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. A beauty topic that you’ve been interested in lately?
Niche perfumes! I love the idea of finding scents that are a little off the beaten path. I kinda stumbled into it through work because I’ve been reading a lot of perfume reviews to feed my brain different ways to describe scents. If you happen to be into niche fragrances, please let me know your favorites. I’d love to hear about them.
2. The name of a new product you’ve tried recently?
Last week I took my new bottle of Avene RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream for a spin, and WHOA. I was not ready for the level of exfoliation. I sometimes forget that I need to ease myself into these things, ya know?
3. Have you ever had really long nails?
Yeah, I had long, natural nails up into my mid-30s. They were fun to paint but a pain to keep up.
4. Speaking of nails, red nail polish or blue nail polish?
Blue nail polish! Dark blue, with a shiny finish please. Yes, I’m still thinking about that Chanel nail polish.
5. Big hoops or little hoops?
In non-pandemic times when I didn’t have to wear a mask, big hoops. Currently little hoops, because I just can’t deal with too many things getting in the way of my mask. Between earrings, my glasses, my hair — it’s just too much!
6. What did you have for dinner last night?
A Cesar salad and a hunk of rosemary focaccia bread thanks to Trader Joe’s. Lately I’ve been really crabby about cooking and the salad kits at TJ’s have been saving my life.
7. Hot chocolate with or without marshmallows?
With tiny little marshmallows, please.
8. Where’s the farthest place you traveled this year?
Oahu last summer. It had been a while since we’ve visited El Hub’s side of the family.
9. Gold, silver or bronze eyeshadow?
I’ll take bronzer, 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. A beauty topic that you’ve been interested in lately?
2. The name of a new product you’ve tried recently?
3. Have you ever had really long nails?
4. Speaking of nails, red nail polish or blue nail polish?
5. Big hoops or little hoops
6. What did you have for dinner last night?
7. Hot chocolate with or without marshmallows?
8. Where’s the farthest place you traveled this year?
9. Gold, silver or bronze eyeshadow?
P.P.S. Hello, my friend! How’s your Monday going so far? I hope something unexpectedly cool happens to you today! 🤗
1. A beauty topic that you’ve been interested in lately? Wearing a bold lip.
2. The name of a new product you’ve tried recently? La Roche Posay cleanser
3. Have you ever had really long nails? No, but I used to bite my nails to the core as a teen, so having any part of my nail over the fingertip is long for me.
4. Speaking of nails, red nail polish or blue nail polish? Definitely red. I am somewhat of a traditionalist when it comes to my looks.
5. Big hoops or little hoops Little hoops.
6. What did you have for dinner last night? Smoked ribs and chicken wings. My husband is obsessed with his Big Green Egg smoker grill.
7. Hot chocolate with or without marshmallows? Without marshmallows, but with whipped cream. and lots of it!
8. Where’s the farthest place you traveled this year? To my parents in Florida.
9. Gold, silver or bronze eyeshadow? Gold if not too yellow, more Rose Gold.
Zack has made it through 5 semesters! We’re hoping things settle down before he has to go back mid-January. Happy Holidays!
Five semesters already?! When he walks across the stage to get his diploma I’m sending you a bottle of wine! (Side note: it is my dream to see Connor get her college degree.)
1. A beauty topic that you’ve been interested in lately? I’ve been trying more eye makeup lately so I guess that counts
2. The name of a new product you’ve tried recently? elf putty primer. I never liked applying primers but they have a brush which is awesome
3. Have you ever had really long nails? I had acrylics when I got married and the tech made them too long & I had trouble taking my contacts out. She argued with me about cutting them down Now I have short with powder dip polish
4. Speaking of nails, red nail polish or blue nail polish? Red with sparkles
5. Big hoops or little hoops. Little
6. What did you have for dinner last night? Duck & mashed potatoes
7. Hot chocolate with or without marshmallows? With
8. Where’s the farthest place you traveled this year? I’m going with Iceland. We also went to Wyoming but I think Iceland was further
9. Gold, silver or bronze eyeshadow? Bronze
I remember the challenge of taking out contacts with long nails. The struggle is REAL!
When are you going to Iceland?
We were there this past July. Third time – just love it.
Amazing! I hope to visit someday to see the northern lights.
Happy Monday!
1. A beauty topic that you’ve been interested in lately? project pan. I am trying to bring down all the products that I owned.
