BLOGGIVERSARY SPOTLIGHT: The Transforming Power of Make Up...

My blog has finally done one circuit of the sun, and what better way to celebrate than to reveal all!

The idea for this post has been rattling around in my head for years, long before I started blogging, and it's so wonderful to finally have an avenue to express my passion for make up, and the extraordinary power it has to transform a Plain Jane into a Pretty Polly. I remember the awe I experienced when I first discovered "makeovers" on the internet - in capable hands, I was staggered at the difference between the before and after photos of the ladies who so bravely allowed themselves to be photographed "au naturel", and then later in all their made-up glory. Little did I realise that I would be doing this very same thing one day! Believe me, it takes a whole lot of courage to reveal a bare face on the web...

Not all of us are blessed with natural beauty - I'm certainly no oil painting, and while I am in no doubt of the vastness of my INNER beauty, simply put, these days my outside just doesn't match my inside. So, I set about learning how to bring these two dimensions closer together, and to give myself greater confidence when dealing with the outside world. Another factor is the ageing process - time, environmental factors and life's experiences all take their toll on our faces, and while I didn't wear half as much makeup in my youth, I'm embracing it with open arms now to help me maintain what I regard as a camera-ready appearance...

Along the way I learned quite a few tricks (massive thanks to beautyheaven and Wayne Goss), and made my share of mistakes, and the discovery journey certainly isn't over yet, but I'm comfortable now in my ability to enhance what I was born with, and I hope that what follows shows you that the beautifying products (and techniques) available these days are indeed wondrous, especially for us older gals. It's all a matter of finding what works for you ♥

Below are some examples of my morning transformation. I do this just about every day (and looking at the first pics you'll understand why lol), and love every second of it. Takes about 40 minutes from beginning to end - this is also precious "me" time, and I wouldn't give it up for all the tea in China...

Warning: The bare-faced photos are far from glamorous and frighteningly revealing. But what the hell, I doubt I'll ever be this brave again...

Here's what I used - this is the full-blown arsenal for work days and special occasions...

And just so you know I don't spend my entire life in front of my makeup bench, here's a lazy Sunday face - takes 12 minutes using barely anything lol...

As you can see, makeup can truly work magic, EXCEPT on under eye bags! They're nowhere near as obvious if I don't smile, but hey, smiling wins over vanity every time ♥

There's no one particular thing that makes all the difference for me - when you get to my age it's a combination of quite a few, but I reckon my top two are a great foundation and good eye definition, and of course a long glossy fringe helps too...

Which makeup product(s) enhances your beauty the most?

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. First Bloggiversary giveaway starts tomorrow!

P.P.S. I've just added this review to Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness #8 Link Up Party - you'll find lots of other fabulous blogger articles there too, and some new talent to follow ♥