Beauty Blogger Q&A: Featuring… That Grace Girl

I stumbled upon That Grace Girl a few months ago after browsing the #bbloggers feed on Twitter, and found myself still perusing her posts an hour later. After that, I was hooked on a daily basis. Not only do I enjoy her beauty reviews and fashion updates, I particularly love reading her lifestyle posts. Finding out what she’s getting up to (er, stalker alert!) is one of my guilty obsessions (along with most bloggers that I follow), and Grace, 21, has a familiar life to mine. In her final year at university, she blogs alongside her degree.

From one blogger to another, I asked the girl behind That Grace Girl a few things about her blog, and a bit of advice on how to get your own blog off the ground.

Note: You may want to grab a cuppa.

-When did you first start blogging?

Almost a year ago actually! I’ve had a few blogs over the years, but I’d never really gotten into it properly or found my niche until I started That Grace Girl.

-What inspired you to start?

I’ve been reading beauty and fashion blogs for years and I love writing so it was always something that I really wanted to do. Last year I was so bogged down with uni work that I really needed a bit of a break and something non-academic to distract myself with. So I started blogging!

 -What do you do in your own time when you’re not blogging?

Right now I’m in the final few weeks of my degree so I’m still working on essays in the library and going to lectures etc. In my free time, I’ll most likely be found reading fiction, magazines, blogs etc, watching American TV shows, or cooking – I love trying out new recipes.

-Who are some of your fave bloggers?

Estee from Essiebutton (http://www.essiebutton.com) has always been my firm favourite. She’s such a lovely genuine person and I can always 100% trust her reviews. I also love Suzie from Hello October (http://www.hello-october.com) – she has an amazing style, and Alix from I Covet Thee (http://www.icovetthee.com) is my go to for skincare recommendations. I’ve recently discovered Jennypurr (http://www.jennypurr.co.uk) and Bonjour Luce (http://www.bonjourluce.com) – both gorgeous blogs with a good mix of makeup and skincare.

 -What do you like to blog about most?

That’s a tough one – I love everything I blog about! But I’d have to say skincare. I had terrible skin in my teens so it’s something I’ve always been involved with and interested in – and I’ve learnt a lot over the years. Back then there wasn’t really anywhere to turn to for skincare advice/recommendations, so I like to think that my product reviews and skincare routines will help the youth of today make the right decisions when it comes to their skin!

-Have you had any recent makeup/skincare discoveries that you’re currently enjoying?

I’m currently obsessed with Aesop’s skincare range. Not least because the packaging is to die for, but their masks are working absolute miracles for me. I’m also loving Nars’ Sheer Glow Foundation – another miracle worker, it’s perfect for my combination/sensitive skin.

-What makeup/fashion trends are you looking forward to for summer?

I’m adoring the Sixties trend, it’s the perfect way to embrace the warmer weather without diving straight into shorts and crop-tops. It’s really hit the high street over the past few weeks and I’ve seen some gorgeous pieces in Topshop especially – very Mad Men! I’m also loving orange lips – it’s so summery.

-What one makeup/fashion item do you swear by?

Makeup-wise definitely mascara. It’s the one thing I won’t leave the house without wearing. Fashion-wise I’m going to be boring and say opaque tights, but seriously, they’re a godsend in the UK climate. I’m pretty sure that at least 90% of my outfits involve opaque tights – they’re just so versatile.

-Has blogging led you to any new opportunities?

I recently attended my first bloggers meetup, which was exciting! It was great to meet like-minded people and talk all things beauty and fashion without being judged for having a hobby that involves excessive spending! I don’t go out of my way to ask for freebies – it’s just not me. But a few of my favourite brands have contacted me and sent me products to review.

-What are your tips for other bloggers to get started?

Write about what you love and most importantly what you know. If you don’t have a sound knowledge and genuine passion for a topic it will really reflect in your writing. I see so many bloggers attempting to blog about skincare when they clearly have no idea what they’re talking about – its important to remember that readers will take what you write at face value, so you need to be accurate. Beauty may be a popular subject to write about but if you don’t know anything about it then find your own niche. It’s easy to get sucked into the crowd but remember that the key to blogging successfully is originality.

Also, don’t do it for the freebies.

The PR people who’ve been in touch with me have always complimented me on my writing style and subject knowledge. It’s that which gets you places, not bombarding people with emails. Likewise, if PR people do get in touch with you, be picky and only review products that you’d actually buy. My inbox is full of PR requests for reviews of fake tan, anti-aging creams, vitamin supplements etc. and that’s just not me.

-How would you like to see your blog develop in the future?

Right now my goal is to get my own site launched. My boyfriend Danny (http://danwilson.co) is a web developer and he’s busy designing and building my new site, which will hopefully be live in a few months – very exciting! I’m also planning on upping the amount of posts I write per week (once I graduate). But as for long-term development, who knows – I didn’t start my blog with any goals, it was purely a personal thing and I just love writing. As long as I still love it in a year’s time then I’ll still be here.