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 five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start. ?
1. Who makes the best lipstick?
Personal opinion? MAC and Chanel! I know their shade families, formulas, finishes, and their lippies don’t get funky as quickly as some other brands do. Also, I just like how they feel on my lips.
2. Three pieces of makeup you wear often?
The Urban Decay brow pencil, Laura Mercier Caviar Mascara and Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Liner.
3. A lesson you learned early in life?
There won’t always be someone around to help you, so you’re going to have to figure out how to do/get it yourself if you want something.
4. A lesson you learned later in life?
Building upon my answer to the previous question, it’s *totally OK* to ask for help, and it is NOT a sign of weakness. Asking for help actually takes a lot of courage since it’s been stigmatized in our society, but it takes strength to lean on other people. The truth is, no one does it alone, despite what many people like to claim. No one makes it alone. No one succeeds alone, so don’t ever be afraid to ask for assistance.
5. Jell-O: delightful or disgusting?
Delightful! Especially with a touch of whipped cream. My favorite flavor is Strawberry.
6. The movie that most traumatized you as a child?
Salem’s Lot. Why young children were allowed to watch this at our babysitter’s house on a random Tuesday afternoon, I WILL NEVER KNOW. I wasn’t afraid of the dark before seeing that movie, but after I watched it, I ended up sleeping with a night light for years.
7. What’s one of your pet peeves about purses?
I can’t stand when a purse is too deep. Ugh! It’s too hard to find anything, and I always end up having to dump the contents onto the floor or a table to find small things like my keys.
It’s aggravating as all hell!
8. What are you reading right now?
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes.
9. Lace or ruffles?
Ruffles, in moderation. I love how lace looks, but it’s too itchy!
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. Who makes the best lipstick?
2. Three pieces of makeup you wear often?
3. A lesson you learned early on in life?
4. A lesson you learned later on in life?
5. Jell-O: delightful or disgusting?
6. The movie that most traumatized you as a child?
7. What’s one of your pet peeves about purses?
8. What are you reading right now?
9. Lace or ruffles?
P.P.S. Hello, friend! Sending you a big virtual hug on this beautiful Monday morning. I hope you feel calm, organized and ready to take on the week. We can do this, OK? I’ve got your back, girl. ALWAYS. ?
1. Besame Cosmetics hands down. The color, the packaging and the formula. I just wish they made more nude colors. 🙂
2. Besame cake mascara, Sephora bronzer and Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow stick in grey.
3. Caretaking of others is very important.
4. Caretaking of myself takes priority.
5. Never had some…
6. Chucky. Why did my parents show it to me as a child at 2?
7. When you go to sling over yoru shoulder and the strap gets caught in your hair.
8. Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
9. Lace in moderation. But only the high quality kind that doesn’t itch.
Here we go today:
1. Who makes the best lipstick? i love the feel of Chanel’s Rouge Coco lipsticks on my dry lips, but could do with less fragrance. I have never worn MAC lipsticks.
2. Three pieces of makeup you wear often? Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, Anastasia BH Brow Wiz and L’Oreal Voluminous mascara
3. A lesson you learned early on in life? Treat people like you want them to treat you.
4. A lesson you learned later on in life? Don’t sweat the little stuff.
5. Jell-O: delightful or disgusting? I love Jell-O
6. The movie that most traumatized you as a child? The Shining
7. What’s one of your pet peeves about purses? Sometimes the strap is too long for my short torso.
8. What are you reading right now? I am going back to reading Mika Bryzynski’s book about recreating yourself after 50.
9. Lace or ruffles? Probably lace, depending on where it is. I am not a ruffles kind of gal.
Be well.
1. Who makes the best lipstick? Highr Collective is so comfortable. Lasts too.
2. Three pieces of makeup you wear often? UD black eyeliner, Dipbrow, Kimchee Chic green color corrector (this is new to me and I love it).
3. A lesson you learned early on in life? Don’t try to change people.
4. A lesson you learned later on in life? Animals are important too and deserve to be helped, defended and left in peace.
5. Jell-O: delightful or disgusting? At a potluck, with pretzels in it? Ok sure.
6. The movie that most traumatized you as a child? Howard the duck!
7. What’s one of your pet peeves about purses? Straps that slide off my shoulder.
8. What are you reading right now? The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F@rk.
9. Lace or ruffles? Summery skirt with gentle ruffles.
1. Who makes the best lipstick? I like my Tom Ford colors, but unless I remember to stick them in the fridge when I first buy them, they turn too quickly. I find MAC lipsticks go funky quickly for me too. I also love Chanel and NARS.
2. Three pieces of makeup you wear often? Shu Uemura brow sword over Benefit clear brow gel, Urban Decay Hustle liner, NARS Dolce Vita lipstick. Mascara it goes without saying.
