One thing I keep hearing as a 'big trend for 2017' is the 'less is more' approach to beauty. Over the last few years the sheer volume of launches have been overwhelming, with every brand in existing competing for attention and seeing how many new things they can launch in the space of a year. Although I am and will always be a beauty enthusiast (having worked in the industry since 2005 and plastered my face with the stuff in the decades prior, how can I not?) it's tricky not to feel like you've reached saturation point. In the beginning blogging for me was all about discovery: discovery of what was great and what was naff, discovery of what worked for me and what didn't, and discovery of what the big trends and new ingredients to look out for were. Seven years ago my passion points were definitely makeup and hair care, focusing on those little gems that made me ready to face the day and conceal those bits about myself I didn't really like; skip forward to 2017 and my interests lie firmly within the skincare category. I'm more passionate than ever about taking care of my canvas and helping others understand how to look after theirs, even if that also comes with a sprinkling of nail polish and lipgloss.
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It's just an evolution of personal interests, but it's also a sign that the 27 year old blogger of past is now a 34 year old woman entering a new phase of her life. Don't get me wrong, I still adore a beautiful eyeshadow palette and lust after a new Benefit blusher, but I've personally moved away from wanting anything and everything to a more curated list of gems I can rely on - and thoroughly recommend to you. Over the last six months I've definitely felt lethargic when it comes to beauty, not helped by the fact that the industry has also reached saturation point and isn't too sure where to turn. Many of the 'new' launches are simply re-launches or re-brands of existing products, and many of the 'trends' are just re-hashes of something we used to use in the 90's. I've found it increasingly hard to write 500 words on a new mascara that's not that different from the twenty others on my dressing table, so have simply chosen not to.
The fundamental role of this site will always be to share beauty news, recommendations and helpful information, but over the last seven years my interests have also evolved: I'm passionate about travel, fashion, well-being and discussing issues that are close to my heart. When I started LBQ back in 2010 I would never have dreamt that I'd be writing about feminism, food banks and far away places - but as we age we evolve, and our sites have to evolve with us. Can you imagine writing about makeup day in, day out, for the best part of seven years and trying to keep it fresh? It's an incredibly difficult task, so in order to keep myself motivated and my creative juices flowing I've started to diversify into new areas that I hope you've been enjoying reading as much as I've enjoyed writing.
You'll have noticed that my beauty content is now an edited version of what I believe to be interesting and worth talking about, with a sprinkling of what's new and noteworthy - and those posts have been some of my most popular ever, so there's no doubting you still want to know what's hitting the shops. But if I'm completely honest the beauty industry is failing to light my fire right now; too many brands are insisting on working with young pretty faces to endorse products that are totally wrong for them, too many launches may seem exciting on the concept table but are actually dull as dishwater in reality, and I just can't even look at another nude eyeshadow palette without rolling my eyes so hard they hurt. I used to rip open every new envelope with glee, eager to find out what's inside, but now my mail often remains unopened for a week because I know practically none of it will get me excited. So what does a beauty blogger do when she gets beauty lethargy? She goes back to basics and starts sharing information she'd find valuable and insightful herself, rather than delivering endless reviews and trying to flog a dead horse.
I want this site to provide a moment of escapism and joy, but I also need to have as much joy creating the content as you do reading it. Otherwise none of us get what we came for eh?
(I know this was a bit of a rambling post, but it's something I've been feeling for a while and wanted to get off my chest. If you have any ideas or suggestions of content or posts you'd like to see, please do let me know in the comments - suggestions are always welcome!)
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Features PR samples unless otherwise stated. To read my full disclaimer, click here.
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It's just an evolution of personal interests, but it's also a sign that the 27 year old blogger of past is now a 34 year old woman entering a new phase of her life. Don't get me wrong, I still adore a beautiful eyeshadow palette and lust after a new Benefit blusher, but I've personally moved away from wanting anything and everything to a more curated list of gems I can rely on - and thoroughly recommend to you. Over the last six months I've definitely felt lethargic when it comes to beauty, not helped by the fact that the industry has also reached saturation point and isn't too sure where to turn. Many of the 'new' launches are simply re-launches or re-brands of existing products, and many of the 'trends' are just re-hashes of something we used to use in the 90's. I've found it increasingly hard to write 500 words on a new mascara that's not that different from the twenty others on my dressing table, so have simply chosen not to.
The fundamental role of this site will always be to share beauty news, recommendations and helpful information, but over the last seven years my interests have also evolved: I'm passionate about travel, fashion, well-being and discussing issues that are close to my heart. When I started LBQ back in 2010 I would never have dreamt that I'd be writing about feminism, food banks and far away places - but as we age we evolve, and our sites have to evolve with us. Can you imagine writing about makeup day in, day out, for the best part of seven years and trying to keep it fresh? It's an incredibly difficult task, so in order to keep myself motivated and my creative juices flowing I've started to diversify into new areas that I hope you've been enjoying reading as much as I've enjoyed writing.
You'll have noticed that my beauty content is now an edited version of what I believe to be interesting and worth talking about, with a sprinkling of what's new and noteworthy - and those posts have been some of my most popular ever, so there's no doubting you still want to know what's hitting the shops. But if I'm completely honest the beauty industry is failing to light my fire right now; too many brands are insisting on working with young pretty faces to endorse products that are totally wrong for them, too many launches may seem exciting on the concept table but are actually dull as dishwater in reality, and I just can't even look at another nude eyeshadow palette without rolling my eyes so hard they hurt. I used to rip open every new envelope with glee, eager to find out what's inside, but now my mail often remains unopened for a week because I know practically none of it will get me excited. So what does a beauty blogger do when she gets beauty lethargy? She goes back to basics and starts sharing information she'd find valuable and insightful herself, rather than delivering endless reviews and trying to flog a dead horse.
I want this site to provide a moment of escapism and joy, but I also need to have as much joy creating the content as you do reading it. Otherwise none of us get what we came for eh?
(I know this was a bit of a rambling post, but it's something I've been feeling for a while and wanted to get off my chest. If you have any ideas or suggestions of content or posts you'd like to see, please do let me know in the comments - suggestions are always welcome!)
Features PR samples unless otherwise stated. To read my full disclaimer, click here.