Home Improvements During the Pandemic

When the pandemic started, most of us have a 360-degree turn of our lives. 

My work implemented a rotation schedule for us when the pandemic took it turns to worse just so there's not a lot of people in the office and that we are complying with the social distancing protocol. I started working for two days and then two days off. With all that free time, my husband and I started a home project. We repainted the house and bought new furniture. It was a total make-over. But no, we did not overspend or splurge. We bought what we can afford and somethings I repurposed and was used for something else.

The first thing we worked on was our kitchen. We used to have a lot of plates, utensils, bowls, mugs, and water bottles that we don't really use, so I started boxing them and put them away. We are only two at home and rarely got visitors, so all of those are mostly clutter in our kitchen. We got a cheap set of plates and bowls from Walmart with a color that eventually started the theme of our house.

Mainstays Amelia Topaz Dinnerware Set

Here's a look of our kitchen:

Our next project was then the dining area. We found the cheapest but comfortable dining set from Wayfair, and since the brown color doesn't really match our home aesthetics, we bought some chair Covers are from Amazon. The giant wall frame was given to us by a friend.

The living room was the next one we did, and it took us a while to finish putting everything together. The sofa set was also from Wayfair. The coffee table was something we got from Facebook Market for super cheap, and the TV stand was from a local thrift store in our area. This living room update is definitely our favorite part of our home project! 

The last part of the house that we had a significant update was the master's bedroom. The bed was, of course, from Wayfair too.

We did some minor updates on our bathrooms, but that would be for some other time for us to share because we are still in the process of repainting it. We are also still working on my husband's "man cave," a.k.a gaming room; when it's finished, we are going to share it with you too! As for my playroom, I updated it a couple of times already, and most of the furniture I have there was some old furniture from our bedroom and living room that I chose to repurpose instead of just throwing them away. I will do a separate post about it since I've got so many things to share from there! But here's a glimpse of my vanity area:

We are happy with how things turned out. I believed that even if you are renting, you can still make the best out of your home. But I am looking forward to that day that we'll be able to own our house that we can call forever home. I always wanted to move somewhere else. Maybe not on another state, because I love Florida! I guess, just somewhere new.

I've heard a lot of good things about Jacksonville. And if ever you are in the market for a new house yourself, you can count on Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty, Erin E. King MBA. Erin was recognized as Best of Zillow Realtor. He specializes in Jacksonville's historic homes like the homes for sale in Ortega. 

Erin King is also a Ramsey Endorsed local real estate provider in Jacksonville. A Ramsey endorsed local provider is a 3rd party affiliation that he has, and he's really proud of it! With his combined expertise and experience in buying and selling, you are in good hands and can definitely find your historic dream house in the Jacksonville area. 

His website is also easy to navigate, and there are quite several beautiful homes for sale in Ortega. I particularly like this one:

Home for sale in Ortega

My husband and I always dreamed of a house far from neighbors and with a big extra lot where we can have our fur baby, Luke, run around and play. 

You can check out more houses from the website and if you find what you are looking for, make sure to give Erin a call.

Hopefully, someday, we can have our own little house, may it be here in Florida or back home in the Philippines. For now, we are grateful that we are living in a charming and affordable townhouse that we can decorate on our liking. 

What about you? Are you planning on buying a new home anytime soon? Or were you able to do some home projects or improvements during the pandemic? I'd love to hear from you!

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My Top 5 Favorite Romantic-Comedy Korean Series!

Are you a K-drama fan? If yes, you probably already watched everything I have on this list. I won't say that I am a big fan of Korean drama because I don't watch everything that most of the k-drama fans will watch. I mostly like romantic comedies and feel-good dramas, although there's definitely a couple of heavy drama ones that I did love (that's for another time for me to share).

Today, I am just sharing my top 5 favorites, which I watched two or more times already. I usually re-watched them to entertain myself during my treadmill workout. 😁

My Top 5 Favorite K-Drama Series

5. The Secret Garden -   this is a 2010 South Korean television drama starring Ha Ji-won and Hyun Bin. At first, you will think that it's your typical Cinderella story between a stuntwoman and a rich and arrogant department store CEO. But there's more to it than that. I love how they mold the characters in this drama - including the supporting casts, and how each of their stories unfolds throughout the series.

Netflix/Giphy

4. My Love from the Star - a 2014 romantic fantasy TV series starring Jun Ji-Hyun and Kim Soo-Hyun. This is about an extraterrestrial alien who landed on Earth in the Joseon Dynasty and, 400 years later, falls in love with a top actress in the modern era. What I love most about this series was the hilarious character of Jun Ji-Hyun and the mysterious but cute character of Kim Soo-Hyun. This drama also entails family relationships, the complicated life of an actress, love, and friendships.

Giphy

3. The Legend of the Blue Sea - this is another romantic-fantasy tv series aired 2016 and starring Jun Ji-Hyun and Lee Min-ho, two of the most top-rated Hallyu actors. I already love both of these actors, and they have the perfect chemistry in this series. This drama will leave you laughing because of the innocence of the mermaid who made it to land to follow the man she fell in love with, who turns out to be an expert con-artist. And at the same time, it will make you cry because what is Korean drama if it can't make you sad and cry, right?

Giphy

2. Full House - this will be one of my forever favorite TV series because I just love the story and the characters, and also, this is the first series that my husband watched with me. Among this list, this seems to be a classic, which aired back in 2004 and starred by Song Hye-Kyo and Rain. I love the storyline. It's about an innocent and ordinary girl who is just trying to survive as an orphan and become a successful writer and a famous actor who wanted to escape all rumors surrounding him and his career. They ended up living together in a fake marriage.

Photo Credit: KBS / Wikipedia

1. Crash Landing on You - this is the most recent series that I probably watched four times already. I love the plot of this 2019 drama starred by Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin. This drama is about a South Korean heiress who, while paragliding, is swept up by a storm and ended up crash-landing in North Korea, where she met a North Korean officer, who tried to protect her, and they both ended up falling in love with each other. This is the second k-drama series that my husband watched with me, and considering he was actually the one who chose this series.😆

Netflix / Giphy

If you have any recommendations, comment below and let me know so I can check them out! And please share your top five too!

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How to start a skincare routine from scratch

Disclaimer: I am in no way a skincare professional or expert. All information in this post is based on my own combined research and personal experiences.

Are you new in the skincare world? Are you looking to start a skin care regimen that will work for you? Let me share how I started so you can get an idea of where to begin! 

First off, what is skincare? 

According to Wikipedia, Skincare is the range of practices that support skin integrity, enhance its appearance, and relieve skin conditions. They can include nutrition, avoidance of excessive sun exposure, and appropriate use of emollients.

So when do we supposed to start to have a skincare routine?

Let me tell you this, I started a skincare routine when I am already past 20. But according to an article I read from the Essential Wholesale and Labs, at age 14-20, skincare is supremely important since teenagers often develop chaotic skin. Experts say that it's never too young to find and start a routine that works for you, and as the old saying goes: "Prevention is better than cure." Starting a skincare routine while you are young will help you out, in the long run, to put off the effects of advancing years for much longer. 

But what if you are past your teenage years? Don't worry! It is not too late to start a routine. This remains true: our basic skincare needs to stay the same - cleanse, moisturize, and protect. But as we grow older, our skin needs more attention, and adding some steps are sometimes necessary, like toning, exfoliating, adding some special serums, and/or prescription treatments. But let us start with the basics.

When I came here in the US, I discovered that there's more to skincare than just washing your face with soap and water. In all honesty, I started off with only blindly using every skincare product I can get a hold for free, which I can definitely tell you were not a good thing.

You should know your skin first. Do you have a normal skin type? An oily one? Or maybe a combination or sensitive skin? That is something I did not really pay attention to when I started using skincare products.

How can you determine your skin type?

Tatcha has mentioned two great ways to do it:

The Bare-Faced Method - is where you cleanse your face thoroughly with a mild cleanser and gently pat try. Leave bare for 30 minutes and examine your cheeks, chin, nose, and forehead for any shine and after another 30 minutes, evaluate whether your skin feels parched. If your skin feels tight, your skin is likely dry. If there is noticeable shine on your nose and forehead, your skin is most likely normal/combination. If there is shine on your cheeks in addition to your forehead and nose, you most likely have oily skin.

