Tag Along!

Konnichiwa beauties!

Although I'm constantly lurking in the blogsphere, the weather has prevented me from being able to take pretty much any photos of things I've bought recently (and not so recently!) and review them. Boo. How did I pick one of the most precipitate places in Japan to live? So I was tagged by the lovely, amazing Monica from The Total Opposite to do this tag, and heck, I'm gonna do it.

Copy and paste THE RULES:

1) You must state this tag was created by Megan at TheBeautyPier.

2) You must tag at least one person to do this. However, the more the merrier!

3) Let the person know you tagged them with a comment on their blog.

4)Title this post 'Influences of the Internet TAG!'

5) Enjoy!

1. Did other blogs convince you to start up your own?

Yes, for sure! I would never have thought of starting up a beauty blog prior to reading them. Unfortunately, a couple of the people I first started following have stopped blogging, like, Tali from The Gloss Goss, but luckily, Laure from the Liparazzi blog is still here and has really developed since I first started reading her posts!

2. Have you joined a site because someone else in the blogosphere did?

Yes...I was never really someone that was into Twitter, but I liked the fact that I could keep more on top of what my favourite beauty gurus were up to! (Stalker, much?)

3. Is there a tip/regime you've gotten from the internet that you now use?

Too many to name, actually! They're all beauty related - I was a complete beauty noob prior to entering the world of beauty blogs. But a recent regime I have taken up is using oils on my face - I love supporting New Zealand brands so the Antipodes Joyous Protein-Rich Night Replenish Serum (phew, what a mouthful!) is the one I'm currently using.

4. If your favorite YouTube/Blogger personality likes a product, will that make you buy it?

Ohhhh yes, I think 99% of my purchases are beauty gurus recommendations/loves. But I always make sure I read a trillion reviews before purchasing.

5. What do you look for in a blog that makes you want to follow?

Content and personality. I like a blog that shows what kind of person behind the screen is. Whilst I do love an eye pleasing set out of a blog, I don't mind if it's not the best if the person is interesting.

6. Have you ever been deceived by a product that you ordered online? (e.g you thought it would be pink but it was coral)

Not really, that's why I look at the photos of swatches and FOTD's.

7. Have promo pictures and press releases given you the impression that a product will be better than it is?

Of course, the marketing team will try to talk up a product as much as possible. I don't actually pay any attention to new products, if someone is talking about it, I'll go check out reviews of said product.

8. Is there a product you could give a 'cult' status for being so good that you discovered through the internet?

YES, I HAVE ONE. (I was thinking about this for so long). The Possets oil perfume Ribbands is actually the most amazing scent, it's LE so you can only get it during Christmas, and my word, if it's not the most delicious thing you've ever smelt, then I'm a fool. It smells of chocolate and juicy raspberries, like, for real face. This absolutely deserves cult status, in my opinion.

9. Is there a product you have tried and hated, but others have loved?

Same as Monica, Maybelline The Falsies Mascara! I bought it because my sister said all her friends love it, but I tried it on, immediately took it off and swapped her it for her Covergirl LashBlast Fusion mascara. My HG mascara! (Review here).

10. Is there a Blogger/YouTuber that influences your fashion style? If so, who?

Yes, so many of them! The two UK Laura's dress exactly how I'd like to! Laura from buy now, blog later just has impeccable, classy taste and I drool over every fashion post of hers, and Laura from Liparazzi has this edgy, chic but still professional look that I also adore. Corrie from Dizzybrunette3 is so pretty, and I love her for her love of shorts! The drop-dead gorgeous Eastern European beauties: Zorana from Zorannah's Fashion Corner definitely has a look I would love to have, very edgy and rock, and Tamara from The Glam and Glitter is just stunning and chic. And how can I leave out Shannon from shaaanxo, she is gorgeous, funny and wears a lot of things I'd love to own (and she's from New Zealand, yay!).

11. Is there a Blogger/Youtuber that influences your attitude each day/lifestyle?

Recently, there have been a few fitness blogs that have really changed my attitude towards healthy eating and how to get the kind of physique I've always wanted. I follow them on Instagram, so if you follow me on there, you'll be able to see who I'm following.

12. How much time do you spend on the internet daily?

I'm not going to tell you because you'll actually just choke on your spit reading it the answer, and then you'll try to take my death grip off my laptop. Let's just say LDR suck.

So, that's it! I tag each and every single one of you who wants to do this. I'd love it if you linked me to your post, just leave a comment down below!

Possets Perfumes: Ribbands Perfume Oil Review

Merry Christmas, everyone! I know I haven't posted anything for a while but the Christmas holidays have been busy and blogging is made even more difficult by my lack of internet at home. It's a long story, but hopefully I'll have it up and running in a week or so! Anyway, I hope you all had a lovely time with your family and friends and received a present or two which you've been hankering after!
As I am working abroad, it meant I spent my Christmas without family and friends, so it was very strange not having a big day filled with running around to different places and eating extraordinary amounts of food, giving and receiving presents, so there will be no photos of the presents I received as I didn't really get any...but don't feel sorry for me, Christmas isn't just about presents, and I am just happy that all my family and friends are happy and in good health! I did, however, buy a few small things for myself just so I didn't feel completely left out of the whole receiving presents at Baby Jesus' birthday.

I discovered Possets through my everlasting scouring of the Internets for BPAL perfumes (Black Phoenix Alchemy). Possets is owned by the lovely owner Fabienne (what a cool name, right?) who creates all the perfumes by hand, and works hard to use the best ingredients put there for her perfumes whilst still making sure that her perfumes remain affordable to all those wanting to smell prutty. I browsed through the whole site making a huge wishlist, then I went to the Yule collection (she has season limited edition perfumes, so you gotta get in quick if you want it!) and purchased for myself Ribbands. Now, to summarise it quickly, it's a perfume that is described as being foody, fruity and gourmand. She brings it back every year sue to its popularity. There wasn't much to go by in the actual description of the perfume on the site, but I came across a couple of people's reviews and I thought it sounded amazing so I took the leap and ordered just that to start with.

I placed my order and it arrived in my mail pretty darn fast considering it's international shipping and it was so close to Christmas (I was pretty chuffed!). I received my little bottle of perfume in a tie-up bag with 2 samples from her permanent collection! I was so happy with the little extras, especially since one of them was one of the ones on my wishlist! She obviously took into consideration that I'd ordered a foody type of scent, so she sent me a sample of Bear Lake Shake Utah and Cri de Coeur (Cry of the Heart) (the one on my wishlist!).

I excitedly opened Ribbands and from the bottle it smelt like chocolate and I could possibly make out a tiny bit of a coffee liqueur scent? I dabbed it onto myself, and wet on my skin it smelt just of milk chocolate with a possible hint of mint. There is supposed to be some kind of raspberry/berry element to it, but I was not getting any. But this perfume's notes change fast. Within minutes I smelt like the most deliciously ooey gooey super fudge deluxe chocolate cake! Yum! After another few minutes this fades and a sweet scent I could not for the life of me put my finger on, sets in. After about 15-20 minutes of having dabbed this on, the berry really kicks in and it's a delicious, predominantly raspberry scent nestled in chocolate. 20 mins + and it's a delicious mix of berry and chocolate that slowly fades away.
Unfortunately the lasting power of Ribbands on me is very short and I can't smell it on myself after half an hour (but other people can). I still absolutely adore this scent and I highly recommend you go and get yourself at least a sample because it's just the most gorgeous chocolate and berry scent I've ever smelt in my life. So go! Check it out! You'd be crazy not to!

What is your favourite memory from Christmas day 2012? Favourite present? Did I manage to entice you to at least have a gander at the Possets website? Wishing you all Happy Holidays!