Karen

I sleep right next to a hand cream graveyard…

It’s there on the floor by my bed and in one of the cubbies in my nightstand, both of which are home to half a dozen or more half-empty tubes because I’m kind of a hand cream addict.

But this one by L’Occitane will probably be spared that ignominious outcome because it is SO DANG GREAT.

Where do I start?

First, when the cream comes out of the tube, it’s formed into the shape of a star, and don’t ask me why, but this brings me great joy. 🙂

Second, this stuff is ridiculously moisturizing. With all of the polar vortexing/El Niño-like action so far this winter, it’s been unusually dry and cold — and definitely drier than most years, because we usually have some humidity by the ocean here.

But my hands have been painfully dry, but L’Occitane Shea Butter Whipped Hand Cream relieves them of that. It’s been the only cream in or near “the graveyard” to stop that tight, uncomfortable feeling.

The cream contains 25% shea butter, much to paws’ delight, and now that I’ve been using it regularly, my cuticles are also less raggedy (always a plus).

The formula smells comfortingly like baby powder, which is a little old-fashioned, but I like it. It reminds me of hugging my grandma when I was little.

L’Occitane Shea Butter Whipped Hand Cream is available now at L’Occitane stores, counters and online ($12 for a 1-oz. travel-size tube).

Put your hands up for hand cream, babe! What have your paws been loving lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.

GURL, when it comes to primer, I’m a believer — like hands in the air, testifying with my eyes closed and my head up to the sky, hollering “PRRRRRRIMERRRRRR!” as tears run down my cheeks and a children’s choir sings in the background.

A day rarely passes when I skip it. Primer is as integral to my makeup routine as a lash curler and brow filler.

Face primers

The main reason I love face primer so much is, quite frankly, my damned pores! Primer makes the texture of my cheeks, forehead and nose look smoother, and it’s a pretty noticeable difference in real life and pics.

For face primers, I use two (sounds like overkill, I know, but it works for me). I start by prepping my skin for foundation using MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance ($41) all over my face, which makes whichever foundation I layer on top of it “sit” better and last longer.

After giving Prep + Prime a minute or two to sink in, I go back in with Smashbox Pore Minimizing Photo Finish ($39), which I spot apply on the apples of my cheeks, my nose and around my mouth.

Essentially, Photo Finish works like spackling paste or putty, filling any uneven dips and pores on the skin to make foundation, powder and blush appear more smooth and silky.

Eye primers

I’ve got MAD love for eye primers, too, but if we get into the nitty-gritty details of which ones and why, we’ll seriously be here till Tuesday.

So, for my eyes, the short answer is that I usually use some combination of the following: NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base by itself, or with MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre or Painterly buffed on top.
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In no particular order…

Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Malice ($45)

Malice, with her barely-there golden shimmer, is my idea of a purrfect peachy pink blush. If glittery golden wild child NARS Orgasm were sent to finishing school for a year, she’d come back wearing pearls instead of a leather jacket and call herself Chanel Malice.

MAC Extra Dimension Bronzer in Delphic ($27.50)

Delphic bronzer was in last year’s limited edition Alluring Aquatic collection, and I will cry a raging river of black mascara-streaked tears when I finish it.

I feel like it makes me look like I just spent an afternoon soaking up the sun with friends. Ahh…

MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul ($27)

I mean, really, how many times can I gush about this golden beige blush!?

Apparently, at least one more. 🙂

It’s just so effortlessly awesome.