Cream or Powder Blusher?

This weeks #BeautyDebate is all about blusher. Are you a creamy kinda gal or do you love using powder? I enjoy using both but day to day i'm all about the powder. I find it easier to apply and not as messy. However, I do like how natural cream blusher looks, plus I think it's great for summer. If I'm in a rush I'll opt for just a 3 product face; concealer, mascara and lipstick. I dab a pyramid of dots onto my cheeks with lipstick then blend in and I'm done in under 3 minutes. I asked you guys on twitter what you prefer and here's what you had to say!

Make sure you're following me on twitter so you can get involved with next weeks Beauty Debate. Let me know if there is anything in particular you would like me to discuss! 

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Which Post Are You Proudest of?

I searched through 390 posts to see which one I was proudest of. It was really difficult to choose which one I was most proud of. I'm really happy with my content from the past two months because I've had more time to blog and really create content I'd want to read. However, for this post I had to take a little trip down memory lane.

I was tempted to go for my first ever post which I wrote on January 28th 2011. It was all about what eyeshadow suits different eye colours. This post really sets the foundation for my blog and the reason why I do it everyday. It's nice to see how far I've come in 3 years and what my blog is today. I simply want Make Me Up to be a place where you can come for a bit of beauty-related escapism. I also contemplated this post in which I wrote about my interview with Shout magazine as a proudest post. I'm still really grateful Shout wanted to interview me about my blog, I was 17 at the time and it was the coolest thing ever. Still have my copy somewhere safe. If you've been reading my blog for a while you'll remember when I launched 'Moonie' in 2012- a handmade, un-bleached muslin cloth. I decided to set up my own business and started to sell them via my blog. It started off really well but I struggled with how to take the products further than an online shop. I couldn't keep up with the work that came with running a business and life simply got in the way. I decided to gradually stop making Moonies but that's not to say they are gone forever..

Each one of these posts have helped shaped myself and my blog into what you're reading today. I'm proud of how far I've come in 3 years and I now look at those first ever posts I wrote with fondness, even if I'am covering my face with embarrassment.

My top 3 favourite posts to write this year include;
Ways To Re-Use Sh*t Beauty Products 
What's in My Dad's Wash Bag
How To Try Out New Beauty Trends On A Budget

Which post are you proudest of? Leave a link in the comments below! 

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Blogging Tips For New Bloggers

I started writing this blog in 2011 and haven't looked back since. It has become part of my everyday life and it's rare I switch off from it all. I love what I do. This is my little corner of the internet where I get to talk to like-minded beauty-obsessed people and offer some helpful (I hope!) advice. Now I'm coming into my fourth year of writing Make Me Up I wanted to share with you some blogging tips I've learnt over the years. This doesn't just apply to new bloggers but I've noticed a influx of new blogs lately so I wanted to offer some advice.

- Firstly, write about things you enjoy. Sounds pretty standard but if you're not excited about the posts you're writing, don't publish them. I see a lot of monthly favourite posts which just aren't for me, I don't enjoy writing them but that's just me!
- Don't obsess over stats; It can get you down and make you feel like not blogging. Everyone goes through quiet stages where not much traffic comes in. If you're checking your stats 3-4 times a day I encourage you not to look at them for a week. As long as you're happy with the content you're creating, your views are sure to perk up soon. Also, don't worry about followers - we all started with zero.
- You have the freedom to write about whatever you want, it's your blog. You gave your cat a bath at the weekend and what to share some funny photos? Do it.
- This year is the year I got organised and I wish I'd done it sooner. Get a notebook and plan posts, join Hootsuite and schedule your tweets. This will make blogging a lot easier, especially if you're juggling your blog with work/school/college.
- If you're ever unsure what to write about have a couple of backup posts you can publish on those uninspired days. I recently wrote 22 blog ideas if you are looking for some inspiration!
- Get involved in the community, we're quite nice people. Talking to others is my favourite part of blogging. Take part in twitter chats such as #BBloggers, #FBLchat and #BloggersDoItBetter. Comment on posts you love, share things you've enjoyed or email bloggers and tell them why you like reading their blog!
- There really are no rules when it comes to blogging just do more of what makes you happy.
- Be proud of your blog and the content you're creating.

I hope you found this post helpful. Why not spread the love and share it with others if you did!
what are your tips for new bloggers?
Twitter | Google+ | Instagram | Pinterest

Other blogging tips you might find useful:
22 Blog Post Ideas
15 Tips For Blogging Everyday

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Best Beauty Advice You've Ever Heard

What is the best beauty advice you've ever heard? Was it some words of wisdom from your Mum? Did you learn from your big sisters mistakes? Maybe it was something you saw on Pinterest? Whatever it is, I want to know.

The best beauty advice I can give you is to do more of what makes you happy. Whether that be wearing bright lipstick, an indulgent pamper evening or being bare-faced do it now, like right now. Anything that perks you up and gives you an inner boost of confidence instantly makes you feel and look beautiful.

My mum's beauty tip would be to moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. My nan would say don't over pluck your brows. My Dad would say to get more fresh air. And my Granddad would say get that rouge off your face, Kia.

So, leave your beauty advice in the comments below so we can all share our tips and tricks!

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My Bad Beauty Habits

Considering I'm a beauty blogger I'm pretty lazy at most beauty stuff. I thought it would be fun to share with you some of my bad beauty habits so you can have a chuckle at my beauty sins. It's about to get real nasty.

Not Washing My Brushes
They saw you should wash your make up brushes every week - ain't nobody got time for that. I'm guilty of not washing mine often enough. Honestly, it's more like once a month but nothing beats using a freshly washed brush.
Picking/Squeezing Spots
I'am one of those people who can't just leave a spot alone. If there is a spot the size of a small child on my chin I'm going to have to do something about that. I squeeze white heads (sorry) and I pick them when they're healing (double sorry). Any tips for leaving spots alone?
Messing with Split Ends
I wish I didn't get spilt ends but sadly I do. My hair is naturally dry and is also bleached so it's prone to breakage. If I'm bored I'll just sit there looking for split ends, picking, snipping, pulling at them - someone stop me!
Hairy Legs
When it's comes to shaving my legs I'm ashamed to admit I won't do it if I don't need to. This results in yeti-esque, fluffy pins hidden behind jeans most of the time. I just find shaving so boring and time consuming. Although I'am trying laser hair removal at the minute so that will hopefully solve the problem!
Skipping Moisturiser 
I'll always moisturise my face twice a day but my body? It's such a faff and I can't usually be bothered so it normally get's done once a week. I keep body lotion in my bathroom so I can do it post shower but I just want to get straight into my pj's. There are some get ways to moisture if you're a bit CBA like me which I wrote about here.

I hope this makes you feel better about your beauty bad habits, leave yours in the comments below! I also use old make up, curl my lashes after applying mascara and leave nail varnish on my toes until it wears away - don't think i'll be a brand ambassador any time soon. 

p.s Want to try out the New Dove Purely Pampering Body Oil before it launches nationwide? I'm giving away 5 sets here!

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Do You Really Want A Successful Blog?

Googling 'Do you really want a successful blog'? and I'm greeted with 134 million pages on how to get a successful blog, how to gain more followers, tips on making an income but no one is talking about the consequences of having a successful blog.

Having a successful blog is a great achievement and every bit deserved. But what is often forgotten is the overwhelming responsibility that comes with being a successful blogger.

With success comes hate, it's really awful that this is a given factor. I remember Sandra from TheBlackPearlBlog saying that after reaching the 1000 followers milestone she noticed she started to get horrible comments about her appearance. I guess with success brings jealousy. There are a few hugely popular bloggers that come to mind when talking about this topic. I know of a blogger/vlogger who has had viewers knocking on her door - isn't that crazy? When did bloggers become so big?

I try to put myself in their shoes and imagine how I would deal with being recognised daily, getting fan mail and having people obsessed with you. It honestly scares me and it's a level of success I don't think I'd be comfortable with. A lot of what I'm talking about does relate to Youtubers more than bloggers but these people often start off as bloggers.

Maybe blogging is generational? It's seems that writing a blog has become the norm; and if you're not writing a blog, no doubt you're reading them. What is clear is that the community is growing bigger every single day - are you ready for it?

Want do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

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Do People Treat You Better When You Wear Makeup?

For this week's Beauty Debate I wanted to discuss a topic which is very important to me - makeup. I feel like depending on how little or how much makeup I'm wearing, people treat me differently. If I go out bare-faced I'm guaranteed to get those you look tired/ill/hungover comments. I was born looking tired so I don't find them offensive but they do knock my confidence. I know that usually these less flattering comments are made out of concern for my well-being so I try not to take them to heart.

Thanks for social media it's seems young people nowadays are more susceptible to public criticism on the way they look. I've noticed this especially with fellow bloggers. This has resulted in a culture which is highly concerned with having the perfect appearance.

The truth is, not only do people treat me differently when I wear makeup, I feel differently. Sans concealer I feel less confident. Makeup has become my armour and I almost feel braver with a face of makeup. The right red lipstick can boost my confidence and makes me feel happier. People have such strong reactions to beauty - is this a bad thing though? When I wear a full face of makeup people seem to notice me more and I get more attention which makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't wear makeup to get attention from strangers. I wear makeup to please myself and not others.

Here's what you lovely lot had to say on twitter.

Have you found people treat you better when you wear makeup? Catch up on previous Beauty Debate topics here. 

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What Is Your Definition of Beauty? #BeautyDebate

If you're reading this you probably have quite a strong relationship with beauty. Maybe it's part of your job, you might be a beauty blogger or you may simply enjoy using beauty products and make up. But what I want to know is - what is your definition of beauty? For me beauty is happiness and being confident and positive with the way you look. Beauty can be anything.
You may have spotted the #BeautyProject hashtag floating around twitter recently. This was a result of Selfridges hosting a variety of events in collaboration with Dove last month. The Beauty Project explored and celebrated modern beauty. This 6 week programme compiled of a series of talks, events, happenings and debates. One particular event which I found particularly inspiring was the Mirror Mirror workshop with Hollie McNish. If you're not familiar with Hollie McNish, she is a extremely talented UK poet. At this event Hollie explored our relationship with mirrors and why we feel compelled to look at them. If you wanted to hear Hollie in action click on the video below.

I really love Hollie's work, especially the video above. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Will you look in the mirror differently tomorrow morning now? 

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Would You Go Bare-Faced? #BeautyDebate

Going out into the world completely make up free scares me. I'm a bit ashamed to admit that but being bare faced makes me feel vulnerable. I'm not as confident but more importantly I'm not as happy. Aint nobody got  time for that.

I know for some reading, you don't have this problem. Some of my friends my age don't really enjoy wearing make up and only wear it on special occasions. The main reason I wear make up is so that I feel better about myself, good make up empowers me. With a red lip I feel like I can achieve anything. I would never rock up to work sans make up. I don't think I'd look as professional, is that bad? This leads me onto another question I have - Do people treat you better when you wear make up? A topic for another #BeautyDebate I think..

I want to know your thoughts on this weeks #BeautyDebate...

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Are expensive beauty products worth it? #BeautyDebate

I ask myself this question all the time. I see a new product but its way out of my budget or I'll need a new foundation and consider investing in a high end product. Are expensive beauty products worth the splurge though? I definitely think it depends on the type of product. Base items such as foundation or concealer can often perform better if they are more expensive. Other items like blusher or powder I don't think you have to spend a lot of money on. Plus the Highstreet has really upped its game within the last few years. Brands such as Seventeen, Collection and Revlon are launching great products which turn into cult beauty buys. I think drugstore brands are leading the way in the beauty industry. As you know I love a good bargain and I'm a Boots gal at heart; however, there are some beauty products (EL Double Wear Light) which I'm happy to pay a bit more for because I know they really work.

I asked on twitter your thoughts on this weeks #BeautyDebate and received a really mixed response - thank you for taking part!

So what are your thoughts? 

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#WhatIsPretty to you? #beautydebate

Oh Beyonc� I didn't think I could love you any more but then you go and do this.

Beyonce recently asked on Instagram to her army of followers to share photo's of what their perception of beauty is using the #WhatIsPretty hashtag. The campaign created a social media storm with nearly 40,000 people posting their photos. There is now a website full of inspirational images and videos. There are some really beautiful images on there, take a look for yourself here. The overall theme very much seems to be about love but after all isn't love, family, friendship beautiful? It's so refreshing to see these moving images, the #WhatIsPretty hashtag is an instant pick me up! Although this campaign may have been created to help promote her new single 'Pretty Hurts' I'm all for influential women in the media expressing the truth. Good on you B! I don't think beauty should define us. Beauty does not bring you happiness, discovering who you are does.

How do you define pretty? What does it mean to you?  

Next Sunday's #BeautyDebate | Are Expensive Beauty Products Worth It?

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Bath Vs Shower | #BeautyDebate

Soaking in an indulgent bubble bath with a new magazine in a candle lit bathroom; relaxing all your senses in preparation for some serious me-time. Or maybe a steaming shower spent singing along to Radio 1 is your idea of pamper perfection? Do you like to stew in a bath or do you prefer to jump in the shower?

I have to say I'm more of a shower person. It's quicker, uses less water and I love using refreshing shower gels. That's not to say I don't like the occasional bath. When I want a proper pamper I'll spend an hour in the bath until my fingers look like cocktail sausages and I have the whole family banging on the bathroom door (sorry guys).

I asked on twitter which you prefer, here's what some of you said! Thank you all for your tweets!

So, are you a bath or a shower person? 

#BeautyDebate it a fancy new feature i'll be posting about every Sunday. It's a place where we can chat about a beauty topic each week, some weeks will be controversial topics and others will be light-hearted like this one! Let me know if there is a particular topic you would like to see discussed. :) 

Next Sunday's #BeautyDebate | What Is Pretty To You?

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The Ugly Side of The Beauty Industry

So way back in 2011 I wrote a post about the sexualisation of women in the media (read here if you missed it) and a few things have happened in the past few weeks that have made me want to raise this issue again. It's something I feel very strongly about and as a beauty blogger I feel like it's my responsibility to talk about it.

Firstly, you may have already seen this video before. It was created back in 2011 by Global Democracy. It shows a normal women being photoshopped until she looks unnatural and non-human like. These over photoshopped images are seen everyday and have a huge impact on young girls, putting pressure on how they should look and brainwash their minds with unrealistic ideas of 'beauty'. And don't even get me started on photoshopping in makeup advertisements which i previously wrote about here. I was glad to hear a few months ago, Boots beauty brand No7 ditched air-brushing in all their advertisements and only use real women. I can only hope other brands follow their lead.

This week Lily Allen made a comeback with her new single 'Hard out Here'. The video has caused quite a stir.The jist of it is about how women are exploited in music videos, which of course they are. I applaud Lily for her new video, it is hard out here for a bitch and not just in the media.

Has anyone else been enjoying this years 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here'? I love it but was sad to watch Olympic gold medallist, Rebecca Adlington get upset over her body image. She said that she had been bullied about her looks for years and that she had become very insure as a result. It's so upsetting that she wasn't trying to be a model and yet she was still being criticised for the way she looked rather than what she was achieving.

I wanted to end this serious debate on a lighter note. Earlier in the week I tweeted about this article from Refinery29 - 'Why Beauty Isn't About Being Perfect'. The beauty website pays tribute to three beautiful women with uniquely stunning looks which may not be considered as conventional beauty.

A face with scars, freckles, laughter lines etc...tells a story and is far more interesting then a flawless complexion. I truly believe beauty comes from within, having a pretty face but being a horrible person makes you ugly - beauty is a total package. If you ever feel down about the way you look or dishearten by the over photoshopped images you see, don't forget you're not alone and I'm always here for a chat if anyone wants to email me.

Would love to hear your thoughts on  topic? 

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PR samples I didn't like

I know this topic is quite controversial. If companies like to send samples out to bloggers in exchange for a review that is honest, i don't see a problem. I don't execpt every PR sample because somethings I think my readers wont be intrested. I try to only accept products which will appeal to my readers and which I think will benefit my blog. I do not expect companies to send me products and am flattered when a company does. I think it's very sad that some people might be persuaded to blog purely for the freebies. Blogging takes more time than people think


Blogging for me is a hobbie and something I enjoy doing when I have some spare time on my hands. I don't take it to seriously but I love it! The samples and invites i get are brilliant, but if they stopped tomorrow my blog would keep going.


There are some blogs I don't like reading because I feel their reviews aren't honest. However I love it when blogs get sent products before they are launched so i get to read opinions before buying! 

I feel bad about writing negative reviews on products I've been sent as they've gone to a lot of effort to send me a product to try. Normally if i don't particularly like a product it either goes to the back of my shelf or to my mum! However, I've decided as long as i don't say 'This product will make your face drop off' (unless it does) giving an honest review of why something didn't work for you is fine. Just because a product doesn't work for you doesn't mean if won't work for someone else. And it's also good constructive criticism for the company. 

I also know that over 50% of my readership is coming from direct traffic or search engines, so i'm guessing that these people don't have a beauty blog. A lot of my visitors are reliaing on a honest product review before buying a product. I would hate to think you guys spent your money on a product because there were no negative reviews. Just because i might get sent a product doesn't make me better then anyone else & i don't want it to alienate myself from my readers that currently don't get sent samples. Enough rambling Kia, here are some products that haven't worked for me - 

Nailene Ultra Tabs �2.59

I was sent these along with some Nailene false nails, which are great! These tabs are used instead of false nail glue. They are really easy to apply and don't cause any mess however they are not strong enough at all! The packaging cheekly says UP TO 5 days guaranteed wear & some fell of after a couples of hours! Didn't last five days so would only recommend this if you just wanted false nails for an evening. 

CornSilk in Original Satin �8.16

I'd heard a lot of good things about CornSilk powder so was really excited to test it out. I like the vintage packaging, but the product it's self just isn't very good. The powder is really rough making it quite difficult to pick up any product. It also smells quite strongly of talc - making it feel like a old fashioned out of date product, shame!

Lulu Operation Glam Modelling Hair Spray �7.25

I don't normally use hairspray as I hate the crispiness they can sometimes leave your hair feeling. I tried this after curling my hair to set the style in place. During the night my scalp felt really itchy. Unsure of what it was, i used the hairspray a few more times & each time my head itched - something you don't want for a haircare product! 

Trilogy Purifying Mask �18.50

Trilogy is a brand I hadn't tried out before but always wanted too. Love their packaging, looks nice in the bathroom cabinet! I tried out this face mask in the hope it would leave my skin clear; this didn't happen. I've never hand a bad reaction to a product before using it. After taking it of my skin I was left with red blotches over my face. I tired it again a few days later to make sure it was the face mask that irritated my skin  & the same result happened again. Not sure what caused this, maybe the raw ingredients? 

MakeBelieve Enhance Shimmer Lip Gloss �10

I'm a big fan of MakeBelieve fake tan so couldn't wait to try out some things from their make up collection. I like the box packaging the lip gloss came in but the gloss it's self came in a really cheap looking tube. It reminds me of the sort of product you get free in a teen magazine. The product it's self is okay - just not worth �10! 

Collection 2000 Hot Rocks in 46 Fruit Loop �1.79

Ok, bit cheeky for me to sneak this one in as I brought it my self! I'm sure you can tell by the photo above my problem with this nail varnish. I love the colour but I just can't use it because of the dogdy brush. The moral of this story is to check your nail varnish before buying, I have a few other Collection 2000 nail varnishes & they are all fine. 

Natural Collection Cream Blusher �1.99

Brought this product my self after wanting to test out a cream blusher. Lovely colour but only lasted around an hour before disappearing of my skin! Instead i think i'm going to use this as a sort of lip cream. Even though it's only a cheap product I do wish it was better. 

 I do think a bad review it just as/even more helpful than a good review. I like to write about controversial blog topics & I've not come across a post like this before. The brands featured above know how I got on with the products sent to me. What are your thought on pr samples and bad product reviews? Enjoy the rest of your week :) xx

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Big Beauty Debate: Sexualisation of women in the media

Why do adverts with women in them have to be sexy? Why can't they be clever or funny? Adverts are everywhere these days; at bus stops, on TV, in magazines and even on blogs. Flicking through some recent magazine issues, naming no names, Cosmo might not like that! I found some advert's to support my debate...

Marc Jacob's Advert has been banned in the UK because of the length of Dakota's dress, the perfume bottle positioning and how child like she looks.

 A topless Natalie Portman for Dior

Nivea body moisturiser ad

Batiste ' I'm at it three times a week'....

Maybe I'm just over looking things. But I do worry these advert's influence young girls. When I pick up my 12 year old sister from school some of her class mates look so much older then they really are! 


My friend Alice, who might not be too happy that i'm sharing this - sorry Alice! But she wrote a really interesting post on the Sexualisation of women in Media here. Definitely worth a read! 


Is it okay to show a bit of boob in order to sell a product?

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Are expensive brands really worth it?

I have tried a lot of different brands, from Estee Lauder to Natural Collection. I love them both for different reasons. With the current recession going on, we are not splurging as much on luxury brands. I have seen a rise in affordable make up brands such as MUA, 2true and primarks own range. This leads me to question, Are we paying for the product or just the name? 

Searching through my endless pit of beauty products I come across some similar nail varnishes. 

spot the difference?

Asda's range of nail varnishes Vs Boot's No7

These bottle are completely identically, apart from the lettering. If you took away the writing you think they are from the same company.  I wouldn't be surprised if they were made in the same factory.

I know a chanel foundation is going to be better than a natural collection one - I would hope so if there was a 30 pound price difference! But more than 

often we just buy products because of the label. Same goes with clothes, 

your not buying those jack wills pants because the material is any different 

to normal pants from supermarkets or the high street .

both products need two coats. Sorry for the poor quality of this image!

They are the same in size, the same shape, the same quality - the only difference I can see is the price. 

So I want you to ask your self next time your shopping and you consider buying that expensive label; 

what are you really paying that much for,the product or the brand? 

Let me know what your views are on this topic, I encourage you to go raid your make up bag and look for

similar packaging of different makes. You may just be surprised!

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pale or tanned?

Now the weather is very  VERY slowly starting to warm up, we can no longer hide behind our jumpers and tights. The stress of having a perfectly toned and tanned body is starting to set in.This summer I am debating, Too tan or not too tan? 

This picture of me was taken last week (sorry about the pose!), When I first saw this photo I instantly cringed at the natural colour of my legs and headed for my bathroom to fetch some fake tan. 

But it got me thinking, should I Embrace my pale skin? After all it's so much effort fake tanning! On average we spend 680 hours of our lives fake tanning - July Cosmo Uk. However There are some good things about fake tan, it's a lot healthier than a real tan & they can also moisturise the skin. So if you do like the bronzed look opt for fake tans that contain SPF. 

Au natural 

JLo's glow...

 

Is pale the new tan?

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