To buy or not to buy?

Are you influenced by beauty bloggers to buy?

I have been debating about this with myself on my daily dog walks. I can answer this question for myself (with both yes and no), but not for fellow beauty bloggers, fellow PR’s, blog readers and for those who use blogs for research. So, I would love for you to share your thoughts on whether you are, have been or maybe not influenced to buy products after seeing or reading about something on a blog.

I've tried to keep this post short and sweet because I would really like your feedback. Please vote on my poll, comment on the post or if you’d rather tell me in private, email me at farrahkg@gmail.com. 

YES

I have been reading blogs for around two and half years now and I have been blogging (part time mind you) for almost 2 years. I have been influenced to buy A LOT through reading other beauty blogs.

Why? Because I like to read honest, real reviews and I’m a sucker for good photography. I don’t buy make up (colour) online without  googling colour swatches on blogs first,  because the images on a lot of brands websites are not real life swatches and I find that the photography or graphics used do not reflect the true colour of a product (I must add here that I know Illamasqua use real life swatches for their nail polishes which is such a clever route to take).

So, by seeing a blogger, for example,  Temptalia actually model the OCC lip tars on her lips as well as swatches, this makes me want and NEED these colours/products in my life. This is where I have been influenced and then actually bought products straight away.

More recently, I was influenced by Holly over at Yummy Mummy’s Beauty Blog to buy the Chanel Illusion D’Ombre eye shadows…well, erm, THREE of them actually. Holly posted  brilliant pictures of her modelling the colour, swatches and product shots and her review was specific, detailed and she anticipated what you would want to know about the product and answered everything. Next on my list to buy are the clarins lip perfectors she blogged about! I WANT!

NO

However, there are times when I am not influenced whatsoever, it could be a brand I love, a product I want and know I’ll buy anyway..but I am not remotely influenced by blog posts which have copied and pasted a press release. 

Lately I have learned about things in blogging which I didn't know existed, thanks to Kaushal at BeautyFulfilled (who has influenced me to want to buy  RioBlush City Girl), such as sponsored posts. Firstly, what exactly are sponsored posts? Secondly, Is it a genuine review? Are you really recommending your loyal readers to buy this? Or, are you only giving this product blog space because it's a sponsored post? Finally, I really admire bloggers who are honest about sponsored posts, however, how do you know which bloggers are choosing not to openly state they are involved with sponsored posts?

Have you been influenced by beauty bloggers to buy? 

Have you bought something after reading a review and loved it? or maybe you hated it?

Chanel's little pots of Ooh La La

I have been back and forth from Europe (hence the lack of blogging), in and out of airports (which is why I have so many products to write about)..and you know where us beauty fiends bee-line to in duty free....yes of course, the cosmetic counters.

Those of you who know me and who have been reading my blog from the beginning, will know I have been a loyal Chanel beauty madam since 17 (when I discovered Uma Thurman wore Rouge Noir in Pulp Fiction). My college girlfriends and I religously bought every Chanel star product, which I still have some of to this day.


While I was duty free shopping, I finally had some time to indulge in a bit of Chanel and picked up these stunning little pots of joy, the Illusion D'Ombre gel eyeshadows. 

As you can see, I couldn't just have one, I would have loved to buy all of them but at £22 a pot, I settled for three. They look like air whipped delicious eyeshadow cakes, rich in pigment and so smooth to apply, a little goes a long way. I also noticed that the more you blend, the more the flecks of silver, purple and gold come out, truly stunning. 

86 Ebloui - a rusty copper brown (I call this a Kim Kardashian colour eyeshadow)

84 Epatant - a khaki/gun metal silver with gold specks 

83 Illusoire - a spectacular purple/grey. I LOVE this colour

Swatches from top to bottom: Ebloui, Epatant, Illusoire

I have been wearing Ebloui and I can confirm, it is long wearing and did last me all day, from 7am until 8pm. Have you bought any of the other Illusion D'Ombre colours? I have had fun wearing Ebloui with Epatant.