The Secrets of Blogging Tag

I saw this tag on Kate Spitz's blog and I though it was interesting, so here we go:


1. When did you start blogging and why?

I started almost four years ago on 21.9.2010, which is my name day if you know what that is (it's a sort of a holiday for all people sharing the same name or a variation of it. In my case it's Saint Matthew's day, or Matej in Slovene. Mateja is obviously the female version). It's the second most important day to me after my birthday and I usually even bake a cake, hahaha. I've been a beauty enthusiast for years and posted a lot of swatches on different forums and websites, so I decided to gather it all together in one place and the blog was born. There is also another, much darker reason, of which I'm not prepared to speak of yet, but it was the tipping point which nudged me to finally create a blog after months of toying with the idea. It was probably one of the best decisions I made so far.

2. How many people in "real life" know about your blog?

Not a lot. I keep it private to avoid strange looks and judgemental comments for doing something I imagine a lot of people consider shallow and trivial, even though it's clear it gives me immense pleasure. My family knows, as do a limited number of my friends, but since I hit that million views my mom has been spreading the word about my blog like there is not tomorrow - I'm not sure I like that as I prefer it when someone more or less stumbles upon my blog because they are genuinely interested in cosmetics and beauty.

3. What are your favourite posts to read?

There are so many, but obviously beauty related posts. Anything about hair gets me excited, favourites, budget choices, lip product swatches and new ins. But honestly, I read so many things and I save my favourite posts either on Pinterest or Bloglovin'.

4. List a blog you have discovered recently.

Feel Bella. I think she started following me first through Bloglovin' and that's how I found her (yes, I always check out the blogs of my followers, but it does bother me if you "pressure me" into checking it out, I prefer to find them myself). I just really like her content, she basically has a blog that is just up my alley and she deserves a lot more attention. I immediately put her on my favourite blogs list when I found her that's how impressed I was.

Another recent discovery that I love is Minnebelle who has fantastic photos and reviews. She immediately became a source of inspiration to me.

5. Which posts are you most proud of?

A lot of them - well, those from about a year and a half ago on. I put a lot of work into a post - taking millions of pictures, selecting the best ones, editing them, then of course writing reviews and rereading the text at least five times to avoid spelling errors, etc. Actually, I love going through old posts, I'm truly happy with how it looks, but my favourites would be My Tips for Dealing with Dry Hair and How to Curl Stubborn and Difficult-to-Curl Lashes

6. What advice would you give to future bloggers?

Do not concern yourself with numbers, don't look at the statistic all the time or if anyone commented every five seconds. Write about what you like and when you want. Don't expect many press samples. I get so many e-mails asking me how to get press samples and if that's why you're starting out blogging, you're doing it for the wrong reasons. Honestly I refuse 80% of offered products and mostly accept only ones from Slovene companies because I want to help them. 

Ok, I'll give you some real tips now: 

- Do nice pictures. I don't mean you need an expensive camera and a set up, I take pictures with my phone (Galaxy S2) in a very amateur set up and they are fine. Do edit them by adjusting levels, brightness, vibrancy and colours if needed, lighter pictures look so much better. 

- Please post big pictures. It's so difficult to see the products from small pictures on my huge screen. It is 2014 after all. 

- Widen your blog layout and add buttons or widgets where to follow you on an easily visible place. I suggest you add your blog on Bloglovin', it's the easiest way to follow someone.

- You don't need to purchase a template. Everything about how to edit it or create your own is online, you just have to google stuff. I suggest you have a nice, clean and simple design rather than something ornate.

