Just For Fun

Like have you…

• Switched from lightweight to heavy-duty lotions or moisturizers (or vice versa)?
• Incorporated any new cold weather balms or products?
• Swapped out the bright lipsticks in your purse for deeper, darker hues?
• Changed your hair style or color?
• Picked up a new fragrance for fall?

So far — mind you, we’re early in the season — my biggest change has been to my hair, which is now a dark chocolate brown with reddish streaks.

I’ve also started wearing heavier scents, like Estée Lauder’s Modern Muse, and more dramatic eyes and lips, which Tabs affectionately refers to as my “vampire makeup.”

Hey, if I could look like Pam from True Blood, I’d totally be okay with that.

How about you? Have you made any seasonal beauty changes so far? Do you plan to if you haven’t yet? Like perhaps different products in your skincare routine? Or a new color theme to your makeup? Spill the beans.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”

Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past five years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

1. How dedicated are you to your skincare regimen?
   Well, pretty dedicated. I’m in my late 30s now, and I’m at that point where I don’t feel like I can slack anymore when it comes to skincare. I try (the key word here) to watch what I eat, exercise, drink plenty of water and get to bed by a decent hour.

   And besides the whole getting older thing, I’ve been through some really rough patches with my skin — bad breakouts, mostly — and when I slack at all in my anti-acne regimen, things tend to go south very quickly.

2. How often do you go to bed without removing your makeup?
   I can’t remember ever doing it, although I’m sure I have. Most of the time, though, unless I’m literally unconscious, I’ll find the energy to do it.
3. What’s your favorite beauty ritual?
   Getting my hair done at the salon. It’s my favorite thing in the whole wide world! I get to sit on my bum, read magazines and chit-chat for a couple hours, and at the end of it all — new look!
4. How would you describe your style: easy, experimental or excessive?
   How about, “easily experimentally excessive”? 😉

   No, really, I’d say experimental.

5. If you color your hair, how old were you when you first started?
   In college, I think around 18 or 19. It was with an at-home highlighting kit, and I ended up with chunky tiger stripes.

   SUCH A HOT MESS! — although at the time I thought it was the coolest thing.

6. When it comes to makeup, what’s your biggest gripe?
   Honestly, it’s the time. Eye makeup can take me SO LONG to do, especially when there are multiple shadows and lots of gradients and transitions involved. My eyes aren’t symmetrical, and I have to do little tweaks on each eye to make everything appear even.
7. If you had to narrow down your entire fall wardrobe to a single fall uniform, what would it look like?
   Dark gray skinny jeans, a cozy black sweater and my comfy olive green Fergie boots.

   Cat lady confessional: the main reason I’d opt for a black and gray theme is because the colors hide tabby fur so well.

8. What’s your go-to purse this fall?
   I’ve been looking around for a new bag but have yet to find one that moves me (and carries all of my crap). So for now, it’s still the Poverty Flats Satchel from summer.

   It’s a great bag and really does go with everything.

9. What’s your biggest skincare gripe?
   Ugh! Breakouts, particularly around my chin.
10. What was the highlight of your weekend?
    Going to the salon! 🙂 I finally got my hair colored.

    I ended up going darker for fall.

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

1. How dedicated are you to your skincare regimen?
2. How often do you go to bed without removing your makeup?
3. What’s your favorite beauty ritual?
4. How would you describe your style: easy, experimental or excessive?
5. If you color your hair, how old were you when you first started?
6. When it comes to makeup, what’s your biggest gripe?
7. If you had to narrow down your entire fall wardrobe to a single fall uniform, what would it look like?
8. What’s your go-to purse this fall?
9. What’s your biggest skincare gripe?
10. What was the highlight of your weekend?

What do ya got going on today? Are you busy?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Have you ever counted ’em up? For me it depends. Sometimes, it’s up to 30 (!) if I do multiple looks in the same day.

Once, though, I was able to pull off a makeup look with just two brushes, but that was a small miracle brought on by extreme circumstances…namely, me forgetting my entire brush bag at home before leaving for a trip.

But yeah, on a day-to-day basis, I typically use the following:

• 1 domed eyeshadow brush to apply and blend (usually the MAC 217)
• 1 tapered blending brush, again to apply and blend eyeshadow (MAC 224)
• 1 flat eyeshadow to do more of the same (MAC 239)
• 1 foundation brush to apply foundation (Hourglass No 2. Foundation/Blush Brush)
• 1 kabuki brush to blend my foundation (MAC 182)
• 1 additional domed eyeshadow brush to apply under-eye concealer (another MAC 217)
• 1 fluffy powder brush for face powder (I have one from Burberry that I like, although I can’t remember the exact name)
• 1 contour brush for bronzer (MAC 109)
• 1 blush brush (MAC 129)
• 1 tapered face brush for highlighter (MAC 139, or another 224. It depends on the product I’m applying.)

Hmm… That’s still 10 brushes.

I guess my attempts to streamline are a work in progress.

How about you? How many makeup brushes do you use on a daily basis?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen