Category Make-up

benefit GALifornia blush ($29), coming April 2017
Shout-out to my fellow Californians!

You know, it’s weird. I always see California portrayed in movies and videos like it’s a perpetually sunny place with palm trees and beaches and everyone’s got a tan and walks around all the time in a bikini top and sunglasses like it’s Bay Watch.

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For the record, it’s not always like that. right now, golden rays of sunshine are not falling upon my cheeks, skin and hair. I’m actually looking out my window, and it’s gloomy, overcast and cold. but haaay! — that’s alright, because when I wear Benefit’s new GALifornia blush, I feel like I’m in the fantasy California. ??

It’s nuanced

GALifornia, a new $29 boxed benefit blush coming this April, is a wonderfully warm golden pink, and when I opened the 0.17-oz. pan for the first time and saw the sunny design, which is, sadly, an overspray, I thought of a bronzer from Guerlain a few years back that had a similar design.

GALifornia is gloriously nuanced in a way I don’t expect to see from Benefit. It reminds me of something from Guerlain or Hourglass.

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Swatch of benefit GALifornia Blush
Different for Benefit

It’s infused with subtle golden pearl particles that so much more subdued than the shimmer in Coralista, Sugarbomb and Bella Bamba, all of which I like, but over the past few years, I haven’t been wearing them as much as I used to. My skin’s changed, and my pores are a little bigger than they were in my 30s.

The shimmer that benefit usually sprinkles on their blush highlighters is…maybe a bit more sparkly than I’d like. I’d say that GALifornia’s fine pearl is closest to the pearl in Sugarbomb, but warmer and finer.

GALifornia’s pearl is more my speed now. At first, you may not even think there’s any there, but it is. and I love it!

Wearing two layers of GALifornia on my cheeks
I don’t usually send my girlfriends who are 30 and up to benefit for blush, but I can happily recommend GALifornia if you’re…let’s just say, not 18 anymore. LOL!

It’s like the Energizer bunny (keeps going, and going, and going, and going…)

The wear time is great too. I popped it on my cheeks at the crack of dawn today, and eight hours later it still looks fresh and beautiful.

I did two layers using a regular old blush brush, so you don’t need any finagling or special tools. The blush does come with one of those silly square shaped brushes that benefit always includes with their boxed blushes, but I’d probably only use it in a dire blush emergency, LOL!

GALifornia girl!

Give it a sniff

Oh, and FYI for the gals out there who are sensitive to scents, GALifornia — *takes a deep breath* — smells like Caress body soap to me (I like it!). I don’t smell it when I’m applying or when it’s on my face, but I pick it up if I hold the box up to my nose.

The final verdict

So much yes! GALifornia is a great blush (but isn’t too “blushy”) no matter your age. If Connor were a teenager, girl, we would totally share this blush.

Latest TJ’s addiction

Found a new favorite salad at Trader Joe’s! It’s the Mexicali Salad With Chili Lime Chicken, and it’s SO good. It’s also only 380 calories, and that’s with the entire tub of tasty jalapeño Caesar dressing.

Most of the time I only use about a quarter or maybe half of the dressing because it’s so rich, and I like to add half a sliced avocado.

Ooh! one of these days I’m gonna add some lime or lemon shrimp.

Secret shopper tip: don’t just grab the salad sitting right at the front of the display, because the ones in front are usually good for only a couple days and have been in the store a while (no shame!).

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Seriously, I tear those displays up! I don’t even care! I want the freshest one.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

photo it: a crisp Easter morning. The windows are open, the finches are chirping, and the bees are buzzing. The sun is up and bright in the sky.

How amazing would it be to get up on Easter morning and find a jar of Guerlain Meteorites delighted glow Pearls of Powder ($74) in your basket beside the jelly beans and Cadbury tiny Eggs (yum!)? I’d be like, say thanks to you, Easter Bunny!

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(Side note: you can have the marshmallow ? Peeps. Frankly, I don’t want anything to make with ’em.)

You gotta admit, there is something a bit Easter Eggy about this packaging…

These delighted pink, peach and purple pearls are actually a color-correcting deal with powder. All you do is you swirl your clean in the jar, then apply around your deal with to even out any redness.

This came out a few weeks ago with Guerlain’s spring collection, and I can state this much for it — the powder smells amazing. I never get worn out of the violet candy scent.

