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

Good to the Very Last Drop: Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 | PA+++

January 25th, 2016 by Karen 22 Comments

Stick-to-itiveness. That’s what I don’t have when it comes to a lot of beauty products.

OK, I TRY A LOT OF BEAUTY PRODUCTS, ALRIGHT!? And it’s rare when I stick with one thing long enough to finish it, but that’s what I did with this sunscreen by Murad. It’s called Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 | PA+++, and it carried me through completely different climates and seasons. I started wearing it in the summer when we were having hella 90-degree days, then wore it through the fall and well into winter.

And back when it was still warm here, I was spending a lot of time outside — lots of walking and working out — and when I wore this, it stayed where it belonged. It would never, like… You know how some sunscreens get into your eyes and STING when you start sweating? Not this stuff. It stays put, and the SPF certainly appears to have worked, because I tan easily — my skin picks up color after just few minutes outside — but this year I didn’t tan as much as I usually do.

I wish it wasn’t $60 for a 1.7-oz. tube, but at least it lasted six months, and that’s with me using it every day. It’s just a lovely, dependable sunscreen with UVA/UVB protection and antioxidants that are supposed to soothe stressed out skin and help with firmness and hyperpigmentation.

I didn’t really pay close attention to those things while I used it… I probably could/should have tracked my progress by taking pictures of my skin every few days, but I can confidently say that the hyperpigmentnation on my upper cheeks hasn’t gotten worse.

murad-essential-c-day-moisture-3-final — Active ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5%, Homosalate 6.5%, Octisalate 5%, Avobenzone 3%, Oxybenzone 2%

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 358

January 25th, 2016 by Karen 36 Comments

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.

Assuming you had to choose one (“neither” is not an option), would you rather wear a pink business suit or a leopard-print business suit to the office?
Alright, I’ll play your playfully twisted game, Ms. Karen. 🙂 I’ll go with the pink business suit if I can get it cut well and tailored to fit my eight-month pregnant self, HAHA! — ideally, in either a soft blush or rich, warm hot pink…

The leopard print is also tempting…but I’m thinking that Cookie Lyon from Empire is the only person who could successfully pull that off and make it look legit.

My heart melts when I see ______.
1. Kittens awkwardly padding around with their fluffy feet, aww! (Side note: I wish I’d known Tabs when he was a tiny baby cat. He must have been the cutest kitten.)
2. Dads holding sleeping babies.
3. Pictures of me and my brother together, and pics of me and my friends when we were kids.
Have you ever worn safety pins as a fashion accessory?
No, I was never cool enough to pull it off. I do have a cousin Beverly, though, who rocked the look and rocked it well. She’d line the sides of her jeans with big silver safety pins, and it looked really cool.

Doughnuts or cake?
Abstolutely. Yes. All you can spare. 🙂

But if I have to pick one or the other…cake, with lots of layers and yummy frosting, because I’m not into frosting that doesn’t have any flavor.

Mmm… And if I happen to be having this cake while I’m not pregs, I would very much like to wash it down with champagne please.

What are some of your nicknames?
K-dawg, Sweetie, Karonie and Katie.

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

1. Assuming you had to choose one (“neither” is not an option), would you rather wear a pink business suit or a leopard-print business suit to work?
2. My heart melts when I see ______.
3. Have you ever worn safety pins as a fashion accessory?
4. Doughnuts or cake?
5. What are some of your nicknames?

Good morning, glory! You know what word I like, even though it’s a word for something that isn’t great? “Inclement,” like inclement weather, which a lot of the U.S. is having. I hope it’s not too bad where you are…

Oh, here’s something you might like: a SoundCloud playlist called Focused Work. Give this one a listen next time you have to concentrate on something.

Happy Monday, my friend. Stay warm, and have a good one.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 382

January 24th, 2016 by Karen 12 Comments

Dear Diary,

I’m baaack! Guess who returned from the islands feeling refreshed and renewed? This cat right here.

I’m still going through some vacation withdrawals, so bear with me if I occassionally lapse into a Hawaiian chant or get up to do the hula.

Actually, I’m more of a Tahitian dancer myself… I’m all about the hips.

I had grand plans to spend last Friday recovering from my vacation, haha, but alas, I was thwarted. My two assistants (damn them) conspired against me.

