Why do I blog?

Why do I blog? Well, I love makeup, and everything about it; I remember sneaking up to my grandma's vanity table in her bedroom and sniffing the powders and potions, and then at 15/16 my mother took me to the local Dior counter to buy my first high end cosmetics. I found emakemeup.com  in 2001 when searching for a review of Creme De La Mer, and it was like coming home for me; I found a place filled with people who love all things beauty related in the same way I do, and who could debate over the minute differences between two shades of brown eyeshadow. I've reviewed on emakemeup as a panelist since 2004, and I'd like to particularly thank Ammie, another panelist there, who has enabled/encouraged/egged me on over the years in my love of the lesser-known brand.

I like the smaller, lesser known brands. I'll always be on the side of the independent over the big corporation, and they just don't get enough coverage either in print or in new media in my opinion. I also find that smaller brands often work harder and are better at both customer service and reacting to feedback. I've been frustrated trying to find reviews of brands that I'm interested in and either finding nothing, or just finding anodyne press releases regurgitated in magazine articles.

So, that's what my blog is about; writing passionately about the brands that I love that don't get enough coverage in my opinion. If a new/interesting (to me) brand offers to send me something, and it's a brand that fits with my personal interest/ethos, I will try it (but I will always disclose if something was sent to me without charge.) It makes me happy to try something new that is great, and to write about it. I'm also in a fortunate position that both I and my husband earn good wages, and we only have one child (although I'd have liked more, my pregnancy and childbirth with Miss London were very difficult) so we both have disposable income; London MakeUp Girl would be just fine if I was never sent another thing without charge, because, goodness knows, I buy enough myself!

This post is a bit self-indulgent, but I hope it helps to see where I am coming from. I'd also like to reiterate now that I'm very grateful for the feedback and interaction that I get from this blog, and I truly appreciate everyone who comments on it and reads it.