All the presents have been unwrapped and all unwanted items exchanged for new and more exciting ones.

But, since I just can’t let go of the holidays, I wanted to know…

Did you get any beauty-related presents for the holidays?

Perhaps you got a fancy perfume or some eye shadow from your favorite cosmetics brand. Or maybe you got a gift card so you could pick out exactly what you wanted.

Let me know your answer in the comments below!

My answer: I got some Target brand Up + Up nail polish remover pads and makeup remover wipes. Plus, some awesome orange-flavored Candyland lip balm. These were great gifts for someone like me who has a ton of beauty products already.

Photo credit: Christmas Stock Images

In the beauty world, an oft-forgotten chore is the cleaning of the makeup brushes. The dirtier they get, the higher the chance of spreading bacteria. Plus, your eye shadow brush won’t produce as of pure colors as it would when it’s clean.

But, like any other chore, you may be neglecting this one. So, I ask…

When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes?

Tell us in the comments!

If you need some advice on cleaning your makeup brushes, check out this how-to on makeup brush-cleaning.

My answer: I’ve actually been really good about cleaning my brushes lately. I cleaned my favorite eye shadow brushes about a week ago and a few of my face makeup brushes this weekend.

And hey…it isn’t as bad as doing the dishes!

But, when you know your legs are going to be sheathed for an entire season, does that affect leg hair maintenance?

For many of us, we leave the razor behind in favor of cutting out valuable shower time. After all, why bother if no one is going to see those gams anyway? Yet others don’t let the cold weather and long pants change their habits.

Which one are you?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
My answer: In the past, winter shaving would be super rare for me. Maybe only a few times in the entire season. But, I’ve been a lot more keen to have clean-shaven legs lately. I think this year it’ll be once or twice a week. And more for special occasions.

Totally unrelated to winter legs: Once Upon a Time, the fairy-tale show by the writers of Lost, starts this Sunday! I’m so exited. It looks really good. Here’s a trailer to refresh your memory:

Are you going to tune in?

Photo credit: merefflorescence

She needs some attention, too.

So, after spraying on my favorite body spray this morning, I got to wondering about my Makeup Files readers.

Do you wear body spray?

What’s your favorite? And if you don’t wear it, why?

My answer: Yep, I wear body spray sometimes. My favorite is the Degree Sexy Intrigue Body Mist. The sweet, sexy, powdery scent is still my fave even after all these years.

Leave your answer in the comments!

I’m constantly working to improve the blog, but that can be tough if I don’t know what my readers want.

Do you have any requests for me? Do you like a certain aspect of Makeup Files but don’t see it enough?

Well, I want to know about it! The more answers I get, the better I can make this blog.

After all, things can always get better. So, I wonder…

What aspect of Makeup Files do you want to see more of?

Is there something that you think I don’t do enough? Want more reviews? More tutorials? Let me know.

(You can pick multiple answers.)
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
Honesty is best! I want to give you guys the best beauty blog possible.

Thank you!

“It’s totally okay! Mine never match!” I said as I looked over the rainbow of colors that Sinful Colors Nail Polish had to offer.

But then I wondered, what does everyone else think?

So, here I am, taking this conversation to Makeup Files.

Tell me…

Do you match you fingernail polish and toenail polish?

Does your answer change if you’re getting them done at a salon?

Let me know in the comments!

My answer: They almost never match. Mostly because toenail polish tends to last a lot longer than fingernail polish. If I wanted them to match, I’d have to keep redoing the same old color on my fingernails for weeks before changing it.

Even when I go to a salon, I ask for different colors on each.

What about you?

While pressed powder eye shadow is the most common, there are actually several types of eye shadow. And that brings me to today’s poll question.

I want to know…

My answer: My favorite is pressed powder eye shadow. It’s just what I’m used to and easiest to manipulate and blend.  As you can see from the picture above, it’s also what I have the most of.

As always, I totally want to hear what you have to say in the comments. Let’s bust out a convo!

Does that ever happen to you? Do you have a go-to makeup item you use practically every day?

