Skincare Progression Over Perfection
Skincare is all about progression over perfection. The idea that perfection doesn’t truly exist in the world of skincare is something that many people fail to recognize. It’s important to have realistic expectations and understand that skincare is a journey, not a destination.
London Adventures
Being back in London has its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to skincare. The harsh London water has always been a problem for my skin, and this time around, it seems to be even worse. My skin is dry, especially on the tip of my nose and cheeks. This has called for a more hydrating skincare routine to combat the effects of the water on my skin.
Skincare Events and Discoveries
Attending events like the Cult Beauty event for Krave Beauty’s UK launch or the meet and greet with Susan Yara and Naturium has been exciting and informative. Being able to connect with like-minded individuals in the skincare community has allowed me to discover new products and techniques that I can incorporate into my own routine.
TikTok Struggles and Content Creation
Navigating the world of TikTok has been a struggle for me lately. The pressure to constantly create engaging content and keep up with the latest trends can be overwhelming at times. Finding a balance between creating content that is authentic and true to myself while also staying relevant in the ever-changing landscape of social media is a challenge that I continue to face.
Skincare Content Pause
It has been a while since I have dedicated myself to producing skincare content. I used to do a lot of product and brand reviews, and while I still engage in them, I have shifted towards a more commentary-style approach recently. One product that has stood out to me is the Mixsoon Bifida Toner, known for its hydrating properties derived from Bifida Ferment Filtrate, often found in expensive essences.
Evolution of Content
My content transformation began with Instagram Versus Reality and later evolved into the series “When Beauty Turns Ugly.” Despite my enduring love for skincare, I feel that the extensive knowledge we have collectively acquired over the years has left little room for new discussions in this arena.
Consumer Awareness
While it is not necessarily a negative development, this saturation of skincare information has cultivated a heightened consumer consciousness. We have grown more discerning about what works for our skin and what does not, resulting in a more informed approach to skincare purchases.
The Issue of Consumerism in Skincare
Obviously, consumerism is an issue amongst all genres and all categories of beauty, but skincare makes less sense to me. I think, with makeup: at least you know you buying these palettes and you’ve got like a longer shelf life on them. You can use them all the time daily do different looks with them create content out of them. You could use them. You know they’re like coloring pencils.
The Purpose of Skincare Reviews
Skincare. You only need so much and I don’t think us skinfluencers. I don’t think the purpose of us reviewing skincare was for us to be like you need everything. You need to buy everything. We talk about. It’s more the sense that we’re reviewing products, so you don’t have to keep buying all of them. We kind of tell you our personal opinions, so hopefully it can give you an idea of what you want to buy. But it’s turned into like this mass consumer thing.
The Challenge of Skincare Collection
This is the Muihood Tao, Rice Water Essence, with Prickly Pear and Snow Mushroom. Two of my favorite ingredients. Really nicely hydrating. A little bit difficult to get out the packaging. And I kind of …. I feel that too. Like my skincare collection has gone from being in a whole room dedicated to just storing my skincare in my studio, to literally being three drawers in a unit of drawers in a different room. Because honestly, it’s embarrassing. It’s so embarrassing having that much skincare that even as a content creator, you’re not gonna have a good amount of time to review or even get to reviewing.
Receiving Products
I like receiving skincare products, not only for personal use but also to share with friends and family or donate to charities. It’s nice to have the opportunity to try out new products and give back to the community by donating unused items.
The Evolution of Skincare Influencers
As one of the early skincare influencers, I never anticipated the direction the industry would take. The rise of influencer culture has changed the landscape of skincare reviews and recommendations, which comes with both pros and cons. While I don’t necessarily dislike this shift, I also don’t wholeheartedly embrace it.
Adapting to the Influencer World
In today’s digital age, content creators, including skincare influencers, need to keep up with trends to stay relevant. As influencers, we are essentially running businesses, and we must cater to what our audience enjoys and engages with. This means making adjustments to our content to align with popular demand and viewership.
Embracing Commentary Style Content
While traditional skincare reviews may not garner as much interest as they once did, incorporating commentary and personal insights into content has proven successful in attracting viewers. By providing a unique perspective on beauty-related topics, we can continue to engage our audience while staying true to our passion for all things beauty.
