Skin Care

What It’s Like to Experience a Beauty Heroes Subscription Box?

October 4th, 2019 by Karen 3 Comments

beauty heroes 5 for 5 — Spa moment in three, two, one…

Clean luxury skincare finds — officially, that’s what you’ll get in a Beauty Heroes subscription box. Unofficially, you’ll get a very welcome mini spa session! At least, that’s been my experience with the products from their September 2019 box, all of which I’ve been slathering, patting and smoothing on my face every evening for the last two weeks while watching reruns of The Great British Baking Show on my couch… And, man! — my skin is glowing. Also (knock on wood), pimple-free, at the moment.

Dare I say it, with the exception of the past few days, because Connor hasn’t been sleeping well because she’s been fighting something, I’ve might even be a little more relaxed than usual?!

It must have something to do with these products. I swear, the September box was grand!
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Things I’ve Done Because of Acne

September 19th, 2019 by Karen 7 Comments

Because of acne I’ve…

Invested a small fortune in the magic that is Kate Somerville Anti-Bac Clearing Lotion (I will certifiably lose my sh*t if this is ever discontinued).
Gotten a cortisone shot in a massive pimple on my chin 24 hours before leaving for Toronto for the MAC Bloggers’ Obsession Collection collaboration.
Gone to bed with thick dots of stinky white benzoyl peroxide cream on my face.
Forgotten about said benzoyl peroxide dots and answered the front door, half asleep in all my dried white goo glory.
Changed the part in my hair in an attempt to strategically hide behind it like a curtain (although, let’s get real, I wasn’t fooling anybody).
Woke up in the middle of the night to go look in the mirror and contemplate whether to pop THOSE PIMPLES.
Popped a zit (or two or three) during the witching hour.
Interviewed every Sephora associate in the skin care section to find out the things that people with acne buy often (this is how I found AmorePacific Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder, which worked great for me when my chin acne was at its worst).
Felt like cattle in a dermatologist’s office. I can’t tell you how many times I felt like my concerns were dismissed by doctors.
Bought things I didn’t need because my pimples made me feel bad about myself. 😢
Had such an intense allergic reaction to prescription acne medication that my eyes became swollen shut.
Cancelled a date.
Endured emotional anguish caused by hurtful comments — but the worst ones weren’t from strangers; the worst ones were always from friends and family.
Bought ProActiv from a kiosk in the middle of the mall (I was a fan of the cream and toner for a while). The kiosk had a picture of Adam Levine on the side, and I came *this close* to taking out a pen and drawing a mustache on him a few times, ha ha!
Filled up an entire drawer with concealers and setting powders in order to find the holy grail combo of cover-up.
Experienced my self-esteem lowering.
Learned how to be more patient with myself.
Figured out creative workarounds to relieve the temptation to pop pimples (side note: bribing yourself totally works).
Never gone to sleep without taking off my makeup and washing my face.
Defaced bathroom stall walls with notes for other women, including the following: “You are so much more than what you see in the mirror.”
Become cautious about putting new skin care products all over my face… Patch tests all the way.
Learned to cherish the days/periods of life when my skin is clear.
Learned to have more empathy for myself and for others.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Fall for Fresh Skin and Shimmering Lids With the Latest From Wander Beauty

September 18th, 2019 by Karen 4 Comments

wander beauty wandress rush palette — Pretty, new products from Wander Beauty to get you going

Is it just me, or does autumn seem like the hottest new holiday season? — because it feels like the latest and greatest, most bustling time of year to me.

It’s almost like the powers that be know ALL. THE. THINGS on my to-do list right now, including…

Traipsing through piles of autumn leaves (no, seriously, Connor has preschool homework this week that involves gathering fallen leaves!)
Driving the coywolf to and from various toddler events, of which, surprisingly, there are many
Researching lighting fixtures for a half-bathroom remodel (who knew there were so many different types of lighting fixtures?)
Low-key freaking out about everything (which isn’t actually on my to-list, but it’s something I’m doing anyway)

Wander Beauty seems to *GET* this, because all of their new makeup and skin care launches for fall 2019 focus on getting you ready in a flash, so you can conquer the world! — or, at least conquer the bus ride to work or the morning school drop-off.

