So…what is the Monday Poll?
Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past 10 (!) years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine. ?
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part?
Of my regular routine? My brows, for sure.
But they used to give me so much grief. Now, though? Ever since I grew them out? All I do is I fill them in with a brow pencil, which is usually the amaze-balls MAC Brow Sculpt. Then I comb through them with spoolie on the back end, and end with a little bit of Benefit Ready, Set, Brow Gel.
That’s it, and it all takes less than a minute.
Granted, I’m not obsessed anymore about getting my brows to look perfectly symmetrical. I used to be a few years ago, but I don’t mind now when they look a little messy and more more naturally bushy and unkempt.
2. And what’s the hardest part?
Skin. My foundation, concealer and powder. It’s because I’m admittedly obsessed with getting my skin to look as natural as possible, and the microsecond that I start to feel like my coverage looks heavy, I just can’t take it. I’ll remove everything and start all over again.
As I’ve gotten older, my tolerance for full-coverage foundation has decreased, even though I still think it looks amazing in pics. I still wear full-coverage sometimes, but now I generally spend a lot of time blending and layering to end up with something that looks like I’m not wearing anything at all… It’s sort of a catch 22. I spend a lot of time figuring out what formulas are going to work for mu skin on any given day.
So, yeah. Skin. By far, it’s the most complex and time consuming part of my rigmarole.
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity?
If we’re talking about Katy Perry-level famous, I don’t think I’d handle it well. I can’t imagine not being able to leave my house without dodging photographers in my front yard.
On the other hand, if I were indie film star famous, where I could still get a cup of coffee down the street and maybe only be recognized by a handful of people, I think I could handle that gracefully.
But anything more than that would push my ability to be polite.
4. How often do your nails break?
Almost never (knocks on wood)! That said, I have other beauty struggles. Like, my hair is hard to manage, I have a bald spot in my brow that just won’t go away (I’m talking to YOU, Raul), and I dealt with acne when I was younger, but I’ve never really had to worry about my nails breaking.
Here’s a funny thing, though: I realized that I might be pregnant when my nails started breaking! Several fingernails and one of my toenails broke over a short period of time, which had never happened before. So I knew something was up.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no?
Yes-ish. I like ’em, but I’m more of a light opalescent metallic kind of girl.
I can’t deal with full-on melted metal lips.
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice?
Uh…beauty-wise, don’t hang out on Instagram too much or it’ll give you a complex.
Life-wise, here’s something that my friend Erika said to me the other day, and it really resonated. She said that some days you have to be comfortable lowering the bar for yourself — lowering your expectations, LIKE REALLY LOW. In other words, sometimes giving your best has to mean just allowing your house to be a complete mess or accepting that the baby is still in her pajamas at 3 p.m. or and making cereal for dinner. And you have to allow yourself that sometimes and be fine with it.
Happy Monday, my friend
My brushes are washed, my desk is devoid of piles of paper, and I’m excited because… Connor turns one this week!!! Yup, officially, she won’t be an infant anymore. She’ll be a toddler. Her birthday is this Thursday, but we’re going to have a little party for her with just us and the grandparents on Saturday.
I’m also starting to get spring fever, and I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am about that. I can’t wait to wear dresses and sandals again…
Oh, sandals! You know, at this point, after the winter we’ve been having, I’d even be happy with open-toed ankle booties. I’m that desperate.
Did you watch the Oscars last night?
I hope your week gets off to a brilliant start and that you feel clear-headed and strong. I also hope that whenever you need to find something in your house, office or purse, it’s right there at your fingertips when you need it, because that’s such a great feeling, isn’t it?
Have a good great one! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Here are the poll questions to copy/paste:
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part?
2. And what’s the hardest part?
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity?
4. How often do your nails break?
5. Metallic lips: yes or no?
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice?
P.P.S. Did you watch the Oscars last night?
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part?
Probably lips!
2. And what’s the hardest part?
Oy, eyes.
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity?
I’m not sure. I don’t like being followed by a lot of people IRL. As long as I had serious money for vacations with privacy breaks, I think I’d be okay.
4. How often do your nails break?
It’s odd, I won’t have breaks for weeks or months and then I’ll break half my nails in the same day. Even if they have been clipped into nothingness.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no?
Sure. I’m not sure I can pull them off but I like the look of them.
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice?
Don’t take it too seriously! Of course I suck at taking my own advice 😛
Eyes are so hard! It’s very difficult to do things that involve symmetry.
