The foundation of beautiful skin

You may be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

Well, it isn’t precisely a poll. It’s much more of a continuously evolving (devolving?), somewhat random listing of concerns I’ve been putting out to visitors every Monday morning for the past seven years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always delighted in reading your answers in the comments, as well as I hope you delight in reading mine.

Where do you typically spend the holidays?
Well that’s a great question! It gets a bit challenging sometimes, however we typically spend Thanksgivings right here in the Bay area at my parents’ home in Union City, which is about 40 or 50 miles away. I bit much more commonly nowadays, though, El Hub as well as I will just spend a peaceful holiday right here by ourselves with Tabs in Novato, which, reality be told, has been good (I like being in my own house, ya know?).

Christmases are much more complicated. El Hub’s parents online in a town called Redding, which is about 200 miles north, just south of the Oregon border, as well as my parents online in the east Bay, so we typically split the holiday between the two sides of the families, which implies A great deal of driving on our part.

We’ll spend Christmas Eve at my parents’ house, which is when we’ve always celebrated, as well as then, at the fracture of dawn on Christmas morning, we drive as much as Redding, which gets us there around noon, where we celebrate the day with El Hub’s side of the fam.

Things will modification after infant woman arrives, ’cause you understand exactly how that goes. When you have the babies, people come to you (I hope), as well as all I have to state about that is say thanks to GOODNESS.

I’m looking ahead to holding the holidays at our house, to be honest, as well as starting some traditions of our own at house with our daughter.

Time to toot your own horn! What’s your Thanksgiving specialty dish?
I make some killer garlic mashed potatoes, yo. Fluffy, buttery, as well as they melt in your mouth.

And my blueberry peach cobbler isn’t half bad, either, as well as it’s truly simple to make. (Here are both recipes if you’re interested!)

To fill in your brows, which do you choose — brow gels, powders, pencils or a combination of two or more?
I’m a brow pencil/gel combo girl, since I like that when I fill in my brows with a brow pencil, it appears like I’m producing much more bit brow hairs, as well as then the gel sets everything, holds the shape as well as keeps the hairs from flying around the place.

Also, at least for the time being, up until I accept some other technique, my brow filling workflow is a bit unorthodox, since I begin with the brow gel, before going in with the brow pencil…which seems backward, I know, however it works for me.

How do you feel about rimming your water lines? For you, is it a do or a don’t?
It’s certainly a do! I like using liner on my water lines to draw additional interest to my eyes, particularly when I utilize greens, blues, purples as well as reddish browns, which I believe go well with my brown eyes.

Do you have freckles?
I many definitely do, like the one I’ve had just under my best eye ever because I was a bit kid, as well as now I have a lot much more of them on my nose as well as cheeks.

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Your turn. just copy as well as paste the complying with concerns into a comment with your answers. I look ahead to reading ’em!

1. Where do you typically spend the holidays?
2. What’s your Thanksgiving specialty dish?
3. What’s your favored technique of filling out your brows? Gel, powder, pencil, a combination of a few things etc.?
4. Rimming your water lines: a do or a don’t?
5. Do you have freckles?

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T-minus three days till turkey day, aah!

As you can most likely tell, I’m extremely thrilled about that. My parents are on a trip, as well as El Hub’s parents have other plans up north, so it’s just going to be me, El Hub, infant Girl, Tabs as well as perhaps my younger brother, who’s one of those people who may or may not show up at the last minute with a tub of macaroni salad…but you just never know.

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I hope you’re having a great Monday so far, as well as I hope it’s the begin to a excellent week. say thanks to you for being right here with me on this Thanksgiving week.

Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen

** THE GIVEAWAY IS closed **
This giveaway is closed, as well as the champion has been contacted (CONGRATULATIONS, JENNIFER!!!), however inspect back next Saturday for one more giveaway.

Good morning, glory! I hope you slept well. I woke up a bit earlier than normal today, as well as it feels a bit like Christmas morning, since I’m going to Sephora to take one of their complimentary makeup classes. For fun. This one’s called Daytime Smoky Eyes (I observed that they likewise have a right as well as conceal class, which I may take later if I such as this one), as well as when I spoke to the woman yesterday to reserve my seat, she said, “You can bring coffee if you want to,” to which I said, “Hallelujah!”