Unfortunately, the color-correcting aspect doesn’t work well for me (boo!), but I believe it would work much better for lighter lasses and lads with cooler skin tones. When I dust the powder around my face, my skin only looks a bit a lot more matte, but that’s about it.

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My peeps (not the candy kind) who like color-correcting goodies like BECCA’s pearly purple first Light primer will most likely get a lot a lot more out of it. Lucky!

Your friendly community appeal addict,

Karen

A research study in whiskers

As a fellow feline aficionado, I’m sure you’ll appreciate this. Tabs takes great pride in his whiskers and his whisker maintenance regimen.

Every night after dinner he oils his whiskers and smooths down any flyaways. It’s one of the things he always, always does.

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He may avoid his personal grooming session/giving himself a cat bath in some cases after a truly long, difficult kitty modeling day, but he never neglects whisker maintenance.

A great deal of up-and-coming kitty designs believe that you only have to groom your cheek whiskers, but Tabs disagrees. He also suggests grooming ear tufts, brows (after all, they do frame the face) and toe tufts too.

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Here’s a tip: for smooth, long, strong whiskers, don’t forget the fish oil. Tabs suggests copious servings of tuna at least twice a week.

Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen

MAC Groundwork + Honey Lust = ? this eye combo
In addition to a few of the requisite “adulting” things I have to do on Saturday mornings, like starting the laundry, watering the plants, getting breakfast started, administering lurvies to my feline overlord, etc., sometimes I really get to slip in some actual fun.

Like today, I played around a bit with a new eye makeup technique I’ve been loving lately.

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And, yes, I recognize that I modification favorites sometimes multiples times each day (haha), however as of meow it’s my new preferred eye makeup technique in the whole wide world!

I was influenced by this Instagram video from Alev Karsli, a MAC artist from Istanbul (not Constantinople), Turkey. She does a subdued bronzed glam look on a design that I don’t look anything like at all, however I truly liked the method she used.

You take matte taupe MAC Groundwork paint Pot cream shadow, add a few drops of Mac necessary Oil, mix them together with a brush, as well as apply that directly to your lids.

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The MAC paint Pots are dense cream shadows, as well as the oil thins them out a little, making them creamier as well as easier to blend. Plus, the oil adds a subtle glossy surface that just looks gloriously natural.

What a excellent idea! I desire I’d believed of it.

And the fun doesn’t stop there. You can then layer something like sparkly golden champagne MAC Honey Lust shadow (permanent line) on top of Groundwork.

Also, if you want to smoke out your lower lash line, line it with great old bronzed MAC Teddy Eye Kohl. Smudge it out, then blend shimmery copper Amorous Alloy right on top.

Smokey! That’s MAC Teddy Eye Kohl with Amorous Alloy on my lower lash lines.

After I hop off the computer, I believe I’m gonna smoke this out a bit more, since you understand the old saying, “French toast tastes much better when you’re using a smokey eye.”

Wait — what? That’s not a saying…? Well, it should be, don’t you agree?

In other news, here’s some beauty news that caught my (smokey eye) this week…

Although I haven’t bought anything from Athleta in a minute since I’m currently saving $$$ to send Connor Claire to MIT (hey, I can dream… Mars or bust!), I’ve always liked that they cater to women of all ages.

Makeup enthusiasts are worried that the upcoming iphone X facial recognition won’t acknowledge them without their makeup.
While we’re thinking about the complex techno-social ramifications of this extremely vital detail…what if you have an similar twin?? will he or she be able to unlock your phone? Or might one utilize makeup prosthetics to impersonate somebody else as well as unlock their phone? Also, you just understand that somebody available is going to gown up like Stephen King’s It as well as utilize that clown’s deal with for their facial recognition.

Do you compulsively bite your nails, twirl your hair or pick at your skin? There’s a growing realization available that so-called repetitive, nonfunctional motor behaviors, as well as the degree to which you engage in them, can show your peace of mind.

Why having a BFF is great for your health

Has backstage beauty lost its luster?

Who’s down for a trip to Japan!? We might go sightseeing, eat ALL THE SUSHI, then go window buying at a few of the hidden, indie boutiques.

“Glass skin” is now a thing in k-beauty circles.

I can’t believe I’ve had so many of these drinks however never paused to question what, exactly, the “essence” is in the La Croix fizzy waters. nobody frickin’ knows!

I believe the beauty market was surprised by exactly how quickly Rihanna’s Fenty beauty dark shades offered out.

For the style enthusiasts: Art-deco glam is replacing Scandinavian great in L.A., as well as I’m ALL FOR IT.

What everything boils down to: it’s all about grit. Angela Lee Duckworth, a instructor turned psychologist, exposes what factor determines whether a trainee will succeed or fail.

I heard this Frank ocean during the season finale of one of my preferred HBO shows, Insecure, as well as I’ve been listening to it very first thing in the morning for the last few days. I like it.

I’ve watched as well as re-watched this video more times than I can count, however it keeps cracking me up! The part when Elmo goes SO difficult that his eyes almost autumn off? OMG!

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Have a exceptional Saturday as well as a wonderful weekend, friend. See you soon.

Your friendly community beauty addict,

Karen

wearing one of the best cool-toned eyeshadow products I’ve ever used, the hourglass Prism Duo (sadly, it’s discontinued!)
GIRL, I do it all the time, but mostly with eye and lip products…and occasionally also with blush and bronzer.

I never do it with foundation, concealer or powder, though. So, basically, no for the big skin products, because they cover such large areas, so mismatches are more obvious. but a green eyeshadow isn’t meant to match your skin color at all. It’s supposed to be different.

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I have warm-toned skin, and I love a good cool-toned grey or icy silver eyeshadow. and I’ll wear a blue-based pink lip in a hot second.

I know that some folks won’t ever do it. They avoid colors that contradict their natural color temp or undertones, but I like things that purposefully “clash” sometimes. I think you can use that like a trick to make things stand out more. Plus, I just like the way it looks.

How about you? Do you ever wear colors that technically (according to “the makeup rules”) aren’t suited for your skin tone?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Ugh, I’m getting over a cold, and it hasn’t been the most awesome-est thing in the entire world.

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I think I know where I caught it, too. It was at Target (I always seem to get colds at Target) last week. I was walking around getting stuff, and I remember thinking, jeez, we’re deep into cold season, and I haven’t caught a cold yet. I think I’m gonna make it without getting sick!

Of course, the moment you think that, you catch a cold…

I have two words for you: Cold-Eeze. It works.

Wearing: nothing
Was it a new laundry detergent? cutting out chocolate from your diet? Drinking a lot more water? wearing less makeup? Trimming your bangs? going to bed earlier? finding a new product? A procedure? A new dermatologist whose knowledge parted the clouds and let the sun shine through?

There are a few things that really helped me, but one right away springs to mind: Kate Somerville Anti-Bac Clearing Lotion, which I’ve been using and loving for years. finding it straight-up considerably changed my skin for the better. Without it, I will break out, no question.

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For a little bac story (get it? haha, bad pun), I started struggling with acne at around 11 or 12 and dealt with it off and on (mostly on) for a lot of of my life.

For years, I (thought I) tried everything — every OTC paste, pad and cream; antibiotics (which lots of dermatologists prescribed for acne back in the day), facials — seriously, everything. then in college I ended up doing a round of prescription Accutane.

I don’t remember the potency, but I remember my skin (even my lips) being painfully dry while I was using it, and every pimple going crazy and pertaining to a head at once. It was very uncomfortable, but it worked. My skin stayed clear for several years afterward, but then in my 30s I started getting hormonal breakouts along my chin and around my mouth, and that was rough.

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Again, I tried everything I could get my hands on — every new ingredient and product I could find. good old salicylic acid products helped a little, like Clinique’s mild Clarifying Lotion, but they didn’t clear up my skin completely.

What eventually did really help was old-school benzoyl peroxide, but not just any benzoyl peroxide. What worked for me was Proactiv Repairing treatment (the one with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide), which I used for years, but I hated the scent (BP smells like plastic toys to me). I also hated that I couldn’t just go to a store and get it when I needed more. Proactiv had like a subscription system, and they would automatically ship out a lot more bottles of things (and charge me, of course), and I ended up with so lots of extra bottles of things I never used.

Eventually, the mall near my house got a Proactic vending machine, but it was ideal in the middle of the mall, and I always felt odd getting zit medicine with everyone walking around me…

Anyway, Kate Somerville Anti-Bac Clearing lotion was a game-changer. I was a little nervous about trying it because it was a 5% benzoyl peroxide formula, and I’d used creams with that same amount before that dried out my skin, but Kate’s didn’t. It also doesn’t have that funky BP smell, it layers well under makeup, and I can pick it up at Sephora.

I’ve gushed about it before, and I’m sure I will again, because it considerably changed my skin for the better.

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Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

Karen

P.S. Oh, yeah, and here’s something that considerably made my skin worse.

You are owning that glow, models Own.
I wonder what models own was aiming for when they designed these Sculpt & glow Highlighting Powder pans…because sometimes when I look at them I see the cross section of a tree trunk’s rings. Or a bullseye. Or a nipple (says the woman who just KonMari’d her nursing bras to Goodwill!!!).

British makeup brand models own is available in the U.S. now at Ulta. They’re kind of a trendy line and have quite a few product types that are popular in makeup land right now, like a neutrals palette, matte liquid lipsticks and, yes, highlighters.

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Take it from the top! That’s models own Sculpt & glow Highlighter Powder in golden Sand 02, Scultp & glow Highlighter Powder in Peach Pearl 02, Sculpt & glow Highlighter Stick in Moonlight 02 and Sculpt & glow Highlighter Stick in Incandescent 03
The Sculpt & glow Highlighter Powder (looks like nipples in a pan) is available in two $11.99 shades, and theSculpt & glow Highlighter Sticks are also available in two shades for $11.99 each.

I can totally get behind the Sculpt & glow Highlighter Powders, which are like drugstore versions of the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfectors. They’re aren’t exact dupes, though. The models own powders aren’t anywhere near as creamy as the BECCA Skin Perfectors. I remember reading somewhere that BECCA’s highlighters contain a lot of water, which is why they’re so soft, buttery (and fragile). The models own Sculpt & glow Highlighter Powders definitely don’t feel as creamy, but they do feel as soft. They also have a similar opalescent finish that you can dial up or down, depending on your mood for pearl. I like them, love the price, and I’m sure they’d be great starter highlighters.

I’m wearing the powder highlighter in golden Sand on my cheeks and the cream highlighter in Moonlight down the bridge of my nose and along my brow bones.

If I were to guess, I’d guess that the Highlighter Sticks were inspired by the NARS Multiples. Both feel similar in that they’re slightly drier than most cream highlighters and have a similar glossy finish, but the models own Highlighter Sticks aren’t as “wet” as the Multiples. They’re also more fragile… When I opened pearly pink Incandescent 03 for the first time, the stick was broken.

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As far as cream highlighters go, my main squeeze is still MAC cream Colour Base in Hush because I love so many things about it —
the glossy, pearly finish, how long it lasts and, most of all, how easy it is to blend. It’s bomb!

The models own Highlighter Sticks aren’t as glossy, and the pearl particles aren’t as fine as Hush’s. They also need more babying and blending, but I think they’re stellar for the price.

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Basically, models own is owning it in the highlighting department!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

new fave foundation for a natural, skin-like look.
Antonym Cosmetics is the new wet n Wild, YAY!

Wait…what?

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Well, they are called Antonym, a word that means opposites, so they actually remind me of Hourglass.

They’re a five-year-old Miami-based cruelty free organic/eco-luxury makeup line (read: expensive), and their beautiful bamboo packaging and marbled powders instantly caught my eye on the Sephora website.

Unfortunately, eco-luxury usually means expensive, and it does in this case. Their Skin Esteem liquid foundation is $52 (!), but it delivers awesomeness for that price.

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Wearing Tan set with Antonym Baked foundation in medium Dark
I’ve been wearing Tan for about a week now, and I’m into it, even if it is a tad too warm and too dark for my winter coloring (I just sheer it out). Tan is one of six satiny, mousse-y medium-coverage shades. There’s also a Nude, beige Light, beige medium Light, beige medium and Dark, and Tan is the second from the darkest one, so the shade selection is limited.

If you like NARS velvet Matte Skin Tint, but you’ve always wanted an organic version, hello! —–> pointing right here. give Skin Esteem a try. It has a similarly satiny, natural-looking, pore-blurring finish that elegantly evens out your skin tone all day long.

The shade I wear is Tan (I built it up in this swatch).

Amazingly, the formula, which layers well underneath powder, blush and bronzer, feels smooth and slippery like it contains silicone, but that’s due to jojoba oil instead.

The thing is, it’s still tricky to apply. If I swipe or rub, it streaks and pills up, but when I blot my skin first with a paper towel to remove any excess oil, pump a little of the product on the back of my hand, then gently pat (the patting is key here!) it on my face with a wet beauty Blender, that works well. So pat, pat, pat to blend, blend, blend. Don’t swipe! Do a thin layer, then let it dry, and assess whether you need more. If you do, repeat with another thin layer.

Tan set with MAC Mineralize Skin finish natural in medium golden (this is my preferred setting powder to use with this foundation). And, OMG, someday I will comb my hair! Someday…

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If you follow this method, your skin will look naturally flawless, both in person and in those beautiful selfies you take of yourself and your cat.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Antonym Cosmetics Esteem foundation ingredients:
Water, Isoamyl Laurate, Prunus, Amygdalus DulcisOil/Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Cetearyl Olivate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil/ Simmondsia Chinensis (jojoba) Seed Oil*, Glycerin, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerid, Hamamelis Virginiana Water/Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water*, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Lauryl Olivate, Butyrosperum Parkii Butter/Butyrospernum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Benzyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palminate, Sorbitan Palminate, Magnesium Aluminium Silicate, Mica, Xanthan Gum, Galactoarabinan, Fragrance, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil/ Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Alcohol, Geraniol, Limonene. may contain (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492, Ci 77491, Ci 77499).

I’ll meet you at the Snow ball at midnight
Excuse me, miss, I’ve got an RSQ (Really severe Question) for you: are you ready to party like it’s 1997? If you are, get hold of your glow sticks and look out! — because it’s MAC Snow ball time. You have just been teleported straight into a Christmas rave circa 1997.

Party time, excellent!
The forgotten era of mid-’90s frost

I’d be ideal there with you, hanging out in all my skinny-brow’d and Adidas-shell-toed glory, as would Gwen Stefani, because what’s a late-’90s festive fantasy rave without Gwen?

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It would have to be Gwen from the early No doubt days, of course, with space bun hair and jewels glued all over her face… We’d all be wearing frosty shadows from our lash lines to our brow bones, and shimmer and glitter for days.

See, I think that often people forget that ’90s makeup wasn’t just about the mattes, because in the late ’90s, frost had a major moment. Lids and lips were fabulously frosty, and MAC Snow ball grabs that vibe, but have no concern — MAC updated it, so it’s fun, festive and current — not dated at all.

Fancy

A two-part holiday collection

MAC holiday collections are normally big, and so is Snow Ball, which is organized two parts. There are the kits and sets, with the bags, palettes, brushes and whatnot, and then there’s the main makeup collection with the eyeshadows, lipsticks, face powders and false lashes.

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OH! There’s even a set of ’90s-style sparkly stickers for your face in the makeup collection! Gwen would absolutely approve.

In this post we’re chatting about the eyeshadows and face powders from the makeup collection. stay tuned for swatches of the lipsticks. I’ll have those soon.

Snow ball extra dimension Eyeshadows

OK, let’s start with the limited edition shadows, or, must I say the LE eye glosses? because these eyeshadows look like wet eye gloss, and IT’S AWESOME…

Oy, sloooow down, K. You’re getting ahead of yourself.

Alright, so, there are five of them, $20 each, and they’re in the MAC extra dimension formula. Being $20, they’re the same price as the extra dimensions in the permanent line. on that note, did any individual else notice that MAC hasn’t been tacking on extra $$$ for LE packaging lately? YES, MAC FAM. cheers for doing the ideal thing.

I wanna go to the extra Dimension, like ideal meow.
The stunning limited edition gold packaging looks like someone was having way too much fun and shattered a golden disco ball in the middle of the party…and then put all of the pieces back together haphazardly, which — big surprise — I absolutely love, because I wanna be the person smashing sh*t.

Let it snow
Getting back to the formula, the extra dimensions are a different formula than the regular MAC eyeshadows. They’re incredibly soft, nearly like a gel-powder hybrid, and remarkably creamy and easy to blend. The Snow ball shadows are like the party girl/party person versions of the extra Dimensions. They have the signature extra dimension creaminess, along with a whole lotta holiday extras, like glossy finishes (OBSESSED), multiple color shifts (which is when the color changes depending on the light), and “good” (air quotes) glitter.

Yes, it sounds like it could take a perilous turn at any moment — like the makeup that gets marked 50% off on an end cap at Claire’s — but don’t exit this rave early, because everything is tastefully done.

NO, SERIOUSLY!

Extra dimension Eye shadows in It’s Snowing, Frostwinked, delicate Drift, stylishly Merry, Starry Starry Nights
Don’t miss stylishly Merry

I’m all about stylishly Merry. Where do I start? I can’t even tell what color it is half the time because often it’s pink, other times it’s copper, then, like, I’ll blink see gold. It’s complex.

