Just For Fun

Hmm… That’s a good question.

Well, I usually like my liner with a little baby wing, but sometimes for more dramatic looks I’ll “go there” and do those crazy bat wings that look like they could take off into outer space, like in a Red Bull commercial. “Eyeliner gives you wings!”

Most of the time, though, I like a teeny kitten flick. One, because I feel like if I’m not doing big ol’ false lashes and BAM! eyes and BAM! lips, it won’t overtake my face. And two, because it’s technically easier for me, because with big liner you’re dealing with, you know, more product and longer lines, and you gotta get the wings correct, and there’s always something that goes wrong (for me at least). Something always goes wrong. So I like a tiny little kitty flick.

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And I usually prefer it in black, and I’ll vary what I have on my lower lash line. Sometimes it’s black, sometimes it’s MAC Powersurge, sometimes it’s a beige eyeliner on the water line to open up the eyes.

It depends on how I’m feeling that day.

So I guess in terms of my overall eyeliner philosophy, you could say, “It takes all kinds.” I go through phases, where sometimes I’ll be loving on a particular formula, like gel or kohl or…

Right meow my thing is a black kohl liner smudged tightly along the upper lash line and inner water line, and you gotta really get it down around the base/roots. Either the kohl liner drawn out to a little wing, or with a gel liner on top, and then with black powder eyeshadow smudged along the edges of that liner to keep it from looking too crisp. Lately I’ve been loving the idea of softer, sort of hazy liner.

How about you? Do you usually take your liner with or without wings, and what’s your overall eyeliner philosophy?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.

Ooh, gurl! Probably a little more than I need to.

My typical work look is smokey (smoky?), which requires lots of transition shades, you know, ’cause you’re going from lighter to darker, yadda-yadda-yadda, so I’d say…

One, two, three, four…five!?

Oh, my heavens.

Five. Sometimes six.

Yeah…I’m trying to do this whole less-is-more thing, though.

Oh, well. It takes a village to do a smooth smokey eye.

Mind you, this is just for pics, meetings and events. For something like going to the grocery store, I’m not gonna put on six eyeshadows, no. For things like that, it’s usually just one or two. Sometimes three if El Hub’s not yelling, “Come on, let’s go!” 🙂

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

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 seven 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. How do you feel about black lipstick?
   I think it can look really freaking cool if it’s done in a certain way. I mean, it’s makeup, so you can do anything you want and wear black lipstick however you feel, you know, but for me, I like it when it’s just that strong black lip, and everything else is kept minimal. Maybe lots of lashes, a filled in brow and just super minimal skin.

   I think it can be very chic, but it has to have the right elements to go with it, and you kind of have to be dressed to suit the black lip, too, because if you’re wearing a black lip and a pink polo shirt, it can be pretty jarring.

   Clothing-wise, I’d probably mirror the same aesthetic as the makeup, with very clean lines, something like a black simple shift, or like a black tank top and skinny black jeans.

   

2. Do you know any guys who wear makeup?
   I know a few makeup artists who wear tinted moisturizer and concealer and brow gel and stuff, but in my everyday life, I can’t say that… Oh! — of course I know guys who wear makeup! Yes, I follow a few of them on Instagram. They do their thing, and I like that.
3. Crimped hair: yes or no?
   Having leftover visions of bad crimped hair from the late ’80s and early ’90s, buuut I think if you do it in moderation, like a little bit of crimping here and there, it can add some textural interest to the hair.
4. What’s the first thing you do when you get home?
   Let’s see…I open the door, and Tabs is usually at the door, and I say, “What up, play-uh!?” and then I give him pets, because if I don’t pet him right away, he throws a fit. Then I take off my shoes, set my purse down and take off my jacket. Then I sit at the base of the stairs and pet Tabs some more, because he’s kind of a diva that way.
5. Are people surprised when they find out you’re into makeup?
   Sometimes they are. It really depends on what makeup I’m wearing. If I’m wearing full-on ba-bam! eyes, lips, cheeks, highlight and bronzer that day, then people aren’t surprised, but when I’m usually out and about, like at the grocery store or the dentist, most of the time I’m wearing a toned down version of full makeup.

   I guess most of the time when I do meet strangers and they don’t know what I do, they’re kind of like, “Oh, that’s interesting…” And then they ask for recommendations. Usually. 🙂

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. How do you feel about black lipstick?
2. Do you know any guys who wear makeup?
3. Crimped hair: yes or no?
4. What’s the first thing you do when you get home?
5. Are people surprised when they find out you’re into makeup?

Today might be a three-cup-of-tea day for me… I’m so sleepy right now!

Daylight Savings Time and all…

Hopefully it’s been a nice Monday for you so far. What did you do this weekend?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

It’s probably not crazy compared to those transformative looks people do where they turn themselves into mountain lions or green aliens from two galaxies away, but for me it was pretty crazy.

A few years ago I did a Halloween look — I think I was supposed to be a disco diva — with sparkly eyes and super shiny lips.

It was A LOT of look.

But it was made extra cray by the fact that the day I did it, I had painters coming over to paint my kitchen, and so it was me, these two gruff dudes and, like, all this glitter and crazy lipgloss, and I was wearing a black sequined capri-length jumpsuit.

I looked completely insane, and the entire time I’m trying to be cool. I’m like, “Please leave the ceiling color. We’re very happy with that,” and “No need to paint the trim. If you could please just paint the room that flat matte.”

But the whole time I’m dressed like this disco diva crazy person. 🙂

How about you? What’s the craziest, most outrageous look you’ve ever done with your makeup?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S.