Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

Do You Read Makeup Books?

June 26th, 2020 by Karen 8 Comments

makeup artist handbook — “The Makeup Artist Handbook,” by Gretchen Davis and Mindy Hall

Because it’s so easy to fire up a video makeup tutorial, sometimes I forget about good ol’-fashioned makeup books. I have quite a few and look through them often (but not as much as I used to before YouTube was a thing).

A couple that I think are super helpful are by makeup artist Robert Jones.

Makeup Makeovers in 5, 10, 15, and 20 Minutes: Expert Secrets for Stunning Transformations: The step-by-step tutorials in this book are easy to follow, and the looks are classic, timeless and totally wearable. I like that the makeup is shown on different skin tones and face shapes, too.
Makeup Masterclass: A Complete Course in Makeup For All Levels, Beginner to Advanced: Although very advanced makeup peeps might find this book basic, I still think it’s useful for beauty lovers of all levels since Robert does a great job of breaking down the “why” behind his techniques. The chapter that covers shadow placement for various eye shapes (hello, hooded eyes!), is especially helpful.

How about you? Do you read makeup books? What are your favorites?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Hey There, Homeskillet: HALT-ing, the Best Little Black Backpack by Timbuk 2, and a Small Skin Care Haul

June 25th, 2020 by Karen 26 Comments

Hiya! How’s your week been so far? This is probably TMI (so of course I’m going to go there, hahaha), but I’m at that point “in the month” where I’m in currently experiencing varying states of HALT throughout the day. HALT, by the way, stands for “Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired.” I can usually tell when I’m about to HALT, so when I feel it coming on, I try my best to manage my mood, and one thing I’ve noticed *really* helps is varying my usual routine in some small way.

Yesterday that was with a quick picnic lunch in a park with the fam-bam.

El Hub, Coywolf and I headed to a nearby park for some mellow midday fun in the sun underneath a big, shady tree.

I had the Trader Joe’s Cubano Wrap, which is a’ight… I like that it’s not too spicy!

OK, I totally remember my mom making the *same exact expression* on my face in this pic.

By the way, this is how I roll now. In addition to all of the other “mom preparedness items” I usually lug around (snacks, hand sanitizer, face wipes, small trash bags for impromptu projectile barf — you know, the usual), I never leave home without 1) a bottle of Dial hand soap, and 2) toilet paper.

Dial Juniper Soap and toilet paper, my partners in crime.

Because you never know when you’ll have to use the loo while you’re out of the house, and there’s absolutely NO WAY I’m going to enthusiastically touch anything in a public bathroom right now unless it’s a last, last resort. Honestly, my first choice would be to pop a squat behind a tree because 1) you’re not in a building, and 2) you don’t have to touch any surfaces, but if there are no girth-y pines or redwoods around…that’s when carrying your own personal array of bathroom supplies truly comes in handy.

Talk about TMI, LOL!

This little black backpack IS THE STUFF. It’s the Recruit by Timbuk 2, an SF-based bag brand, and it’s the replacement for the little black backpack from Target that was my go-to for a while (I had to retire it after the zipper, which was problematic from the get-go, broke).

Even though this new bag is a touch bigger, it’s still small enough to not feel like a full-sized camping bag or student backpack. The padded straps rest comfortably on my shoulders (and don’t cut into my skin), and the copious pockets ensure that I always have places to store my keys, phone and sunglasses. There’s ample room for all of the “just in case” things, too.

I like that there’s a leash for my keys.

The regular price of the bag is $119, but it’s currently on sale for $59 (!) on the Timbuk 2 website. I’ve got the black one, but that khaki one sure is cute, too!

Speaking of things that are *the stuff*, I’m low-key addicted to this hella stupid show on Netflix called Floor Is Lava.

It’s a game show where teams of three compete for a $10,000 prize by climbing, catapulting and creeping their way across an obstacle course surrounded by bubbling, bursting (wait for it) lava!

(Fake lava, of course.)

THIS SHOW IS MY LIFE. Do you know how many times I hear “Don’t fall in the lava, mama!” throughout the day? Coy-Coy and I pretend that the floor is lava all day, everyday, inside the house and outside.

I really feel like I could do the damn thing! Anybody want to start a team with me? I’m totally serious.
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FOTD: Khaki and Copper Tones for a Zoom Call

June 24th, 2020 by Karen 21 Comments

Wore this look on a Zoom call with a beauty brand yesterday (it was Urban Decay to talk about their latest Naked palette, for the nosey noodles who were wondering!), and in classic K-dawg fashion I banged it out in 15 minutes before it started because that’s how I roll.

And, um…Connor also had a social distancing playdate at the park shortly before the call was scheduled to start, and we made it back home by the skin of our teeth, ha ha ha! Whenever I’m pressed for time but want to look gussied up, I always fall back on smokey eyes and nude lips. This khaki and copper version relies on just two products.

I paired the eyes with peach lips and cheeks because EASY. PEASY.

I’m also wearing a little more base makeup than I have been lately because I knew that “makeup people” (air quotes) were going to be present, so if there were ever a time to load up on a little more concealer, this was it.

Since we’re on the topic of quick looks, what’s your default medium-impact makeup look when you’re pressed for time?

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Summer Glam on the Go! Gray-Black Cat Eyes With an Unexpected Swish of Shimmering Bronze on a Smokey Lower Lash Line

June 23rd, 2020 by Karen 16 Comments

neutrogena protect tint tinted moisturizer — A small twist on your fave classic looks can make all the difference

On days when you crave just a little glam, like a level 3-4, this look hits the spot. It involves just a couple minor tweaks on classic eye makeup elements — black cat eyeliner and a smokey lower lash line — to give it a fresh twist.

Gray-black cat eyes

If you look closely at the liner, you’ll see soft dark gray along the outer edge of the upper lash liner, and the gray on the water lines. With black cat eye liner, you’ll typically see black pencil along the water lines, and black pencil liner is also commonly used as a base for black liquid liner when doing cat eyes, too.

But rather than reaching for the standard-issue black pencil, I used a gray liner instead, because it isn’t as stark, so it leads to a softer, more approachable look… And I like the subtle gradient of gray as it merges into black. (I’m all about that gradient life!)

I also paired the liner with matte warm browns on the upper lids and added a shimmery gold on the inner corners.

neutrogena liquid eyeliner — See the shimmery bronze peeking out from the lower lash line?

A shimmering bronze POP

Switch up your typical black or gray smokey lower lash line by layering a shimmery bronze eyeshadow. Place it right in the center of the lower lash line (aim for right underneath your iris).

To do this, I drew a thin line with a matte gray pencil liner along my lower lash line, then smudged it with a flat, compact head (super handy to have around for small, fine detail work).

neutrogena first crush blush — The gray pencil liner softens the edges of the black liquid liner on the upper lash line.

Then, I wiped the brush head on a paper towel, loaded it with a shimmery bronze powder eyeshadow, wet the brush head with a setting spray, and dabbed the wet brush head along the center of lower lash lines.

Tip: skip blending out the edges of your shimmering bronze eyeshadow. I think it looks cool to have the stark edge against the smokey gray! Not only do you save a step by skipping the blending, but you also maintain the intensity of the bronze, which is great because you really want it to stand out against the matte!

Where else am I gonna go?

As for the rest of the makeup, I kept the base and cheeks super sheer with a tinted moisturizer and cream blush because it’s hot here in Novato, and I wasn’t in the mood to wear a thick layer of makeup on the rest of my face… You always have the option of turning up the coverage to whatever you’re feeling on a given day. The world is your pickle, after all, so I’ll take bread-and-butter pickles, because I don’t do dill.

I ended up wearing this look to Trader Joe’s yesterday because, really, where else am I gonna go?? It’s one of the handful of places that’s 1) open, 2) somewhat entertaining, and 3) doesn’t skyrocket the low-level anxiety I’m living with lately.

On the way there, I drove past the bakery I worked at prior to the stay-at-home order, and I realized that, in a few weeks, I’ll have been out of work there *longer* than I actually worked there… It feels like I was living another life.

So, yeah, wore this to TJ’s, with the exception of the lipstick, lip liner and gloss, which faded after I ate my lunch (grilled cheese and tomato soup, if you’re curious). I didn’t bother to reapply since I was going to be wearing a mask anyway.

I think a half set of falsies on the outer corner would have been a nice touch, too, and I kinda wish I’d put some on!

Makeup breakdown

twist on classic swatches — Today’s color palette

Here’s everything I wore in this look! Lots of new-ish drugstore makeup from Neutrogena (one of my all-time favorite brands!).
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 632

June 22nd, 2020 by Karen 39 Comments

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start. 🌻

1. Oversized sweatpants or an oversized shirt?

Oversized shirt

2. Blue or orange eyeshadow?

ORANGE

3. One thing you can do this week to show yourself some self-love?

I’m going to stop mindlessly scrolling through social media at night (it’s such a time vortex), and go to bed earlier. Amazing what a full night’s sleep will do for your energy levels, mood, mental acuity… Yeah, sleep is good!

4. Best beauty advice you’ve ever gotten from your hair stylist?

Don’t overdo it with your hair dryer or curling iron…or heat stylers in general.

5. Concealer or foundation?

Hmm… Well, I like both, but I’ll go with foundation here, since I’m not a big fan of that feeling of concealer sitting on my face.

6. The O.G. Urban Decay Naked Palette or NARS Orgasm Blush?

O.G. Naked Palette

I like Orgasm well enough, but it’s too sparkly. Give me NARS Deep Throat any day of the week!

7. Spray tan or blowout?

Blowout, but only if I don’t have to do it myself. LOL.

8. How many palettes are too many palettes for a single eye look? Your max amount of palettes for a single eye look?

Two! Anything more than two is too complicated.

9. Leopard print or zebra print?

Leopard

10. Mascara on your lower lashes: yes or no?

Sure, why not?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.

1. Oversized sweatpants or an oversized shirt?
2. Blue or orange eyeshadow?
3. One thing you can do this week to show yourself some self-love?
4. Best beauty advice you’ve ever gotten from your hair stylist?
5. Concealer or foundation?
6. The O.G. Urban Decay Naked Palette or NARS Orgasm Blush?
7. Spray tan or blowout?
8. How many palettes are too many palettes for a single eye look? Your max amount of palettes for a single eye look?
9. Leopard print or zebra print?
10. Mascara on your lower lashes: yes or no?

P.P.S. Hope you’re having a nice day so far. 🤗