Happy Monday, Karen!
I love reading your answers.
I’ve same views about doing my eyebrows. I no longer care if they look perfect; I crave for that slightly-bushy, more natural finish. But unfortunately, my nails do break very often! I’m trying to include vitamins to my diet.
Thanks for answering the poll this week! Have a great one.
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part?
Also brows! I just use some tinted brow gel nine times out of ten.
2. And what’s the hardest part?
Also skin. I hate seeing any texture on my skin but I have a lot of intense redness to cover up, so it takes some finesse to get a good base down. Plus on top of that, my cheeks and chin are VERY dry and my forehead has somehow started to be very oily (I’ve never had oily skin before).
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity?
Uh, probably not well at all. I love to be recognized within my field for some breakthrough or something, but I couldn’t handle actual fame. Mostly because I hate having my picture taken!
4. How often do your nails break?
Most of my nails rarely break, but my middle fingernail on my left hand breaks a ton, and it always has. I had no idea why for a long time but I just realized a few weeks ago that when I was little, I slammed that finger and lost the nail, and I think that since then it’s always grown less strong. Even touching the nail on the left hand and the middle nail on the right hand you can tell it’s softer. But other than that, I’ve always had pretty strong nails!
5. Metallic lips: yes or no?
I think they look great in photos! But I think they’d be a bit much for day to day (although I’m one to talk, I wear smoky eyes on a regular basis) and I’m afraid of metallic lips being drying.
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice?
This goes for makeup and for life: trust your gut. It’s probably right!
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part?: Applying lipstick.
2. And what’s the hardest part?: Eyeshadow gradation. I have a lot of folds in my eyelids and I have to keep fixing my eyeshadow.
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity?: With my social anxiety, social awkward, autism and complex PTSD….I think not well. I would hate to live in a fishbowl.
4. How often do your nails break?: Rarely, but if I keep them relatively short it almost never happens.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no?: YES with all caps!
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice?: Life advice: do what makes you happy even if it doesn’t make you rich. Beauty advice: do the makeup you like and don’t feel pressured to follow trends.
Great makeup advice, Chris!
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part?
Agreed, brows! Either a tiny bit of pencil and then some Boy Brow or even just the Boy Brow some days.
2. And what’s the hardest part?
Eyeshadow!
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity?
Probably not well.
4. How often do your nails break?
Very rarely! They grow long very easily. If they break it’s usually due to clumsiness.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no?
Sometimes.
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice?
Tell the people who you love that you care, try to go see them, etc. A professor I. Worked with who was kind of a second mother to me died last Friday very unexpectedly, she was quite young. I had luckily spoken with her in the previous week and spent 3 hours at a restaurant with her in January, but I still wish I had done more.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Chelsea.
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part? Lips, a swipe of Benetint Lip Balm, and that’s it!
2. And what’s the hardest part? The decision on what to do for the day. Do I go with just a little bb cream and liner, do I do more of a “face”, just making the decision.
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity? Not at all. Not even a little bit. It’s hard enough just keeping up wit me, the other day I went to lunch with a friend I hadn’t seen in forever, and I had my daughter and two friends texting me. Plus I ran into my next door neighbor while at the restaurant. It was crazy.
4. How often do your nails break? Very rarely. If I bonk one on something it might break, but I take care of my nails and they’re healthy and strong.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no? It’s a no for me. I don’t like a heavy makeup look, and metallic lips are heavy.
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice? If you’re not 100% in love with something, let it go. Clothes, makeup, knick knacks, keep the things around you happy.
P.P.S. Did you watch the Oscars last night? Yes!!! The snafu at the end, shocked me! But the Lala Land people were so gracious. And hey, they got to give their speeches and I’m so glad Moonlight won! Timberlake was a little pitchy, but it was a beautiful show!
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part? Lipstick. Swipe and go.
2. And what’s the hardest part? Definitely skin/foundation. Still working on finding a way to create smooth, natural looking skin.
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity? I wouldn’t, at all.
4. How often do your nails break? All the time. I have one nail that’s split vertically and it just keeps splitting no matter how short I trim it. The only time my nails grew long and strong was when I was pregnant.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no? Emmm, maybe? A bit of shimmer, a bit of metallic. No to “tin man” lips.
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice? Be yourself and embrace who you are even if it includes imperfections. Choose your battles wisely.
P.P.S. Did you watch the Oscars last night? Nope. Addicted to the British/French TV show “The Tunnel” about a body found in the tunnel between the UK and France and the two detectives who need to figure it out.
Happy Birthday to Connor Claire!
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part?
Probably my lips since I usually wear something neutral. I have several nudey-pinky-berry shades that I switch around.
2. And what’s the hardest part?
Eyeliner, it always looks so messy no matter what I use.
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity?
I am for the most part a private person so I’d probably not handle it well.
4. How often do your nails break?
My nails break once in awhile. It’s funny, but in my youth, I was a serious nail biter and my dad always said my nails would never grow. They have and they are really strong. I haven’t even been wearing polish for weeks and they are in decent condition.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no? No way!
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice? As I am getting closer to my 6th decade, I find myself accepting my body and beauty as it is. I do think that if I was 30 years younger, I would be wrapped up in the trends and products as they seem so much more fun now, but I also realize that I don’t need most of it in my life. Maybe just one sparkly shadow will do!
So i didn’t watch The Oscars last night, though I actually did see Moonlight in the theater a few months ago. I enjoyed it, but I liked other movies better. We were planning to see La La Land the day my father-in-law died and have yet to see it. It sounds like it is a movie I would love since one of my all time favs is “Singing In the Rain”, oh to dance like Gene Kelly!
So Happy Birthday soon to Connor! Zack will be 16 on Thursday and we are doing a celebratory lunch with 5 of his buds on Sunday. Lots of love!!!
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part? Lipstick/gloss. I eschew the overdrawn, highly contrived lip looks so applying lipstick is a breeze fore me.
2. And what’s the hardest part? Dealing with my occasional rosacea flareup. Concealing excessive redness is easy but the small bumps drive me crazy.
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity? Super stardom? I wouldn’t even want it.
4. How often do your nails break? I don’t have many problems with my nails except when the Santa Ana conditions (desert winds) blow into the LA area, my nails get brittle and crack no matter how much oil, cream, or lotion I use. I think a large part of it is simply age. I’m in my 70’s and everything is more brittle.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no? Not for me, but I’ve seen some gorgeous looks on much younger women. I don’t like the crazy melted metal look like you see on Instagram and in ads, but a more subtle metallic gleam like you get from Tom Ford’s metallics is quite pretty.
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice? Beauty advice is the easiest: “Just do you.” Oh, and don’t try to copy those overly edited Instagram looks. Those disembodied eyes, overdrawn lips, plasticized skin, extreme strobing, and “sharpie” brows are little more than face painting with a lot of help from photoshop. In real life they look ridiculous.
P.P.S. Did you watch the Oscars last night? No, I was at a concert but I followed up on it this morning.
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part? Lips
2. And what’s the hardest part? Eyes, especially if I do winged liner.
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity? I’m an introvert, so probably not very well.
4. How often do your nails break? I wear acrylics. If I don’t, my real nails tend to peel rather than break.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no? YES!!!
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice? For both: Stop comparing yourself to other people.
Hi Rachel,
Gah, winged liner is so hard! It can take such a long time. And if there’s lashes involved? I’ll basically see you next week. LOL!
How was your weekend? I mostly did Cinderella chores around the house. I’m trying to get an early jump on spring cleaning. I also started watching a show on HBO called West World which is pretty interesting.
West World is a fantastic show. I just wish there wasn’t such a long wait for season 2.
Our weekend was busy, but good. Saturday was chores, shopping, and paperwork. Sunday we had to leave at 2:30 a.m. to pick up a friend’s daughters in Salem and take them to PDX airport. Then we had my older son’s birthday party (he turned 22 on Friday), because Sunday was the only day his BFF could make it. We had a house full. Then after the party, we took him to Eugene to visit with hubby’s family. Hubby and I are still tired. lol
I’m three episodes in and already stressed out. There’s something about the singularity that I just can’t handle. It never, ever seems to end up in a good place for the humans once the machines gain consciousness. When I finish the season we’ll have to chat about it, for sure.
Happy belated birthday to your son! Of course I have to ask the important questions, like what kind of cake did you guys have for his birthday. LOL!
Oh, and just reading about your weekend wore me out…
Aw, sorry the show is stressing you out. It’s really interesting, at least, if you can stick with it.
My son went simple this year: A vanilla sponge cake with whipped cream frosting. It was really good though. We also had vanilla bean and chocolate ice cream, and four kinds of pizza.
We got him a new 40 gal. terrarium for his corn snake, plus a bigger heater and some new accessories for it, some Yu-Gi-Oh cards, and a new computer gaming mouse.
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part? Putting on my Dandelion powder from benefit.
2. And what’s the hardest part? Eyeshadow (not hard really)
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity? I would not handle it well. I like my privacy and my time to myself doing things like hiking.
4. How often do your nails break? Not that often! They are pretty solid.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no? No
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice? Always wear sunscreen. My dermatologist told me last week that I don’t look my age. Best compliment ever when it comes from a professional.
P.P.S. Did you watch the Oscars last night? I did not. I watched Manchester by the Sea on Friday though. I have not seen any other of the films just yet.
Hi Leah,
What did you think of Manchester By the Sea? I saw it last month and when I left the theater I felt like I was carrying 10 pounds of sadness on my shoulders. I really felt for Casey Affleck’s character.
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part?
Lips!
2. And what’s the hardest part?
Eyeshadows and/or liners. That’s why I always do the lips last. Sometimes the original colors I had in mind didn’t go well with the lips and then it’s easier to change the lip color vs redo the eyes.
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity?
I don’t think I’ll like it, but I don’t mind as long as I’m famous for the right reasons.
4. How often do your nails break?
Very rarely. Except when I’m wearing nail stickers somehow.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no?
I like how it looks, but I don’t see myself wearing it often.
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice?
What I learn so far is choosing where I give f*cks. There are only a limited amount of them that I can give: to the causes I believe in, to the people I care about, and to be a better version of myself.
Yes I did watch the Oscar. I always love the red carpet shows and trying to figure out the shades of lipstick they use ?.
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part?
Probably the lips, because I usually go for a an easy, sheer lipstick or gloss most of the time.
2. And what’s the hardest part?
The lips when I decide to go for a bold and/or matte lippie. I absolutely suck at lining my lips – I don’t know why – so I have a very hard time making everything look decently symmetrical…
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity?
I don’t think I would handle that well at all. I revel in anonymity. One of my favorite things to do is go for a walk in a large city with lots of people around. I would lose my mind if I couldn’t get out of the house by myself without being stopped at every corner.
4. How often do your nails break?
Often, and usually in the pink part where it hurts like hell. They also break around the edge if I let them grow too long.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no?
Not a molten metal kind of thing, no. But I can appreciate a nice shimmer and reflectivity (is that a word?).
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice?
Take it easy. There’s so much to worry about that you could spend your whole life worrying instead of living. Not much really matters in the long run, let the rest slide.
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part?
Doing my base and mascara -I’m quite fast these days, so goes quickly
2. And what’s the hardest part?
Taking mascara off… because I just don’t like it
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity?
Not really me… Tend to be low key. If need be though, I guess I could try!
4. How often do your nails break?
Not that often, thankfully
5. Metallic lips: yes or no?
Why not? Everything can look goof if you wear it right
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice?
Be realistic and optimistic!
Hi Eleni,
Mascara used to take me forever to remove until I started using an oil-based cleanser. I use the one by DHC. Have you ever tried an oil? They’re great at removing even the waterproof stuff.
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part? Embarrassed to say I don’t have a regular makeup routine since I’m at home much of the time. Most days nothing. If I’m going out: foundation, blush, on rare occasion highlighter & maybe light contour, shadow, liner sometimes, mascara and brows if it’s a real occasion, and always lipstick or gloss Pitiful but where I live almost no one wears makeup
2. And what’s the hardest part? brows for sure
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity? I’m not interested in celebrities. I lived in NYC for many years. Celebrities were everywhere and no one made a big deal or any deal about them.
4. How often do your nails break? Not as often as they used to since I’ve been taking biotin so seldom
5. Metallic lips: yes or no? Yes
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice? March to the beat of your own drum always
Hi Allison,
That’s great advice. Thank you for that! I needed it today.
Have a wonderful week!
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part? Brows, even though they take the longest, I have the routine down pat.
2. And what’s the hardest part? eye shadow. I gave up on liner a while ago because I just am no good at winged liner, especially with hooded lids. I do my eyeshadow O.K. but I feel like it could be way better.
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity? I don’t think I would like to be under a microscope at all times. They money would be cool though.
4. How often do your nails break? Every couple weeks so I cut them down short so that they are all one length and have time to grow and break again.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no? yes, but only to a certain extent. Night out or once in a while. Not all the time.
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice? Everyones face is different so makeup isn’t going to look the same on two different people. Find which features you like about yourself and emphasize them.
Happy Early Birthday to Connor!
copy/paste:
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part? Probablly blush.
2. And what’s the hardest part? Eyeliner on my hooded eyes
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity? Not very well. I don’t like crowds and have crazy bad anxiety.
4. How often do your nails break? All the time.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no? Yes, depending on the shade
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice? Don’t sweat it, Soap makes it go away. (My rephrase of Jaclyn Hill)
P.P.S. Did you watch the Oscars last night? Nope. Never have probably never will.
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part?
Probably skin. I’ve been applying foundation/concealer with my fingers for years. Nowadays I wear a lightweight CC cream so it’s super easy to blend. Sometimes I’ll use a cushion compact and dab dab the formula all over. I just don’t stress it too much.
2. And what’s the hardest part?
Mascara. I used to have longer, curlier lashes, and now they’re just kind of bleh. It also keeps getting on my eyelids!
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity?
I think I would love and hate it. I’m an introverted extrovert, so I do like the spotlight and I do love talking. But I also need to be by myself a lot and really value quiet time.
4. How often do your nails break?
Way too often, especially when the weather is so dry!
5. Metallic lips: yes or no?
There was a Chanel lipstick in the ’90s that was like, Metallic Vamp. That, yessssssss. Looking like I’ve been snogging a robot? Not so sure..
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice?
Beauty? Wear SPF everyday, and make sure you apply it all over! Life? Don’t listen to Ryan Seacrest. I took his advice on taking new routes to work as it supposedly helps fire new connections and help you think faster. NO. I just got stuck in more traffic/almost died.
P.P.S. Did you watch the Oscars last night?
NOPE!! I didn’t think anything exciting would happen so I went for a massage!
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part? I would agree with brows. I stay on top of tweezing (done in the car for the best light) and then I either use a teensy bit of Smashbox brow powder and/or finish with a bit of my teenage son’s hair pomade.
2. And what’s the hardest part? Skin for sure. I too want to look like I’m not wearing any foundation. This is difficult because most of my foundations are full coverage. Then I add layers and filters like I’m in Photoshop. Currently in love with Becca First Light. I want to shower in that stuff!
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity? Not at all. I need my privacy.
4. How often do your nails break? Rarely although I went thru a spell this winter where they peeled, which I chalked up to dehydration.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no? Yes!
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice? Be Kind. A little goes a long way. You just don’t know what your neighbor, annoying office colleague or barista might be going through.
P.P.S. Did you watch the Oscars last night? No!
Hi Karen; I’m lovin’ the denim jacket & enamel pins in your picture. A friend just sent me some pins just for fun but I haven’t worn them yet.
1. I’d say the easiest part of my makeup routine would be the powders: mineral powder foundation, blush, & highlighter.
2.And the hardest part of my makeup routine are my lips. I never feel as if the outline is even & then if I try to correct it, it starts to become misshapen & clownish. Not pretty.
3. As a self-avowed extreme introvert with a certain degree of social anxiety, the thought of being a celebrity makes my skin crawl. No thank you!
4. I keep my nails short & bare but about once a month, I’ll be prying something apart (usually Lego pieces) & the nail splits.
5. I love the impact of metallic lips on other people; for me, maybe for a concert or festival.
6. My beauty advice is drink water, moisturize everything, & sleep when you can. My life advice is find people who love you for you & who will be your support when you want to give up. Those people are a rarity. Treasure them. And be them.
I’m planning a trip to Ulta tomorrow as they have NYX bogo free and I’ve been contemplating their new faux black and faux white liners plus I have a coupon plus the Nip+Fab glycolic peel pads are on sale.
I hope you have a lovely rest of the week and that Connor has a great first birthday!
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part? I think lips are the easiest part.
2. And what’s the hardest part? Foundation
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity? hMMM. I’m not sure, lol!
4. How often do your nails break? All the time.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no? Yes!
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice? Dress nice all time time it will make you feel good!
P.P.S. Did you watch the Oscars last night? Parts of it.
That’s great advice about dressing nicely, Lydia. I definitely feel different when I feel well put together.
I hope you had a nice Monday. Got any exciting plans this week?
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part?
Lips, as I always wear nudes or balms I don’t have to deal with making them looking so perfect and even when I use a lipliner for me it’s easy.
2. And what’s the hardest part?
Skin like you, I don’t care wearing a full coverage foundation but I prefer something more natural if cameras aren’t really involved. Right now my routine is concealer/full coverage foundation where I need it, top it with with a tinted moisturizer which I apply with a skunk brush and then powder.
Brows also are a little challenging since I like them bolder than average so shaping them isn’t as simple as I’d like.
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity?
I don’t know, I’d love to, because my voice would be more heard and I could help all the minorities and neglected groups I want to in a better way. However, I think I’d get nuts when they gossip about every aspect of my life.
4. How often do your nails break?
Rarely.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no?
Yes, but please get everything else natural.
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice?
If you like what you’re doing, keep going; people will talk no matter what you do.
I saw the Oscars and I’m happy that Moonlight won Best movie; even though I didn’t love it, we need more inclusive narratives in media and Moonlight was a good one. I’d have fangirled if Hidden figures won any award, for me it was an awesome movie. About the looks no one completely impressed me, but Taraji and Janelle, the first one was so elegant and the second one’s dress was mindblown; also I loved Halle Berry’s afro, Charlize Theron’s hairstyle and Emma Stone’s lipcolor (but IMHO her eyes were too sparkly).
I want all of those neat pins on the denim jacket! They are awesome!
Hi Alexis,
Aren’t they fun? The makeup ones were a gift; I can’t remember where I got the tabby pin. The “Write Hard Die Free” pin was a gift from one of the lawyers I used to work with. He gave it to me right before I left my job to write full-time. 🙂
Do you collect pins? I used to when I was a kid.
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part?
Brows, for sure. Grooming them makes such a big difference, for so little effort.
2. And what’s the hardest part?
Eyeliner. I’m terrible at it and can’t find the right product for my needs.
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity?
Well, I have Social Anxiety Disorder, so probably not well at all. 🙂
4. How often do your nails break?
Not often, but I take vitamins for that.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no?
Not my jam.
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice?
Find out what your non-negotiables are in terms of beauty. Even though I work from home, to function during the day I have to get dressed (including a bra!), brush my hair, and put on earrings and a little perfume. It will build your confidence if you meet whatever your minimum threshold is every day and make you feel like a superstar when you add something extra.
I didn’t watch the Oscars (I never do) and I am really disappointed that I haven’t seen any of the winning movies yet. We don’t always get a good variety at our local theaters but I also can’t remember the last time I saw a movie without the kids. It’s been a bad year for me and “adult” movies, which makes me a bit sad. Thank goodness for Netflix. 🙂
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part? All of it. I’m very basic so everything is quick and easy.
2. And what’s the hardest part? Not that it’s hard but I think mascara takes me the longest. You know how I love the lash volume so there’s some building up.
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity? Not well at all. I would never approach a celebrity because I would not want strangers coming up to me, uninvited!
4. How often do your nails break? Almost never.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no? Not for me but yes for anyone else!
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice? Set realistic rules for your kids, tell them the consequences of breaking them (which should be age appropriate) and follow through. ALWAYS. We need to make the world a better place by raising better people who have a sense of personal responsibility.
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part?
I’d say brows too, I do a little powder to fill, a little pencil to shape and a slick of brow mascara.
2. And what’s the hardest part?
Skin. I’m so pinky red with acne scarring that that’s the most labor-intense part of my routine. I feel good as long as I can get a clean canvas.
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity?
Not well at all. I treasure my downtime and being a homebody way too much.
4. How often do your nails break?
Sometimes they split when the weather is cold and I’m bad about moisturizing, but otherwise never.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no?
I love the look in editorials and ads, but can’t bring myself to do it IRL.
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice?
Discipline sucks but it’s worth it. You lose a lot of the “I should be…” guilt weight when you just get it done! And then when you really need a break, you can give it to yourself guilt-free (which I think we women suffer from so much more instinctively!). 🙂
1. So, your makeup routine — what’s the easiest part?
Brows-They’re pretty full on their own. I usually throw in some Loreal Brow Stylist Plumper to tame the suckers and move on.
2. And what’s the hardest part?
I’m not sure. I have a pretty low key routine and I enjoy it all!
3. How well do you think you’d handle super stardom/being a famous celebrity?
Nope. I would not be a good celebrity. Living in Small Town Texas is bad enough, thank you very much.
4. How often do your nails break?
Not often at all. (Fingers crossed that didn’t jinx me.) I have been doing at home gel manis for 5 years and that seems to reinforce and agree with them.
5. Metallic lips: yes or no?
Nah. I don’t mind a little opal-esque sheen, but full on metal? I’ll pass.
6. Can you share a piece of life/beauty advice?
Find what makes you blissful and be/do that!