Author

Emily Johnson

Beauty (And Other Things) De-Influence Me Edition

Dude, I am like so proud of myself because I haven’t really purchased any makeup in the last month. Wild right? Me? Not buying makeup? BRB let me make sure fire isn’t raining down outside. Nope, we’re good. All safe. But yeah, like many of you, the need to purchase all the new makeup releases has def come to a standstill for me. With so many repetitive releases I feel like I’ve already have something similar in my stash! But never fear, I’m still craving stuff I don’t need so, your job, if you choose to accept it, is to de-influence me!

Let’s start with the most important matter. The Labubu Pin for Love Series. Guys, I think I’m good. I may need a little more support but all in all I made to executive decision to NOT shop this launch and I feel like I really did something by just saying no! Do I want a mini Labubu bag charm? Yes! Do I want to spend millions of dollars trying to score one with my initial, that’d be a nope. I’d normally say, screw it, let me get a complete set but what’s the point? I’d have a set with initials from A to M and would maybe only use two for my first and last name. And the initials are stitched into the Labubu’s butt so, not like you can hide the fact you’re carrying around a different initial. It’s such a weird, pointless release. I could see myself falling hard for this launch if initials weren’t involved but as it is, it’s a nope for me. I did see one of my favorite creators scoring a W and an F which are the initials of our fandom and it was like, dude, dude, wait, how did you pull those? Knowing me I’d end up with some odd pull if I did a blind box! If you see me walking down the street with a initial X on my Labubu just keep walking by and don’t say anything haha! So, yeah, I successfully de-influenced myself on this but words of encourage are always welcome.

I think I successfully de-influenced myself on this too (with the help of some Reddit peeps). This was a hard one my friends. I said NO to purchasing the Timestopper DVD Set. Does it come with photocards? Yes, does it have backstage footage? Yes. Does it have ton of extras? Yes. Do I want to see Perth and Tata jump up from the bottom of the stage in synch at the same time in HD? Absolutely. Do I want to spend crazy tariff prices to purchase this? Eh…………………! Not really. It’s $60 retail (a little under) but it’ll set be back $145 with the tariff situation and I’m just about that. I don’t really mind the price but I do mind the wait time to actual get it shipped to the US. The wait wouldn’t normally bother me but the sheer amount of content that will be shared via edits and clips on Tiktok, IG, Reddit, and fan groups will be unavoidable and it will take away so much from my purchase. I’m consoling myself with a great purchase I made on Mercari as I got the Timestopper Photobook and the seller was super awesome as she was fangirling with me and put in a bunch of Timestopper photocards I feel well and properly over my need for this set. I hope I stick to that. Wish me luck!

But these photocards are carding:

Now for beauty…!

Dolce & Gabbana Ever Icon Eye Palette $72
I have no business looking at these. Not even glancing their way but I gotta admit the Ever Icon Eyeshadow Palettes are a vibe. They look like they have a slurry-like texture that we all know and love from some of favorite Japanese brands like Lavashuca and Majolica Majorca (what a time to be alive am I right?). But honestly, the price isn’t it. I feel like they should be at the $60 mark not $72 but, as we all know, makeup has gone up considerably. Expense aside do I need these? Absolutely not considering I have enough eyeshadow to last me into my next five lives. Do I want them? Yeah, I sort of want to check one out. The heart compact, the shade range, looking good, but do me a favor? De-influence me.

Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Lips Healthy Glow Nectar Oil $25
That’s a nope, dog. I can’t with this launch. Really, someone stop me because I’m not 12 years old and do not need to stockpile lip oil like the world is ending and my lips will be forever parched because production will stop on all lip oils as zombies devour the living. But but seriously, remind me again how I don’t need another lip oil! These are actually really tempting because the reviews are unholy good. We got glossy, we got sheer color, we got comfortable to wear, moisturizing, but I think they may all look the same on lips since they are selling that old pH “one of a kind” shade bullsh1T that’s unique to you. We all heard that marketing before am I right? That being said, I’m wear, I can see myself indulging in one. De-influence me.

Dolce & Gabbana Everlast Concealer $40
Taking it back to D&G over here. I can never say no to new concealer. This new formulation promises crease, water, and sweat proof coverage in a lightweight matte finish that promises to blend easily under eyes and on face with a precise tip applicator for application. De-influence me and remind me to use the hundred other concealer I already have.

Chanel Sublimage Le Corrector Yeux Radiant Generating Concealer Eye Care $110
More concealer? Crap. Chanel’s new ultra-hydrating concealer is a light, creamy consistency that can be used to hydrate the under eye areas as it concealers darkness and enhances overall radiance under the eye with light-reflecting particles. Why do I need this in my life? Do your job, de-influence me!

Lancome Skin Idôle Juicy Liquid Blush $38
Lancome new Juicy Liquid Blush feels like an easy no for me considering they are so late to jump on the liquid blush trend and so many cheaper options are available. That being said, I do find myself interested enough to want to check these out. They promise a ultra creamy formula that transforms from liquid to powder for long wear. I don’t need them but I do need to be de-influenced.

Lay it on me. What are you yearning for and how can I de-influence you?

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Too Faced Fairy Bomb Fragrance Body Mist To Tween or Not To Tween That Is The Question

I left for a few months but Too Faced is still over here marketing to the tween demographic and making me feel as old as hell! They just dropped Too Faced Fairy Bomb Fragrance Body Mist for Holiday 2025 and I have to say going from Too Faced Better Than Sex Perfume to “Fairy Bomb” Fragrance Body Mist is a big leap. I was one of the few people that actually liked Better Than Sex Perfume! I mean, look at this bottle:

And now we got this:

Yeah, a little different I’d say! But let’s not be quick to judge. What are we looking at with this new Too Faced Fairy Bomb Fragrance Body Mist? Ok, I read the notes, it isn’t all about smelling like teen spirit. We got some fruity top notes that include Apple, Madarin, Lemon and Pear with a floral heart that includes Lily of the Valley, Freesia, and Jasmine. And the finish more mature notes that include oakmost, amber, sandalwood, and musk. Too Faced is marketing it as a warm, effervescent scent. Unfortunately, it is $28 for a alcohol-free, water based formula which makes me question if it’ll have any lasting power at all.

Although, this does reek of Too Faced Holiday 2024 and the Too Faced Charmed Life Set Maximum Plump Lip Gloss & Key Chain that made us all question our age it seems like maybe this fragrance won’t be completely marketed to tweens. We’ll have to smell it first and see though.

As for me, well, it’s skip! I think I’m doing good over here without Too Faced Fairy Bomb Fragrance Body Mist in my life. That being said, I will do a little sniff scent if it pops up on my radar. This will likely end up on the sales rack before the Holiday season even gets here. Le sigh!

What’s your take on Too Faced Fairy Bomb Fragrance Body Mist?

Where to buy

Ulta

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Briogeo Vanilla Birthday Cake Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask Is Back Just in Time To Add to Your 21 Days of Beauty Cart

Wakey wakey! Time to get your hair smelling like vanilla birthday cake because Briogeo Vanilla Birthday Cake Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask is back for a limited time. Anyone know those people who are all like, “I don’t want to smell like food!”? Who are these crazy people because I can’t! My face when they say that:

I want to smell like cake with whipped up vanilla butter cream! I want to smell like just baked cookies! I want to smell like cupcakes with pink frosting! I can’t relate to the “I don’t want to smell like food” people at all! For those our little gourmand fan girl might I present to you the return of Briogeo Vanilla Birthday Cake Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask. Briogeo dragged this up from the dark realms of their haircare vault and are now offering it up for a limited time. I’m tired and I’m jet lagged so don’t quote me on the exact time and date this originally launched but I remember stupidly hauling one at the time and regretting it. I normally use the Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask twice a week and a jar will last me quite a while. After hauling that one jar of the Vanilla Cake I was nursing it for quite a while and when I went back for more it was too late! Briogeo really meant it when they said limited edition! Imagine my surprise when I got an email it was returning.

It smells like the most delicious cake with creamy frosting! Plus it’s the same awesome formula. Thick, creamy, with plenty of nourishing ingredients like B Vitamins and planet proteins that hydrate, smooth, and strengthen hair.

Briogeo Vanilla Birthday Cake Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask is back from the grave for a limited time and just in time to add to your cart of you’re buying anything from the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty sale.

Enjoy!

Where to buy

Ulta

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 892

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. Something on your nightstand?

A big ol’ stack of books that are about to fall over, LOL!

2. Something funny your pet does?

If Marnie likes you and walks past you, she’ll quickly lick your knee or your leg if you’re wearing shorts or a dress. We call it “drive-by lickies.”

3. Something you’d like to do today?

Cook some late summer veggies that I’ve had since Tuesday. I wish all those lovely string beans, squash and zucchini would saute themselves in olive oil and a little salt, but alas, that’s not happening.

4. Something you’re trying to let go of?

UGH, the clutter. I always think to myself, “I might need this someday,” but honestly, 99 percent of the time, I don’t even use whatever I was hoarding.

5. Something you absolutely love?

That feeling after a good eight hours of sleep! My body wakes up on its own, and I don’t have that tired feeling in my eyes. Love, love, love it.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.

1. Something on your nightstand?
2. Something funny your pet does?
3. Something you’d like to do today?
4. Something you’re trying to let go of?
5. Something you absolutely love?

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 891

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. How good are you at keeping plants alive?

I used to be OK at it, but these days not so much. I think I could still be if I wasn’t so busy with taking care of the other living things in my family (human, cat and dog, LOL). One day soon, though, Connor won’t need me as much, so maybe then I’ll get back into gardening.

2. A drugstore beauty staple you swear by?

Aveeno body moisturizers. Sure, they’re not particularly exciting in terms of ingredients, but they keep my skin happily moisturized without any irritation, and the scents don’t aggravate my migraines.

3. What’s worse: getting a really itchy bug bite or having insomnia?

Insomnia, hands down.

4. How often do you iron your clothes?

Most days because I can’t deal with wrinkly shirts.

5. Would you rather try a new mascara or stick to one that you know you already like?

Let’s try a new one, why not?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.

1. How good are you at keeping plants alive?
2. A drugstore beauty staple you swear by?
3. What’s worse: getting a really itchy bug bite or having insomnia?
4. How often do you iron your clothes?
5. Would you rather try a new mascara or stick to one that you know you like?

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Man, some of the neighbors around here used to have no respect for authority. Everyone knew that Tabs was the head honcho. He was the CFO (Chief Feline Officer), for meowing out loud!

Like the local turkey troupe? They were always monopolizing the corporate salad bar. One day, Tabs wanted to grab a quick bite before he started some intense kitty modeling negotiations with Dior, but he couldn’t because of these guys…

The nerve!

There was a lot of unsanctioned outside activity. Everyone should have known that the so-called golden hour first thing in the morning was when Tabs liked to take his walk, so there shouldn’t have been any unsanctioned horseplay or activity.

This guy even had the unmitigated gall to dig a big hole right next to Tabs!

Can you even imagine? Some gophers are so disrespectful… 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 890

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. What’s your favorite genre of novels?

Lately I’ve been really enjoying cozy romances (yes, they’re a thing).

2. A flavor of ice cream that you NEVER order?

Orange sherbert, ewwww!

3. Concealer: in a pot or in a tube with a wand?

Tube with a wand, please.

4. One thing you’d like to do this week?

Go to the gym on Tuesday. After three years of mostly ignoring exercise, I’m trying really hard to get back into the habit.

5. Breakfast for dinner or dinner for breakfast?

Breakfast for dinner, please!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.

1. What’s your favorite genre of novels?
2. A flavor of ice cream that you NEVER order?
3. Concealer: in a pot or in a tube with a wand?
4. One thing you’d like to do this week?
5. Breakfast for dinner or dinner for breakfast?

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Tabs…

One year on a very special Labor Day, Tabs gave the employees of Tabs the Cat Industries LLC the day off…

I know! This came as a shock to everyone because Labor Day was normally one of the holidays the company did not observe, because Tabs liked to interpret “Labor Day” as meaning “a day to labor,” instead of as a day to celebrate labor by taking a day off. 🤔

Even though I basically ran the office on a day-to-day basis, it was hard to question him. He was, after all, the most successful plus-size kitty supermodel in Novato, California, history, so he obviously knew what he was doing.

Even though Tabs didn’t encourage time off from work (he was a total workaholic), there was one thing he did encourage…

Fashion!

He always dressed to the nines, and he liked to see his employees do it too.

Whether it was clothes, jewels or crowns, there were always people and cats playing dress-up at the office.

Yup, it was a fun place to work.

Rosie…

Nowadays, the office isn’t as “spicy” as it once was, but Rosie has been getting gussied up more often lately. Like today, she had four wardrobe changes!

That cat is definitely improving her style. 😄

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 870

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 889

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. Is lipstick an everyday thing for you?

Yes! I usually start the day off wearing lipstick. As the day goes on, though, I move into gloss because it’s easier for me to apply for touch ups. Just swipe and go!

2. Bright colors or earth tones?

Lil’ bit of both. 🙂

3. What’s the most-used tool in your makeup routine?

My fingers! I use them to blend and apply minimal base and blush, mostly, and sometimes to swipe and blend liquid or cream eyeshadow.

4. A makeup trick that you’ve been loving lately?

Layering brown eyeshadow on top of black eyeliner. I love how it softens the black liner, so you still get a good amount of impact, but it isn’t as harsh.

5. How closely do you need to follow the school year schedule?

At the moment, pretty closely, since Connor’s still in elementary school. I don’t mind it, though. It gives an ebb and flow to the year!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.

1. Is lipstick an everyday thing for you?
2. Bright colors or earth tones?
3. What’s the most-used tool in your makeup routine?
4. A makeup trick that you’ve been loving lately?
5. How closely do you need to follow the school year schedule?

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Poor Marnie. 😥

After struggling for weeks to get on Rosie’s good side, and to get away from her claws, Marnie, using the power of her mighty derp, realized that the key to Rosie’s heart is through her mind.

In hindsight, this makes perfect sense, because Rosie is, after all, an award-winning cat scientist.

Anyway, Marnie got to work last weekend looking for a scientific breakthrough that she could use to impress Rosie.

Something, anything, to get on Rosie’s good side.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t easy…

Nope, not easy at all…

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 869

It’s tough when your mentor has, like, eight degrees and a Nobel Cat Prize in Physics.

Not to mention a feline genius-level IQ…

Tabs was different. Obviously, he was also a cat genius, but he was also way more stylish and approachable.

Where Rosie takes a scratch-first-ask-questions-later approach to dealing with Marnie, Tabs was always very patient with less scientifically minded creatures.

But then, we’re talking about Tabs here. He was omega-level greatness. 😊

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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