Karen

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

February 2nd, 2018 by Karen 38 Comments

senita athletics top — Cute cutouts for the win

1. Tops with back detailing

Cutouts and braids and peek-a-boo details, oh, my! I’m into tops with cute back action right now, because, let’s be honest…the only part of my body NOT covered in food at any given moment is my upper back. And if it’s the only part of me that’s going to be devoid of half-chewed Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies and organic string cheese, by golly, it’s going to be cute!

2. Kate Somerville Wrinkle Warrior Pink Plumping Mask

This moisturizing gel mask is pink and sparkly — although I can’t quite figure out how the shimmer works, because I don’t really see it on my skin when I look directly at it; it’s like sneaky side sparkle — and smells a like little like a triple berry smoothie.

It’s SUPER hydrating, too. I’ve been using it a few times a week in the morning when my skin feels even drier than usual.

kate somerville wrinkle warrior pink plumping mask — Sparkly!

When I apply a layer after cleansing and toning in the morning, eat breakfast and putter around for a bit, then wash it off, my skin looks and feels plump and moisturized. Kate S. says the moisture magic is from something called “HA3,” which stands for three types of hyaluronic acid, but really, every time I see “HA3” on the jar, I think “Ha-Ha-Ha!” instead. 🙂

All jokes aside, I love this as a makeup prep step in the a.m. because everything I put on top of my skin after it — foundation, concealer, powder, etc. — looks much smoother.

3. Classical Art Memes

These are totally a thing.

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14 Days of Ravishing Red! — Day 1: Creamy Warm Red Lips With Kosas Thrillest Lipstick and NARS Holy Red Lip Liner

February 1st, 2018 by Karen 18 Comments

Are you ready for 14 Days of Ravishing Red? Stay tuned as we explore ravishing red ? lipsticks, lip liners and glosses every day on our way to ? Valentine’s.

“Warm it up, Kris!”

Oh, I’m about to. 🙂 Kosas Thrillest lipstick and NARS Holy Red lip liner both have the subtlest, least obnoxious yellowy orange undertones, but there’s no mistaking them for cool-toned colors. They’re definitely warm reds, but they aren’t as warm as some orange reds (MAC Lady Danger comes to mind).

I think opaque warm reds like these are vintage va-va-voom! — and I love this look, especially with bronzed lids and/or lash lines.

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A 10-Minute Minimalist Makeup Tutorial: Gleaming Rose Gold Wings With Glossy Cheeks and Lips

February 1st, 2018 by Karen 21 Comments

nudestix golden rose top pic — You CAN do this in 10 minutes!

I’ve been wearing this look with gleaming rose gold wings and glossy cheeks and lips lately, most recently to brunch with my friend Cindy, and on the day I did this side-roll ponytail tutorial.

It’s borderline glam, which I like, but it’s still quick and easy. From start to finish, you can do this in 10 minutes.

There are three things about this look that help keep the time from spiraling out of control.

1. The concealer is doing the heavy lifting.

I’m not wearing any foundation at all. There’s just a medium-coverage liquid concealer with a natural satin finish, which I’m using for spot treatments to even out specific places, and I’ve chosen a liquid concealer that can be built up in layers wherever I need the extra coverage (it’s nice to have that option).

2. Pressed powder gives you more control.

The concealer is set with a medium-coverage pressed powder, which is handy for 10-minute looks, whereas loose powder is usually messier… Pressed is just easier for me to grab and go.

Also, pressed powder tends to look sheerer than loose powder does for me, which provides a lot more control over how much powder actually ends up my skin.

Basically, I’d rather apply less product and have to build it up to the coverage I want than accidentally apply too much powder and have to remove the excess… It’s always easier to add makeup than take it away, IMO.

3. A creamy eyeshadow pencil corrects any mistakes with the liquid liner.

Running the cream shadow along the edge of the liquid liner helps to hide any dips and imperfections. There’s also a subtle transition of shine from the high beam gleam of the liquid liner to the softer shimmer of the pencil, which gives some subtle complexity to the liner.

Alright… Are you ready for the breakdown? I hope so, because here we go! 🙂

nudestix golden rose breakdown — Before and after

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20

February 1st, 2018 by Karen 18 Comments

Why isn’t this foundation a cult classic yet? It’s a total ? gem.

