Just For Fun

1. Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm doubles as an improv face moisturizer.

I’ve been dangerously obsessed with this $19 lip balm lately (OK, yes, I get obsessed a lot).

It is SO GOOD, hella moisturizing, but not sticky though, and it tastes and smells like honey.

That’s pure win right there.

I keep a jar on my nightstand and put some on my lips at night before bed, and in the morning my lips always feel better.

But that’s not what I learned this week. This week, while I was resting in bed (Nurse Tabs was supervising), I learned that Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm is also a boon for sore noses.

This cold I’ve had has done a number on my nostrils. 🙁 But last night I was too tired to get up out of bed and get my face moisturizer from the bathroom…so I applied a little Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm around my nostrils instead.

Um, wow? They felt much better, and now that I think about, Nuxe Rêve is probably also a totally kick-@ss cuticle softener (note to self: give this a try).

2. A fab foundation find/combo!

This was just a happy makeup accident earlier this week. Even though I’ve been really liking the new NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation, I was feeling like Stromboli, the color that most closely matches my neck, was still just a little too yellow for me.

So I mixed it with L’Oreal’s True Match Lumi (the shade I wear is called Sun Beige) to get a closer match.

Wonderfulness ensued.

The two of them together are all kinds of magical. Good on their own, they’re even better mixed together. They turn into a super foundation! Both are already lightweight with a natural-looking finish and great coverage, but mixing them together turns everything up a notch.

I mix equal parts of each (about half a pump) on the back of my hand, and then apply that to my face with my fingers. Then I gently pat it down with a damp BeautyBlender.

It covers just about everything but still looks natural, and I can even skip pore-smoothing primer beforehand.

3. When a torrent of snot is streaming out of my nostrils, the last thing in the world I want to do is wear gloss or lipstick.

Lipstick and/or lipgloss + boogers + Kleenex = hot mess.

Do not go there.

I thought I’d test some lipgloss the other day while I was mostly laid up in bed (watching Lifetime), but I kept accidentally touching my lips with the Kleenix every five minutes.

Agh!
[Continue reading…]

Tabby snuggles, hot tea with lemon and honey, Chinese food (specifically honey walnut shrimp), being babied, heavy-duty face cream (for the skin around my nose, which invariably becomes dry and sore from all the sniffling and blowing) and Lifetime movies (like William & Kate on Netflix, which I felt a little better after watching), baggy sweatpants, because seriously, who wants to wear form-fitting clothing with a runny nose?

Oh, and warm socks… I like to put Vicks VapoRub on the soles of my feet and then pull on a pair of warm socks.

Don’t ask me why. I don’t know. I just like it.

Other stuff that helps: Cold-EEZE, Emergen-C, Throat Coat tea, Ricola cough drops and an almost scaldingly hot shower before bed.

What are some things that make you feel better when you have a cold?

Your friendly neighborhood, still sniffling beauty addict,

Karen

Sir John, @sjblife

Oh, ya know, just another day at the office doing Beyonce’s makeup… YEAH. Bey pops up on Sir John’s (that’s his real name) Instagram feed all the time, like it ain’t no thing, as do models Jourdan Dunn, Joan Smalls (that contour tho!!) and Chrissy Teigen.

Kate Lee, @kateleemakeup

First of all, homegirl posts cat lady-approved quotes like “Happy is the home with at least one cat” (from an Italian proverb) and “The smallest feline is a masterpiece” (by Leonardo da Vinci).

So true. 🙂

Second, her red carpet looks, like the ones she does for Chanel on Keira Knightly, are to die for. Elegant, and never overdone.

She also just seems like she’d be fun to hang out with (see: this post and this).

Victor Cembellin, @victorcembellin

I have mad love for Victor! He’s a senior MAC makeup artist for North America and one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. I’m regularly floored by his makeup looks, like when this pic popped up on my feed? HIGHLIGHTS LIKE WHOA!

His Instagram is a mix of behind-the-scenes updates, beautiful makeup (of course) and travel, all seasoned with silliness and fun.
[Continue reading…]

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.

1. Do you belong to any of those beauty subscription services (Birchbox, Glossybox, Julep Maven, etc.)?
   Alas, no. But you’d think I would, me being the beauty junkie I am.

   It’s just…I’m kind of uncomfortable with the element of randomness. I know I wouldn’t use 99% of the things in there, and I need to have control over the situation… It’s an issue.

2. Do you ever stop to compliment strangers on their makeup?
   YES! And I think it really freaks them out, especially the guys, but with guys it’s usually just brows.

   The last time it happened, El Hub and I were at the movies. A young man was ringing up my popcorn, and I was staring at his eyebrows, which were really full and lush-looking and perfect, so I said, “Dude, your brows are kinda killer,” and he stopped and sort of laughed and was like, “Thanks, I got them waxed at Benefit today.”

   El Hub was mortified, but I couldn’t resist. The kid’s brows were amazing!

3. Bowl cut or mullet?
   Oh, gosh… Well, if I have to pick one, I suppose I’ll go with the bowl cut, because at least that way my hair will move with me when I whip my head around, and I like that idea. And it would also accentuate my blush and contouring, if I did some.

   No hats either. I mean, if you have a bowl cut, you have to show it off. That’s the rules.

4. Have you ever given your pets a Valentine’s Day gift or card?
   I’m almost ashamed to say this, but I don’t think I have; however, Tabs has given cards to El Hub to show his love and appreciation.

   But for me to get a card from Tabs, it would have to mean that El Hub got the card on his behalf, which has yet to happen.

5. How’s your comedic timing?
   Well, my life is a comedy of errors, so I think it’s pretty good! 🙂

   No, really, I think it’s decent.

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

1. Do you belong to any of those beauty subscription services (Birchbox, Glossybox, Julep Maven, etc.)?
2. Do you ever stop and compliment strangers on their makeup?
3. Bowl cut or mullet?
4. Have you ever given your pets a Valentine’s Day gift or card?
5. How’s your comedic timing?

Ugh, I have weekend hangover…

Not because we partied hardy or anything, but I had such a fun, relaxing weekend, and I’m a little sad to see it go.

But that doesn’t mean today can’t also be good.

Whatever you’re up to, I hope things are going well and that your nails aren’t chipped. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

1. Trader Joe’s Vanilla and Cinnamon Black Tea

The Trader Joe’s brand teas! — especially the seasonal ones that come out around holidays. Every Xmas I hoard and stockpile a few boxes of the Vanilla and Cinnamon Black Tea and Candy Cane Green Tea (YUM!), and then obsessively ration them.

I believe I shall make a cuppa right now (lol, someone’s been watching BBC lately).

2. Tabbies

I got mad love for all teh kittehs, but due to my current employment situation…husky tabby boys are my faves. 🙂

3. Organic Raspberry Leaf Tea by Traditional Medicinals

Otherwise known as “PMS Tea” around these parts, it improves my mood when my hormones are acting like irrational toddlers behind the wheel of a tractor trailer truck, if ya know what I mean.

4. Cute tea pots and cups

I have a couple of cute, dainty pots and cups but rarely use them because I’m partial to huge mugs.

Since we’re on the subject, though, did you ever have a toy tea set when you were a kid? I did! And I used to love playtime with tea.

Wish I could remember what happened to that thing…

5. Tom Ford Beauty

“T” for Tom Ford. 🙂 Don’t even get me started on Tom.

African Violet Nail Polish, Cognac Sable Eye Quad, Negligee Lipstick, the Unabashed Palette, and oh! — that crazy expensive, utterly epic brow filler I’ve worn down to the nub.

Oh, Tom…
[Continue reading…]