On top of the color shift, it’s packed with plenty of golden glitter, which you’d think would catapult it straight into tacky territory, but it doesn’t, because it’s delicate YSL/Dolce/Chanel-style flecks. So foine! and very expensive-looking.

I’m wearing stylishly Merry on my lids, Frostwinked in the center of my lids and Starry Starry nights on my lash line. In the crease is good ol’ MAC Texture.
If you saw it on my lids from an arm’s length away, you’d ask me what possessed me to smear lipgloss on my eyes, because these shadows have the glossy, wet finish of a thick eye gloss, but they don’t have the stickiness or movement (which is a good thing).

Picture something from a high fashion spread in Vogue. It looks incredibly cool.

On my lips, I’m wearing Shimmer spice Lipstick from the Snow ball collection (lip swatches coming soon).
Yes, stylishly Merry has All. Of. The. Things, but they’re all balanced perfectly, and I love it. absolutely worth at least a dance a swatch.

Face Powders

Onto the two face Powders, which are $34 each. compared tothe eyeshadows, they’re relatively tame.

Face Powder in delighted Go Dazzlingly
There’s a gold and a warm peach, both with mid-level pearl and pigment. You can wear them as blushes and/or as highlighters.

I like an understated cheek highlight, so I like to use them as highlighters. As blushes, all I have to say is “pores, pores, pores.”

Face Powder in here Comes Joy
Oh, I think you might be able to even use these face Powders on your lids, too, because the face Powder from the Fruity Juicy collection was eye-safe.

I’ve used the Snow ball face Powders to do an inner corner highlight and as a brow bone highlight (which is so ’90s), and they seem to work fine on my eyes.

Wearing the face Powder in here Comes happiness on my cheeks. On the bridge of my nose and on my brow bone, I’m wearing the other powder, delighted Go Dazzlingly.
Face Powders in here Comes happiness and delighted Go Dazzlingly
GLITTER!

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So far, I’m having a ball with Snow Ball! (Yes, that was a bad pun… I’m sorry.)

Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

Karen

The first one of 2018!

1. “The future has an ancient heart.”

The first time I read this quote by painter, writer and activist Dr. Carlo Levi, it was in a book called Dear Sugar, by Cheryl Strayed. (She’s the woman who wrote Wild.)

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Like a lot of quotes, it indicates different things to different people. I like to think it indicates that someday in the future, if I’m lucky, my heart will brim with knowledge and love gleaned from a rich life of experiences and time with pals and family.

2. babies in raincoats

Can I still call her a baby? I know she’s officially a toddler. She turns 2 in March (!). I can’t even believe that.

Please note how she turned her rattle into a charm bracelet.

3. Cocktail-ing skin care products

The new year has me thinking about skin care, like ACID TONERS. I just bought the popular Biologique Recherche P50 1970 toner last week, so I’ve been doing this intense multi-step process in the morning and at night, and ya know what?

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I’m already over it.

Even when I’m multitasking and doing other things, I get antsy and want to get on with my life as I’m waiting for two separate layers of toners dry, followed by three separate serums that take a couple a lot more minutes each…

My routine at the moment is up to 10 steps, and that’s just the morning.

It might be overkill, I know, but I don’t want to give up yet. I have started mixing products to save a little time, though. I blend two of the serums together in my palm, then pat the concoction on my face and neck. same with my moisturizers. I used to apply a layer of face oil, wait, then do a separate face balm, but now I just mix the oil and balm together and plop them on.

In my best skin care scenario, I would only do three or four steps max. Dunno if I’ll ever get there, but I keep trying.

4. label makers

I’ve been labeling everything with mine lately, and I indicate EVERYTHING.

Yeah, it looks absolutely geeky, but who cares? My life is way less chaotic when I have a label telling me exactly where something goes after I use it.

Thank you, Epson label Printer!

I tend to put things in the most random places, BTW… Which is probably why I lost my glasses, haha!

I got these organizers at HomeGoods about a year ago.
5. Celestial Seasonings Honey Vanilla Chamomile Tea

This stuff is so delicious! The honey and vanilla are strong and sweet, but they don’t overpower the chamomile.

I got this to sip at night before bed, but I love it so much that I have a cup during the workday, too.

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What have you been loving lately? Your car’s butt warmers (shout-out to Ruchita)? wearing red lipstick as a stain (KIM!)? Cats who give their assistants Sephora gift cards (Kitty Face)? Inquiring minds want to know.

Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

Karen