Karen

Saturday Surfing, May 29, 2021

May 29th, 2021 by Karen 8 Comments

Wish we were here! (The fancy pool at Hearst Castle; we visited and took a tour a couple years ago.)

Hi, guys. Happy Caturday! It’s Memorial Day weekend, a.k.a. the unofficial summer kickoff. A lot of folks are hitting the pool or beach or other sunny points beyond armed with sunscreen, which is why I wanted to call attention to a related story evolving here in the U.S.

I’ll link some videos and articles below, but in a very abbreviated nutshell, a third-party lab recently tested a bunch of sunscreens and sun after-care products and found that 78 of the products they tested were contaminated with benzene, “a known carcinogen linked to a variety of harmful effects.

My hope is to not freak you out, just to highlight a developing story.

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Along with a summary of their findings, the lab released two lists, one of the products that were contaminated with benzene, and another list of products that weren’t. They also included specific lot numbers of the batches they tested.

I was shocked to see some big brands among those on the contaminated list (Neutrogena, Banana Boat, Elta MD). I was even more shocked to see that the La Roche Posay Anthelios 60 Sunscreen Lotion Spray I bought last month was on the naughty list.

So, the first thing I did was check the lot number on the bottom of my bottle, and the lot numbers didn’t match, so I breathed a short sigh of relief…but still. I’m tossing it to play it safe while this story develops.

Refreshingly, one of the other sunscreens I’ve been testing/wearing lately, Sun Bum Original Lotion SPF 70, was on the list of sunscreens that weren’t found to contain benzene, but some of the others — CeraVe Tinted Mineral Sunscreen, Bliss Block Star, La Roche Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-In Sunscreen Milk and Sun Bum SPF 70 Spray — weren’t among those that were tested at all, so…

It’s a lot to take in, I know. A dermatologist on YouTube who I really like, Dr. Dray, does a thorough overview of the situation and the info we have so far, and I found it extremely thoughtful and helpful, if you’re interested in researching it further.

Cassandra Bankson, a medical esthetician whose channel I also like, offered another good breakdown…

One thing is, there are a lot of sunscreens out there, as you know, and the lab only tested 294 of them, which doesn’t come remotely close to the whole kit and caboodle. Until the FDA gets involved or makes a statement, or issues any recalls, my plan is to continue to wear sunscreen and sun protective clothing, but I’ll stick to sunscreens I can find on the nice list for now, just to be as cautious as one can be in this sh*tshow, I guess.

Here’s some more information…

The Valisure study/recall request and list of sunscreens that do contain benzene is here
The Valisure list of sunscreens that do not contain benzene is here
From Shape: A New Report Found the Carcinogen Benzene In 78 Popular Sunscreens
From Dermatology Times: Detectable Levels of Benzene Noted in Some Sunscreen Batches, Valisure Highlights Controversy of Benzene Contamination in Sunscreen Products and Physician Weighs in on Sunscreen Contamination Controversy

In less serious news…what are you up to this weekend? What’s the weather like there? We’re still figuring out what we’re going to do, but I’m thinking first barbecue of the season. ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

5 Fabulous Finds From Trader Joe’s: Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream, Ube Tea Cookies, Chicken Soup Dumplings, Strawberry Soda and Zinc Oxide Mineral Sunscreen

May 28th, 2021 by Karen 6 Comments

Frozen Chicken Soup Dumplings

Goodness gracious, the last time I went to Trader Joe’s I got two boxes of these Chicken Soup Dumplings, and the next time I go I’m getting three. Maybe even four! They’re that good. Connor and I, man…we gobble them up so fast!

Have you ever been to dim sum and ordered soup dumplings? Those tasty little ground meatballs with their savory broth encapsulated in a chewy pouch… Like a delicious soupy dumpling in a sleeping bag, if you will! You bite into the dumpling, and the glorious broth gushes into your mouth. Mmmm!

These frozen ones take two minutes to cook in the microwave, and you get six total.

These are Connor’s new favorite thing to eat at lunch and mine too. We eat them with edamame and rice!

There’s a pork and ginger version too, which I haven’t tried yet because I’m not a huge fan of ginger in savory dishes, but for the sake of adventure, I may try it for fun. Will let you know!

Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream

The Ube Ice Cream at Trader Joe’s takes me back to my childhood! Ube is a purple yam, and ube ice cream is a common treat in Filipino culture. I grew up eating it. It tastes a little like vanilla, but this isn’t about TJ’s Ube Ice Cream… It’s about the Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream, which, like the Ube flavor, is SO YUMMY.

It’s a rich, creamy green tea with the subtle grassiness of matcha. It might not be enough flavor if you like strong matcha notes, but I think it’s just right, and I’m not sharing it with anybody in this house. ?

In fact, last night I was in an eat-my-feelings kind of mood, so I opened both pints, and I dug my spoon back-and-forth between the two flavors while standing inside my kitchen. GIRL, I couldn’t even be bothered to put it in a bowl and go sit down somewhere, LOL!