2. The name of a new product you’ve tried recently? nars afterglow lipbalm in laguna . i love it.
3. Have you ever had really long nails? yes in high school. dumbest thing I ever did.
4. Speaking of nails, red nail polish or blue nail polish? blue based red .
5. Big hoops or little hoops ? little hoops
6. What did you have for dinner last night? lamb tacos
7. Hot chocolate with or without marshmallows? with marshmallows.
8. Where’s the farthest place you traveled this year? washington dc. lol now thinking about it. covid has taken traveling even to NYC away from me because of fear.
9. Gold, silver or bronze eyeshadow? bronze.
Happy Monday, Ericca! Isn’t that feeling when you see the bottom of the pan peek through the best? It’s so satisfying!
yes. I am doing more skincare.
1. A beauty topic that you’ve been interested in lately?
Festive make up looks. Red lips, red nails, tastefully placed shimmer and glitter.
2. The name of a new product you’ve tried recently?
Chanel liquid matte lipstick in Choquant. A beautiful berry red, that’s comfortable and easy to wear.
3. Have you ever had really long nails?
Eh, naturally. When I’m too lazy to trim them. Not my favourite look though.
4. Speaking of nails, red nail polish or blue nail polish?
Red
5. Big hoops or little hoops
Little
6. What did you have for dinner last night?
Baked salmon, brown rice, steamed broccoli and salad
7. Hot chocolate with or without marshmallows?
With, but not too many
8. Where’s the farthest place you traveled this year?
Just to a smaller city in my province.
9. Gold, silver or bronze eyeshadow?
Gold, preferably a pale gold.
Savannah! Since you mentioned glitter, I have to share this with you. I was at Sephora yesterday and found a glittery cream shadow by Hourglass — Shattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow in the shade Ray. It is a beautiful, sparkling champagne. I wanted to buy a pot for me and for a friend a a Christmas gift, but they were all out! If you live near an Hourglass counter, you must check it out.
1. A beauty topic that you’ve been interested in lately? Skincare…I used to be able to throw lotion on my face and put on my makeup. I had oily skin and did not care too much about moisturizing. …Now in my late 30’s I have to really moisturize. Loving face oils!
2. The name of a new product you’ve tried recently? Peach & Lily Pure Beam Luxe Oil and Josie Maran Argan Oil
3. Have you ever had really long nails? In my late teens and early twenties I hade fake nails. My real nails are awful so I keep them short.
4. Speaking of nails, red nail polish or blue nail polish? Red…but I prefer to paint my toes
5. Big hoops or little hoops I miss big hoops! They are a pain with masks. So I am only wearing small ones right now,
6. What did you have for dinner last night? Rice, veggies, chicken
7. Hot chocolate with or without marshmallows? Definitely with marshmallows!!!
8. Where’s the farthest place you traveled this year? Missouri to visit family
9. Gold, silver or bronze eyeshadow? Bronze
Hi Mandy,
I used to have oily skin, too. Everyone told me it would change and I didn’t believe it, LOL! Now mine is dry, dry, dry. Btw that Josie Maran Argan Oil is good stuff!
1. A beauty topic that you’ve been interested in lately?
Sunscreen for hair. I’m going to the Caribbean and my very dry, damaged bleached hair needs all the help it can get.
2. The name of a new product you’ve tried recently?
I just got Pacifica’s sensitive skin moisturizer.
3. Have you ever had really long nails?
No.
4. Speaking of nails, red nail polish or blue nail polish?
Red?
5. Big hoops or little hoops
No hoops!
6. What did you have for dinner last night?
Panera Mac & Cheese
7. Hot chocolate with or without marshmallows?
No marshmallows
8. Where’s the farthest place you traveled this year?
Not far. I basically went between Wisconsin and Illinois this year.
9. Gold, silver or bronze eyeshadow
A cooler gold.
1. A beauty topic that you’ve been interested in lately?
I saw the headline today about the dry shampoo recall due to a potential carcinogen. Not freaking out but it does make me think about ingredients in things we put in and on our bodies daily.
2. The name of a new product you’ve tried recently?
Bioderma ultra soothing balm. I think it’s helping the kp on my arms.
3. Have you ever had really long nails?
Not super long. They interfere too much!
4. Speaking of nails, red nail polish or blue nail polish?
Blue. Dark blue (get that Chanel! 😉)
5. Big hoops or little hoops
No hoops- no piercings!
6. What did you have for dinner last night?
BBQ pork, squash casserole and slaw.
7. Hot chocolate with or without marshmallows?
Give me all the marshmallows.
8. Where’s the farthest place you traveled this year?
Not far. About a 4 1/2 hour car trip to the beach last month.
