Methinks it’s time to do monthly shopping haul posts, not to brag about what I bought, but to show myself I buy too much and need to cull my purchases. My tiny home doesn’t have enough space to keep the stuff I buy!

SASA.com

I bought some Naruko skincare products and BeautyMate facial sheet masks. Val‘s been raving about them for ages, and I knew I just had to see what the fuss is all about. They’re looking good, very good so far. Delivery took about 3 weeks. Sasa threw in free cotton puffs and a heart-shaped purse with the order too. Review to come in a month 🙂

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation

The word ‘gel’ had me at hello. Review to come soon!

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Paris Beaverbanks is the editor of one of the most popular beauty blogs in Malaysia, My Women Stuff. She’s been featured in newspapers, websites, fashion magazines, and she was the reason I started beauty blogging 4 years ago. Believe it or not, I invited her to my wedding when we’ve never even laid eyes on each other (the first time I saw her was when we went from table to table to toast the guests :P). We sure have come a long way since then, and I’m proud to call her my blogging mentor and friend. And might I add, an incredibly dangerous shopping enabler too!

I had a chat with the blogger lovingly known as Paris B.

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First of all, I’m sure we all want to know this. Your name isn’t really Paris Beaverbanks, is it? How did that come about?

If it was really Paris Beaverbanks (or Paris B as I go by these days), I must have very imaginative parents! 😀 But no, the monicker came about when I was playing around online with a name generator, and around the same time, I was starting my blog and needed an online persona. “Paris B” sounded cool so …Tada! Interestingly, it seems to have stuck, so I do also answer to “Paris” in real life 🙂

What made you want to start a beauty blog?

Because I’m opinionated! No seriously, I used to be active and contribute to online forums but things started getting political (as they do) so I pulled out. But I still enjoyed learning and talking about beauty. About the same time, I learned about blogs and blogging. I thought it would be fun to have a blog with my thoughts on beauty products I’ve tried. It was all quite new back then.

What advice would you give to new beauty bloggers and to those who are thinking of starting one?

1. Be passionate about what you do. Its easy to start a blog. Its harder to keep it going and to post consistently. The one thing that will keep you going is your passion and interest in the subject you are blogging on.
2. Network. Blogging is a social activity so if you want to be noticed, take time to socialize by visiting other blogs in your niche, and leaving a comment. Interact with other bloggers and build the community. Its hard and discouraging going at it alone and besides, it is always more fun with friends. Blogging isn’t and shouldn’t be a competition, its about being in a community.
3. A stock photo is better than a blurry self-taken one. If you plan to take your own photos, please use a proper digital camera (an inexpensive basic one will do) and learn how to use it properly.
4. Learn HTML. I’m serious.

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THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!

Beautyholics Anonymous celebrates its 4th birthday this month. It’s amazing to think that this little project of mine which started off so small 4 years ago have grown so much since then. I completely underestimated the joy blogging has brought me. I had the pleasure and honour of meeting some of you dear readers and fellow bloggers, and the thought of sharing the same passion with another (and not having to worry about how shallow I would sound when I’m gushing about a new lipstick I bought!) is simply amazing.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, I would like to give away the following items to one lucky reader. This time, the giveaway prizes aren’t going to be massive like the previous years, but they are more of the items that I personally like and would love one lucky reader to have too. Quality over quantity and all that 🙂

All of these items are sponsored by yours truly.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Rivage
Calvin Klein Brow Definition Pencil in 204 Brunette
Anna Sui Face Color Accent in 301
NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna
Crabtree & Evelyn Gardeners Rejuvenating Hand Therapy
Lessons of a Lipstick Queen by Poppy King
A $50 gift voucher from Sweet Contemplation Accessories (not pictured).

This giveaway is open to all readers, local and international.

This time, you don’t have to jump through hoops to enter the giveaway. No need to post about it on your blog, subscribe to my blog, tweet about it, like me on Facebook (ahem, see what I did there? :P), although if you do any of the above, I will thank you a thousand times and eat cupcakes on your behalf.

Simply leave a comment below and you are set! (one comment per contestant please. Please keep it clean and do not add links to the comment, as it will go directly to my spambox anyway). Comment about anything; your favourite makeup, what you had for lunch, your favourite holiday destination, what you got for your birthday, pet peeves, anything!

The closing date for this giveaway is 18 June (Melbourne time, +10 GMT).

All comments will be closed, and results tabulated. A random winner will be picked, and will be announced on 20 June. I’ll try to send the gift out as soon as possible.

Feel free to spread the word. I’d really appreciate it.

Good luck to all!