This is what “fancy dress” is for me these days: a semi-wrinkled striped sweater, pants with paint spots on them (I wore them to paint Connor’s room a few months ago, and dagnabbit if they aren’t my most comfortable jeans I own!), and my “good” pair of Nike Winflos.
Oh, and a little makeup of course! 😁
Targeted coverage
To chase PGR around the house and the Coywolf around the block yesterday, I wore bronze and plum on my eyes and cheeks with a sheer coral lip. And I paired it with what I like to call “a semi-sheer base,” which is all-over barely-there coverage with a tinted moisturizer, as well as a few targeted areas with slightly more opaque coverage. I did this by blending a sheer layer of stick foundation on my cheeks and around my mouth, and then buffing a tiny amount of liquid concealer underneath my eyes.
I didn’t set it with a powder because I wanted my skin to look as skin-like as possible, but you totally could… Just be sure to not go too heavy with it if you want to maintain the skin-like effect.
I really like this type of targeted coverage, especially how it looks in outdoor light, which can be notoriously unforgiving. Highly recommended. Try it on your next picnic.
Unearthed MAC gems
In other news…I’m weeding my way through my makeup collection right now, and I keep unearthing old gems. I wore two of my recent finds yesterday — Cheeky Bronze Mineralize Skinfinish and MAC Liquidlast Liner in Coco Bar.
Cheeky Bronze is a soft, shimmery golden coral face powder. Technically, it’s a highlighter, but you can also use it all over your cheeks as an all-in-one bronzer/blush/highlighter, which is what I have on my cheeks in these pics.
If you’re feeling creative, you can also use it as an eyeshadow. I wet a MAC 217 brush, flicked it across the pan a few times to load it up, then buffed it onto the inner part of my lids to go with the bronzed plum shadow I was wearing on the outer half (MAC Sable, in case you’re curious).
Coco Bar is a dark neutral brown MAC Liquidlast liner, and it will not move for nothing! It’s like a liquid version of MAC Coffee pencil liner, which is why I love it. I drew a line directly along my upper and lower lash lines, then smudged the edge with a flat eyeshadow brush. If you’re looking for a soft, diffused chocolate liner that stays put, you gotta give it a go, ASAP.
Makeup worn in this look
Base: MAC Peachlite Strobe Cream (to prep skin), First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Tinted Moisturizer in Tan (all over face), MAC Studio Fix Soft Matte Foundation in NC42 (cheeks, around base of nostrils and mouth), Estée Lauder 24H Concealer in Medium Warm
Eyes: MAC Teddy eyeliner (buffed all over lids as an eyeshadow base, then applied as liner on waterlines), MAC Sable eyeshadow (outer half of lids), MAC Cheeky Bronze (inner half, applied wet), MAC Hush (inner corner), MAC Liquidlast in Coco Bar (smudged along upper and lower lash lines), Laura Mercier Caviar Volume Mascara
Cheeks: MAC Cheeky Bronze
Lips: MAC Ravishing Lipglass (a sheer coral that appears to be, sadly, discontinued. BOO!)
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Jennifer Emmett says
April 14th, 2020 at 8:46 amDigging the plummy bronze. Color but totally wearable. Geez girl you always look like a model!
Karen says
April 14th, 2020 at 1:04 pmGirl it’s the hair! Just whip it around and that’s all you really have to do. LOL!
I hope you’re having a nice morning so far.
P.S. Are the gyms closed around your way? Mine has been now for a while. I’ve been working out at home… Not the same, but I try to make it work!
L says
April 14th, 2020 at 12:03 pmAs usual, the beautiful finished canvas with which you worked your wonders so skillfully!
I love me some Nikes, too. Have about 13 or so pairs, mostly VaporMax Flyknits, to go with my outfits. And it’s the usual “like walking on clouds” feeling; brings me comfort these days.
My trick for a mask to go out for groceries yesterday was a sock and two Goody clips to attach to my wind hat; not a pretty sight, but met the mandated requirement.
Hopefully, we’ll soon see a positive sign, but doubt if it’ll ever be life as usual, now knowing what is out of our hands . . . Being blunt, nature’s way of thinning the herd . . .
Anyway, ’tis nice having your posts,
Be safe, take care-
L on South Padre Island
❤️
P.S. Do you ever read ALL our messages, and maybe respond?
Karen says
April 14th, 2020 at 1:02 pmHi L,
I looooove me some Nikes. I primarily run and cross train in my Winflos because I like the wide base (prevents me from rolling my ankles out, knock on wood), but I think I need more Nikes in my life, period. I love the color range and of course how comfy they are!
So, I try to answer as many messages as I can as the time permits. Now that I’m Connor’s caregiver/preschool teacher during the day, balancing my online time and my time with her has been tricky. But I’m here as much as can be! And I always love to hear from you. Thank you for all your messages of kindness. I appreciate you so, so much.
