So dainty and cute! I love teeny, tiny versions of Chanel anythings. They’re a weakness…

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 four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

1. Mint green: love it or leave it?
   Absolutely love it. Mint green clothes, makeup, accessories… Mint green for me, please.
2. What’s the one thing that you feel makes the biggest difference in your makeup look?
   Filling in my brows, for sure. They sort of fade away at the halfway point on each side, and I feel like filling in the sparse parts strengthens my look and draws more attention to my eyes.
3. What was the last really sugary, brainless, cheesy book you read?
   Sugar and Spice, the latest book in Lauren Conrad’s L.A. Candy series. Brainless, yes. Fun, absolutely!
4. Something you did last weekend?
   Watched the new Star Trek with El Hub.

   Eh…I liked it. Didn’t love it, but I liked it. It was loud! Full throttle, action-packed the whole time. I kind of felt like I was being yelled at by the screen and left the theater totally exhausted, but there’s always great styling and makeup in Star Trek. I’d go just for that.

5. Have you ever been lost in the woods?
   Thankfully, NO! What a nightmare.



6. Favorite comic strip?
   The Far Side! Always loved Gary Larson’s weird sense of humor…
7. Something currently missing from your summer wardrobe?
   Sunglasses and shorts. I’m super picky about both!
8. High-waisted pants: yea or nay?
   Nay! But thank you for asking.
9. What’s one beauty product every gal needs?
   A fantastic black mascara. Right now for me that’s Chanel Le Volume de Chanel.
10. Do you have a favorite place to nap?
    I’m not picky when it comes to napping. I can practically sleep standing up, but I’ve gotta go with the living room couch.

    Sometimes on sunny Sunday afternoons I’ll also catch a few “Z’s” in my hanging patio chair on the back deck.

To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le List

1. Mint green: love it or leave it?
2. What’s the one thing that you feel makes the biggest difference in your makeup look?
3. What was the last really sugary, brainless, cheesy book you read?
4. Something you did last weekend?
5. Have you ever been lost in the woods?
6. Favorite comic strip?
7. Something currently missing from your summer wardrobe?
8. High-waisted pants: yea or nay?
9. What’s one beauty product every gal needs?
10. Do you have a favorite place to nap?

What time is it where you are? What are you up to now?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Tabs with “his” new Chanel favorites: Bel-Argus, Taboo, Azure and Lilis.

$13 Thorlo socks, babe! Your feet will sing their praises from the rafters.

Before we sock it to ‘em today and talk toes, here are reasons number 3,165 and 3,166 to try those Zella Live-In Capris I gushed about last week, the Lululemoon-like (but more affordable) workout pants that miraculously keep everything from jiggling around but don’t make me feel like a sausage…

“My Zella capris came in today. Life changing! ”
– Vanessa of Beauty by Vanessa Haro

“Those pants are man-attractors! I got checked out twice on my walk and that never happens, lol!”
– Kelly of Vampy Varnish

Dude, pants so magical that they’ll change your life and help you find the man (or woman) of yo’ dreams!? Seriously, what are you waiting for?

But enough about pants (even ones as good as these). Let’s talk toes.

Or rather socks. The kind of socks you might wear with workout pants (or with sweatpants on the couch while you eat Almond Roca and watch Scandal…not that I’d know anything about that).

Say “greetings!” to Thorlo’s $13 Thick Cushion Running Socks, otherwise known as THE SOCKS THAT WILL RUIN YOU FOR ALL OTHERS.

Socks?

Yes, socks. Socks don’t usually do a lot for me, but I love these so much that I feel obligated to spread the word, one pair at a time.

I’ve given them as gifts to every runner, walker, workout fiend and comfort enthusiast in my family because they’re hands down the most comfortable workout socks I’ve ever worn. Once I started running in them, I swore off working out in other socks. They’re like sock-based Chanel bags!

Thick — like really, really thick — and cushiony. They have thick, soft padding at the ball and heel, over and around the toes, and at the arch, providing extra cushioning to support your hard-working feet.

(more…)

Wearing Giorgio Armani Flash Lacquer in Rouge 400 ($29), one of 36 shades in the new Flash Lacquer line available now

If I’d realized back then as an undergrad slogging through chemistry classes that science could also be used for things like building a better lip gloss…I probably would’ve paid closer attention in class and said things like, “Cyclohexane chair and boat shapes? I’M ON THAT SH*T!”

Thank you, science, for taking us to the moon, creating super-sized movie popcorn kernels and for providing us with better living through advanced lip gloss chemistry, like the chemistry behind Giorgio Armani Beauty’s new line of Beauty Flash Lacquers ($29 each and available in 36 shades).

Flash Lacquer in Pink 526 on the left and Rouge 400 on the right

The brand new line of lip glosses flaunts scientific-sounding bells and whistles and a stratospherically shiny, smooth formula with characteristics like…

• An elastic shine formula that fills in lip lines for an extremely smooth surface
• A polymer weave that continuously reshapes itself while on your lips
• A low viscosity to keep the gloss surface perfectly smooth

All of this in the pursuit of one lofty goal: to fashion the highest reflection ever achieved in a lip gloss!

Groovy…

Well, it’s shiny — that’s for sure. And dramatic like a microphone drop.

Earlier today I was standing in front of a window, and I could see the color on my lips in the reflection as clearly as if I was standing in front of a mirror.

Boom.

And the formula remains super shiner as long as I don’t go rubbing or pressing my lips together. When I do, the shine quickly dulls down to a slight sheen.

I’ve been testing two of the shades this week, shimmery Pink 526 and creamy red Rouge 400.

Swatches in Rouge 400 (left) and Pink 526 (right)