FYI, IMO, applying mascara is a perishable skill.
It is NOT like riding a bike, where once your brain makes the connections and you “get it,” you never forget it. No, if you don’t use your mascara application skills, you lose ’em, man.
Yet another thing I’ve learned this month…
I was reminded of this valuable life lesson yesterday because I wore a considerable amount of makeup in public for the first time in weeks, which I did because I met a friend at Panera down the street for lunch, and then ran a few errands afterward.
I did foundation, concealer, brows, cream blush and cream eyeshadow, and then came the mascara.
Sigh… The mascara.
I don’t know where I took a wrong turn, but somewhere along the way it did. (It may have been at the fifth or sixth coat.)
There was also a completely useless lash comb up in the mix, which, instead of separating my lashes, gathered them together into large spikes, and then those spikes somehow combined into one massive mega spike.
I looked like an anime character gone so, so wrong…
Has this ever happened to you? I mean, I realize that I was the one holding the wand and the comb; therefore, I’m ultimately responsible for everything that happened with them, but I swear, it felt like I was possessed by a spiteful makeup demon ? who really, REALLY wanted a good laugh.
Also, on the positive side, even though my lashes were a hot mess, when I looked in the mirror, I didn’t look sad. ?
Small steps.
On that note, this week’s beauty reading…
- What skin care experts say you should do to your face before and after you work up a sweat at the gym.
- This new line of nontoxic skin care drops at Target on the 19th, and everything in it is $20 or less.
- Some tips for those who pick at their skin. (Side note: I struggled with this when my acne was at its worst, and I feel your pain.)
- Um…can somebody do this to my gray hair, please?
- 7 semi-permanent dyes that work great for black hair, according to Essence
- Have you bought a CHI hairdryer lately? Their Lava hairdryers are being recalled.
- In case your dog needs a HUGE fluffy hair dryer…
- Here’s why some cats look like they’re wearing socks.
- What to consider if you’re thinking about adopting a kitty
- If you do decide to adopt a furry friend, here’s some basic cat care tips to keep your feline friend happy and healthy.
- New Yorkers, please keep an eye out for Lexi, the missing bodega cat.
Two of my favorites on one track
Life is short, so don’t waste your free time!
I think Keanu may only be in this movie for about two seconds, but I’ll watch it anyway (it stars my twin, Ali Wong).
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I think we have all had those makeup days when our beloved products just don’t won’t to work despite how familiar we are with the products or how good our application technique. Teeth gnashing, hair pulling, frustration–we’ve had it all! LOL
One of your surfing links is about coloring grey with rainbow hues. I have actually seen a number of women–both dowdy and chic–wearing pretty pastel colors streaked throughout their grey hair. And, why not? They don’t have to bleach their hair first and some of the pastels play beautifully against a silvery background.
Hi Eileen,
I wish I could make that rainbow hair happen! I don’t know how it would work with the dark black hair in the background. I think some pastel pink stripes would be super cool.
Gosh, mascara has always been my downfall. I put it on last, which means that if I goof slightly, my eyeshadow is touched in one little place and how to fix it? Waiting a bit for it to dry makes it easier to flick off with a Qtip I’ve found. I use Givenchy Phenomeneyes (sp?) with a little tuft applicator which works really well, and I don’t have a one inch brush to worry about on my short, sparse lashes
So glad you’re looking at kitty articles! Although you had the best, there is still some fur buddy out there with whom to start a new collaboration. We will ALWAYS love our Tabs, and hey, maybe he’s found Grumpy cat! . . . another celebrity!
On with Saturday Surfing, which I looove!
Make your best day, my dear.
L
❤️?
Thanks, L. I’m doing better these days. Still don’t know if I’ll ever have a kitty soul mate again, but Connor will for sure have cats in her life. 🙂
Sephora had a full-size tube of Lancôme Grandiose Extrême as a 500 point reward and it gave me the kind of lashes you’re describing. It was not good.
I’m curious about the new Versed skincare line but my current boring routine works really well for my finicky skin. It looks like they’ll be releasing a lip oil though! I use a lip oil by Chapstik that’s nice but you can never have too many lip moisturizers.
OMG the dogs in the dryers ?
What’s funny is as the spikes were forming I could see things going wrong, but I couldn’t do anything to stop it. It was like everything was happening in slow motion, ya know?
Girl, if your routine is working don’t do anything different! Stick with what works.
