Random musings of the life of a beauty blogger. It’s not as glamourous or interesting as you think 😛
- I sneak pictures of makeup counters on my phone (turned to silent) for the blog or Twitter.
- I carry wet wipes in my purse, solely for the purpose of removing swatches of makeup on my hands and arms.
- I swatch nail lacquers only on my left hand, leaving my right hand to snap the photos with a camera. After swatching, remove with nail polish, swatch another.
- My Face-of-the-Day posts for a few weeks are normally taken on a single day when the lighting is good.
- I ply on pretty makeup during the day, take photos of it for an FOTD shoot, and then remove all of it to put on another set of makeup for another FOTD look.
- Any makeup I buy or receive cannot be touched until photographed.
- Packaging of beauty products cannot be discarded until the ingredients have been photographed (or at least jotted down).
- All beauty products are positioned at an angle for artsy-fartsy shots.
- Trialing skincare means I hardly use the same facial wash, moisturiser, serum, etc for more than 2 months (unless they’ve achieved Holy Grail status). The problem with this is that I also break out easily. My dad calls me “the idiot guinea pig for people”. Well to that I say, it’s for the people! *shake fists*
- Overcast days doesn’t mean gloomy weather, it means it’s a good day to photograph oneself outdoors.
- I have a text file on the computer which says Blog Drafts, with heaps of half-written topics, and I still claim to have bloggers’ block.
- IKEA and Officeworks are places to go to, not to buy furniture, but for storage solutions for beauty products.
- Beauty products (at least a few lippies, nail polish, a jar or two) are always present on my desk.
- Was lousy at Chemistry in school, can’t remember what most chemical formulae are and do, but know many important skincare ingredients by heart.
- I’ve never been interested in photography until I started beauty blogging. Now I want the latest DSLRs to create those gorgeous artsy-fartsy shots I covet on other blogs.
- I can spend up to 3 hours working on just one post, and well into the night. Beauty bloggers don’t get much beauty sleep.
- I dream of making money out of the blog, and saw that I made 12 cents from Google Ads today.
Are you a beauty blogger too? What else do you do? 😉
Bloggie Wednesdays is a series of articles just on blogging. They contain tips, how-tos, discussions about anything and everything you need to know about blogging and how we can be better bloggers. If you have any suggestions, tips and tricks about blogging you would like to share with us, or if you have any questions you would like me to address, please let us know in the comments.
Awesome post! I visit shops too often just to swatch products and end up buying more stuff, because the new makeup at home “cannot be touched until photographed”. But I can see I do have a lot to learn as a newbie in beauty blogging 🙂
Jos recently posted..Rimmel Pink Fame & Kiss Me Colour Show Off Lipsticks
Jos: You know something? I’ve never thought of swatching the same makeup I have at the shops first before touching my own! Why have I never thought of that?!
You are a genius!
I sit there and be angry at the amount of product on my desk.
Also, as a blogger and declutterer (is that even a word?) I try to finish as many products as possible every month.
Oh, and we stash empty containers in bags under our desks for photographing at the end of the month 😉
Chelsea recently posted..Review: Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil
Chelsea: Hahaha monthly empties! I love it! And my husband wonders why I keep empty bottles and jars instead of chucking them in the recycling bin 😛
Maybe that’s why I’m a crap beauty blogger. I use everything the moment I bring them home. Itchy fingers…
LeGeeque: That should be the way. I just ‘tak sampai hati’ use 😛
Oh wow, I completely agree with several of these!
I had no idea about cropping pictures or color balance until I started blogging as well!!
K / cosmeddicted recently posted..Review: Steamcream – the packaging!!!
K: Me too! I did plenty of presentations before but never did any image cropping, colour balance, curves, etc until I started beauty blogging. Hah!
Very nice post Tine! 😀 Have to agree with them! Also, you start to think like one, especially when using the products: “Hmm the texture of this is creamy/milky/watery”, “Oooh this kept my skin looking matte/dewy/contoured” and so on and so forth 😛
I also learnt one thing that is to NOT be shy when wanting to review something, especially salons/spas/places. If you want to review the place and get photos especially, just ask. They’ll usually be more than happy to oblige, and even though you might not get preferential treatment or whatever, you still get blogging material 😛 I strongly urge any beauty bloggers, new or old (New especially) to NOT just sit down and wait for PR invites or free samples or whatsoever. If you want to review something, ask, go get it yourself, especially when you’re just starting 🙂
Stephanie/Yukaeshi recently posted..T. LeClerc Pressed Powder In Banane
Stephanie: It definitely doesn’t hurt to ask, although I would say to be very respectful and tactful when doing it. Unfortunately, there are beauty blogggers (old and new) who feels entitled to blogger events, free samples, etc, and that’s not right. But yeah, it’s good to approach PRs, especially if you are new, because it saves them a lot of time reaching out to bloggers. They’ll appreciate it 🙂
Oh my! I hear you! I am nodding on all bullet points!
I can’t touch new products unless photographed too! I don’t want to photographed a product that has been used for my first PRODUCT SHOT!
And you’re right! WE do not sleep much! But I guess I get engrossed into the post I am writing and I just can’t help but forget time!
I get scolded a lot (never in school) when I started beauty blogging by Mall guards or counter SA’s for taking photos on areas that aren’t supposed to! *sigh*
Oh, let’s not forget about cropping photos and manually putting my watermark on each photos as I want to make sure whoever will still it will have a hard time removing my watermark! — which I can do like a robot!
Nikki recently posted..AMW Reviews: Nivea Extra Whitening 24h Anti-Perspirant
Nikki: Hahaha see, it’s a lot of work beauty blogging! 😛 I’m with you as well; makeup cannot be touched at all until I’ve photographed it. Then only I can use 😛
Oh yeah I know what you mean. Don’t know why makeup counters and shopping malls are so precious about photo-taking. Are they afraid we’ll send those pictures to their competitors or something? Ridiculous! 😛
Your wallet is always empty because you need to get that XXX product “for blogging purposes” when actually you just really want it 😛
Paris B recently posted..It would be cruel not to fall in love with the Guerlain Cruel Gardenia Meteorites powder
Paris: BAHAHAHAHAHA spot on, love, SPOT ON! 😀
LOL! loving the last point 😀
I guess we share most of the points as a beauty blogger 😉 and oh the storage bit! totally agree 😀
xin recently posted..NOTD: Am I Matte or Am I Not with Essence Matte Top Coat
Xin: Storage is always a sore point for us eh? We never had enough and need to buy more storage solutions for our makeup! 😛
What a great post! I had a laugh and a smile, I agree with all those things (except I am only a newbie). The sneaky photo reminded me of the time I did that and forgot the flash was still set to on, on my phone and almost gave me away. How nerve wracking, haha!
Great times, ah, what we do for beauty.
Beautiful Kayekie: These days, I reckon it isn’t so bad. People (especially shop staff) are familiar with blogs and social media, so for snapping pictures of makeup in store, etc, most of them could guess we’re either going to tweet or blog (or both) about it 😛
Back in the day when I first started, I remembered covering the launch of one of the Designers for Target collection for the blog. I took some of the new clothes to the fitting room to try, but no intention to buy 😛 I had to use a regular camera and man, everytime I snapped a picture, it made this loud clicking sound, and I was so afraid the lady in charge of the fitting room would come barging in asking me just what the heck I was doing! 😛
Haha great post Tine!!! 🙂
I buy products in the name of “blog research”. It’s classified as an “investment” more than an expense LOL #reasonswegiveourselvestobuymoreproducts
Adeline: It is an investment! What would be the icing on the cake is being able to get our “investment goods” tax deducted 😀
le sigh, the things bloggers do for love HOHO, i do quite a bit of what you wrote, and some which i don’t 😛
Plue: Oh there’s much more I’m sure, but these are some I can remember for now 😛
So true… Hahaha, awesome post, Tine!! I need a whole bookcase, labelled “to be reviewed” or in sections, if I could I would hahaha and yeahhh I sneak taking pictures in the mall, in the store, etc.. so many good points, here!
Taking pictures of myself means = fotd
Taking pictures of my own nails means = notd
Taking random pictures of my clothes = ootd
HAHAHA
cendana blushfully recently posted..Daylight Defense with Dermalogica Review and How You Can Win One
Cendana: Hehe every picture we take of ourselves now = ideas for the blog. Pictures I request my husband to take of me now is understood to be “for the blog unless specified otherwise” 😛
Interesting post, gives us a glimpse of a beauty blogger. I didn’t realize life was that hard for a beauty blogger, though it might not be that different than that of an average girl.
Allen recently posted..What about Windows Live Mail Backup?
Allen: It IS a lot of work, but something we really enjoy doing 🙂
High five, Tine! So so so many same things I as a passionate (but sadly not that active) beauty blogger do!
And man!! How glad I am to get to know I’m not the only one with not touching new stuff before having photographed, and with the packaging hoarding! Haha… 🙂
Jess recently posted..A little gift to myself…
Jess: Oh we’re definitely not the only ones who keep empty packaging! For me, I photograph the box first and store the images on my computer. Whether or not I end up blogging about it, at least I have backup 😛
As a newbie I have to agree!
Is it just me who tries to use up products for empties posts as quickly as possible?
Add to that that we are also always on social networking sites, and when not spending hours writing our posts we are also being community minded and reading and commenting on the posts of beauty bloggers we admire also!
Ah, the crazy world of beauty blogging, but we wouldn’t have it any other way would we?
Mystique recently posted..HG Hands: Natio Wellness Hand Wash
Mystique: Hahaha at the moment I don’t do empties posts, but I do know what you mean 🙂 I should also add “spending heaps off time on the phone blogging and on social media thus annoying the heck out of our partners” 😛
I love it! my addition would be…I take 20 pics of the same product, but only use 2. Or in the morning I want to use something but go “shucks, I haven’t taken pics of it yet!” and end up picking something else… 😛
beetrice recently posted..Happy New Year, and I’m back! 😀
Beetrice: Me too! Heaps of images taken, but only end up utilising a couple. My Dropbox is full of such pictures 😛
nod nod nod… to most points. looks like i’m can only be classified as semi-beauty blogger :p i’m not that organized and i should start to be. esp taking notes what makeup items used. i often post looks not remembering what was used!
i try not to touch products until they’re photographed, but since i work on weekdays and weekends are the only times i can take pics (provided there are time and weather permits) sometimes i just can’t wait… at least it shows that i tried and used the product :p
coco recently posted..smokey coral
Coco: With what you just said, woman you’re a full-fledged beauty blogger, not a semi one! 😛
As I sit here putting together tomorrow’s post, I’m laughing at myself via your bullet points. Thank god we’re obsessed otherwise we’d never do any of this!!
Nikki @ Styling You recently posted..Do you have a style mantra for 2012? Here’s mine.
Nikki: Hahahaha we are obsessed, and it’ a very good thing! 😀
Check my post today!
Nikki @ Styling You recently posted..Future beauty: what you’ll be buying very soon
I’d really like to become a beauty blogger and be sent a lot of free products to to review! But I suck on this topic, so I really apriciate you guys out there doing this for us. 😀 What I mean here is that I carry wet wipes in my handbag too, but they are mainly for my children’s faces and butts haha.
Emilia recently posted..porcelain veneers cost
Emilia: Beauty blogging is a passion, not so much to get free products 😛 But it IS a fun thing to do, a really nice hobby that I hope in future can be turned to a career 😛
Just a word of warning, Emilia. You’ve got to EARN the respect and trust of PR and media companies before you are actually on the radar for freebies. Also, Tine and a few other bloggers wrote some posts before on the obligation they have/do not have when it comes to receiving these so-called freebies. It’s not just all fun and games but it’s serious work as well. Bloggers have travelled the long and hard road to be acknowledged as respected journalists with impartial views (hopefully!) and it’ll be a shame that all the hard work gets undone. So, if you’re thinking of getting onto this journey of blogging for freebies, you might really want to have a think again.
LeGeeque recently posted..I’ll Be Loving You Forever
Too true!
I don’t touch all these pretty lipsticks because I haven’t had the chance to photgraph them yet… sigh, the pain of a blogger.
And while I love photography, I believe I am now more crazy about photographing products so that they look so amazing, you want to go out and see them for yourself in real life. Still working on my camera angles 🙂
And beauty sleep… sigh. I wish! sometimes I sit and take 6 hours and a post is still not complete. Damn I’m slow.
Lilpil: Hahahahaha I know what you mean about photographing products so that they look really appealing. Gotta work the angles of the stuff and we have to bend here, stretch there to get it right. Hee hee 😛
I’ve done over 6 hours for a post as well. Frustrating as hell when I still can’t get it right 😉
haha I agree with so many of these!
PLUS: always having your nose in your smart phone tweeting or instagramming, to the point where you get in trouble from friends. Plus, not asking friends what cute skirt etc they are wearing, instead asking what foundation they are wearing!
Tegan @ Teganias Thoughts recently posted..Review: Models Prefer Retractable Eyebrow Pencil in Light
Tegania: OMG same here! I used notice what people wear and comment on it. Now it’s “oooh love her lipstick, wonder where she got it” or “that’s a gorgeous blush that lady’s wearing, wonder where it came from” 😛
Oh, and yeah, I do get in trouble heaps of times from sticking my nose in my phone, tweeting or reading tweets 😛
What a cute post! I thought I was the only one that did a lot of these things.
Jennifer Williams recently posted..Review: Revlon In the Red Matte Lipstick
Jennifer: Haha thanks! And you’re definitely not the only one who does these things 😛
Great post! I am guilty of so many of these! I’m also guilty of washing and styling my hair sololy for the purpose of filming my YT videos, to hell with what it looks like at work XD
Celina recently posted..Fables of an Artist: Planning the Concept
Celina: HAHAHAHA I’m the same with makeup. I apply pretty makeup at home just to take pictures of it, wipe it off, and go out with just tinted moisturiser and lip tint on. Say what? 😛
Ha! So much truth here.
I’d add – The staff at the department beauty stores know you by name, and know that you’re always wanting to see what’s new! 🙂
Omega recently posted..Makeup Looks: Blue Goth
Omega: Hehe I haven’t gone to that stage yet, because I do most of my purchases online. But that’s very cool indeed! 😛
FANTASTIC post! I’m like nodding away…. Can I celuk the post idea? :p
Connie De Alwis recently posted..Facials of 2011: The Good & The Bad
Connie: Hehe ambik la! 😛
I’m just getting started with my blog *sigh* & I already have a draft folder brimming with ideas. Love the personality that comes thru in your posts… funny gal ; )
VNikol: Aww thanks 🙂 It’s good to keep a folder/document of ideas. It’s a good start. There’ll be more to come as you continue on your blogging journey 😉
Great post Tine……you covered it all so well! I might borrow this post idea 🙂
Harshleen@BeautyTidbits recently posted..Julep Maven Intro Box Giveaway Winner
Harshleen: Go ahead! Would love to read your version as well 🙂
What a great post! I do a lot of these things too. Although I often touch products, but only lightly, before I photograph them.. I just can’t wait to play with a new item hehe..
gio recently posted..Product Review: Mavala Mini Color in Lamé Gold
Gio: Thanks Gio 🙂 For products I’m super excited to get my grubby mitts on, they bypass my “queue” of products to be photographed so that they can be snapped early and I can quickly use them 😛
This is a very interesting post. I was reading and smiling all along (and nod in agreement too).
Kessa Thea recently posted..UNFURGIVABLE by Strip Manila for PETA Grand Launch
Kessa: Well hello fellow beauty blogger! 😀
Being a fashion/beauty blogger has made me a lot less shy about being in photographs.. I used to cringe every single time but now I think I am used to how I look and worry less about it!
This morning I got weird looks from other commuters when I realised I hadn’t taken an OOTD photo and made my partner take a pic of me at the train station. The things we do! 🙂
Re: comments about beauty counter staff – I have always found them very friendly. I just introduce myself, tell them I am a blogger, hand over my card and they are usually very happy to let me roam about, swatch and take photos. I always ask first and thank them! I think most of them realise that as a blogger you’re going to be MORE careful and respectful of their store display than an “average” customer. 🙂
Omega recently posted..Review: Morgana Cryptoria Lipstick – “It Girl”
Omega: OMG I know what you mean! I’m usually on my own when I’m on the train or bus, so I have to take pictures of myself, well, myself. Very camwhore-y to hold the cam in front of me, smile and snap. Wonder what the rest of the commuters think. HAHAHA!!
Spot on, Omega! I think if we’re respectful to the beauty counter staff, introduce ourselves, tell them what we’d like to do, ask if we could do it, most of the time they’ll oblige. They’ll even tell you more information that you need to know, maybe give you a sample to try. It helps them do their job as well when we as beauty bloggers help them educate consumers on certain beauty products 🙂
*nods at everything except for the makeup shots because our faces aren’t on our blogs yet*
You’re right, it’s not glamorous, but it’s FUN! Too much so.
dom recently posted..Review: Trésor Midnight Rose from Lancôme
Dom: Haha I know right? Even more when you’re part of a group of beauty bloggers who are completely fun, bonkers and enable each other 😉 😉
Yeah…I told Connie that thanks to her and the rest of evurl, I now have 4 opened tubes of mascara. What she doesn’t know is I also have 6 opened cleansers, 4 opened mask tubes and … 5 million other opened items of stuff. I NEVER USED TO BE LIKE THAT.
dom recently posted..Review: Trésor Midnight Rose from Lancôme
Dom: Hahahah beauty blogging does that for ya! 😛
Oh I hear you! My husband often wonders why I still have the packaging of the stuff I’ve been using..ummm…to take photos of, of course! And I’m glad I’m not the only one with beauty products on her desk. 🙂 Great post!
Norlin recently posted..Make-Up 101 – The Ultimate Basics
Norlin: Let’s see, I currently have 4 bottles of nail polish, 1 BB cream and perfume on my desk as I’m typing this. And that’s besides the mess of papers and junk on it 😛
Hahaha!! I laughed right through this post :-)) You’re right about every single point.
” Any makeup I buy or receive cannot be touched until photographed. Packaging of beauty products cannot be discarded until the ingredients have been photographed (or at least jotted down. ” Hahaha so, so true!!!
Poohkie recently posted..Super Late Nov, Dec Favourites
Poohkie: Hahaha I’m just echoing what every beauty blogger does too. Hee hee hee! 😀
I love this post Tine. In fact, I think this is one of my favorites from you.
As I sit here and read this post I am nodding my head in response to all the points you have raised. Some things made me laugh like having your phone on silent so you can take pictures, I do this too. Also the fact that you can’t use products until you have taken pictures, I also do that.
Great post.
XXXX
Tara: Thanks lovely. I think it’s what every beauty blogger does, and I absolutely love it! As for keeping the phone silent, I know that a lot of beauty counters, shops, etc accept that now, what with social media and all, but I’m still just too chicken to openly snap pictures with that loud click on the phone 😛
Lol! Guinea pig for people! True or true?
^_^ Agree with the list you made.. *sigh* especially with skincare.. Never get to repurchase a product that I like because i’m constantly trying out new ones!
& My neighbours and Mum think I’m a freak for taking photos of lipsticks and make-up (because I do it outdoors)… Um??!???~~?
Love this post! ^_^ x
Tram recently posted..Herbal Essence Body Envy Giveaway Winners
Tram: Unfortunately, when my parents were visiting in Melbourne, they happened to catch a bad time for me trialing some skincare products and my skin completely flared up. Mum was sympathetic, dad burst out laughing and said “serves you right for becoming other people’s guinea pig”. Hardy hah hah.
I snap pictures outside too, and I know my neighbours could hear the clicking sounds of my camera. Must be wondering why their neighbour is always taking photos outside, and of what?! 😛
The look I got from my Fiance when I asked him to take a close up of my lips for a lipstick tutorial.
Seeing new textured surfaces and thinking how nice would the new lancome jelly tubes would look in a photo on that surface. The other day had me taking product shots on our new white pebbled front path. the neighbours were confused.
Having rainbow coloured nails because you were testing colour variations to see which one you wanted to swatch next and getting interrupted.
I agree with not being able to use product until you get it home and photographed and opening packing oh so carefully.
Yvonne recently posted..The Road to Unleashed – New Shoes
Yvonne: Spot on the rainbow coloured nails! I just had that last week 😀
I think I’ve asked my husband to take pictures of me enough of times for him to know exactly what style I want. Sometimes when I think a certain position doesn’t look good, he’ll contradict me and say “you want this to look good on your blog, right? So listen to me!”. Geez 😛
aww loved this post- and so true. My nail swatches are always done with a full mani – I leave and change every 4 days and never thee same colour again – so I am always ahead with nail swatches- they are my bloggers block go to!! If I love a colour on my nails- it gets a second go on my toenails!!
Me my best and I: Wow that’s good. If I’m blogging about a nail polish, it goes on, take photo, goes off, another polish, take photo, etc. Poor nails on my left hand get the worst hit 😛
Haha! “Packaging of beauty products cannot be discarded until the ingredients have been photographed (or at least jotted down).”
I’ve got several big boxes at home just to hold empty product boxes!
Vivi recently posted..Review: Joppa Minerals Concealer Powder and Tinted Concealer Base
Vivi: Hehe it’s no wonder why people in the house think I’m nuts for keeping rubbish 😛
i came across your post through ‘blushfully’ and thought it was hilarious – especially at the ‘idiot guinea pig for people’ and so true about office works and ikea .. i always think ‘how many makeup brushes could that container hold?’ x
Faye: Hahaha me too! Officeworks sell the mesh pen and pencil holders (black ones) and they hold makeup brushes well 😛
oh my I agree with every thing you pointed out, it’s all sooooo very true! ^_^
I too love to take photos of the products before I use them, but most of the time I can’t wait. so I usually take photos of the products I bought after I’ve used them once…LOL
I too have never been into photography until started beauty blogging, I hated how the photos came out with using the regular digicams. So this is how I started to work with DSLRs…
BTW, I’m a new follower ^_^
Hollie recently posted..Valentine’s Day Look Part 1
Hollie: Hehehe when I can’t wait anymore, I swipe my makeup brush over powder products very lightly as to not affect how it looks, so that I can photograph it later 😛
PS: Happy to have you on my blog, Hollie! 😀
fun to read and some of them are so true. i can’t believe i’m doing that until i read this post.
cushy recently posted..happy lunar new year!
Cushy: Hee hee, it’s all good fun! 😀
I totally agree with you! Whenever I buy a new product, it will have to sit in a tray an wait to be photographed before I can start using it. It’s almost crazy because sometimes I would have so many items sitting in my tray just waiting to be used.. Haha
Mabel: Hahaha I know, right? At least yours is on the tray. Mine’s on the floor! 😛
Really enjoyed reading this. The other day I got strange looks for taking photos around the beauty counters in Myer (I’m suprised I wasn’t told off). Unfortunately I can’t turn my phone’s camera shutter sound off so it makes an obvious and annoying sound when I take photos.
LittleMissSCB: I don’t understand why they should even tell you off. You’re advertising for them for free! This irks me to no end when I get told off by sales staff for taking pictures. Sometimes I wanna just shake them and say “I’m selling these for you, don’t you understand? And I’m not even getting paid for it!” 😛
Tine: I totally agree with you! haha 😀
Just read this post again as I’m sorting thru my Blog Tools folder. ; ) It’s one of my faves & I can’t thank you enough for all the greta blog tools & tips you dole out throughout the year. Not too many beauty bloggers are into sharing their *secrets* but you’re so great to pay it forward… it’s much appreciated Tine, really!
VNikol recently posted..Sorry Barbie, some little girls would rather be Wendy instead
Aww thank you so much, lovely. I’m so glad it helps you. When I first started, there were few resources out there for beauty bloggers so I understand how frustrated new bloggers feel. Just hope to be able to help in any way 🙂 x
This is so funny, and so true. I am a working hair and makeup artist. I blog about hair and makeup as well. You are so right, I seldom get enough beauty sleep.
Ahh the woes of people in beauty not getting enough of beauty sleep! 😛
Tine recently posted..List of Lusts: Modern Romance