Cosmetics Contemplations: Decisions, decisions...

even in the 1920s they were at it

We all make our buying decisions differently - and when it comes to beauty products, the wealth and diversity of recommendations out there can be overwhelming. With so many shiny new product stands, glossy advertisements and lacquered sales assistants out there to 'help' us, how can we decide what products we really need? This is made even more complicated by 'needs' that are created by the brands themselves (do we really 'need' serums, toners, or separate moisturisers for our faces and our necks? I'm not sure that we do), and by the sheer number of different opinions that proliferate. Interested buyers are not only influenced by advertisements, celebrities, in-store displays, and features in newspapers and magazines, but also by friends and family, blogs and vlogs, and product reviews on retail websites. 

But how influential are beauty blogs in particular on people's purchases? Warwick Business School researcher Marianne Johnsen wants to hear from you regarding your views on the trustworthiness of the beauty blogs that you read - and all it takes is your participation in a short survey. How far do you consult beauty blogs before making a purchase? Do you really feel that beauty bloggers are more informed than the average consumer? For how long can beauty bloggers compete against the many other sources of opinion out there? Marianne wants to know. Just a few clicks and you'll be on the way to finding out scientifically how far beauty blogs can be considered trustworthy resources when it comes to making online purchases. Naturally, the results will be shared with you as soon as they are published. 

This is a subject which has hitherto only been studied in Asia - and as they're already ahead of the pack when it comes to BB creams and so forth, it could be a good time to participate in this innovative research by following in their footsteps. If beauty bloggers are really found to be trustworthy and influential, that could affect brands' future tactics in marketing products to the public - which, in turn, affects the products you buy and how you buy them. Decisions indeed!

Another award is mine

Thanks to Priya at One Product Too Many, I've been awarded a Liebster - an award designed for bloggers with under 200 followers. Thanks, Priya!

I had to think hard about who I would choose to receive this award, as many of the blogs I follow already have more than 200 followers, but I nominate the following:

Fashion, Lifestyle and Beauty

SoHo Accessories

Mon blog de fille

Frizzi Frizzi

As this blog award seems more like a meme, Priya has given me some questions to answer. My task is then to set questions for my four nominees above to answer if they would like to.

Priya's questions to me:

1. What's your favourite beauty brand? Possibly Kiehl's or Clinique, given that my skin has really cleared up while using them.
2. What's your most and least favourite beauty product? Most favourite? Crème de la Mer Refining Facial. Least favourite? 17 nail varnish.
3. What made you start writing a blog? I was bored, I couldn't get a job, and I was (still am!) obsessed by beauty product. My initial aim was to catalogue every product I owned in the form of a review. Still don't think I've achieved this yet.
4. How long have you been blogging for? Since 2007.
5. What blogs are your favourite to read and why? I don't actually tend to read that many beauty blogs, but on the lifestyle side I always enjoy Loralee's Looney Tunes and The Spohrs Are Multiplying for their quirky sense of humour and moving life stories.
6. What celebrity has the best style? I always think Victoria Beckham looks great - beautiful, well-fitting clothes that go with everything and never date. Her makeup style is very classic too.
7. What's your favourite quote? Work and struggle and never accept an evil that you can change. (André Gide)
8. What are you going to do once you've answered these questions? Make the bed up with new sheets for the week, and blog on my other two blogs.
9. Where do you buy your beauty products from? Mostly from the internet, being careful to watch out for fraudsters of course! I find it's where the best prices are.
10. What's your favourite place in the world? Possibly Key Largo in Florida, but there are many other places I love equally for different reasons, like Oxford (England).
11. What's the one beauty product that you couldn't live without? Concealer, without a doubt. Namely Sonia Kashuk's Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette.

And as for the 11 questions I'd like my award-winners to answer:
1. Do blog full-time, or just wish you could?
2. If you don't blog full-time, what other job do you do as well? If you do, how long did it take you to get to that point?
3. What's the best beauty product launch you've ever been to?
4. What would you change about blogging if you could?
5. Has your life, or outlook on life, changed as a result of blogging, and if so, how?
6. What's the best free thing you've been sent to test because of your blog, and did you keep the product afterwards?
7. What's the best new brand or product you've discovered as a result of blogging?
8. Have you ever had to take a day off work because of blogging? If not, what's the most daring thing you've done in the name of blogging? 
9. What's the worst thing about blogging?
10. What's the worst or wackiest beauty product you've discovered through blogging?
11. What would you say to others who are looking to start a blog?

Benvenuto!

Not much to say here. I'm Bianca, and alongside my more intellectual pursuits (ha), I'm a big fan of crappy fashion and beauty magazines (though NOT the celebrity ones; I generally find Company, Look and Harper's Bazaar to be good), and beauty products and cosmetics generally.

I used to use Ciao to record my experiences with my vast array of beauty products (I'll be reviewing products here to suit every taste and budget, from premium beauty to budget bargains), but a) it now keeps crashing every time I try and do a new review; and b) it's a bitch to add new products that they haven't deemed worthy. Or maybe I am just too stupid. Either way, I also quite like the idea of having my own space for this kind of thing, and I want to keep it separate from my livejournal, which is primarily used for Venting Angst.

When I'm not doing this, I have a degree to do. I'm currently studying for a Master's in Linguistics at Oxford University, UK; before that I completed my BA in Classics and English at the University of Exeter and am a proud member of the 2.1 club.

So my aim here (later) will be to review every beauty product I own (and believe me, there are lots), get lots of hits, and maybe (just maybe) be spotted by someone important so that I can have my own beauty/cosmetics column somewhere. Or something like that. Hmm - ambitious, much?