My Yearly Favourites

Hi guys

Happy New Year!!!! I hope your head doesn't hurt too much today ha-ha. 

I say it every year, but I cannot believe how quickly this year went and I also can't believe everything that happened in 2016. It felt like the year that every music legend was taken, there was numerous atrocities all over the world and there were some very important issues highlighted which will hopefully be the beginning of something very special. I also can't forget the UK voted to leave the EU, Donald Trump is the President of the USA with Nigel Farage being an unofficial spokesperson for Britain and Marmite almost caused a rammy in our local supermarkets! But lets leave all that behind, this post isn't meant to be heavy at all, I just couldn't believe the things that have happened and I wanted to reminisce. This post however, is all about beauty.

Korean Skincare | Tony Moly I'm Real Sheet Masks

Hi guys,

After a harrowing week last week, I lost all my uni work from my pen drive and laptop including my dissertation and an essay, i've decided to chill today. No need to worry though as I managed to get some of my dissertation notes from my supervisor who I thankfully emailed a couple of days before but I had to start my essay from the beginning again which annoyed me as it was almost finished! A break is very much needed ha-ha. 

My Christmas Wish List

Hi guys, 

I thought I would put together my Christmas Wish List today. I haven’t been lusting after many makeup items but I am all over home comforts this year such as bath products, skincare, pyjamas and candles. I have added a few beauty items too so don’t worry. This isn’t a huge expensive wish list, infact the majority of items are under £30 so there’s something for everyone, even if it’s little stocking fillers for that special someone in your life. 

Why I Stopped Buying Beauty Boxes

Hi guys, 

This is in no way a bitch or a moan, its simply my thoughts and opinions on this trend. As you know, there are a million beauty boxes out there now with Look Fantastic, Birch Box and Glossy Box being the most well-known. Since their launch we have seen countless monthly offerings including ones that aren’t necessarily beauty based such as The Melt Crowd (candle subscription service), Graze (snack box), Ink Drops (stationary), Pink Parcel (period box), Lip Monthly (lip products) and The Vegan Kind (vegan products). All very good actually!. There are also some pretty cool collaborations between the queen of skincare Caroline Hirons (£175) and Cult Beauty or Anna and Lily's (sold out) colab but I am still left bemused by beauty boxes.

I used to be an avid Glossy Box subscriber but I felt I was paying for something that was just thrown together with no thought put in whatsoever. Maybe that's changed now, but I had enough after a year. At first all of the products were deluxe samples of some fantastic brands but after a few months, it all went downhill and I felt it was cheap products in tiny sample form. I then moved onto Look Fantastic, again, everything was great, their monthly offerings were more than welcome and then it went downhill. I have only ordered Birch Box once, it was ok, nothing to rave about but it made me mad that these companies were receiving thousands of subscribers per month and then downgrading the products which isn't fair. 

The thing with beauty boxes is you have to be somewhat of a gambler as you never know what will be coming each month. Sometime's they give a sneak peak which is always fun. I used to like the not knowing aspect but I was left bemused some months. I understand there are dips and troughs, this is to be expected, but the bad outweighed the good in the end which led me to cancel all of my subscriptions. I now see the odd great one from LF, GB or BB so I buy it for that month only if they offer it, but I wouldn't subscribe to them anymore. I know not all subscriptions are the same and some are better than others, especially some of the ones mentioned above, but as for beauty boxes, I think I’m done.

I do love the idea of the collaboration boxes though, but if you ain't fast your last baby, as they sell out pretty quickly. Caroline's one is still in stock but if you dont have £175 then your pretty much screwed. I know these ones can be ridiculously expensive but when you look at the products you are receiving, it works out cheaper in the long run as most of them are deluxe samples or full sized products. Don't know if I would be rushing out to spend £175 bucks on this though, could think of many more things I would buy with that kind of money.

Where do you stand with the whole Beauty Box Monthly subscription service?

Is it a waste of money?

Do you like the products each month?

Do you prefer non beauty based boxes?

Have you checked out my latest featuring Disappointing Beauty Products?
I can also be found on Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram |

Disappointing Beauty Products

Colab Paris Extreme Volume Dry Shampoo

Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes

Zoella Sweet Inspirations Double Creme

Magic Cosmetix Magic Tips

Hi guys, 

After reading Allure of a Girl's guest post on Twenty Something Meltdown, I decided to carry out this blogpost. as it’s nice to take a break from talking up the great products and discuss the ones that have disappointed me. I did one of these a few years ago and I still stick by my views on those items but I have some more to throw into the mix. You can’t like everything and a lot of these products you are going to think, what the hell is she talking about, but it’s only my opinion. You may love some of these but we are going to have to agree to disagree I’m afraid as I thought they were pants.

1. Colab Paris Extreme Volume Dry Shampoo (£4.49)

I had high hopes for this little guy as everyone and their mother were raving about the Ruth Crilly launch so I was keen to get my hands on it and see what all the fuss was about. I hated this from the get go. I didn’t like the texture of my hair afterwards and I didn’t like the fragrance either. I used this as I would any other dry shampoo, I held it away from my hair and sprayed onto my roots by sectioning my hair but it left my hair feeling sticky and unclean. I had slight volume but nothing worth raving about. This felt more like a hairspray rather than a dry shampoo so for that reason it gets a thumbs down from me.

2. Maybelline New York Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Lightweight Primer (£7.99)

I just couldn’t get to grips with this at all. It didn’t do anything for me and it didn’t keep my makeup in place nor did it "erase my pores". Not that I was expecting it to. Instead it left a film over my skin which didn’t feel natural and its texture was quite off putting when I began applying to my skin. 

3. Magic Cosmetix Magic Tips (£9.99)

These have been made for those of us who like to use our fingers to apply makeup. They are silicon tips which are supposed to feel skin like and smooth makeup on easily. I can wholeheartedly disagree. These do not help anything smooth on my face, infact they pull at the product which leaves it looking streaky and not applied properly. I used this to apply concealer before buffing out with a concealer brush but I had to go back in with the doe foot applicator as the product which pretty much non-existent. 

4. Eve Lom Cleanser (£40)

I really wanted to like this as it smelt fantastic and everyone raved about it. Vogue hailed it the "probably the best cleanser in the world" but I have to disagree. I liked how soft it made my skin feel (before the breakouts) and how it took off makeup, don’t get me wrong. I also adored the scent but as far as good skincare went, this was a nightmare. I was left with horrible spots all over my face. At first I thought the skin was purging (although I don’t agree with that statement) so I persisted but after a few weeks I had to stop as my skin was sore to the touch. As soon as I stopped using this, my skin started to heal and thankfully, its back to normal but I would never buy this again as my oily/sensitive skin hated it. Maybe this would be better on dry/normal skin though.

5. Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes (£22.99)

I really disliked this mascara. It done absolutely nothing for my lashes and left me with black rings round my eyes. I can handle a little seeping at the inner corners of my eyes which can easily be removed but this little guy smudged all over my lower lash line, above my eyes and at each corner. I looked like I had been punched in the face which is not a look I go for when wearing mascara, I can assure you. My eyelashes felt limp, there was no length,no separating, no curl and no volume. The only good thing was the fact that my lashes looked black at the roots but that’s not enough for me, I need a mascara to create some fabulous eyelashes not little black stumps!

6. Zoella Sweet Inspirations Double Crème (£5)

I bought this off the back of many reviews online and I am gutted that it didn’t work on me. It took far too long to work into the skin, regardless of how much I used and left me with white streaks up and down my body. I also woke up with the worst smell coming from my skin when I wore this overnight after applying after a bath one night. The smell was disgusting. I can safely say this has never happened with any other body lotion, butter or cream I have used before going to sleep but this was horrible. I also didn’t like the smell it left throughout the day, I can’t quite explain it, but it was almost like a fusty smell, you know if you leave wet clothes for too long and they carry that lingering smell. I thought it actually was my clothes for a hot minute, but it wasn’t, it was this bloody cream. 

That’s all I have today guys. Just because I didn’t like these particular items doesn’t mean I hate the people or the rest of the products. I actually adore everything else that I have tried from Maybelline, Charlotte Tilbury and Zoella but I didn’t get on well with these at all. I haven't sampled anything else from Eve Lom, Magic Cosmetics or Colab but I will try some of their other products to see how I get on with them. Let me know in the comments if you disagree with any of my choices as I like to know how you got on with them too.

Have you checked out my latest featuring Blogger Annoyances?

I can also be found on Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram |

Bath Time With Pretty Suds

Hi guys,

Well, its that time of the year again where we get the cake out, the candles out and we turn another year older. Yes, its my birthday and I have finally entered my 31st year. This is actually scarier than turning 30. I dont know why but it feels weird. I'm not going to do a whole, "What My Goals Are" speech cause lets face it, I wont stick to it. I do know that I am doing my Honours this year so I will have hopefully finished that by the time I reach 32. But as far as anything else goes, I'm pretty much open to suggestions. Enough of me rabbiting on eh?

You know by now that I am a Lush fiend and I have not found a company who can rival them. Until now. Pretty Suds is a family run business headed up by the lovely Chloe where all products are handmade. All products are vegetarian with most of them being vegan as well but please check ingredients list if this is something you are keen to know. I decided to buy quite a bit as I was running low on bath bombs and all of the ones on her website looked amazing. It was quite difficult to narrow it down as you can imagine as the home page is filled with loads of tempting delights. I eventually settled on Sunny Side Up & Juliet’s Kiss which are bath bombs, Starry Night & Water Malone which are bubble bars and some Wax Melts along with an Oil Burner. After receiving the package, I wish I bought more.

First things first, Sunny Side Up (£5), how freaking adorable is this packaging. When I first got the parcel I was shocked at the scent coming through the box. It was bursting with the most incredible fragrance. Liam actually took the parcel from the postman and starting tearing his way into it as it was so intoxicating. We both opened the egg carton as if it were diamonds inside, I’m not joking. We are both a little dramatic ha-ha. Anyway, the smell from each and every one is incredible. There are 6 mini colour bombs in total to give you a sense of what the company have to offer so its a great way to get to know Pretty Suds. These are a charity product so this month is celebrating the LGBT community and PS will be donating 50p from every box sold to the LGBT foundation. I have used 2 from this carton and they are not playing around. Even though they are quite small they pack a serious punch and leave your bathroom smelling incredible, even after the water disappears.

Water Malone, the watermelon bubble bar was the only reason I found out about Pretty Suds. I saw it on Instagram and instantly needed it. I was a little apprehensive about this one as I wasn’t sure it was going to give off a great aroma but I bought it anyway and was pleased to find out I was wrong. The scent is so incredible that it nearly brought tears to my eyes (I told you I was dramatic). No in all seriousness though, it was beautiful and created the most perfect bubbles. I loved how soft my skin felt once I had dried myself off and I also loved the fact that I could smell this on my skin the morning after which is very rare. Once I was in the shower, I wished I had a shower gel that smelled like this as it really is amazing. Sorry, I cant find a link to this on their website so I dont know if they have taken this off the market or what. 

Starry Night is the stand out for me. It is a serious contender for all-time favourite bath product and I mean it would beat even Lush`s best product (find my top 10 here). This has a very fruity scent which I wasn’t expecting at all. It gives off scents of sweet apple, pear, mandarin and raspberry. It is quite hefty too as it’s about 130g, so you could easily get about 4 baths out of this. Not too bad in my opinion. The bubbles this babe produces is intense, honestly, I crumbled in a little bit to see how it fared and my bath was gorgeous. As with the Water Malone bubble bar, I was left with silky soft skin which smelled like a dream. I had Liam saddled up beside me all night when I used this the first time as he just wanted to smell me ha-ha, I don’t know if that’s creepy or sweet. Sorry, I cant find a link to this one either. 

Juliets Kiss (£2.95) is simply stunning. If you are a girly girl who loves sweet floral scents, then this is the one for you. This boasts the gorgeous scents of jasmine, violet and peony and also has rose petals captured inside the bath bomb which just gives a whole new meaning to a romantic bath doesn't it. This does exactly what you can imagine, it leaves your skin feeling super soft, you feeling relaxed and lets you drift away to the romantic setting of your choice. If you and your partner like to bathe together, I would suggest using this one as it is very romantic. 

I haven't used my wax melts yet as I am using some Yankee Candle ones at the moment but as soon as I do, I will update you. I'm sure they will be great though as they smell incredible through the packaging. 

All in all, these products are amazing. I got everything I was expecting from a great bath product and more. The overall design of each product is brilliant and the aroma from each bath bomb from the packaging straight through the scent left on your skin afterwards is unlike anything I have tried before. I do suffer from sensitive skin as you may or may not know and I didn't have any issues with these products but you may have to carry out a skin test before using if you are scared of breaking out. The only issue I have now is, what ones will I choose next?? 

Have you checked out my latest featuring My Favourite Male Bloggers?

I can also be found on Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram |

Favourite Male Bloggers

*Background Picture

Hi guys, 

Well its my little sisters birthday today and a bunch of us went out last night to a country and western bar. Not my first choice, actually I don't even think it would have been my 2nd or 3rd choice but do you know what, it was a fantastic night and my sister had the time of her life which is all that matters. The club was packed and I honestly thought it was going to be filled with the older generation but it was rammed with mostly under 40's which was a shock. They had real life shoot outs, obviously the audience were protected and they had an amazing band on who didn't stick to the norm, they ventured outside of that and hit us up with some real classics that even I knew ha-ha. I can only imagine the headaches today though but as I was the designated driver, I didn't have any alcohol and my head has thanked me today. Yay for me ha-ha. 

Anyway, enough about me. This is a follow up to yesterdays, Favourite Bloggers, post which featured some fantastic ladies but as I love a lot of the equally fantastic male bloggers/vloggers out there, I thought it was only fair to have a stand alone post for them.

I don’t understand the big deal with men talking about or wearing makeup as it should be genderless. Its art essentially. If you want to wear makeup or have a pamper session or just apply some skincare products to help out with problematic skin then who the hell says you can’t! I see a lot of hate on twitter especially for the younger age group including the very talented James who is so incredible when it comes to not only makeup but important issues. I find it very sad that in this day and age it’s still seen as something to snigger at or heckle abuse at. It’s not on really! It isn't just makeup that I follow these bloggers for, I trust their judgement when it comes to buying gifts for the amazing men in my life as they open your eyes to whats out there that woman might not necessarily know. Its the same for men, if you dont know what to buy those ladies in your life then head over to a few blogs or listen to those not so subtle hints shes been dropping ha-ha.

I love all of these male bloggers simply because they are uber talented and know their stuff. If I am looking for a beauty related present for Liam including aftershaves, grooming products etc. then I head over to most of these guys to find out what’s good. A lot of them I watch simply because I personally take makeup tips from as they always look flawless. Honestly, I could watch Marc & Jeffree for hours and hours and still never perfect my makeup like they do. They are truly talented. But without further ado, here are my top male bloggers/vloggers.

Marc Sinclair 

A fellow Scot and an incredible makeup artist. I know a lot of folk just say they are a MUA but Marc really is and he is so talented. I had the pleasure of watching him work live when I attended a Lancôme event at House of Fraser last year and his skills were on point! Such a gentleman and his skills are out of this world.

Jake at The Beauty Boy

I have followed Jake since the beginning and he is honestly such a gorgeous man. He is the sweetest person ever and the work he has created is amazing. He is an advocate for #MakeupIsGenderless and is reaching the world with his voice which I find incredible. Keep an eye out for him as I’m sure he will be a household name one day.

Jeffree Star

People may find him a bit much but I love him! He is flat out honest, he works incredibly hard and he isn’t afraid of shouting his accomplishments from the rooftops. Plus, if you didn't already know, he is the creator of the best liquid lipsticks on the planet. Check them out here. However, they are always sold out so if you want to buy them, keep an eye on his IG or Twitter as he is great at keeping his followers updated.

Tom at Manface

I adore Tom’s honesty and detailed blogposts. He recently called out the male grooming industry after receiving an aftershave that was in the shape of a bullet. I loved every word of it as it was true. Obviously I don’t buy male products for myself other than the Nivea Post Shave Balm but this marketing ploy and the design of the packaging when there is so much suffering in the world due to guns, was a real eye opener. Also, if you love looking at excellent product photos, head over to his blog immediately! 

Cj at Desert Island Skin

Cj is a new follow for me as I recently found him on a recent #30PlusBlogs chat and completely agreed with his views on certain topics. This then lead me to his blog which is amazing. He doesn't just talk beauty, he covers a wide range of topics that will appeal to everyone.

Wayne Goss

I have followed for Wayne on YouTube for years and he is still one of my favourites. I have started to view his videos first when I go to my subscriptions as he is funny, charismatic, honest and talented. Wayne, is a real makeup artist ha-ha, not a fake one who just says he is. He actually trained and has worked in the industry for a long time so when he gives you tips on how to perfect something, you better listen. 

Peter Minkoff

I am sure you have read Peters guest post here on Beauty Talk with Lauren but I urge you to follow him on twitter as he guest posts on a lot of blogs and covers a wide range of topics. I trust his tips for dressing as he knows the upcoming trends and is always on point. A true fashion genius. 

Stephen at Beauty King UK

Love, Love, Love this blog! It covers so many topics and has helped me out when I have been stuck for presents numerous times. I swear, Stephen is such an enabler. I find myself buying products he raves about and stashing them away until a celebration comes round and then I start dishing them out like candy. A perfect example of an interesting blog that covers a wide range of topics.

That’s all I got today guys, I hope you check them out as they are so talented it makes me want to cry. I find myself heading over to their blogs/channels more and more as I really trust what they have to say when it comes to certain products. Truly talented gentlemen.

If you want me to do a "Favourite Male Instagrammers" then let me know in the comments as I would be all over that like a fly on shit. I am seriously in awe at some of the guy’s talent on Instagram. They have really upped their game haven’t they? My IG feed is filled with the most incredible makeup looks I have ever seen and it’s mostly men now as they are just so talented. Clearly, they arent an everyday look for me or for most people ha-ha but if you want to try their looks out or just stare at their beautiful faces then I can arrange for you to see my favourites. 

Who are your favourites?

Have you checked out my latest featuring My Favourite Bloggers?

I can also be found on Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram |

*Photo was taken from link provided in picture and was digitally altered by myself.

Top 10 Lush Bath Products

Hi guys,

I thought I would give you a rundown of my favourite bath time products from Lush. This is only going to involve bath bombs, bubble bars etc. so don’t be expecting any shampoos, conditioners etc. I will put together another Lush post later in the year of other Lush favourites. A few may surprise you and I may be missing a lot of “cult favourites” but we all have our favourite scents don’t we. Here we go.

1) Frozen (£3.95)

I love this bath bomb. It is infused with grapefruit, neroli and rose oil and leaves your bath filled with silver glitter. I normally hate bath bombs like this as the glitter goes everywhere but this bath bomb is too pretty to fret about the small stuff. This is a great addition to a morning bath when you want to wake yourself up as the grapefruit oil is very uplifting and refreshing. I personally use this at night time as I wouldn’t want to go out with glitter all over me, and boy does this leave glitter on you ha-ha. My bathtub, bathroom, clothes, towel, hair (which I didn’t submerge), pyjamas and toothbrush were covered. I actually don’t know how I managed it ha-ha.

2) Dragons Egg (£3.50)

I don’t know if you know this but Bergamot is my favourite scent ever! I have numerous perfumes, bath products, candles and oils with this heavy scent so it’s no wonder that this made it into my top ten. As well as bergamot, it also has lemon oil and jasmine and as an added extra, some popping candy.

3) Blackberry (£3.35)

Another Bergamot favourite but this also has frankincense too which makes for a very relaxing bath. Both of these oils are used in aromatherapy to help release nervous tension and can be used for depression and anxiety. If I feel a bit stressed, I pop this into my bath and let it soak away my troubles. There is also a little surprise once the bomb fizzes out but I won’t ruin it for anyone who hasn’t used this before.

4) Fizzbanger (£3.50)

This is my number one bath bomb from Lush. I love that it looks so simple with its beautiful yellow glow yet once submerged in the water it’s a different kettle of fish all together. It really reminds me of Christmas, I think it’s because of the apple and cinnamon scent that wafts out of it but it also has Ylang Ylang and popping candy to give it a little edge.

5) Rose Jam (£3.75)

This is my favourite bubble bar/bubbleroon that Lush has to offer. The scent is so strong that a tiny crumble from this bad boy will leave a lingering scent in your bathroom for days. It gives off the most beautiful pink tone in the water and leaves your skin so soft afterwards. I love the double dose of rose that it has to offer too so you can only imagine how pungent it is.

6) Mmmelting Marshmallow Moment (£2)

Holy Moly, this is so beautiful. For such a small amount of product, this really packs a punch in the old fragrance department. I just pop this into a freshly run bath and leave to dissolve. The name suits this bath oil as it is super sweet, almost like candy floss. It contains Almond oil, extra virgin coconut oil and marshmallow powder which help to sooth and hydrate your body.

7) Dreamtime (£2)

If you want a product to relax you and send you off to the deepest of sleeps, then this bath oil is for you. This contains Chamomile, Lavender and Shea Butter which will help to sooth, moisturise and calm you before you hit the sack for some much needed z`s.

8) Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds (£4.95)

I adore this bubble bar and I can normally get about 4 baths from it. I don’t like to use a lot so bubble bars last me ages, but trust me, you don’t need a lot when it comes to this one. It contains patchouli which is used as a relaxant as well as frankincense and cinnamon leaf oil which help to calm.

9) Tisty Tosty (£3.50)

This bath bomb has a special place in my heart as it was one of the first products I ever tried. It’s quite small but boy does it pack a punch. Apparently it’s based on a medieval love potion, I’m yet to try that theory out as I just love popping it in my bath, allowing the real rosebuds to disperse in the water and for my bathroom to become a floral scented dream. It contains Rose oil which is supposed to sooth broken hearts, I mean how sweet is that? Again, not tested that out but hey, every little helps when it comes to a broken heart so why not. It also contains Jasmine and Lemon. An all-time favourite.

10) Yuzu and Cocoa Shower Cream (from £4.95)

I love this shower cream, it’s pretty thick, so you don’t need a lot of it, but oh does it smell good. Again, it contains Bergamot oil which we all know by now is very uplifting and also good at easing tension. The cream also contains Tonka and Cocoa absolute which help to make this gel smell like, in my opinion, chocolate oranges. As well as all that, it has uplifting grapefruit oil and cocoa butter.

That’s all of my favourite bath time products from Lush. What are yours?

Have you checked out my latest post asking if You Trust Bloggers?

I can also be found on Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram |

*Top image was sourced from Pixabay

Can You Trust Bloggers?

Hi guys

This is in no way a post about hating bloggers, I am a blogger and I enjoy writing posts whenever I get the chance to do so. I am not 100% dedicated or super serious about it but I really enjoy it. For me, it’s supposed to be a hobby. I have nothing against any of the amazing bloggers who have made this a part/full time job, more power to you! I don’t get arsey about analytics, page views, how many followers I have, how many have unfollowed me or media packages but I do care that my readers trust my judgement and like my posts so I decided to write this post about trusting what bloggers have to as well as a few other things that came up while I was typing haha. 

After spending the day looking through reviews, I began to ask myself, are these bloggers being honest? I dont let the fact that it says "sponsored post" or "this item was sent to me for review" deter me from reading it or trusting it, but I did question if bloggers were being paid/gifted to give positive reviews rather than give their honest opinion.  I have never questioned it before as I like to think all of the reviews I read are truthful. I have bought numerous items on the back of what a blogger has to say and I almost always agree with them. I hate thinking bad of anyone, and I get that they may not want to risk ruining a business relationship or damage their reputation but surely all companies want positive and negative feedback to ensure their products are the best they can be. I just always remember that if someone is willing to buy a product based on what you are saying then make sure you are giving as much information as possible so your readers can decide if its for them or not. 

Source

I understand everyone has a difference of opinion and a product that may work on me may not necessarily work on you but it is mandatory to be as honest as possible. This is just common courtesy and it gives readers the respect they deserve. I try to be as truthful as possible. If I dont like something, I say that. If I love it, then I say that. Sometimes it isnt as black and white as that as you may like one aspect but hate another. Just be as honest as you can. Sometimes I speak highly of something and then a few weeks/months down the line I have gone off it. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t being honest, it just means I have moved on. I am a beauty blogger after all. Its my hobby and job to an extent to review products. I am also a slut when it comes to products as I want to try everything so I can give you an idea of what’s good on my skin (oily, sometimes dry) as it may also benefit you. That means I may rave about something and then you won’t see me using/talking about it again but does that mean I was lying? No, it means I moved on to something else in the hopes that it’s better or different. If I need something new, mostly skincare, I go back and read old blog posts to find out what worked for me and then buy it again. Thats right, I read my own reviews haha and I am often surprised at what I had to say. I wonder why I never bought certain items again but I now know it’s because I am a skincare slut ha-ha. 

This is now going into rantville. Would you trust a blogger who copies others work? I have a huge problem with bloggers who quite literally copy and paste another bloggers work, change a few lines and then don’t even link back to the original content. Dont get me wrong, sometimes I use other peoples photos, especially when I have gone back to fix links in old posts and my pictures are horrendous but I always, and I mean always link back to the original content by writing "Source" under the photo and linking website. I hope others do the same as it lets your readers view someone elses opinion and see where the original picture came from. 

Source

The amount of time and effort that goes into one blog post is quite astonishing. I didnt realise this back in the good old days when I just read blog posts but think about it. You take the time to set up your camera, tripod, lights, backgrounds & product placement. Then you have to edit your pictures, make sure they are sized correctly, make sure they are clear, bright & eye catching. Then comes the writing. The review is the most precious, well for me anyway, as it should explain what the product is, what the company says it does compared to what it actually does (i.e. your findings) and also what is in it as people may be allergic to certain products. I like to look at reviews to see if other bloggers experienced something different and link it to give my readers a different view. Then you grab links and prices for readers so it’s easy for them to head over to buy or look. Once this is done, then it’s time for scheduling/publishing the post. Scheduling tweets. Posting on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and may more social platforms. I think you will agree it’s already quite a lot at this point so for someone to copy and paste all of this hard work is downright disgusting. I totally understand why some bloggers get upset by this but trust me I have read a few posts in my time which have been carbon copies of others so its more common than you think.

Sponsored posts are a big one to get people talking aren’t they, I usually keep out of all the agg on Twitter but  I have noticed more and more people talking about bloggers being paid to talk about a certain product or to talk about a company. Most recently Zoe London spoke out about this and I totally agree with what she said. I have nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing against bloggers being paid, hell we all got bills to pay but I do have a problem with liars or people deliberately misleading their readers to make a few bucks. Just look at Naomi Campbell and Scott Disick on Instagram recently where they have copied and pasted the PRs message straight into the caption ha-ha, I find that bloody hilarious! This could have been a publicity stunt for both company and celebrity but it really makes you think doesn’t it? 

I carried out a poll on twitter asking people if they believed bloggers who were paid and gave a glowing review. My results were as follows:

No 14%

Yes 14%

Depends 50%

Dont read it if its an ad 22% 

I then asked who they trusted more when it comes to reviews and the results were as follows:

Famous Bloggers 0%

Small Bloggers 83%

Magazine Articles 17%

Celebrities 0%

These results astounded me, I honestly believed that big blogs would have been top of the polls as they have so much more sway with the public. But I do agree with small bloggers being more trustworthy as thats who I look to when I want an honest review. I dont really believe hype when it comes from celebrities, the amount of faces you see promoting brands that you know are shit is quite unbelievable but for now, I am more inclined to believe  smaller blogs. 

Source

The one thing I am noticing more and more of is bloggers/youtubers etc. being sent products weeks/months before the official release date to get their readers/followers intrigued and all hyped up. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, it’s a perfectly good marketing strategy but I do have a problem with the majority of bloggers stating these products are amazing and when you order it on their good word, the product is actually a piece of shit. Again, I understand that everyone has different needs and a different experience with products but when you see a larger quantity of "smaller" bloggers who actually buy these products using their own money, stating the products arent good, then surely, you have to trust that. 

I suppose you will always find out if a product is good when you actually buy it but who the hell has money to burn. If you are unsure, then go a wander around the shops and collect samples. Counters always have samples and if they refuse, you don’t really want to be giving these people your money do you? I love doing this in my local Debenhams as the staff are usually friendly and hand out samples like candy.

I feel I have to say again, this post isn’t directed to anyone in particular. I normally stay out of online fights and usually catch the jist at the end of the night so if something has happened more recently and it coincides with this post, then it is purely coincidental. I am all for bloggers, there is more than enough space for everyone but as I said, I do have a problem with people being dishonest to their readers.

Do you believe bloggers?
Do you believe big or small blogs?

Would you buy something purely because a blogger said it was amazing?

Would you be more inclined to believe a celebrity when it comes to products?

Have you checked out my latest post featuring Zoella Sweet Inspirations Range?

I can also be found on Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram |

*Please click links on pictures for source.
* Some links may be affiliates but all thoughts are unbiased and 100% honest