First Date Tag (Video)

One of my favourite videos to watch on YouTube is Tag videos. I think they are so much fun to watch but even more fun to film. They are so easy to film and edit as well!! My first video when I relaunched my YouTube channel was a tag video- The Shine Strong Tag and I loved doing it. I decided to film the First Date Tag video because I have watched a handful and I always end up laughing. It also gives you an opportunity to find out more about people's personalities. You can watch my take on first dates which includes what I would wear, where I would like to and mostly, who pays?. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section on what your take is on First Dates. Meanwhile, there is direct link to the video here and you can subscribe to my channel here. That would absolutely make my day!! Hope you are all having a great weekend and I would see you in my next post tomorrow...xx

10 Beauty Related Things That Make Me Happy

I feel like I have neglected my blog for a little while even if it’s only 4 days. In the blogging world, that’s a really long time. I have been testing out some lovely products so watch out for reviews. It also means I have got loads of photos to sort out. I have just been really busy at work and in my personal life and sometimes, it’s just okay to chill. Anyway, I thought I should share with you a few beauty related things that make me happy.

1. Nothing beats the feeling of clean makeup brushes on my skin and I always wash my brushes on Sundays so it’s always lovely to do my makeup on Monday morning.

2. I am sure this won’t come as a surprise to you all; I am a huge sucker for packaging. I am just drawn to beautiful packaging and I have often made purchases just because the packaging was so lush.

3. The satisfying click of a lipstick, powder, mascara or anything that closes with a click. I have no idea why it feels satisfying but it just does.

4. The wide grin on my face when my foundation matches my complexion without me having to do any complex manipulation.

5. The proud look on my face when my brows are on fleek especially when they are due for a good thread or tweeze but I still manage to make it work.

6. The rare moment when my eyeliner and cat flick are identical on both eyes. These moments are really far and few, I tell you.

7. The adrenalin rush when a makeup product I have been eyeing is on sale, in stock,  in my basket, purchased and on its way to me. I won’t even comment on how I feel when it arrives on my door step.

8. The pout of my lips when I catch a reflection of myself in the lift mirror and realise that my lipstick is still fresh like I just applied it....*wink*.

9.  The feeling of achievement when I just paint all my nails and somehow they manage to dry without any smudge.

10. However, nothing beats the happy feeling I get when I take all my makeup off, slide on my granny hair net and jump on my bed. It seriously keeps me going especially when I am having a tough day because I know everything will be fine once I am on my bed.

If you are a beauty lover, let me know in the comments box what beauty related thing makes you happy. I have many more but who has time to read a long post on Monday. I hope you enjoyed this little different post and I will see you in my next post tomorrow...xx

Confessions of a Beauty Blogger (Part 2)

The first part of the Confessions of a beauty blogger went down really well with you lot so  I thought it would be nice to write up a little sequel.  I am not sure who started these tags or where the questions were from but I just found them on Google. If you are a blogger (it does not matter if you are a beauty blogger or not), I would love to see you do this tag so I tag all of You; Yes You, You and You! If you have done something similar, please leave your links below so I can check it out....Let’s jump right into it.....

1. When did you start blogging?

I started blogging on March 12^th 2013 and I remember that day so clearly because I also cut my hair the same day (or the next day). I had just moved to London in January of that year from Manchester. I had been toying with the idea of blogging seriously so I decided to do it once and for all. I bought a template, registered my domain and linked it all up in one day and half. You can find my first post on here which is still one of my favourite posts.

2. Have you had any past online presence before (e.g. any other blog, YouTube, etc)?

As a matter of fact, I have!! I started out in 2008 with a blog where I only had three posts or so. The shame of it!! It was more like a diary and I never shared any of the posts. It was more like a personal diary and it was set as private. Of course, it is still on private and I love peeking into it every now and then. Back in 2011, I decided to give it another try and I published about 25 blog posts which I still enjoy reading till date. Again, I had more personal posts on lifestyle and what I got up to and I actually enjoyed it. I never shared any of my posts on social media but for some bizarre reason, a few people were reading these posts of mine. I love going through these blogs because they remind me of how I was (and how I still have not changed in many ways). These blogs are very precious and of course, they are still set on private. I use these blogs to test any changes on Fashstyleliv before I incorporate it. I would be making one of the blogs public soon so stay tuned if you want to hear my ramblings. Finally, I decided to be serious from 2013 and set up Fashstyleliv and here I am!!

