Silk Of Face Care

Where your black stretchy pants at?! BECAUSE I GOT A GO-TO BROWNIE RECIPE, AND NOW YOU GET TO HAVE IT TOO (gotta sing that last sentence out loud because these are that good, if I do say so myself).

I dedicate this pan of brownies, or as they would say on The Great British Baking Show, this “tray bake,” to my high-waisted black Zellas, which are a touch too snug and borderline indecent at the moment.

I also dedicate them to my people, a.k.a. chocoholics everywhere. Oh, you know who you are. You read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when you were a kid, and when Augustus Gloop fell into the chocolate river, you secretly wished that would happen to you someday!

It took several attempts to get these brownies to Go-To Brownie status, as the former scientist in me kept tweaking and refining, and now I’m 99.9% sure I’m there (gotta keep some wiggle room for improvement). These are the best damn brownies I’ve ever eaten. And I’ve eaten many, many, many brownies.

They’re dense, chocolaty and have a subtle caramel undercurrent from the brown sugar, and while they’re sweet, they aren’t overly sugary.

Continue reading "My Go-To Brownie Recipe" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

My Go-To Brownie Recipe Where your black stretchy pants at?! BECAUSE I GOT A GO-TO BROWNIE RECIPE, AND NOW YOU GET TO HAVE IT TOO (gotta sing that last sentence out loud because these are that good, if I do say so myself). I dedicate this pan of brownies, or as they would say on The Great British Baking Show, this “tray ...

As you know, Tabs has 12 Oscars — more than any other cat actor — and before he left Novato this weekend to attend the 90th Academy Awards in Los Angeles (he’s nominated in the Best Supporting Cat Actor category for his riveting portrayal of a brainwashed former kitty supermodel in Get Out), he texted me a few reminder highlight pics from past years, like the time he photobombed Bradley Cooper…

While Tabs is out of town, I’m organizing his trophy case, which is more of a trophy room, because he’s quite confident that he’s going to win his 13th statue tonight…

If you watch the show, keep an eye out for him. He’ll be sitting in the front row next to Tom Hanks. He’ll be the cat wearing the pink feather boa. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Continue reading "Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 491" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 491 As you know, Tabs has 12 Oscars — more than any other cat actor — and before he left Novato this weekend to attend the 90th Academy Awards in Los Angeles (he’s nominated in the Best Supporting Cat Actor category for his riveting portrayal of a brainwashed former kitty supermodel in Get Out), h...

Big kisses to you, Stila Beso, for always being there for us makeup lovers who apply lipstick at the last minute in the car using the rearview mirror before dashing into work. You make it easy to look like we, ya know…actually had our act together. LOL.

Friend, I predict that this could be your new default matte red lip color (if it isn’t one of your faves already), because Beso is opaque. Beso is smooth. Beso has a lovely liquid-y texture, and it starts off creamy and slick. It eases along lips and around edges, so you definitely don’t need a lip liner.

Basically, it’s completely devoid of the bad kind of drama.

I had three massive cups of coffee before putting this on yesterday, in the car (we’re working longer hours at the bakery this month because of the annual holiday cupcake rush), and even though my hands were vibrating at a high frequency due to all the caffeine, I was still easily able to paint this lip in under a minute.

Say what?!

Yes, you get a bright red matte lip that moves as you smile and laugh through your day (I hope).

Continue reading "When In Doubt, Red Lip It Out" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

When In Doubt, Red Lip It Out Big kisses to you, Stila Beso, for always being there for us makeup lovers who apply lipstick at the last minute in the car using the rearview mirror before dashing into work. You make it easy to look like we, ya know…actually had our act together. LOL. Friend, I predict that this could be your ne...

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

I’m always down for a summery coral lippie, and Chanel Rouge Allure Ink in Créatif ($37) is THE ONE.

Well…the one for this week, ha ha ha! 😂 Hello, have we met? My name is Karen, and I have a new coral crush every other day.

But that’s neither here nor there.

This one’s a matte liquid lipstick, but it’s unlike your typical dry and heavy/hello horizontal lip lines/cat butt liquid lippie sitch. It’s on the thinner side, like the NARS Powermattes, so you can’t feel it sitting on your lips, and it lasts about the same amount of time (~5 hours), but it’s much, much easier to control as it glides across your lips.

The Powermattes are runny like water, so they get all over the place (my teeth, my shirt, on the wall across the room — SERIOUSLY), but Créatif’s Rouge Allure formula is thicker — more like a very thin gel than a liquid — so it’s easier to corral it into corners and your Cupid’s bow.

Continue reading "Unsung Makeup Heroes: Chanel Rouge Allure Ink in Créatif" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Chanel Rouge Allure Ink in Créatif What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites. I’m always down for a su...

Was it a new laundry detergent? Cutting out chocolate from your diet? Drinking 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 immediately springs to mind: Kate Somerville Anti-Bac Clearing Lotion, which I’ve been using and loving for years. Finding it straight-up drastically changed my skin for the better. Without it, I will break out, no question.

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 most of my life.

For years, I (thought I) tried everything — every OTC paste, pad and cream; antibiotics (which many 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 coming to a head at once.

Continue reading "What’s One Thing That Drastically Changed Your Skin for the Better?" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

What’s One Thing That Drastically Changed Your Skin for the Better? Was it a new laundry detergent? Cutting out chocolate from your diet? Drinking 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 t...

Sometimes when Trader Joe’s is out of THE ONE THING I’m craving (I’m talking about you, Lightly Salted Frozen Edamame!), and the baby has been screaming and kicking doors for hours, and I’m feeling anxious because it’s 4 p.m. and I haven’t accomplished anything on my to-do list, and the tears are welling up in my eyes, but I don’t want to cry because I haven’t taken pictures of my eye makeup yet, and I’m spitting curses at my computer, even though I’m the one who accidentally clicked the little red dot thingy that closed Chrome, Tabs will hop up on my desk and head butt my face.

Just like that, I can breathe again…

Like a tabby doctor who knows exactly what his patient needs, he kicks his purr machine into high gear. I take a deep breath, then another, and bury my face in his fur. It’s like he’s telepathically telling me that everything’s gonna be alright. It’s OK, girl. Dr. Tabs will make it better. 🐱

This tee reminds me of Tabs, and if any cat could appreciate a feline who wears pink polka-dot glasses, he could. ❤️

Your friendly neighborhood tabby addict,

Karen

Continue reading "Dear Tabby…" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Dear Tabby… Sometimes when Trader Joe’s is out of THE ONE THING I’m craving (I’m talking about you, Lightly Salted Frozen Edamame!), and the baby has been screaming and kicking doors for hours, and I’m feeling anxious because it’s 4 p.m. and I haven’t accomplished anything on my to-do list, and the ...

Most of the times when I go to HomeGoods, I’m dressed caj with minimal (or negligible) makeup, but sometimes I like to go gladiator style and do my hair and makeup and get a little more dressed up so I can enter the store like I’m entering an arena.

YES, HOMEGOODS IS A MOTHER-TRUCKIN’ ARENA.

Granted, there are no predatory animals, javelins, swords or armored warhorses galloping at you while you admire a delicately painted lemon bowl (handmade in Italy!), but if I see you pushing your cart toward the last farmhouse-inspired botanical print, trust that I will body check your into the stratosphere. 🙂

I don’t play around at HomeGoods!

The Coywolf and I were there today to look for herb pots for the Lady Sanctuary, and I wore this golden bronze halo eye.

This was a toned-down halo eye, and the highlight in the center of my lids wasn’t as strong as it is in a classic halo.

This was the middle of the day, so I took it down a notch by keeping the golden highlight relatively close in tone to the surrounding bronze shadow, but I didn’t want it to be too subtle, so I layered it on top of a shimmery gold pencil liner and did a swish of teal on the lower lash line.

Continue reading "Subtle Spring Sparkle: Golden Bronze Halo Eyes for HomeGoods With the Urban Decay Beached Summer Collection" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Subtle Spring Sparkle: Golden Bronze Halo Eyes for HomeGoods With the Urban Decay Beached Summer Collection Most of the times when I go to HomeGoods, I’m dressed caj with minimal (or negligible) makeup, but sometimes I like to go gladiator style and do my hair and makeup and get a little more dressed up so I can enter the store like I’m entering an arena. YES, HOMEGOODS IS A MOTHER-TRUCKIN’ ARENA. G...

Hiya, friend! I hope your coffee ☕ is strong and your spirit is light on this lovely Caturday. If you need me, I’ll be the cat lady in the plastic hair cap, which I’ll be wearing all day long so the Olaplex No. 3 at-home hair treatment I’m trying can work its alleged magic.

Speaking of that…

I walked into Sephora a couple days ago planning to get just one or two things from Olaplex and take advantage of the VIB discount, but then this 👆 happened.

I mean, I didn’t get all of their products. 😬 I didn’t buy the hair oil, even though I reeeeeeally wanted to, because Caitya, my favorite MUA there, hooked me up with generous samples. (Thanks, lady!) So I can still try it.

Everyone talks about the Olaplex at-home system of No. 3 (pre-shampoo treatment), No. 4 (shampoo), No. 5 (conditioner) and No. 6 (leave-in) as if they’re hair miracles sent from the beauty heavens above, and I’m very excited about trying them now because I’m at a turning point in the process of growing out my grays.

The biggest challenge right now (I’m about eight months in) is figuring out how to deal with the wiry, unruly texture.

Continue reading "Saturday Surfing, Aug. 24th, 2019" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Saturday Surfing, Aug. 24th, 2019 Hiya, friend! I hope your coffee ☕ is strong and your spirit is light on this lovely Caturday. If you need me, I’ll be the cat lady in the plastic hair cap, which I’ll be wearing all day long so the Olaplex No. 3 at-home hair treatment I’m trying can work its alleged magic. Speaking of that....

You know what? I like my job. The last thing I want to do is disappoint my boss (you may have heard of him — Tabs the cat, world-renowned kitty supermodel), but he’s going to be woefully disappointed when he finds out that, if I were given the chance to be a queen supreme, as in the name of the new MAC Girls Palette, Qween Supreme (yes, it’s spelled that way), but the job required me to wear a crown, I would not be able to rock that thing 24/7.

Sorry, Tabs!

I mean, I’d wear it to take pics for the ‘gram, especially if I had a collection of bejeweled sparkly crowns at my disposal, but I wouldn’t wear it if I were just chillin’ in the palace and wanted to Netflix and chill at home.

Sorry, buddy! I know that you like to think of your assistant as more fabulous than that, but, sadly, I’m not. 🙁

Qween Supreme is still quite new, and if you ask about it at nearby MAC counter, they might not even have it in yet (for sure, it’s online).

It’s one of nine eye palettes in the MAC Girls collection.

Continue reading "The MAC Girls Qween Supreme Palette" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

The MAC Girls Qween Supreme Palette You know what? I like my job. The last thing I want to do is disappoint my boss (you may have heard of him — Tabs the cat, world-renowned kitty supermodel), but he’s going to be woefully disappointed when he finds out that, if I were given the chance to be a queen supreme, as in the name of the ...

Low-key obsessed with Lizzo at the moment…

Oh, you haven’t heard of her? Neither had I until like two days ago, and after playing her new single, Juice, over and over for two hours straight, then deep-diving through her videos on YouTube, I’m wondering why she isn’t running the free world yet a la Beyoncé. I really hope her singing career blows up this year.

Do your self-esteem a favor and press play now.

She’s like Missy Elliot meets Beyoncé meets the Shirelles meets Lil’ Kim meets Cece Pen*ston, all wrapped up into a single gorgeous package. I just started following her on Instagram, too. She’s talented, hilarious, fearless when it comes to fashion, and all about the boooooty.

AND DID I MENTION THAT SHE PLAYS THE CLASSICAL FLUTE?! WHILE SHE TWERKS?!

Seriously, who does this…?

A lot of her songs are about positivity and loving yourself, and her videos feature women of different shapes, sizes and colors.

I’m suddenly feeling the need to get my hair done and check my nails…

That baby in the bathtub is too cute!

Continue reading "Low-Key Obsessed With Lizzo at the Moment" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Low-Key Obsessed With Lizzo at the Moment Low-key obsessed with Lizzo at the moment… Oh, you haven’t heard of her? Neither had I until like two days ago, and after playing her new single, Juice, over and over for two hours straight, then deep-diving through her videos on YouTube, I’m wondering why she isn’t running the free world ye...

I slowly entered the enclosure store the other day, doing my best not to alarm the residents, and the more I explored the grounds, the more I felt like a zookeeper checking up on her charges… Animal theme is LIT! 🐈🐵🐘🦒🐢

I spotted these mugs on clearance and they spoke to me…

I was there to get a Hask Hair Mask (say that fast five times), but ya know… One cannot simply dart into the beauty department at Target without wandering around for a bit. Wandering around is the right thing to do.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!!! 😊

Continue reading "It’s a Jungle…at Target" on Makeup and Beauty Blog.

It’s a Jungle…at Target I slowly entered the enclosure store the other day, doing my best not to alarm the residents, and the more I explored the grounds, the more I felt like a zookeeper checking up on her charges… Animal theme is LIT! 🐈🐵🐘🦒🐢 I spotted these mugs on clearance and they spoke to me… I was ...