Karen

The Day in Beauty, Vol. 3: Modern Love, Viktor & Rolf V-Day Sets, Baby Names, and Weird Belly Bands

January 28th, 2016 by Karen 27 Comments

One of the more unusual things on my bucket list — and I’d say it’s right up there with wanting to learn how to play the accordion — is to go to a concert, or any really big event, and have thousands of balloons rain down from the ceiling/sky, and I blame this on David Bowie’s Modern Love video.

Have you seen it? There’s a giant crescent moon thingy suspended over the crowd, and all of a sudden it starts pouring out thousands of shiny gold foil balloons.

I thought this was extremely amazing where I was a kid (and still do).

The song, by the way, LOVE. IT. And thanks to YouTube for finally clearing something up for me. In the song, I always thought that David Bowie was singing, “It’s not really work; it’s just the power to talk,” but he’s not really saying that, OMG! He’s actually saying, “It’s not really work; it’s just the power to charm.”

Who freaking knew? I would be so lost without you, Interwebz…

Speaking of modern love, Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, which also means that Valentine’s Day gift sets are coming, too.

If you like lovely scents, here are two new sets by Viktor & Rolf.

The first is the Valentine’s Day Flowerbomb gift set for $120…

And the other is the $115 Spicebomb set for the dudes.

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Eyeliner: Sharp or Smudgy?

January 28th, 2016 by Karen 43 Comments

Chanel Ecriture De Chanel Eyeliner Pen in Noir — Sometimes I like it sharp…

I want your no-holds-barred, initial gut reaction, homie.

(In other words, don’t overthink it!)

I prefer sharp liner, for sure. Doesn’t matter if we’re talking about tiny tabby kitten flicks or winged liner of pegasus-ian proportions; sharp, crisp liner lines call to my soul.

Perhaps there’s a Goddess of Eyeliner, and she has my number on speed dial, and she keeps calling and leaving me mind control messages like, “You love precise lines, Karen… You cannot help yourself…”

Or, maybe I just respond viscerally to that kind of makeup.

Probably the latter, although I wouldn’t mind taking a call from the Goddess of Eyeliner every once in a while… That could be fun. 🙂

Ironically, I don’t actually do sharp liner lines all that often because they typically tack on another 10-15 minutes that I don’t often feel I have.

Yes, sometimes sharp liner really takes that long! — sometimes even longer if something goes awry, and I end up having to do damage control. Sharp liner takes no prisoners, yo! And it’s so unforgiving that even if it’s off by a couple millimeters, you can tell.

So, yeah, even though I’m like DAT WINGED LINER DOE, I still usually wear smudgy liner on a day-to-day basis because it’s easier to hide my application mistakes.

It’s sooo much easier to quickly draw a less-than-perfect line along my lash lines, then go to town smudging it out with a pencil brush (usually one loaded with a transition color to create smoother gradients), then be done with the whole business in less time than it takes to toast a Frosted Strawberry Pop Tart…

But enough about the sweet breakfast treats I miss oh, so very much, wah! What are your thoughts on sharp vs. smudgy eyeliner? Do you have a preference, and which do you wear more? Inquiring eyeliner-loving minds want to know. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Day in Beauty, Vol. 2: Smiles, Guerlain Spring Glow Blush, a Banila Co Moisturizing Lace Mask, and Pea Soup

January 27th, 2016 by Karen 41 Comments

And here’s Karen with your public service announcement of the day: “Smile, and your Guerlain Spring Glow Blush smiles with you.” 🙂

This tantalizing two-tone head-turner is part of Guerlain’s Spring Glow 2016 collection, and how could you not smile while looking at it?

SO FREAKIN’ CUTE.

There’s a reddish pink on one side and a lighter baby pink on the other. Plus, a funky 8-bit font, which is kinda unexpectedly cool, I think.

And, hello! — because it’s Guerlain, it’s expensive (well, duh, Karen!). I believe it’s $62.

Yeah…62 big ones for a Guerlain blush, but I do have to say that when it comes to the overall user experience, for fancy-schmancy makeup, Guerlain’s got that sh*t on lock. Everything from the packaging (amaze!) to the formulas are almost always top notch, and I love the luxe touches like the smile imprint on the pan and, although this depends on your personal point of view, the scented powders.

“Ah…” she sighed, as she practically stuck her nose in the pan.

Their stuff smells so darned good to me! This one, like a lot of Guerlain powders, smells like freesia, and if you can, please try to be that weirdo who rolls up to a Guerlain counter, sticks her nose into all of the compacts and takes a deep breath.

And I’m not just saying that because I haven’t had my nap yet. 🙂 I really do think you owe it to yourself to smell Guerlain’s makeup. I really mean that!

Speaking of naps and tired people, gosh, I sure am getting tired (there I go again!) of saying that: “I’m tired!” Seriously, how many times am I going to say “tired” in this sentence?

Nevertheless, I woke up at the witching hour last night — right at 3 a.m. — which always freaks me out. If, instead, I get up at 4 or 2, I’m fine, because I guess I know I’ll be able to fall back to sleep eventually without worrying about being an unwilling star in a scary movie. (“Slowly, as if gently pushed from behind, the door opened a crack…”)

But yeah, there’s something about waking up at exactly 3 a.m. that scares the living crap outta me…

Anyways, I had a really hard time going back to sleep. I did eventually, but it took a while… I just lay there listening to Red Queen on my phone until I nodded off.

So if I say anything a little cuckoo-crazy in this post, that’s why (the witching hour).

Oh! — one of the things I want to do this afternoon is try this $5 It Radiant Lace Hydrogel Mask.

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Hold That Curl! Start With a Layer of Waterproof Mascara to Lock In Your Lash Curl

January 27th, 2016 by Karen 19 Comments

If your unruly lashes refuse to hold a curl after you apply mascara, try coaxing them into being more cooperative by starting with a thin layer of waterproof mascara first. Then, follow it up with your regular go-to mascara.

Starting with the waterproof formula should help your lashes hold their curl longer and discourage them from quickly falling out of attention.

This was a recent discovery for me, because something strange happened to my lashes when I got pregnant…

All of a sudden (seriously, it was like it happened overnight), mascara stopped working, and by “stopped working,” I mean none of them — absolutely NONE — would hold a curl. They lost all respect for my lashes and my Shu Uemura lash curler.

I’d curl my lashes and apply a layer of mascara, but less than a minute later, every little lash would be straight as a board again.

Bluh.

So I asked on Facebook for tips, and a wonderful mascara angel suggested this one, LOL! It’s really helped with the curling situation, and it doesn’t seem to matter which waterproof mascara I use, whether high end or drugstore. It just works.

Give it a go sometime if you ever find yourself “lash curl challenged.” 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Day in Beauty, Vol. 1: The Little Book of Skin Care, Giorgio Armani Maestro Glow Foundation, Hourglass Lip Oil, and Naps

January 26th, 2016 by Karen 43 Comments

I’m trying something a little different today — a different kind of blog post — something other than a makeup review, because, guuurl…my @ss is tired. Third trimester is no joke.

A few weeks ago my friend Jen and I were texting back and forth, and she was like, “I hate to break this to ya, but the third trimester is really, REALLY hard.”

And she was not kidding. And it’s not just hard because, ya know, the achy hips and lower back, the shortness of breath, or how it feels like the last leg of a long, drawn-out race (like running three marathons back to back), but it’s just… I didn’t anticipate being this tired. I’m really tired — like, ridiculously tired.

I’m so tired, as a matter of fact, that I think I’m going to take a nap. A very long, lovely nap. 🙂

But first, can we chat?

So…last night I started reading a new book.

Well, it’s new for me, but I think it’s been on shelves for a while. It’s called The Little Book of Skin Care: Korean Beauty Secrets for Healthy, Glowing Skin, and it’s by a woman named Charlotte Cho (she has a website, Soko Glam, where she sells Korean beauty products, and she’s also an esthetician).

The book is about Charlotte’s life, her experiences and the Korean skin care process. Charlotte was raised in Southern California, but she later moved to Seoul, Korea, for work (she’s Korean, by the way).

I don’t know if you’re very familiar with Korean skin care products, but they’ve grown quite popular here lately in the U.S. (one of my favorite Korean skin care brands is AmorePacific).

The book goes into the process, the philosophy and also lists some of Charlotte’s favorite Korean skin care products, all of which she tests on her website. And then there’s also some interesting tidbits and insights into what it’s like to live in Seoul.

It’s been pretty interesting so far, and there’s great stuff like this cute illustrated 10-step (YES, 10 STEP) Korean skin care infographic…

The process kinda speaks to me, because I know how I am with makeup — I tend to make things a little more complicated than they need to be (Ooh! Only 10 steps!? Let’s do this!) — but these days, with as tired as I’ve been, I’d rather just wash my face, put on some sunscreen, and call it a day, LOL!

Anywho, I flipped through the book last night before bed, and I think it may have even helped me sleep! 🙂 I slept almost all the way through the night, and thank goodness for that because I haven’t been sleeping well lately. I felt great today, but I haven’t really been feeling that mentally great lately…so I went to the doctor earlier this afternoon.

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Are You Loyal to One Particular Foundation?

January 26th, 2016 by Karen 61 Comments

In the many conversations I’ve had with different makeup-loving ladies and gents, one thing I’ve come to realize is that when it comes to foundation, most people, when they find one they really like, stick to it like glue. They’re ride-or-die loyal, and I totally understand this, because finding a foundation that actually works well for you on every level is like finding a chupacabra unicorn (i.e., it’s pretty freaking hard!).