3. Why did you start a blog?

I think the main reason I started a blog was because I love writing and I love talking about beauty. I also developed a love for photography and blogging was the only hobby that I knew could easily mesh these three passions of mine. If you have a chat in real life with me on beauty, I can go on and on but sadly, not everyone likes to listen, hehehe. So, I find that writing my thoughts and sharing it with like minded people is the most preferred option. Blogging is definitely one of my favourite things to do ever.

4. When did you become serious about blogging?

I think I became serious with blogging when I set up Fashstyleliv back in 2013. However, I think I started posting regularly in 2014 because I took this little hobby of mine a little more seriously. I am not sure what prompted the change but I guess buying my DSLR camera in March 2014 was a catalyst to the whole process. I just enjoyed the whole art of taking beautiful photos of pretty things.

5. What was your first post?

You can find my first post here which was actually not too bad. It was a very short one where I uploaded a picture via my iPhone which I had taken earlier. It was just a short introductory post on what to expect from this blog. It was simple and straight to the point. My second post was on some Lunch Time Photography taken from my office view on my iPhone and it’s still one of my favourite iPhone pictures.

6. What has been your biggest challenge about blogging?

My biggest challenge about blogging is definitely finding the time to do it effectively while living a balanced life. I can safely say that I have little or no social life which is a little ridiculous!. My full time job is a very busy one which means I hardly have time to do anything sensible during the week. I still manage to squeeze in a few posts here and there and schedule a few but it is really manic sometimes. When I get back from work, I make dinner, go to the gym and just try and relax but I am drawn back to my blog. It’s a passion I can’t resist no matter how much I try. During the weekends, I dedicate it to taking photos and editing and this can take a few good hours. I also film videos for YouTube and I only publish one video per week but it can be time consuming but I enjoy it so much. I am trying out a new schedule which I hope can help me manage work life, blogging life and social life really well so fingers crossed it works well. So, I would say finding time and balancing out all aspects of my life is the biggest challenge about blogging for me.

7. Where do you see your blog in one year?

I honestly never think that far to be honest. My blog is very much my hobby and in a way I would prefer to keep it that way. I find that when it transitions to some sort of work/career, it may steal the joy away from blogging. That’s just my thinking I am sure it may not be the case. In my personal life and career life, I tend to plan ahead and have a few options for my future. This blog is my hobby and I have not really projected that far and I am just going with the flow. The only thing I hope is that I am still able to blog as passionately in one year and engage more with my lovely readers. That’s all that matters to me, I guess.

8. What’s the most rewarding thing to you about blogging?

It is definitely the engagement I get from my readers. I cannot even quantify how it makes me feel when someone tells me my blog post was useful or they enjoy reading my blog. It’s seriously amazing that someone out there cares to check out my blog with all my ramblings and occasional typos (that always make me cringe when I read them afterwards). It is indeed very rewarding. When I used to work in a hospital, one of the highlights of my job was when people told me I made a difference in their lives. To me, that means everything and if I can make a difference or help someone (however small) and in whatever sphere of life (beauty or health or lifestyle), then that’s all I need.

9. What is the most discouraging thing that has happened to you via blogging?

I don’t want to sound annoying and boring but seriously, nothing comes to mind at all. I can't think of anything so far that is the most discouraging thing that has happened to me as a result of blogging. I guess it's only discouraging when I have crappy lighting and can't take great photos but right now the weather is so warm and bright and I can take pictures any time...woohoo!!

10. What's your lasting inspiration and motivation?
I draw my inspiration from God and everything else around me. I know it sounds silly but I always pray about the most mundane things like good weather, lighting, etc so anything involving blogging for the day goes well. I also draw inspiration from other bloggers, beautiful websites, magazines, Tumblr and Instagram. I am a very visual person and I am always drawn to beautiful pictures and I can keep scrolling and scrolling to eternity. However, I love (and I would like to think) my pictures and blog are distinct from others even if I draw inspiration from other people. I hate to think that my blog is a carbon copy of any other blog out there.


That's all for the Confessions of a Blogger Tag. I tag everyone reading this and I would love to read your post if you have not already done one. I enjoy doing these tags as they are so easy!! Hope you are having an amazing day!!  Do you have any blogger confessions?...xx

Confessions of a Beauty Blogger Tag

I love to do tags because they give you a chance to find out more about a person. They are also one of my favourite posts to read. I stumbled upon the Confessions of a Beauty Blogger online and I decided to do it. I was not tagged by anyone but the questions were really interesting and I thought it was fun so here we go....

1. How many hours a week do you spend planning, writing/uploading posts?

I have never really thought about it. Judging from the amount of time I spend on this blog, let’s say it can almost qualify as a part time job (no kidding). I would say I spend an average of 10-15 hours a week on my blog. It’s a little crazy but I think I just love it so much that I don’t notice time is ticking by.

2. Are you a spender or saver?

I would say I definitely sit between the two. I love to shop however I only buy things I need. I still buy a few unrealistic things but I am getting much better. When it comes to saving for important things, I definitely am a saver.

3. When is it easiest for you to write a post?

I think the easiest time for me to write a post is when I am feeling most inspired and it can be anywhere and any time. I prefer to capture my thoughts (even if it’s on my phone) when I feel really inspired rather than waiting for a suitable moment. Most times, I write during the day and edit/upload pictures in the evening/night.

4. What makes writing a post comfortable?

I think for me it is when I am writing from my heart (when the inspiration hits). For me to be super comfortable, I prefer to be in my bedroom and chilling in my comfy clothes. It’s just relaxing and my ideas flow much better that way. Also, I feel very comfy writing a post when I have all the information I need as it flows better.

5. What’s one of the quotes you wish the world will live by?

"Live and Let Live". I know it’s not one of the catchiest phrases but it really captures the essence of living in harmony with others despite any differences. We are all unique and I don’t think it is okay to put down anyone for their differences. Everyone should strive to live in harmony and I think the world will be a much better place for us all. Peace and One Love...xx

6. How long do you spend getting ready every day?

I have to say far too long...lol. For weekdays, I try to be faster so I can get to work early and be productive. I would say about an hour and this includes taking a shower, dressing up and makeup. I don’t spend a long time in the shower and I plan my outfits the night before so I spend the bulk of my time on my skincare routine and makeup. During the weekends, it’s another kettle of fish and I looooove to take my time. Just don’t ask me to go anywhere during the weekend because it can take me as long as 2-3 hours to get ready.

7. Favourite Post on your blog

I know this sounds cliché but I love all my posts and my favourite ones are any one I recently publish. However, there are some that make me super happy maybe because it has memories attached to it or the photos were nice or I just felt very inspired at the time. I particularly love my Lancome Nail Polish Collection. I remember it was such a sunny and beautiful day (I took the photos on my iPhone and they do look a little dodgy but I love them)

8. Beauty Blogger that deserves more subscribers

I know a lot of people define blogging success with the number of followers, comments, shares, working with brands, etc which is all well and good. I am not saying there are not important; they certainly are and I still look at my numbers sometimes. It is also a lot of motivation when people comment, share and subscribe however I don’t think it’s a determination of success per say. Your blog is successful when you are very happy with your content and proud of your own little space. I know I didn't answer the question but I do think all bloggers deserve more subscribers for the sheer amount of work/time/effort they invest in their blogs.

9. What’s been your favourite blogging moment?
Ohhhh!! I can't really pin point any one but one constant fond moment is when you all leave me such lovely comments. I seriously mean it when I say it means the whole world to me. I love to know that my blog has been useful and inspiring to someone. That's just everything to me!!


10. How long does it take to prep a post?
I think this may be very difficult to breakdown because I prep my posts in bulk but I will try my best. I would say it takes me about 20 minutes to take photos of a product and this includes setting up my background and props. I take a lot of photos for each product but only a few make it to the blog. I spend some time deleting the ones I don't need and I edit the photos. I would say editing may take me about 30 minutes depending on how many photos I have. Writing the post is the easiest and takes the shortest time so I would say around 15-20 minutes. Uploading and arranging the text and photos on blogger takes me about 15-20 minutes and this includes editing and adding links. I never do all these steps in one day. I usually take photos during the weekend and write/prep/upload on another day. So, I would say the total time it takes me to prep a post from start to finish is about 1.5- 2 hours spread over a few days. Phew!! That was long winded, wasn't it?  That's it folks! It's your turn now!! I tag everyone reading this post and if you have done this already, please leave your links below as I would love to read it. Have a fab day and see you in my next post...xx

Me Time Tag

I was tagged a little while ago by the lovely Jasmine from Magpie Jasmine and I am happy to finally get around to doing this tag. It's such a lovely tag and I am not sure who originally created but I am tagging everyone reading this blog. Yes, you, you and You. If you do this tag or you have done it already, leave me your link in the comment box so I can read it. I love reading these kinds of posts. Meanwhile, here is a link to Jasmine's Me Time Tag if you fancy a nice read (and thanks for tagging me Jasmine if you are reading this).. Now to the questions:

What do you like to watch or read during Me Time?
I love to catch up with my favourite YouTube subscribers and watch any recent videos. Once I am done, I pop over to the Sky TV iPad app and catch up on some of my favourite programmes; Blacklist, Hannibal, Criminal Minds, CSI and The Face. They are not all particularly me-timeish or girlish programmes but I love them. I  also binge watched some of my favourite TV dramas (when they were on) like Gossip Girl, Orange is the New Black and Desperate Housewives on Netflix. For my Me-Time reads, I love to catch up on my favourite blogs through my Bloglovin App as always. I am not reading any books at the moment but I have my eyes on a few which I would be talking about in a separate post.

What do you wear during Me Time?
During my Me Time, the first thing that goes off is my bra and I cannot even articulate the emancipation my boobies feel when it is off #totalTMI. I put on my Red Christmassy Nightshirt from Primark, a Pyjamas Bottom also from Primark and my cosy bedroom slippers from Sainsbury's. Most times, I am tucked in bed under my Duvet!!

What are your favourite Me Time Beauty Products?
I have a whole basket dedicated to my Pamper/Me-Time products and I love to take my time using them. In this basket, I have my Lancome Gel Eclat Pearl Cleanser and Lancome Hydrating Gel/Mask. I try to give my skin a good pamper because it just makes me feel like I have been to the spa for a facial and it's also very relaxing. I also take a shower or a bath and my Soap and Glory Rich and Famous Bath Gel/Cream just smells so delicious and it's perfect for Me Time/Pamper Time. Most times, I also pop on a mask and I usually reach for the Una Brennan Salicylic Acid Mask which is brilliant. I just love using all the products I reserve for these special pamper sessions.

What's your current favourite Nail Polish?
My favourite nail polish at the moment is the Barry M Nail Polish in Bright Red and I cannot rave about this enough. It applies really well and it just makes my nails (even when short) look amazing and polished (pun intended). I also recently purchased a few more shades in their range to add to my collection and I am loving them all. I start off with some nail treatments like the Sally Hansen Green Tea Nail Strength and Boots Nail Growth polish and then I apply my nail polish and top it off with the Seche Vite Top Coat which dries within seconds so I have my fingers free for more Me-Time.

What do you eat or drink during Me Time?
Hmmmmmm, I usually don't eat during Me-Time but sometimes I like something naughty and since it's me time, there's no harm right? I love these Marks and Spencer Extremely Chocolatey White Chocolate Rounds and Alpro Soya Milk in Vanilla or Chocolate. Together, they  just taste so amazing although they are not the healthiest options so I try to keep it to a minimum. Sometimes, I just eat Sun Soaked Tomatoes and Olives from Sainsbury's and they equally taste amazing and are healthier options.

What's your current favourite candle?
I love candles and I don’t own any expensive one like the ones from Diptyque or Jo Malone yet. However, I have tried various candles which are mainly from Sainsbury's who do really amazing candles. My favourite scent is anything with Fig, Patchouli or Mulled Wine (fav for Christmas/Winter) . I am currently burning three candles which are all from various companies (Wicks, Sainsbury's and Our Own Candle Company USA) and they are fantastic.