- Another very important thing - use spell check. Seriously. I can't tell you how many times I've seen the most basic spelling errors (the past tense of pay is paid, not payed. Ok people?). Chrome has a built-in spell check, just go to Settings (expanded version) - Languages - Language settings and set it to whichever language you write in. Also consider googling phrases that you're not certain about and those who want a more advanced level of language in their posts should try using a thesaurus as well as a collocations dictionary. Forgive me for being a grammar nazi, I'm very aware that I'm not perfect myself, but I read through my posts at least five times before posting to avoid errors.
 - Please try to avoid doing a one-picture-plus-a-bit-of-text reviews of products (at least when makeup is concerned). The beauty community got so lazy lately and there is a slew of such blogs, but I'm someone who wants to know details about a product, see swatches and see how a product actually looks on a human (I think lipstick swatches on paper are just the worst). 

- This is just a suggestion, but I write my posts in OneNote, where I write my impressions and notes about products, see how the pictures look before uploading them on the blog, then from that draft do a full review or a post. I almost never write a post that I intend to post right away, rather I read what I wrote again the next day or later, so it's easier to spot mistakes or I might add/remove something.

- And one last thing - be patient. You won't be a successful blogger overnight. Hell, I've been blogging for four years and I don't consider myself successful - I don't mind that at all.

If you like this tag, I encourage you do to it, but specifically I tag:

Adjusting Beauty 

Feel Bella

Nothin' Fancy. Really 

Passing Fancy 

Pink Mascara 

The Puzzle of Sandra's Life

Sparkle with Laughter 

Taya 

Have a great day!

Beauty Tag - You can only pick one

I was tagged a while ago by the lovely Živa from Nothin' Fancy. Really. to do this post and even though I so rarely do tags, I actually love this one, so here it is. This tag was originally created by Rebecca from Autumn Leaves and you basically just have to pick one item or brand for each category.
I know several things were also in my recent posts, but forgive me for talking about them so often.

 Low End/Drugstore Brand 

Without a moment of hesitation my choice is Bourjois. I adore their foundations, lipsticks, cream blush, Poudre de Riz and their new velvets. Yup, it is an awesome brand. I still haven't tried any of their mascaras, but the new 1 Second one is high on my wishlist.

 High End Brand 

Now this is a difficult one. Those years of me experimenting with high-end makeup have passed and now I only have a small amount of more expensive makeup, but the one brand that stands out is Lancôme. It's pretty much the only brand I have several items from. I love their Hypnôse mascara in waterproof formula, Rouge in Love lipsticks, Blush Subtil in Miel Glace and their Color Ideal foundation.

 Primer 

Max Factor All Day Primer. It really does what it promises and feels like there is nothing on the skin. 

Highlighter

I'm adding a category because I was deciding between two primers, however, I use Max Factor's as intended and L'Oreal's Magique Lumi Primer as a highlighter. I'm not a fan of obvious shimmer on the cheekbones and this gives me a lovely subtle radiance. 

Foundation/Face Product

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum. I love it and it's been my favourite foundation since I first purchased it three years ago. 

Concealer 

I'll go with NARS Radiant creamy concealer because it's a great all-rounder, but if there were separate categories for concealer under the eyes, I love Maybelline's the Eraser.

 Bronzer 

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer. It's the only bronzer I found that fits my neutral, super pale complexion. 

Blush 

Catrice Defining blush in 020 Rose Royce. I adore this blush because it goes with everything, it's super pigmented and long lasting.

Powder 

Bourjois Poudre de Riz which is the only powder I've found so far that doesn't make my foundation look cakey, rather it makes it less visible and just better.

Setting Spray 

I haven't tried any yet (does Balea's water in a can count?), but I plan to start with UD's.

Eyebrow Product 

I don't do eyebrows nor do I care them. I don't pluck, fill them or use brow gel. They are just there in their natural state and they are perfectly fine. I must be the only person who's into beauty and doesn't notice anyone's eyebrows or thinks that filling them makes such a big difference.

 Eyeshadow/Palette 

My obvious choice - Urban Decay Naked Basic Palette. I love matte eyeshadows and this palette has exactly the colours I use on a daily basis. I adore it.