9. Gold, silver or bronze eyeshadow?
Bronze.
1. A beauty topic that you’ve been interested in lately? Finding the right combination of things that suit my skin type and needs. I really like my current stuff, but I’m always on the lookout to find something new, that works.
2. The name of a new product you’ve tried recently? Oh, I bought that L’Oréal true nude skin tint stuff, it’s gone viral on TikTok. I hate the applicator but it’s nice.
3. Have you ever had really long nails? Never super long. I wore fake nails for a while but I became allergic and took them off. I keep my natural nails a little longer than fingertip length.
4. Speaking of nails, red nail polish or blue nail polish? I love both, but I own more blue.
5. Big hoops or little hoops. My ears grew back, so they’re not pierced anymore. I have an appointment next month with a piercer to get them redone.
6. What did you have for dinner last night? Tacos.
7. Hot chocolate with or without marshmallows? Those little dehydrated crunchy marshmallows are necessary.
8. Where’s the farthest place you traveled this year? Just to the central coast from central CA. Not too far.
9. Gold, silver or bronze eyeshadow? I like them all, probably gold, but not too yellow gold.
1. A beauty topic that you’ve been interested in lately? Nothing has really sparked my interest lately. Perhaps when spring collections come out, I’ll buck up.
2. The name of a new product you’ve tried recently? Le Prunier 100% pure plum oil from California. I love beauty oils and this one is absolutely superb.
3. Have you ever had really long nails? Really long? No. I do wear my natural nails fairly long, but nothing like the daggers currently being worn by celebrities.
4. Speaking of nails, red nail polish or blue nail polish? Blue can be a nice combination of edgy and classy.
5. Big hoops or little hoops. Because I wear my long hair down most of the time, I like to wear large hoops. Little ones would never show up. When I wear a mask, though, I only wear studs.
6. What did you have for dinner last night? Homemade red lentil soup and garlic bread.
7. Hot chocolate with or without marshmallows? Without.
8. Where’s the farthest place you traveled this year? We haven’t traveled much the past year.
9. Gold, silver or bronze eyeshadow? I love a deep, true gold on my eyes.
1. A beauty topic that you’ve been interested in lately? Minimalism in skincare. Well actually, minimalism in all my beauty. Trying to pare things down the essentials and my favorites.
2. The name of a new product you’ve tried recently? I just bought a bottle of SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic. Haven’t cracked it open yet because I want to use up my Vichy Vit C ampoules first.
3. Have you ever had really long nails? No.
4. Speaking of nails, red nail polish or blue nail polish? Tough one. Personally I love red, but Dear Husband would probably like blue on my nails better. Especially if it was WARRIORS!! blue
5. Big hoops or little hoops. Little. I don’t have the patience for stuff getting tangled in my earrings.
6. What did you have for dinner last night? Lap Pat Dok (Burmese tea leaf salad) and sea bass roasted in foil pouches with garlic, ginger, turmeric and clementines.
7. Hot chocolate with or without marshmallows? With marshmallows, but they have to be the hand made kind, NOT the chemical laden, shelf stable ones in the plastic bags.
8. Where’s the farthest place you traveled this year? We went to LA around Memorial Day. The covid numbers were the lowest then and we drove.
9. Gold, silver or bronze eyeshadow? Ooh, I love a dirty gold eyeshadow. Then bronze.
If you’re exploring Niche perfumes, check out Tigerlily Perfumery on Valencia, ZGO Perfumery on Castro or LuckyScent in LA (also has an online store) and see if you can find samples of PureDistance perfumes. They are outrageously expensive, but so beautiful.
Sorry it took me so long to answer these. I got confused about what day of the week it is.
1. A beauty topic that you’ve been interested in lately? Probiotics in skincare.
2. The name of a new product you’ve tried recently? Eminence Kale and Vitamin C Mask – so far LOVE it, rinses easily and leaves my skin soft and plump.
3. Have you ever had really long nails? No, my idea of “long” would be short to a lot of people.
4. Speaking of nails, red nail polish or blue nail polish? Red.
5. Big hoops or little hoops I don’t have pierced ears. Too uncomfortable wearing a headset as a pilot.
6. What did you have for dinner last night? Chicken marinated in olive oil and Italian herbs and cooked in the crockpot, roasted baby potatoes, and green beans.
7. Hot chocolate with or without marshmallows? With.
8. Where’s the farthest place you traveled this year? Washington State to visit my Dad.
9. Gold, silver or bronze eyeshadow? Bronze.