The Beginning

So this is my first ever blog. Gosh, I'm not sure where to begin! My name is Xen and I am 26yrs old with the joys of having combination, acne prone skin which is actually rather pale and with weird, red cheeks. I live in Cornwall and I love living here.... And I am a makeup addict - I can't help it - I am forever buying new makeup and am on my own little voyage of cosmetic discovery and skin care discovery too. I have been on this journey since I was twelve, and it's like an addiction I can't stop. I am not a 'natural beauty', I am not slim or amazingly good looking (although I sincerely wish I was haha), I'm short, rotundly plump with dark hair and a round face. But I would like to blog about my experiences with high end and drug store makeup, take photo's and upload them to show you all the before and after of each new thing that I buy. I want to take you on my journey of addiction of makeup and skin care, so here I am, tentatively reaching out to anyone that will care to read :-)


RED LIPSTICK

Ok, so since I was twelve years old (I know, too young to be buying makeup) I have been compulsively buying red lipsticks. Due to my pale skin colour red lips are supposed to be very complementing to us 'English Roses' and that red lips never go out of style - but let me tell you something that we're NOT told: Finding the perfect colour red lipstick can be an absolute nightmare! It's all very well checking the colour of your veins to tell whether you're warm or cool undertoned (I'm a definate cool) but trying to find a red on your own that doesn't make you out to look like a cartoon or a vampire (unless of course that's what you were aiming for) can be like looking for a needle in a pin stack. Not good, by any means!
          I went out two days after I turned 26 *sigh* and with trepidation made my way to a M.A.C counter, for the very first time in my life. I must tell you now that I am rather intimidated by the beautiful, trim ladies that float around their Lancome and Clinique booths with their impressive, well cut clothes and perfect makeup. Don't get me wrong, I love high end makeup - who doesn't? But I like to grab the offending mascara or foundation quickly before one of those ladies can swoop down on me and ask me if I need help! So I went up to one of the ladies that I spend half my time trying to avoid and asked her if she could please help me find the perfect red lipstick.
         She helpfully pointed out two colours that would be the closest match to my skin colour; Russian Red, a slightly blue based matte lipstick, and Lady Bug, a shinier, slightly blue based lipstick also. I can tell you now that I had done it. After fourteen years of searching (hangs head in shame) I had found them (or more honestly been directed to them). My husband obligingly bought them both for me and I fairly pranced home.

         Russian Red is a highly pigmented colour, rich and wonderfully smooth; I apply it with a lip brush for an even finish. Yes, I have a monroe piercing, I got it done about a month and a half ago. Needless to say I love it! This picture was taken with a flash so the colour looks a tad brighter than it does in real life. I would suggest that you don't smudge it, because this baby transfers like a bad boy! I put my foundation on my lips before applying this colour to give it a little more staying power, and wow, does this lip colour just keep on going, even with it's amazing transfer abilities (like to my poor husband's lips)! I don't mind reapplying my makeup throughout the day so I wear this every day (except for at work but that's a long story), and sometimes for a nice, shiny change I wear M.A.C's Lady Bug. These lipsticks cost £13.50 each, relatively expensive if you think about it, but they're cheaper than Lancome's lipsticks by far - not that I'm dissing Lancome at all - I love their cosmetics, but you know what I'm getting at.
         Wowza, that was a long first blog! I'll leave it there for now... But I'll be back...