Beauty Bloggers Tag!

Hi, everyone! Sorry for the relative lack of posts lately. School has been a bit hectic, but things should be calming down soon. Phew!

Recently, the lovely Kat from Kitsch Snitch tagged me in her Beauty Bloggers post, so I thought I'd give it a go! But not before an adorable picture of Sadie guarding my makeup brushes... :)

Sadie especially loves makeup brushes when they're cruelty-free :) 

 

Why did you start blogging and how long have you been blogging for?

I started blogging in March of 2011, so it's been just over a year and a half! I actually started in response to a pretty stressful time in my life- things were getting hectic and overwhelming and, with the support of loved ones, I decided to delve into a hobby that would be enjoyable and engaging. I figured that creating a beauty blog would combine my passions for makeup and writing, so I went for it!

Whose blog did you fall in love with first?

The first beauty blog that I ever visited on a regular basis was Temptalia- that girl has swatches of everything!! Soon after I became completely enamoured with Lisa Eldridge's YouTube channel and blog. Not only was I impressed by her immense talent and creativity, I was also drawn in by her approachable, warm, and down-to-earth nature. She's the best! As for smaller personal blogs, I actually started my blog before I really got into the world of other beauty blogs. Since then, however, I've come across so many wonderful beauty and fashion sites and am a loyal follower of several.

Most Important part about doing a blog post?

There are so many aspects of a blog post that I find important, but I think the most crucial are honest reviews, accurate and engaging photos, and a sense of humour. The name 'Veracious' is in the title of my blog for a reason- it is very important that my blog is seen as a credible source, so honest, clear, and descriptive reviews are key! I also do my best to provide the best photos possible (despite my novice-level camera, see below) so that the shades presented are true-to-colour and so that readers have something fun and pretty to look at while reading! And, as I mentioned, a sense of  humour is also key. It is easy for those in the beauty and fashion realm to take themselves too seriously, but I prefer to keep things light, and sometimes silly. Silliness is good for the soul :)
 

What kind of Camera do you use?

As of now, a Nikon Coolpix S550. It's not really the best camera for blogging purposes, but I've been making the most of it. It is on its way out, though, so I'm hoping that Santa might give me a new camera this year :)
 

A picture of my camera, sort of :)

What was the first blogosphere hyped about product you bought and was it worth the hype?

I try not to fall for hype too often since I can't afford to exhaust my wallet too much! But a few products I have fallen for because of blogger buzz are:

• Revlon Lip Butters- there was a ton of hype for these when they were released earlier this year. Luckily I heeded all of the raves and now happily have a few of these little gems in my collection
• Guerlain Rouge Automatique Lipsticks- I often hate succumbing to hype when it means dishing out a lot of money, but these lipsticks truly are amazing. Beautiful shades, comfortable texture, and the packaging is incredibly unique (and fun!). Worth the splurge for sure!
• Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes- I've been very impressed with the quality of the Tarte products I've tried, so when the blogosphere began buzzing about these new blush offerings, I was quick to cave to my curiosity. I only have one of these in my collection (Tipsy, a vibrant matte coral), but I love it!
• YSL Rouge Volupte Sheer Candy in Luscious Cherry- I was tempted to try this shade because of the enthusiastic opinions of Estee at Essie Button. Though I've been a fan of the regular Rouge Volupte lipsticks for some time, I'd shied away from the Sheer Candy line because I'd heard they were incredibly sheer. Who wants to pay almost $40 for a barely-there balm? Estee assured me (well, her audience) that Luscious Cherry was a worthwhile investment and she was right! A perfectly pigmented shade that feels wonderful on my lips :)
  

What are your favourite five things about blogging and being a beauty blogger?

1. I love feeling like I'm part of a community. Call it a network, a collective, or a support group- it's nice being able to communicate with others who share a passion for all things beauty. It keeps me enthusiastic and engaged even when life is otherwise busy!
2. I get to learn so much from all the lovely, talented bloggers out there. I'm constantly being inspired!
3. I have an (extra) excuse to purchase some of the latest, greatest beauty products. All in the name of a good review! :)
4. Every so often I receive a comment that one of my posts has been inspiration to play with makeup and try something new. That's what it's all about!

What have you learned from being a beauty blogger?

I have learned that blogging is challenging, but totally rewarding. I've learned how to take really good close-up photos of my eye using a really basic camera. I've learned to become confident in sharing my skills and about posting makeup-less photos (eek!). I've learned there's always something new to learn!

Made close-up skills ;)

Have you changed anything since being a beauty blogger?

I've become a lot better at using my camera in a variety of settings and at editing photos, which has been nice! I've also lost all shame about taking photos of my face in public ;) And more seriously, my life has truly been enriched by this hobby, so I guess blogging has changed me!

 

What advice would you give to a beauty blogger just starting out?

Write what you're passionate about! Readers will pick up on your knowledge and enthusiasm and will respond. Following and commenting on other blogs is a great way to attract new readers and followers, but take the time to leave thoughtful, personalized responses. Leave a comment that you'd like to see on your own blog! Practice, practice, practice at taking and editing photos. Captivating photos will definitely make your site stand out!

Your Favorite Eyeshadow Palette?

I am an eye shadow palette fiend. They may be my biggest makeup weakness, and that's saying a lot. While there are a few palettes that are near the top of my list (for example, the Urban Decay Mariposa Palette), I think my favourites are the ones that I've put together myself. I love having the freedom to create custom palettes based on my specific  preferences and I've done so with MAC eye shadows quite a bit, as you can see below! 

 

My MAC Eye Shadow collection!

The Best Beauty Deal?

Not a deal so much as an excellent bargain, but Bonne Bell Dr. Pepper Lipsmacker is one of my all-time favourite (and most heavily used) lip products of all time. Ringing in at $2, it offers great moisturization and leaves a soft, rosy tint. Really the best bang for you buck!

Makeup Regrets?

I have very few makeup regrets, at least in terms of how I've worn makeup. During my high school days (see below, eek!) I was all about super pale skin, thin brows, and vibrant colours. Although I would  never wear my makeup like that today, I don't regret looking like that; I'm actually pretty proud that I had the balls to be a bit weird and different. If you can't be weird in high school, when can you? The only real regret is that I did pluck my eyebrows so thin, especially since they have not grown back since. Luckily I've found an excellent brow powder to make up for the mistakes of my youth :)

 

High school makeup, circa 1999

Name your top five Beauty brands!

This may be the toughest of all the questions since my makeup tastes are so broad, but here's my best shot:

• MAC- MAC was the first high-end brand I ever fell in love with and it comprises a huge chunk of my collection (see eye shadow picture above for evidence!). I think that many of their products offer great quality for the price (truly a fraction of many high-end brands) and their colour selection can't be beat! I've been purchasing MAC items less lately because of Estee Lauder's return to animal testing, but I'll never lose fondness for my first love :)
• Revlon- Revlon is by far my favourite drugstore brand. Their ColourStay liquid foundation has been one of my staples for years and, in my opinion, trumps the quality of many other high-end foundation formulas. Their lip products are also to-die-for and with most under $10, it's hard to pass them up!
• Urban Decay- During my first trip to Sephora in 2000, I was completely drawn to Urban Decay's edgy aesthetic and wild colour selection. The affinity for this brand has stuck because their products are truly top-notch and because they have stuck with their animal friendly policies over the years. Amazingly, I haven't purchased either of the Naked palettes (again, see MAC eye shadow pic above for evidence that I don't need more eye shadow!), but I really couldn't live without their Eye Shadow Primer Potion, a true classic.
• NARS- There is no denying that NARS makes some amazing products and offers a unique colour selection and some dirty interesting shade names. I own 6 of their blushes and consider Deep Throat to be my all-time favourite cheek colour. No small feat! Lately their lipsticks have grown on me as well, with shades like Heat Wave and Dolce Vita quickly becoming staples in my collection.
• Chanel- Although I don't purchase Chanel products all too often (with the hefty price tag being the main hindrance), I have never been disappointed by a product of theirs. Never. Their lipsticks, blushers, and nail lacquers are all to-die-for, as is the chic, classic packaging. If your wallet can handle it, you really can't go wrong!

 

Recommend your top five favourite beauty products! 

Ack! Such a difficult task, but here goes nothing:

• Revlon ColourStay Liquid Foundation Combo/Oily Formula. Heaven sent for my oily, acne-prone skin. Flawless, long-wearing coverage that doens't look cakey or break me out. Enough said.
• Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Ash Blonde. Since my brows are super sparse, it's necessary to fill them in every day to add structure and definition to my face. Anastasia brow powder looks incredibly natural and really lasts all day. Few people can tell that I even fill in my brows, which makes this product all the more genius!
• Revlon ColourStay Liquid Eyeliner Pen in Black. Black winged liner is one of my signature looks, and this liner pen creates the effect so effortlessly. Its felt-tipped applicator makes it incredibly easy to use and the colour pay-off is excellent. What's better than a quick, simple cat eye?
• NARS Powder Blush in Deep Throat- As I mentioned earlier, this is most likely  my favourite blush of all time. It is a universally flattering pinky-peach with just the right amount of shimmer. So versatile and always brightens my complexion. I will never be without this!
• MAC Lipstick- I know sometimes MAC's lip products get mixed reviews and even I can't say that the formula is on-par with other high-end offerings (like Guerlain Rouge Automatiques and YSL Rouge Voluptes, which are fantastic). That said, MAC make some of the most amazing shades that I reach for time and time again. Some of my favourites are Ladybug, Lustering, Lickable, Vegas Volt, Rebel, and Impassioned. So many! Hope it isn't cheating to include them all under one bullet ;)

Tag other beauty bloggers to do this tag!

Erica at Abundance of Erica

Coco at The Beauty Milk

Sara at Sara Wears

Emi at Project Swatch

Maisie at TheMaiBug

Samantha at Seize the Beautiful

Mali at Maliberry Makeup 

 

And that's it! An incredibly long post, but one that was fun to write. It's nice to reflect every once in awhile. Hope you enjoyed it too :)