Karen

Mascara & Coffee: YES and YES!

March 16th, 2017 by Karen 5 Comments

On my way to crank out some burpies and planks! I dunno why, but a sassy t-shirt always makes it easier to keep going when my thighs are burning and I’m about to pass out…

I found this and a whole slew of other cute printed tees at Old Navy last weekend.

“So In Love With Coffee.” That’s a very true statement in my life these days. Seriously, if it weren’t for coffee in the morning, I’d wander around like a zombie all day long.

A hella glamorous zombie, mind you. 🙂 But still.

I almost grabbed this camera tee too (I might as well have my camera surgically attached to my hand), but I’m trying to chill on the gray clothing. I realized about a month ago that my closet desperately needs some bright colors, so no gray for a while.

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Tom Ford 2017 Summer Soleil Collection Sheer Cheek Duo in Paradise Lust and Sheer Highlighting Duo in Reflects Gilt

March 16th, 2017 by Karen 5 Comments

tom ford paradise lust reflects gilt — The Tom Ford Sheer Cheek Duo in Paradise Lust ($78) and Sheer Highlighting Duo in Reflects Gilt

“Sheer and Sparkly Cheek Duo” doesn’t have the same ring to it as “Sheer Cheek Duo,” does it? Yeah, it doesn’t sound as Tom Ford-y, but these two new duos from the Tom Ford 2017 Summer Soleil collection are A LOT sparklier than I thought they’d be, and more pigmented too.

tom ford sheer cheek duo paradise lust — Tom Ford Sheer Cheek Duo in Paradise Lust ($78)

They may look chill on my face in these pics, but the Sheer Highlighting Duo in Reflects Gilt and Sheer Cheek Duo in Paradise Lust, which are — you’ll wanna site down for this! — $78 each (I KNOW), are much more pigmented than their names imply. I spent a lot of time buffing down my cheeks and cheekbones after applying the Cheek Duo and Highlighting Duo the first time because I was expecting to have to pack on layer upon layer. But that wasn’t the case.

tom ford sheer highlighting duo reflects gilt — Tom Ford Sheer Highlighting Duo in Reflects Gilt ($78)

Both Reflects Gilt and Paradise Lust feel like the $45 NARS Dual Intensity Blushes, and they look like a couple of them too. Reflects Gilt looks a little like NARS Jubilation, and Paradise Lust is similar to NARS Adoration.

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Tom Ford Summer Soleil 2017 Clutch-Size Lip Balms in Neotropic, Fathom, Pure Shores and La Piscine

March 16th, 2017 by Karen 17 Comments

tom ford lip balm neotropic fathom pure shores la piscine — Four of six new Tom Ford Clutch-Size Lip Balms from the left in Neotropic, Fathom, Pure Shores and La Piscine ($36 each); not pictured: L’Odissea and Cruising

The fanciest itty-bitty lip balm that I ever did see! If I were walking on the beach and saw one of Tom Ford’s Clutch-Size 2017 Soleil Summer Collection Lip Balms glinting on the sand, I’d think it was a piece of lost jewelry, and I’d snatch it up with a quickness!

tom ford lip balm neotropic fathom pure shores la piscine 1 — Tom Ford Clutch-Size Lip Balms from the left Neotropic, Fathom, Pure Shores and La Piscine

Hey, if you’re gonna release a $36 luxury lip balm, it might as well be marvelous. Like Tom’s summer lipsticks, these tiny tubes have gold trim and white packaging, but they’re also petite, which I think makes them extra cute.

tom ford lip balm full size for scale — With a full-size Tom Ford Lipstick towering over them for scale

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Today’s Mini Sephora Haul

March 15th, 2017 by Karen 14 Comments

I think I’m at the point where I should just stop pretending that I can go into Sephora and leave with just one thing.

Like really Karen? Who do you think you’re foolin’?

I went in there today to grab a new bottle of Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch-Up Spray, which is THE BEST tinted spray I’ve ever found to temporarily hide gray roots between coloring sessions.

It’s $25, so it’s a little expensive, but it’s the only one of these sprays that hasn’t made my scalp itchy and make my hair feel stiff or look too matte.

Basically, it’s epic, and if I did the math on how many of these bottles I’ve bought over the past few years… Well, I don’t want to do the math because I’d probably pass out on the spot.

So, yeah, I went into the store for this. That’s all I wanted, but of course I also walked out with a bottle of Sephora Perfect Mist Airbrush Foundation in Medium, which has like a billion great reviews on the Sephora website and gets 4 1/2 stars. It’s comes in 13 colors for $28 each.

I was just about to head over to the register to pay for the bottle of Rita Hazan when I saw it and thought, “I’ll swatch a couple, just for fun,” and I probably would’ve walked away if I hadn’t seen it in Medium, which was practically the same color as my skin…but I did see it in Medium.

Oh, well!

My skin has slightly warm undertones (warmer in the summer), and I can’t always find matching foundation shades that aren’t too pink or peach for me.

I’m stoked to try it because I’ve heard it’s like Dior Airflash… which is like $62 BIG ONES. I used Dior Airflash once a long time ago during a makeover, and I remember liking the feel but not the color (too pink).

Hopefully Perfect Mist is a better match.

Have you ever tried Sephora Airbrush? If you have, lemme know. I’m curious.

Oh! I almost forgot. Today for the first time ever I asked a lady if I could take a picture of her tattoo. I can’t post it because I told her that I’d only share it with my brother (he’s got tons of tattoos), but it was so cool! It looked like one of those little Leggo people wearing a black ninja outfit, and it had cat ears. Or it was a Leggo cat woman. Not sure.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Almost forgot… I also left with a sample of Sunday Riley Good Genes, which I actually needed because I’m running low. 🙂

Can Curel Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer Handle the Frigid North (of California?) #EndDrySkin #sponsored

March 15th, 2017 by Karen 30 Comments

My drier-than-dry skin loves Curel Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer

This post is sponsored by Curel. As a participant in the #EndDrySkin campaign, I received product samples and compensation for my time and effort. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are always my own. curel.com #sponsored

The last time I trekked to the northernmost reaches of California to the city of Redding to visit my in-laws, I brought along my essential beauty belongings — my hairbrush, some dry shampoo, makeup (of course) and about 10 gallons of moisturizing lotion.

Oh, so dry…

Redding’s a lovely town up near Mount Shasta, not far from the Oregon border, but it’s also one of the DRIEST PLACES ON EARTH. The air there is so dry, or at least drier than I’m used to here in the Bay Area, that my lips and skin ache after one or two days.

Seriously, my arms and legs, my hands — the skin all over my whole dang body — which is already hella dry to begin with, feels like it’s being sucked dry by an industrial strength vacuum cleaner.

curel hydra therapy wet skin moisturizer 3 — Can Curel Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer handle Redding?

If you ever visit Redding, my advice to you is this: take a walk along the Sacramento River Trail around sunset, because Redding has some of the best sunsets in the world. Also, bring along some mega-moisturizers.

It all starts in the shower

Wow, Curel Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer… It’s so unusual! Most of the time when I think of incredible moisturizers, I think of rich, greasy body butters and body balms that you have to massage into your skin FOR DAYS.

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Tom Ford 2017 Summer Soleil Collection Skin Illuminator in Fire Lust

March 14th, 2017 by Karen 13 Comments

tom ford fire lust — Here I’m wearing Tom Ford Fire Lust Skin Illuminator (a.k.a. liquid highlighter) all over my face (my forehead, cheeks, nose, chin and jaw).

There’s a time in every woman’s life when she realizes, ya know, that she’s a grown-@ss woman. In my case, I don’t need to be walking around with my underwear hanging out my jeans, and I don’t need to be walking around with big ol’ chunks of rave/festival season glitter all over my face.

I mean, though, if gigantor glitter is your M.O., sh*t girl, don’t even listen to me. 🙂 You do you you. But for me and glitter, I like it to be fine (FOINE), and if it’s going anywhere other than my eyelids and lower lash lines, I like it to be subtle, which is why I love Tom Ford Skin Illuminator in Fire Lust ($50).

Get that “vacation skin”

Part of the Tom Ford 2017 Summer Soleil Collection available now, Fire Lust is a warm peach with golden pearl and the subtlest of subtle golden glitter pieces.

I’m talking the micro-ist of micro glitter, so that when you apply and blend it in, you get a very subtle, warm peachy, pearly glow with tiny glitter flecks scattered all over your skin, which, when glimpsed from various angles, gives a beautiful subtle glow, a.k.a. “vacation skin,” a.k.a. what my ideal skin situation would look like if I spent four weeks chillin’ on the Riviera.

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The Beauty of BECCA Soft Light Blurring Powder in Golden Hour

March 14th, 2017 by Karen 12 Comments

becca golden hour soft light blurring powder 1 — BECCA Soft Light Blurring Powder in Golden Hour, $38

I read about this guy somewhere a while back who said that he fell in love with SO MANY ladies on Instagram because of the Valencia filter…

You know, I can’t blame him, because that Valencia filter? Damn. Wow. It’s like the most glamorous, flattering light ever.

I can haz my own Valencia personal filter??

That’s sort of the idea behind the new $38 BECCA Soft Light Blurring Powder in Golden Hour — that’s it’s a portable, personal 24/7 photo filter.

Is it really transparent?

It’s part of BECCA’s spring collection, and the effect is supposed to be like basking in buttery, perfect twilight (but not the kind starring Edward and Bella). The 0.35-oz. jar is available now in BECCA’s permanent collection.

It’s a luminous loose powder with a satin finish that blurs pores and scatters light. BECCA calls the color transparent, but some folks say that they can see a peachy tint on very light and very deep skin. I like the way it works on my NC42 tan, but that’s something to keep in mind.

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Deep Thoughts/Braid Talk: Do You Have a Hard Time Braiding Your Hair When You’re Looking in a Mirror?

March 14th, 2017 by Karen 15 Comments

Messy reverse french braid — All about that braid life!

Uh…I’ve been doing a lot of braids lately because I’m growing my bangs out, and they’re driving me bananas, and for the life of me I cannot braid my hair while looking at myself in the mirror.

Is that just a me thing? Is anyone else having this issue??

Like, sometimes I’ll be sitting there NOT looking in the mirror, and I’ll bust out all sorts of cray-cray braids that don’t turn out half bad, but the minute I try to do it looking in the mirror (like if I go into the bathroom and braid my hair in there), I get lopsided, uneven braids.

What’s up with that?

Shouldn’t it be easier if you can see yourself in the mirror? Am I just a weirdo? Does this happen to you too?

Deep thoughts today, LOL! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen