Tuesdays with Kerin: Gardening, Basketball & The O.C.?

 Hello World,

I'm back with another Tuesday with Kerin. Did you miss me?

It's been a while since I've done one of these, and honestly I don't have that much to update you on.  Last we spoke, I had a thriving herb garden, and today I can report that everything is dead - well not everything. I replanted my cilantro, so it just recently sprouted, but everything else is dead or dying. Even my sage, which was doing so well. I have no explanation for it. I continued doing all the same things, but they're just not surviving, but hey what are you gonna do? But I'm not giving up. It's almost Spring, which will a great time for reviving my garden. The last frost of Spring in Houston is February 17th, if you were wondering. That's also Ash Wednesday and my brothers' birthday. So I'll going to buy some more seeds and my raised garden this week or next week, and then I'll start these seeds outside, so I don't have worry about transitioning them, and since it won't be cold anymore, they should be fine. But I will keep you updated. 

But let's see what else? I've been working, working, and um... yeah working. So all very exciting. But really I'm trying to think, but I don't think I've done much of anything in the last 2 weeks. I feel like I've just sitting in on the couch on my laptop (I work from the couch now) watching TV.  Getting dressed has become a event for me. 

How to get the Perfect Romantic Valentine's Makeup with Beauty Bakerie?

 Hello World,

Happy Makeup Monday!

Today I have a makeup tutorial for you! Yay! I created this simple soft glam look, that can be used for any of the special occasions or holidays this weekend  - rather that's Valentine's Day, Galentine's day or what I celebrate on February 14th - Frederick Douglass's birthday. 

This post is brought to you in part by Beauty Bakerie... I'm just kidding. This is not a sponsored post, but I did use mostly Beauty Bakerie products to create this look. Not because they asked be to. I just used them because their products are banging! If you want to know more about Beauty Bakerie, you should check out my last post about Black Owned Makeup Brands you should be supporting right now!  Although, since I used almost all Beauty Bakerie products, this is almost a B.O.M.B. Makeup tutorial, it is not completely. So, since you guys requested it, I will be doing a full B.O.M.B. Makeup tutorial soon. I just need to, and by need to I mean just want to, get a few more items. So stay tuned. But here is the step by step tutorial on how to create this perfect romantic makeup look using some boss products from Beauty Bakerie.!

What Black Owned Makeup Brands Should You Support Right Now?

 Hello World!

Happy Makeup Monday!

Today is February 1st, which means it's the first day of Black History Month! In honor of such, I thought it would be nice to take some time to reflect on how far makeup has come for black men and women, or even just brown skin people in general. We are blessed now to live in a time where many brands carry more extensive shade ranges and most brands are making an effort to be more inclusive. There was a time, even in my lifetime, where that wasn't the case. There's where Black Owned Makeup Brands come into play.  These are the brands that have always be there for little brown-skinned girls like me when others were not. And now, there are so many Black Owned Makeup Brands - we actually have options! And that is not only great for me, as an artist, but also it's inspiring for young black entrepreneurs. So if you're trying in get in the right, go ahead and support a Black Owned Makeup Brand! But if you're not sure where to start, I got you.
 

Here is a roundup of some of my favorite Black Owned Makeup Brands!

How to achieve that JLo Glow: JLo Beauty Honest First Impressions

 Hello World,

Last week, the always beautiful Jennifer Lopez launched her very own skincare line. It consists of seven glow-enhancing products, which makes since from JLo. And who doesn't what to have that JLo Glow? Well, I know I do, so when I saw her line was available from Sephora, I ordered immediately!

Get that JLo Glow? Yes, Please!

Of the seven products, I tried 5. Before I get into my review, let's quickly go over the two products I didn't get. First off, I didn't get That Big Screen Moisturizer. It claims to be a lightweight moisturizer with SPF 30,  that visibly plumps and protects the skin. There are two moisturizers in the line, and I decided to get the other one, which I will talk about later. No knocks on this one, but I just decided not to get it. Maybe I will try it at some other point. The other product that I didn't get was That Fresh Take Eye Cream, which I'm mad about because I am positive when I went online to Sephora to buy my stuff, it was not there. I'm sure I would have bought it because I'm always looking for new eye creams, because my dark circles are real. If you want to see what eye creams I'm currently using, you can see my full skin care routine here! Now, this eye cream claims to have patented peptides that reduce the look of dark circles and also helps with fine lines and wrinkles. Doesn't that sound great? I sounds exactly like something I would buy, so maybe I will in the future, but for now onto the stuff I did get. 

Growing from Seeds: Beginner Herb Garden Tips

 Hello World!

I'm writing this on MLK Day, so Happy Belated MLK Day! I had to work on MLK Day, which is blasphemous, so I didn't do anything to celebrate. But work is back in full force now. When I said work was picking up last week, I was not kidding. I literally have so much work to do, after basically two weeks of doing nothing. Fortunately, I'm still working from home, which makes things a little easier. 

So garden update - last week I was going on and on about how I excited I was for my garden,  and how great it has been. Well, this week things have taken a turn. My cilantro is not thriving as it once was, but it appears to recuperating now. Here are some tips and things I have learned in my herb garden journey:

 

Skincare Routine for Dark Circles & Dark Spots

 Hello World, 

I said I'd be sharing my current skincare routine in my last Makeup Monday post, and here I am making good on that promise. For reference, I have oily-combination skin, and my main skin concerns are dark spots or hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and dark circles under my eyes. I have different routines for day and night, and I will be sharing both. I will say I do always like to try new products, so this routine could change, but without further ado here is my current skincare routine that has been working for me lately. For more skincare, see my previous post about my top ten skincare products. This post was from 4 years ago, and it's fun to see how much my skincare routine has changed.

What I got in my Trunk?

 Hello World!

I recently signed up for Nordstrom Trunk Club, which is a clothing and styling subscription service through Nordstrom. I received my first trunk last week. I'll show what I got in my trunk, how I was recommended to the style the pieces, and what I decided to keep. 

Outfit 1: 

The first outfit was this Topshop Crop Hoodie in Cream paired with Madewell Slim Emmett wide leg pants in Seed Khaki and Adidas Sleek leather sneakers in white.  Overall, I really liked this outfit and I also liked all the individual pieces. I will be keeping them all. The Topshop hoodie is super soft and comfy, and I think it looks super chic, and will fit in perfectly with other pieces in my wardrobe. I will need to exchange the Madewell pants for a smaller size, because they are a little to big in the waist, but I like the high waist and wide pant legs. I think once I get my proper size, they will be ever more flattering. The Adidas sneakers are classic and comfortable. Everyone should have pair of plain white sneakers in their wardrobe, and now I do. 

Tuesdays with Kerin: Christamas 2020

 Hello World!

Welcome to Kerin's Korner 2021. If you haven't already, please go check out my post for my 2021 intentions for Kerin's Korner. My overall goal is to be more intentional this year. I don't have high hopes for 2021 as a whole - I'm thinking 2022 will be the year, but for me personally I can be better in 2021.  But 2021 just needs to be than 2020 - so just not bad.

So I'm back at work this week full time - working from home still, but I have actual work to do again. At the end of the year work slowed down, and I was on vacation all of Christmas week, but being back at work just makes me miss winter break at school. We would be out from like the 2nd week in December until after MLK Day. That's just a month of doing nothing. I mean I like not being in school, but full time adulting is hard.  But I did have a good little vacation for Christmas, and had an enjoyable Christmas with my family. I recently got an indoor grill, and I used it to make jerk chicken. It turned out pretty good, but I'm not sure anyone else enjoyed it. I also made yams, which was apparently pretty good, but I don't eat yams, so yeah...  

But what did I get for Christmas? Why, thank you for asking.  I got not 1 but 2 super soft and cozy throw blankets, because I'm always cold. I have yellow one and a gray one.  Fashion wise, I got two essential items for any classic wardrobe.  I got a Winnie the Pooh Onsie and a Christmas Llama jumpsuit, which I wore on Christmas, looking baller. Anyways, I also got a trashcan for my car because apparently I'm a slob, some clay face masks, a waterless razor, a giant scrunchie which I basically live in now,  some chocolates, a Physician's Formula glow face palette, the Revlon x WW84 eyeshadow palette, Amazon echo buds, the Mr. Robot Complete Series Blu-ray box set and the Mr. Robot Red Wheelbarrow companion novel, which if you are a fan of Mr. Robot,  I would highly recommend. 

Makeup Tutorial: 15 Minute Full Face

 Hello World,

I'm back for another Makeup Monday post, and today I will be breaking down my everyday makeup look that l wear to work. It's simple, professional, and most importantly quick. When I'm getting ready for work, I'm not trying to take a long time, because I don't want to get get up any earlier than I have to. I like to be up and out the door in no more than 45 minutes, so I have mastered this routine that takes no more than 15 minutes ( I have done this makeup look in as quickly as 7 minutes).  Without further ado, here is my 15 minute full face routine. 

Step 1: Primer

Just because we're moving fast, doesn't mean we should skip primer. Primer is important in helping you makeup last longer. I use it as the last step in my skincare routine ( I will go over current skincare routine in another post). For primer, right now I switch between the Winky Lux Whipped Cream Primer and the e.l.f.  Poreless Putty primer. Both of these primers are really good for smoothing pores and giving your skin a smooth base. But you can use any primer that is most useful for your skin concerns. Like in the summer,  I would use a mattifying primer, because my skin is more oily, and as we get deeper into the winter, I'll probably start using a more moisturizing primer, since my skin is usually a little drier in the winter. For application, just apply a quick thin layer. I like to focus my primer in my t-zone, but I apply all over my face. 

Kerin's Korner 2021 Intentions

 Hello World!

It's a new year which means new goals, but instead of setting goals this year I'll be working on intentions, both personally and for Kerin's Korner.  Here are my 2021 intentions for Kerin's Korner

1. At least 2 new blog posts a week

2. At least 1 new movie review a month

3. At least 1 movie review a week

4. At least 1 makeup tutorial a month

5. At least 1 new makeup  review a month

6. At least 1 fashion blog post a month

7. No more than 3 days between blog posts

8.  At least 3 Instagram posts a week

9. At least 1 outfit of the day Instagram post a week

10. HAVE FUN!!!

Au Reviour

~Kerin