Revlon Lip Wardrobe

Revlon has always been a brand I've loved and I was recently sent this package from the lovely peopl at Revlon and I was so excited when I received it! My Lip wardrobe contains a number of different lip products from liquid lipstick to lipliners, which I'm so excited to try out. I've tried a few of these products before but not in these shades and I'm really excited to try some shades out that I wouldn't usually pick for myself.

I'm usually more of a pink/nude type of girl when it comes to lip products but those darker red shades look to stunning not to try and I'm so excited to create some looks using the products that I wouldn't usually use! I love the Ultra HD Matte Lip Colours they are so affordable and come in so many great shades. They aren't drying on the lips and have really good lasting power, I'd say they are one of the best drugstore liquid lip sticks around!

The Ultra HD Gel Lip colours are also another favourite of mine, I've tried these out before and fell in love with them! I love the formula of these they glide onto the lips with a really pigmented colour and last for hours once on! You can't beat a good old traditionally lipstick and I've had Revlon lipstick in my makeup collection for years (who remembers the shade Black Cherry?). They have so many shades to choose from and are such a good price for a fantastic lipstick!

What Revlon products do you want to add to your lip wardrobe?

Berlin | New Years Eve 2018

This year me and my boyfriend spent New Years Eve in Berlin, we've made it a little tradition now to spend each New Year in a new place so this year we decided on Berlin as we spent the last one in Paris. We stayed in the Leonardo Hotel Berlin Mitte which was in a great location and was a really lovely modern hotel. I would highly recommend this hotel for anyone thats going to Berlin the staff are great as well and really helped us out on New Years Eve with recommendations of where to watch the fireworks.

If your going for New Years heres some tips at I have if your watching the fireworks from the Brandenburg Gate. I'm not the type of person that wants to have to sit out in the cold all day just to get a good spot for the fireworks, we also weren't really bothered about the whole New Years concert thing that goes on as we didn't know any of the artists playing there and were told if we wanted to be at the main bit in front of the Brandenburg Gate we would of had to queue from around 1pm. We opted to find somewhere else which worked out really well as it was only a 10 minute walk from out hotel so we didn't have to get the metro when it was really busy. We watched the fireworks from Berlin Central Station, in front of the station there a bridge and you get a one of the best views of the fireworks from watching it from the bridge. The atmosphere is great as well we everyone letting off there own fireworks (which was a bit scary at times) and drinking together. If your not a fan of massive crowds I would really recommend watching the New Years Eve fireworks from in front of Berlin Central Station. We got there around 11pm and got a great spot! I don't have the best pictures from watching the fireworks as I was so cold and didn't have my camera on me!

As you can see from the pictures above I also done all the usual tourist things in Berlin and loved exploring the city. Where do you think I should go next New Years Eve? Happy New Year everyone!!!

Oral B Using Gamification | University Work

The more I think about it the more I have noticed gamification in my everyday life. I recently purchased a new electric toothbrush from Oral-B and its their Genius 9000 Electric Toothbrush and of course I had to get the rose gold version. The way in which this toothbrush relates to digital communications is that Oral-B have managed to use gamification in a way I haven't seen it before. The toothbrush comes with an app and you download the app onto your phone and connect to it via bluetooth. You can then use the camera to detect where you need to brush more. Once all areas of the mouth have been brushed you then get a score of how well you have done, this is the part where gamification comes in. Users are able to personalise the session lengths and areas they want to focus on. I find that I am brushing my teeth for a longer amount of time just because I want to achieve 100% every time I brush, which I suppose is a good thing as it means my teeth will be well looked after but this is where I notice the gamification aspect as I am getting an achievement from just brushing my teeth. The Oral-B app gamifies the brushing habits of the user.

The products provides interaction with the user which track their oral care habits and can improve their overall oral care. Whilst using your phone to track your brushing it comes up with the latest news stories, weather updates and reminders of any dentist appointments you have. Oral-B have successfully created a toothbrush and a healthcare app which helps to develop brushing habits through gamification, whilst also keeping the user entertained and improving the quality of their dental care.

Beauty and Fashion Brands that are using Instagram to their Advantage | University Work

Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms out there and I feel like ever business should make sure that they are present on Instagram. It's a great way to interact with consumers and also a great way to build relations with customers. It is also a great way to track your audience and see what your customers really love. This post links to my previous post of Influencer Marketing as more brands are choosing to work with these influencers in order to market their products. Instagram plays a big part in this being one of the main platforms that these influencers use.  Below is some brands that I think are killing it with their Instagram feed and are really using Instagram to their advantage!

MISSGUIDED

Missguided a brand who really to interact with their customer through the use of social media especially Instagram. Missguided are known for reposting customers pictures when using #babesofmissguided hashtag, this is there way of interacting with customers and building relationships. The Missguided Instagram account also likes and comments on their customers pictures a lot which also helps with interaction. From their Instagram they also have a direct link to the products they post this helps their customers quickly find things that they have seen posted on their Instagram. 

Screen shot of Missguided Instagram.

#babesofmissguided screen shot from Instagram.

BENEFIT COSMETICS

Benefit Cosmetics are a getting it spot on when it comes to their Instagram. Benefit Cosmetics have a few different Instagram pages for different countries but I'm focusing on their UK account. The lovely girls at Benefit HQ will go onto Instagram stories or live video and show their followers what they are doing and show them what its like to work at Benefit HQ. This is a way that Benefit are interacting with their customers. Benefit also feature a number of influencers on their Instagram which relates to my previous post of Influencer Marketing. Benefit Cosmetics also like to repost their customers pictures and in the beauty blogger world its a pretty big deal if you've been reposted on Benefits account. Benefit Cosmetics also interact with their customers through Instagram by commenting and liking photos. Benefit are very active on their Instagram account posting serval times throughout the day and also posting on Instagram stories, I can't remember a the last time I went a day without seeing posts from Benefit Cosmetics on my timeline. 

Screenshot of benefitcosmeticsuk on Instagram.

Screenshot of Benefit Cosmetics reposting Instagram Influencer ItsLittleLauren.

ASOS

With over 6 million followers its obvious that ASOS are doing something right when it comes to Instagram. ASOS use Instagram differently to a lot of other brands they have their main account in which they show offers, new collections and lifestyle content. 

Screenshot of ASOS on Instagram.

They also have a 'Seen on Me' page which is dedicated to to sharing pictures of other instagrammers wearing their clothes. User just have to tag ASOS and use the #AsSeenOnMe hashtag and ASOS will share the photo will a code of the item. This is clearly a marketing and selling strategy as it allows their customers to see their clothes on real people and gives them an opportunity to buy what others are wearing. 

Screenshot of ASOS asseenonme Instagram page.

The final way ASOS use Instagram is through partnering with influencers to create sponsored posts, which relates back to my blog post on influencer marketing. ASOS have worked out who is influential in their industry and work along side them to promote their brand. 

Beauty Brands using Augmented Reality | University Work

Beauty brands are merging the real world and the digital world which is becoming a popular trend among a number of big beauty brands. If your looking for a new lipstick then theres no need to trek to your local Debenhams because the Urban Decay Vice Lipstick app has you sorted. You are able to take a picture of yourself and you can try on all their different lipstick shades.

 Photo: UrbaDecayCosmetics on Instagram

By Urban Decay using augmented reality it helps them understand what their consumers like and dislike in the terms of colours. It is also a great marketing tool for Urban Decay as it helps them to promote the range of lipsticks whilst also engaging with consumers in a new and different way. The app also allows you to post pictures of yourself wearing the lipstick and allows your friends to vote as to which one is their favourite. This is another way in which Urban Decay can reach more consumers by their customers sharing these pictures and sharing their opinions on the products.