Sending you a hug to South Padre Island (I just looked up your town on Google, so beautiful) from the North Bay Area
FaeFrau says
April 14th, 2020 at 12:18 pmSo pretty! I think your hair looks great, too! These kind of posts (digging up old treasures) makes me regret (only at times) having purging tendencies, rather than holding onto good products that can stand the test of time (and/or going bad). I just tend to throw anything away too quickly if I haven’t used it in a few months because I hate clutter but then I regret and end up buying the same thing again or, worse, it is discontinued! Maybe I’ll rethink this tendency and take more care before randomly throwing stuff away, but still be a “minimalist.”
OT: I look forward to your daily posts. For me, they are a perfect blend of acknowledging what’s happening in the world, but keeping a semblance of normalcy. Sometimes all the headlines and drama are just too much, but then I get annoyed with other online personalities who act as if they’ve been living under a rock (though that may be the safest place to be these days). You’re a dose of sanity in these insane times, Karen!
Karen says
April 14th, 2020 at 12:58 pmHi FaeFrau,
I think there has to be a happy medium in there somewhere, so maybe please send some of your purging tendencies my way?! I *always* think that I’ll need something someday, and I hang onto items way to long.
Oh, and thanks for that very nice compliment, because it means a lot. I’ve been trying to keep up my spirits through writing and it’s been helping a lot! Thank you for always being here in the comments; I always look forward to hearing from you!
Tatiana says
April 14th, 2020 at 1:10 pmIt’s nice to see someone else give MAC some love. They seem to have been pushed to the side with all the new brands coming out and yet I still love what they do. Shh, don’t tell anyone, there are MAC shadows I love more than ND, Anastasia and even PMcG.
I feel like I should repurchase all my classic shades before they get discontinued.
Karen says
April 14th, 2020 at 1:17 pmMAC will always be my first love. What classic eyeshadows are your go-tos? Here are mine in no particular order:
Woodwinked
Sable
Satin Taupe
Saddle
Mulch
Soft Brown
Cork
Club
Brun
Omega
Chelsea says
April 14th, 2020 at 4:26 pmYour skin looks SO GOOD here. I’m a big fan of going sheer in good spots and layering more coverage only where needed. The plummy bronze eyes are beautiful too!
Karen says
April 14th, 2020 at 4:37 pmYes! It’s the best way I’ve found to get the “natural skin” look. Took me a while to figure it out but better late than never!
How’s life on the home front? You doing ok?
Chelsea says
April 14th, 2020 at 5:04 pmWe’re pretty good! We’re both working from home full-time at our normal jobs (I do market research, he’s a software engineer) so we’re pretty lucky in all this. SE Michigan is getting hit really hard.
Hettie’s three year adoptaversary is tomorrow!
Karen says
April 14th, 2020 at 6:50 pmAww, that’s wonderful! Happy three years to your family. Will Hettie be getting any special treats to celebrate the day?
Chelsea says
April 15th, 2020 at 3:19 pmI got her a new toy and gave her some french fries!
Karen says
April 15th, 2020 at 6:11 pmAww, lucky baby. Any day you get french fries for your birthday is a great day.
Natalie says
April 14th, 2020 at 4:36 pmGreat look! Cheeky Bronze is one of my favorite MSF’s. I love the fact that you give MAC lots of love on your blog. Please share with us your MAC stash! Also, is there a direct link for the MAC Unsung Heroes?
Karen says
April 14th, 2020 at 4:39 pmThanks, Natalie! One of these days, when I wrangle everything into place, I’ll try to take pics of what MAC I have. It’s all in different places, and it’s driving me nuts.
Here’s a link to Unsung Heroes!
Rachel says
April 14th, 2020 at 6:34 pmSo pretty and fresh! I wish it was warm enough here to take pics outside! Maybe by this weekend!
Karen says
April 14th, 2020 at 6:49 pmI’ll send you some sunshine. It was in the mid-70s here today! 🙂
Trude says
April 15th, 2020 at 9:02 amSO GORGEOUS ❤️ I think your skin has never looked better (but then I think that a lot reading your posts). Love the eyes too.
Michele Zundell says
April 15th, 2020 at 10:18 amYou look beautiful, Karen! Fresh and pretty and all put together. Since this pandemic hit, the only things I have used consistently are lip color and a spritz of fragrance. I need to get back into some simple eye makeup too. Thanks for the inspiration!
Karen says
April 15th, 2020 at 6:12 pmThank you, Michele. I’m glad you’ve been able to get in a little bit of beauty. I swear fragrance has transformative mood powers!
April says
April 15th, 2020 at 3:30 pmOh wow. 2 thumbs up for this look as well. Looks beautiful.
Thank you Karen for inspiring us and re inspiring on ways to use what we already have. Bravo.
Karen says
April 15th, 2020 at 6:10 pmYou’re welcome, April! 🙂