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Celebrate Your Uniqueness With ALMAY at Walgreens | #AlmayTrueYou #sponsored

March 12th, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Walgreens. The opinions and text are all mine.

This post is sponsored by ALMAY at Walgreens, and I received product samples and compensation for my time and effort creating it. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are always my own. #ad #AlmayTrueYou @walgreens

I think one of the cooler things about getting older, among the less cool things like randomly waking up two hours before dawn and having achy knees before a storm, is how we keep getting to know ourselves better, and how we’re always discovering new sides to our personality.

I mean, deep down inside, I know who I am, and that core Karen stays pretty much the same. But, over time I find new things about myself that I never knew existed, like, it wasn’t until I met Tabs in my 30s that I realized I was a full-on crazy cat lady!

The idea of embracing the different sides of your personality, many of them as yet undiscovered, is at the center of the new #AlmayTrueYou campaign. It’s all about expressing your individuality through makeup that enhances your uniqueness, but doesn’t cover up the true you.

I’m sure you’re familiar with ALMAY, and you’ve seen them at Walgreens. The brand is famous for their hypoallergenic formulas and their more natural look, so even if you’re wearing makeup, you still look like you, and not like a completely different person.

Heads up, smart shoppers! As we speak, all ALMAY products are buy 2, get 1 free at Walgreens through March 24th, 2018.

It’s a look I’ve been into lately. It’s still me, but, like, zhuzhed up with extra flair. ???

ALMAY just launched a nifty new line of eyeshadow quads called the Almay Shadow Squad™. They’re only about $6.99 each, and each one comes with a matte, a glitter, a metallic and a satin finish square in the same shade. There are 15 shades in the line, ranging from everyday neutrals to trendy brights. So, there’s a lot to choose from.

I like them, especially because they are Opthamologist tested, don’t irritate my sensitive eyes or make them itch or tear up. I also like having all four soft, easy-to-blend finishes in one place. They’re surprisingly flexible. It’s easy to pick one up and do an entire look from start to finish…but I also like grabbing a few and custom blending to whip up unique finishes (which is so totally my style, and what I’m doing in the three #AlmayTrueYou looks below).

So, as has been well documented in the O.M.R. (Official Makeup Record), I’m a beauty addict, a mom, and a friend to the felines, but you may not know that I’m also…

1. A boss baker

At least I am in my head. 🙂 And I’m getting better all the time. I hope to be a super boss baker ?‍??? someday.

I love to bake, and I obsessively save recipes and pictures of cakes and cupcakes… I’m working toward the dream of baking a three-tiered wedding cake from scratch and piping that frosting to perfection. That day will come eventually, mark my words!

My boss baker look is inspired by dark chocolate cupcakes with hot pink sprinkles…

almay baker look 1 — Add one cup ALMAY and blend…

For these chocolaty eyelids, I used two different Shadow Squads — a cool brown 110 Cause a Stir and a neutral brown 230 Own It.

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Coming to San Francisco March 21 and Open to Everyone: I, Artist — The Makeup Show Forum

January 31st, 2018 by Karen 3 Comments

Calling all beauty ?? lovers and educational ? ? enthusiasts!

Have you ever been to a good convention or conference where you learned a ton of useful stuff? (Photoshop World ? in Las Vegas was one for me. Highly recommended if you’re into digital photography.) If you go buck wild for beauty, as I’m guessing you probably do (*ahem*, like moi), mark your calendar for March 21-23 because The Makeup Show, which takes place in different U.S. cities every year, is hosting a new three-day beauty pro/peep/lover (it’s open to everyone, but the tickets are pricey) educational program there called I, Artist — The Makeup Show Forum.

You could elevate your makeup artistry skills, learn about the beauty biz, and marketing, and photography. Also, of course, you could network, meet with others beauty lovers, and people who work in the biz.

Each day focuses on different topics, like the artistry side, photography or brand building, and the classes will be taught by beauty professionals.

(You can check out the full schedule with all the class descriptions here.)

Space is limited, so if you’re interested and will be out here in the Bay Area, you can buy tickets and get more deets on the website.

FYI, the tickets are pricey (the early-bird price for one day is $650!), but that also includes access to The Makeup Show Makeup Shop on March 24-25, where there are other workshops and a huge exhibit hall, and you can get discounts on beauty products from Make Up For Ever, NYX, Viseart and more.

I’ve heard so much about The Makeup Show over the years, and I’ve never been to one before, but this may be the year. It seems like it would be silly of me to not go on a year when it’s in the Bay Area.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Celebrate #WalgreensMascaraDay April 30th With BOGO 50% Off Any Revlon® Product to Complete a New Lash Look #lashlover #sponsored

April 26th, 2017 by Karen 7 Comments

Get a new lash look on #WalgreensMascaraDay April 30th at Walgreens

This post is sponsored by Revlon® at Walgreens, and I received product samples and compensation for my time and effort creating it. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are always my own. @Walgreens #WalgreensMascaraDay #sponsored

Raise your martini ? glass! Or your wine ? glass! Or your favorite cat lady ??☕ mug!!!

As you can tell, your beverage container doesn’t matter as long as you’ve got something to enthusiastically thrust upward when we say, “CHEERS!!!” on #WalgreensMascaraDay this Sunday, April 30th at Walgreens stores nationwide.

