My Beautiful Life: {Tori from Kiss, Blush and Tell}

No, you haven't gone back in some weird time warp - it is, in fact, Wednesday (not Monday!) and this post is way overdue, mostly because I've been on copy deadline at work and we're still in the process of setting up our ADSL line at home. But I can guarantee that today's post, courtesy of the lovely Tori from Kiss, Blush and Tell, has been well worth the wait. I've been fortunate enough to get to know Tori at various beauty launches throughout the past year and I've come to really like her as a person, and I feel that her beauty blog is one of the top blogs in the country. Her content is fresh and really draws me in, and as a trained makeup artist, I really value her expert opinion. But don't take my word for it: go have a look at her gorgeous blog and decide for yourself! 

Beauty is... I know it sounds awfully cliché, but I really think it is someone who actually smiles (it’s a perk if it’s a nice smile). 

The best beauty advice I ever received...To treat my neck and décolletage the same way I do my face. I have seen way too many wrinkly, sun beaten ladies who have beautiful skin on their actual face but their age is given away with a horrid turkey neck.

If I could use only one beauty product for the rest of my life, it would be... There are way too many for me to even begin to list, but moisturiser would have to be it. I love a good moisturiser and the feeling that comes with radiant, glowing and hydrated skin. Plus, without this everything else falls apart!

In my makeup bag... Being a beauty blogger, my makeup bag is a ridiculous size (I’m embarrassed to even photograph the 6 bags I have) but the makeup bag that I would pack when going on a weekend away is as below (and still a tad ridiculous seeing as though, most of the time, I wear tinted moisturiser and nothing else):

As a primer, I have a few options as I really like my skin to look good at all times. I have both illuminators and primers and use whichever one I feel is best suited to my skin at that stage. Pathetic to carry this many around with me, but they are essential! As a foundation I use my MAC Face & Body (not pictured), my Benefit tinted moisturiser or my latest purchase from Bobbi Brown.

 

For bronzing, contouring and cheeks I use my fantabulous Woolies Apricot powder blush (Peach Melba) or my Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze depending on whether I am going for a pretty peachy look or a bronzed summer look. I then contour with my Laguna from NARS and my MAC shimmer in Golden Bronze. 

 

For concealing I use my Bobbi Brown (in beige) and MAC concealer (not pictured). 

 

For highlighting I use my Inglot highlighter (shade 61) with my MAC Strobe tint. I then add extra radiance to my cheeks with the Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pink Truffle which I adore.

 

I then use my Chanel eyeliner for a night out with my Shu Uemura, Bobbi Brown and NARS eye shadows which are all in very neutral browns and blacks that I love – I am not too adventurous. 

 

Lastly, on my lips I love playing around with colour and pretty nudes and pinks. Again, hydrated, plum lips are a must for me. I love the Revlon Just Bitten lip pencils in Precious and Honey, my Dr Lip balm from the UK, my Piz Buin Sun Lipstick (old favourite) and my MAC lipstick in Crème Sheen or Russian Red. 

 

The 3 most beautiful things in my life at the moment are...

I could get all deep here, but would rather keep it light-hearted and superficial as we are talking about beauty products after all, so the three most beautiful things in my life are:

My home – I moved into my first proper home this year and have spent so much time making it a place where I feel comfortable and happy. I think it’s so special to me as it has been done on a budget, which has meant everything means that much more to me and has all been collected over time – from beautiful coffee table books and old art pieces to delightful ceramics and my Granny’s old clocks.

My beauty closet – yip, it really is a closet, but it makes me so happy. Beauty products have always been close to my heart and I spend a small fortune each month buying pretty smellies and magic creams, so love taking time to enjoy them although it can be a rather expensive hobby.

Stationery – my stationery cupboards also make me very happy. It consists of every pretty ribbon and twine you can imagine as well as gorgeous cards, pretty papers, washi tapes, doilies in all weird and wonderful colours as well as glitter and pretty fine liners. One of the shelves has been dedicated to my cupcake making and has every kind of paper napkin, cute cupcake casing and sprinkle you can think of.

See? Told you this post was worth the wait - I personally loved taking a peek into Tori's makeup bag and think her home sounds absolutely beautiful! I'm so inspired to start keeping a stationery cupboard, too! For more prettiness, pop over to Tori's blog, Kiss, Blush and Tell. You can also find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter for updates on the go.