Archives July 2023

I feel like every woman (and every young boy who likes makeup; yes, I understand you’re out there, as well as I like you!!!) has a default makeup look they turn to whenever they requirement to feel just straight-up pretty…and that’s certainly what I needed this morning since I woke up exhausted today, dude!

For real, I got like two seconds of sleep last night. The wind was crazy loud as well as howled all night long (“Awooooo!”), which terminated up Tabs, who consequently spent the entire evening running circuits around the bedroom, knocking stuff off the dressers, climbing around my boobs as well as typically doing naughty tabby things.

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That darned cat! If he wasn’t so adorably squishy, I’d be raging mad at him best now.

I like THIS FOOL
Needless to say, I needed a pick-me-up this morning, so I figured, heck, why refrain from doing something makeup-wise that I truly like to wear, so I ended up doing my preferred look to wear in the whole broad world — brown smokey eyes, pink cheeks, pink lips.

Yep, mah standby.

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Key products I’m using in this look

Key products…

NARS Lipgloss in Turkish Delight

Ardency Inn Lipstick in youngsters in America

MAC Lip Pencil in edge to Edge

Rimmel natural Bronzer in 002 sun Bronze

Sephora MicroSmooth Baked shaping Trio in Sublime

NARS double intensity blush in Adoration (I mixed the two shades together)

theBalm nude Dude volume 2 combination (Fearless as a base around the lids, perfect in the crease, fantastic in the inner corners as well as fine on the lids; I likewise mixed in some warm orangey brown MAC Eye shadow in structure in the crease to warm things up a little)

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Question for you: what’s your go-to makeup look — the one you turn to when you requirement a increase and/or want to feel like the very best version of yourself? Inquiring minds want to know!

Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen

The makeup and appeal blog Monday Poll for March 2, 2015
You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s a lot more of a regularly 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 took pleasure in reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you take pleasure in reading mine.

What do you think your makeup style says about you?
I don’t know. half the time when I’m out and about, it’s probably saying, “This girl’s in a rush! maybe that’s why she’s wearing sparkly Chanel eyeshadow and bright lipstick,” because when you do those two things, you can absolutely cheat on everything else.

But when I do have time, I think my makeup style says, “Ooh! This girl loves smokey eyes and looking elegant but never overdone.”

Do you have any food allergies?
No, my goat tum can manage anything and everything!

Except for certain herbs. Maybe. I think I might be slightly allergic to cilantro and/or parsley, because often I’ll get hives on my face after eating them.

But it doesn’t happen all the time, which is weird, so I’m not sure. When it does, though, I get big-honkin’ welts and hives…which I know sounds absolutely gross, but they go away in 15 or 20 minutes.

Now, if my eyes completely swell up one day, I’ll probably start taking it a little a lot more seriously, but for now, I may or may not be slightly allergic to certain herbs.

What were you doing at 3 p.m. yesterday?
I was putting on makeup and wasn’t even close to being ready. I was also telling El Hub, “I’ll be ready in 5 minutes.” LOL!

Because we had a Sunday afternoon/early evening date for dinner and a movie, and the motion picture time was 4:10, so I thought, yeah, I’ll have enough time, blah, blah, blah…

And you know what normally happens next. I didn’t estimate the time well, so I ended up throwing on some stuff at the last minute. El Hub was halfway out the door and yelling, “I’ll be in the car!” and I was like, “OK, I’ll be ready in 5 minutes!” but I hadn’t even changed yet.

What do you hope to be doing at 3 p.m. today?
I’m hoping I’ll be doing the opposite thing today. I’m hoping I’ll be taking off my makeup at 3 (doubtful) so I can run on the treadmill a little later on, even though I don’t know if that’s the best idea because my legs are still incredibly sore from spin class on Saturday.

What’s your goes-with-everything eyeshadow shade?
By the look of the sad pan with the big empty circle in the middle, it’s matte brown MAC Cork.

Not the most exciting answer, but it’s true because I can wear it with just about every single look, whether with warm or amazing shades.

Since it’s not too amazing toned, it doesn’t look gray or ashy on me (I’m warm toned), and it’s not too warm either, so it doesn’t venture into orange territory.

I generally use it as a transition color and to carve out the crease, but I also just love how it blends.

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

1. What do you think your makeup style says about you?
2. Do you have any food allergies?
3. What were you doing at 3 p.m. yesterday?
4. What do you hope to be doing at 3 p.m. today?
5. What’s your goes-with-everything eyeshadow shade?

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Oh, don’t be so sad. turn that frown upside-down. You’re gonna have a terrific week.

After work today I’m intending to finish my employer’s new command center (gotta meet the Thursday target date!), so we’ll see how that goes.

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Have a terrific day, my friend. I hope yours is as bright and shiny as a yellow Gerbera daisy.

Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

Karen

cream shadows are cool. They’re like secret little weapons…

You can make your eye looks more interesting by giving them dimension using cream shadows.

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Just apply a cream shadow in a color that’s relevant to your look on your lid, then layer a complementary powder eyeshadow on top.

Clinique’s Chubby Stick shadow Tint for Eyes

The cream shadow cranks everything up! — like when Beyonce’s wind machine kicks in — so the area where you used the cream shadow looks more intense than the surrounding color.

STORM update (NOVATO, CA)

Tabs wanted me to let you know that he made it through the night, sans any storm-related emergencies, without having to wake up his humans. He spent the evening staring out the windows at the hillside, looking for kitties trapped in the storm, and doing what he does best — plotting his takeover of the world’s gravy supply.

In other words, we’re fine.

Thank you for all the well-wishes yesterday. You have a most excellent (and hopefully dry) Friday, ‘k?

Signing off from Stormpocalypse 2014…

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.

hello Kitty “The Red Bow beauty Diaries” $25 holiday set
Dear Diary,

I have a confession to make…

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I don’t know if the limited edition $25 hello Kitty “Red Bow beauty Diaries” holiday kit was made for kids or grownups.

But, uh, I don’t really care.

Is that wrong…?

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I love this damned thing! and I don’t give a crap if I’m wearing the same makeup that little Susie is rocking to Brianna’s ninth birthday sleepover because — and here’s the kicker — there’s a bonafide letter from hello Kitty inside the set!

Yeah, the actual kitty HERSELF.

For real though, I get the feels every time I read it, and I actually think it was written directly to me — Karen from Union City, California.

Or not.

Diary, I think this set was made special for people who grew up loving hello Kitty, because, truth be told, the makeup isn’t great. I’d say it’s just a step up from the pieces in a little girl’s toy makeup set.

While pigmented, the glitter liners rub off easily, and the lipsticks, gloss and cream eyeshadows are woefully sheer.

As for the pink hair mascara, it feels smooth when I put it on but turns crusty when it dries.

Weird.

Nostalgia is the best thing about this set, which I can get behind, because I’ve been a fiend for hello Kitty since the ripe old age of 7.

The adorableness is strong in this one… It comes with lots of extras for fans, like a tiny plastic coin purse and nail stickers and a little HK charm and hair tie.

Something tells me that Pat McGrath probably won’t be using these products to create cutting edge runway looks backstage in Milan, but so what, right? Not everything has to be runway ready.

As a sweet, simple trip down memory lane to a time when I kept a journal with a unicorn on the front (it was my first diary ever!) and proudly carried my red hello Kitty lunchbox to school, this is pure great.

The set contains…

Milk money coin purse

Charmmy hair tie

1974 figurine

16 x All better bandages

2 x All Eyes on hello Kitty eyeliner appliqués

1 pair Supercute accent nail appliqués

2 x 0.10 oz XOXO lip glosses in Strawberry Pink, Toffee nude

2 x 0.14 oz pretty in Pearl Eyeshadow Sticks in hot Cocoa, champagne rose

2 x 0.14 oz electric Slide liquid liners in Violet, royal Blue

2 x 0.12 oz plush Pout lip balm in Cherry Red, Coral Crush

0.30 oz Pink Streak hair mascara

Swatches from the left: Hair Mascara, cream eyeshadows, glitter liners, lipglosses and lipsticks
Regularly $49, according to the Sephora website (which seems like too much to me), it’s on sale now for $25.

What do you think, Diary? A fab gift for a hello Kitty fangirl like me?

Oh, hello kitty!

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Speaking of kitties, in case you glance up and notice a somewhat robust-looking tabby cat in a window wearing a statement necklace and serving some serious FACE, you’ll know who it is.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The MAC Brooke Shields Gravitas combination ($85), from the MAC Brooke Shields collection
I can state with the utmost sincerity that I have never been this ecstatic to wear MAC Soft Brown.

And I like Soft Brown! It’s one of my all-time biggest hits, a lot of liked staples, as well as I’ve been using it for years. I’m always delighted to see Soft brown staring back at me as I get prepared in the morning.

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Now, though? next to so lots of other dope-@ss neutral eyeshadows in the $85 MAC Brooke Shields Gravitas palette? The impossible has happened: I like Soft brown even more.

“But,” you may be thinking, “slow your roll, wonderful thang.” We’re speaking about an $85 palette. An $85 neutral palette. one more neutral palette.

I know, you’re right. a lot more neutrals, as well as $85 is a lot, however it’s half what MAC normally charges for their 15-pan palettes (those are $160).

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Here’s the thing, though: if Gravitas were a gymnast, it would have best poise as well as balance. It would quickly win a gold medal.

And to attempt an even complete stranger metaphor, if there were such a thing as an eyeshadow combination soulmate, Brook Shields would be mine, since I like nearly whatever about Gravitas. I feel like, eyeshadow-wise, it has whatever I need.

Well…almost everything, however I’ll get to that in a minute.

Definitely, Gravitas consists of excellent daily fundamental shades, like Soft Brown, Shroom, Carbon as well as Satin Taupe, however that’s far from whatever it has to offer. It likewise has an fascinating combination of warm- as well as cool-toned khaki, plum, gold as well as pink shades, which together with the basics, open up a world of sophisticated eye look possibilities that don’t necessarily include me appearing like I’m using a sh*t-ton of makeup at lunch on a Tuesday.

Top Row: Pretty, Soft Brown, costly PInk, Clove as well as Satin Taupe
Middle Row: Canter, Luscious, Antiqued, Psyche as well as Carbon
Bottom Row: Shroom, Persuade, Plummed, Lofty as well as Pepper

And the addition of the darker gray, black as well as purple eyeshadows provides Gravitas even a lot more flexibility. When I want to gown up like a sparkly disco roller diva as well as trip my glittery unicorn Giselle, I can apply one these colors in the crease, the outer corner as well as on my lower lash line. then just add a pair of falsies as well as go.

Wearing Gravitas on my eyes, theBalm on my cheeks (Bahama mom Bronzer, Frat kid blush as well as Cindy Lou-manizer) as well as MAC Brooke Shields Lipglass in Artful on my lips

My greatest quibble — as well as this is me being persnickety — is with the lack of lighter, matte brow bone colors.

But that’s hella persnickety. I mean, a pan of Brule would’ve taken Gravitas to install Olympus-caliber for me, however no huge deal.

Other than that, I believe Gravitas is frickin’ perfect. The textures, wear time as well as formula all seem on par with MAC’s long-term shades, as well as with a primer, they last all the time long on my combination dry as well as oily lids.

With a MAC Lipglass for scale…
Now for the huge bad: availability. At this point, discovering Gravitas on the internet is a bit like discovering a leprechaun or pirate treasure. In other words, it’s hard.

It still shows “SOLD OUT” on the MAC web site and, according to a MAC rep I chatted with on the internet a couple days ago, will most likely stay that method online. If you want it, you’ll most likely have much better luck calling and/or checking out a MAC store or counter as soon as possible. This one’s in huge demand, deservedly.

PRICE: $85
AVAILABILITY: restricted edition, as well as “allegedly” offered now at MAC stores as well as counters with the rest of the MAC Brooke Shields collection
MAKEUP as well as appeal blog RATING: A+

Of program I selected the hot pink one…

Yay! My new CW-X running bra arrived. Gotta like that overnight shipping from Zappos.

Thanks for all the excellent sports bra suggestions for runners. If this doesn’t work out, as well as I hope it does ’cause — crap! — I just threw down $60 for an over-the-shoulder-bolder-holder, at least I understand I have other options.

Hopefully the CW-X gets me on the path to that no-chafe life. I’ll understand by Saturday, since I delayed my tomorrow run to provide myself one a lot more day to heal.

Honestly, I don’t understand exactly how marathoners as well as triathletes offer with all the aches as well as pains. A half marathon is sufficient drama for me.

I gotta say, my preferred part of the training is the carbo-loading, haha.

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PASTA FOR EVERYONE!

Your friendly community appeal addict,

Karen

A big hand-waving hi from sunny Novato, California!

Haaay! I’m back at home in the Bay after my birthday trip to new Orleans, and our frequently scheduled charm bloggery will resume on Monday.

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As you can probably imagine, my tabby employer was overjoyed to have his assistant back. He was so overjoyed, in fact, that he barely lifted a paw in protest when I said that I planned to showcase a couple much more of the cat pals I made in NOLA.

As it turns out, working as a shopkeeper cat is one of the most profitable feline gigs available in the city.

This particular white, orange and gray charm models for a local art gallery…

A woman working next door said about her — and I quote — “That cat is a monster!”

I didn’t believe it because she was purr-fectly professional during our interaction. She even let me pet her paw when I poked into the gallery.

I also chilled with this dainty diva, who worked at a competing local gallery down the street…

I told her that I loved her sense of style (you can’t go wrong with black satin and bling), and she rewarded me with headbutts and purrs.

I had a blast networking with NOLA’s very talented company kitties.

OK…that was a completely crazy cat lady thing to say, LOL!

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In other news, I’m glad to be home! I love traveling and exploring new places, but nothing compares to sleeping in your own cat hair-covered bed.

Your friendly neighborhood charm addict,

Karen

using NYX intense Butter Gloss in Funnel pleasure ($6, one of 12 shades)
Yesterday I used one of NYX’s new $6 intense Butter Glosses while eating a piece of intensely buttered brown bread at The Cheesecake Factory.

(You understand their brown bread, right? Man, I like that stuff.)

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I normally go simple on the butter because, you know, I figure I’ll just have to run it off eventually, however they brought out two hot loaves, as well as I thought, “Gee…I’m eating intensely buttered bread while using intense Butter Gloss.”

So I ate a lot.

Color me weird, however things like that bring me excellent joy. It’s all about the bit things, you know? You gotta get your kicks where you can.

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Three of the 12 new NYX intense Butter Glosses ($6 each) from the left: Apple Crisp, Tres Leches as well as Funnel Delight
Anywho, these truly do feel like butter on my lips — like I spread a thick, creamy layer of fresh churned butter (made by delighted cows, of course) on my kisser.

I keep believing that I’m going to have to do some cardio if I keep using them, badum tish!

They’re a brand new line, as well as NYX rolled out 12 intensely pigmented shades for spring.

NYX intense Butter Glosses from the left in Apple Crisp, Tres Leches as well as Funnel Delight
So far I’ve tried three of the shades — a red called Apple Crisp, a hot pink called Funnel pleasure as well as a nude called Tres Leches — as well as I believe the red one as well as the hot pink are hella impressive. brilliant (so intense that your natural lip color will be buried under an avalanche of pigment), opaque, full-coverage, as well as they apply smoothly, too.

But for me, the nude was the genuine test, since I have naturally pigmented lips, as well as a great deal of the time I have to jump with hoops to get nude shades to show up, however not this time. No concealer on my lips, no lip liner in advance — nothing. just my lips as well as the gloss. That’s it.

Swatches from the left of Funnel Delight, Tres Leches as well as Apple Crisp

These likewise last a quite long while — from 4-5 hours if I’m just hanging out at the shopping center playing hooky as well as getting shoes, however throw a meal into the mix as well as things change. In other words, if you’ll be eating heaps of buttered brown bread at The Cheesecake factory while using these, you’ll have to reapply after the meal.

Additional bullet points for the official makeup record:

Scent/flavor: They odor as well as taste faintly of butter cream frosting (yum). I don’t believe it’s obnoxious at all.

Applicator: Hell, indeed to the flocked doe-foot, which truly assists get the gloss all the method to the edges as well as corners of the lips.

Texture: They have a creamy, non-sticky, moderately thick formula.

NYX intense Butter Gloss in Tres Leches
NYX intense Butter Gloss in Apple Crisp
And did I mention that you won’t have to pledge your very first born kitten to a shady warlock with a hunchback in buy to put one of these in your purse? since they’re only $6.

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SIX DOLLA-DOLLA-BILLS, Y’ALL. let us all dance upon a hilltop at dawn with flowers in our hair as well as pray that the makeup goddesses do a BOGO at Ulta ASAP.

PRICE: $6 each
AVAILABILITY: offered now on the internet as well as at drugstores as well as Ulta
MAKEUP as well as appeal blog RATING: A+

Your friendly community appeal addict,

Karen

MAC Veluxe Pearlfusion shadow in Brownluxe ($40, available now in the MAC permanent collection)
One of the downsides of deep-cleaning one’s office (yes, operation get My Sh*t together is still ongoing) is finding a substantial mound of stale cat treats behind a box of eye palettes and realizing, “Holy freaking crap! I’m the woman who had a pile of stale cat treats in her office and has no idea how long they were there!”

It could have been days, weeks or even years, and frankly I’m surprised that Tabs didn’t find them, because I’m sure he would have “removed” them for me.

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Hey girl, haaaay!
Before you click away thinking, “This woman is crazy,” I do have a point, and it is this: one of the upsides of deep-cleaning one’s office is rediscovering long-loved and lost gems like MAC Brownluxe Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow.

If you like wearing eyeshadow but feel like your blending skills are lacking, and/or you’re typically in a hurry to get out the door, and/or you can’t bear the thought of buffing out three layers of Soft brown with your 217, YOU need THIS IN YOUR LIFE.

“Five complementary shades that glide on and blend beautifully for infinite day-to-night looks: egg shell, frosty orange gold, light yellow chocolate, deep bronze, blackened plum with pearl. Matte to highly pearlized finish.”

— maccosmetics.com

MAC Brownluxe
MAC Brownluxe belongs to the Veluxe Pearlfusion shadow family, a group of powder shadow palettes in the MAC permanent line. It’s one of eight Veluxe Pearlfusion palettes available now for $40 each.

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A few of the MAC Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadows…
The MAC Veluxe Pearlfusions have a different formula than the regular MAC powder shadows that come in the round pans. Softer and silkier, they feel almost creamy to the touch.

Each Veluxe Pearlfusion palette (Plumluxe, Copperluxe, Peachluxe, etc.) has its own distinct color theme, and within each palette, you get five Veluxe Pearlfusion shadows hand-selected to work together in that particular theme.

Browluxe, one of my favorites in the Veluxe Pearlfusion fam, has a soft, shimmery eggshell beige; a satiny, medium golden tan; a glittery, orangey gold; a shimmery chocolate; and a shimmery, deep plummy brown — all colors that I could happily wear daily for the rest of my life based on how I’ve been feeling lately, ’cause I’ve been all about #datneutrallife.

Swatches of MAC Veluxe Pearlfusion shadow in Brownluxe on my NC42 skin
But it’s not just the Brownluxe colors that I like. The Veluxe Pearlfusion formula is also just plain fab. It’s really, really easy to blend. even if you’re completely new to eyeshadow, I think you could do a look incorporating two or three (or maybe even all five!) of these colors, and have it turn out looking like you know exactly what you’re doing.

I don’t know what kind of cosmetic witchery is at work, but it’s probably related to the creamy formula. Erasing edges between the colors and creating diffused gradients that seamlessly transition from light to dark, which are telltale signs of someone who’s been blending for a while, is easy with these shadows.

Brownluxe is the best if you’re always running late (story of my life). I wore it yesterday to a meeting in the city with some beauty folks, and I only had 20 minutes to do a full face of makeup from start to finish. Brownluxe helped me quickly do a neutral cat eye, which I paired with a bright hot pink lip (MAC Pink Pigeon), and I think it turned out looking like I spent 45 minutes instead of 20.

Wearing MAC Brownluxe on my eyes

I really do believe that Brownluxe would be terrific for anyone new to blending shadows. Newbies, I’m talking to you! You’d have a good time with it, and later, after you’ve explored and experimented more with color, you’d be able to work these same neutrals into your brighter looks.

There are a couple of other things I should also mention…like the shape of the Veluxe Pearlfusion pans. They’re long and thin, so don’t even bother trying to use a big eye brush. It would just pick up color from neighboring pans. When I work with these, I always use brushes with smaller brush heads like the MAC 239 and MAC 217, and occasionally I’ll get a pencil brush up in the mix, like if I’m smudging out my lash lines.

Also, be sure to tap your brush first to remove any excess and reduce fallout. I say again: tap your brush first. tap YOUR brush FIRST.

You really ought to tap your brush first. because some of these shadows do exhibit a little fallout. but it’s not a substantial amount.

Wearing MAC Brownluxe on my eyes
And then there are the flattering finishes. Girl, as I grow up (haha), things like the way a shimmery product reads on my skin really, really matter, and I love the way these shimmer. They look silky smooth on lids, even lids with fine lines (ahem, like mine). It’s almost like you’re wearing softly glowing crushed pearls… It’s very elegant, and akin to what you might find over at Chanel.

The wear time is also wicked. I had a long day yesterday, and even after 12 hours, I could still see the Brownluxe shadows shimmering softly on my lids (for reference, I have combination oily/dry skin).

I feel like I should spread the Brownluxe love. I’ll talk about it with anybody who’ll listen, and if you’ve made it this far down this post, I hope you give it a try. I think you’ll find something wonderful.

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

The MAC Unsung Heroes series (a subset of my regular Unsung makeup Heroes series) features some of my all-time favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection

MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Fleur Power Blush
MAC Unsung Heroes: Swiss chocolate Eyeshadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Riche Eye Kohl
MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC extra dimension Eye shadow in Havana
MAC Unsung Heroes: Chicory Lip Pencil
MAC Unsung Heroes: Smoked Almond Lipstick
MAC Unsung Heroes: half ‘n half Lipstick
MAC Unsung Heroes: Chili Lipstick
MAC Unsung Heroes: Coffee Eye Pencil
MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish in global Glow
MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC extra dimension Eye shadow in Havana
MAC Unsung Heroes: retro Matte liquid Lipcolour in Burnt Spice
MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Foundation/Loose
MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC giddy Lustre Lipstick
MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC studio fix fluid Foundation
MAC Unsung Heroes: Amorous Alloy Eyeshadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: texture Eyeshadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime 24-Hour extend Eye Base
MAC Unsung Heroes: Swiss chocolate Eyeshadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: Saddle Eyeshadow
Unsung Heroes: MAC In extra dimension waterproof Mascara
MAC Unsung Heroes: Minted Eye Kohl
MAC Unsung Heroes: Take the Plunge Technakohl Liner
MAC Unsung Heroes: Cork Eye Shadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: 221 mini Tapered Blending Brush
MAC Unsung Heroes: Matchmaster shade intelligence Compact
MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Oh My Mocha Eye Shadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: pro Longwear waterproof Colour Stick in Lilacked
MAC Unsung Heroes: Satin Taupe Eye Shadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: High Tea Lipstick
MAC Unsung Heroes: Blooz Eye Kohl
MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Fleur Power Blush
MAC Unsung Heroes: Layin’ low paint Pot
MAC Unsung Heroes: Constructivist paint Pot
MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Fix+
MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
MAC Unsung Heroes: Persistence Matte Lipstick
MAC Unsung Heroes: Veluxe Pearlfusion shadow in Brownluxe
MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Riche Eye Kohl
MAC Unsung Heroes: The studio Chromagraphic Pencils
MAC Unsung Heroes: Brun Eye Shadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: Staunchly stylish pro Longwear Lip Pencil
MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC warm soul Mineralize Blush
MAC Unsung Heroes: reflects Antique Gold Glitter
MAC Unsung Heroes: style Blush
MAC Unsung Heroes: Shaping Powder in Lightsweep
MAC Unsung Heroes: pro Longwear paint Pot in Painterly
MAC Unsung Heroes: era Eye Shadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: Bronze Eye Shadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: Honey Lust Eye Shadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: sun rush Lustre Drops
MAC Unsung Heroes: nice Buzz Plushglass
MAC Unsung Heroes: 33 Lash
MAC Unsung Heroes: Shale Eyeshadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: harmony Blush
MAC Unsung Heroes: Careblends pressed Powder
MAC Unsung Heroes: fulfilled Plushglass
MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboom Paint
MAC Unsung Heroes: Sublime Nature Paint
MAC Unsung Heroes: face and Body Foundation
MAC Unsung Heroes: Prunella Eye Kohl
MAC Unsung Heroes: The 239 Eye Shader Brush
MAC Unsung Heroes: Greensmoke Eyeshadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: Ample Pink Plushglass
MAC Unsung Heroes: Indianwood paint Pot
MAC Unsung Heroes: Bare study paint Pot
MAC Unsung Heroes: Rubenesque paint Pot
MAC Unsung Heroes: tarnish Eye Kohl
MAC Unsung Heroes: big baby Plushglass
MAC Unsung Heroes: Kohl Power Pencil liner in Feline
MAC Unsung Heroes: format Blush
MAC Unsung Heroes: Ambering rose Blush
MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Silver Dusk
MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in golden Bronze
MAC Unsung Heroes: C-Thru Lipglass
MAC Unsung Heroes: Fresh Flare pro Longwear Eye Shadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V Lipglass
MAC Unsung Heroes: Loud & lovely Cremesheen Glass
MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam VI Lipglass
MAC Unsung Heroes: breezy Sheertone Shimmer Blush
MAC Unsung Heroes: care blends vital Oils, Grapefruit + Chamomile
MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer
MAC Unsung Heroes: right image Cremesheen Glass
MAC Unsung Heroes: Modesty Cremesheen Lipstick
MAC Unsung Heroes: double dare Cremesheen Lipglass
MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboo Eyeshadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: speak Louder Cremesheen Lipstick
MAC Unsung Heroes: Sandy B Lipstick
MAC Unsung Heroes: Club Eyeshadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: uniform Technakohl Liner
MAC Unsung Heroes: sweet satisfaction pro Longwear Eyeshadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Red Lipstick
MAC Unsung Heroes: lady danger Lipstick
MAC Unsung Heroes: temptingEyeshadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: Ruby Woo Lipstick
MAC Unsung Heroes: Retrospeck Eyeshadow
MAC Unsung Heroes: Eyeshadow in Phloof!
MAC Unsung Heroes: Twig Lipstick
MAC Unsung Heroes: Creme in Your Coffee Lipstick

The catastrophe of Tabby, prince of Novato
Act III, Scene I

Enter prince Tabby, Queen Karen, Left turn the Black Cat, Thug the Russian Blue as well as Lords.

TABS: To highlight or not to highlight — that is the question.

Whether ’tis nobler in the condo to experience the humiliating family pets as well as chin scratches of outrageous fortune, or to raise paws against a sea of troubles, as well as by opposing, end them. To eat, to nap — perchance to dream; ay, there’s the stomach rub.

Wait, what the heck is prince Tabby speaking about!? I don’t understand about him, however speaking for myself, there is absolutely NO concern about it. I am always, always down for highlighting, as well as right here are my five top picks for “Best Highlighter.” These are the ones I wear the most.

Best daily Highlighter: hourglass Ambient Powder in luminous Light ($45)

It’s incredible to me exactly how this champagne pearl pressed powder barely appears like I’ve made a dent in it, when I’ve been using it quite consistently — often for weeks on end — for the past few years.

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That’s a quite great thing to know, that a single pan of anything might last up until forever, or up until Skynet ultimately takes over (whichever comes first).

What I like about luminous Light — I mean, other than the name, since don’t a lot of gals like the concept of being bathed in luminous light? — is the finish. On the skin it appears like expensive, luxurious velvet bathed in the light of a buttery late summertime afternoon.

Ah…

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The sheen is unlike anything else I’ve seen before. Soft as well as subtle, yet still noticeable, as well as it’s oh, so forgiving of big pores as well as fine lines (hallelujah!).

All told, this one’s my preferred everyday, all-occasion highlighter in the world!

$45; offered now at hourglass counters as well as online.

Best Highlighter for a Dewy Finish: MAC cream Colour Base in Hush ($22)

Hush!

No, you can talk. I was referring to MAC Hush, which I like for its flexibility. It’s a soft peach with subtle shimmer, as well as I like it just about any type of which way/any exactly how — on bare skin, on top of tinted moisturizer, foundation, even on top of powder. Whenever I’m aiming for a lot more of a dewy, wet look, out comes Hush.

All I do is utilize my fingers to apply as well as blend it, normally on my upper cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose as well as on my Cupid’s bow, as well as it takes all however a minute to use.

I likewise believe it looks amazer-ing in pics.

Oh! — as well as you can likewise utilize it as an eyeshadow base. Score!

$22; offered now at MAC counters as well as online.

Best Highlighter for remarkable Looks: BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector pressed in Opal ($38)

Good ol’ Opal. exactly how lots of pans of it have I gone with over the years?