Get your lashes ready, because there will be a BOGO 50% off any Revlon® product to create a new lash look. If you’ve dreamed of having luscious lashes (um…who hasn’t dreamed of having luscious lashes?), tell Siri to set a reminder.

Revlon® mascaras do WORK. They have a whole slew of specialty formulas for lengthening, lifting, volumizing (is that a word?) and separating, so basically whatever lash look your heart desires.

You can ramp up your lash game with a tube like my affordable favorite Revlon Dramatic Definition™ Mascara, which does errrrrthing (gives a bold, clump-free look), but any makeup lover worth the salt around the rim of her margarita knows that it’s more fun to layer multiple mascaras together to cook up a mascara cocktail. I do it all the time, and Revlon® mascaras are purr-fect for it.

Your Quick-Start Guide to Revlon® Mascaras

Revlon Ultimate All-In-One™ Mascara (the tube with the red cap) — The mini, hollow core brush deposits this easy-to-layer formula for thicker, longer, lifted lashes. Available in non-waterproof and waterproof shades of Blackest Black, Black and Blackened Brown.

Revlon Ultra Volume™ Mascara (hot pink cap) — For massive, volumized lashes without clumps, comb the Lash Plumping triple grooved brush from lash roots to tips. Available in non-waterproof Blackest Black, Black and Blackened Brown, and waterproof Blackest Black.

Revlon Super Length™ Mascara (green cap) — This mascara’s all about lush length, and has a tapered tip to reach even the smallest inner and outer corner lashes. Available in non-waterproof Blackest Black, Black and Blackened Brown, and waterproof Blackest Black.

Revlon Volume + Length Magnified™ Mascara (blue cap) — For high shine and mega volume and length, coat your lashes with this black fiber formula. Available in non-waterproof Blackest Black, Black and Blackened Brown, and waterproof Blackest Black.

Revlon Dramatic Definition™ Mascara (purple cap) — A bold mascara for definition and separation that builds without clumping. Available in non-waterproof Blackest Black, Black and Blackened Brown, and waterproof Blackest Black.

On that note, it’s time for Mascara Mixology! ??– and here are three of my favorite Revlon® mascara “recipes” to wear with different eye makeup looks.

LASH LOOK #1: Faux False Lashes and Sexy Smoky Eyes

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ChapStick Total Hydration Makes Leisurely Trips to Target Even More Terrific #sponsored

April 12th, 2017 by Karen 14 Comments

This post is sponsored by ChapStick® Total Hydration, and I received product samples and compensation for my time and effort creating it. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are always my own. #ChapStick #sponsored

Girl, you know I go to Target every two seconds. There’s one about two minutes from my house.

Actually, it’s walking distance, now that I think about it…

Oh, my gosh! If I had to hoof it to Target for something, I could totally get there (MIND BLOWN).

Anyway, I’m there almost every other day. You know, good prices, perfect quantities (I don’t need 400 rolls of toilet paper at one time), and I can basically find all of life’s necessities as soon as I walk through those doors.

target karen front — Another day, another trip to Target! That’s ChapStick Total Hydration Moisture + Tint in Rose Petal on my lips, by the way

Story of my life: I walk into the store for one thing — a bag of cat treats, a new outfit for Connor Claire, scrunchies, a giant tub of peanut butter, coffee or a beauty products for myself — but I never get upset when a pint of pistachio ice cream or a couple of tubes of ChapStick also fall into my cart.

Hey…it happens.

ChapStick Total Hydration Moisture + Tint in Rose Petal

FYI, in case you weren’t aware, Target is like the Valhalla of ChapStick. They have practically every variety of ChapStick under the sun, including my faves, the Total Hydration Moisture + Tint ChapStick shades, which are the newest ChapStick products with a hint of color.

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How Well Has Curel Hydra Therapy Helped My Perpetually Parched Skin? #EndDrySkin #sponsored

March 28th, 2017 by Karen 9 Comments

curel hydra therapy post 2 — Super obsessed with Curel Hydra Therapy!

This post is sponsored by Curel. As a participant in the #EndDrySkin campaign, I received product samples and compensation for my time and effort. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are always my own. curel.com #sponsored

So remember when I talked about going to Redding and how the dry air up there always wreaks havoc on my skin? And I talked about Curel Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer?

I’ve been using it religiously now for a few weeks, and dang if it isn’t a minor miracle. I use it every night in the shower — actually, while I’m still in the shower — and the way it works, how you don’t have to rinse it off or wait for it to dry, never gets old. I put it on while my skin is still wet after I turn off the water, then pat dry and hop out.

Call me easily amused (hello, easily amused!), 🙂 but this stuff is revolutionizing the way I moisturize.

curel hydra therapy — Step 1: Pump a little into your palm…

Curel Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer has a proprietary water-activated Advanced Ceramide Complex that dives deep into your skin to moisturize and repair its moisture barrier. Just apply it to wet skin after you finish showering, then pat dry with a towel, and for best results, use it daily. It’s unscented and doesn’t feel greasy. Plus, it’s fun to use and incredibly moisturizing.

Seriously, what dry skin? My skin is so much smoother and softer since I started using it regularly. The scary, scaly bits that had been bugging me on my arms and legs, especially when I went to the gym, are gone. I don’t even think the dry air up in Redding would give this grief.