Eyeliner 

L'Oreal Perfect Slim. It's a felt tip liner with a precise, thin applicator and even an idiot like me can draw a nice line. Also the formula is really black and stays on the lids well. Great stuff.

Mascara

Lancôme Hypnôse waterproof. An amazing mascara that gives me tones of length, some volume and most importantly holds my lashes curled all day. 

 Lip Product 

What, do I have to pick just one? Now, that's mean. Colours-wise I'll go with MAC's Relentlessly Red because I love that shade on me and I always wear it on special occasions. Regarding best formula, I'll go with the new Bourjois Velvets because of the fantastic matte finish and pigmented non-drying texture. 

Nail Polish 

Essie Cute as a Button. The colour is spectacular as well as the formula.

Beauty Tool

What would I do without my eyelash curlers, so this place goes to Shiseido The Makeup Eyelash Curler.

If you're interested in doing this tag, I encourage you to do so. I tag Petra, Maja, Sara, Taya, Sanja, Sandra and every blogger on my Blogs I Heart page. 

Have a great day!

Colours of the Rainbow Tag

This tag was really popular a few months back, but I still see an occasional post popping up. So the rules are to take all seven colours of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet) plus pink and multi-coloured, and talk about your favourite beauty or fashion item that fits with those colours. I honestly enjoyed doing this tag and this definitely one of the most colourful posts I ever posted.

ESSENCE Guerilla Gardening TE Floral Glam lip cream

I could choose any of my red lipsticks here, as I really enjoy wearing them and I wear them frequently. I chose Floral Glam not just because it's currently my favourite red, but also because it's a lip cream and they are my favourite type of lip colours as they are very pigmented, last so long and have a matte finish. I did a comparison of most my red shades in the review for this lip cream and Floral Glam is an orange based red that bears a lot of resemblance to Mac's Lady Danger and MUA's 13 (again some of my favourites).

KÉRASTASE Masquintense Epais

I never realised I have so many thing that are orange! And all the good stuff actually. So naturally I had difficulties picking one and I cheated a bit by making a second picture of my other choice - The Body Shop Vineyard Peach body butter here. I could include the entire Nutritive line from Kérastase here, well at least the products I got, because all of them all fantastic. I just keep getting more and more impressed by this mask. Every time I use it, everyday is a good hair day and I think that sums it up just nicely.

 NUXE Huile Prodigieuse

It was the most obvious choice out of all. I have, after all, been using it every day for more than two years as a face moisturiser. It made my skin so radiant and healthy looking not to mention very soft. It is a multi-purpose product and I also use it for my body and occasionally on my hair, it even works as a lip balm if you don't have anything else handy. Definitely a product worth the hype.

MACADAMIA NATURAL OIL Healing Oil Treatment
I would be really odd for me not to include at least one of the hair "oils". Since Nuxe oil took top place in the yellow category leaving no place for Orofluido, Macadamia was the best choice for green. They all perform so similarly that the only thing really differentiating them is the scent. Macadamia might not have the best scent in the world (mind you, some adore it, but get the sample size first just to be sure), but it is great for dry hair and I find it to be the one with the best defrizzing and shine properties.

TIGI Bed Head Masterpiece Massive Shine Hair Spray

I had difficulties choosing the blue product that deserves the top spot. I have many, but none really stands out. I decided then on what is the most obvious choice for me because I've been using this hairspray for years, particularly when I curl my hair. I never really talked about it apart from saying it has a tropical scent, but it doesn't make your hair stiff or sticky and manages to hold my curls in a decent condition for days.

MAX FACTOR Khol Pencil in Natural Glaze
This is one of those unsung heroes that I've been using everyday for years on my waterline and a bit in my inner corner to make the eyes look more awake and bigger. It's a fantastic fleshtoned eyeliner with peachy tones for an affordable price. If you don't have it yet, you need it.

VICTORIA'S SECRET Love Spell Fragrance Mist
This is my signature Summer scent which smells like a refreshing tropical fizzy drink. Sadly it doesn't last long, about an hour, but respraying it offers an instant refreshment on hotter days.