Shiseido Synchro Skin Foundation ($45) is a medium-coverage marvel of oil-free liquid foundation fabulousness for all skin types, and its thin consistency reminds me of more satiny Dior Diorskin Nude Air, which I was totally obsessed with a few years ago and still ? (pretty pricey though).

Because Synchro Skin has a livelier, less matte finish than Diorskin Nude Air, I think it looks even more natural, and I also think even better at mellowing out my pores and fine lines. So, if you’re a lady who has lived through countless quests and adventures and has the experience lines to prove it, this could totally work for you (although peeps of all ages can wear it).

It sits closely to the skin, too. Sometimes I forget I’m wearing it. And even though the coverage is medium, it’s robust enough to disguise a lot.

In this pic below, I’m wearing the foundation without powder or concealer…

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

Wearing Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20 in Golden 5 by itself (no setting powder). The lipstick is Urban Decay Spellbound.

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5 Things to Know About OUAI Anti-Frizz Hair Sheets (Starting With How to Pronounce “OUAI”)

January 31st, 2018 by Karen 9 Comments

ouai anti frizz sheets — Perfect for wallets and pockets

Did you ever think you’d get this close to my roots…?

I kid, I kid! 🙂 No, you really don’t need to be all up in my cowlick, and you REALLY don’t need to be all up in it now that my roots are starting to peek through, OMG. When the heck is my next hair appointment!?

Anyway, there’s an unruly grotto of hair at my hairline with strands that jut and shoot out at weird angles, and I usually have to coax them into place with a dab of flexible hair paste and hairspray.

That usually does the trick, but when it doesn’t… Say hello to these OUAI Anti-Frizz Hair Sheets.

(Hello!)

1. It’s pronounced “way.”

2. These smell like Pottery Barn.

SERIOUSLY. You know that smell that immediately invades your space when you walk into a Pottery Barn store? Well, these sheets smell exactly like that — like expensive white pillar candles with notes of magnolia, wax and overstuffed, over-sized down chairs.

Mind you, I like it. It’s just very strong, and it lingers a while.

3. Tear, tame, then toss.

These individually packaged sheets, which come 15 to a box for $18, are soaked with hair-smoothing oil. You just tear one open to get to the sheet, which feels like an oil-coated piece of wax paper, then smooth the sheet on your hair wherever you need to de-frizz.

Ingredients:

Isopropyl Isostearate, Polysorbate 20, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Steardimonium Hydroxypropyl Panthenyl PEG-7 Dimethicone Phosphate Chloride, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal

4. They’re better for touch-ups than they are for primary frizz control.

As you can probably see from my cowlick pics, one sheet corrals most of the renegade hairs, but a few stragglers get away. It doesn’t catch every fly-away, and a few fly-aways are fine with me, but I still wouldn’t 100% rely on these sheets for intense de-frizzing.

I think these are great as convenient once-in-a-while things, but they’re $1.20 each. That seems kind of expensive for a single use, doesn’t it? Like, sure, I’ll put one in my makeup bag for when I have an important meeting ~~at HomeGoods~~, and I want a last-minute tszuj to look my best, but if all I’m doing is heading to baby story time, I don’t think I’d use one of these.

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Low Double Side-Roll Ponytail Hair Tutorial: An Easy, Casual Alternative to Messy Buns (ALL SKILL LEVELS)

January 31st, 2018 by Karen 13 Comments

Sometimes I wear this low-key style as an alternative to the messy bun I’ve been rocking for, oh, the last 1,456 years. LOL! It’s uncomplicated and quick, and you can make it as purposefully messy or neat as you want (always good to have options!).

Oh, and you can do it in less than 10 minutes.

It’s also great for when you’re two (or, let’s be real, three) days into your blowout, and you want to skip washing your hair one more day but can’t bear the thought of wearing it down.

Note: You can still do this style if your hair is shorter than mine, too. Just do one low roll and skip the second.

