blog anniversary

(Hello cupcakes!)

My blog is six years old today!

This year, I have experienced some ups and downs in my personal life, and I was not able to post in some earlier parts of this year. However, blogging has proven to be a therapeutic constant for me and the way I view blogging has taken on a new dimension.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for reading my blog. Your ongoing support means a lot to me.

Once again, let’s take a look back at the last 12 months of A Touch of Blusher:

November 2011: I added a limited-edition Lunasol blusher to my stash.

December: I presented another Foundation Face-Off.

January 2012: My green-toned eyeshadow phase continued.

February: Another season, another Coffret d’Or palette.

March: RMK celebrated its 15th anniversary.

April: More lovely Paul & Joe items were added to my collection.

May: I started the Stash Debut 2012 series.

June: A new era for Lavshuca.

July: I finally got to try an eyeshadow palette from Muji.

August: This year saw the launch of Astalift in the UK.

September: Jill Stuart’s new Relax bodycare range caught my attention.

October: Aube Couture has been a surprise hit for me this year.

Thank you all very much again. I will continue to bring you more news, more reviews, and more of my thoughts on beauty. Do stop by again soon!

{ 11 comments }

It was in one evening in November 2006 that I started A Touch of Blusher, and today my blog is five years old!

The blogsphere has evolved tremendously in the last few years, and I am constantly overwhelmed by all the new and inspiring blogs around the world. Looking back at some of my earliest posts, I think the aspects of beauty I focus on and the tone of my voice have changed as well. But my interest in beauty remains the same.

I want to thank all of you for reading and commenting on my posts, especially those of you who have been faithful readers since the early days. It has been great fun sharing thoughts and ideas with you! I also want to thank my other half for putting up with my obsession with my blog!

Following the tradition, let’s take a look back at the last 12 months:

November 2010: My foundation case collection had a new addition.

December: Writing about Watosa really made me want to go to Japan again.

January 2011: Three of the eyeshadow palettes I bought in 2010 are on Biteki readers’ top 10 list for 2010.

February: I discovered Muji’s cleansing oil.

March: I was a panel speaker at Access² Fashion & Journalism in London.

April: I explained why I love Kanebo’s eyeshadows so much.

May: There is a new version of my favorite ZA Two-Way Foundation.

June: More blue lip glosses for your beautiful lips.

July: I opened my treasure chest again.

August: Another splash of lilting lilac.

September: I hand-picked highlights from London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012.

October: I talked extensively about BB creams for the first time.

Once again, many thanks to all of you, and I am very grateful for your support. I will continue to bring you the latest news and reviews as well as my thoughts on beauty, and hopefully you will continue to stop by and let me know what you think!

(Dig in!)

{ 28 comments }

(A home-baked scone with raspberry jam.
Would you like some tea as well?)

Another year has just passed by, and my blog is now four years old.

This year is the year of migration to the new .com domain. While the look of the blog didn’t really change very much (I deliberately keep it mostly as it was without introducing too many changes), it is good to have more control of the overall running of the blog and more flexibility in the blog design. There are still many things to learn, but on the whole I am enjoying the process.

Let’s take a look back at the last twelve months of A Touch of Blusher:

November 2009
Cristal Boréal is definitely one of my favorite items from Dior.

December
I spotted makeup from Thierry Mugler in Selfridges.

January 2010
Odd Couple was my first MAC purchase in a long time.

February
One of my favorite Japanese beauty brands celebrated its 15th anniversary.

March
I started the Natural Makeup Recommendations mini-series.

April
Purple and Coffret D’Or are a good combination.

May
I tried Spring Modern Eyes in Orangy Brown from RMK.

June
I rediscovered Paul Smith Rose.

July
Welcome to the new A Touch of Blusher.

August
I reviewed the third  Lavshuca Eye Color Select that I got.

September
Blushers don’t get much better than SUQQU’s Powdery Cheeks.

October
Aurorize Eyes in Light Variation is my first neutral-toned eyeshadow palette from Lunasol.

Stepping into the fifth year of A Touch of Blusher, I will be adding new posts to series such as From My Treasure Chest, Japanese Brand Profile and I Love Colors as well as sequels to a few of my blog posts . There will be more topic-based discussion, and I am also thinking about writing a few more posts on fashion.

Thank you all for your support and feedback in the past year, and hopefully you will check back often in the coming year to see all my new posts!

{ 8 comments }

I hope you will enjoy the cupcakes! (I just had one…)

So far, 2009 has been a hectic year for me. Many of you who have been reading my blog in the last couple of years might have noticed that my posts have been a little less frequent (particularly compared with 2008). What I have been trying to do is to blog slightly less frequently (but still regularly) so that hopefully I don’t have to feel that I need to stop blogging all together. This means sometimes I might not be able to reply to comments or e-mails as promptly as I would like to, but I hope you will still enjoy stopping by and sharing your thoughts with me.

Let’s take a look back at the last twelve months of A Touch of Blusher:

November 2008
I talked about the upcoming trends in Japanese makeup.

