Urban Decay

A Friday Face of the Day and a Fun Blush Layering Trick to Try

December 9th, 2022 by Karen 2 Comments

You know it’s going to be a great Friday when you’re having a good makeup day!

The hair is another story, LOL! I swear it doesn’t look this wild in real life.

A blush layering trick to try

If you’ve got a cream blush you like around, you’ve got to try this technique I’ve been doing lately for the most natural looking cheeks.

After you do your base, blend a cream blush on your cheeks, and then pat your favorite powder on top to set.

Your blush will peek through the powder for a hint of flush, and the overall look is so natural!

I’ve been doing this all week with Urban Decay Hydromaniac for the base, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Blush in Coastline for the blush and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural for the powder, and I love how it looks both in real life and in pictures.

Key products worn in this look

Honest Beauty Eyeshadow Palette – It’s a workhorse! You could easily do almost an entire eye look (brows, liner, shadow) with this palette.
Urban Decay HydroManiac Tinted Glow Hydrator – Feels lightweight and has medium coverage.
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Blush in Coastline – Super concentrated color. You only need a few drops!
MAC Powder Kiss Liquid Lipstick in Model Off Duty – I’m so bummed this shade isn’t available anymore. You could try the shade More the Mehr-ier in the Powder Kiss line for a similar vibe.

I hope you’ve had a wonderful week and that something good happened to you. Yesterday I was feeling really tired and exhausted, so I actually listened to my body (!) and let myself rest. It’s amazing how much good a little quiet time will do for ya. I highly recommend it!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Layered Eye Looks: Forest Green Liner with Champagne Eyeshadow

December 6th, 2022 by Karen 16 Comments

I jokingly texted a friend to tell her that I finally put on a full face of makeup because I no longer wanted to look like I just crawled out of a pit of doom! LOL. And even though I’m 100% comfortable now rollin’ around town bare faced with just sunscreen, there’s still something really nice about going to the grocery store to buy cara cara oranges and have the checker call me “miss” instead of “ma’am.”

I’ve been inspired by simple, layered eye makeup lately. In this one, I layered a glittery champagne cream shadow (Hourglass Ray) on top of a shimmery forest green liner (Urban Decay Mildew). It’s easy, peasy, lemon squeeze-y, and I feel like I get a lot of look for very little effort.

What I also really like about this look is how the glitter isn’t too flashy. It sparkles in the light, but it’s not, like, too much for a weekday midday run to Tar-ghay.

Key products worn in this look

Here’s what I used for eyes, cheeks and lips. If you want to know more about the base or brows, let me know in the comments. 🙂

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil Liner in Mildew – A shimmery forest green liner that stays put!
Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow in Ray – A deep champagne glitter eyeshadow with subtle flecks. Gorgeous!
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Blush in Coastline – A toasty warm brown cream blush that could double as a bronzer. A little goes a long way.
MAC Lipstick in Half ‘n’ Half – A workhorse neutral lipstick that goes with everything.

Officially a dance mom!

Connor joined the junior dance team at her studio this year, and last weekend was her first official performance. I think she was more excited to wear the clip-on earrings, LOL!

I’ve had my ears pierced since the day I was born; no really, back in the day in the Philippines, you could get your baby’s ears pierced at the hospital!

Anywho, all this to say we found out that clip-on earrings are a whole different beast. Connor was so looking forward to wearing them, but when she tried them on for the first time, one of the earrings was too tight and hurt her little ear.

I did a little googling and found a trick to loosening them. All you have to do is move the part of the clip-on that looks like a “U” around. You need widen it to relieve the pressure on your ears! It really helps. Just goes to show you, you learn something new every day.

Have a peaceful and joyful Tuesday.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Air Dry Adventures!

May 25th, 2022 by Karen 7 Comments

There’s something so inspiring about a fresh chop! Now that my hair is shorter and has more shape, I’m excited to do stuff to it again. (It’s been a while!)

On that note, I’m trying some new things. I’m on a quest to find products that help my mane look presentable after air drying.

R+Co Sun Catcher Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner: A leave-in conditioner that adds mega moisture without weighing strands down. You can use it on wet and dry hair! I’m on a mission to boost volume, which is why I wanted to try it.
R+Co Zig Zag Root Teasing + Texture Spray: A lightly tinted texturizing spray that lifts roots. You can also use it on the mid-shaft and ends for lift, shape and hold.
R+Co Sail Soft Wave Spray: A lightweight spray that encourages soft, natural looking waves. You spray it on wet hair before air drying or using heat tools!
dpHue ACV Daily Scalp Serum: An oil-free serum that’s supposed to balance and hydrate the scalp while also encouraging hair growth.
Urban Decay Naked Half Baked Palette: A travel palette of powder shadows inspired by the iconic shade Half Baked. I know this isn’t hair related, but I’m wearing it today so I figured it deserved a shout out, too!

Building those happiness muscles, day 10

Welcome to hump day, friend. How is it Wednesday already?

OK, so the two things that I’m grateful for today:

Watching my daughter dance. She’s been rond de jambe-ing since she was in my tummy! It’s so fun to watch her grow as she dances.
Hair claw clips. Seriously, so great when it’s hot outside!

What are you grateful for today?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

3 Mostly Beauty Related Things: New Launches from Urban Decay and Laura Mercier

March 29th, 2022 by Karen 11 Comments

Hi, friend. If you need me, you’ll find me surgically attached to my Bose noise cancelling headphones. It’s the only thing saving me right now from a meltdown. Side note: the construction is still happening at my house.

Anywho, three quick things…

1. Urban Decay’s new All Nighter with vitamin C

Their cult-classic makeup setting spray is getting a skin care upgrade. UD added vitamin C, cactus flower water, a subtle lemon scent and bright packaging.

It’s currently not on the UD website, but expect it to be online soon, for about $33.

2. Laura Mercier’s latest Tinted Moisturizer

Speaking of reinvented classics, Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer now comes in a dewy finish. A soft pearl in the new Tinted Moisturizer Light Revealer imparts a subtle sheen.

It has SPF 25 and is available in 14 shades. A 1.7-ounce tube is $48.

3. Sawyer 20% Insect Repellent Spray

With the contractors going in and out of the house, our windows and doors stay open all day long. Unfortunately there are a ton of mosquitos in Novato right now, and if it wasn’t for this bug spray, I would be devoured by all the insects within striking distance.

It doesn’t have an obnoxious scent, and a little goes a long way. A 3-ounce bottle is $8.50.

How are things on your end? Quiet, I hope!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Four Steps to Fabulous Fall Matte Lips

August 11th, 2021 by Karen 11 Comments

laura mercier fresh — Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Lipstick in Fresh

Gah! I’m so excited about 1) sweater weather (anyone else totally over the heat?), and I can’t wait for all of the full-on pigmented matte lip colors for fall! I’m already building my army of berries, reds and roses…

If you’re all about rich, autumnal lips like I am, here are four application tips to help you get fabulous matte fall lips that look great all day long.

1. Step one: Get prepped

Prep your lips by applying your favorite moisturizing balm to remove any dryness. (I’m a fan of CeraVe Healing Ointment, myself.)

2. Step two: Soften those edges

With a finger, press a thin amount of your favorite liquid concealer all along the edges of your lips until your lip line kinda disappears into your skin. Then, wait a minute for the concealer to dry. Right now I’m loving Hourglass Veil Retouching Concealer (it’s what I’m wearing in these pics), but any good pigmented liquid concealer should do.

3. Step three: Set it and forget it

Load a tapered eye brush with a translucent setting powder, and lightly dust a layer on top of the concealer to set it.

4. Step four: Just add color

Apply your rich fall lip color either directly from the tube, or using a brush. Then, step back and admire your beautiful lips! 😊

laura mercier femme — Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Lipstick in Femme

urban decay the big one — Urban Decay Matte Lipstick in The Big One

I wasn’t the only one inspired to wear something colorful today! This is Connor’s peacock-inspired look.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

FOTD Candy Colored Bright Blue With Urban Decay Chaos

July 15th, 2021 by Karen 6 Comments

Rosie-Pose would like to inform you that she is queen of everything within paw-striking distance, including board games.

That board game above is Candy Land, and, FYI, the artwork in the latest version is…slightly terrifying. (Or is it just me?)

Speaking of candy, the electric blue on my lower lash and waterlines totally reminds me of sweets from my youth. It’s Urban Decay Chaos 24/7 Shadow Stick in Chaos, a vibrant matte blue with a touch of pearl. The formula’s long-wearing and waterproof, and it sets really quickly. You have less than 30 seconds to blend it out, so blend with a purpose, girl!

I tried it by itself first, and it looked good, but then I got curious, so I added a layer of shimmery blue and purple from Born to Run, my favorite colorful UD eyeshadow palette of all time. I love the rich jewel tones, and every one of the bold, intense shades is still surprisingly wearable. The mattes and shimmers are easy to blend, too. Whenever I’m in the mood for brights, I reach for this palette, and I love it so much that I have a backup. 😁

Now, I’ve worn a LOT of UD over the years, and Born to Run is truly a standout for me, which is why I’m bummed that it appears to have been discontinued. It’s not easy to find anymore; however, I did some digging and found a few online at JC Penney (remember JC Penney!).

urban decay born to run — Urban Decay Born to Run

If you’re ever looking for discontinued UD products, periodically search the sale section on the Urban Decay website. A friend who works in PR for UD suggested this tip, and it’s turned up gold! I found the sadly discontinued Cannonball Mascara there, and I got three tubes! It’s something to keep in mind if you love a particular UD product that’s no longer stocked on shelves.

Anyway, candy. My childhood next door neighbor Karrie and I would ride our bikes to the corner store to buy candies that would probably break my teeth now if I ate them, ha ha ha! Lemon Heads, Boston Baked Beans, and these little hard blue jawbreaker-like candies whose name I can’t recall… I want to call them “blueberry somethings,” but I can’t remember.

We also loved Nerds and the powder dips where you’d get a sugary stick to dip into even more sugar. 😁 We’d gorge on candy right in front of the store, then take our sugar high onto our bikes and ride around the neighborhood for hours.

By the way, about this look I’m wearing, the upper lid has a swish of black liner via Chanel Hyperblack, which I’ve been extra loving lately. It’s similar to MAC Blacktrack but so much better because it’s darker and more intense (so less layering), and it sticks like glue to lash and waterlines. SO GOOD!

Also, the only base products on my skin are tinted moisturizer and concealer, as I’ve been into very minimal skin lately. And lightweight, dewy medium-coverage Aveeno Tinted Sunscreen has been on repeat.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. In TV news, has anyone seen The White Lotus yet on HBO? I watched the first episode the other night and…I’m just…confused. Is it good? Junk? Strange? I just can’t figure it out. I like so many of the actors in it (like Connie Britton rocks), but it’s not what I expected.

Purple Lids With the UD Prince Let’s Go Crazy Palette | Twist by Ouidad, a New Curly Hair Line at Target | Nail Salon Shenanigans

May 27th, 2021 by Karen 15 Comments

I wonder if somewhere doves are crying because they really wanted to love the purple palette from the new UD Prince collection but instead were disappointed by it. ?️?

Speaking of birds…on a completely unrelated note, I was harassed by a goose while we were camping last weekend! Please note the sandals with the socks, ha ha ha!

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Anyway, hi. ? I took the Let’s Go Crazy palette out for a spin yesterday hoping that it would impress me on some level, but I’m still not crazy about it. If you’re going to do a palette from this launch, pick up the one with the black packaging instead (U Got The Look). It’s so much better on every level.

I used three shades from the purple palette — light pink Alphabet Street and two of the purples, Baby I’m a Star and Delirious — and it took a long time to build up the purple on my lids. There was some serious fallout, too… Oh, OK, well I just lifted the palette up to look at it, and half of the pan of Disco Nights (the really soft blue glitter) fell out and into my lap.

Hmm… OFFICIALLY, NOT MY FAVORITE.

*insert doves crying*

There are some other items of note, though, that I wanna call out. Like, I’m wearing the liquid luminizer and the pressed powder as my base… Yup, that’s it. The luminizer has a very soft pearl that doesn’t draw attention to pores, so it just adds a lovely subtle glow, especially when worn all over the face. I added a tiny touch of the powder in the center of my forehead to dial down the pearl a bit, and the overall effect is really natural and beautiful.

Oh! — I’m also wearing the black pencil liner on my waterline and upper lash line, and, FYI, this formula moves around quite a lot, at least on me, and ends up smudging pretty intensely on my lower lash line. I’m constantly cleaning it up, but hey, if you’re into the whole grungy rockstar thing, this pencil definitely sets you up for success in the smudging department.

If you noticed that my hair looks a little different today, then THANK YA KINDLY! I’m wearing it wavy today because I’m trying out a new curly hair line called Twist by Ouidad. It’s available at Target, and every item in the line is an affordable $9.99 (MSRP). The products are made for all types of textured hair — wavy, curly, coiled, you name it — and their main purpose is to give curly haired guys and gals a customized level of moisture. The idea is to maximize your type of curl pattern with the exact level moisture your hair needs.

Now, I have naturally wavy hair, and it’s very, very, VERY thirsty, probably even thirstier now that I’ve grown out my grays, so getting enough hydration all up in my strands is a constant struggle. To find out what products would work best for me, I took their handy-dandy hair quiz. Three items that were recommended were Big, Rich & Dreamy Ultra Hydrating Co-Wash, Hype It Up Weightless Refreshing Spray and Rally The Curls Weightless Curl-Defining Primer.

I used the co-wash the other night and loved it. My hair felt clean but didn’t feel stripped. Definitely going to keep this one in the rotation! When I got out of the shower, I worked in the spray and the primer from roots to ends, then gave my curls a good scrunch before air drying overnight. In the morning, I refreshed the curls with more spray and scrunched again.

The good: I really like the volume and that my curls feel soft and not crunchy. I also like the light definition of my waves.

