Karen

We’re currently experiencing a crazy heat wave here in California that’s not expected to break until Thursday. It’s so uncomfortably hot that clothes are annoying! 🤣 I’ve changed my top three times already because even my lightest cotton shirt feels like a heavy sweater. I have a series of meetings today, and quite honestly, I don’t know if I can deal with makeup sitting on my face. I like comfy sheer textures and lightweight formulas, but just the thought of my fave lightweight concealer in this heat feels oppressive. It may just be a brows, mascara and lip gloss kinda day on this end.

How about you? Do you bother with makeup when it’s broiling outside?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Stay cool in this heat, my friend!

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 more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. What’s the last picture you have on your camera roll?

A croissant and latte from yesterday’s breakfast at Creekside bakery in Novato. (Please see above.) The croissant was perfectly flaky and buttery, and the latte was rich and creamy. If you’re ever in town, definitely stop by for a bite.

2. Pick a mode of travel — airplane, train or car?

I’d pick a car first, but only if the drive was less than 10 hours and did not involve winding roads. Otherwise, I’d go with the airplane. I’ll give the train a hard pass as I’ve only traveled by train a handful of times in Europe. I remember it being stressful because of the language barrier; I also remember being on guard and not being able to relax at all.

3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook?

I’d rather read a book. It has to be a physical book where I can turn the pages, though. (I don’t do Kindles.)

4. What helps you relax after a long day?

A hot shower, comfy pajamas and a simple, healthy meal. If I can have those three things, I feel cared for.

5. Loose powder: love it or leave it?

Love it, but it’s gotta be Chanel.

6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of?

Hair care products, fragrances (I love reading about them!) and sunscreen.

7. A podcast you like?

“Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing” is my favorite at the moment.

8. How many hours of sleep do you need?

Eight hours is my sweet spot. Note to self: go to bed early tonight!

9. Something nice that happened to you recently?

Yesterday, Connor and I took a walk in our neighborhood. During our stroll, someone rode by on a bike with a basket on the handlebars, and inside the basket was the cutest little dog having the time of its life! It was such a fleeting moment, yet it brought both of us so much joy.

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. What’s the last picture you have on your camera roll?
2. Pick a mode of travel: airplane, train or car?
3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook?
4. What helps you relax after a long day?
5. Loose powder: love it or leave it?
6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of?
7. A podcast you like?
8. How many hours of sleep do you need?
9. Something nice that happened to you recently?

P.P.S. Good morning, beautiful! Happy Labor day to ya. Hope you’re enjoying a relaxing day off. 🤗

Good morning! How are you doing, friend? I hope these gorgeous pink lilies bring you some cheer today. They’re called “naked ladies” (or Belladonna Amaryllis), and they pop up in the Bay Area around this time of year. Beautiful, yes?

We just finished breakfast; I had a cup of coffee with a slice of homemade banana bread. My neighbor gave me a huge bunch of bananas last weekend, and so I made Sour Cream Banana Bread.

I doubled the amounts and popped it all in a bundt pan! It was SO easy to make and required very little effort.

Please ignore the wonky bits, LOL! Apparently I didn’t grease that section of the pan enough.

I went around giving slices to my neighbors and received five-star raves! Connor loves it, too. I’m definitely making it again soon. If you have ripe bananas (you’ll need about three) and sour cream around, give it a try.

Oh, I would like to note I reduced the sugar by a fourth because the bananas I used were very ripe. Doing that added just enough sweetness without taking it over the edge. I’m finding that as I get older, I don’t like things that are overly sweet. Anybody else notice this, too? It’s WILD to me because I’ve had a sweet tooth since I was a child. Weird how your taste buds change!

Your weekend reading

• Pat McGrath sent a DM to makeup artist Marcelo Gutierrez introducing herself, and then she offered him a plane ticket, a hotel room and the opportunity to help her on set.
• The five makeup essentials Sir John swears by.
• Dior has a new water-based version of J’adore.
• A swimming cap made specifically for natural Black hair has received official approval from the worldwide governing body for competitive swimming.
• Things that will help you grow your hair, according to a hair expert.
• Skin cycling is a thing.
• A.I.-powered pet translation apps are ALSO a thing.
• Where to visit internet famous cats in L.A. and beyond!

On a Harry Styles kick.

Kate Moss!

I’ve really been into crown braids.

Adding to my wishlist.

I’ve been low-key obsessed with him since the ’90s!

I desperately need this.

Yum!

Note to self.

These look so pretty!

Have a wonderful rest of your day and weekend.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Allure announced recently that they will cease printing the magazine and moving to an all-digital platform; the last print edition will be December 2022.

It was always one of my favorites, so this bums me out. I’m going to miss curling up on my couch with the latest edition and a cup of coffee on Saturday morning.

Truth be told, I’m not really surprised they made the move. With all the various social media platforms popping up in the last 10 years, beauty lovers have so many different avenues to get their beauty news, and print feels so slow compared to the quick fixes you can get online.

I still enjoy a really long, intensely researched beauty story; I also love having a physical item to hold while I read. I like the sensation of feeling the weight of a magazine in my hand and the pages between my fingertips. I also don’t always want to be staring at a screen all the time, you know?

Oh, and the ability to tear out pages! I’m so gonna miss that.

Magazines are disappearing. I’m glad, though, that I can still remember the feeling of getting new issues in the mail, or stocking up on them at the airport before a long flight.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

1. Red lips do so much heavy makeup lifting.

You totally have the option to phone the rest of your look in if ya want! With red lips, I know I can get away with wearing minimal makeup on the rest of my face — brows, mascara, concealer and bronzer.

2. There are so many different shades of red.

Blueish reds, orangey reds, reddish corals, pinkish reds, reddish browns… Seriously, SO MANY SHADES OF RED! Side note: do you tend to favor a certain type of red? Lately I’ve been into of reddish corals.

3. Red lips are classic, but at the same time they also say, “I can and will cut you if need be.”

I’m kinda kidding but also not. Red lipstick is a gentle reminder to the rest of the world that you are not to be messed with.

4. There’s always a new red to look forward to.

Some might say “there’s always a new red to covet,” and in my case, that’s so true. (Here’s looking at you, Dior 999.)

5. There are so many different levels of coverage and intensity.

Do you like sheer or full-on reds? I love an opaque, matte red myself!

6. Red lips are confident.

For me, red lipstick is a form of makeup armor. When I wear red lips, I feel like a gladiator who is ready to handle all the nonsense coming my way!

7. Red lips are unforgettable.

Oh, and if you live in the suburbs like I do where nobody hardly wears makeup or dresses up, they are especially unforgettable. The general fashion vibe in my town is Lululemon-slash-granola chic. I’m by no means fancy, but whenever I show up with red lips to a school or a dance studio function, I’m suddenly the “glamorous mom,” and I’m not mad about it.

Why do you love red lipstick?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen