Meet Naturally Gorgeous Karen

Our Naturally Gorgeous model, Karen, lights up a room with her smile.   She’s a tiny bundle of energy, but also exudes a zen-like calm.  It is easy to see why her friends and family are devoted to, and just a little bit in awe of her.

AP:  What do you do for a living?

KL:  Currently, I am a stay at home mom, raising two kids.  In my previous life prior to children, I worked in the wholesale active sportswear industry.

AP:  How did you decide this was what you wanted to do?

KL:  As far as staying at home with the kids – We moved here from California eight years ago and wanted a change of lifestyle.

AP:  What do you do for fun?

KL:  Anything active and outside – I love to hike, snowboard, and kayak.  In Oregon I have so many options with the beautiful mountains, trails, and lakes.  Even though it rains a lot, I need to be outside to feel alive.  I also love to travel to exotic places, workout, read, watch movies, cook and eat.  I am a foodie.

AP:  Do you have kids or pets?

KL:  I have two boys – 15 and 10.  They keep me young at heart and always on the go.

AP:  Anything you really want to tell people about yourself?

KL:  Besides wanting to be outside, I practice Ashtanga yoga.  Yoga is my passion and it feeds my mind and body.  I practice early in the morning and it’s a great way to start the day. Currently, I volunteer for a non-profit called Living Yoga.  This organization brings yoga to prisons and drug & alcohol rehab facilities as a tool for personal change.

AP:  Anything you want to mention that you really care about?

KL:  My family – they are my world.

AP:  How do you define beauty?

KL:  I think beauty comes from inside and the confidence you feel, not so much from physical beauty.

AP:  What inspires you?

KL:  Nature and being around creative people.

AP:  What scares you?

KL:  That the world is running out of resources and there will be nothing left for future generations.

AP:  What’s always in your handbag?

KL:  As little as possible – wallet, cell phone and Alima lip balm.

AP:  What makes you feel beautiful?

KL:  Feeling confident and good about myself – it might be a good hair day, a new outfit, volunteering or helping someone out.

AP:  What surprises people about you?

KL:  My age and that I am Japanese American, not Hawaiian.

AP:  Who would you invite to your fantasy dinner party?

KL:  My fantasy dinner party would be vegetarian and include all my best girl friends. Lucille Ball and Martha Stewart would be there and we would laugh all night.

AP:  If you were suddenly given an all expense vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go?

KL:  Virunga Mountains of Africa (Rwanda, Uganda or Republic of Congo) to see the mountain gorillas.

Get Karen’s Naturally Gorgeous look:

We started with Satin Matte Foundation in Golden 5 on a #25 Foundation Brush, then added a little Satin Matte Blush in Honey Rose to the apples of Karen’s cheeks.  We used a #37 Eye Blending Brush to sweep Leone Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow from lashes to brow, then used a #36 Pointed Crease Brush to pack Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow in Palomino right onto Karen’s lid.  Satin Matte Eyeliner in Onyx went along the lash line on a dampened #33 Angle Liner Brush, and the same brush filled in her brows with a touch of Satin Matte Eyeshadow in Raven.  The look was completed with Organic Nourishing Lipbalm in Fig.