I mean, it’s not as hard as getting a spacecraft piloted solely by cats into orbit around Mars, but it’s hard! In fact, finding a foundation that works with your skin type, delivers the coverage you want and matches your skin tone (and undertones) is probably HARDER than sending astronaut cats into space.

So when I find a foundation that works for me, I’m loyal to it…for about three seconds, LOL! 🙂 OK, more like a few months, but I’m kind of a foundation junkie (you know this) and, depending on what kind of makeup I’m obsessed with at the moment, I’ll stick to something only until the next best thing comes along.

Right now, I’m all about minimal coverage and coverage that looks like real skin, so foundations along the line of compact cushion and tinted moisturizers are my jam. I’m really loving NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint at the moment (I wear the shade called St. Moritz), but a few months ago I was all about fuller coverage and wore Dior’s Nudeskin almost every single day. Before that, it was Laura Mercier’s Flawless Fluide.

So, let’s talk foundation loyalty. What’s your take on it? Do you stick to one foundation when you’ve found one to love, or do you bounce around just because?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Good to the Very Last Drop: Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 | PA+++

January 25th, 2016 by Karen 22 Comments

Stick-to-itiveness. That’s what I don’t have when it comes to a lot of beauty products.

OK, I TRY A LOT OF BEAUTY PRODUCTS, ALRIGHT!? And it’s rare when I stick with one thing long enough to finish it, but that’s what I did with this sunscreen by Murad. It’s called Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 | PA+++, and it carried me through completely different climates and seasons. I started wearing it in the summer when we were having hella 90-degree days, then wore it through the fall and well into winter.

And back when it was still warm here, I was spending a lot of time outside — lots of walking and working out — and when I wore this, it stayed where it belonged. It would never, like… You know how some sunscreens get into your eyes and STING when you start sweating? Not this stuff. It stays put, and the SPF certainly appears to have worked, because I tan easily — my skin picks up color after just few minutes outside — but this year I didn’t tan as much as I usually do.

I wish it wasn’t $60 for a 1.7-oz. tube, but at least it lasted six months, and that’s with me using it every day. It’s just a lovely, dependable sunscreen with UVA/UVB protection and antioxidants that are supposed to soothe stressed out skin and help with firmness and hyperpigmentation.

I didn’t really pay close attention to those things while I used it… I probably could/should have tracked my progress by taking pictures of my skin every few days, but I can confidently say that the hyperpigmentnation on my upper cheeks hasn’t gotten worse.

murad-essential-c-day-moisture-3-final — Active ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5%, Homosalate 6.5%, Octisalate 5%, Avobenzone 3%, Oxybenzone 2%

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 358

January 25th, 2016 by Karen 36 Comments

You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past seven years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

Assuming you had to choose one (“neither” is not an option), would you rather wear a pink business suit or a leopard-print business suit to the office?
Alright, I’ll play your playfully twisted game, Ms. Karen. 🙂 I’ll go with the pink business suit if I can get it cut well and tailored to fit my eight-month pregnant self, HAHA! — ideally, in either a soft blush or rich, warm hot pink…

The leopard print is also tempting…but I’m thinking that Cookie Lyon from Empire is the only person who could successfully pull that off and make it look legit.

My heart melts when I see ______.
1. Kittens awkwardly padding around with their fluffy feet, aww! (Side note: I wish I’d known Tabs when he was a tiny baby cat. He must have been the cutest kitten.)
2. Dads holding sleeping babies.
3. Pictures of me and my brother together, and pics of me and my friends when we were kids.
Have you ever worn safety pins as a fashion accessory?
No, I was never cool enough to pull it off. I do have a cousin Beverly, though, who rocked the look and rocked it well. She’d line the sides of her jeans with big silver safety pins, and it looked really cool.

Doughnuts or cake?
Abstolutely. Yes. All you can spare. 🙂

But if I have to pick one or the other…cake, with lots of layers and yummy frosting, because I’m not into frosting that doesn’t have any flavor.

Mmm… And if I happen to be having this cake while I’m not pregs, I would very much like to wash it down with champagne please.

What are some of your nicknames?
K-dawg, Sweetie, Karonie and Katie.

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. Assuming you had to choose one (“neither” is not an option), would you rather wear a pink business suit or a leopard-print business suit to work?
2. My heart melts when I see ______.
3. Have you ever worn safety pins as a fashion accessory?
4. Doughnuts or cake?
5. What are some of your nicknames?

Good morning, glory! You know what word I like, even though it’s a word for something that isn’t great? “Inclement,” like inclement weather, which a lot of the U.S. is having. I hope it’s not too bad where you are…

Oh, here’s something you might like: a SoundCloud playlist called Focused Work. Give this one a listen next time you have to concentrate on something.

Happy Monday, my friend. Stay warm, and have a good one.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen