The foundation of beautiful skin

That’s Chanel Élégance blush on my cheeks, Chanel Codes Élégants quad as well as Noir Petrole liner on my lashes, as well as hourglass Peacemaker woman Lip Stylo on my lips
Isn’t it just so typical? ideal when you’re prepared to drive down to the community tattoo parlor to get a tattoo of your preferred Chanel blush, since you like it that much (ahem, Malice!), one more one comes along as well as steals your heart away.

Just goes to show ya…getting a tattoo of your true like blush? Not a great idea.

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OK, that sounded truly dumb, however that’s OK. We’re just gonna roll with it.

That glimmer, tho!!

For me with Chanel Joues Contraste Powder blush in 370 Élégance, it was like at very first brush. The second this peachy golden bronzed brown glimmered on my cheek, I was like, what?! Come here, baby. You as well as me — we’re gonna trip or die together.

Chanel Élégance Blush
And it wasn’t just since of the color as well as exactly how it opts for all 20 of the pink as well as peach lipsticks as well as glosses that occupy my handbag at any type of provided time, or since of the level of pigment (one or two layers as well as I’m good), exactly how long it lasts, or exactly how quickly it blends. It was likewise the dainty, demure glimmer…

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You guys, the glimmer. THE GLIMMER. The glow is a little step up from a satin — similar to the awesomesauce hourglass Ambient illumination Blushes, as well as you understand I’m a fan of those.

Consider this: terrific wear time

Élégance is offered now for $45, which I know… I. Know. however think about this: This blush lasts an exceptionally long time. I put it on ideal after breakfast the other day (Oatmeal with a handful of chocolate chips… OMG, try it sometime! It’s life changing.), as well as after a full day as well as dinner, I still saw it on my cheeks. It was at least nine hours later!

Lovin’ this Chanel Élégance Blush!
Similar Chanel shades?

For the gals who’ve been hoarding/collecting Joues Contraste blushes for years, Élégance is like 58 Fresque’s as well as 84 Accent’s sibling shade. It’s darker than Fresque as well as a lot more shimmery as well as peachier than Accent, however they’re all in the exact same fam as well as look related.

The verdict

First, this cutie is permanent! Yeah! So it’s not going anywhere, say thanks to goodness. I believe it’s a Chanel house run.

Gym illumination hates me…

I am beyond sore today, since I went to my HIIT class yesterday for the very first time considering that I caught that chilly I had, so it’s been over a week considering that the last time I burpied as well as push-upped, as well as I feel like I wrestled a meat grinder. I can barely climb up the stairs, as well as the infant feels like she tripled in weight overnight.

The class moved, so it’s at an actual fitness center now. It utilized to be in my neighbor’s garage down the street. She had an at-home studio, however now she’s mentor the classes at a fitness center a quick 5-minute drive from my house.

Anyway, I hadn’t taken a genuine workout class at a fitness center considering that forever, as well as the illumination in there is SO ROUGH. Oh, my goodness. whenever I see myself in those fitness center mirrors, I feel like I’m checking out the deal with of an alien.

So rough.

I believe I’m gonna have to figure something out, perhaps some brow filler or something… Either that, or I’ll show as much as class in sun glasses (Oh, don’t mind me. I’m just doin’ mah squats in mah sunnies!), which, by the way, I discovered from Mariah Carey’s truth TV show.

Apparently, whenever Mariah has a dance rehearsal as well as the illumination in the space is overhead fluorescent, she does the entire rehearsal using sunglasses.

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LOL! I discover this weirdly inspirational… High maintenance as well as diva-esque, of course, however likewise weirdly inspirational.

Your friendly community appeal addict,

Karen

I catch my reflection in the window of the downtown D train. In my bathroom mirror, as I pass by a shop. While I still struggle everyday to live comfortably in my body (I am a size 22, 5 foot 6), I often find it even harder to live in my skin.

Around six months short of 25, I noticed the blemishes forming on my chin and forehead were not just the occasional stress related zit. They were cyclical, they scarred even when I didn’t pick them, they were incredibly painful. through my late teens and early twenties, I never had more than the occasional flareup, and never ones that gave me so much shame. I went off my hormonal birth control, thinking that was the issue, but it still persisted. I stopped wearing makeup entirely, afraid to agitate my skin.

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Like so many other women, I was struck with sudden adult acne as a result of PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and didn’t know it. It wasn’t until I actually went to a dermatologist, who suggested, from my acne patterns, that I might have the condition. I made a mental note to check on it and asked what could be done about my skin. I was prescribed Aczone Gel, 5%, as well as a retinoid (Adapalene) and a tretinoin (Atralin)

These medications greatly improved my skin over a short period of time. The combination of all three settled the horrifying red bumps that littered my chin, cheeks, and my forehead. As my face cleared up, I became excited at the prospect of being able to wear makeup without feeling like I was just covering up a disaster. I didn’t realize at the time how badly the marks had scarred me, in more than just a physical sense.

When I looked in the mirror, this is what I saw: sunken eyes and horrible skin, broken capillaries around my nose, bags under my eyes that I’ve had since I was four, that weird chicken pox scar above my right brow. When my skin began to clear up, I saw my face, my bare face, and I didn’t like what I was seeing. When I was wrapped up in the acne covering my face, I didn’t have to deal with the fact that I didn’t particularly like my face.

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Despite the myriad of treatments I now use, I am still reluctant to wear makeup and try new products. I’m afraid that my skin will react poorly or that it will burn. This fear, however, has made me more comfortable in showing my bare face. When I used to go out with a bare face (and I mean bare, not even concealer) I was ashamed to look in the mirror. I still had the allergy eyes and the scars, but as I learned to deal with my bare face as it was, I realized that while I had been ashamed of the acne, I had often used it as a blanket for my insecurities when it came to my natural looks. now that my skin was on the road to recovery, I had nothing to hide behind.

Living with my acne, and learning to actually like my own face again, is one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. I always used to think scars were really cool until I started seeing them on my face…and feeling them far deeper.

My skin has come a long way in the short months since I started using prescription medication. finding the right balance in skincare has also helped. Nowadays I stick with simple products and a typical lather, rinse, repeat mode of use. I cleanse with Neutrogena Ultra gentle Cleanser, and my go to for daily moisturizer has been Biore’s KAO JAPAN AQUA rich SPF50+/PA++++ Sunscreen. It’s a watery gel that sinks in and leaves my skin protected and moisturized without becoming flaky.

I try to remember to drink enough water (something I feel every person struggles with) and eat the right foods to make sure my skin can do the best with what it’s given. after all of the struggle, that’s all I can do, the best with what I have.

The new MAC Chromagraphic Pencils from the MAC work It Out collection from the left: main Yellow, authentic Orange, process Magenta, rich Purple, Marine Ultra as well as Landscape eco-friendly ($17 each)
What the heck do you make with these things? Are they eyeliners? Are they eyeliners that likewise double as lip liners? Can I wear them on the water line? WHY YOU SO COMPLICATED, SON?!

The $17 Chromagraphic Pencils from the upcoming MAC work It Out collection include an insert that generally tells you exactly how *not* to wear them.

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Um…OK!

MAC suggests not utilizing a number of of the six shades from work It Out in the lip area, along the water line and, in some cases, avoiding the eye area completely.

Hmm…

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I’m guessing that people will do what they will, as well as utilize them nevertheless they want, as well as I wouldn’t be shocked if some intrepid makeup artists available do some off-label service with them.

Still…

Swatches of the MAC Chromagraphic Pencils from the top in main Yellow, authentic Orange, process Magenta, rich Purple, Marine Ultra as well as Landscape Green
Even though I like the nude studio Chromagraphic pencils, I’m going to prevent the vibrant ones from work It Out because, yes, on the one hand they’re hella vibrant, however they likewise like to scoot around my skin as well as transfer up into my crease, as well as when they touch my water line, my sensitive eyes water.

Wearing Marine Ultra on my upper as well as lower lash lines
If you’re still intrigued, all six Chromagraphic Pencils show up with the rest of the MAC work It Out collection at counters, stores as well as on the internet on March 2nd.

Finding motivation…

You guys, I’ve been going to that high intensity interval training class at night for going on three weeks now, as well as I like it! I still miss the camaraderie I had with the people in the daytime class, however the nighttimers are freakin’ hardcore.

I like to discover somebody near me who’s truly pushing it, as well as I try to keep up with them. It’s so much fun going to a class where people push you, not to state that that never occurred in the daytime class, however it’s fun trying to push myself as well as do things I’m not sure I can do.

And when I go to sleep at night, I’m so worn out that I conk out when I autumn into bed. Zzz…

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I understand I talk about HIIT all the time, however it’s been wonderful! It’s extremely difficult for me, however it’s likewise a great deal of fun. If you ever get a possibility to try it, choose it! There are a lot of HIIT workouts on YouTube that you can try to see if you like it.

Your friendly community appeal addict,

Karen

The Clarins charm Delights introduction calendar ($125, available now)
I never had an actual introduction calendar when I was growing up, but I’ve had a few of the makeup-oriented ones as an adult, and I have to say…I’ve never followed the instructions and used them in the introduction calendar way.

Like with this cute one from Clarins, starting today, on the 1st of December, you’re “supposed” to open one (just one) of the little windows every day through the 24th, so that you get a different charm treat each day until Christmas.

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Please note how I’m carrying it like a baby…
So, that’s the way it’s “supposed” (airquotes) to work with an introduction calendar, but I’ve never used them that way because I always open them in one fell swoop! I want all the goodies, and I want ’em now! With cute things like this, I don’t have any self-control.

No self-control whatsoever…

None!
A few of the goodies you get in this Clarins calendar…
Aaand much more goodies…

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Do you have much more self-control than I do when it concerns makeup introduction calendars (or regular introduction calendars)? Do you use them in the once-a-day way, or do you just rip into them to get all the good stuff at once? #teamnoselfcontrol

Your friendly neighborhood charm addict,

Karen