Do you ever have outdoor Me Time?
I know this may sound silly but I love to go window shopping in some of my favourite shopping centres like Bentalls (Kingston), Elys(Wimbledon), Selfridges (Bond Street), Centre Court Wimbledon, etc. I just love looking at beautiful things especially beauty, makeup and fashion items. I also love browsing through stationery aisles. It’s my favourite outdoor me-time and I prefer to go alone as it’s my me-time.

Would you ever go and watch a film alone?

Absolutely! I love to go out alone and I have done that many times. I also like to try new restaurants on my own. I don’t watch many movies alone these days because I usually go with my boyfriend when he is around. I plan to watch a movie this week alone and I know it would be fun!!

Favourite online shop?
Ohhhhhhhh I really can’t choose one honestly but I would list a few of my favourites and they include Escentuals, Cult Beauty, Sephora (even though I have only just made my first order) and most recently, Space NK. I just love adding things to my wish list and scouting for discounts when it’s time to make a purchase.



Anything to add? What else do you do during Me Time?
I love to blog during Me Time and this also involves editing my photos, uploading them and using social media such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc. I also love to just relax on my bed doing nothing or just writing in my journal. There are ain't enough hours in the day trust me. I hope you enjoyed this tag and as mentioned earlier, I am tagging everyone who is reading (if you have not done this tag yet). I hope you had an amazing weekend and I would see you in my next...xx

Favourite Drugstore Makeup (Drugstore Diva Tag)

I don’t know about you but I love to do Tags because they give you a chance to know more about a person and also to find out new products as well. I was tagged by the lovely TilolovesVanilla and you should be following her amazing blog if you are not already. She also whips put YouTubevideos here and this is her Twitter handle and Instagram. We are recently met up here in London and we had an amazing time (she even vlogged about her trip here and what we got up to when we met up). Back to the Tag; it’s called the Drugstore Diva tag which is basically a list of favourite drug store products. The best part of it all is I filmed a video on YouTube where I talked about these products and showed how I applied them. So, if you prefer to watch me live, click here to take you straight to the video and here if you would like to subscribe as that would mean the world to me.

Foundation: Hands down, it has to be my beloved L’Oreal True Match Foundation and I am in a shade N6.5 and I love it. It took a little trial and error before I got my shade because I was not sure and you can’t return drug store foundations or any drug store makeup at all here in the UK so one has to be sure. I got the shade N8 which was way too dark for me. I tried W7 which was unsuitable for me and then I finally settled with N6.5 and it is perfect. It’s a little bit light but my MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Dark sorts everything out. I am so amazed that a drug store foundation can be such good quality at only £10 but I don’t expect anything less from L’Oreal. They are amazing!!

Concealer: My favourite concealer is the L.A. Girl Pro Concealer (full review here) and L'Oreal True Match Concealer in Coffee/Cafe. I don’t think they are many concealers in the drug stores that I love but the Sleek Corrector and Concealer Palette reviewed here is also lovely.Using concealer is imperative for me because it helps conceal my blemishes and I also use it the L.A. Girl Concealer to highlight under my eyes although it feels a little heavy.

Bronzer: I am going to honest, I don’t use much of bronzers because I find that most of them just blend into my skin due to my complexion and they are not seen at all. However, the Makeup Revolution Baked Bronzer in Rock on World is lovely and it is actually really pigmented. Instead of bronzing, I contour my face and without doubt, my weapon of choice is the SleekFace Form which has been talked about here already. It comes with a highlighter and a blush and it is the ultimate kit. My shade is Medium 05 and I love it!!

Powder: I am afraid I don’t have any powders I love from the drug stores but the Collection Pressed Powder in Warm Bronze actually does a good job in mattifying my foundation to prevent any oily T-Zones. As expected this needs to be touched up during the day but it is inexpensive and it adds some warmth to my face.

Blush: Is it bad that all the blushes I really like are from Sleek? I just love Sleek and I think they are brilliant!! The blushes are by far one of the most pigmented blushes I have come across including high end ones. I love them and they come in a variety of shades that suit a wide variety of skin tones and for that, they hold a special place in my heart. My favourites are Sahara, Rose Gold and Antique. Rose Gold is a rose pink shade with speckles of gold which just flatters and adds that subtle colour to the cheek and it looks natural as well.



