsticks, no lipstick at all (for when I’m masked up). It’s quite flexible.

eyeshadow breakdown eye makeup goes with everything bright lip — With a bold lip color, MAC Powder Kiss Liquid Lipcolour in Escandalo. Long Live Lipstick Tee in Red Hibiscus.

eyeshadow breakdown eye makeup goes with everything nude lip — I feel good in this makeup! Long Live Lipstick Tee in Driftwood.

Base notes

Oh, and about that eyeshadow base — in the pics above, I’m purposefully wearing a beige cream eye primer with a beige powder eyeshadow buffed on top, which are lighter than my skin tone. I do this because, when I want browns to show up on my brown skin, I have to go lighter with my base. That makes them pop. I recommend going with a base that’s similar to your skin tone.

Sometimes, though, I skip the beige base entirely and just do a swish of golden brown eyeshadow all over my lids, like in this pic below:

See how the brown shadow adds a touch of depth to my crease? But not as much as it does when there’s a beige base underneath? I think it still works, though.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Today is inauguration day here in the US. Congratulations and good luck to President Biden and Vice President Harris!

It’s a CeraVe Jamboree! CeraVe Healing Ointment Soothes Dry, Cracked Skin

January 14th, 2021 by Karen 6 Comments

This month I’m highlighting skin care products from CeraVe, a most-excellent drugstore brand. It’s a CeraVe jamboree! This week’s allstar is a bomb balm for soothing cracked, dry skin — CeraVe Healing Ointment.

When I put this on, my skin goes ahhhh!

If your skin ever gets so dry that it cracks and stings — which is what happens to me on the corners of my lips and around my nostrils on occasion — this balm is the product you never knew you needed.

(I just smothered a thick layer on my lips, and now all is right with the world…)

CeraVe Healing Ointment is a thick, non-greasy unscented balm made to soothe, moisturize and relieve chapped, chafed or cracked skin. It contains hyaluronic acid and CeraVe’s signature ceramides for hydration, along with petrolatum, an occlusive ingredient that locks in moisture.

You may have heard about petrolatum — which is regularly found in lotions and creams because of its ability to seal in moisture — as it’s been negatively viewed in some skin care circles, but according to some dermatologists, the bad rap is unwarranted. This post by Byrdie on petrolatum does a great job of breaking it down if you want to know more.

This particular product works for me, and my skin loves it, especially now that 1) it’s winter, and 2) I’ve been riding the retinol train every night. C’mon ride the train…the retinol train. WOO WOO!

Sorry, random ’90s dance flashback moment! (You know you love that song though.)

Benefits

Made to protect, soothe and moisturize skin

Suitable for dry, cracked and chafed skin

Fragrance-free and lanolin-free

Ceramides: Help restore and maintain skin’s natural barrier

Hyaluronic acid: Helps retain skin’s natural moisture

Non-comedogenic, preservative-free and dye-free

Accepted by the National Eczema Association

— cerave.com

I apply it on dry, cracked spots throughout the day whenever I need it, and all over different parts of my body as needed — lips, heels, on minor paper cuts (why do I get so many?), cuticles and all over my hands. The moment I rub it in, my skin physically feels better. The stinging stops, as does any itching or tightness. In a day or so, things are back to normal again.

Want more CeraVe?

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser Handles Dry Skin Like a Champ

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream for Your Body and Face: Highly Recommended for All My Alligator People!

LOVE THIS SO MUCH! I keep a mini tube in my little black backpack, a tube on my nightstand (I like to slather it on before bed) and a tube on my desk because that’s when I usually look down at my hands on the keyboard and realize — HOLY CRAP — that those paws need some moisture ASAP.

Yes, you can type right after you apply it because it really isn’t greasy at all!

A 3-oz. tube is $9.99, and you can find it at drugstores, Target and Ulta. By the way, Ulta still has buy one, get one for 40% off on their website, so if you like a deal, there ya go.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy National Dress Up Your Pet Day! Rosie wanted to wear her favorite calculator collar today.

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Urban Decay Stay Naked Threesome in Naked

January 12th, 2021 by Karen 9 Comments

urban decay stay naked threesome top — One of THE BEST things Urban Decay makes IMO, hands down!

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

I’m totally over pervy names for beauty products (Anyone else? I feel like it’s just lazy language!), but the Urban Decay Stay Naked Threesome is one of the best everyday products in the entire line, so I just shake my head, accept the perviness, and call it my favorite bronzer-blush-highlighting palette instead.

This trio of fab face powders comes in light, medium and dark options. I use the medium one called…wait for it…Naked.

UD often has a well-deserved rep for bold bling-bling products, but this palette is surprisingly subdued. It’s really a workhorse because it removes the guesswork from picking products for perfectly flushed cheeks.

Naked includes a warm medium golden bronzer (don’t worry, it’s not too orange) with a soft sheen finish, a warm golden beige highlighter with a pearly finish, and a matte warm pink blush.

urban decay stay naked threesome swatch — I’m an NC42 in MAC.

The delicate powders have a dainty, Chanel-esque quality when they’re on my cheeks, which I love (ya girl cannot do overly aggressive powdery powders now that ~~her pores have been ballooned due to age~~ she’s older/wiser 😜). All three are pigmented, too, yet I can still blend and smooth any edges with ease.

More to love…

The colors last all day.
Vegan
Sturdy, secure packaging with a big mirror (Side note: It does not include a brush, which I’m cool with because I end up using my own anyway.)
Works great with both warm and cool lip colors — particularly pinks, reds and corals.
Bronzer and highlighter can double as a eyeshadows in a pinch.

urban decay stay naked threesome — I’m wearing the bronzer, blush and highligheter.