OK, I’m being dramatic. (What? Me, dramatic?) It was time for my annual checkup and, purr usual, it was a whole Jason Bourne-caliber situation to get me there because my two assistants know that as much as I love taking care of this body, I hate taking it to the vet. So, they deceived me under the guise of “going to Nordstrom.” I happily entered my cat carrier thinking that I was going to be able to pick up some Burberry or Prada, but then we pulled up to the Mill Valley Cat Clinic instead…

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Makeup I Wore Today

January 22nd, 2016 by Karen 25 Comments

Guess what…? Today I wore absolutely no beige or brown on my lids.

I know! Small victories.

And I also managed to refrain (for once) from wearing a nude lip.

I went with mauve and taupe eyes with glowing, bronzed matte cheeks (no blush today, which is something new for me) and a matte pinkish coral lip. Nothing too complicated, but there’s still a little color up in the mix, which makes me happy. 🙂

Le stuff…
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Yeah, It’s Time to Highlight These Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powders

January 22nd, 2016 by Karen 19 Comments

Whenever I think of Hourglass makeup, I think of elegance…refinement…and makeup that’s friggin’ beautiful, and their four new $38 Ambient Strobe Lighting Powders evoke the living daylights out of all three of those things (I also talk about them briefly in this 5 Things I’m Loving Lately video).

To me, this is highlighting done so incredibly right.

hourglass ambient strobe lighting powder 2 — The four new Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powders

hourglass ambient strobe lighting powder brilliant — Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder in Brilliant Strobe Light

I admit it: I get persnickety sometimes about my powder highlighters because, ya know, when you’re a woman of a certain age, the metallic ones? — even though they’re lovely, dramatic and ever-so eye-catching, they can also be a bear to work with when the frosty flecks go snorkeling in your pores and fine lines, and they end up highlighting all the stuff that you actually didn’t want to highlight at all…

hourglass ambient strobe lighting powder euphoric — Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder in Euphoric Strobe Light

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5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

January 22nd, 2016 by Karen 23 Comments

There should be a video right up here in this post, but if it isn’t appearing for any reason, you can click here to watch it on YouTube.

You wouldn’t think that hair ties would be something to be particular about, but I’m so particular about my hair ties. They can’t give me a headache; I don’t want them to leave a weird bend in my hair; I don’t want them to snag my hair, and these Tony Ties by Mia don’t do any of those things. They’re my new favorite hair ties, and I love them so much that I packed them away to bring with me to the hospital on B-day (birth day).

That’s when you know your love for something is real deal — when you’re willing to go into labor for an unspecified amount of time with it…

Here are five things (one of them’s a combo) I’ve been loving lately. How about you? What are some things you’ve been loving too?

Mia Beauty Tony Ties ($5 for a pack of three)
- Bobbi Brown Natural Brow Shaper & Hair Touch Up in Brunette ($24)
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel ($22)
- MAC Eye Shadow in Brun ($16)
T3 BodyWaver 1.75 Professional Curling Iron ($149)
Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder ($38)
Jackie Aina (lilpumpkinpie05 on YouTube)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Carter’s Baby Clothes and Possible Future Outfits of the Day?

January 21st, 2016 by Karen 34 Comments

I’ve been advised by well-meaning friends and family members to refrain from buying too many baby outfits and clothes, despite the powerful urge, because clothes are usually what friends and family end up gifting ya…and everything ends up with poop and spit-up on it anyway, buuuuuuut Carter’s was having an online sale last week (it might still be going on), and when I saw these cute clothes — gah! — I couldn’t resist.

I just want a few newborn baby pics of BG (Baby Girl) wearing things that I picked out for her, since I know there will come a time in the not-too-distant future when she’ll refuse to let me dress her.

*Tears* I know, I’m getting ahead of myself… All I can say is that I’m extra hormonal, and the thought of her eventually not needing her mommy’s help is making me weepy. 🙁

Anyways, thanks to the gals who recommended these baby gowns with the elastic at the bottom. I never knew such a thing existed, and I think they’ll come in really handy for middle-of-the-night changes.

Carter’s also had matching hats, mittens and teeny, tiny baby socks (!), so of course I had to go there…

I also got BG a few of these one-piece outfits with snaps (Carter’s calls them “Sleep and Plays”) because they were the babiest of the baby clothes, LOL!

Yes, the baby outfits that look like baby-sized versions of grownup clothing are cute and all, but I also want her to look like an actual…ya know…baby, for as long as possible.

If she cooperates (and if Tabs allows her to share the spotlight), maybe she’ll even star in a few Outfit of the Day posts. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I’m sorry that I haven’t been posting as much as usual this week, but I’ve been extra tired and achy (my back and my lady parts, especially!). This whole growing a tiny human thing is pretty exhausting…