December
I tried out Eyelash Curler, one of SUQQU’s best-selling items.

January 2009
From My Treasure Chest series was launched.

February
I shared my thoughts on Dior’s Lady Dior (after I finally decided to get it).

March
I loved all your comments and thoughts on my Japanese Base Makeup Week series.

April
Speculation and anticipation can be very exciting.

May
I reviewed items from British new makeup line Illamasqua.

June
Another Foundation Face-Off.

July
I posted an update on my daytime moisturizer.

August
I added another lilac palette to my collection.

September
Lavshuca’s new Finish Powder didn’t disappoint me.

October
Jill Stuart’s Jelly Eye Color N in 08 Crystal Sky is a shade I didn’t have before.

Since the end of the three-week downtime of my blog a couple of months ago, I have been thinking about whether I want to move to another blog host and possibly own my .com domain. It would be quite a big move, and I have been gathering information in order to make informed choices. I will keep you guys posted.

{ 28 comments }

(One for you, one for me.)

In so many ways, I feel that the last 12 months have passed by so quickly…

Today is my blog’s second anniversary. I’d like to say thank you to everyone that has stopped by my blog and to all my regular readers. Blogging is so much more fun and fulfilling when I know that there are people interested in what I have to say.

My life has been getting busier since two years ago, but I always try to make sure I share what I see and what I think with you as much as I can. Occasionally, I fear that one day I might run out of thoughts and ideas, but your e-mails and comments keep me inspired.

Like last year, please let me take you through the past 12 months of A Touch of Blusher:

November 2007
This is (still) the only eyelash curler I ever need.

December
A Touch of one of my all-time favorite blushers.

January 2008
Coffret D’Or was launched in December, and 3D Lighing Eyes is the first item on my growing list of Coffret D’Or stash.

February
Finally, ck Calvin Klein Beauty was here in the UK.

March
I talked about whitening skincare products in one of my longest posts.

April
My favorite hand cream was revamped.

May
Some napkins appeared on my blog…

June
Blogging brings like-minded people together, as Lynn echoes my fondness in blue-toned goodies.

July
As summer arrived, I took you beauty-shopping in Tokyo.

August
Raycious is gone but not forgotten.

September
I dived into my blusher collection.

October
Out with Raycious, in with Primavista.

As I went through my posts in the past year, I almost felt that I had only written some of them yesterday. This, among other things, reminds me of how I have been enjoying writing about my passion.

There will be more things to come on my blog, and I will start a new series very soon. Do keep an eye on my future posts!

Thank you very much for sharing my joy, and have a great weekend!

(Enjoy!)

{ 26 comments }

(Would you like some homemade chocolate brownie?)

One year ago today, I was browsing through some fashion magazines in a bookstore. Then, after having the idea of writing my own blog for a few weeks, I decided to make it a reality.

I’d say that it started as an act of self-indulgence, since I love reading about and discussing with my friends about beauty and fashion. Then, little by little, it has almost become a conversation between all of you and me.

I’d like to thank everyone that has stopped by my blog as well as all the regular readers and subscribers. Anyone that blogs or writes for any medium knows how great it feels to know that there are people who are interested in what he or she has to say. I have been enjoying getting all the comments and e-mails, and many of the discussions have given me ideas of new topics to talk about. keep them coming!

Also, thanks to my other half, Andrew, who, after my failing attempts to think of a decent name for the blog, came up with A Touch of Blusher, which instantly felt right…(and he made the brownie as well……)

Now, do please allow me to indulge myself again and bring you through some of the posts that mark the first twelve months of A Touch of Blusher. Enjoy!

November 2006:
I talked about Gemma Ward fronting Kosé’s new line, Esprique Precious.

December:
I shared one of my great finds in Japan (and one of my favorite makeup items, ever): Clarins’ Palette Impression.

January 2007:
I compared western and Japanese cosmetics.

February:
I talked about Lavshuca Eye Color Select palettes, two of my favorite makeup purchases of the year.

March:
It was an interesting experience to know that I would be writing about it on my blog before stepping inside the beautiful Marc Jacobs’ first boutique in the UK.

April:
I shared all my various versions of Sheer Stella fragrances.

May:
I wrote about Calvin Klein Cosmetics as the start of the Bring It Back! series, where I talk about cosmetics lines that I wish would make a comeback. (It is fantastic to know that Calvin Klein has re-launched the makeup line in Hong Kong and Taiwan in September.)

June:
I traveled to Nottingham for an inspirational fashion show and found out the fashion blood of the city.

July:
A reader’s comment inspired me to talk about Kate, Lavshuca’s edgier, darker sister.

August:
I devoted one week to anti-aging skincare.

September:
Plans to visit Japan again have been underway, and I share my dream shopping list.

October:
I introduced A-Mei, who will collaborate with MAC for a collection in January 2008.

There will be more interesting things coming up on my blog, one of which is a new series where I reveal my own must-have cosmetics items. The first post will be up next week. So do stay tuned and do consider subscribing to my blog via e-mail to keep track on my future posts! Thank you!

{ 24 comments }