Blush is my downfall. I love it, but it’s never quite right. I usually have to do it at least three times before it’s socially acceptable to be out in public. It’s always way too much, and way too big. Big blush? Lol!
Keanu Reeves = ???
I love that you added links about adopting cats, too many people adopt and return, it’s terrible. We have four cats, all strays that just showed up. They’re a motley crew of weirdos, but I love them!
I love motley cat crews. They are the best kind of kitty gang!
I figure if another cat will come into our lives it’s going to be organically. I’m hoping Connor’s next kitty companion will show up one day needing a home (as Tabs did).
I use a flat top kabuki brush that I reserve just for blush to blend blush out esp when the color is too much. I also try to be mindful of tapping off excess product. Love blush but it is easy to go overboard esp since everything is full pigment and requires less building up these days!
Oh yeah! I’ve gotten the mascara spiked lashes. The Tweezerman comb is not use on those. I actually use the tip of my Tweezerman slanted point tweezers to try to tease those glued together lashes apart. Sometimes it works!
So waiting for Nordstrom’s Mascara Madness! I’m down to using the stems and seeds from my mascara sample drawer! Not pretty!
Oh, that’s right! It’s starting soon, yeah? I need a new tube of Chanel!
What mascara are you going to pick up?
Wow Karen!! You and Ali Wong really do look alike. That movie looks really funny…I need to see it.
Hi Sherry,
Yeah, I get that a lot! Especially when I have my glasses on. 🙂 It’s happened here in my town at the park, at the grocery, at TARGET! LOL
I wish Keanu was in it for more than two seconds though!
I am still working out the kinks on the eye front but I think not applying makeup at all after a time you do lose it especially when gaining or losing weight. Ughh.
Hmm, that’s interesting. I have a vague recollection of having to do my cheek makeup slightly differently and my eyes when I was pregnant with Connor. I never thought it could be because of the weight gain.
As for working out the eye kinks I figure as long as you try a little bit every day you’ll get to where you want to go eventually. A lot of it is practice!
OMG I looked at that link to the dog dryer and I laughed out loud. If I tried to put my malamute in something like that he would have a total nervous breakdown! He doesn’t even want to be brushed! And if I put the little black dog in it, she would rip it off and tear it into pieces! It was great for a laugh!
I’ve gone light on my mascara lately. I guess I’m going for a natural look since most of the time when I look in the mirror it looks like I don’t have makeup on. Ok for work, I guess.
Is it crazy that I kind of wish I had a dryer like that for myself? It’s been cold here in Northern California and I could use one of those right after I get out of the shower, HA HA HA!
After a year of wearing minimal makeup (concealer, mascara, lip gloss, & bit of blush), it’s my eyeshadow game that’s gone to pot. Like, even my fine motor skills, when to comes to deftly using the brush! What the heck happened?
Hi Kimberly,
TOTALLY. I look at old pics where I blended my lids like cray and wonder if I could ever do that again!
At the same time I have to say wearing minimal makeup has been so freeing.
What made you decide to go the minimal makeup route?
Ah, the woes of mascara. I still can’t find a good eyelash comb.
But dude, Versed is SILICONE FREE. SILICONE FREE. – dances –
Although, to be fair, I’m still devoted to Pacifica and Organics right now that it may take some convincing to get me off my current skincare regimen. >.> Maybe.
Did you see Keanu’s interview with Colbert?
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/keanu-reeves-stephen-colbert-death_n_5cd8f83ee4b0796a95de60ee
Was thinking of you yesterday, Karen. My mom and I went to the movies and saw John Wick 3. Love me some Keanu.
I’m sending you a new lash comb, asap. 🙂 I know you’re still struggling (and will be for a long, long time) but hope that you’re having some brighter moments as well.
I’ve seen two grandmothers in the past couple of months with pastel hair. One was pinkish purple and one was green. The color will be almost invisible in your dark hair. If you really want vibrant or pastel, you have to bleach, like you would to go blonde (though hairdressers here can correct me if I’m mis-speaking). Otherwise you’ll just see flashes of color depending on the light. I think it would kind of give you “highlights”, though by coloring the gray well.
My nephew turns 5 this week and he asked everyone who would listen for a kitten for his b’day. He was so thrilled to get one (she’s beautiful and was found abandoned on a back road by a friend of a friend of his mom’s, two days ago – mom thought that was a sign). She’s black with a few white hairs on her chest. He named her Orange, which we’re all getting a kick out of. 🙂