MUA Blusher Review

As part of being my plan for being more sensible with my money (read not buying so many shoes) I have been looking where I spend a lot of money and have been trying to cut back.

I recently did a post on MUA Mascara which was the first product I have tried from the Makeup Academy. It has become my go to mascara for the working week and works very well, for the price I couldn't be more happy.

I was looking through my makeup collection recently though in my budget frame of mind and realised I needed a change in blusher.  I have always used Dandelion by Benefit which I used as a double up for brightening up my complexion and adding blush to my cheeks.  I adore it.  But at £23.50 a time, can I still justify it?  Probably not.

Given my good experience with the mascara, I once again raided the MUA section of my local Superdrug.  For the unbelievable price of £1 I bought the MUA Shade 2 Blusher and have been roadtesting it for over a week once.

The blusher goes on well, without being too heavy.  It has a good staying power and I have nothing bad to say about it at all.  In fact considering the price I ended up with two as I keep one at home and one at the office (sometimes a girl just have to retouch).

The blusher has a very good level of pigmentation and as a result, you only need to dab your blusher brush once onto it in order to get the appropriate amount of blusher to apply.  I learned this at my peril after using for the first time and ending up looking like Aunt Sally.

Making a saving of £22.50 is a definate win in my budget task, although I still need to retrain my brain so I don't think "Oooooo, what can I buy instead?"

Have you found any good bargains lately?

Exciting Times

This week has been a crazy one for me and my blog.

I never really had a plan, it just gradually morphed itself over the course of a couple of years into what it is today.  Opinions, rants and plus size outfits.  My very first post A Love of my 30's, Finally feels like it was written a lifetime ago, although I'm glad the blog started on a positive note!

Over the course of the past few months I have found a little confidence and have been doing a few plus size posts.  I have experienced everything from sheer terror to complete surprise and actual pleasure in writing them.  

Taking photographs of myself, of which I'm still on a massive learning curve, was definately a challenge as I always used to hide from the camera.  I was expecting nasty comments, or more likely, no feedback at all from these posts but the reaction to them has been great.  

With this in mind, the next step I have reached in the blog is twofold.  Firstly, I promised myself that when, and if, the views in one month ever went over a certain figure, I would get a domain name.  I'm quite liking the blog being TheCurvedOpinion.com now!

The second move forward is that I have been lucky enough to be gifted some dresses for review on the blog.  I have purposely chosen dresses that are completely out of my comfort zone and not what I would normally wear.  I have been pleasantly surprised!  These posts will be up in the following few weeks.

Onwards and upwards!

What's in a Name?

Back in July 2012 I wrote a post entitled What's in a Name?

After much thinking and consideration I had decided to revert back to my original surname, before it was changed to be the same as my step-fathers.  I never regretted the change and only wanted to change back because I was searching, I'm not sure what for, for me I think.

 

I received various opinions on my decision to change, all unwanted to be honest as it was my decision, not anyone else's.  While some supported me, others disagreed with my choice.  I let them sit in their judgement then, I wouldn't today.  Unless I am doing something illegal, I won't be judged by anyone.

 

So much has happened in my life since I wrote that post.  I feel like a completely different person.  I am secure in myself, I know who and what I am.  I'm confident.  I'm not longer drifting.

 

Someone asked me today if I I still wanted to change my name.  I had changed it on the social networks and my email etc but so far had done nothing official as I was wanting for my student finance to be sorted out.  My answer though was yes, I really wish I still had my old last name, but the reasons I had for changing, didn't seem so important anymore.

 

I wanted to be my old last name again but in truth, back then I needed an anchor.  Something to latch on to saying "This is who I am".  I needed identity.   Eight months later, a whole world of change in me and I realise, it isn't my name that matters.  The identity inside is the one that matters.  I am who I am, regardless of what my last name is.

 

In my head, I will always be my father's daughter, I will always think of myself with his surname.  Do I need a physical proof of that anymore?  No, I don't think I do. 

 

The only change I will be keeping is my Twitter user name.  In a weird way, joining Twitter was the catalyst for all the changes I have made since and I have never been more myself than when I am speaking on Twitter.  So Vicky_Coop I shall remain.