Tag! You're It.

It's been an absolute age since I last did a tag, so when I was declared 'it' by  the lovely Bobbi of  Beauty by Bobbi and Nuala from Make Up, Beauty, Shopping (click the blog names to go straight to their posts) I was happy to get answering some questions. As I was tagged by two people, and therefore set eleven questions by each, I decided to mix it up a bit and answer a few from each of them.

So, what are the rules?

1. Answer the 11 questions set

2. Set 11 questions for the people you tag

3. Mention the blog who tagged you.

My answers to Bobbi and Nuala's questions:

1. What are your new year's resolutions?

Well, I've made a few beauty-based ones, which I posted about HERE. But besides that, my goal for the year ahead is mainly just to make this a fantastic year. The last couple have been really tough, but there are lots of exciting things on the horizon for me, including moving home, finally getting our own house and going back to uni. I'm so excited at the prospect of having my friends and family nearby again, so really I just plan to make the most of that. None of this will be happening until the middle of the year though, so until then I have resolved to stay as positive as possible and try and see the best in the people and things around me.

2. What made you decide to start blogging?

You've heard this all before, but basically I moved a long way from home with my man and was very lonely. I was on my own a lot of the time, and I needed something to fill that hole. I've always loved writing, and have written about various things over the years, but when I discovered some beauty Youtubers and bloggers I became interested in their work, and before long had decided to channel my energies into a blog of my own. Not only has it been a lifeline for me, but it has also allowed me to do something productive with my free time, keep up my writing and learn new things, and has introduced me to a whole community of lovely, like-minded people.

3. If you could purchase anything, money no object, what would it be?

One of the things I love the most is travel, so I'd probably get round the world tickets for myself and the hubby, and then a nice house for us to live in when we got back, haha. Of course, if money really was no object then I'd like to see my family right too. The blogger in me also wants to throw in some Antipodes skincare, and a bit of Elemental Herbology while I'm at it.

4.  Makeup or skincare, and favourite brand?

I do like my makeup, but I'm definitely more of a skincare girl, which is odd considering a couple of years ago I didn't give a monkey's, and would rely solely on facewipes. Makes me shudder now! I think the reason I like skincare so much is that when I am using good quality products, packed with natural ingredients, I feel that I'm genuinely doing my skin a favour, whereas with makeup it's sort of the opposite.

I don't think I can choose just one favourite brand - I adore Ren, Origins and Liz Earle, and at the moment I'm a little bit obsessed with Antipodes and want to try basically everything they've ever made, even though I'm yet to crack open one of their products! I love organic skincare, or at least brands which use lots of natural ingredients and drop the nasties, so anything that fits in with that is bound to be my cup of tea.

5. Which makeup product do you wish was available in your country, but isn't?

For me it's more about the range of shades available that actual products. The USA always seem to get a much better selection, especially with things like the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains, which I loved last year and still do now.

6. What's your dream job/career?

Beauty, fashion or travel journalist.

7. Favourite food?

I wouldn't say I have one specific favourite, but I adore Chinese (crispy duck pancakes or duck in plum sauce, vermicelli rice noodles, crispy seaweed, prawn toasts...I could go on.) Mexican, Japanese, Greek and Moroccan....I love trying different foods from around the world and am a really open-minded eater, apart from when it comes to offal - I do not do innards. In terms of more traditional UK foods, I absolutely love a good roast dinner on a Sunday, and can't get enough of cheddar cheese and cream teas.

8. What products(s) would you like to try this year?

Elemental Herbology and Nude skincare, the Urban Decay Naked Skin BB cream,  Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm...I'm not sure what else off the top of my head, but there are lots of things!

9. What is your favourite skincare item and why?

Currently, I'd say the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask and the Ren Phyto-Dynamic Instant Lifting Gel. It's a one-minute mask that smells like lemons and has the consistency of marmalade, and leaves my skin unbelievably baby soft and smooth after use. I also love the Glycolactic Radiance Mask, but then who doesn't!?

10. How long does it take you to get ready in the mornings?

It depends - if I'm washing my hair and not particularly pressed for time then it can be anywhere between an hour to an hour and a half. If I don't have to wash my hair and I'm in a hurry then I can be ready in about half an hour.

11. How old were you when your first got into makeup?

I remember wearing black eyeliner and white eyeshadow aged about thirteen...too cool for school. I didn't start wearing foundation until I was at least sixteen, and had never wanted to, but one day I was going out and just looked so washed out and dull that my mum let me use some of her Clinique Superbalanced. Of course, once you've seen the difference it makes, it's tempting to start using it, so I then began slapping some on whenever I was going out. I didn't start wearing it daily until I was about eighteen. To be honest though, I've always been the sort of girl who would just buy what I needed as and when, and would stick with trusted products. It's only since I started blogging that I've found myself wanting to try out absolutely everything (well...nearly), as it's opened my eyes to new brands and products I wouldn't have considered before.

The 11 questions I'm setting:

1. What  are your morning and evening skincare routines?

2. What's your favourite skincar product and why?

3. Name three products you just couldn't live without.

4. What do you enjoy doing besides blogging?

5. What are your ambitions in life?

6. What do you hope 2013 will bring?

7. What's on your wishlist at the moment?

8. What is your favourite high-street shop?

10. What nail polish are you wearing at present?

11. What do you do for a living?

People I'm tagging:

Sasha from Ramblings of a Beauty Bird

Alice from Bright Town Girl

Jenny from Beauty and the Biryani

Jen from It's a Blonde's Life

Nicole from Rambling Beauty

WY from Raves 'nd Ramblings

Laurzie from A Scottish Lass

Gem from Gem Seren

Sal from Petite Sal

Aqueela from Diary of a Makeup Geek

Hollie from H0lliedays

Please do pop over and have a little look at all the blogs mentioned in this post, as they are all fantastic reads, and all written by very lovely ladies.

xx