Primers: I have developed a taste for both face primers and eye primers for drug store and I am loving them. Deep down, the Benefit Porefessional remains my true love but it is very expensive to sustain our relationship so I have been converted to drug store versions. For face, I am seriously loving the Superdrug B.Prepared Primer which is surprisingly amazing and helps my foundation apply smoother and last longer. For eye primer, I am loving the Essence "I love Stage" Primer which is brilliant and quite similar to the Benefit "Stay don't stray" primer. What can I say? I am pleased to find nice dupes from the drug store.

Eye shadow: Where do I even start? I am not even sure I know where because I am definitely going to cheat and choose more than one (ahem more like three). I love eyeshadows so much and I often find myself wandering along the aisles of Boots and Superdrug looking for lovely eyeshadows. My favourite eyeshadows are the Makeup Revolution Palette (Iconic 3)(review here) which is pigmented, buttery and long lasting and I am sure they need no introduction. For Pressed pigments, my heart belongs to the L’Oreal Infallible Colour because they are light weight yet easy to apply and long lasting. They act as a perfect base or can be worn on their own but they look wonderful either ways. Last but not least, the Maybelline Colour Tattoos are bloody brilliant and I love the texture, the colours, the coverage and its lasting effect. It is truly beautiful and I recently treated myself to 3 little tubs. Just like the L’Oreal version, they are super pigmented and can be worn on their own or under another eye shadow and they transform any eye shadow placed on top. Another eye shadow palette worth mentioning are the Sleek Eyeshadow Palettes which are amazing and well pigmented and I think they are on of the most popular eyeshadow palettes from the drugstore.

Eyeliner: This is going to be pretty brief because I have only used on eyeliner consistently and it is none other than the L’Oreal Super Liner Felt Pen. It is absolutely incredible and I have used several versions and love them all except the Gold Crystal version which was a bit bleh! for me but I LOVE THEM!! I have repurchased several times and I have lost count because they are the most amazing eye liners which are long lasting, beautiful, easy to use and they don’t dry out in the packaging.

Mascara: I am a bit fussy with my mascaras because I just find that my naughty lashes somehow prefer high end ones as discussed in this post. However, I had the chance to try out the Bourjois 1-Second Volume Mascara* recently and I loved it and it also comes in a waterproof version which is equally amazing. I really like it although its wand may look intimidating but it does the job and well for that matter. In fact, I am loving Bourjois at the moment and I am at the verge of trying out one of their Happy range foundations maybe Happy Light or Healthy Mix depending on how well it suits my complexion.

Lipstick: I am a MAC lipstick gurl any day any time but some drug store lipsticks sometimes make me think hard about spending these few pennies of mine on MAC Lipstick. First on the radar is the L’Oreal Collection Privee Lipsticks which have been talked about here. I love them because the packaging and formula are right on my street and I reached for them all through my trip to Nigeria with Eva Longoria’s shade being my favourite. My current favourite Lipstick/Lipgloss Hybrid is the Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer and a review is up soon and my favourite shade is Celestial; it is now my new everyday lippie. My next favourite Lipstick/Lipgloss Hybrid is the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet (review here) and my favourite shade is Nude-ist which is not nude by the way. That's it folks!! I hope you enjoyed this and I will see you in my next post..have a great week ahead...xx

*PR Samples

The Lip Product Addict Tag and Lipstick Tag

Fun Fact: I hated wearing lipsticks when I was younger (but old enough to be wearing Lipsticks, FYI) because they made my lips feel uncomfortable and greasy...lol don't ask me what lipsticks I was trying out. Anyway, it all changed when my lovely Mum bought me my first High End Lipstick- Clinique's Rosette and I was completely in love and it did not make my lips greasy at all...Now, I just love lipsticks although I still stick to very nude and neutral colours but once in a while I go a lil bit cray cray with bright colours.  I love reading tags because I feel it sheds more light to people's personality and mainly because I am plain nosy. Both the Lipstick Tag and the Lip Product Tags have been floating around for a little while and I decided to do both of them because I loved the questions and why not. I am not sure who created the Lipstick Tag but British Based Bloggers Amelia Liana and EssieButton created The Lip Product Addict Tag. First off, I need to apologise about the photos. I took them all one evening after work because I just felt like which meant  the lighting was not the best and the true colours of these lipsticks may not be reflected in these pictures but then again, this is not a review, it's a tag. I tag everyone who has not done this and if you have already, leave your link below so I can check it out...Let's dive in...



