Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

Happy Saturday to you, beautiful girl. Hope you feel well rested and calm. I’m headed to Home Depot in a few, so if you see a woman short circuiting in the bathroom accessories section, FYI, there’s a good chance that lady will be me.

Why can I easily pick out a red lipstick amongst hundreds of reds, but I can’t decide on a bathroom mirror when there’s only, like, three to choose from? I will never know.

This week’s reading

• Savory is the new sweet: meet the new wave of fresh, green scents that are taking over.
• Just in case you were looking for a perfume that smells like a fancy New York bistro from the ’90s.
• University of Hawaii professor Robert Littman hopes he’ll know for certain exactly what notes were in Cleopatra’s perfume.
• Defining clean beauty vs. green beauty.
• The right way to layer your skin-care ingredients, according to “Allure.”
• I don’t really keep up with baseball, but if you happen to be an A’s fan and are familiar with the Oakland Coliseum, FYI: “Feral cats have multiplied since the coronavirus and the kittens are running wild. The good news is the rat population has decreased substantially. The bad news is the cats are now gaining access to the inside of the Arena and are having a field day on the A’s turf, causing a nuisance.”

The moment I wake up…

Her version of “Fade Into You” is absolutely lovely.

I see you, Vera

What’s on your to-do list today? Please remember to take some time to relax and recover. You deserve rest!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I realized this morning while I was filling in my brows that I might be a little stuck, makeup wise.

For the past few days, I’ve tried to put more effort into makeup (beyond the brow pencil, mascara and tinted moisturizer I’ve been rocking for, oh, two years now), and I realized the last time I tried to evolve my skills was a while back — 2014!

I mean, I’m not doing a carved brow, false lashes or contouring my nose like I did daily back then, so my style has changed, for sure.

I’d really like to try something new, but I don’t know where to start. What I think might be missing is not knowing what’s current and modern for the style that I want to wear now. I’d like to find a way to do makeup that celebrates color — makeup that’s elegant and impactful but not overly done.

Take brows, for instance. What even is modern right now for brows? Whenever I’m out and about, I still see girls with intense, blocked-out brows straight outta 2012. Is it because new trends in the Bay Area take a while to catch on? Or are people still loving that type of look, and it’s me that’s changed?

Anywho, am I the only one who’s ever experienced this sort of mini makeup crisis of evolution? Maybe? Maybe not?

I think the first step will be to find inspirational photos. So maybe I’ll start with that.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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. Cream or powder eyeshadow?

I like ‘em both, but today let’s go with cream.

2. Last place you went shopping for beauty products?

Ulta. I bought shampoo and conditioner before leaving for Hawaii last month.

3. Do you have a set cleaning schedule?

No, but I could use one that listed chores by day, week and month. I’d especially love to find a realistic cleaning schedule for busy working moms! I looked online recently and just got annoyed; all the schedules seemed to disregard the time it takes to do other things like making dinner, getting kids ready for bedtime, prepping for the next day, etc.

4. What are the typical sounds in your neighborhood?

When there isn’t construction happening, the usual sounds are birds singing, turkeys gobbling (or fighting!) and the occasional dog barking. There’s a church around the corner that plays beautiful music at certain times of the day, too.

5. Cardio or weight lifting?

Weight lifting. I like the mental challenge!

6. What do you like to listen to when you’re driving?

Whatever’s on the radio station at the moment. Pop music if I’m feeling perky or yacht rock if I need something chill.

7. Do you cut or trim your cuticles?

Nope! I know people who do it, though, and it seems like a never-ending task.

8. How’d you sleep last night?

Actually pretty good considering we’re still on the couch. LOL! I didn’t move and empty out as many boxes as I wanted to last weekend, so we haven’t gotten around to setting up the beds yet. Hopefully this coming weekend that’ll all get sorted out.

9. Something nice that happened to you recently?

I clipped Rosie’s claws and she was actually really cooperative! She was super chill, so I rewarded her with lots of treats.

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. Cream or powder eyeshadow?
2. Last place you went shopping for beauty products?
3. Do you have a set cleaning schedule?
4. What are the typical sounds in your neighborhood?
5. Cardio or weight lifting?
6. What do you like to listen to when you’re driving?
7. Do you cut or trim your cuticles?
8. How’d you sleep last night?
9. Something nice that happened to you recently?

P.P.S. Hello, beautiful girl. Just a quick reminder – you’re doing great! 🤗

Happy Caturday, my friend. WE MADE IT. I’ve got a billion boxes to unpack this morning, but I wanted to pop in and say a quick hi. I hope your weekend is off to a great start.

This week’s reading

• “Vogue” editors share their hero makeup products. Note to self: grab the NYX eyebrow glue next time I’m at Ulta.
• A real life “Emily in Paris” walks you through how to get the French girl makeup look. Oui, oui!
• Food notes in perfume are a thing.
• The 100 greatest fragrances of all time, according to “WWD.” Do you see any of your favorites on the list?
• Speaking of scents, the fragrance industry has a complicated relationship with climate change.

What’s the plan for today? I hope you’re doing something relaxing.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hi, friend. Today’s the last day of the home renovation, and I’m hanging on by a thread. Granted it’s a very thin, very worn thread, but I’m still hanging on. 🙂

I’m so happy to finally say goodbye to the carpet and paint Tabs and Rosie so gleefully destroyed, and hello to brighter floors and walls. I’m also looking forward to making lots of new memories with my family in a fresh space.

Anywho, I just wanted to pop in and say a quick hello. I hope things on your side of the keyboard are well and that you are hydrated, moisturized and unbothered!

By the way, the pic at the top is one Connor and I took last night, right before she sang with her classmates in her school’s Easter chapel performance. The sun was in our eyes and so we were squinting; I didn’t realize we had such similar expressions until I saw this photo.

Have a great rest of your day, OK?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen