Sunday, March 2, 2014

The Beauty Blogger Tag | Part 2

Photo taken on the floor on my best friends house a few years ago. It would drive him nuts before a night out when I would pour my make up on the floor and get to work

Following on from yesterday's tag which you can read here I have another for you today. It was the fabulous Merry's Musings who tagged me to join in with another beauty blogger tag so grab your cuppa and sit down for a read.

Why did you start blogging and how long have you been blogging for?
I've been blogging for since 2007 and if you fancy a look in to my world pre-beauty/pre-Florence & Mary check out my first blog here.

Whose blog did you fall in love with first?
If I'm completely honest with you I the first blog I turned to would be hard to name. I know that Brocante Home was a big influence back in the day and one I still read. As for beauty blogging I'm sure it was the usual names you'd expect to hear that I stumbled across.

What was the first blogosphere hyped about product that you bought? Was it worth the hype?
I think it was probably Barry M Gelly Nails which I hated on their first use when I still had acrylics. You can read the post here. Then I joined in with Mac's All About Orange range link and Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer link.

What are your five favorite things about blogging and being a Beauty Blogger?
  1. Beauty Bloggers: I'd been lucky enough to meet bloggers in my pre-beauty days but these days at least a month doesn't go by when I'm meeting up with Carissa and Alice to head to a new product launch or press day. It's great to have friends who really understand blogging, especially when we all have the tasks of juggling our full time jobs.
  2. Beauty Products: If ever there was an excuse to buy a new lipstick it's the 'it's to blog' one is the best. I love hearing about and trying new products, tracking down limited editions and sharing my finds and love with fellow enthusiasts.
  3. Having a hobby: I always wanted to be a writer when I was young but took the 'sensible' get a job that pays the bills route which I'm lucky enough now is in a job I enjoy. Blogging allows me to enjoy writing on a daily basis and explore an interest I've always had and there's always something to fill my time if I'm bored whether it's a new blog post or reading someone else's blog.
  4. Photography: I love the sense of achievement when I take a photo, look at it and think, that isn't half bad. I'm by no means the best photographer out there and many bloggers leave me swooning at photos for hours and hoping I could one day be half as good but continual blogging means I'm learning about various techniques and learning to improve day by day.
  5. Twitter Chats: I was never really a tweeter before I saw such an established place for it in the beauty blogging community. Rest assured if I'm bored or fancy a chat one evening there will be a chat taking place or add the #bbloggers tag onto any tweet when you have a question or piece of gossip and you'll be able to interact with fellow enthusiasts. 
What have you learnt from being a Beauty Blogger?
I suppose as I've said above there's the photography aspect of blogging which is a skill that I'm learning slowly… there's always little things you learn and pick up. Even since changing my blog layout I've learnt to resize photos so they fit nicely, or there's the piece of HTML to tag your blog on comments. It's the little things you pick up along the way - oh and the collages. I'm still not the best at them but I'm slowly piecing the odd one together.

Have you changed anything since becoming a Beauty Blogger?
I'm sure I'm more consistent since beauty blogging. The great thing about the vast topic is you always have something to talk about whether it's a new shampoo or lipstick you've picked up. I'm actually planning a spending ban which you'll hear about tomorrow because I've literally got to the point of having too many fabulous things to share with everyone and if I don't stop my purse is going to be unable to handle it!

What advice would you give to a beauty blogger just starting out?
I think the biggest piece of advice to anyone looking to blog is to just do it. I never really made a conscious decision to beauty blog I just realised there was a place I could talk and learn about beauty products. Things like my empties post encourage me to use products and reading other blogs introduce me to different brands and sometimes just the serum or face mask that has been missing in my routine. Grab your favourite lipstick, shampoo or moisturiser, take a photo and blog it… the beauty blogger arena may be vast at the moment but if it's a passion you share join in. As long as you're not looking to blog solely for money and fame then go for it.

What are your top 5 makeup brands?
  1. MAC: Mac to me really is the king of make up and will always be my go to for eye shadows, lipsticks (although their price is starting to make them prohibitive) and brushes. 
  2. Sleek Makeup: Sleek are one of my favourite drugstore brands from their highly pigmented blushes which give Nars a run for their money to my latest find of their eyebrown pencil - stay tuned for a review coming soon.
  3. Chanel: From their foundations, cream blushes to my favourite product of all time Chanel Les Beiges there's nothing better than a treat from the Chanel counter. Uber luxurious packaging with products that match up to expectations. 
  4. Rimmel: A drugstore brand I had turned my nose up to over the years but recently their foundations, concealers, lipsticks and shadow sticks have made their way into my collection and happily so. I'd ever go so far to stay that their shadow stick is on par if not better than Charlotte Tilbury's version. Stick around for a review comparing the two in the next week or so.
  5. I don't feel like I have a fifth stand out brand so I'm going to leave it at 4!
Recommend your top 5 beauty products
  1. MAC 217 Blending Brush: I wouldn't be without this brush in my collection. Yes MAC brushes are expensive and yes there are some acceptable dupes out there but this one is king. My eye make up has improved dramatically since adding this to my collection.
  2. Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer: I have a real issue with my dark circles under my eyes so I wouldn't be without this compact and easy to use concealer. If anything is going to banish those dark circles it's this baby.
  3. Barry M Gelly Nails: As I said on first use I wasn't impressed but since removing my acrylic nails this has been a stand out nail brand for me. If ever I want to treat myself to a new colour, or am indeed looking for something in particular I'm pretty confident I'll find it on their stand.
  4. Urban Decay Eye Primer: The curse of oily eyelids is mine and this eye primer is about the only thing I've found that stops my eye shadow from creasing before lunchtime. I'll recommend to anyone who listens.
  5. Chanel Les Beiges: Not the cheapest of products and one I abstained from buying for long enough that it sold out first time round. When I finally tracked it down I couldn't believe I'd left it so long. I love this powder either alone for minimal make up days or to finish my heavier foundation looks. It really does give a fabulous glow and I always have it in my make up bag.
So thats the end of this impromptu tag weekend. Do feel free to add either of these tags to your blogs and let me know if you do so I can have a read. I can't wait to see what everyone else says is there top 5 products.


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4 comments:

  1. you look so different with short hair! Great tag - was nice to have a little read of your old blog xx

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    Replies
    1. I loved my short hair, wish I could do it again but it just doesn't suit me anymore! xx

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  2. Loved your tag weekend and really enjoyed browsing through your Vintage Tea blog. I think I'll borrow your What's In A Name post - looks like fun!

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    Replies
    1. Please do borrow it and let me know when it's posted and I'll come for a read x

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