Smashbox Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss in Hibiscus
Dear Self,
Please keep in mind these notes on lipgloss and life, and hold on to them when you’re feeling sad or yucky.
Remember…
…that you can always change your circumstances. It’s not always as easy as changing your lipgloss, but sometimes it’s the smallest changes that make the biggest impact (see: the Smashbox Shades of Fame Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss Set, $29, which includes five tiny travel-size glosses).
If you’re lonely, reach out! Put those fingers to work, and email, tweet or text a friend or coworker. Maybe make a lunch date.
When you start feeling like you’re stuck in a rut, shake things up! There are BIG shakes, like planning a trip, so you have something fun to look forward to, and little shakes, like committing to do just one thing differently today, even if it’s just walking down a street in your neighborhood that you’ve never explored before.
Always remember that you’re not alone, even when you feel lonely. The pressure you sometimes feel to be funny, creative and interesting, the doubt, the constant wondering if you’ll be able to think of exciting new ways to call something “neutral” or “nude.”
People understand that you’re only human; no one can be on all the time.
Remember what works for you, and write like a crazy person! Write with reckless abandon. Write as fast as you can! Don’t worry about word counts, deadlines and cutting stuff down, because you can deal with all of that stuff later.
Remember that you have the power to change your point of view. See silver linings, and welcome new challenges with open arms and a positive attitude.
Remember that you can do this. You can write raw, and you can write real.
Remember that everyone sees the same things in different ways. Some might see the five tubes in the Smashbox Shades of Fame Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss Set, and think, “Meh, just another limited edition batch of standard summer glosses…”
They may not get beyond the surface details, like how thick and sticky these feel, how moisturizing they are (very), their light vanilla flavor and scent, sheer-to-medium pigment or their three-hour wear time.
Others might see the same glosses, however, and think, “Wow… Lipgloss is kinda like life.”
Sometimes, it’s all sparkly and beautiful and everything you ever wanted it to be. Other times, it’s gritty, and not at all what you expected. Sometimes, it disappears too fast, or you get your hair stuck in it, and that really sucks … especially if you’re on a bicycle without brakes (been there, done that).
Papaya
Candy
Star
Buff
Shades of Fame Reflection High Shine Lip Glosses from the left: Candy, Buff, Hibiscus, Papaya and Star
Shades of Fame Lip Glosses from the left: Candy, Buff, Hibiscus, Papaya and Star
Sometimes, it’s (life/lipgloss) more than enough, and sometimes it isn’t. And some days, you’ll be holding a tube and feeling great; other days, you won’t.
But there will always be better days, just like there will always be lipgloss (God willing). Just know that. And keep smiling. 🙂 You’ll get there.
PRICE: $29 (a $55 value)
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Sephora stores and sephora.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A- (I wish the tubes were a little larger, but otherwise I think they’re great)
And speaking of getting there…
I’m doing a race for the first time since 2003 (Yikes! Has it been that long?) — the San Francisco Bay to Breakers! It’s a 7.46-mile course that winds through the city, and I’ll be walking it with my friend Marisol in a couple of weeks.
I just got my number in the mail a few days ago. 🙂
I did the B2B a few times, but the last time was years ago. Other than the year it rained (I can’t stand running in wet, squishy socks) and the time I had a hangover (!), it’s always been fun.
Great energy from the crowd, too, because some of the participants run in costumes (or in the nude)!
If you’re planning to participate, please tell me you’ll be fully clothed… I mean, props to you if you can work it au naturale, but I can’t imagine running or walking over 7 miles with the girls unsupported and flopping all over the place. Oh, hell no.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
These look much too sheer for my liking.
Okay, I thought I was the only one who had the “like hair sticking to my lips” issue. That is the only reason why I own one tube Dazzleglass. But now that you put things in a whole new light, maybe I can flip the script, put my hair in ponytails this summer and embrace the glossy stickyness. =)
My jaw dropped when I read about the nude runners. I’ve never participated or attended a race as a spectator to see this type of spectacle happen. LOL
Hi Angela,
The Bay to Breakers can get kinda crazy! It used to be more of a party, although I think the mood might’ve shifted since the organizers have banned floats and booze. It’s always good energy though!
How long have you been doing races?
I freaking LOVE your whole look! And I love Papaya and Hibiscus–$29 definitely aint bad, I’ll be grabbing one of these next week! I need some new glosses, anyway 😀
Thanks Becca!
Hope you like these. Let me know what you think after you try ’em out.
… and that’s why I wear makeup everyday to work, regardless of whether no one will see it or comment on it (I work in a male dominated company) … because it’s for me! It’s important to care about how I look… otherwise I would just go to work dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers. 🙂
It’s my “me” thing. That and cute summer dresses! Which would go perfectly with this lipgloss set. 😉
Hi Nina,
Amen to that! 🙂 Oh, and you can’t forget the cute shoes to go with the summer dresses!
Yay for shoes! My friend sent me a pair of cute summer sandals in bright orange!!! Havent worn `em but I cannot wait!
The lipglosses look cute. It’s true that changing up your routine can be just what is needed. I know that I don’t like running the same route or doing the same exact thing every day for exercise. I like to change it up. Sometimes just doing cute eye makeup or taking the time to do something pretty with my hair is just what is needed for a mood boost. Other times it’s a great workout, and great body lotion post-shower.
One of the little things in life that has recently helped me be happier each day is my Sunny Knockout Rose. It grows like a monster and produces beautiful yellow roses all year long (last year it produced flowers till Christmas!). You don’t have to do much to take care of them and they look happy and smell amazing. I use the petals of cut flowers to make rose water to soothe irritated skin.
Hi Katherine G,
I have to do some work on my deck planters…those roses sound like a good choice for one of my pots! 😀 Thanks for the idea.
How was your Monday? Hopefully your week is off to a good start.
Hi. Happy Monday. I almost picked these up at Sephora last week, but my 6 year old daughter said “Mom, I think you have enough lipgloss.” So I put them back. But can you really ever have too many lipglosses?
Hi Kelly,
Happy Monday to you too. 🙂
Your daughter sounds adorable. I love seeing moms with their girls shopping together at Sephora…it just warms my heart. Does she every try to play with your makeup?
No, she knows better not to touch my makeup. Haha just kidding. Every time we go to Sephora she has to get a spritz of perfume on one of those sticks, and I spray her arms with Tarina Tarantinos body glitter. I always tell her that she is beautiful and that she doesn’t need makeup because she is perfect just the way she is.
I love your writing, Karen. It’s why your blog is the best!
Hi Marian,
You’re so sweet. Thank you for that. 🙂
Hope you had a great Monday, and that the afghan you’re making for your daughter is coming along nicely.
Karen I loved every single thing about this post :). I have no idea how you incorporated such an honest and inspiring peek of your life into a lipgloss review, but that’s exactly why I keep reading
I agree with Christine! This post is so, so great. I love it, love your blog and just think you’re the BEST. Thank you, Karen!!
So jealous that you have your number. I’m picking it up at the expo. Got any ideas for a costume? I know that you’ll come up with something fabulous.
Well, hello there! Congrats on entering the race – I’m sure you’ll have a great time. 🙂
Also, just so you know, even on your worst day, you have more writing ability than 99% of the population. AND just about every lipgloss color on earth looks good on you, to boot. Happy Tuesday!! 🙂
Karen, I just love this entry. I love how you’re so real with us, I feel like you’re a close friend far away! Thanks for this encouragement and reminder to be easy on ourselves and stay strong, even if we might not be feeling it. Here, here!
And major props to your run! I can’t IMAGINE people running in the nude. Lawd, running unsupported? No thank you 🙂
Karen, I know you wrote this post quite a few days ago, and I’m just catching up on on my blogs — but I wanted to let you know that your post was the thing I needed today/this week. So thank you for writing it! Great post, and these look really cute.