Balancing Beauty and Business
Ultimately, as influencers, we need to strike a balance between creating content that resonates with our audience and meeting the demands of running a profitable business. By staying attuned to viewer preferences and adapting our content strategy accordingly, we can continue to thrive in the ever-evolving world of beauty and skincare.
The Influence of TikTok on Skincare Reviews
I feel like TikTok is gonna be where I kind of offload a lot of reviews or ideas about skincare and all that kind of stuff. When I first started, I wouldn’t usually use this many products, but my skin is suffering. So I just want to load it with hydration for now to get me through the events and then I’ll sort out when I get home.
Inspiration Behind “When Beauty Turns Ugly” Series
This is the CcPair tiger grass repair serum. Yes, my inspiration for the “When Beauty Turns Ugly” series was this YouTuber. It’s a mix of like a YouTuber and a TV program from Paramount Plus, I think it is, that was called “When Mega Structures Go Wrong.” And there’s a YouTuber who I love watching, who does videos about how things like massive bridges and shopping centers, and all these buildings, like how they were poorly made and they all collapsed. And I was like, you know this with beauty. Like I can do this with skincare. There are so many lawsuits and tales. I’ll just take something I’m interested in and put a beauty spin on it.
TikTok Struggles and Skincare Routine Adjustments
What am I doing next? Essence? Oh, I need to sheet mask now. Did I bring an eye cream? Oh, no. I haven’t got the right stuff for me. This is a Chinese brand, and there’s a skincare shop here in London that I’ve shopped from ever.
The Shift Away from Skincare Reviews
Since I actually got into k, beauty and japanese skincare called P two B us, which is proud to be us., And I popped in there with Robert and found these chinese sheet masks.. So Im just gon na do a little sheet mask just to add some surface level hydration to my skin for now., But yeah, so thats, where that comes from have asked me in the comments like why you know people be like. Oh, I miss your product reviews, blah blah. And to be honest with you its because they dont do as well.. They dont bring in the views. The money. And obviously money is important because Im a business and as I mentioned, I have staff and all that kind of stuff.. But views are a good indication of what my audience are actually enjoying and what theyre not. So yeah. I just kind of stick to what does well really.
The Influence of TikTok
So yeah. I just use one of their sheet masks in that TikTok and my experiment: an avant garde, reusable sheet mask.. I know it kind of like defeats the purpose of having a reusable sheet mask, but it just keeps the mask on my face. Im. Now gon na go steam, my clothing, so I need the sheet mask to stand. There. But yeah, I feel, like YouTube, has very much become like peoples, tv and TikTok is the new kind of like social media platform that everyone goes to. Like. Personally, I love a longer skincare review, but I think a lot of people are like if I can get a review in 15 seconds on TikTok.
The Pressure of Social Media
As a content creator, the pressure to adapt to the trends of social media platforms can be overwhelming. The constant need to chase views and engagement can sometimes lead to compromises in content quality. While longer skincare reviews may provide a more in-depth analysis, the allure of a quick and catchy TikTok video can be hard to resist. The shift towards shorter, snappier content is a reflection of the evolving landscape of digital media consumption.
Exploring Chinese Beauty
So right, I’m gonna go give this ten minutes and then I’ll be back. Okay, so it’s been a few minutes. Let’s take this off. I really want to try some more Chinese beauty, because I think they are really ahead in skincare. When it comes to skincare, I feel like they’ve got it down. Their makeup brands are pretty and effective. Many people think Chinese beauty is all tested on animals, but that’s not true. Their regulations are changing for the better, and that’s a whole other deep dive video that I’m working on. It’s tough because I want to share the truth about cruelty-free beauty, which is important. There are a lot of misunderstandings, even among those who claim to know everything about cruelty-free laws. It’s not as black and white as some people think.
TikTok Struggles
I have been posting more on TikTok recently. I haven’t been hating it, but it’s a platform that I need to get used to. I struggle with posting anything on TikTok because, unlike YouTube where you can easily get inspired by other creators, TikTok requires a different approach and creativity. It’s a challenge for me to find my voice and style on TikTok, but I’m working on it. It’s a learning process that takes time and practice.
The Evolution of Skincare Trends
Skincare trends are constantly evolving, from the ten step Korean skincare routine to the seven toner method. These trends often circulate in the beauty community, resurfacing after a few years with renewed popularity. However, not everyone is on board with revisiting these trends.
TikTok vs. YouTube
With the rise of TikTok, skincare content has found a new platform to reach audiences. While some creators thrive on TikTok, others find it challenging to discuss older trends that were popular on YouTube years ago. The shift in content preferences and demographics is evident, with creators like myself finding it difficult to engage with a younger audience on TikTok.
Patient for Longer Reviews
As a creator with a specific demographic in mind, longer reviews and in-depth content are preferred by my audience. While TikTok may cater to shorter, more concise content, I resonate with viewers who appreciate detailed discussions about skincare products and routines. The challenge lies in finding the balance between catering to different platforms and audience preferences.
Sponsorship Disclosures
Transparency is key when it comes to sponsorships in the beauty industry. While I have collaborated with brands like ilyune in the past, it is important to note that these partnerships are based on genuine love for the products. Building trust with my audience is essential, and transparency about sponsorships helps maintain that trust.
Skincare Routine
As I apply my skin tint and hydrating serum-primer, I realize that my skincare routine has changed. I used to review so many skincare products, but now I find myself sticking to the same products with similar technology. It’s like I’ve found my holy grail products and I don’t feel the need to constantly try new things.
TikTok Confusion
I admit that I don’t quite understand how TikTok works. The cadence and rhythm of the platform elude me, but I continue to post content anyway. Perhaps it’s a generational gap or simply a personal preference, but TikTok struggles remain a mystery to me.
Contact Lenses Dilemma
Although I don’t wear contact lenses, I decide to try out color contacts for a change. The moody lens with a brownish-gold hue enhances the appearance of my eyes, making them appear larger and rounder. I notice that people tend to focus on my eyes more when I wear color contacts, which adds a new dimension to my interactions.
Makeup Routine
Despite my aversion to anything near my eyes, I apply the fix-on primer Hydro from a brand I can’t quite recall. This step is essential for creating a dewy, natural glow that complements my standard routine for dry skin. Whether I’m heading out or simply want to enhance my features, this makeup routine never fails to disappoint.
The Essence of Hydrating Primer
This is like a super quenching hydrating primer that just. I dont know.. I dont have to talk about makeup, but I feel like whenever I wear like a skin tint or even just like a tinted sunscreen. It kind of adds that extra staying power for the tint.
Battling Dryness on the Tip of My Nose
Concentrate on the tip of my nose, because its so dry and red.. I also feel like Ive, been sick for, like a month., Not like really bad, but I just feel like Ive been exhausted. Like. I feel fine now, but for a good three weeks I just felt exhausted. Like I had a sore throat every single day., Like it just felt non stop.
Feeling Stuck in a Rut
Yeah., I feel like a lot of us, are in a bit of a rut at the moment.. Definitely not burnt out.. I can. I love doing like the research for all these videos. Im, trying a few different editing styles now as well, and I love doing that. But I just., I just feel like Im a bit of. In a bit of a rut. Like I just want something else to do not instead of YouTube., I hate when creators just like leave YouTube and then come back and expect everything to be like normal again.
Skin Tint for a Natural Look
Im using the summer Fridays tint. Im, not gon na show you the bottle, because it is embarrassing.. I will put it up here, but its grubby as hell.. This is just such a nice, like sheer tint, that just kind of like evens out like a little bit of rosacea for me.
Struggles of Maintaining a Consistent YouTube Presence
But yeah. I just feel like. I want like another project to do another, something you know. But the thing is with YouTube is you just dont have time. You have to be very consistent with uploads. Otherwise YouTubes like well, everyone hates you now. When I took a break at Christmas, my adsense went down by nearly 50. 50. Can you imagine any other job where theyre like? Oh, if you take a week off, were gon na, halve your paycheck at the end of the month. Isnt that crazy?
Perception of Time and Money in the YouTube Industry
So people were like, “Oh, why are you always working?” I feel like this? Is you know in every job time is money. But I feel like this is one of the only jobs where the employee can directly see that time equals money. And if youre not putting all your time into it, you are losing money. Ill still pick it over Any other job Ive ever done. Every job has their pros and cons, but at least we get to do our own thing and on our own time. And anyone whos complaining about it. I think maybe youre too young and havent worked a real job a day in their life. They dont have much to compare it to.
Preference for Natural and Dimensional Skin
I like that, its very natural. I like how you can still see a bit of redness in my skin because I feel like my skin without any redness doesnt have any dimension.
Concluding Thoughts
Okay, Im gon na go.
Skincare Reviewing
Do my hair then Ill be back. Okay. I think Im done. I think thats it. Now I think Im ready to go. Um yeah thats it. That’s it. Oh no eyebrows. Im going to use the milk kush gel. It’s a clear eyebrow gel. I don’t know it. Doesn’t really do too much for my brows, but it definitely keeps them in a little bit shape. They’re so thick that they just kind of do what they want. So it’s nice to add a little bit of tidiness to them. Yeah.
TikTok Struggles
To follow on the conversation of like YouTube and stuff I’ve been trying a few different editing styles that I’ve heard or, like seen, you know, multiple different editing styles. Sorry. That is meant to help with engagement. Basically keep the video interesting. So like halfway through you’re not like okay I’m bored now. You switch off. Let me know if there’s anything you like or dislike in the editing styles, because I will be trying different things. Yeah that’s it. Really. Let me know.
Reflecting on Appearance
So is my hair supposed to look like that? It always looks different on camera than it does in the mirror versus a car reflection, window. Interesting. Interesting choice but yes. There we go. Right.
Upcoming Events
I am off to Westfield white city space NK with naturium. Hopefully Im going to see a few of you there. If not I’ll see you some other time. I’m sure we’ll do more meet and greets.
Skincare Burnout
As a beauty enthusiast, I was once very active in reviewing various skincare products on my social media platforms. However, over time, I found myself feeling overwhelmed and burnt out by the constant pressure to try new products and provide detailed reviews. The never-ending cycle of testing and promoting products took a toll on my skin and my mental health.
Quality Over Quantity
I realized that I was focusing more on the quantity of reviews I could churn out rather than the quality of the content I was creating. I was losing sight of why I started sharing my skincare journey in the first place to help others make informed decisions about the products they use. I made the conscious decision to slow down and prioritize in-depth reviews over the sheer volume of products I was testing.
TikTok Dilemma
With the rise of TikTok as a dominant social media platform, I also found myself struggling to keep up with the fast-paced nature of content creation. The pressure to create short, engaging videos that would go viral was exhausting, and I found myself constantly comparing my content to that of others. I had to remind myself that it’s okay to take a step back and create content at my own pace, without succumbing to the pressures of the platform.
Reconnecting with My Audience
By taking a step back from the relentless cycle of skincare reviews and TikTok challenges, I was able to refocus my energy on reconnecting with my audience on a more personal level. I started sharing more chatty Get Ready With Me videos where I could speak openly about my struggles and experiences, allowing my followers to see the person behind the carefully curated beauty content.
Self-Care and Reflection
Through this process of self-reflection and prioritizing self-care, I was able to rediscover my passion for skincare and content creation. I no longer feel pressured to constantly churn out reviews or keep up with the latest social media trends. Instead, I am focusing on creating meaningful and authentic content that resonates with my audience and brings joy to my own life.
My decision to step back from reviewing skincare products extensively has allowed me to focus on other aspects of my life and content creation. By prioritizing quality over quantity, I have been able to hone in on what truly matters to me and create content that is genuine and meaningful. While the world of skincare and social media may present its own set of challenges, I am committed to staying true to myself and continuing to share my journey with others. Thank you for watching and supporting me on this wild ride.
Okay, I’m gonna do a sheet mask now. I feel like TikTok has really changed the way I approach skincare reviews and content creation in general. It has opened up a whole new world of inspiration for me, and I’m excited to see where it takes me next.
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