The not-so-great: I don’t know yet if I like the scent… The products are intensely scented, LIKE, SO, SO STRONG. I mean, the scent is nice, like an expensive Byredo pefume, but it’s all up in my business and everybody else’s business, too. Yesterday morning at dropoff I was standing a few feet away from Connor’s preschool teacher, and the first thing she said to me was, “You smell really good! What perfume are you wearing?”

Nope, not perfume. ‘Twas my mane!

So, yeah, if you see this line at Target, you might want to slyly open a bottle and give it a sniff to make sure you like the scent. Oh, and don’t even pretend you don’t ever open up the shampoo and conditioner bottles to smell them when you’re browsing, either. ? I always catch people doing it, and then I give them the “What’s up” nod because I do it all the time. HA HA HA!

One last thing: I saw this on a friend’s feed last night and just about died laughing. I do my own nails, but I would totally go to this salon!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The UD Prince Collection Swatches, First Impressions and a Face of the Day

May 26th, 2021 by Karen 15 Comments

ud prince u got the look palette fotd — I wonder what The Purple One would think…

The closest I ever got to Prince — I mean, beyond this new Urban Decay collection — is the selfie I took with the lead singer of a Prince cover band during a raging New Year’s Eve party, and the following “six degrees of Kevin Bacon” moment…

See, I met a driver who chauffeured The Purple One around the Bay Area years back, and they both breathed the same air! Anywho, the driver took Prince to a bunch of secret shows where he played under a pseudonym, and, according to the driver, Prince was kind of a weird dude, which I’m inclined to believe. There just had to be a certain degree of crazy to his genius, ya know?

I wonder if Prince would have dug having his own makeup collection with Urban Decay… I can imagine him being either mildly irritated but secretly thrilled about it, or just being hella cranky about the whole thing.

The new seven-piece UD Prince LE collection drops on May 27, and there are eyeshadow palettes (side note: are we tired of eyeshadow palettes yet?), two eye pencils, a brush, a toasty tan liquid highlighter and a waterproof pressed powder. There is also, of course, lots and lots of purple.

ud prince u got the look lets go crazy eyeshadow palette — From the top: U Got the Look Eyeshadow Palette ($55), Kajal Eye Pencil in So Dark ($28), Let’s Go Crazy Eyeshadow Plaette ($55) and Kajal Eye Pencil in When Doves Cry ($28)

Let’s start with the purple-est of them all, the Let’s Go Crazy Palette ($55), because how could one have a Prince-themed makeup collection without featuring his signature color? Granted, most of the purple shadows in this palette look very much alike on my skin, so I’m having a hard time “going crazy” (ha-ha-ha) over them.

By the way, there’s a shadow in this palette named after one of my all-time favorite Prince jams, Raspberry Beret. The color is more of a reddish bronze than the bright and juicy raspberry I was hoping for, but I’ll take it, since it’s the most exciting thing in the palette IMO.

The other surprise is the glittery dark blue on the lower right called Disco Nights. It’s unusually soft… I accidentally made a significant dent in it with my finger while swatching, whoops! So be gentle with it. All of the other pans feel like standard-issue Urban Decay and are soft and pliable.

About the palette, my initial reaction was…eh, it’s OK. I think I was hoping for punchier jewel-toned purples that’d be visible from a mile away.

ud prince liquid highlighter all nighter powder — Clockwise from the upper left: Liquid Highlighter ($32), Multitasker Brush ($28), All Nighter Waterproof Setting Powder ($34)

The palette I’m more into is the one with the black cover, U Got the Look ($55), because, WHOA, PIGMENT! Yes, UD is known for their intense color, but the shadows in this palette seem more intense than usual…almost like stage makeup! I can actually picture The Purple One being really into it.

Perhaps before one of his secret shows, he’d sketch out a dark plummy wing before buffing some golden shimmer on the inner corner, then top it off with a messy smudge of black on his lower lash line, but I digress… I’m wearing this palette today, and I’m a little shocked by how wearable it is. I cannot WAIT to push it further.

ur prince eyeshadow palettes — U Got the Look and Let’s Go Crazy Eyeshadow Palettes, $55 each

If you’re a MAC Strobe Cream girl, then the Liquid Highlighter ($32) might be worth a closer look. It’s a toasty tan with a subtle pearly finish, and I mixed it into my liquid foundation for these pics. I’m wearing Clinique Even Better Clinical in Toasted Wheat, and together they added a soft glow to my skin. I like it!

I topped it off with the All Nighter Waterproof Setting Powder ($34), which also surprised me in a good way because it’s so tan. If you’re an NC42 or up, I think you could totally rock it, no problem. Might be a little dark, though, if you’re on the lighter end of the spectrum.

Last, but not least, the pencils… They’re soft and smudgy, and I like the black one because it grabs my waterlines and smokes out quite nicely on my lower lash line.