Can you believe it’s September? I can’t. It’s already the first month of fall! That’s craziness. Time really doesn’t give an eff how topsy-turvy the world gets. It just keeps on keepin’ on…
I guess makeup is kinda similar in a way… The world around us may be b-a-n-a-n-a-s, but you can count on that pan of Stila cream blush to keep doing its thing.
Speaking of Stila, their makeup has been a nice respite from the stress of this summer, which so far has been a era in which I’ve been doing things I never thought I would, like drafting a six-page family pandemic emergency response plan, or writing a pros/cons list to send Connor back to preschool — a list that includes Health Department metrics for COVID.
Like I said, bananas! ?
But blush is just blush. Nothing more, nothing less. And there’s something comforting about that.
Here are some of my faves from Stila I’ve been having fun with this summer…
Convertible Color in Peony and Gerbera, $25 each
This creamy blush blends seamless gradients and dries to a satin finish, all while adding soft, translucent color to cheeks. My pick for tanned and darker skin is Peony, a brownish rose, which I adore and have been wearing a ton for 5-minute makeup looks. If your skin is lighter than mine, try Gerbera, a rosy peachy pink.
Complete Harmony Lip & Cheek Stick in Sheer Gerbera, Sheer Lilium and Sheer Peony, $26 each
Like the Convertible Colors, these twist-up cream sticks can be worn on cheeks and lips. They’re like a less expensive NARS Multiple, but much sheerer ($26 vs. $39), so if you’re into barely-there, natural-looking cheeks and lips and a matte finish, they just might be your new favorite thing.
Double Dip Suede Shade & Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows in Camera Ready, $24
I’m a little obsessed with this long-wearing cream shadow duo, which comes with a velvety matte purple on one side and a glittery purple on the other, because it’s one of the fastest ways I know to do an easy colorful look. Start by sweeping the velvety matte from your lash line and fading up toward the crease and brow bone. Then push the glitter toward the base of your lashes before coating them with mascara. Takes all but five minutes!
Heaven’s Hue Highlighter in Bronze, $32
Creamy and soft to the touch (so easy to blend with just fingers!), this golden bronze highlighting powder lights up skin with a warm, shimmery glow.
In the Buff Powder Spray in Illuminating, $15
This luminous, loose setting spray comes in a spray pump. So fun! I like to dab a little on top of matte cream blushes to set them without altering the color, while also adding the tiniest touch of barely-there shine.
Magnum XXX Mascara, $23
This one’s for long, separated lashes with lots of curl, and it lifts and layers well, too.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I used to love Stila convertible color. I keep wanting to get another but shopping on-line for color products is hard. Your swatches and descriptions help a lot. I might try to find one of the Completer Harmony Lip & Cheek sticks. Sheer colors are my thing these days.
BTW, did you really draft a six-page family pandemic emergency response plan? Uhhh, … yet another assignment I forgot to do and hand in. We’ve been winging it in this family. Although when the CZU Lightning complex fire broke out I did make a list and start packing the important essentials to take in case of evacuation. Dear Husband thought I was crazy, but said if it made me feel better go ahead and do it. He still thinks I’m crazy.
Yes, I really did draft a six-page pandemic response plan, and after El Hub read it, he gave me a hug and said, “This is a work of art. A WORK OF ART.” It’s six pages because it’s crazy detailed. I have all our phone numbers, charts to track symptoms and temperature (thanks Kaiser!), info on which of our rooms/cars will be designated for quarantine, the flow of how we’re going to watch Connor, food prep… seriously, so many things. Hmmm, I think I may have missed my calling, because formulating the plan totally lit me up. I don’t know what jobs involve doing the logic for very detailed “if this happens, then we do this” scenarios, but I think I would love it!
I don’t think you were crazy to have all of your important items available. Fire season is so scary, and we have so very little control over anything. Knowing that you can at least control one aspect is very comforting, I think.
I’m proud of you for sitting down and doing that. My brain just doesn’t work that way and ties itself in knots just thinking about some of the “what-ifs”. I need a friend like you! I’m really glad El Hubs appreciated it.
Like I said, Dear Husband still thinks I’m crazy for rounding up medicines, important papers and jewelry. I didn’t even get to clothes or think what makeup, perfume or nail polish I might take with me. We have so many books, I’m sure this house would go up in flames in a nano-second. Not too mention the neighbor’s oak tree which mostly hangs over our property and brushes our roof. Constant, on going fight to get that tree trimmed back.
And if you ever want a list of careers that need detail oriented, logic based thinking, let me know. I’m pretty sure we could come up with a decent list together.
I will happily help you untie any knots if you have any! Seriously. I find that it helps to do a brain dump first all over a blank page, then take that info you have, then do a mind map with connected items. After the mind map is made, then you can go into the actual written details, and proceed with the “if-thens.”
I think, though, that a HUGE part of not getting stuck is giving yourself the room to revise and make mistakes. If there’s something that I haven’t worked out yet, I’ll do as much as I can, then I’ll write in a draft document to denote that it still needs to be revised, usually with a visual marker that involves brackets and caps. [IT WILL USUALLY LOOK LIKE THIS AND WILL SAY, STILL NOT WORKED OUT COMPLETELY, WILL REVISE LATER.]
It also helps to think of your items creatively! It’s very freeing to think of the weirdest or most extreme answers to your “if-thens.” It’s a little less daunting that way, and you can dream up some interesting solutions.
Hope this makes sense (I’m not sure if it does…I’ve had WAAAAY too much coffee today and I’m about to buzz out of my chair.)
And I would love, LOVE to brainstorm a list of careers.
P.S. I got your email about the equipment and just haven’t had the chance to answer yet! Thank you for all of the recommendations!
I’m ready to convert to all/mostly creams in my makeup kit! This is a great starter guide. Although it’s funny that the more I experiment with new makeup, I realize the LESS I need to look put together!
Speaking of, I thought of you when I saw this Aug. 31, 2020 YouTube tute from one of my favorite makeup people, Sonjdra Deluxe. It’s a five-minute “Mom” look, to which she added a ten-minute, glam option. I think you’ll like it and can use all of the products in this post!
“5 MIN BUSY MOM GLAM EASY AND PRACTICAL | SONJDRADELUXE”
Awesome, thank you! I used to follow her back in the day so I look forward to seeing her tutorial. Does she use creams?!
Still using powders but pretty sure the tute can be adapted for creams. She didn’t use her hands as much in this one but that’s probably because she was applying to her friend, though I’ve seen her use her hands on her mom and sister. That family’s GENES, omg!!
Based on your detailed plan (a/k/a your WORK OF ART!), you’d probably make a terrific astronaut! I would think that they’re constantly operating via protocol and protocol for the protocol; and back up protocols for the back up protocols.
Funny, I used to want to be an astronaut when I was a kid. I think I might be a little too late for that boat, though?! I do love it when creativity collides with the science. My favorite line from “The Martian” (have you seen it?) is when Matt Damon’s character, an astronaut who is stuck on Mars says, “I’m going to have to science the sh*t out of this.”
On a somewhat related note I almost wrote Matt Damon as “Matte Damon.” LMAO
That eye shadow is so pretty! I usually don’t use much color on my eyes other than what looks close to my own natural skin tone, but seeing this and how it looks on you is tempting me to try it for myself! It really looks pretty and simple to use is my only attempt at putting make up on these days.
That’s a lot of pink! 🙂 It’s starting to cool down here so my mind is running toward darker, fall colors. It’s nice to see bright, happy, flower-inspired products/names.
Great work on the plan and I’m glad El Hub was so complementary! I’m not sure what that job would be either, but it sounds like you’d love it. 🙂
Did you say what you decided about Connor and pre-school? Or did you have to decide yet? It was 2 weeks ago for us and school starts on Tuesday. I just read that NYC was pushed back to the 21st. I know different parts of the country have different schedules but I don’t have a very good sense of it.
I take great comfort in makeup as well these days, it makes me feel in control of how I confront the world when everything else seems uncontrollable.