Operating at 70%

I was talking to somebody about this the other day, about perfectionism and how there are so many things that I want to do in my life, with my house, writing, everything, but I want to do my best, you know? Everybody does. For me, I feel like unless I give something 100%, it’s not even worth trying, and even when I do give 100%, I still see the things that I could have done better.

It’s a theme that’s been running through my life for the last few years, and to be honest, when I got pregnant, it got much worse.

Something happened with my hormones, and I don’t talk about it a lot on the blog, but I developed anxiety. It’s not something that, you know, I want to lead with ever, but I have it, and I’m working on it. I work on it every day.

The person I was talking to was my therapist, and she said that sometimes 70% is good enough, you know. Sometimes 60%. Sometimes 50%.

I think most of us know these things, but it’s so easy to forget them…

I was telling her that the thought of doing things, like a task, becomes so debilitating for me sometimes that, because I want to do it well, but I don’t feel like I have the tools or the time or the energy, I won’t even do it at all. In my mind, I see this perfect picture of how the task should go, but because I feel so married to that thought, because I can’t do it this way or that way, I get paralyzed, and it’s… I’m kind of over it. I’m really over it.

This has held me back in so many aspects of my life, to be honest, with my family, my writing, my house, it’s just made everything so difficult, and I’m at a point where it’s just, you know what? I want to not feel like I’m being held down by so many things. I want to feel light and free. I want to do things.

So I’m just going to commit to doing stuff at 70%, you know? 70% may not be 100%, but 70% is still something, and I’m gonna do that for a while and hopefully move forward in some ways.

My gawd, if you could see my house… It’s such a mess, but I have this perfect picture in my mind. But I’m letting that go now. If I can just get it to 70%.

Actually, 50% in regards to the house. That’s what I’m committing to. If I could just do 50%, then at least I’m moving forward a little.

I’ve basically been like this pretty much all my life. I mean…I did not expect to get teary right now but…

Please don’t ever feel like you’re alone, you know? You aren’t. Things happen to us all. I’ve never met a perfect person in my life. Not a single one of us is perfect, and you don’t have to be perfect. Ever. Please remember that.

With any task that bothers me, like with my office or any room in the house, if I give myself an hour and tell myself that I only have to work on one pile, if I get through the pile in the hour, that’s great. If I get to anything else after, that’s good, too.

I’m gonna try to remember that small steps, no matter how small they are, are still steps. It’s all about taking bite-sized steps. You’ll get there. You can do it.

Have a good day, my friend.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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The post, “Operating at 70%,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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ChapStick Total Hydration Moisture + Tint Is Giving Me ChapStick Nostalgia

Big kiss!

When I was in elementary school, I wasn’t one of cool girls. I didn’t have Bonnie Bell Lip Smacker or anything fancy like that. I had a tube of ChapStick, but believe me, for a while, that ChapStick was my most coveted possession in the whole wide world. I loved it to bits because it was as close as I was allowed to get to wearing makeup, and these new $4.99 ChapStick Total Hydration Moisture + Tints kinda make me feel the same way.

I mean, they’re totally different, but eight-year-old me probably would have passed out if I’d been given one of these, feeling like, “Oh, forbidden lipstick!”

There are three shades — Merlot, Coral Bliss and Rose Petal — and they’re billed as 100% natural. I see lots of oils and butters in the ingredient list, like sunflower oil and jojoba, and I like that they’re all the way up at the top.

I wear these to work out, which is nothing compared to the glamorous ladies who go to my exercise class. They wear full-on jewelry with a full face of makeup, and their hair is done. I just put on a little bit of ChapStick, but it’s enough to make me not feel like death warmed over when I see myself in the mirror.

They’re very similar to Burt’s Bees, so if you like Burt’s, you might like these too.

From the left: Merlot, Coral Bliss and Rose Petal

Ingredients

Wearing Rose Petal

From the left: Coral Bliss, Rose Petal and Merlot

Even the packaging is pretty cute

The formula feels light on my lips, not sticky at all, and you can kind of move ’em around. Flavor-wise, they taste a little like oranges, but it’s barely noticeable and fades fast.

I mean, they’re ChapStick. It’s not like we’re reinventing the wheel or anything, but if you have fond ChapStick memories like I do, they’re a quick trip down memory lane.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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MAC Limited Edition Photographs by Helmut Newton Collection

A few pieces from the MAC Limited Edition Photographs by Helmut Newton collection

Generally, I like to shoot with my big, scary camera, because there’s something about being a small girl carrying a big, scary camera. Nobody ever questions you. Like, I could go anywhere with that big, scary camera, and nobody messes with me. It’s true. It’s absolutely true.

But there are times when I don’t want to carry a big, scary camera with me, and that’s when I carry my little Sony point-and-shoot.

I love this glorious camera and bring this bad boy with me everywhere…

The Sony DSC-RX100 is one of my favorite cameras of all time. I’ve shot with several, and this one is my ride-or-die. It’s small, sturdy and portable. Mine is the first generation model from four years ago, so it’s been through quite a lot. There are newer models with more bells and whistles on them (here’s the brand new version), but I’m still very happy with this one.

I can take it anywhere, so if I need to go incognito, it’ll fit it in the palm of my hand. And it takes GREAT pictures — almost as great as my big, scary camera — and that’s because it has a 1-inch sensor, which in non-photography talk means that it lets in more light and captures more detail than the small sensor on an iPhone.

MBB Fun Fact: I use it for all of the swatches on the blog because it’s easy to handle, and I like the way it captures color.

Anyway, I’m talking about this right now in a longwinded way because of the new MAC Point ‘N’ Shoot Eye Shadow X 4 palette from the Limited Edition Photographs by Helmut Newton collection.

It has four cool-toned mattes, which I would normally be ecstatic about, but they seem kinda patchy and sheer…

MAC Limited Edition Photographs by Helmut Newton
Available online October 27, 2016
Available in-store November 3 through December 15, 2016
#MACLimitedEdition

Point ‘N’ Shoot Eye Shadow X 4 ($32) — Real Fantasy (Matte), Hard Currency (Matte), Influential (Satin), Point ‘N’ Shoot (Matte)

Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour ($21 each) — High Heels, Chateau M, Self Portrait

MAC Studio Nail Lacquer ($13 each) — Monte Carlo (Creme), Call Time (Creme), Berlin (Creme)

Liquid Eye Liner in Boot Black ($21)

Upward Lash in Upward Black ($23)

MAC Limited Edition Photographs by Helmut Newton Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolours from the left: Self Portrait, High Heels an dChateau M ($21 each)

MAC Limited Edition Photographs by Helmut Newton Point ‘N’ Shoot Eye Shadow X 4 ($32)

Point ‘N’ Shoot Eye Shadow X 4

MAC Limited Edition Photographs by Helmut Newton Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolours from the left: Self Portrait, High Heels and Chateau M

MAC Limited Edition Photographs by Helmut Newton “…celebrates the erotically charged and elegant work of legendary photographer, Helmut Newton. A regular contributor to Vogue and Vanity Fair, Newton is known for his precise, glamorous and empowering photography of women. This limited-edition color collection captures the photographer’s provocative, exquisite taste, dressing wine-stained lips in sultry rogue while darkening eyes in the black and white shades of his signature aesthetic. Nails are lacquered in colors inspired by Monte Carlo and Berlin, two of his homes. A selection of Newton’s most iconic photographs adorns the bespoke packaging — his work remains as distinctive and influential as ever.”

And MAC Senior Vice President/Creative Director James Gager says, “I have always greatly admired Helmut Newton’s work — the precision and glamour of his images, as well as the strength and elegance of the women that he photographed. It is an honor to be able to create a makeup collection that captures his provocative vision in a MAC way.”

–MAC PR

I’m stoked about the three Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolours in the release because you can’t really go wrong with the Retro Mattes. They’re always opaque, intensely pigmented, easy to put on, and you can see ’em from across a room.

The collection also has three re-promoted nail polishes and a Boot Black Liquid Liner and Upward Lash mascara in Upward Black.

It’s a small collection, but anything photography related always, always grabs my attention.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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The post, “MAC Limited Edition Photographs by Helmut Newton Collection,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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What Was Your Most Cringeworthy Beauty Moment?

We’ve all had them at one time or another…

Hmm, my most cringeworthy beauty moment…

There are so many to choose from, but I think it was the time I took a purple and pink Dolce & Gabbana eyeshadow duo and, without much thought, plopped it on my eyes. And when I say, “without much thought,” I mean without much regard for blending or transition colors.

I put it on my eyes thinking that it looked OK, and then I took pictures of it for the blog (famous last words). I didn’t realize until afterward just how…not cute the look was.

Then I thought, “Well, geez, that looks pretty bad.”

Haha! To this day, I can’t believe I put that up. What the heck was I thinking??

I should probably just delete that post now, but whatever. It’s up. It’s there. It’s part of me.

It’s funny, but it seems like if you spend too much time on Instagram, people have these perfect lives, but really, like, I’m making mistakes all the time, and they’re online, too!

But yeah, that was probably the most cringeworthy of the beauty cringeworthy. I’m sure that if I think hard enough, though, I’ll think of more, haha.

How about you? What’s your most cringeworthy beauty moment?

Next stop: Stars Hollow

Twenty-nine sleeps.

Twenty-nine sleeps until the gold… HAHA! I was going to say “The Golden Girls,” but I meant to say “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.”

GAHHH! So excited. I wish we could see each other right now because then we’d be doing mutual fist pumps in the air.

FIST PUMPS! I’m that stoked about the new episodes.

Last night I watched the new trailer, and I may or may not have watched it three times in a row.

Um, did I say that I’m really excited? Can’t wait to go back to Stars Hollow and see what the gang’s been up to.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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The It Cosmetics Holiday 2016 Collection

The It Cosmetics Holiday 2016 Collection

I’m wearing the It Cosmetics Je Ne Sais Quoi Complexion Perfection Palette this afternoon, and when I opened the palette earlier today, I thought, “Ooh! Look at all the warm tones…”

I got super excited. Then I got even MORE excited when I saw that one of the pans, the warm-looking bronzer, is called Sunshine in a Compact.

Ah… I was all mentally prepared for a warm-toned experience, like the makeup equivalent of a week on Kauai — you know, coconut in one hand, camera in the other, because, seriously, who goes to the beach lugging around a massive camera?

This girl.

Anywho, when I actually put on the bronzer, I quickly realized that it isn’t as warm as I thought. It’s actually pretty cool-toned and sheer, so I think that lighter lasses who are cool-toned will appreciate it more.

I mean, I know that I talk about wearing cool-toned colors all the time, like the other day, when I was talking about cool-toned red lipsticks and how I like to wear them even though I’m warm-toned. I do like the contrast of a cool-toned lip on warm skin, and sometimes I like wearing cool-toned eyeshadows for the same reason. I think that because of the contrast, my lips look more…structured, and the colors don’t get lost as easily on my skin.

But I feel like some cool-toned blushes and highlighters look jarring on my skin tone, especially on large patches of skin, like my cheeks and upper cheekbones.

Something about it doesn’t look quite right to my eye.

There are some other things in the collection as well, like a couple of ornaments and two cute brush kits.

(Side note: How cool would that be? A Christmas tree covered in makeup ornaments?)

One of the brush sets has elegant rosy gold handles, while the other one’s handles are sparkly silver. All of the brushes in both sets are full size.

If I were a Mariah Carey drag queen, I would totally want the sparkly brushes on my makeup vanité.

Yes, I just said “vanité.”

By the way, the glitter on the handles doesn’t come off, which is nice to know, because if it did that would be a bummer.

1. City Chic 5-Piece Ultra Luxe Skin-Loving Brush Set + Exclusive Case ($68) — New, limited edition
2. All That Glitters 5-Piece Brush Set + Exclusive Shimmering Case ($58) — New, limited edition (Ulta exclusive)
3. Je Ne Sais Quoi Complexion Perfection Palette ($42) — New, permanent
4. Confidence in a Cream Transforming Moisturizing Super Cream Ornament ($16) — New, limited edition
5. Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara Ornament ($12) — New, limited edition

Je Ne Sais Quoi Complexion Perfection Palette

The Blush, Translucent Powder, Bronzer and Highlighter from the Je Ne Sais Quoi Complexion Perfection Palette

In paw for scale…

I don’t know if you’ve used It Cosmetics brushes before, but they remind me of the brushes from Real Techniques. Both use synthetic fibers and are cruelty free, but I think the It Cosmetics brushes are fancier. Both have very soft bristles, which I like, because some synthetic brushes have thicker bristles that don’t move product around very well, whereas these It Cosmetics brushes (and the Real Techniques brushes as well) feel very soft and are easily able to manipulate powders and creams.

The It Cosmetics brush bristles feel even softer than the Real Technique ones do to me.

I really like the face brushes. I think they’re just the right size, and I like the eye brushes, too, but I feel like they’re a little on the bigger side, so if you have small lids like I do, these aren’t precise. They’re probably better for washes of color than detail.

The Je Ne Sais Quoi Quad

Wearing the Je Ne Sais Quao Complextion Perfection Palette, Confidence in a Cream Super Cream and Superhero Mascara

City Chic 5-Piece Ultra Luxe Skin-Loving Brush Set + Exclusive Case

The City Chic Brushes

All That Glitters 5-Piece Brush Set + Exclusive Shimmering Case

The All That Glitters Brushes

All That Glitters Brushes

The Confidence in a Cream and Superhero Mascara Ornaments

Like I mentioned earlier, there are also two ornaments in the collection. One is a mini mascara called Superhero, and I think it’s a little awkward to use. There isn’t much distance between the mascara brush and the handle, so it’s just…really awkward to hold. I feel like my fingers are too close to my eyes when I use it.

I don’t know… I just wish there was more distance between the brush and the handle.

The mascara itself, though? I like the color. It’s super black and does a pretty good job of thickening, but you know me. I want lash drama! And better curl hold!

The other ornament is basically a face moisturizer — no tint or anything.

It’s OK. I have dry skin, and the moisturizer is very thick and moisturizing. It has a good weight to it and smells a little like lemons. It’s also supposed to be anti-aging.

My favorite things in the collection are the brushes, particularly the set with the rose gold handles. They’re super cute and a little more elegant than the glittery ones…although the glitter ones look fun, too.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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The post, “The It Cosmetics Holiday 2016 Collection,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

Love, love, LOVE!

1. The Victoria Beckham X Estée Lauder Eye Palette

I love this palette so hard!

So hawd.

Like, when I close my eyes, I can see it and feel myself clutching it in my palm. I want to sleep with it under my pillow so I can dream about it…

I talked about it a little last week. It’s the Victoria Beckham X Estée Lauder Eye Palette, and it’s $95 (!). But oh! — the blending is off the chain.

The beautiful jewel-tone colors are perfect for fall. All I really need to do with it is rim my lash and water lines with black eyeliner, put a layer of any one of the colors on my lids, buff it out, apply mascara, and my eyes are done.

Love it, love, love it, love it!

Don’t love the $95 price, though…

Channeling Posh Spice…

2. Celestial Seasonings Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride Tea

OK, confession — I may or may not have bought this box of tea in August.

August.

Which is so far from anything having to do with sugar cookie or sleigh rides, but I saw it at Target on the shelf and couldn’t resist.

I’ve been sort of parsing out the bags very slowly, but now that we’re getting closer to the appropriate time and we can start talking about Christmas stuff, I’ve been going through it like crazy.

Oh, my gosh, it’s so good. It really does taste like a sugar cookie in a cup, and it satisfies any sort of sweet tooth urges that I have. Whenever I want a piece of candy or whatever, I have a cup of this instead.

Yummy

3. Black Mirror Season 3

Black Mirror! I binge-watched the new season last weekend, and I’m about to binge-watch it again.

It’s such a good show! OK, it’s sci-fi, but please don’t let that turn you off. It’s sci-fi like The Twilight Zone.

In one of the episodes, in a not-so-distant future, people are super obsessed with their social media rankings. It basically takes over their life, and they wear these contacts so they can instantly connect with other people, be they friends, family members or strangers. They can instantly rate every interaction from one to five stars.

It’s freaky.

One of the other episodes, San Junipero, is my favorite one. I’m probably gonna watch it a third time this week. It’s about… I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to ruin it for you, but there’s this idea of living forever in specific eras through technology, and I’ll just leave that there.

4. Belinda Carlisle’s Heaven Is a Place on Earth

OK, so this is leftover from watching the San Junipero episode of Black Mirror. I watched this video for the first time in probably 15 years, and you know what…? It’s friggin’ weird! There’s a bunch of people dressed up in the same outfit, and they have these glowing globes… And they’re doing this weird choreography.

The video is weird, but the song is genius. It’s stuck in my head right now.

5. The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins

Audiobooks usually take me forever and a day to finish, but I flew through this one. I couldn’t put it down, so to speak. I listened to it every chance I got.

I know it’s a movie right now, and I wanted to finish the book before seeing the movie.

It’s a tense, well-written murder mystery. You gotta figure out whodunnit.

The narrator is someone who you’re not too sure you can trust. She’s a woman whose life isn’t on the right track because… Not on the right track? Trains? Haha.

Anyway, she’s divorced, recently lost her job, and she’s super depressed about it. She also has a drinking problem. And she thinks she may have witnessed a murder, but she’s unsure because her memory can be spotty. You’re not sure if you can trust her as a narrator. Such a great story.

Freak out!

What are some things you’ve been loving lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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The post, “5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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ConnorClaire.com Product Spotlight: All the Cats Tee

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.

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.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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The post, “ConnorClaire.com Product Spotlight: All the Cats Tee,” first appeared on Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup.

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