Random unsolicited beauty advice for the day: ALWAYS REMEMBER TO PACK YOUR TWEEZERS.
You’re going to laugh at me… We’re staying in Sonoma for a few days while our house is being worked on (and by “we,” I mean all of us, including Rosie the Cat!). Of course, me being me, I did some last-minute “panic packing,” which means throwing everything I could grab into my luggage, including all of the stuff I like to have around but probably won’t use because all I’ve been wearing lately is sunscreen — random neutral palettes I haven’t worn in years, foundation, liquid lipsticks, etc.
Anywho, the first night we get here, I’m lying down in bed trying to fall asleep, when I touch my chin and realize that 1) there’s a stiff, stubby renegade hair; and 2) I didn’t pack any tweezers.
NOOOOOO!
I went to Target the next day to find a pair, and, incidentally, the beauty section had a shocking number of hair removal tools, ranging from pricy (Tweezerman, which are BOMB) to mid-range (Japonesque) to super-duper budget-friendly (Trim).
I’m usually a Tweezerman girl, but I couldn’t resist the Japonesque ones because they look like mini works of art! I ended up with these $6 point tweezers, which swiftly remedied my stubble situation.
Not exactly tweezer related, but does anyone else find this Trim Blemish Removing Tool terrifying…? It looks like something that belongs on a dentist’s exam tray!
If you use this tool and love it, please fill me in on how to use it.
While I was there, I also looked around, of course (it seemed like the right thing to do), and I was pleasantly surprised by all of the new brands I’d never seen before.
This brand called Billion Dollar Beauty looks really cool. They sell an empty palette and individual makeup pans, so you build your own palette from scratch! Everything is pretty affordable, too.
Aren’t the colors pretty? I love the wide range of useful neutrals. I’m saving my lunch money to build my own palette (or palettes?) ASAP.
Oh, please excuse the sad state of my nails. I didn’t have the chance to remove the tow-up remainder of a recent Chanel New Dawn manicure, and that’s probably why I ended up up grabbing these polish removing pads…
I also got a grayish-green shade called KMC, along with a top coat from a new-to-me brand called Olive & June. ?
I saw my favorite Honest Beauty palette right across from the Olive & June display, by the way! If you haven’t tried it yet, you better get on it ASAP. I actually wore it last night out to dinner (, along with my Bliss Block Star Tinted Sunscreen), and I still love it.
Isn’t the Jason Wu packaging gorgeous?
See anything you like? I’m most excited about the Billion Dollar Beauty and Olive & June lines.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Mylinda says
I have found myself in need of tweezers/nail file/cuticle nipper so many times that I now leave a full-on nail kit and mini brow grooming kit in my car with the first aid kit. So now when we go on vacay or mini trips, I always know, that stray hair emergency and “mommy this thing is sticking out of my nail/finger” emergency can be addressed right along with little booboos even when we are still in the car. Also, the car is a great place to clean up stray brows because when the lighting is good, you can see all the hairs hahaha. I might need to buy a 3 pack of reading glasses from Costco though so I can add one to my kit…
Karen says
THAT IS GENIUS!!!!
I’m going to start doing this, ASAP.
Thanks, Mylinda!
kimkats says
I used to be a tweezerman fan but these el Cheapo Revlons kicked my tweezermans to the curb! https://www.target.com/p/revlon-expert-tweezer-slant-tip-1ct/-/A-77640587#lnk=sametab
They’re about $6 and work better than the tweezerman’s ever did!!
I so did not need to see those billion dollar beauty palettes… Especially since I already have a Target trip planned for after work! 😀 Welp, better fire up the ol’ MasterCard.. it may just melt by the time I get outta Target! 😀
Karen says
Ooh thanks for the recommendation! You know I love a bargain!
Let me know if/what you end up getting from your Target run. Happy shopping. 🙂
Anisah says
The pointy tool is a blackhead remover
Put the curved side around the blackhead and then squeeze in
The pointy end can be used to pierce a spot before you squeeze
Savannah says
Oh, that green polish is gorgeous. I don’t have anything like that in my collection. It’s very perfect for spring.
Karen says
I’m still wearing my tragic mani and hope to paint sometime in the next day or so! I’ll snap a shot of it.
Christine says
I am overwhelmed just by looking at the pictures at how MUCH there is of … EVERYTHING. I immediately gravitated to the Japonesque products because it was the only familiar thing out of the bunch (besides Tweezerman). I wish Japonesque still made good brushes. The best ones in my old kit are Japonesque.
I hope you figured out what that crazy looking face hook is for and that you tweezed the thing on your chin to your satisfaction. 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your Sonoman sojourn!
Karen says
I defuzzed my chin and my brows and I have to say the Japonesque tweezers are great for the price.
I think (?) the hook is to squeeze the sides of pimples? I can’t fathom using the hook to actually pierce the skin!
kellly says
Wow, the Targets by me don’t have Jason Wu and I don’t remember seeing that Beauty Box stuff other than the brow stuff yet. I wish we had Jason Wu. I’d be all over that!
Karen says
Yeah, I’m going to go back to grab a few things when I’m not so harried! I need to take my time and read every box, LOL!
Suzanne C says
I haven’t tried the Olive & June polish yet, but I have a bottle of peach polish and the ‘Poppy’ waiting on my dresser. I’m feeling good about it.
I still love that Honest Beauty eyeshadow palette. It’s one of the best things you’ve recommended to us and that’s saying a lot. Now I’m excited about those Billion Dollar Beauty palettes, too. Putting an entire face’s worth in one palette, including brows? Yes, please!
Karen says
I’m feeling good about Olive & June too. I have a friend who works in beauty PR for a big skincare brand and she looooves them. I can’t wait to try!
Also, I’m so glad you love the Honest Beauty palette as much as I do. I’m wearing it again today, as a matter of fact.
So I’ve already decided that if I’m going to do Billion Dollar Beauty, I’ll have to have two palettes — one for powders and one for creams. LOL
Noemi says
Love Jason Wu’s perfume. He is Canadian designer.
He must not like Canada because you can not find his line in Canada at all.
Too bad they have stopped carrying his perfume also.
Leah says
I love Olive and June! I have their mani and pedi kits. Was Billion Dollar Beauty called Billion Dollar Brows before? I’ll have to try that Honest Beauty palette.
Lauren says
I’ve only tried one of the Olive & June polishes, CV, which is now my favorite red! I tried the topcoat too and the combo lasted really well. That green shade looks really pretty too.
Anne says
I like the idea of a fully customizable pallette. I do that with a magnetic one and my MAC singles, but it would be lovely to have even more opportunities.
Tatiana says
That Trim Blemish Remover looks scary as heck! I wouldn’t let that thing anywhere near my face.
I’m tempted by the elegant packaging of the Jason Wu line. Lol. But since I don’t really need anything right now, it will have to wait.
That is one well stocked Target. The two stores near me are almost always picked over and really messy. Just not my favorite store to shop at in person. But I do need new entry way rugs, so it’s time for a shopping trip.
Hope the work on your house goes well. What are you having done?
Erica says
I wish Jason Wu didn’t look like cheaper HUDA . Of all the brands to copy ?♀️ I tried the Billion Dollar Beauty . The palette is a pain to open. The quality of the eyeshadow is so so. If you have teen just getting into makeup, it may be a good gift. But for a makeup lover, there is better makeup out there so don’t bother!
Sharon says
The faux freckles! I love that!!!