Fantasy eau de Parfum

This was the only scent that I wore for over a year, so it definitely deserves the top spot among "the pinks". It's a very girly fragrance, featuring a delicious blend of kiwi and lichee notes with vanilla and white chocolate. Yeah you'll smell like sweets and cupcakes, but to me it's a comforting scent and I'm a fan of such sweet fragrances. The projection and staying power is exceptional for a celebrity fragrance and you can find good deals online, so it's reasonably priced.

 SLEEK Original palette

Finding a multicoloured item wasn't an easy task, I don't even have any apart from the palettes. Sleek's Original one has been in my collection for quite a while, but I use it very rarely. The reason is that I rarely wear bright coloured eyeshadows (or any really) but if I need a bright blue, violet or green this the place to look. It's an affordable palette for those who want to experiment with colours. By the way, Sleek palettes have one of the best black eyeshadows.

I added a category with the mint green/teal/turquoise/ blue-green shades, since it is (are) my favourite colour(s) and selected Essie Mint Candy Apple. It's THE mint nail polish and has received many raves not just from me, but also from other beauty bloggers. I must admit, it is not the easiest polish to apply, yet I wear it the most out of all of my nail polishes. I have a few dupes, Depend 245 is pretty much a spot on dupe as is the already discontinued You Belong to Me by Essence.

If you find this tag fun, feel free to do it yourself.
Have a great day!

Seven Deadly Sins Tag

I was tagged to do this post by a fellow blogger Anna from Anna Beauty Blog, but it was a very popular tag on YouTube a while ago. So here's my take on it. 

What is your most expensive beauty item?

I don't know exactly because I have a few products that were priced about the same, but it might be the Calvin Klein's Euphoria, however I had a discount. The most expensive product I paid full price for is Estee Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover. I use it on most days actually, so it was worth it.

Which beauty item do you have a love/hate relationship with?

That would be Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation. It can make your skin look absolutely fantastic, however, if it's dehydrated, every patch of dry skin will look horrendous. They have repackaged it and apparently changed the formula, but I have yet to try it. The other such product is Bourjois 10 days nail polish in shade 25. I dislike the formula, but the colour is flippin' gorgeous.

What brand makes up the biggest chunk of your make up collection?

Essence, however I buy from so many brands and I don't have a favourite one. I don't buy as much from Essence anymore, I find their countless TEs to be mostly unappealing and I don't feel like tracking them down all the time. They do have some great products, like Stay Matte lip creams.

What product do you neglect to use due to laziness?

Face masks. I just can't be bothered waiting 10-15 minutes to rinse it off. A 7 ml sample of Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant lasted me a year and I love that stuff. 

Which beauty product gives you the most confidence?

Without a doubt red lipstick. I love wearing them, I think they look great with my pale complexion and dark hair (that's Essence's Floral Glam Lip Cream in the picture). I'm hoping a day will come when people won't find it so odd when a young girl wears bright colours on the lips. Not that it will happen anytime soon... Still, I wear reds a lot in everyday life.

Picture source: http://www.allmacproducts.com/macblog/pink-and-a-bit-of-everything-dior-diorskin-nude-b/

Which item is at the top of your beauty wish list?

On the very top currently is Dior Diorskin BB cream. I had a sample that lasted me a few applications and that stuff is fabulous. I would like to try some more high-end "BBs" before buying it, though. (oh, who am I kidding. They're tinted moisturisers)

Picture source: http://maybelline.tumblr.com/post/30465308548/lush-lash-love

What make up product/ look looks great on others but not on yourself?

Cat eye/eyeliner flick or any eye makeup basically. I have hooded eyes which make any attempts on presentable eye makeup a flop. I usually just do the invisible liner with mascara and focus on the lips. 

If you find this tag fun, feel free to do it yourself. 

Have a great day!