                                                      THE LIPSTICK TAG

                                               How many Lipsticks do you own?

I recently did a clear out of my old lipsticks which I was not using because there is no point holding on to them. I never considered myself as someone who owned quite a number of lipsticks and on counting them. I have a total of 40 Lipsticks which I think is ridiculous. I know a lot of beauty bloggers have much more than that but still, I am quite surprised and this is excluding Lip Glosses and Lip Balms and any other lip products.

                                            What was the first Lipstick you owned?

I already answered his in the Intro. But yeah, my first proper lipstick (which I could actually wear)  was the Clinique's Lipstick in  Rosette which came in a nice gift set from my lovely mum. I still have it in my collection as you can see but I don't use it any more :-) but it is still very special to me. I actually popped into Clinique to ask if they still had it but they did not which is super sad because it was a nice shade and suited my skin tone.

                                             What is your favourite lipstick brand?

Based on all the lipsticks I have tried, I would have to give it to MAC because I love the wide variety of shades they offer especially for women of colour. I think it's the most affordable lipstick with good quality although the way their prices are slowly creeping up is a bit annoying. I still remember their lipsticks used to be between £10-12 and now, you would be lucky to get it for £15 as I think a few of them are not £15.50. Blimey!!

                                             What is your most worn Lipstick?

My most worn lipstick is usually my newest ones or a newest nude one and I usually rotate and go through phases.I was going to say MAC but I realise my  most worn lipstick for the longest period has to the L'Oreal Collection Privee and the Eva Longoria Shade was/is still one of my favourite shades. MAC is the next on the list and I am currently loving MAC's Spirit (It used to be Hug Me before that ran out)

                                                     What is your Favourite Lipstick Finish?
My Favourite Finish is Lustre. I love my lips feeling moisturised but not shiny. I am not a very big fan of Matte Lipsticks at all but I own a few and I try to exfoliate and moisturise my lips really well whenever I wear them. I also like Amplified finishes when I am out in the evening because it just lasts longer.

                                                 What was the last Lipstick you bought?

Last Lipstick I purchased was MAC's Lovelorn which I am a little obsessed with now for summer. I also got my MAC Ruby Woo again via Back to MAC. I have been wearing MAC's Love Lorn which was featured in my MAC Haul and I really like it.

                                     How many Lip products do you currently have in your bag?

I change my lipsticks every day so I only pop the one I just applied in the morning in my makeup bag for the day and it's usually a nude or neutral shade. However, I also have a bright lipstick which I leave in my makeup bag in case I need to go out after work or I just want to lift my mood (sometimes, a bright lipstick can do little wonders to a somewhat dull face). Permanently in my Makeup Bag  are: Kuddy Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Smoothie, Korres Lip Balm in Jasmine, MAC's Spirit (Nude) and MAC's Girl About Town (Bright/Popping Shade). I also have the cutest littlest Bobbi Brown Lip gloss which I got as a sample from the Bobbi Brown Counter. In total, that is about 5 lip products.

                                                  What is your favourite red lip colour?

I was going to say MAC's Ruby Woo but due to its matte nature, it's not one I reach for often. My favourite red lip colour is surprisingly is Avon's Really Rosy and I find that it's a really nice Red that complements my skin tone.

                                                   How do you store your Lipsticks?

I store them in an Acrylic Storage Kit which I can't remember where I bought it from but I think it may have been from Amazon. Formerly, I stored them in one of my Muji Acrylic Drawers which I am a little obsessed with but I changed it because I preferred to have them out on display so I can see what I have and use them as much as possible as there is no use having lipsticks you never use, is there?

                                     Which Lipsticks are you currently lusting after?

Don't even get me started on this because I have a lot of lipsticks I want especially from MAC and they include Lady Danger, Syrup, Diva, Patissere, and the new Kelly and Sharon Osborne range lipsticks. More importantly, I have been wanting to try Tom Ford Lipstick because the packaging is so lush and I have read many good reviews about it. I am currently lusting after Tom Ford's Spanish Pink which I just love its packaging and shade. Ultimately, I want to try Chanel Lipsticks which are just so beautiful..



                                            LIP PRODUCT ADDICT TAG

                                  What is your favourite Balm/Treatment?

Without doubt it would have to be Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm because it is the most nourishing lip balm ever which has been hyped and re-hyped in the beauty and blogging world and it is so worth it. I mean who would not like a mixture of Honey, Shea Butter and Grapefruit? It instantly soothes and sorts out any dry/chapped lips and although it feels a little heavy initially, it gets absorbed really well and easily. I treat my lips by exfoliating with my Lush Lip Scrub in Popcorn and use the Nuxe Reve de Miel. Korres Lip Balm is left in my makeup bag because it is lighter in texture and packaging than the Nuxe.

                                              Best Eye Catching Red?

I have to give this to MAC's Ruby Woo because it one lipstick that would definitely make you stand out apart from the fact that Red is one shade that requires confidence to pull off but Ruby Woo's shade suits many skin tones and it looks very flattering. The only snag is how drying it could be on application and during the day as you wear it, asides that, it's absolutely fab.

                                    Best Luxury and Best Drug Store Lipstick
I don't own many high end lipsticks as such but my favourite High End one is Lancome's L'Absolu Rouge 06 and I have more than 6 samples of this because they always give this out in the Lancome Counters as part of Gifts with Purchases and they are one of the most beautiful lipsticks I own. Even the sample packaging looks lovely with the Lancome characteristic flower/rose. It's a true Warm Pink Rose shade which looks so flattering. For Drug Store, my favourite has to be L'Oreal Paris Lipsticks especially the Color Riche range which is very good quality and I love 179 Cherry Tulle and the packaging is just pretty.
                                                 
                                                          Best MAC Lipstick?
Ohhh Ohhh, I didn't see this one coming and it's pretty hard for me to pick, not that I have a huge collection of MAC lipsticks or anything of the sort but I really like the few ones I own. I would have to give it to Vegas Volt because it is one shade that is versatile and can be worn even to work for me. Generally, I stay away from bright lipsticks because of the nature of my full time job but Vegas Volt is one that still looks lovely, bright and still classy/professional. It's a peach toned lipstick and I love it!


                                                The Most Disappointing?
This is not really a Lipstick but a Lip balm and that's the Maybelline Baby Lips which was hyped everywhere and I wanted to try it. I like the girly packaging and it does the job but I doubt if it lived to my total expectation even though it's okay but I had really high hopes and it just seemed to me like a normal lip balm after I had used it for a while. It's nothing to moan about because it was not expensive but still...:-|

                                                             Liner-Yes or No?
Absolutely Yes if there is a sentence like that. I have never not lined my lips because I just feel it looks much better especially with nude lipsticks. I use an unknown brand which I purchased from PAKS Cosmetics and it is amazing and cheap which is a combination I like. It fits perfectly with my skin tone and has made many unbearable lipsticks easy to wear. I am looking to try MAC's Cork Lip Liner as well.

                                                            Best Gloss
I am going to cheat and choose two because they both make me very happy. First is the Jemma Kidd High Gloss Lip Gloss in Coral 15 which I think may have been discontinued which is a big shame because it is so amazing and it doubles as lip gloss and a lip tint. Second is the Kuddy Cosmetics Lipgloss in Smoothie which I received from Kuddy Cosmetics and it is amazing!!



                                                        Something Extra
I recently bit the bullet and bough the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Matte Lip Gloss in Peach Pink (longest name ever). I generally stay away from anything matte but this is so different. It is matte granted but it does not dry out my lips at all and most importantly, it is ever so long lasting and you have to take it off with a makeup remover. It does not matter if you eat or drink, this matte lip gloss is going nowhere and I think it deserves its own review...Hope you enjoyed this tag and See you in my next post..Have a lovely weekend..x