Why did you start blogging and how long have you been blogging for?I started blogging in February 2012 after I stumbled across the blogging community via YouTube. I'd been watching beauty videos for properly about a year previously and it wasn't until I noticed that there was this whole other side to the beauty community that I even knew that blogging existed. I decided to start my own blog because, like I've said, I'd been following and reading lots of different bloggers and I just thought that it looked like lots of fun so I thought that I'd give it a go myself. Since then it's turned into a hobby that I love and thoroughly enjoy.
Whose blog did you fall in love with first? I think that the very first blog that I read, before discovering their You Tube channel was Lily Pebbles. I also started reading Fleur's, Zoe's & Louise's around the same time - give or take a few months. Actually, I think I started reading Laura's blog around this time too! I was just in absolute awe of the fact that they had so many amazing (and useful) fashion and beauty tips. I also loved (and still do) the fact that they were down to earth and that they were honest with their readers, if something wasn't very good they weren't afraid to say so.
What was the first blogosphere hyped about product that you bought? Was it worth the hype?The Mac Mineralize Skin Finish Natural. I think that it's safe to say that the world and his wife has at least heard of this if they haven't already tried it. This was my first ever 'high end' purchase and it may be the reason for my ever so slight MAC obsession that I went though when I first started blogging. It was actually one of my Mum's best friends who also played a part in my splashing out on this as I was still 'umming' and 'ahhing' over whether I should part with my hard earned money when we'd gone over to visit her and in a happy coincidence she pulled this out of her bag at lunch and persuaded me that I needed it in my life - and she wasn't wrong! I think that since then I've managed to get though five of these, if not more.
What are your five favorite things about blogging and being a beauty blogger?
- A Hobby -I love that this has become a huge part of my life. OK, maybe it's not as huge as it is to some other people out there, but to me it's a fairly sized chunk. Growing up I was one of those kids who would try something out and stick with it for a little while before getting bored, but so far it's been two years and I still enjoy doing it so touch wood this little chunk of blog-space shall remain. It's gone from a small, somewhat secret hobby that I kept quite to a nifty place where I can share bits and bobs of my life and thoughts with like-minded people. Heck it got me to London Fashion Weekend... Well, partly, the other part was my lovely God-Mother.
- Designing - This may be slightly controversial to some people as it can be the the bain of your life if you don't like it, but for me personally I actually really like to redesign and play with my blog and all that fancy HTML that goes along with it. I took Computer studies for my GCSE's and I always was fascinated with how these bunch of mixed up codes could all come together to make up this amazing blog layout so to start from the very beginning with a blank webpage to work all the way up putting the codes and designs together was sort of like a computer code version of Disneyland for me.
- The Community - As cliche as it sounds I've made some wonderful friends since I've started blogging. Everyone who I've come across has just be so nice and friendly. For example, if you have a problem or want an opinion on if you should buy something that you're not sure about, just go over to Twitter and you'll have about ten or more extremely helpful bloggers there to help you out. It's kind of like being part of one huge family who shares all your passion for anything beauty related and share similar interests. I would love to attend a meet up one day to meet more people but I don't think there have been many my way (that I'm aware of.)
- Somewhere I can talk about whatever I want - I love that blogging allows me to talk about whatever I want. It doesn't always have to be about beauty, I've babbled on about lots of different things over the past: my favorite television shows, music, posting about little day trips that I've been on, my dog, putting together millions of wishlists of stuff that I want but will probably never get round to buying, the list goes on and on. And at the end of the day, there's always someone there who enjoys my incessant talking (I hope.)
- Discovering new brands - The world of blogging has introduced me to so many beauty and fashion brands that I'd never heard of before, and now I can't imagine my life without them. For example, I didn't know about Urban Decay before I started blogging! I know, shocking really! My favorite brand that I've discovered so far has to be MUA. Hands down. I still can't quite get over the fact that I can pick up make-up that's such amazing quality for less money than a one way bus ticket. My mind has been blown.
Have you changed anything since becoming a Beauty Blogger?Actually taking the time to think about it I have changed quite a lot of things since I started blogging. I've learnt that sometimes 'less is more' when it comes to applying make-up. I've also taken a much larger interest in my skincare. I used to be a 'soap and face wipes' kind of girl but now I take the time to make an effort. I've also picked up a handy knack for spotting dupes of various things. Why spend £20+ when I can buy it for under a fiver?
What advice would you give to a Beauty Blogger just starting out?
- Don't be afraid or embarrassed of someone 'discovering' your blog. I was at first but I realized pretty quickly that it was completely unnecessary. My family and friends have been amazing about it (although some people do need to stop constantly harping on about it.) In this day and age with all the technology and social media it's going to happen sooner or later and if people are rude to you just hold your head high and politely remind them that you've got the balls to start up your own blog - which as we all know, can be pretty daunting at times.
- Pick a blog name that's easy to remember but at the same time it's unique! Also make sure that you wont get embarrassed by it somewhere down the line, this name will be what you become known by, there's no point getting all shy about it.
- Be polite! You will never get anywhere or make any friends if you're horrible to everyone. All it takes is one little tweet from someone you've ticked off and then all the amazing, hard work you've put into your blog is now pointless. No one want to read the blog of a meanie!
- Don't blog for 'freebies'. People who do this really annoy me and it never happens. Do it because it's something you genuinely love and enjoy doing. If you're in it for the 'free stuff' (which doesn't exist by the way) you'll get pretty disappointed very quickly.
- On that note, don't get upset when you don't instantly get tons of followers. It's not about that at the end of the day. I've been blogging for two years now and by no means have I reached the level of Zoella for example. But I'm OK with that because every time I see that little number go up I smile because I know that someone genuinely enjoys reading my blog. Just remember that if you work hard, be yourself and put the effort in then someday you could achieve you're blogging goal.
- Have fun!
- Rimmel
- MUA
- Maybelline
- MAC
- Collection (2000)
- Collection (2000) Lasting Perfection Concealer
- Maybelline The Rocket Mascara - Blackest Black
- MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural - Medium Plus
- Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick - Wine/107
- MUA Heaven & Earth Palette