Three? Four…? I’ve lost count.

BECCA has lots of marvelous Shimmering Skin Perfector pressed options, however Opal is the one I wear most, by far. It’s a incredibly shiny golden opal pearl, as well as for remarkable highlights, it’s unbeatable. Unlike standard-issue high-shine highlighters, of which there are many, it’s the extremely meaning of luminous, as well as the total antithesis of extreme as well as metallic, so skin glows seemingly from within with wonderful eldritch power without appearing oily.

It’s so friggin’ great that when I had to pick a single highlighter to wear on the red carpet to the Emmy’s last year, I went with Opal. There was no concern about it.

Fun tip: to open up the eyes as well as make them look as big, bright as well as large as possible, lightly apply Opal in the inner corners of the eyes, as well as just above as well as below the greatest point in the arch of your brows.

$38; offered now at Ulta, BECCA counters as well as online.

Best Highlighter to wear With Pink Blush: Smashbox combination Soft Lights in Baked Starblush ($32)

This quiet, subtle pearlescent pink powder is my “halfway” highlighter. Shinier than hourglass luminous Light however less shiny than BECCA Opal, Baked Starblush comes out whenever I wear a pink blush, since I believe it looks incredible with warm, awesome as well as neutral pink blushes.

$32; offered now at Ulta, Smashbox counters as well as online.

Best Highlighter for Multitasking MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in golden Bronze as well as Silver Dusk ($23 each)

Sadly (horrifically), these were discontinued right here in the us (WHY, MAC, WHY?!?!), however I had to provide them a shout-out anyway since I believe they’re so damn good.

You may still be able to discover them outside the united states (or, maybe be able to track them down on eBay), as well as if you do, think about yourself lucky, since these powders are epically wonderful.

I discovered out about them from MAC senior artist as well as all-around incredible feline woman Keri Blair, who pointed out someday that she utilized them all the time for bridal looks. She called them her unsung heroes from the line.

Soooooo, the next day I went out as well as gotten both of them, LOL! Silver Dusk is a shimmery, silvery pinkish beige (great for cooler skin tones), as well as golden Bronze is a peachy golden bronze (looks amaze-balls on warm skin). Basically, these are like loose powder versions of the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfectors, however with an even a lot more nuanced pearlescent finish.

A teeny, small bit goes a long way! I like to apply them with a tapered eyeshadow blending clean like the MAC 224, for precision.

These are mighty multitaskers, too! For dewy skin, just mix a bit with your foundation or tinted moisturizer. Or, for a gorgeous sheen on your arms as well as legs, sprinkle a bit on a blob of body moisturizer or body oil, as well as then massage directly on the skin.

Swatches from the left: hourglass luminous Light, MAC Hush, BECCA Opal, MAC Silver Dusk as well as MAC golden Bronze
Smashbox combination Soft Lights in Baked Starblush
Quick (non-makeup) concern for ya…

Have you ever utilized airbnb.com, as well as if you have, did you have a great or a poor experience? I haven’t utilized it before, however I’m believing about it for an upcoming trip because, OMG, hotel prices? They are out of freakin’ control!

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Some of the locations I’m seeing on airbnb look truly nice. I’m just anxious about renting a location that looks fantastic in pics however having it turn out to be sketchy in genuine life, you know? Please assist a feline woman out! I requirement a short holiday right here quite soon.

Your friendly community appeal addict,

Karen

When your feline asks you to contour his cheeks, of program you state yes…
I’ve done event makeup for household members, as well as they seemed quite happy with the results, so yeah, I believe I might do it, particularly if the makeup wasn’t as well involved. I can handle smoky eyes, or winged liner as well as red lips, or a soft neutral bridal look, however a cray-cray cut crease with intense drag queen-caliber contouring? most likely not.

Well, maybe…if I had an entire day to work on it.

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Eyeliner, though, is one of those things that’s always difficult for me to do on other people since I’m terrified of poking someone’s eye out! Also, lash curling, again, for the exact same reason…

If you do makeup on other people as well as have any type of suggestions, please let me understand in the comments! I believe it’s definitely a different skill than doing makeup on yourself.

So, today’s million-dollar question? presuming you don’t already, do you believe you might do somebody else’s makeup? as well as if you have done it before, exactly how did it go?

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Your friendly community beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.