Favourite Bloggers and Vloggers of 2013

As I sit here on NYE Eve and contemplating the year that has passed, I realised I've seriously gotten into blog reading and and while I still watch YouTube videos it's funny how your faves change over time. If I had to go through every video and blog I've come across over the past year - taking the whole year into consideration, what would I pick to be my favourites? Well, in no particular order... 

Hello October - click here for blog and here for channel

This lass gets prime spot on both. It's refreshing to see someone outside of the Greater London area for a start, but other than that how do I some her musings up? Lord knows I'm rubbish at these things but I would suggest you read her own post on her 2013 blog roll which is very eloquent and I'm sure I'l refer to it for new reading and viewing material in 2014. I enjoy reading her beauty related post the most on there although there's a mix of stuff, and she's very pretty. That's always nice! Her videos are also encouraging me to get into more hair stuff, although I've yet to act on this because I'm so darn lazy.

A Model Recommends - click here for blog and here for channel

Ruth Crilly has got to be my combined YouTube and blog favourite. Actually, she'd win no.1 spot for each in their own right. I really didn't think it would be that easy to choose, but she's just that great. There's a perfect mix of beauty reviews and brief insight into her personal life - she's a model, she's just moved, she's been studying alongside everything. I don't know how she fits it in. She's a wife, a cat and now a dog owner too. That's got nothing to do with anything but she's so lovely. She also posts for other sites which you'll discover as you head over there, if you have't already. Although all reviews are obviously based on someone's personal experience with a product, I have made some purchases based on her reviews and have yet to be disappointed - most notably Kiehls Daily UV defence whatever it's called moisturiser. It's the only spf 50 which doesn't leave a grey tinge on my brown brown skin. WOOHOO! And I've learnt some simple basics which I should already know, for example, that shower mitt/glove thing you have hanging about in the bathroom... use it to apply your soap/shower gel and you'll exfoliate daily with minimal effort. Genius I tell you - watch that vid here.

Fleur DeForce - click here for blog and here for channel 

Fleur has made it to my list for her channel but her blog also features some great reviews and has influenced the purchase of every Soap and Glory Gloss Stick shade I could grab plus L'Oreal's eau du teint foundation - but frankly her videos have influenced more. She got married this year and had a separate channel dedicated to that which was quite good and she took viewers of the main channel through the journey too. I love her haul videos, her what in my bag/travel make up/skincare/bathroom videos, her skincare routine videos and of course her reviews. I couldn't link a particular video because they're all great. I'm not sure but I think she also influenced the purchase of my favourite everyday (and good enough for special occasion) foundation, Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum and definitely the purchase of Remington pearl double barrelled curling tong. All winners!!! Oh and she was on one of my favourite shows, Project Runway, the All Stars edition. Wowser!!!

Essie Button - click here for blog and here for channel

Again, this is a great girl with a great blog but you can't capture that Canadian charm as well as in video! She is a character - you'll know when you see it! She's just so darn likeable and relate-able (is that not a word?) and doesn't hide the way her mind works when she's talking about things... I can't describe it at all. She does brilliant review and I have to say, I may not even agree with some opinions but they're so valid - because beauty and skincare and scents and stuff are so personal - and so you want to keep watching. She recently posted some brand focus videos and I particularly enjoyed the Bourjois one, although they're all so informative. My favourite videos of hers are the  monthly favourites, for sure. Oh and the DIYs. 

I Covet Thee - click here for blog and here for channel

Like Hello October, I discovered Alix's blog on Bloglovin' but the YouTube channel really shone for me.  I love her hauls, her reviews, her favourites and her routine videos -  yet gain I'm lost for words to describe them but it all makes sense, if you watch them, you will go out and buy things. Promise. I think this young lady is responsible for my buying Nuxe lip balm (as are a few others) and a what a worthwhile purchase. Actually, having watched a half praise half critical review of the Sam's Picks collection by Real Techniques, I went and bought it anyway and have to agree totally, whereas some people are just crazy with the compliments. She just makes sense. I'm sure I'll be referring to her blog roll also for 2014!

Lisa Eldridge - click here for blog and here for channel

This is a very talented lady and any introduction I do would not do justice. So here's this from her own channel:

Mother and renowned professional make up artist working with many of the worlds top A-list celebrities, models, magazines and brands

There's much more about her on her blog and it's worth a read for sure, but definitely watch her channels. For all I know, she may have invented the "in flight skincare routine" because every blogger and youtuber refer to her as their inspiration for it. You must check out the video. In fact you must check out every single video. One a day and you'll be wanting to watch them all over again, I promise. Lisa is also responsible for my buying the Nuxe lip balm. But it's only £9 so that's more of a thanks than an accusation! Recently she did a Bollywood inspired make-up look, very wearable and obviously one for me to try out as a woman of colour. The blog and channel go perfectly hand in hand. Subscribe up - she's real, she's a professional, she makes sense and her advice will change your life in some way, I'm sure.

Wayne Goss - click here for main channel and here for second channel

You can't subscribe to one and not the other - Wayne is another that I could not do justice to describe him/his work but I'll try! He has great videos on make up mostly, but also skin care, they're very honest and don't hold back. If it's not good, he's not going to stay quiet and let us just blow our money without hearing that someone didn't think so. There's more positive and sponsored videos on YouTube for every product which can make it difficult to make informed decisions on whether you should part with your cash on something so Wayne fills a big gap. He has the most fantastic application tips, speaking of which he's so into brushes he made his own! His videos are so short and straight to the point which is perfect and he's a big advocate for women of colour and older women as far as cosmetics go. Go Wayne! 

Caroline Hirons - click here for blog

This lady is all about skin. Sure there's some make up stuff in there but she's a facialist and beauty industry consultant so if she's saying anything about anything that goes on your skin you would do well to pay attention. She tries out loads of products and shares her views, as well as the knowledge she's gained from years in the industry. I discovered her via Pixiwoo, either on their channel or daily mix or something or other but she appeared in a video talking very frankly about what we should and shouldn't be doing to our skin and I just had to hear more. I also appreciate the banner which doesn't actually feature her name - instead it's a picture of her beautiful Nana in the 60s - both her mum and nana were in the beauty industry so you could say it's in her genes!

That's my fave bloggers and vloggers that have stood our for me in 2013. Sure I've had phases where I've religiously watched/read others, and there are some which were winners pre2013 but not so much this year. I will post up my blogroll as a permanent feature at some point but until then here are a few others definately deserving some attention:

Youtube:
Nicole Guerriero
Pixiwoo
Missglamorazzi
Tanya Burr
Zoella
Annie Jaffrey
Secret Life of a Bio Nerd
Sona Gasparian
Raeview

Blogs:
I Heart Organizing
I am baker
Gh0stparties
The Beauty Department

If you have any to recommend please share below! Thanks and Happy New Year!