wander beauty wandress rus — Wander Beauty Products I’m wearing in this look: Wandress Rush Eye Palette on my lids, High Line Liquid Eyeliner on my lash lines, Frame Your Face Precise Brow Gel in Dark Brown in my brows, Trip for Two Blush and Bronzer Duo in Dauiri/Tulum on my cheeks, and the Lip Setter Duo in On the Mauve on my lips. The foundation is MAC Studio Fix Soft Matte Foundation Stick in NC42.

wander beauty wandress rush swatches — Wandress Rush Eyeshadow Palette, Frame Your Face Precise Brow Gel and High Line Liquid Eyeliner (I’m an NC42 in MAC)

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The Best Cleansing Oil Is 50% Off Tomorrow on Ulta.com

September 9th, 2019 by Karen 10 Comments

You, guys! Note to self: The best makeup removing cleansing oil — DHC Deep Cleansing Oil; I’ve been using it for years! — is on sale for 50% off tomorrow at Ulta.

I’M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

Ulta is in the midst of their “21 Days of Beauty” sale event, and it’s the only sale I set alerts for this month in Google Calendar.

I can’t even count how many DHC bottles I’ve gone through, and it’s an all-the-way-down-to-the-last-drop thing. Very rich, and very moisturizing, DHC Deep Cleansing Oil is designed for all skin types, but it’s a TREASURE for my dry skinned peeps.

The main ingredient is olive oil…

Yup, that’s right: olive oil. And it feels like a really expensive olive oil, too.

It also smells a little like olive oil, but I like it. (Don’t worry; your face won’t smell like salad dressing.)

This stuff gently, but very effectively, melts makeup — including waterproof mascara, long-wearing liner and liquid lipstick. Basically, if something is stuck to your face in any capacity and you massage Deep Cleansing Oil on it, whatever it is will slip away.

It does this without drying out my cheeks, making my chin break out, or clouding up my eyes (my pet peeve!). I use one pump, which I apply directly to my face while it’s dry, and then massage away. Then I rinse with water and followup with a second cleanser (usually a foam or a cream), because I’m all about that double cleanse life.

A big 6.7-oz. bottle of Deep Cleansing Oil, which comes with a pump and lasts me a few months, is usually $28, but with the half-off sale tomorrow you can snag one for just $14.

Unfortunately, this is an online-only sale, so you won’t be able to stroll into Ulta to pick it up… Maybe this is a good thing, though, because that way you won’t be tempted to grab anything else? Glass half full, people.

Ask Siri to remind you, write it on a Post-it, do what you need to do, ’cause tomorrow is the day!

My homies are at HomeGoods

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What Changes Do You Make to Your Skincare Routine in the Fall?

September 4th, 2019 by Karen 28 Comments

Oh, my gosh! I make so many changes. Creamier cleansers, richer moisturizers (dry skin 4-eva) and ‘ze intensification of exfoliation.

Fall is still officially a few weeks away, but unofficially for me it’s starting right meow…

I’m guessing that your opinion of fall partly depends on where you fall (ha ha) on the Pumpkin Spice/Halloween spectrum, am I right? You’re either delighted by the idea of cooler weather, cozy sweaters and crunchy autumn leaves crackling beneath your ankle boots, or you’re supremely bummed about it.

I’m somewhere in the middle…

At heart, I will always be a summertime baby, but as I get older (and grow more intolerant of being hot and sweaty), I’ve learned to love fall. And now I’m into it, man!

Here are the fall changes I’m making to my skincare routine…

Falling temps turn the normally dry areas on my cheeks even drier, so creamy cleansers become a must. I plan to pick up a tube of Kate Sommerville Goat Milk Cleanser to help with that this week.
I also need to add a rich moisturizer up in the mix. Hello, First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream!
And because I won’t be getting as much sun soon (and won’t have to worry as much about sun sensitivity), I’ll be upping my exfoliation game. To that end, I just started using Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, and I’m also thinking about doing a professional chemical peel. (Side note: I’ve never had one before. Have you?!)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen