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

Oh, you guys. Parenting during a pandemic: it is not for the faint of heart. Like many people, El Hub and I have had to make some tough decisions about sending our kid back to school, so it’s been a rough week… So rough that even lipstick could barely get me through it. But you know. We’re brave. And we’re tough. And we can do things we never thought we could do, right? At least that’s what I keep telling myself 10 million times a day.

I’ve started doing this thing where I set reminders on my phone with my affirmations, so they pop up throughout the day, and I can just read them over and over again.

You know what they say — fake it ’til you make it.

You know what they also say? When the going get tough, the tough eat pasta, which is why you’re looking at that pasta picture at the top. (I should’ve probably intro’d with that, whoops!)

If any picture were able to convey that Connor is 100% her mother’s daughter, it would be this one…

Which reminds me, I made this lemon tagliatelle pasta from Laura in the Kitchen a few days ago…

I gave Connor her plate, stepped out of the room to go check something, and when I came back this was how she was eating her food. ?

We ate the pasta with parmesan basil salmon and a corn and basil tomato salad, which, by the way, was BOMB, and I’m happy to share it with you. I’ll have the recipe up in a few days!

• Sephora just launched a new clean makeup line, and every item is under $20.
• 13 Latina makeup brands to check out ASAP.
• You can find these 8 vegan-friendly makeup brands at the drugstore!
• Daniel Martin (a.k.a. Meghan Markle’s wedding day makeup artist) utilizes an unexpected everyday household item when he covers up pimples.
• Sephora’s Welcome Back Sale is live now online and in stores, and it allows you to buy more and save more; spending $75 or more gets you $15 off your entire order, and spending $100 or more means $20 off.
• Speaking of sales, Dermstore is having a big one right now.
• For the man in your life who has a taste for the finer things, Chanel is launching more makeup (and nail polish!) for dudes.
• Should you store your perfumes in the fridge?
• How hair salons are helping to clean up the Mauritius oil spill
• Why your nails are yellow, and how to combat it

So who’s gonna do this with me?!

I needed this.

I did this workout two times this week! It’s fast and fun, and you get nice and sweaty.

I say a little prayer for you, my friend.

Hope things are OK with you. Hang in there, OK?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Ya know, I go through phases. Sometimes, I’ll diligently wear makeup every day, and I’ll remember how much better I feel when my brows are combed and my lashes are curled and coated with mascara (at a minimum), but then for any number of reasons nowadays I’ll slip into a pit of semi-despair (sounds dramatic, but it feels that way sometimes) and forget to put any makeup for several days…

During those phases I’ll tend to also let other things slide, like I won’t do my hair, and I’ll rock wrinkly clothes that could easily double as pajamas.

Eventually, I snap out of it and realize, yet again, that when I put in a little effort and “show up for myself,” I feel better all around. So it’s cyclical, I guess.

One thing that helps me is reminding myself that I don’t have to don everything and the kitchen sink. Even a little bit of self-care counts and makes a big difference in my mood.

Sometimes I feel like I have to do “spicy” or “exciting” looks, partly out of habit, and sometimes just so I can talk about them here on MBB. But that can be overwhelming. Sometimes the very thought of spending an hour doing something elaborate is all the disincentive I need to not do anything at all, haha! And the cycle just keeps going… But if I do just a little, even just mascara, it will usually more easily lead me to do other things, and pretty soon I’ll have some face paint on and feel much better.

I’ve noticed this pattern echoing in other parts of my life, now that I think about it. Before The ‘Rona, I loved going to the gym and working out with my friends in HIIT class, but now I’m pretty much stuck working out by myself at home. ? When I was having trouble staying motivated (I mean when it was really bad a couple months ago), I investing in some cute workout clothes, which I hadn’t really done in ages, and it helped.

When I feel put together, I definitely push myself harder, even when I’m by myself.

How about you? Have you been wearing more or less makeup during quarantine?

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 five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start. ?

1. Claw clip or scrunchie?

Scrunchies-4-life, lady!

2. Speaking of scrunchies, do you actually wash yours?

I have about a handful of them and will throw them in the washer every couple weeks (or so), but back in the day when scrunchies were ubiquitous — when they were at the height of their scrunchie-ness — I did not.

This was gross, now that I think about it… I bet all of mine were crusted over with hairspray and L’Oréal Pumping Curls.

3. Benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid?

Benzoyl peroxide. It’s not revolutionary, but BP works for my skin!

4. Should your manicure match your pedicure?

Hmm… I prefer having different colors on my nails than I have on my toes, but cohesiveness is cool too!

5. When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes, and what did you use to clean them?

Last time was about a week and a half ago, and I used a bar of Dr. Bronner’s soap.

6. What’s harder — growing out your brows or growing out a bad haircut?

Ooh! They’re both challenging, but growing out brows are harder, methinks, because you can’t just put them in a ponytail or hide them underneath a hat… They’re just “there” in the middle of your face, staring at you every time you look in the mirror!

7. Something you actually like about your quarantine hair?

Sigh… I desperately need a haircut, but one thing my mop has going for it is that it’s still in relatively healthy shape. My ends aren’t dry, and my grays are relatively smooth.

8. Have you done any online shopping lately?

Yes! I bought some face masks last week for the family from a brand called Caraa (a friend recommended them), and I got Connor some clothes for fall from Target and Carters because the kid just keeps growing.

9. Y’all ready for this?

Heck, yeah, man. BRING IT!

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. Claw clip or scrunchie?
2. Speaking of scrunchies, do you actually wash yours?
3. Benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid?
4. Should your manicure match your pedicure?
5. When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes, and what did you use to clean them?
6. What’s harder — growing out your brows or growing out a bad haircut?
7. Something you actually like about your quarantine hair?
8. Have you done any online shopping lately?
9. Y’all ready for this?

P.P.S. Have a wonderful day! YOU DESERVE IT! Treat yourself to something nice this week, and hang in there! You can do it! ?

I was shocked — ABSOLUTELY FLABBERGASTED! — when I found out future Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Tom Brady doesn’t eat tomatoes, because I cannot comprehend life without tomatoes. ?

Why!?

Apparently, they can cause joint inflammation. Who knew?!

Well, too bad, Tom, because you are no longer invited to my house for lunch today, because I’m having homemade bruschetta.

I’ve been eating so. Many. Tomatoes. Lately. Like, obnoxious amounts of ’em because we have a couple of very productive tomato plants on the back deck. El Hub, otherwise known as “The Keeper of the Tomato Plants,” must’ve pleased the tomato gods this year, because they’ve blessed us with a profound amount of the fruit. And yup, tomatoes are fruit! (I’m full of fun facts this morning.)

We’re doing bruschetta, caprese salad, tomato basil pasta… Basically, if a dish contains tomatoes, chances are we’re eating it, and it’s been glorious!

One thing I’ve yet to try, though, is a tomato pie. A friend of mine on Facebook posted one she made, and I’m extremely curious about it. If you happen to have a recipe, please let me know. Or any other good tomato recipes too! — which reminds me, I need a tomato and grilled cheese sandwich, STAT. Maybe I’ll have one of those for lunch instead… Sorry, Tom Brady, you still aren’t invited. ?‍♀️

How about you? What are you up to today?

• Here’s how to find the perfect “my lip but better” shade.
• Budget beauty recommendations from 73-year-old makeup artist YouTuber Elise Marquam Jahns
• What does bridal beauty look like during a pandemic? Inquiring minds want to know…
• Press-on nails are baaaaaaack!
• 13 Black-owned nail polish brands to add to your paw paint collection.
• Alicia Keys is launching a new skin care brand.
• Apparently, CeraVe is a thing on TikTok.
• Cats are quarantine’s unlikely heroes. ?

This looks like fun.

Someone make me these ASAP.

It. Me.

Love this

Can’t help but sing along

Oh, my heavens!

The type of look I love to wear

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen