Detox Results!!!

Through out January and February I embarked on a Detox! I am not going to lie at first it was tough, very tough. Check out my update posts below

Not the 1st January Detox | Details
Week 1 Update| Not the 1st January Detox
Half Way update | Not the 1st January Detox
Not the 1st January Detox | Things keeping me going

But, I am very pleased to say my detox ended on the 4th February and here are my results

Overall experience
Detox, in particular caffeine and sugar withdrawl are not for the faint hearted. My head literally felt like there was a little army of men inside it with hammers. However, once the pounding headaches and wee trips every 45 minutes subsided around day 6-8, I really started to feel the benefit of not having those 2 devils in my life.  

As time went on my enegy levels improved massively. The biggest thing for me was having a constant energy level throughout the day, rather than feeling like I could fall asleep by 3pm. This actually improved my confidence too, I knew I could book meetings for later in the day and that I would still be raring to go.

At no point did I feel hungry. And I never felt like I was depriving myself.

I had a few remarks from people toward week 3 and 4 that I had lost weight and I could feel my jeans felt looser.

Results
I didn't actually weigh myself before and after because I did not want this detox to be about loosing weight. However, I definitely lost weight, perhaps as much as a jean size. My stomach is flatter, my love handles are a lot smaller and over all I look a lot healther.

My skin is also a lot better, I literally have had no spots or any redness on my skin. Thumbs up there.

Verdict
I absolutely loved how the detox left me feeling.  It changed the way I think about certain foods. In particular white bread, sugarry treats muffins cakes etc and caffeine. It is now 3 weeks since I officially finished my detox and I still haven't had any caffeine. And you know what? I don't want it because I know how much better I feel without it.  I have decided that this is now a way of life for me and I will be eating what ever I like at weekends but stick to the no added sugar, no white refined carbs during the week.

I also realised something else HUGE.  For years I had a very bad habbit of popping to costa or starbucks and grabbing a coffee and a muffin when I was hungry, instead of getting something healthy and nutritional. So when I couldn't have either of those things it foced me to get something else, like a salad and mint tea, that actually gave me energy.  I never even realised what I was doing... feeding my hunger with a coffee? how bad it that!

Tips 

• Choose a time to detox when you actually have a chance of succeeding. For example. if I had decided to do this over Christmas or when on holiday I just wouldn't have completed it and then felt bad about myself. 
• Get prepared. Have a plan and get healthy food supplies in ready. 
• Expect that it is going to be difficult.
• Decide what you will be having instead of coffee, it's half the battle. I decided that I would be having peppermint tea when I went to starbucks instead of a laté and thats what I had, there was no indecision.
•  Frozen blueberries and grapes were a lifesaver for me. A great snack.
• Protein/smoothie shakes of some sort are a great meal replacement (I chose Arbonne vanilla and chocolate protein because it's vegan and has no nasties)

I am so much happier with my body now, I had put on a bit of weight and it is all gone now. I am also a lot more confident, weather it is because I am proud of myself for sticking to the detox for a whole 30 days or because I have more energy, I'm just really chuffed with myself. 

 I would absolutely recommend doing it!!!

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Primark False Nails.. Yes or No?

Well hello there gorgeous chums! So there I was browsing the shelves of good ol' Primark, all the while biting my nails. You see unless my nails are all filed and polished I can not help myself but grab that loose section and bite if off! Sounds gross I know! Anyhoo I came across their huge range of false nails and thought for £1 you can't really go wrong.  Off I popped to the till with my pound coin feeling very pleased with myself.

I got home and the first thing I did was buff and file my own nails making sure I had a flat service to attach the false nails to. Then I got going finding the right sizes to fit my nails.  And let me tell you there were a couple of nails in that pack that literally would have only fitted my big toe.. huge! Don't think I will be using those. Then there were a couple of tiny ones which were way too small for my pinky. The other 20 were all pretty normal sizes which I will be able to use, so it looks like I will get 2 sets of nails for £1, amazing!

The set also comes with glue, result! I went to work attaching the nails and pressing them very firmly on to my nails making sure there were no air bubbles (air bubbles = less secure fitting), gave them a little file and Voila! Beautiful nails.
 

I am OVER THE MOON with these beauties so its a huge YES, I will deffinitely repurchase! Other french manicure false nails cost from £5-£10 and they really are no better than these beauties!

Have a fabulous weekend! I am off to pick out some more falsies from Primark, whoop!

UPDATE** These looked lovely for about 2 days then started to split at the tips. I removed them after about 4 days. Still great for £1 but I would say more suitable for an event not long term xx

Have you tried the Primark False nails, can you recommend any better?

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Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway February

Hi ladies and gents, today is a very different type of post for me. In fact I have never broached this subject before.  The reason I am writing this post is because it is something that effects me daily and I think it can effect us all at different times in different ways.

After posting about my Detox, I found that not only did it really help me stick to it because I felt like if I didn't I would be letting you all down and I don't want to do that, I also got lots of messages saying how it inspired others to do the same and stick to theirs.  So maybe if I write about this subject it will help in this area too!

You might be thinking ok what is she talking about, so I will get to it...

fear

fɪə/

noun

noun: fear; plural noun: fears

1.

an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.

"I cowered in fear as bullets whizzed past"

synonyms:

terror, fright, fearfulness, horror, alarm, panic, agitation, trepidation, dread, consternation, dismay, distress; More

The type of fear I am talking about is the one which holds you back from new opportunities and experiences, when you say no to attending a meet up because of the thought of so many new people you don't know, when you don't pick up the phone and make that call about a new job because well what if they say you're not what they are looking for?

For years I have had this fear living inside me never sure of what it was, I just knew that certain things scared me and made me feel vulnerable and unsafe. Often I would avoid these people or situations. Now I realise that this is a form of anxiety.

The reason I am writing this post is because I am sick and fed up of being contained by this fear, I have well and trully had enough! 

 

The biggest part of it for me is worrying about what people will think, pre-empting what they will say and taking on those feelings inside myself. Even though half of the time I am actually wrong.

So with all this in mind I am christening this month of 2014 Feel the Fear and do it anyway February!!

My Plan of Action

1. Make every phone call I am 'thinking' about making

Throughout the day there are probably at least 5-10 calls I 'think' about making. Sadly that is as far as it has gone in the past, thinking. This in itself creates more fear, then anxiety because I haven't done what I was meant to. Then come the feelings of low self esteem. Oh golly what a visious circle!

I vow to my readers and myself that every time I 'think' about making a phone call I will act on it at that moment or put a specific time in my diary to do it. Once it is in the diary it HAS to be done, those are the rules people!

2. Ask for what I need

How often do you need help with something but instead of asking trudge on trying in vain to do it yourself, wouldn't it have been so much easier just to ask? 

I vow to my readers and myself that when I need help with something or I need a number/email address of somebody I am trying to contact I will just ASK! (note to self: It really isn't that difficult)

3. Say/Write what I am thinking

Am I the only one that can over think that I am writing or going to say? "what if the other person thinks it is wrong or doesn't agree with me"? So what, I say to that... 

I vow to my readers and myself that I will say and write what I am thinking. Starting with my new pinterest board called "F*** Fear in the Face"!!!  We live in a world full of differences and opinions that is why we all have a mind of our own, otherwise we might as well be procreating robots!

4. Make fear a source of fascination.

I read that accepting your fear and becoming fascinated by it is a sure fire way to conquer it.  

I vow to my readers and myself that I am going to find out everything I can about the source of my fear. Where does it come from? Why does it have so much power? Essentially I will become friends with it. Kind of like I did with my anxiety, I said "listen anxiety if you are going to be around for a while we might as well be friends"!

5. Celebrate my victories

I think it is really important to applaud yourself when you take a positive step. It gives you the determination to take another step, then another.

I vow to my readers and myself that I am going to become my own biggest cheerleader, applaud every step I take big or small. I will even treat myself to little prizes along the way! #loveyourselffirst

I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on this. Does anyone else feel like this? Does Fear hold you back at all? Do you suffer from anxiety?

Ashly xx

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Valentines Day Ideas for Singles!

So I was going to do a lovely post on Valentine Day tips, what to buy loved ones blah blah blah... but then I thought what am I doing? I am single! What a fraud! So as you can see I came up with something for single ladies!!! *cue Beyonce Single Ladies song playing in your head*

I don't know about you but I do not fancy sitting at home feeling sorry for myself so here are some ideas to keep you cheery!

1. Go for lunch with your mum
Who better to keep you company on Valentines day than your mum? Get a nice pot of tea, some cakes and have a really good chin wag!

2. Have a Spa day
If valentines day isn't a great excuse to treat yourself then I don't know what is! Book in for a lovely back massage or a relaxing pedicure. After all you've got to love yourself first :-)

3. Volunteer
Offer your time to a homeless shelter, animal rescue center or even volunteer to baby sit for a friend so that they can go out with a loved one. Helping others is a great way to feel good about yourself.

4. Celebrity Crush
Rent a ton of films starring your fave celeb crush. Whether it is Jude Law in The Holiday, Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing or Channing Tatum in Magic Mike. Indulge in their gorgeousness for 1 night only.

5. Shopping
Who knows better than a girl what joy shopping brings? Need I say more. Plus you have the added benefit of not feeling guilty for spoiling yourself because if you did have a partner you would only be spending the money on them instead!!

If all else fails sit on your ass watching tv and eating a huge pizza!!

What will you be doing on Valentines Day?

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Breakouts | 3 easy steps to stop them in their tracks!

It happens to the best of us, we are toddling along thinking our skin is looking great then the next thing we know there is a big red spot in the middle of our cheek! When this happens the first thing I do is start questioning myself, did I change my skincare routine? Have I used a different product? who? what.. why??

There really can be a lot of reasons for breaking out and some are sadly out of our control, like our hormones.  However, here is a list of things that I have found stop break outs in their tracks fast!!

1. Wash your make up brushes

This is so important to do consistently.  The amount of people I talk to who have never cleaned their brushes is shocking! A study done by Debenhams showed 72% of participants never wash their makeup brushes at all! If you want to be precise wash them with anti bacterial liquid and spray them with alcohol if you don't have sensitive skin, this will make sure they are super clean.

If you are using your brushes everyday you should be really cleaning them at least once a week and some say they should be cleaned after every use.

Think of all the dirt and old makeup that can build up in the bristles of your brushes and then you are putting that on your face. Yuk.

2. Throw out old makeup

Would you believe it if I told that some women keep makeup for up to 15 years past it's sell by date! eeep... would you do that with food? noway. Think about it... your skin is your biggest organ. things put on your skin get absorbed quicker than eating them! Surely you wouldn't eat a 15 year old pear... or would you?

3. Change your bedsheets

Pillow cases are a huge cause for spots if not changed regularly. Think of all the sweat, makeup and dirt that gets left on there after every night. A build up of sweat and oils on sheets can lead to bacteria growth which can easily cause breakouts.

I hope you found these tips helpful, to hear more check out my latest youtube video below. I would love to hear what your tips are for preventing breakouts or what you do when you get one.

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MAC 217 Brush vs Dupe

One of the most important tools for creating beautiful eye makeup is a good blending brush.  For years I have used the trusty Mac 217 brush (£18) recommended by youtubers and beauty bloggers alike, but it isn't cheap. Especially if you want to have 2 or 3 on hand.  With this in mind I ventured in to the world of ebay makeup tools and wow what a world it is, from faux beauty blenders to all sorts of wonderful and not so wonderful devices.  Then I came across the Emily Makeup brush 217 (£2.48) for that price I thought, why not give it a go? The worst that could happen would be that I was out the price of a magazine.

I waited in anticipation for my new brush to arrive. It did take a couple of weeks as it was coming all the way from China.  When it finally arrived I ripped open the package and was pleasantly surprised first of all at how soft the bristles were.  I did realise straight away that it was overall a good bit bigger than my Mac 217 brush.  But, off I went to compare them over the next month or so.

I can honestly say that I have really enjoyed using my dupe 217 brush. It could be something to do with the massive bargain it was being £15.52 cheaper than the Mac version.  But I feel that the bristles are of a very similar quality, yes the dupe ones are more splayed and less precise than the bristles on the Mac brush but for blending out there really is not much difference to the result.

Another noticable difference is the size of the handle.  The mac one being a good bit slimmer and daintier than the dupe.  This is not a huge problem for me, but for some I think it would cause a bit of annoyance as you can't be as precise as you may like.

I have had my dupe 217 brush for 2 months now, it has had plenty of washes and I haven't noticed any shedding yet.  That being said this particular Mac brush I have pictured here is over 3 years old and it is still in impecable condition and shape.  Only time will tell if my little dupe is still in the same shape 3 years from today. 

So what do I prefer?  I actually really like them both and I am happy using them both.  Overall the Mac brush is better for more precise work but at the end of the day for £2.48 I am very happy with this dupe brush and I will definitely be buying a few more.

I would love to hear if you have any dupe brushes or would consider buying any?  Or do you think people shouldn't be buying dupes or copies?

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Blogger Meet Ups! HELP! What to wear, What to Expect and Tips

After a recent #BBloggers chat it got me thinking. We all seem to be in the same boat regarding meet ups. We really want to attend but it makes us very nervous! All the new people, will I recognise anybody? Will I be standing on my own looking like a loner? What should I wear? In this post I will try to answer some of these questions for you. In the hope it may help, even a little with taking the plunge to attend a meet up.

The first thing is actually deciding you are going and booking your place. Some events do have rules about how many followers you need to have or this or that but don't worry too much if you are told that there are no places left. There are plenty of meet ups and surely it is better to be attending the right ones with newer bloggers than diving straight in to events which have restrictions and lots of pro bloggers who already know each other? I really think deciding to go is actually the hardet part so once you have done that you can be really pleased with yourself for plucking up that courage.

You have made the decision to go the next thing is.. oh golly I am going to have to turn up at this place on my own.  Keep in mind that most people are feeling exactly the same. It is totally normal to feel nervous. A quick search on twitter using the event hash tag (if there is one) will help you find others who are also attenting the meet up. Firstly look for girls you recognise who you may have chatted with briefly before. If you don't see any names you recall then send a tweet to a few of the bloggers you see mentioning the event. Say something as simple as "are you going to the #Londonmeetup in May?". Most bloggers will reply and you can start up a conversation about the event. Once you feel like you've got to know them a little ask who they are going with and see if you can join in. A lot of bloggers meet up prior to events so there will always be somebody you can go with.

Now... what to wear? This can be another source of worry, "everyone will be looking at what I am wearing". But actually, I don't think that this is necessarily true. I couldn't tell you one thing that somebody was wearing (Well apart from Sophia Meola's Chanel Bag). Aside from that I really can't remember. I think everyone is focusing on chatting and getting to know each other.  So I would say wear something that you feel confident in. You don't want to be worrying if your skirt is too short or your shirt will pop open. Most people go smart casual, I haven't heard of anybody going in a bodycon dress ready for a nightclub. Obviously it depends where the meet up is but here are some looks for inspiration...

No matter where it is you are meeting, most of all be you. Don't change your style just for a meet up, let your outfit reflect your style and personality.

As the meet up approaches it is totally normal to feel anxious. To save any further worry make sure that you have your travel planned. If it is in an area you don't know well, check transport and routes so that you feel confident about getting there on time. Nothing makes worry worse than running late. Maybe even arrive at the location a little early and have a look around near by shops to take your mind of any anxiety.

Once you arrive at the location there will probably be somebody there to great you. It will usually be whoever is holding the meet up. If not, have a look around and see if there are any stalls set up, if there are make your way to them. It is a great way to distract yourself and have a look at what they have displayed while you settle in. It is also a nice conversation starter, if there are other bloggers looking too. Ask what they think of the products and what their blog name is. The good thing is that you will always have something in common with bloggers... you all have a blog.

Ok so... what do I take with me? A lot of bloggers take business cards with them which is a great idea. I like Moo.com, they are very good quality and their website is easy to use. This also saves you typing everything in to your phone or writing it down. Also take your camera or phone. If using your phone as a camera make sure to charge it fully as taking pictures eats the battery power like nobodys business.

Phew... that was it! your first blogger meet up, well done!! 

On the way home why not go through the business cards you have and add your new blogger buds on twitter. Get instagraming those pictures you took and tag the bloggers and brands!

Try to remeber that we all feel the nerves and anxiety before a meet up and it only seems to get worse as the date comes closer. But I promise that the more events you attend the easier it gets.

I have attended quite a few meetups and events now, at the first few I really had to pluck up the courage to get through those doors but once I was there and started chatting I totally forgot about the nerves. And that is coming from somebody who suffers with an anxiey disorder.

I would love to hear of your experiences going to meet ups for the first time and any events you are going to soon!

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Get to know REN Skincare Radiance and Anti Ageing

After recently attending a REN Skincare Masterclass at Liberty's in London, I felt like I learned a hell of a lot of information that I just did not know before about skincare brand, Ren, and I was very impressed. I would like to say that I am not being paid to say this and I am not being given any free products from them in return for this post.  

I had heard about Ren prior to attending the masterclass but to me they were just another skin care brand, with too many products to choose from, on my radar that I would try at some point. But now I genuinely believe that they are a great brand. Since using their products my skin has changed dramatically for the better, which makes me feel better within myself. If, like I was, you are over awed with all their product choices which actually prevented me from buying them in the first place. This little run down featuring some of their products may hep you to decide which, if any, are right for you. 

The class itself was held in a beautifully ornate private room upstairs at Libertys. There was a large table in the middle of the room set out with all the lovely Ren products to try, as well as some amazing cupcakes and healthy fruit juices. The cost of the class was £35 which was redeemable against a product.  I felt like this was very good for a 2 hour class, a goody bag containing a few samples and everything I learnt. The gentleman holding the class was called David and was incredibly friendly and informative. His own skin is a very good advert for Ren as it was so smooth and hydrated looking.

So lets begin with some anti ageing goodies, starting with the one most suitable for the youngest skin and working upwards...

Starting with the Radiance Perfection Serum (£35). Although this is technically in the 'Radiance' range I am including it in this section because if you are too young for the Keep Young & Beautiful Serum (younger than mid 20's) then this is the right one for you. This serum is suitable for sensitive skin because it doesn't contain any of the fruit acids which are in some of the other anti ageing products from Ren. The fruit acids are what give your skin the exfoliating peel, sounds scary, but all Ren's products are below the 10% potency guideline which can be used without a professional. This does mean that it isn't as strong and wont actually resurface your skin but it is meant for the youngest of skin in the range. It is aimed at reducing the appearance of sun damage and hyper pigmentation if used regularly. Recommended use for optimum results is twice a day, morning and night, under cream.

The next product which contains a peptide which apparently increases skin firmness by 40% is the Keep Young and Beautiful SH2C Serum (£46). This product is ideal for the first signs of ageing. In my late 20's, I feel like this is the right everyday serum for me and have since purchased it (review on the way). It supposedly triggers a gene which tells your skin cells to live longer. Therefore keeping your skin younger for longer. It also contains vitamin c to boost radiance. I was told that you would see the biggest change after 28 days. Again this product should be used morning and night under cream for optimum results.

Following on from the keep young and beautiful serum is the Bio Retinoid Anti-aging concentrate (£42). Now if you are in your mid 30's or upwards, this is the serum for you.  Contains Retinoid analogue rather than artificially produced Retinol and therefore is kinder and gentler to your skin. It works by speeding up the skins renewal process, getting rid of dead cells quicker and slowing down the  breakdown of collagen in your skin. You will notice the biggest difference after using for a month. Apply 5 drops to your face at night under your cream.

The Hydra Calm Youth Defence Serum (£38) is right for anyone with sensitive skin who has concerns about the appearance of ageing. It works in two parts, the first part protects your skin from environmental polutants like dirt, air conditioning, heating. The second part is the Hyaluronic acid which restores moisture back in to the skin. Use after cleansing morning and night under cream.

Those were the anti-ageing serums now on to the radiance range...

Starting with the Satin Perfection BB Cream £26 (review to come shortly).  This is a silicone free colour adaptive product. Corrects imperfections and makes skin look flawless. Can be used under or over foundation or on its own. It also protects against uv damage with an spf of 15.

Now on to the radiance products containing fruit acids. Starting with the lowest potency, suitable for the youngest of skin, and working upwards to the highest vol fruit acids which are more suitable for mature skin.

The REN Micro Polish Cleanser (£20) is another two in one product. With the lowest percentage of fruit acids in this range at 2.5%, it deeply cleanses and exfoliates leaving skin smooth and soft. It contains no uneven exfoliating granules which can damage skin but uses crushed amber crystals for a gentle exfoliation. It basically helps the skin to look the best it can and smells lovely like oranges. Use 2-3 times per week by applying to damp face with gentle circular motions and rinsing thoroughly with warm water.

At 6.5% fruit acids the Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask (£30) is a potent bio active peel mask. Containing an enzyme from the Papaya fruit, it reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while combating congestion like blocked pores and spots by removing dead skin cells. It also contains omega oils for anti inflammation.  Also beneficial for post acne scarred or blemished skin. Use 1-2 times per week for 10-20 minutes.

And the strongest of all the radiance range is the Resurfacing AHA Concentrate (£30). This is powerful stuff at nearly 10% fruit acids. 10% is the highest potency which can be sold without a professional. This is aimed at those with deeper lines and wrinkles. It is a liquid which gently exfoliates and resurfaces so skin appears radiant, even and smooth. I was told to use 1 drop per night for 7 nights in a row before serum & moisturiser, 4 times per year. Or use for 7 nights then give yourself a 2 week break before repeating.  Great to use after summer or a holiday to renew the skin of any sun damage.

Now if those resurfacing products aren't strong enough for you what you can do is apply a pipette of the AHA concentrate on to your face followed by a 20 minute Glycolactic Face mask.

So I hope that this was of some use to you in the mindfield that is REN skincare. I was certainly pretty confused before I attended the masterclass! The products I use regularly from Ren include the Glycolactic face mask, Keep Young and beautiful serum, AHA concentrate and the Hydra Calm flobal protection day cream. I will try and review these for you as soon as possible.

I realise that REN products are quite pricey and not everyone can afford £40 for a serum, I know at times I can't. You can get starter and travel size kits which are very good value at around £12. Ren are also giving 10% of your first order on their official site www.renskincare.com plus any order you place on their site you will receive 2 good sized samples with your order. For example the Glycolactic face mask sample I have has lasted me 2 months so far using once per week! And a little tip is to search on ebay or blog sales for these items at greatly reduced prices. I got my Keep Young and beautiful Serum on ebay for £16 brand new and never opened!! So worth checking!

I would love to hear if you use any REN products or you can recommend any that I haven't mentioned here!

Also don't forget to watch my July Favourites video featuring REN, Rimmel & more
July Favourites

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As well as being a truly British brand they also do not believe in testing products on animals!!

The impatient girls nail painting guide

I have to say that I am very impatient when painting my nails. I just can not wait for the 1st coat to dry before doing a second coat and 9 times out of 10 I end up with a smudge-orific mess, which really gets my goat. Soooo with the thought that maybe, just maybe, I am not the only impatient Annie out there,  I have done this guide to nail painting with a few tips to help any patience-less nail painters like me!!

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Bloggers Contacting PR companies & Brands... what you need to know!

Hi-diddley-ho-there!

Today's post is a little on the serious side.. uh-oh! Well I will try to be as profesh as possible.  After a twitter chat I realised how many bloggers have uncertainties about approaching PR companies and brands. A few of the questions I have seen are:

Can I contact PR companies myself?

What do I say?

Can I approach brands?

Is it rude to ask for samples?

What if they ignore me?

Will they think I am cheeky if I contact them?

Do I just wait to PR companies to approach me?

These are all very good questions. In this post I will endeavour to answer some of them for you. That is not to say that this is the way everyone handles their communications and blog it is just the way I do.

The first thing you need to do is to work hard on your blog. Please don't expect to be given samples, event invites and meetings if your blog doesn't have at least some followers and interactions. If it looks like a jumbled mess, it is unlikely pr companies will not contact you. Think of it the other way around, if you were a brand would you want to be associated with your blog? Great blogs come in all different shapes and sizes, colours and fonts but one thing they all have in common is that they are clear and can be easily read.

Ok so your blog is down, you have some interactions and followers... what next? Decide which brands you like and want to be associated with. What products would your readers like to find out about? There is not much point in a vegetarian food blog reviewing Scotch Beef, sarcastic yes but you get my drift! So have a good think about what you want people to come to your blog to read about.

Once you have decided on the brand or brands you would like on your blog you have a few options. Buy some of their products or if you already have them, like I did with Utan reviewing it here, here and here, then great!  Once you have your review, try tweeting the brand or incorporate their handle in to a tweet about your post.

They may or may not respond. In this case they didn't. Sometimes they will favourite your tweet or event retweet it. This should help to make the brand aware of your presence. Doing this alone can lead to being contacting to review products or even being invited to events. This is not a given though as many other bloggers are doing the same thing.

Another option you have is to contact the brand, pr or product company directly. I don't see any harm in doing this so long as you are respectful and professional. I have done this a handful or times. Mainly the brands/PR companies I contacted were open and friendly. Some even sent me products and invited me to events. I think you will have more success if you select who you contact carefully. Again, make sure that they fit well with the audience and readership of your blog.

And not all brands are big on social media. A couple of fantastic products which I absolutely love have never replied to any of my tweets or emails. I do find this frustrating. Not because I expect a response but because I know how much pr and advertising they are missing out on by not taking advantage of rave reviews by their loyal customers. 

So don't let it put you off if you don't get a response or if they turn down your request.  I would wait for a couple of months, let your readership improve and try contacting them again. Or try another brand, there are plenty out there!

It is fairly easy to find the contact details for a brand on their website, which a quick google search should produce. Many brands have their PR companies listed directly on their website or twitter profiles. If they don't list a pr contact, you can guess that they probably don't use one and try emailing them directly.

Now lets discuss the email to send. I like to keep it short, friendly and professional. Make sure you include plenty of information about you and your blog. Here is an exert from an email I sent which got a positive response

So on to a few of these questions which I haven't covered already...

Is it rude to ask for samples?

You know I really don't think it is rude to ask for samples, so long as you actually want them to review on your blog and not just because you want to put them in your friends charity lucky dip. If you are still wary of writing to a company for a sample, remember that plenty of beauty brands have samples in their shops or counters so it is worth asking there.

Will they think I am cheeky if I contact them?

Probably not but who knows until you try. I really don't think so. Remember that if you write about a product you are giving that brand advertising!

Do I just wait for PR companies to approach me?

You can do. Maybe you will get an email from them within a month of starting your blog or within a year or maybe never. It really is up to you. It is the PR companies job to put products in the right places for exposure, if you think your blog is the right place then why not let them know?

So that is it folks. Get out there and do some contacting!!!

Please ask any other questions in the comment section below I will be happy to answer them for you!

I would love to hear how you get on contacting PR's or brands

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