Now that summer is in full swing, we keep spotting exceptional blogs. It’s just as thrilling as finding pretty, intact seashells at the beach. Enjoy these pickings!

1. Hello Beautiful

Hello Beautiful, created by the lovely Hannah, is a fun, fresh blog that stays current with the seasons and on trend. (Check out the “Tanning Tuesday” series that reviews a different self-tanner every week.) The blog is packed with great product reviews, photos and videos. Plus, Hannah’s make-up always looks beautiful yet fairly understated, so it’s not difficult to heed her advice! Here are a few of her thoughts and opinions.

Q: What are your all-time 3 favourite beauty products?

A: Number one has to be L’Oreal Elnett hairspray, it works better than any hairspray I have ever used. Once you use it, you will never go back to cheaper brands! Also I adore NARS blushers. If I was pressed to choose and absolute favourite, it would have to be ‘Orgasm’, it adds the prettiest peachy pink sheen to your cheeks with a kind of “lit from within” look. Trust me, it’s a cult product for a reason. My final favourite are Barry M lip glosses, they are cheap and cheerful, yet the best glosses I have tried! Totally non-sticky and very pigmented, my handbag is never without one.

Q: Have you ever had a beauty disaster?

A: Embarrassingly I remember that when I was in my early teens, me and my friends used to go to Boots and regardless of what skin tone we had, we used to buy everything in the shade ‘Ivory’. Concealers, foundations, powder – you name it, it was ‘Ivory’! White faces all around! Then when I was about 15 I started to experiment with fake tan, that was a whole few years of beauty disasters…

Q: What are your favourite colours and make-up products this summer?

A: It is hard to avoid the huge coral trend of this summer and I am absolutely loving it! I am liking NARS blusher in ‘Gilda’ and the Soap and Glory ‘Sexy Mother Pucker’ gloss in peach – they are my summer must-haves so far!

Q: What are your beach bag essentials?

A: I have insanely sensitive skin so my number one essential is a good suncream, Piz Buin allergy has never let me down! I always carry a leave-in conditioner too, it will minimise sun damage in my hair – the Aussie one is my favourite. Finally a waterproof mascara is an absolute must-have, nobody wants panda eyes at the beach!

Q: What has blogging taught you?

A: I have so much to thank blogging for. Firstly I have taken my camera off ‘auto’ setting for the very first time! Beauty wise, contouring is the best thing that I have learnt. I never knew it even existed and it truly has changed the way I do my make-up!

Thanks, Hannah!

2. All Things Rachy

All Things Rachy is a delightful blog full of easy-to-follow instructional videos and photos that will leave you with pretty, romantic make-up. Rachel herself (the creator, of course!) is beautiful and her posts are always interesting and inspiring! We were lucky to get some Q&A with her.

Q: Where do you find inspiration for the make-up looks you create and the colours you choose?

A: From watching YouTube gurus and following other beauty blogs I gain the confidence to experiment more, try to recreate looks that others have done, and recently I have been experimenting a lot more with colour! I also take inspiration from certain celebrities when I see a look I like.

Q: How do you prevent your make-up from becoming messy/smudged?

A: I sometimes use an eye primer (Urban Decay has a very good one) and pump a spritz of MAC Fix+ onto my completed make-up to set it into place. I also take a couple of things in my handbag to touch up if I get time throughout the day, like concealer, eyeliner and lipstick.

Q: How has your interest in beauty products evolved since you began blogging?

A: Dramatically! Beauty blogging has opened my eyes to many different styles and ways of doing make-up and it has been really fun to share my interest with other bloggers. It is great to interact and comment on other bloggers’ posts as they are always very kind and answer any questions you have.

Q: What are your beauty essentials for summer?

A: I’m really into cream blushers, I haven’t touched a powder blusher in months! Also waterproof mascara and bold orangey/coral lipstick colours.

Q: In your opinion, which decade has had the best make-up styles?

A: It has to be the 60s. I love the volume of the hairstyles and the wacky-ness of some of the looks. I also love the dramatic lines found in the eye looks of the likes of Twiggy and Edie Sedgwick.

Thanks, Rachel!

3. Barefoot Blogging

We spoke to Ryan over at Barefoot Tess which specialises in shoes size US 10 and up for ladies. We got some insight on current shoe fashions and how just because some women may be taller or with have larger feet, that their fashion choices shouldn’t be limited.

Q: How has your personal style evolved over the years?

A: My style is constantly changing, depending on the current trends and even my mood.  But over the years I have learned to incorporate the latest must-haves with classic pieces for a much more wearable look.  I am also a huge believer in mixing styles, patterns, and materials—a gauzy flowered dress with a cropped leather jacket or chunky booties to toughen it up a little.  It’s unexpected and more interesting than following a particular style head to toe.

Q: What are some of your biggest style/design influences?

A: Everything from magazines and celebrities to old movies and post cards.  I guess my biggest influence comes from travelling, because what is hot right now in America is very different from the UK, Europe, or Australia.  Even the difference between California and New York!  And at Barefoot Tess, we ship all over the world, so we really try to mix in different aesthetics to appeal to everyone’s taste.

Q: What sort of responses and feedback have you received in regards to your blog?

A: Our readers really like to see how we style the shoes, especially incorporating tall-specific fashion.  Since we sell shoes US sizes 10-15, our customers are well above average in height, and have trouble finding clothing to fit their tall frames, as well as figuring out how best to dress for their body types.  So the blog is really the best way to show what they can do with the pair of shoes they’ve been eyeing on the website, if they aren’t yet convinced they can pull them off.

Q: What are your favorite places to shop?

A: Of course my favorite place to shop is the Barefoot Tess sample room (!), but my favorite designers right now are Dolce Vita and 80%20.  I am also a huge fan of online shopping.  I don’t always have time to get to the stores, and I undoubtedly get trapped talking to a pushy salesperson or another shopper who has loads of time and wants to chat.  Online I can bookmark something and come back to it later with a more critical eye, to see if I really love it or the moment has passed.  And you have all the resources at your fingertips to make sure you’re getting the best deal!

Thanks for taking the time to stop and chat with us, Ryan!

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