Lipsticks and why I'm willing to pay the price for them

I love lipstick. My make up bag is probably made up of about thirty or so of them (I'm terrible and I just can't throw any of them away). From muted nude colours to bright and beautiful reds, I seem to pick up a new one almost every time I go shopping. 

No disrespect to high street branded lipsticks, but I've always felt a tinge of disappointment when I wear them and they've rubbed off 20 minutes later. When I buy a lipstick I want it to have staying power, especially if I'm out eating or drinking. The last thing I want to be doing is reapplying it every time I go to the bathroom. 

Recently I've discovered a rather intense love for slightly pricier lipsticks, namely MAC and Chanel. This year I purchased Ruby Woo from MAC and it's safe to say that I fell in love with the colour, the texture and the staying power. While wearing it my lipstick didn't transfer on to any glass that I was drinking out of, and it was just as bright when I came home as it was when I left the house.

MAC's Ruby Woo

Whilst on holiday I was a tad cheeky in the duty free shops and ended up buying myself my very first Chanel lipstick. I usually go for the brightest red that I can get my hands on, but instead chose to go for a far more muted colour, the Rouge Allure Velvet in shade number 34. 

Chanel's Rouge Allure Velvet in #34

I don't normally wear lipstick day to day, but this colour is absolutely perfect for every day wear. Pale nudes don't normally suit me, but the slight pinkish tone to the colour makes all the difference. Again, it's a lipstick that doesn't rub off easily, which is perfect for daily wear when you're being a busy bee.

As if I hadn't already treated myself enough, my parents came back from Greece with a treat in the form of another Chanel lipstick - Rouge Allure Velvet in shade number 38. 

Chanel's Rouge Allure Velvet in #38

This colour reminds me quite a lot of MAC's Ruby Woo, however the consistency is a lot creamier and less drying for a matte lipstick. Personally, I much prefer matte lipsticks but there is the danger of them making your lips appear dry, or the danger of them drying them out altogether. Thankfully, this gorgeous Chanel shade has that little bit of moisture that's needed to keep your lips looking healthy and hydrated.

Finally, I celebrated my birthday at the beginning of this week and was given a little bit of birthday money to spend. Naturally, the first thing I decided to spend my money on was make up. Another lovely MAC lipstick. I wasn't sure of the colour I wanted when I went in, just something that was a little deeper and darker than Ruby Woo. The assistant who chatted with me in the Harvey Nichols branch in Leeds was incredibly helpful and suggested Russian Red to me - exactly what I was looking for!

MAC's Russian Red

I haven't had chance to wear this yet, but I'll definitely be putting a dash of Russian Red on before I go out tonight :)

~ C xxx

The Luxury of Menstruating

It's time for me to rant.

Last week I was watching Russell Howard's Good News, in which he raised a topic that I was honestly delighted to see discussed on a topical TV show - the tampon tax. For years now, the British government has continuously made the decision that tampons are something of a luxury, and have recently voted against amending the Financial Bill to abolish said tax. How lucky are we women to be graced with the gut-wrenching, womb-shedding monthly phenomenon that is our period? Very lucky according to the tax man. So lucky in fact that we are forced to pay 5% tax on sanitary products that we would be incredibly unsanitary without.

Putting my own anger aside on this subject, there is a far more serious issue when it comes to taxing sanitary products that are not cosidered to be "essential". I am very lucky to be able to afford to buy tampons and sanitary towels every month when I need them, but there are women in the UK who cannot afford to buy them. Households with a very low income often struggle to pay for things which are, quite rightly, classed as essential items. When you throw sanitary products into the mix, averaging at £3.14 for a box of 20 regular Tampax, it suddenly becomes even more difficult to make ends meet every month. 

Considering that the House of Lords is currently made up of 191 women, equating to just 25%, it strikes me as absurd that the people making this decision are primarily men. Men, who have never had to and will never have to use such sanitary products. They have no idea what it feels like to menstruate and equally no idea how many tampons and sanitary towels one woman goes through each month. For this decision to be primarily in their hands is ridiculous and unfair.

On top of that, let's look at the list of products that are tax-free and therefore considered to be "essential": Helicopters, Jaffa Cakes, Zoo Tickets and Crocodile meat, amongst other things. I honestly can't remember the last time I desperately needed a Jaffa Cake...

The thing is, I wonder what reaction would be coaxed if women were to stop using tampons and sanitary towels? Most probably outrage? Disgust? Horror at the fact that, yes, it's true that we bleed monthy, were you under the impression that it was a myth?

For the time being it looks as though we won't be losing the tax on tampons. Just one of many things that the British government do that I disagree with. I sincerely hope that they see sense sooner rather than later, and end this unfair, sexist charge for having a uterus.

~ C xxx