3. A lesson you learned early on in life? When it comes to getting awards or getting ahead, “It’s not WHAT you know, but WHO you know.”
4. A lesson you learned later on in life? Choose your battles wisely. Can be applied to raising children or changing your environment.
5. Jell-O: delightful or disgusting? On the fence.
6. The movie that most traumatized you as a child? Didn’t get to see many movies in the 60’s when I was a child, so nothing traumatized me. Also movies back then were much tamer. There was no PG-13 back then, everything was either general audience or adults only.
7. What’s one of your pet peeves about purses? Recently they’ve gotten fatter and fatter. I like a purse that hugs close to my body. Also all the ones I seem to really love are way, way, way out of my price range.
8. What are you reading right now? Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner.
9. Lace or ruffles? Lace only if it’s backed up with an illusion or other form of underlining to tone down the itch factor.
1. Who makes the best lipstick? Wayne Goss, he’s a YouTuber that started his own makeup line.
2. Three pieces of makeup you wear often? An Elf skinny brow pencil, a highlighter by Essence, and a blush by Essence. I have an honorary daughter that works at Ulta and she sold me these products, so I wear them because of her.
3. A lesson you learned early on in life? Not to worry too much about what people think of you. You know who you are, that’s all that matters.
4. A lesson you learned later on in life? That not everyone will like you. It’s hard because I’m Steffie and everyone likes me! But I don’t like everyone, why should everyone like me?
5. Jell-O: delightful or disgusting? It is not for me.
6. The movie that most traumatized you as a child? RoboCop. It was horrifically violent, I was a different person after watching it. I regret watching it.
7. What’s one of your pet peeves about purses? If the lining is dark, then you can’t see inside it. Drives me nuts!
8. What are you reading right now? A bunch of things, a yoga book, a trashy romance, a thriller, a cookbook, all kinds of things.
9. Lace or ruffles? Lace, but not against skin because it’s itchy, a print or an overlay.
1. Who makes the best lipstick? Tom Ford and Chanel
2. Three pieces of makeup you wear often? Lancome Teint Idole, Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Liquid Concealer, and Maybelline Clear Mascara on my brows. (Marc Jacobs Ro-cocoa eyeliner is a 4th)
3. A lesson you learned early on in life? Things aren’t always easy
4. A lesson you learned later on in life? Be yourself. I always thought that you had to be someone else, but they like me when I’m at my most natural- flaws and all. (If they don’t, then they’re not the right person for me.)
5. Jell-O: delightful or disgusting? Good- in small doses like when I’m sick.
6. The movie that most traumatized you as a child? IT
7. What’s one of your pet peeves about purses? Mine is a black hole where things disappear.
8. What are you reading right now? Nothing at the moment. (I read a lot for work, so I need a break!)
9. Lace or ruffles? Ruffles
I swear before I even read your answers I had the same, almost verbatim, answers in my head! Happy Monday, Karen!
1. Who makes the best lipstick?
Although I no longer buy it, I’m agreeing with you on the MAC. Haven’t experienced the Chanel but based on your frequent use and reviews, I have no reason to doubt you on the Chanel.
2. Three pieces of makeup you wear often?
Black gel eyeliner pencil; Typology tinted serum; mascara.
3. A lesson you learned early on in life?
Nobody wants to know my feelings.
4. A lesson you learned later on in life?
I must feel my feelings.
5. Jell-O: delightful or disgusting?
Maybe it’s nostalgia but plain, ambrosia, doesn’t matter: Jell-O is delightful, especially if it’s red!
6. The movie that most traumatized you as a child?
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Donald Sutherland version); it just fueled my anxiety-ridden, aching tummy, insomniac nights as a child.
7. What’s one of your pet peeves about purses?
Same!! Too deep, too dark to need a flashlight. Also, the inability to fasten the opening shut; it doesn’t have to have a zipper, as long as there is a way to hold the “lid” together.
8. What are you reading right now?
No Way by S.J. Morden (I loves me some good sci-fi thriller); I’m picking up more eat the library today. I usually have a 3-book rotation going on.
9. Lace or ruffles?
Lace. I don’t think petite person and ruffles go together, I just feel like a clown doll and not like a fully grown adult woman lol.
Happy Monday, Karen! I’ve just come back from the dentist where I had to get a tooth extracted. It was just so. much. fun.
1. Who makes the best lipstick?
I haven’t worn lipstick in a really long time thanks to the pandemic. Lanolips, while expensive, is a great lipbalm that I love. SO MOISTURIZING.
2. Three pieces of makeup you wear often?
Too Faced Better than Sex mascara, Pacifica brow gel, and some sort of lip balm (brand varies.)
3. A lesson you learned early on in life?
Wear your sunscreen!
4. A lesson you learned later on in life?
It’s okay to ask for help.
5. Jell-O: delightful or disgusting?
Disgusting. I cannot.
6. The movie that most traumatized you as a child?
This sounds silly but Jurassic Park! I had a huge phobia of dinosaurs as a child. It seems silly but I still don’t like museums where they have the dinosaurs dressed as half skeleton, half what they may have looked like.
7. What’s one of your pet peeves about purses?
How messy or how heavy they can get. Can I just have a bag that can carry all of my disabled stuff, stay organized and still be light please?
8. What are you reading right now?
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
9. Lace or ruffles?
I’m not a big fan of either as I think both really overwhelm me as I’m so petite both in stature and frame (lace is mostly itchy.) I much prefer embroidery, a slightly puffed sleeve, an interesting neckline, a bolder color, pattern…
1. Who makes the best lipstick? Pat McGrath, Besame, Urban Decay
2. Three pieces of makeup you wear often? Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Perversion, Anastasia Moonchild Glow Kit, Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed.
3. A lesson you learned early on in life? You can’t count on anyone but yourself.
4. A lesson you learned later on in life? It’s not my job to save other people. Helping is fine, but being codependent or a pushover isn’t.
5. Jell-O: delightful or disgusting? Delightful, unless it’s grape.
6. The movie that most traumatized you as a child? The Exorcist
7. What’s one of your pet peeves about purses? When they’re small. I need to take my glasses case, asthma inhalers etc. I need room for more than ID, debit card, and a cell phone
8. What are you reading right now? Nothing
9. Lace or ruffles? Lace
Happy Monday to you! 🙂
1. Who makes the best lipstick?
NARS and Chanel. Lisa Eldridge’s lipsticks are pretty awesome, too.
2. Three pieces of makeup you wear often?
Mascara, fragrance, and lip balm/lipstick.
3. A lesson you learned early on in life?
In school, the perception of being smart isn’t always a good thing.
4. A lesson you learned later on in life?
People will come and go throughout your life, but good friends stick with you through good and bad.
5. Jell-O: delightful or disgusting?
YUM! My mom used to make a 7 layer jello that was one of my favorite desserts. Might have to dig up that recipe and see if I can make it.
6. The movie that most traumatized you as a child?
Ugh, The Exorcist. Still creeps me out to this day.
7. What’s one of your pet peeves about purses?
How oversized (and heavy) some of them are. To me, it throws the person’s look out of whack.
8. What are you reading right now?
Brat: An 80’s Story (by Andrew McCarthy)
9. Lace or ruffles?
Lace
1. Who makes the best lipstick? Not sure. I haven’t tried a huge number of brands. I do like MAC and Revlon.
2. Three pieces of makeup you wear often? BalmShelter Tinted Moisturizer, L’Oreal True Match powder, NARS Orgasm powder blush.
3. A lesson you learned early on in life? That my parents were never really going to act the way parents are supposed to act. Never heard “I love you,” or “you’re pretty” in my life.
4. A lesson you learned later on in life? Not to try to talk sense to an idiot or a mentally ill person. It just doesn’t work, and it’s a waste of time and effort.
5. Jell-O: delightful or disgusting? Disgusting when you realize what it’s made of.
6. The movie that most traumatized you as a child? “The Blob” (Steve McQueen version) when it was run on TV, and I was only 6 years old. I think the theme song actually bothered me more than the movie! There were no video or DVD players, or cable TV when I was a child, so we didn’t see anything really horrific on TV back then, unless you count coverage of the Vietnam War.
7. What’s one of your pet peeves about purses? Black interiors. They need to stop using dark linings in purses.
8. What are you reading right now? I’ve got a lot of books I need to get around to reading (all non-fiction, history and current events). The one I want to read right now is called “Last Second in Dallas.”
9. Lace or ruffles? Lace. Ruffles look silly on me.
1. Who makes the best lipstick? Chanel Rouge Coco Flash for a swipe and go lipstick which never dries or irritates my super sensitive lips.
2. Three pieces of makeup you wear often? Foundation, finishing powder, and tinted lip balm.
3. A lesson you learned early on in life? How to remain calm and centered when the going gets tough.
4. A lesson you learned later on in life? How to say no.
5. Jell-O: delightful or disgusting? It’s OK. I don’t have any particular feeling about it.
6. The movie that most traumatized you as a child? “The Creature From The Black Lagoon”.
7. What’s one of your pet peeves about purses? I don’t like a lot of decorative hardware. My purse is heavy enough as it is without adding a lot of metal embellishments.
8. What are you reading right now? “The 20th Victim” by James Patterson.
9. Lace or ruffles? Do I have to? Lol