BASE: First Aid Beauty Hyaluronic Hydrating Primer, It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare in Tan Warm 41, Kevyn Aucoin Supernatural Concealer in Medium EC06, Estee Lauder Hydra Prep 24HR Concealer in Medium Deep Warm, Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder in Translucent Honey

EYES: MAC Brun and Urban Decay Brow Beater in Neutral Brown (brows), NARS Tinted Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base in Light (eyeshadow base), MAC Brule (all over lid), MAC Cork (lower lash lines and lids), MAC Saddle (crease), Chanel Black Wood with a little MAC Brun smudged on top (liner) Urban Decay Cannonball with Bite Beauty Upswing (mascara)

LIPS: MAC Powder Kiss Liquid Lipstick in Crossfade mixed with Sorry Not Sorry

Oh, and if you’re feeling too lazy to do a separate blush, bronzer and highlighter, just swirl all three powders together with a large face brush, and blend a light layer over bare cheeks or your favorite tinted moisturizer. Magic, I tell ya!

Naked is totally worth the coveted space in your everyday makeup bag. It’s $36, and you can find it now in the Urban Decay permanent line.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

New Urban Decay Stay Naked Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator: Long-Lasting Hydration in a Skin-Like Base

January 8th, 2021 by Karen 4 Comments

urban decay hydromaniac — There’s a new base in town.

I was perusing the list of ingredients for Stay Naked Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator, Urban Decay’s latest foray into moisturizing foundations, and I started getting thirsty! It contains fermented black tea, also known as kombucha (which is such a great word, isn’t it?) and ginger extract (for skin brightening) — both which sound like the start of zesty afternoon drink that you’d pour over ice and squeeze a wedge of lemon into.

AHHH, delicious!

Urban Decay has a new hydrating, long-wearing base with a luminous finish called Stay Naked Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator. It has some pretty ingredients for brightening and moisturizing, like kombucha, marula and argan oil, and ginger extract. It comes in 12 shades that are $29 each (1.1 ounces), and you can grab it now on the Urban Decay website.

INGREDIENTS (INGRÉDIENTS): AQUA / WATER / EAU, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, DICAPRYLYL ETHER, GLYCERIN, TRIETHYLHEXANOIN, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, DEXTRIN MYRISTATE, HYDROGENATED STYRENE/METHYLSTYRENE/INDENE COPOLYMER, PEG-8, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, PHENOXYETHANOL, DISODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE, CHLORPHENESIN, ETHYL MENTHANE CARBOXAMIDE, SACCHAROMYCES/XYLINUM/BLACK TEA FERMENT, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, TOCOPHEROL, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, ARGANIA SPINOSA KERNEL OIL, SCLEROCARYA BIRREA SEED OIL, ZINGIBER OFFICINALE ROOT EXTRACT / GINGER ROOT EXTRACT, SODIUM CITRATE, CITRIC ACID, POTASSIUM SORBATE, BIOTIN. [+/- (MAY CONTAIN / PEUT CONTENIR): CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / IRON OXIDES]. (D250959/1)

Hydromaniac is Urban Decay’s latest foray into skin-like bases, and it’s designed as a medium-coverage product to even out skin tone and freckles ever-so-slightly, although it can be layered for full coverage). The lightweight liquid foundation moisturizes with marula and argan oils while leaving a luminous, natural-looking finish behind.

urban decay hydromaniac 50 — I’m wearing 50 underneath my eyes, on my cheeks and in the center of my forehead. The lipstick is Urban Decay Menace, and the blush/bronzer/highlighter is the Urban Decay Stay Naked Threesome palette in Naked.

The luminosity isn’t “blinged out” to the extreme, so you don’t get a high-shine pearl, a la Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter. This is more like the subtlest sheen. It’s comparable to medium-coverage tinted moisturizers like Skin Feels Good by Lancôme and Ultra Repair Tinted Moisturizer by First Aid Beauty. If you like either of those, you’ll probably dig Hydromaniac too… Well, that is, if you can find a shade that matches your skin.

I’m STILL a MAC NC42 after all these years, and I’ve ended up with 50 Medium Warm, which is a little bit too light for me to haphazardly blend all over my entire face, but I can wear it under my eyes, on my cheeks and down the center of my forehead, which is where I like the most coverage anyway. It has a minor highlighting effect on my face, too, which I like. I just have to really buff out the edges to prevent any obvious lines of demarcation where the product fades into my jawline and up into the the perimeter of my forehead.

A few more things of note…

Pore blurring: Hydromaniac has a minor blurring effect, which I think is lovely.
Long wearing: Urban Decay calls it a “24HR” formula, and to remove it, I do need to do a double cleanse with an oil-based cleanser first, followed by CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser afterward.
No SPF: Many similar lightweight foundations/tinted moisturizers contain SPF, but Hydromaniac does not.
Vegan formula: Yup, it’s vegan. 🐇

urban decay hydromaniac 50 swatch — Medium Warm 50

Bottom line, I like the interesting ingredients, and I appreciate that Urban Decay is offering something for people who prefer less coverage than full. My skin still looks like my skin, and I love how I don’t feel it sitting on top of my face. It’s very comfortable! I’d say that there’s also a good amount of moisture, but I wouldn’t rely on this as my one-and-only face moisturizer.

The only thing is…I sure do wish there were more shades. If you can find one that works for you, I say go for it!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!