Zinc Oxide Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Spray

This zinc oxide mineral spray sunscreen has a pretty high percentage of the active ingredient, which is 15% zinc oxide. I read about it in the new Fearless Flyer, which claims that the sunscreen “dries clear.” HMMM!

It’s SPF 30, water resistant for 80 minutes, and the formula also has aloe, grapefruit oil and vitamin E. The bottle says “fragrance-free,” but when put some on my arms the other day (while I was in the TJ’s parking lot, haha! I couldn’t wait), my bloodhound nose got a whiff of grapefruit, which I don’t mind at all because it’s very, very subtle.

As to the whole “dries clear” claim, there seems to be a caveat. There is a purple cast at first, but after 10 minutes it pretty much disappears.

I’ve yet to test this out by being in the sun for a good length of time (right now my go to is Sun Bum SPF 70 lotion), but I will this weekend and let you know what’s up.

So far there’s lots of pros!

Strawberry Juice Beverage

I’m not a soda drinker, not really. On the rare occasion, I’ll have a Coke, but most of the time soda’s way too sweet for me. This Trader Joe’s strawberry sparkling drink is absolutely perfect, though!

It has just the right amount of strawberry sweetness without tasting like a sugar bomb exploded in my mouth. I love the bubbles, the color, and I love that one can is only 60 cal.

Ube Tea Cookies

OK, so, these Ube Tea cookies are not as purple as they are on the box. (I’m not OK with that.) They’re also teeny, tiny, like the size of a quarter, which I guess is good because you can stuff more into your mouth?!

I like these, but they’re not gonna keep me up at night or anything like the TJ’s Chocolate Stars, which, oh, my god, sometimes haunt me at night!

The issue for me is the ube flavor gets overwhelmed by the powdered sugar. Plus, I kind of wanted them to be more purple. I’m having a hard time letting that one go.

Still, I wouldn’t say no to a handful of these with a hot cup of Earl Grey with some milk. It’s a decently yummy afternoon snack.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!!!! Happy Memorial Day Weekend! ?

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.

ud prince u got the look swatches — U Got the Look Eyeshadow Palette ($55)

ud prince lets go crazy swatches — Let’s Go Crazy Eyeshadow Palette ($55)

ud prince swatches pencils — From the top: Kajal Eye Pencil in When Doves Cry ($28), Kajal Eye Pencil in So Dark ($28), All Nighter Waterproof Setting Powder ($34), Liquid Highlighter ($32)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. BTW, here are my favorite Prince songs! What are yours?

For the record, I’d wear that cloud suit in a heartbeat.

Note the eyeliner

The brows, the hair, the all around fabulousness

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life.

Easily in my top three

I always thought this was an underrated gem and very ahead of its time.

I sooooo wanted be Wendy & Lisa.

Another hidden gem

This or That: The Beauty Grab Bag Edition, Part II

May 25th, 2021 by Karen 15 Comments

Good morning, glory! Rise and shine, pal o’ mine! ?

How to play

Pick one or the other for each of the questions below, and copy/paste your answers in the comments. Can’t wait to see your picks! Mine are listed below. ?

This or That: The Beauty Grab Bag Edition, Part II

Chemical or physical sunscreen?

Tweezer or lash curler?

Lip tint or cheek tint?

Mascara wand — curvy or straight?

Neon bright liner or neon bright nails?

A set of press-on nails or a salon gel mani?

Bronzer — shimmer, matte or satin?

Leave-in conditioner — essential or unnecessary?

Eye gloss — yes or no?

Chemical or physical sunscreen?

Yes to both! But if I have to choose one…I’ll go with a physical sunscreen with a lovely tan tint.

Tweezer or lash curler?

At this point in time, my chin hairs are screaming “TWEEZERS, LADY!”

Lip tint or cheek tint?

Cheek tint, preferably something in a sheer, summery coral that’s easy to blend.

Mascara wand — curvy or straight?

Straight.

Neon bright liner or neon bright nails?

I’ll do the highlighter yellow nails, please.

A set of press-on nails or a salon gel mani?

I had a traumatic experience trying to remove a salon gel mani a few years ago, so press-ons it is! (Hey, they’ve come a long way since the ’80s, and some of them are actually really nice.)

Bronzer — shimmer, matte or satin?

Matte would be lovely, thank you so much.

Leave-in conditioner — essential or unnecessary?

SO ESSENTIAL!

Eye gloss — yes or no?

Sure, why not?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy Tuesday! ?

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 679

May 24th, 2021 by Karen 28 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. Hair or makeup?

Um…both? But if I gotta choose…I’ll go with hair, because when my hair isn’t done, I feel sloppy.

It’s the grays (hairs). I love ’em, but when I don’t do any smoothing or taming of the crazy baby hairs, I look like a Disney villain, which I guess could be a good thing in some circles?

2. Loose waves or pin straight?

Waves, no doubt! I’ve done pin straight before, and while it’s entirely possible, thanks to the miracle of straightening products and flat irons, it’s a HUGE pain in the @ss. It takes a lot of time, effort and damaging heat, and, frankly, I can no longer be bothered.

3. A scent you like wearing when the weather warms up?

Victoria’s Secret Amber Romance reminds me of summer…and bugs. First time I bought it, I actually got it to keep mosquitoes away (LOL!), but I quickly got into the habit of wearing it whenever it’s hot out.

4. What’s your secret to a successful manicure?

Acquire products that dry quickly, so you aren’t stuck sitting around waiting for them to dry, so find thee a quick-drying topcoat ASAP.

Also…WEAR YOUR GLASSES!

5. The three makeup products you’re currently using the most?

Laura Mercier Caviar Mascara, the Honest Beauty Get It Together Palette, and although it’s technically *not* a makeup product, Bliss Block Star.

6. What does your pillowcase look like?

Well, it looks like a torbie cat ripped it to shreds, haha. See, I have a tan silk pillowcase. Technically, it works because it covers my pillow, but I can’t really tell if it’s doing my hair or my face any favors.

Anywho, it has snags all over it because Rosie likes to make biscuits on my hair in the middle of the night before she falls asleep on my head (!), and her claws repeatedly snag the pillowcase, thusly destroying it.

7. Last thing you bought online?

It was either a bottle of vitamins or a mop. I can’t remember which, but it was one of those.

8. Ballerina bun or French twist?

French twist, because it’s easier for me to do and requires way fewer hair pins. It’s also less likely to give me a headache.

9. What do you put on your pancakes?

A little butter, lots of maple syrup, and blueberries or sliced strawberries. YUM!

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. Hair or makeup?
2. Loose waves or pin straight
3. A scent you like wearing when the weather warms up?
4. What’s your secret to a successful manicure?
5. The three makeup products you’re currently using the most?
6. What does your pillowcase look like?
7. Last thing you bought online?
8. Ballerina bun or French twist?
9. What do you put on your pancakes?

P.P.S. Hello there, friend! ? Here’s a big smile and a (((HUG))) for you this morning. Please remember to be patient with yourself today, OK?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 660

May 23rd, 2021 by Karen 5 Comments

“Roughing It: A Tabs the Cat Adventure”

“I can’t believe you got me into this, Tabs!” said Bear. “I should have known you weren’t serious about–”

“Meow,” interrupted Tabs. Oh, I was serious.

Bear waited, eager to hear Tabs’s explanation.

“Mrow,” continued Tabs, taking a sip of his watermelon and mint mojito. I’m always serious about relaxation.

In Tabs’s estimation, the Fairmont Orchid on the Kohala Coast of Hawai‘i Island made the best watermelon and mint mojitos, and he was thoroughly enjoying this one now.

Before the trip, Tabs told all of his friends he was going on the ultimate outdoor experience with Bear Grylls. Unfortunately for Bear, Tabs left out a few details, like that by “outdoor” he meant “poolside,” and by “experience” he meant “vacation.”

“Good grief.” Bear rolled his eyes. “You said, ‘We’re gonna rough it. It’s gonna be so great.'”

“Meowww….” Tabs drew out the word. Well….

“Yes!” said Bear, “You tricked me.”

Tabs couldn’t completely disagree with him. Perhaps he didn’t outright lie to Bear, but he did leave out the location when describing the idea. Technically, the resort is mostly outside, so that wasn’t innaccurate, and the spa there could be considered an experience.

Tabs concluded that Bear deserved at least equal responsibility for jumping to the wrong conclusion.

“What?” said Bear. “How is this an outdoor experience? It’s a resort, Tabs! You said you wanted to be on my show, prove your mettle in the wild, show your resourcefulness to your fans.”

Tabs gave Bear a look as if to say, They are comping our stay. Isn’t that resourceful?

Bear huffed and rolled his eyes again, his hands on his hips. “That’s a stretch.”

“Meow?” said Tabs. I mean, we came all the way out here. He leaned back languorously on the warm tiles, exposing his fluffy belly meat to the tropical sun. “Mrow.” Relax. Enjoy yourself.

Tabs certainly was.

— THE END —

Rosie taking the day off

rosie in a blanket — She’s wrapped up in Connor’s baby blanket. LOL!

pretty girl rosie — Perhaps not ready for the runway, but maybe she could score some catalogue work?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing, May 22, 2021!

May 22nd, 2021 by Karen 8 Comments

Hello, and happy Caturday! ? Peep this adorable bag I saw at the bookstore the other day whilst browsing for books to bring camping this weekend (I’m on the Russian River today!).

You know what I just noticed? The Van Gogh Starry Night/Sunflowers kitty has his left ear cut off and bandaged!

BTW, kudos to you if you can name the other cat references on this ^ bag.

I also thought this pair of very purrfessional socks was très cute…

This purrticular (OK, I’ll stop the puns now) kitty has a very official Rosie vibe, don’t you think?

Oh, and these are the books I picked up at the bookstore to read out in the middle of the woods — The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi, and The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes.

Both are Reese (as in Witherspoon) Book Club picks. I couldn’t put down the last one I got a couple weeks ago — The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward — so I took a chance and grabbed two more in the hopes that they’ll be just as engrossing.

Speaking of reading, here’s your beauty news (and otherwise) for the week.