I was wondering…

What’s your favorite item in your makeup stash right now?

Why is it your favorite? Do you have to keep buying it because you run out?

My answer: right now, I’m in love with the primer in the NYC IndividualEyes Custom Compact. I use it almost every day. And, since I rarely use the shadows from that compact, it’s definitely the most used thing in there. Check it out:

What’s your answer? Share with us in the comments section below!

But with the other lip alternatives (gloss, balm, bare lips), it got me wondering how often people actually use the stuff.

Riddle me this:

My answer: Maybe a day or two a week, and that’s being generous (even though I own a ton of lipstick, as evidenced by the picture above). Most of the time, I let my lips go bare. And if I put something on them, it’s usually balm or gloss. I figure I do such dramatic eye looks, the lips should play second fiddle anyway.

In fact, I wear it so infrequently that I devoted an entire week to lipstick in the early days of Makeup Files, just to get out of my comfort zone. Maybe I should do that again! Would you join me?

Do you have a reason for your answer to the poll? (Hate lipstick, for instance?) Chat about it in the comments below!

But how often should you shampoo it, then?

I read a recent article on Maire Claire that says unnatural redheads (and this probably goes for all people who color their hair) should only wash their hair twice a week.

Then, there was that Daily Mail article I brought up in 2009 that said you should never wash your hair.

So, that got me wondering…

How often do you wash your hair?

I’m talking a full shampooing. Every day? A few times a week?

My answer: I usually wash it every other day. Very rarely, I’ll wait two days. I don’t go very long because my hair looks absolutely horrid if I don’t wash it. Horrid!

What’s your answer? Let us all know in the comments!

But, of course, I still love polish. I realized today that I have a lot more of them than I thought. Which prompts me to ask: how many nail polishes do you have?

Count ‘em up and answer the poll below:

My answer: I counted 43 nail polishes, though there could be a few lying randomly around my apartment.

Some are kind of old, though. I should go through everything to make sure it’s still good. And, for that matter, so should you.

I hope you’re having a great week!

As I was painting my nails yesterday, I got to thinking…do other people wait for their nails to dry between coats like I do?

When I paint my nails, I put on a coat, wait until the nails dry (although they may not be 100% dry, they certainly feel like it), then put on another coat.

But is that the same for you? I’d like to know!

Do you wait for your nail polish to dry before adding another coat?

Or do you just keep layering it on when it’s still wet? Or semi-wet?

Let us all know in the comments.

So, I want to know…

What are your Halloween plans?

Are you going to a party? Trick or treating? Bobbing for apples?

What’s your costume? How are you doing your makeup?

Let us know in the comments!

My answer: all I know for sure right now is that I’m going Trick or Treating. I do it as an adult, without any kids. I’ll spend the first part of the night in my mom’s neighborhood, then end it trick or treating with a friend in my neighborhood. I should end up with lots of candy.

I have no idea what I’m going to dress as, but I’m not feeling very creative or anything this year. I have an old Scream ghostface costume somewhere, so I might wear that. And it’s relevant since Scream 4 is coming out next spring.

And of course, I’ve already carved a jack o lantern!

Tell me about your Halloween plans, stat!

Photo credit: Ginny

(FYI, I’d bring ska music, Adrien Brody, pizza and “The Joy Luck Club.” That would be an awesome island!)

So you can probably guess what I’m about to ask…

What beauty items would you bring on a desert island? Answer the poll below! Sorry, you can only pick one item.

Explain your answer in the comments. It will help me get to know you better.

My answer: lip balm! I can only imagine how chapped my lips would be. I can get away without using moisturizer, but not lip balm.

Photo credit: K?vanç Ni?

How often do you do a full face of makeup?

A full face includes foundation, concealer, powder, blush, eye shadow, liner, mascara and lip color.

My answer: rarely. I usually avoid foundation and other face makeup. I might throw on blush, but I usually keep my face skin makeup-free. My main makeup focus is my eyes.

What’s your answer? Let us know in the comments!