Tools:

2 Ponytail holders that match your hair color
Bobby pins that match your hair color
A texturizing spray (optional)
Hairspray

Steps:

1a. Optional first step: spray texturizing spray from mid-shaft to ends for texture and volume.
1b. Begin by gathering your hair into a loose, low side ponytail, and secure with an elastic band.
2. Part hair above the hair-tie.
3. Pull pony up, over and through the part to form a low roll.
4. Ease out a few strands to add volume and texture to the roll.
5. Wrap a section of hair around the hair tie, and secure with bobby pins.
6. Next, wrap another elastic band about three inches down from the first low roll.
7. Repeat steps 3 through 6 to form a second low roll.
8. Finish by spraying lightly with hairspray. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Coming to San Francisco March 21 and Open to Everyone: I, Artist — The Makeup Show Forum

January 31st, 2018 by Karen 3 Comments

Calling all beauty ?? lovers and educational ? ? enthusiasts!

Have you ever been to a good convention or conference where you learned a ton of useful stuff? (Photoshop World ? in Las Vegas was one for me. Highly recommended if you’re into digital photography.) If you go buck wild for beauty, as I’m guessing you probably do (*ahem*, like moi), mark your calendar for March 21-23 because The Makeup Show, which takes place in different U.S. cities every year, is hosting a new three-day beauty pro/peep/lover (it’s open to everyone, but the tickets are pricey) educational program there called I, Artist — The Makeup Show Forum.

You could elevate your makeup artistry skills, learn about the beauty biz, and marketing, and photography. Also, of course, you could network, meet with others beauty lovers, and people who work in the biz.

Each day focuses on different topics, like the artistry side, photography or brand building, and the classes will be taught by beauty professionals.

(You can check out the full schedule with all the class descriptions here.)

Space is limited, so if you’re interested and will be out here in the Bay Area, you can buy tickets and get more deets on the website.

FYI, the tickets are pricey (the early-bird price for one day is $650!), but that also includes access to The Makeup Show Makeup Shop on March 24-25, where there are other workshops and a huge exhibit hall, and you can get discounts on beauty products from Make Up For Ever, NYX, Viseart and more.

I’ve heard so much about The Makeup Show over the years, and I’ve never been to one before, but this may be the year. It seems like it would be silly of me to not go on a year when it’s in the Bay Area.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Adventures in Bread Baking, Chapter 1

January 30th, 2018 by Karen 32 Comments

rustic loaf — The first loaf of bread I ever baked

As of last Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, I am officially an apprentice self-taught bread baker, and I made bread all weekend long. In two days, El Hub, Connor and I have already eaten two huge loaves. TWO!

If you want a ? loaf — or loaves — and you happen to be within cat walking distance, let me know. I can hook you up. First come, first serve!

Granted, I can’t guarantee that the loaves will be aesthetically pleasing. After all, this isn’t The Great British Baking Show (Paul Hollywood would talk mad crap about my loaves), but they should be edible…ish.

Haha!

rusic loaf — It wasn’t a big rise, but it tasted GOOD.

I’m totally for #allthecarbs, but there’s going to have to be some kind of rationing or self-control involved, because I can’t keep eating this much bread… I just can’t.

I actually made three loaves on Saturday — one rustic no-knead loaf that I proofed overnight, and two French bread loaves that proofed for a couple hours. I gave one of the French breads to Cindy as a belated birthday present when I saw her on Sunday before we went to the museum.

Well, it was supposed to be French bread, but it looked like a focaccia gone wrong… It might have been the weirdest, or the most awesome, birthday present I’ve ever given anyone. 🙂

rustic loaf dough — The rustic loaf before I put it in to bake (it’s in a dutch oven)

The first loaf was a rustic, no-knead round bread that was easier than I expected it to be thanks to Laura in the Kitchen.

It was deeeelicious! Almost like sourdough! Even though it turned out flatter than I hoped, it had nice big holes you could swim through, and apparently that’s something you want when you bake certain types of bread, which is something I learned from The Great British Baking Show.

You also want height, which, unfortunately, my rustic loaf lacked, because the dough deflated at some point overnight while it proofed in my microwave.

I still don’t know what went wrong (Was it the plastic bowl? Did the microwave get too cold?), but I’m determined to figure it out.

The second and third loaves were French breads, and they were more challenging. The recipe I used was supposed to be a good one for bread beginners, but I guess I did something wrong. I dunno… Bread is kind of mysterious. Unlike cooking, where you can usually figure out a way to salvage something if something goes wrong, I think baking bread is less forgiving. There isn’t as much leeway for incompetence, LOL.

french bread loaves — I felt like I had absolutely NO control over these loaves of French bread.

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