Although mine will be decaf, however still…I’ll pretend it’s genuine coffee.

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So I’m off! have a excellent day today, as well as great luck in the giveaway. I’ll speak to you soon.

One (1) MAC eGift card consisting of $50 sent to the champion by email (international readers, you may opt to get $50 sent by PayPal instead).

Enter by leaving a comment below.

Open to U.S. as well as worldwide readers.

You need to be 18 or older to go into (or otherwise an adult based on your regional laws).

Your comment can be about anything at all, however right here are some concepts if you’re stuck:

Is your pet extremely vocal?

What’s your preferred poem?

What’s the very first mac product you ever used?

Are you a lot more of a visual learner or an auditory learner?

Something unusual you keep in your car?

Short as well as wonderful or verbose as well as detailed?

One entry per person.

You need to utilize a valid email address to win.

The giveaway ends on Monday, August 24, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).

Your friendly community appeal addict,

Karen

Tightlining, or “tight-lining,” despite its action-packed name, is not a new extreme sport. It doesn’t have anything to finish with bungee cords, ratchet straps or zip-lining, but along with filling in my brows and curling my lashes, it’s an vital part of my everyday makeup routine.

In tightlining, you line the base of your upper lash line from below, getting down in there between the roots, and I do it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

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Even when I’m under a severe time crunch and have to start making “tough” decisions on which and what parts of my routine I have to skip, I’ll skip bronzer, highlighter, and if I have to, I’ll even skip blush…as long as I still have time to tightline.

So how does tightlining differ from the common ways of applying eyeliner? Well, I typically apply eyeliner from above, where I get the suggestion of the liner down between the roots of my lashes and along the lash line, and in tightlining, it’s the same basic process, but I come at the base of the line from below it, where I can really get the liner down in there between each and every lash, and it makes the lash line look good and thick, and that makes the eyes look bigger.

Before tightlining my upper water line (left) and after (right)
For tightlining, of all the different eyeliner formulas — gels, powders, kohls, liquid liners, etc. — I like black waterproof twist-up pencil liners the best, and I choose the twist-ups because the suggestions are typically very thin, which makes it simpler to get down in between each of the lashes at the roots. I also like waterproof formulas because they last (and I love Chanel’s waterproof Eye liner in 88 Noir intense for this reason).

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Of course, if you feel like black liners are too stark for you, you can always use another shade. Deep blackish gray, brownish black, medium-toned gray, navy or brown all work, too. Whatever darkens your lash lines and floats your boat.

Step 1: Sharpen your pencil

To start, the first thing I do is sharpen my pencil.

I know that sounds kind of “Duh, Karen!” but using a sharp suggestion really helps. It makes it much simpler to get between those lashes at the roots.

Step 2: placing the pencil at the base

Next, I place the suggestion of the pencil just below my lash line, pointing at an upward angle, and close the eye I’m working on so that the suggestion of the liner presses up against the base of the lashes.

Step 3: start your tightline

Then, I slowly run the pencil along the lash line in short spurts, back and forth, back and forth, all the way along the line moving from outside to inward (toward my nose).

Step 4: check your work

Next, I’ll open my eye to make sure the line looks dark enough, and if it doesn’t, then I’ll repeat the same process until it does.

At this point, there are typically still a few gaps that need to be filled — places where the pencil didn’t quite get between the lashes — so I’ll take the pencil, and gently fill in those gaps until I have a solid black line.

And that’s all there is to it! Done.

Sometimes when I tightline, I unintentionally end up with liner on my lid, and when that happens, I don’t worry about it too much. I just get a Q-tip and blend out the line. It creates a bit of a gradient best along the lash line, and I’m all about those gradients, man!

And if I only plan to line my upper lash line, and not also my lower lash and/or water line, and some of my eyeliner transfers to where it doesn’t belong, I just dip a Q-tip into some makeup remover, and use that to clean up.

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Lastly, if your liner doesn’t always stick to your water line, dry your water line first by gently rubbing a Q-tip along it before you start, because some liners seem to work much better on a dry surface.

Your friendly neighborhood charm addict,

Karen

MAC x Halsey Lipstick
Call me crazy, but I have a routine of thinking about habits.

Is that weird? Like, I notice things about myself, and then I spend a fair amount of time pondering whether it’s just me, or whether everyone else has the same quirks, and because I have a job that involves a lot of long-term quiet focus, my mind unavoidably wanders…

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“Am I the only one who does [INSERT QUIRK HERE]?” Or, “I wonder how she feels about [INSERT PONDERABLE topic HERE]?” Or, “Why would the writers of The walking Dead play with my emotions like that?!”

Of course, because I absolutely adore makeup, I a lot of typically find myself thinking about what’s hot now, or how we wear what we wear, or why we wear what we wear. For instance, where do the trends come from?? It’s sort of a chicken/egg situation, right? because I think you could argue that often the trends come directly from cosmetics companies (color correcting), and often they come from us (strobing).

Anyway…now that I’m here helping Karen (and Tabs, who’s a real taskmaster, BTW!) on makeup and appeal Blog, I want to chat with you about something that’s been rolling around in my noggin.

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Here’s my question: What’s your “beauty comfort zone,” so to speak, when it pertains to lipstick colors?

My makeup comfort zone is pretty big where lipstick is concerned!
And I don’t just indicate standard lipstick. I’m also talking gloss, glitter, liquid lipstick (because it seems like errbody is talking about liquid lipstick ideal now) — you name it.

MAC x Halsey, that masterpiece of a grey lipstick, got me on this subject, because as wearable as it is for a grey lipstick, my brain automatically said, “Nope, that is not something you can wear everyday.”

Later after I thought about it some more, I wondered…why? Where was the girl who at 15 made a decision “I’m going to wear bright red lipstick to high school!” and did it fearlessly (despite the whispers in the hallway)?

Where was the girl who made a decision that bright purple lipstick was absolutely fine in the office on a Tuesday, just because?

My utmost neon coral, MAC’s Giambattista Valli Margherita (LE).
When I want bruised plum, I always turn to Giorgio Armani Plum 609.
A favorite “purple-pink,” YSL Rouge Volupté shine 19 Fuchsia in Rage.
We’re always told that one of the best things about makeup is that there “are no rules,” and while this is absolutely true, I think that policies do typically come from inside ourselves, a lot more than from anywhere else…at least where I’m concerned.

NYX released a absolutely amazing lipstick called Amethyst, and I want that baby bad, but the same little voice inside me that said that MAC x Halsey isn’t wearable is now telling me that I shouldn’t get Amethyst.

The irony here is that I consider myself to be exceptionally open-minded where lipstick is concerned!

I love bright pops of neon coral, deep blackened plums and neon purples. I love checking out how the vastly different colors change the way my overall makeup looks and brighten up an otherwise basic outfit.

So what’s so different about grey…or even indigo?

(Left to Right): MAC x Halsey (LE), MAC Giambattista Valli Margherita (LE), MAC Giambattista Valli Eugenie (LE), MAC Alluring Aquatic Goddess of the Sea (LE), Giorgio Armani Plum 609, YSL Rouge Volupté shine 19 Fuchsia in Rage, Pop appeal Matte velvet Lipstick relaxing Crimson

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So, ladies, now it’s your turn. I love writing about (and commenting on!) things like this, because what might be “risky territory” for me could be something you’re exceptionally at ease with.

Or, you might know of a way to make a color that I’m frightened by absolutely approachable for day-to-day wear.

Let’s chat about it. meet you in the comments.

L’Oreal Colour Riche Collection special Red Lipcolor from the left: 401 Julianne’s Red, 402 Blake’s Red, 403 Eva’s Red, 405 Freida’s Red, 406 Zoe’s Red as well as 407 Liya’s Red
These six reds are rad!

It’s difficult to pick a preferred from among the six $8.99 red lipsticks in the new L’Oreal Colour Riche Collection special Red Lipcolor line, however if you said, “Karen, you have to pick one!” very first I would say, “Curses! Why you gotta be so cruel?” then I’d state 402 Blake’s Red, which you may keep in mind from the 5 fabulously budget-friendly autumn Lipstick publish earlier this week. It’s neutral, so I might wear it with warm as well as awesome looks (and I bet it would look fantastic on many skin tones).

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From the left: 401 Julianne’s Red, 402 Blake’s Red, 403 Eva’s Red, 405 Freida’s Red, 406 Zoe’s Red as well as 407 Liya’s Red

From the left: 401 Julianne’s Red, 402 Blake’s Red, 403 Eva’s Red, 405 Freida’s Red, 406 Zoe’s Red as well as 407 Liya’s Red

I don’t believe you can truly go wrong with any type of of these shades, though. They’re really, truly great reds, as well as all of them are totally opaque. They likewise feel good as well as creamy as well as have a velvety matte surface that makes lips look plump, luscious as well as elegant.

With reds like these I photo film noir heroines saying, “Kiss me, you fool!” while sipping martinis as well as shooting sharp glances across dark rooms.

I ought to point out that all six colors have that strong, traditional L’Oreal lipstick scent (like the basic lipstick-y scent taken to an extreme). You’re either not going to mind it, or it’s going to make you gag. I don’t mind it, because, weirdly enough, it makes me feel like a “lady.” It takes me back to my youth when my granny would wear lipsticks that smelled just like these, as well as each time I caught a whiff on her I’d think, “Ooh! That’s what adult women odor like.”

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Ah, the logic of a four-year-old girl… So funny!

From the left: 401 Julianne’s Red, 402 Blake’s Red, 403 Eva’s Red, 405 Freida’s Red, 406 Zoe’s Red as well as 407 Liya’s Red
Do yourself a solid next time you’re at a drugstore, as well as pick one of them up.

What magic is this?!

I’m starting to believe that witchcraft is included in making those Starbucks Pumpkin flavor Lattes. Whenever I surface one, I feel intense, overwhelming joy. They are the very best things EVER.

Nothing can stop me from having one more one tomorrow, mwahahahaa! I’m already looking ahead to it (one much more sleep till PSL!).

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Anyone else addicted to these?? PSLs 4 life!

Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen

I’ve often wondered how it would feel to look like a scoop of pistachio ice cream, and now, thanks to baby girl and this green sweater, I know. ??

That cute little bump from four weeks ago isn’t so little anymore, thanks to all the growing BG has done over the last month! I think I read somewhere that pregnant ladies are meant to put on something like a pound a week in the third trimester… She’s 32 weeks now and about the size of a head of lettuce, but I feel like I’m hauling around a watermelon strapped to my tum.

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I spend a lot of time wondering about her personality and what she’ll look like. will she be outgoing like me, or will she be a lot more introverted like El Hub (or a diva like Tabs)? will her eyes be brown like mine, or will they be hazel like El Hub’s?

And what about her toes? I hope they’re long and maneuverable like mine. I can pick things up with them like little monkey paws, which comes in quite helpful when I want to pick stuff up off the floor!

I also really, really hope she gets El Hub’s eyelashes, because if she does, she’ll have hit the eyelash holy grail, because his are long, thick and curly (and, of course, because he’s a guy, he doesn’t appreciate them at all, sigh).

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It’s fun to think about these things, but what I mostly do now is just hope for the best. When I finally get to meet her, a lot more than anything else, I hope she’s healthy. That’s the only thing I really want.

Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

Karen

Fellow cat ladies and feline fanatics, when you walk into a pet food store and see the adoptable rescue kitties just sitting there with their big, bright eyes blinking slowly and their awkward, fluffy paws padding around, it’s hard not to say, “I want them meow. Please give them to me. I’ll take all the cats.”

Sigh… I can’t do it right now because of Tabs. He’s an only child, so to speak (basically, he’s territorial). He wouldn’t tolerate another cat in his house, but if I had my way, and I know that if you had yours, you’d take all of them. All the cats.

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This formfitting tee feels softer than a tabby’s tum, and I love the scooped neck. It’s made from a super soft 50% polyester, 37% ring-spun cotton, 13% rayon blend. normally with shirts I wear a small or a medium (I’m 5 feet 1 inches tall), and I’m wearing a medium here.

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen