Around this time of year you’ll start to see several cheeky shots of golden leaves and Starbucks’ pumpkin lattes in your Instagram feed – everyone is making the most of this cosy time of year. But if you can’t get enough autumn porn, why not follow a few Fall-focused accounts and indulge in image after image of root vegetables, dead leaves and Hygge-licious blankets/fireside/hot-chocolate scenarios. Here’s ten of the best. 1.) Fall Winter Party (top image). A fab thing about this account is the scroll-through friendly colour changing theme. That’s so 2014 you might say, but it really works for an Autumn account where rich, vibrant orange, red and yellow shades are key for making us feel the seasonal vibe. 2.) Cosy Autumn Time (below). This is a much moodier, more editorial feed. You feel both cold and cosy just looking at the pictures, it’s perfect for browsing with a... Continue reading

One of the biggest mysteries of the current digital marketing sphere is how much bloggers should be paid, and who is earning what. Because the employment of social media influencers and bloggers is still relatively new, there are no set rates, and there's still a lot of uncertainty (and even animosity) over money. There are still brands trying to get bloggers to work for them for free, and frankly - they're succeeding. A lot of brands try and make bloggers feel honoured to work with them, to have their content on their website or in their magazine, and in the excitement bloggers won't ways see the bigger picture about how they're being exploited in to working for free - trust me, I've been there. I was about to write my third article for a print magazine, for absolutely no compensation when I thought wait, this magazine doesn't pay any bloggers... Continue reading

How many blog buttons do you have in your sidebar? Not the kind of buttons that do up your fave Zara cardy, or the eye-covering ones that creeped me out in Coraline. I'm talking about those little clickable adverts that so many bloggers have. You did know that they're adverts, right? The ones from brands, I mean - not buttons that link to other blogs, or your own blog content. Brands have come up with all sorts of ingenuous ways to get you to slap a free advert for them on your website - and not just ads to get their their logo seen; buttons provide an easy click-through to their site, boosting their SEO in the process. Double bubble. Some button campaigns from brands include: An award - e.g blogger of the week, of the year, etc A brand ambassador of sorts - "I'm a Next Blogger" "I'm an... Continue reading

One of the exciting bits about being a blogger is getting to attend events laid on by brands, which usually involves being spoilt rotten and pampered to the hilt. It's a win-win situation, with you having some interesting content for your blog, and the brand getting exposure on social media, and a nice link or two to boost their SEO. These kind of events are also great for brands to talk directly to bloggers, build working relationships, and for bloggers to network with one another and grow their readership. Every aspect of blogger events will come from a brand's marketing and PR budget, from the venue and catering, to the activities laid on and the goody bag when you leave, I've even had some brands provide a taxi to and from the event too. So in short, no - you should not be paying for blogger events that are run... Continue reading

No sooner than the controversy surrounding the buying of social media followers had died down, along came the news that many bloggers and other influencers were using bots to build followings. Let's not go there today, it's a stressful business, the outing of bot-twots, but I wanted to talk about another, wholly more innocent, though none the less problematic way of fudging your social media platforms, and in turn the way some people might view you as a blogger. A couple of weeks ago on Twitter I happened to see some bloggers saying that it's easy to spot bloggers who've bought followers as their follower count is much higher than the engagement they get on each Instagram. It's a bit of a sore point for me so I interjected to let them know that this may not always be the case. I joined the Instagram party quite late, and my... Continue reading

If you're a blogger, you no doubt use Twitter to boost your readership, promote your posts, and network with brands and fellow bloggers (as well as lol-ing at memes and witty tweets, avoiding TV spoilers, and probably getting most of your news, of course). A great way to get your blog seen by more people is to tweet a link to your latest post and include the handle of a blogger re-tweet account, and they'll promote it to all their followers. There are so many of these accounts, with more cropping up all the time, including @Bloggeration_, which I run. I know firsthand the amount of time and dedication required to set up and grow a re-tweet account, so I couldn't help but wonder who's behind some of the most well-known re-tweet accounts, and what motivates them to keep promoting the work of bloggers. Here are six re-tweet accounts you... Continue reading

Just to clarify, this post also looks at the good things about Instagram pods and follow trains, but in the name of all things clickbait I've focused on the negatives in the title (ah, what can ya do). If you haven't heard of these sorts of things, they've become increasingly popular in the blogging world, particularly as it becomes more saturated and social media platforms change their algorithms, making it harder than ever to get your Instagram and blog posts seen. Instagram pods are where a group of people agree to like and comment on each other's Instagrams - either every post or a set amount of posts per week or month, and follow trains are where bloggers agree to follow one another on Twitter or elsewhere, sometimes with agreements to comment on blog posts. There are also groups of bloggers on FaceBook who agree to comment on each other's... Continue reading

It may be July, it may be warmer than the sun, but by god - that won't stop any fashion houses releasing their fall makeup collections. I would dearly love to be knee-deep in autumn right now, just thinking about crunchy leaves, pumpkin spiced drinks, warm boots, Halloween, and every other seasonal cliche just makes me yearn for toastier times. And I mean toast as in warm buttery toast by a fire, not the feeling of being unable to sleep at night as it's so warm, and that rickety Argos fan in place of air conditioning isn't cutting it. Dior's Fall 2017 collection is all about Metallics, they're going to shine city, and we're all invited. Behold the jewel in the crown - the Hypnotize Palette, a limited edition 5 Couleurs to sparkle and shimmer your way through autumn. It's stunning, and I think really hits the mark in terms... Continue reading

Would we say that Drink, Shop & Do in Kings Cross is a hipster cafe? I mean, they have a disco ball, neon signs, 1950's-esque formica tables, lots of pastel colours, 80's film screenings, and board games. So... the jury is out. I for one freaking love Drink, Shop & Do. It's big and light, with cosy nooks and crannies if that's what you prefer. By day it's a cafe, by night it turns into a club, and they have a whole selection of craft workshops you can do for laughs, or book for hen parties and whatnot. I popped in there (super close to Kings Cross Station) last week for lunch. They don't have the most amazing menu selection, just a few sandwiches, salads and cakes to choose from, but everything is good. My friend particularly liked the salad and glass of wine meal deal for £10 (quinoa, avocado... Continue reading

It's not something the beauty industry likes to shout from the rooftops - that if you look after your skin from the inside you'll get better results, because then they'd be selling less skincare products and whatnot. A balanced diet, sleep, and water are vital for clear, soft, healthy skin, though in these modern times of frantic prosecco quaffing and late night work sessions (just me?), it's easier to reach for the face products and hope for the best. Taking a daily vitamin is your insurance policy, supporting your best efforts to be healthy. Water For Health have a great range for everyone, but some particularly good stuff for women that's packed with vitamins B and D, plus omegas and hyaluronic acid that support heart and bone health whilst giving you fantastic soft hair and skin. They asked me if I'd like to try some, and my bad - I... Continue reading

The older you become, the harder it gets to achieve full coverage from your makeup without it showing up every line and crevice. On one hand, your face is going to age, and that's a beautiful, if at times slightly disconcerting state of affairs, on the other - it's a pain in the arse when you're trying to cover up spots and eye bags, and your foundation is instead making your skin look a hundred times drier than it is. Makeup artists recommend that more mature skins skip the finishing powder, and whilst I'm not at that stage yet, I was definitely concerned that a powder foundation might not be the best for faking younger, clearer skin. How wrong I was when I tried bareMineral's Original Mineral Foundation. This amazing pot of powder is made with just five ingredients, and is apparently so pure you can sleep in it. The... Continue reading

It's the start of a new week, the sun is shining, the Chelsea Flower Show kicked off today, and people are making plans for things like Wimbledon and music festivals. It can mean one thing - seeya later, spring, it's almost time for summer. When it's this sunny I just want to sit in the garden with an iced tea, a good book, and some music. It's not that easy for me as I live in a block of flats, and the communal garden can only be described as a mixed bag when it comes to what people want out of it. It's handy being freelance as I can take advantage of the garden when it's emptier in the day, and it's nice to roll out a blanket and listen to the radio. The Hepburn II from My VQ is an absolute thing of retro beauty. A sleek, portable design... Continue reading

I'm a little late to the party with this one, Chanel's Spring 2017 release has been available since March, but you can still buy this online and in most department stories. Coco Code is a beaut of a mini-palette; a multi-tasker that can be a bronzer, rosy blusher, highlighter, eyeshadow, and contour, or swirled together to create a gorgeous glowing cheek colour. I became a little obsessed with watching tutorial videos on Chanel's YouTube channel using this, it's so cute seeing someone dabbing a tiny brush into one of the minuscule squares and applying it. You can get some different looks by mixing two or three colours - it has two mattes, a shimmer and a sparkle, so you can mix and match. But it's tricky, being the size of a blush compact and all, and it's much quicker to just swirl them all and go. The brush it comes... Continue reading

Apologies for my poor photo, but even though it's the greyest, rain-soaked day we've had in a long time, I am desperate to get this up so you can get your hands on one of these blogger boxes before they sell out. The Curated Combination is taking a stand against lame subscription boxes that have a high ratio of tat to things you might actually use, and they're determined to deliver a monthly box of high-quality goodies. Their mission is to have mostly full-size items, no tatty samples, and to have a mixture of things that bloggers will actually want to review and write about. They're not necessarily a beauty box, this one happened to be, but I'm not complaining - mixed content boxes are only good if every type of item is fantastic. You'll need to be a blogger to sign up for the box, and there's only thirty... Continue reading

Last year it was reported that social media influencers are now officially more frequently used by brands than 'traditional celebrities' - stars from the worlds of pop, film and sports, for example. This is a significant shift in how brands market their products and services; The Drum reported that 8 out of every 10 PR and marketing industry professionals has worked with influencers from Instagram, YouTube, or blogs. As social media influencing has taken off, it has also lost some of the ability it had to connect with audiences, to stand with them and offer genuine viewpoints instead of being biased towards brands. This unique relationship between influencer and audience was something that made beauty blogging and vlogging a massive industry in itself - people flocked to 'real' reviews because all they'd get from brand advertising and magazine placement was fakery. Yeah, of course that spot cream will make my... Continue reading

I recently introduced you to my Makeup Geek singles and said I'd show you my Anastasia Beverly Hills faves. I want to shout from the rooftops about these four singles; they are as immense in their quality as they are in their shade. I cannot recommend these babies enough. They cost £10 each, or £30 for four (you can also select eight for £50). If you buy at least four you'll be given this free magnetic palette to put them in, with a little groove next to each pan for easy removal. I don't think these swatches do them justice. Stone is the beigey-taupe of my dreams, a creamy matte that's so bloody perfect as a crease or transition colour on my fair skin. It's a lighter version of Warm Taupe (swatched in the bottom pic here), which is also a divine stone colour. Victorian is a stunning grey shimmer,... Continue reading

Delicious crisp rose in the garden on a summer day, sharing a bottle of ice cold white with friends, getting the party started with prosecco, and relaxing with a good book and a glass of red. There's nothing like wine, especially when it's an absolute bargain and shipped in a crate to you direct from Italy. Woo Winery help you avoid the price mark ups that supermarkets and shops add to wine by making it easy for you to buy from Italian vineyards. It might seem like a lot, buying a crate of twelve bottles in one go, but when they're absolutely brilliant in quality and as little as £3 a bottle (compared to £12 a bottle for the same brands in supermarkets), you'll be making big savings. If you have a wedding, holiday, or party coming up and need a big stash, forget nipping over to France for bargains... Continue reading

Here's something I've been meaning to share with you for ages - my custom Makeup Geek palette, a delicious assortment of single eyeshadows from a brand that's great value for money. I started collecting these when MG was only available in the States, but thankfully you can now purchase in the UK without any customs charges. I got most of these shadows from Beauty Bay when they've had sales, and so the whole palette cost me half of what it's worth (the Z-palette they live in is from Amazon). Much like MAC and Anastasia Beverly Hills single shadows, the quality isn't consistent - some will be easier to work with and more pigmented than others, but the price is ever so slightly cheaper than those two brands, so if you want a lot of shades for less money, Makeup Geek is the one. It can, however, be dangerous buying single... Continue reading

I'm a total sucker for interactive theatre, and Alice's Adventures Underground is a choose-your-own-adventure promenade piece that doesn't disappoint. Through a maze of stunningly designed rooms in The Vaults beneath Waterloo Station, you'll follow one of four stories (depending on which card suit you end up in) and meet a host of characters from the original Alice in Wonderland novel. As well as a group of hilarious guides taking you round (shout-out to Club No. 5 who ushered us Clubs), you'll be beguiled by aerial gymnastics, puppetry, projections, and the biggest Mad Hatter's Tea Party you ever did see, complete with complimentary colour-changing cocktails. You'll probably be separated from your friends, but it doesn't matter - when you're reunited you can compare the different rooms you explored. Be warned though, exciting as it is - the rapidity with which you're rushed along corridors, up and down staircases, and through small... Continue reading

Whenever bloggers get huffy or upset about numbers, stressing over how many page views, likes, comments, followers and such, they're told to remember to blog for themselves. Talk about your passions, blog to make yourself happy. Comparison is the thief of joy. Oh whatever, Trevor - it's incredibly disheartening to put a lot of effort into a blog post and have your eagerness for a response slowly fade into the realisation that NO ONE is reading it, probably not even your mum. No one cares about your blog post, or your Facebook witterings, and they definitely don't care about your latest Tweet. Steven Pressfield, author of the frank and funny "Nobody Wants to Read Your Shit", agrees. It's not because they're mean or cruel, it's because they're busy, he says of all the millions of people not reading your blog posts. "When you understand that nobody wants to read your... Continue reading

A few weeks ago I went to an event on how to get a book deal at Elle Magazine's cool new soiree space in Soho. They had put together a fantastic panel to discuss the landscape of the publishing industry right now, and all the steps you need to take from finding an agent to putting together a proposal that will get you published. Expertly chaired by Elle's literary editor, Sharmaine Lovegrove, the panel had some wise words for an audience of budding writers. Literary agent, Felicity Blunt, explained how it's important to find an agent whose taste is a good match for your book idea, you can work this out by seeing who their current clients are and what kind of things they write. You need to pick a good agent who will not only work hard to champion your book idea, but who will have clout with publishers... Continue reading

What's that you say? Yellow lipstick? Er... I think I register too low on the hipster-o-meter for that. But wait, this is a yellow lippy that changes to a delicious coral on your lips. What is this cosmetic witchery? Poppy King is the Willy Wonka of lipsticks (and blushers); things aren't what they seem in the bullet or the pan, you'll be dazzled by bright green blusher that turns your cheeks rose pink, and have a delightful summery-yellow lipstick in your hand whilst your peachy lips tell a different story. Last week I headed over to Bronte for the launch of Mornin' Sunshine, which comes out next month in the UK. We had cocktails, canapés, and a good chance to try not just the Lipstick Queen newbie, but pretty much everything in the collection, which includes some mighty good looking matte liquid lipsticks. One of the PR girls was wearing... Continue reading

We need to talk about Merumaya's Retinol Resurfacing Treatment. I've been vocal on the blog about my adult-acne scarring and the treatments I've been asked to review that can help combat this. I've also got uneven skin pigmentation from sun damage, and to top it all off I still get spots like a blumming teenager. I really like Merumaya as a brand because their products address both skin-ageing and blemishes, making them ideal for those who happen to be tackling both problems simultaneously. For me, my mission is to protect my skin from the sun as much as possible from now on, and to work on making my skin more even in texture and tone, that's all I want - I'm not even bothered about the laughter lines and the odd spot. I've been using Merumaya's Retinol Resurfacing Treatment for a month now as my night cream, and I am... Continue reading

Quickity-quick, get down to the Unicorn Theatre at London Bridge to see this fab kids' show! Jeramee, Hartleby and Oooglemore is a colourful hour-long tale about three friends at the beach, told through mime, physical theatre, big expressions, and slapstick that had the audience of 3-7 year olds quite literally rolling on the floor laughing. A raked stage with yellow carpet is the beach, and a row of blue mats makes the sea, which children are encouraged to sit on, even though they have the actors rolling down the stage in to them and paddling around them - even pretending to wee on them at one point. I took my three year old niece, and the sight of her being pretend-wee'd on as she sat obliviously on the mat right below the male actor was kind of funny, but also a bit wrong. She absolutely loved getting involved, handing a... Continue reading

Behold the beauty of Too Faced's Spring 2017 offering, the oddly named Natural Love palette has thirty shades that claim to embody romance. It's the first thing I've been vaguely excited about from Too Faced in a long time (since that cute lil' peanut butter one), because I feel they're steering down a murky road of repetition and novelty-ness. Too many 'exclusives' and limited editions to make people panic buy, and the same old shades turning up in everything, some having very questionable quality. Natural Love looks a bit different, whilst still embracing Too Faced's fun names (but thankfully not the silly scented eyeshadows) and feels like a breath of fresh air for a brand that's going a bit coco-loco. Some of the shades have featured in previous palettes, and some are exclusives. I have to say, in terms of quality, they're all over the shop; some are buttery soft... Continue reading