
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. Is lipstick an everyday thing for you?
Yes! I usually start the day off wearing lipstick. As the day goes on, though, I move into gloss because it’s easier for me to apply for touch ups. Just swipe and go!
2. Bright colors or earth tones?
Lil’ bit of both. 🙂
3. What’s the most-used tool in your makeup routine?
My fingers! I use them to blend and apply minimal base and blush, mostly, and sometimes to swipe and blend liquid or cream eyeshadow.
4. A makeup trick that you’ve been loving lately?
Layering brown eyeshadow on top of black eyeliner. I love how it softens the black liner, so you still get a good amount of impact, but it isn’t as harsh.
5. How closely do you need to follow the school year schedule?
At the moment, pretty closely, since Connor’s still in elementary school. I don’t mind it, though. It gives an ebb and flow to the year!
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. Is lipstick an everyday thing for you?
2. Bright colors or earth tones?
3. What’s the most-used tool in your makeup routine?
4. A makeup trick that you’ve been loving lately?
5. How closely do you need to follow the school year schedule?

1. Is lipstick an everyday thing for you?
Yes! And, like you, I usually just apply gloss or balm throughout the day.
2. Bright colors or earth tones?
Both please!
3. What’s the most-used tool in your makeup routine?
Eyelash curler.
4. A makeup trick that you’ve been loving lately?
Only using a tiny bit of setting powder in my T-zone. My aging skin doesn’t need an all over application like it did when I was an oily teenager.
5. How closely do you need to follow the school year schedule?
Very closely – I work at the college in town teaching Microbiology laboratories, so my work schedule follows the school schedule. Also, the girls just started daycare at the college-run daycare, so their schedule has the same holidays and stuff as mine, which is nice. And soon they will be starting kindergarten so that is definitely going to take some coordination with my husband and I both working!
1. Is lipstick an everyday thing for you?
No. It used to be, but I got out of the habit between COVID and caretaking.
2. Bright colors or earth tones?
Bright colors.
3. What’s the most-used tool in your makeup routine?
Other than fingers, my big fluffy powder brush. I frequently attack that oily T-zone!
4. A makeup trick that you’ve been loving lately?
I just watched a YouTube tutorial where a woman went over her too-strong blush with foundation and a sponge. The end result was stunning. 😍
5. How closely do you need to follow the school year schedule?
Not at all, other than being aware of traffic pattern changes.
1. Is lipstick an everyday thing for you?
Makeup isn’t an everyday thing for me, since I’m at home most days. A little lip balm is all I need.
2. Bright colors or earth tones?
Both.
3. What’s the most-used tool in your makeup routine?
I have a favorite blush brush. Since my makeup is so minimal, blush is key.
4. A makeup trick that you’ve been loving lately?
Not exactly a makeup trick, but I read about the dangers of talc and replaced a lot of my makeup with talc-free products. It made me feel a little better about what I’m putting on my face.
5. How closely do you need to follow the school year schedule?
We. Are. Done!!! Big sigh of relief. The littles are still in school, but that’s the advantage of being a Great Aunt instead of de facto parent. I have retired from the everyday responsibilities and just get to do the fun parts.🥳
1. Is lipstick an everyday thing for you?
It used to be, but since I’m not in the office anymore, it’s only occasionally.
2. Bright colors or earth tones?
Brights, mostly. White, off white, beige, brown, etc., are boring to me. I have almost no brown clothing. I had my bedroom as a teenager painted a beautiful robin’s egg blue, but after a year or two my parents forced me to repaint it white. I think they believed they were going to sell the house (they were NEVER very straightforward with me), and nothing but boring white would do. They ended up not selling the house. All that work and expense for nothing. Personally, I like houses that have some color on the walls (but not too dark or intense).
3. What’s the most-used tool in your makeup routine? Probably sponges (Beauty Blender and others), but I also use a powder brush and blush brush most of the time.
4. A makeup trick that you’ve been loving lately?
Nothing in particular comes to mind.
5. How closely do you need to follow the school year schedule?
With no kids, I only follow it in order to figure out what days the school zones (20 MPH speed limit) are not in effect, and when the stores will likely be crowded with families. Tomorrow’s the first day of school in most of the nearby districts. It’s very hot and humid – it’s SO STUPID to start school well before Labor Day, especially in the south!
1. Is lipstick an everyday thing for you? Yes! I love lipstick.
2. Bright colors or earth tones? Both.
3. What’s the most-used tool in your makeup routine? Probably an old Urban Decay eyeshadow brush that I absolutely love.
4. A makeup trick that you’ve been loving lately? No tricks…but I recently started using lip liner again and it make such a big difference.
5. How closely do you need to follow the school year schedule? Super close…my kiddos are in middle school (6th & 7th).
1. Is lipstick an everyday thing for you? Unless you count tinted SPF lip balm, no.
2. Bright colors or earth tones? Do deep jewel tones count as bright colors? Sapphire, emerald, burgundy?
3. What’s the most-used tool in your makeup routine? My fingers and then a clean mascara spoolie to comb out my lashes and brows.
4. A makeup trick that you’ve been loving lately? Haven’t been wearing much makeup lately.
5. How closely do you need to follow the school year schedule? I follow the local school district because there was a definite increase in traffic this morning as it was the first day of school. Otherwise, I just check the academic calendar for the university where Dear Daughter is working towards her doctorate.
1. Is lipstick an everyday thing for you? Not so much anymore. My lips are a deep leaning raspberry so I always look like I have lipstick on. A bit of balm is usually all I need. When I want to change the color, I gravitate towards tinted lip balms.
2. Bright colors or earth tones? I prefer earth tones but remember, “earth” doesn’t always mean brown! There’s no better artist than Mother Nature and her earth tones encompass a beautiful variety of colors.
3. What’s the most-used tool in your makeup routine? I have a big, soft, fluffy silver fox powder brush. I love the feel of it on my skin. Purrr . . .
4. A makeup trick that you’ve been loving lately? Nothing new. Lately, though, I’ve only been using powder eyeshadow as liner. I like to use a deeper shade along my top lashes and then a bit lighter version in the same color family along my lower lashes.
5. How closely do you need to follow the school year schedule? I only pay enough attention to avoid driving by schools when school is letting out.
1. Is lipstick an everyday thing for you?
No
2. Bright colors or earth tones?
These days, muted colors. Not really earthy tones, though not too bright.
3. What’s the most-used tool in your makeup routine?
My fingers really, but apart from that a big fluffy brush for dusting powder all over before setting spray.
4. A makeup trick that you’ve been loving lately?
It would probably be…… quickly blending in a slightly darker shade of Mac Face and Body all over after I’ve applied corrector and concealer to get a more cohesive-looking base. I’ll be honest, after all these years of collecting and applying makeup, most days it still feels like I don’t know what I’m doing…
5. How closely do you need to follow the school year schedule?
Not very closely. I would say not at all these days. My daughter is now in middle school and it is way different now than it was before. You’d think she was in college now, what with the attendance, grades and everything being online. “Semesters”. Different teachers for everything. Apparently ‘Wellness’ is a subject now. Haha 🙂 Haven’t really been keeping up as much with everything at school. Focusing more instead on (my) nutrition 😁