A week in lipsticks #2
It’s been a while since I wrote my last ‘a week in lipsticks’ post. I really enjoyed writing the previous post (which was my first) so I thought I’d write up another one.
This time, I’ll do things slightly differently. I’ve been wearing the same lipsticks regularly, week in and week out, and every week, I’ve been doing the same things. So I’ll break down what I’ve been up to lately, the lip products I’ve been using on my lips and my final thoughts.
Got it?
Great!
Let’s go.
Work
Since I wrote my last ‘weekly lipsticks’ posts, my fixed-term contract my previous job ended a few days before Christmas (which was expected.) I do miss my previous job, the workplace and my colleagues, and that job was literally one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. It was so lovely to work somewhere that was positive, and unlike the job I had before that, I felt valued, respected and appreciated for the work that I did while I was working my FTC. It’s so refreshing to work somewhere where people actually treat me as a human being, instead of working in an environment where people go out of their way to judge, criticise, scrutinise, punish me and make me feel bad for my personality or existence.
“Go where you’re celebrated, not tolerated.”
Working in my previous job made me realise what I deserve when I’m in the workplace. It was a lesson for me: I am damn well good at what I do, pretty darn competent and incredibly capable. I now know how important it is for me to have confidence in my abilities and to appreciate myself. It was also a wonderful experience, and one that I’ll always be grateful for.
Anyway, I spent the first two weeks of January out of work and then I managed to secure a job! I was pretty pleased about this because I’d given myself the goal to secure a role before the end of January 2020. I currently work in influencer outreach and marketing. It’s a typical 9-5 office role, and while it took me a while to settle into the new role and workplace, I’m getting used to it and I’m actually enjoying it so far - and I’ve started making some big strides in my new role. It’s always nerve-wracking being the new person at the workplace, but I’m grateful because my colleagues are friendly and have made so much of an effort to welcome me into the fold.
My day-to-day makeup look has been rather minimal and I’ve been keeping things simple. At the moment, my daily makeup look consists of mascara and a lipstick, and that’s it.
My go-to mascara is the Rimmel London Scandaleyes Volume On Demand Mascara, which is so good. It has a big mascara wand and thick bristles that lengthens and volumises your lashes in an instant. Alternatively, I’ve been using the Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara, which lifts, curls and conditions your lashes.
As for lip products, I’ve been using the Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in the shade Night Crimson, which is a deep red shade with a satin finish. I’ve also been using the NYX Professional Makeup Soft Matte Lip Cream in the shade Copenhagen, a deep red shade with a creamy formula and a smooth matte finish.
Blogging
I’ve been making more of an effort to blog regularly. I love blogging and I am passionate about writing about beauty (more on that later.) I must admit, I do find it challenging to run my blog alongside working a full-time job and juggling adult responsibilities, but I believe that no matter how busy and time-poor you are, it’s important to make time and priorities for the things you love. I tend to blog on Saturdays, but I also spend some of my evenings during the week doing blog-related stuff, such as editing, proofreading, scheduling social media posts, updating pages and adding widgets.
When I’m at home I don’t wear lipstick, but I use Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Lip Balm (with Vitamin E) to combat dryness and to keep my lips moisturised.
Beauty writing
At the start of this year, I started writing for Cohorted, a beauty subscription box service. I discovered Cohorted less than a few years ago through the beauty blogging community and I’ve always wanted to write for the brand. Towards the end of last year I decided to take the plunge and reach out to the editor and now I’m a contributing writer. I’ll be writing about beauty but I’ll also write fashion and lifestyle posts as well. I also have the opportunity to discover new beauty products through the brand, which is absolutely amazing.
Speaking of trying new beauty products, I recently ordered some products from Birchbox to try out:
LOC (Love Of Color) Vibrant Matte Lipstick in the shade Trouble, a fiery red shade with a matte finish.
Sleek Matte Me Ultra Smooth Matte Lip Cream in the shade Fired Up, which is a dark red shade with a matte finish. I used this with LOC’s Matte Lipstick.
LOC (Love Of Color) Ultra Gloss Lip Pencil in the shade Purple Reign, a glossy lip pencil with a sheer purple hue.
Hobbies, interests and entertainment
In my spare time, I’ve been reading - a lot. Instead of spending my spare time mindlessly scrolling through social media, I’ve been staying off social media and working hard to significantly reduce screen time. One of my goals is to read more and I’m really enjoying it. I’ve always been a bookworm and it’s been nice to read for leisure and broaden my mind.
Here are some of the books I’ve been reading:
A Man’s World by Helen Wood
The Joy of No (#JONO)
Will You Be Mother? Women Who Choose To Say No by Jane Bartlett
Single That: Dispelling The Top 10 Myths Of The Single Woman by Acamea Deadwiler
Here are some of the books that are next on my reading list:
Toxic Parents: Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy and Reclaiming Your Life by Susan Forward
The Emotionally Abused Woman: Overcoming Destructive Patterns and Reclaiming Yourself by Beverly Engel
Why Does He Do That? Inside The Minds of Angry and Controlling Men by Lundy Barcroft
How To Break Up With Fast Fashion by Lauren Bravo
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
Killing In the Consulate by Jonathan Rugman
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
F*ck No! by Sarah Knight.
Do you have any book recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments section below.
I’ve also been spending some of my spare time watching TV and YouTube videos when I’m chilling out and unwinding.
I’ve also been testing out some new lipsticks that I ordered from Superdrug. I’ve been using Rimmel London’s Kate Moss Lipstick in the shade 01 and Rimmel London Lipstick in the shade Thirsty Bae (550), both of which are bold red lipsticks.
Final thoughts
Never underestimate the power of the bold red lip! I’m into red shades and hues this season, and it seems as though my obsession isn’t dying down anytime soon.