The Blotting Sheet Method - is where you gently pat a blotting paper on the different areas of your face. Hold the sheet up to the light to determine how much oil is visible. If the sheet picked up little to no oil, you most likely have dry skin. If the blotting sheet reveals oil from the forehead and nose areas, your skin is normal/combination. Finally, if the blotting paper is saturated with oil, it is incredibly likely that you have oily skin.

Let's dive in deeper to each skin type:

Normal - blessed you! You have a well-balanced skin which is not too dry or too oily. Your skin is not prone to breakouts or flakiness.

Oily - this is when your skin always looks glowing, but its because it has excess oil, especially on your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). Your skin tends to feel greasy, and this is the type that is often prone to blemishes and breakouts.

Dry - this is the opposite of having an oily skin where your skin feels and looks dehydrated and dry. It can be noticeably rough, flaky, and itchy.

Combination - this is when your skin is oily in certain areas and dry in others. Usually, the skin is oily in the T-zone and dry or normal on the cheeks and the rest of the face.

Sensitive - this is usually characterized by visible redness, frequent rashes, and bumps, with patches of dry, flaky, and irritated skin. This skin type is more likely to quickly get irritated when trying new makeup or skincare products.

Give yourself some time to really understand your skin type and, along with it, give some thought of what your skin needs. 

Now that you know your skin type, what's next?

Let's talk about your skin's BASIC needs.

As we have already mentioned, our skin's essential needs consist of cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting.

Cleanse - it is essential to wash your face morning and night. By cleansing, you are getting rid of dirt, sweat, sebum, and makeup from the skin's surface. 

For normal skin, most cleansers would basically work, but it's always good to find mild cleansers that can remove dirt and grime but will also preserve your natural sebum. 

For oily skin, oil-free foaming and gel cleansers tend to be the most effective. Look for cleansers that contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to help with breakouts.

On the other hand, oil, milk, and cream-based formula that contains shea butter, honey, lipids, or ceramides work well for dry skin type. Avoid cleansers with irritants such as perfumes, alcohol, and other harsh ingredients. 

For combination and sensitive skin, an ultra-gentle cleanser is your best choice. Look for fragrance-free, paraben-free, and soap-free cleansers. A gel or micellar cleanser that contains aloe tends to be a good choice. 

Of course, choosing the right cleanser for your skin can sometimes take some time. Whatever cleanser you picked, make sure you take the time using it right. It is recommended that you apply your cleanser with your fingers in gentle, slow, circular motions for at least 30 seconds to a minute. After washing your face, gently pat it dry with a towel and avoid scrubbing it to your face. This is something I also learned late from the game. I used to scrub the towel on my face instead of just patting it gently. 

Moisturize - this is an integral part of the skincare routine since it hydrates and softens the skin while sealing moisture. Like finding the right cleanser for your skin, it might also take time to find the right moisturizer for you and may take a trial and error method. But be patient, you will definitely find a match! 

For normal and combination skin type, choose a simple, neutral, light, and non-greasy moisturizer. 

Oily skin usually does great with lightweight oil-free moisturizers that contain hyaluronic acid and glycerin.

Dry skin, on the other hand, can benefit from a richer and denser cream that contains shea butter, jojoba oil, or coconut oil.

For sensitive skin, always go with fragrance-free formula and moisturizers labeled hypoallergenic, and that contains aloe or chamomile.

Protect - it is vital to apply sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 and broad-spectrum to protect your skin from developing skin cancers and also prevent the development of fine lines and wrinkles every morning. It is recommended that you apply your SPF 30 minutes before going out and re-apply it every two hours. You can use a daily moisturizer that already has a built-in moisturizer for a simpler routine. 

It won't be necessary to use SPF at night. You might opt-in using additional skincare products instead, like exfoliators or acne treatments that specifically target your skin problems.

But if you are only starting to build a skincare routine, it is always better to start with the least products as possible. You also have to give your skin some time to get used to your routine. Do not be discouraged if you have not seen any results overnight. It can take up to six weeks to actually see results. Consistency is the key. 

And also, don't forget your lips! You can use a lip scrub once or twice a week and apply lip moisturizers every night.

On my next blog post, we'll dive into a more advanced skincare routine.

I hope this helps you start a skincare routine that is best for your skin! Do not hesitate to leave a comment or question below if you have any.

If you are looking for a skincare brand to start with, check out my Good Molecules post here.

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My Pixi Beauty Collection!

Brand spotlight coming up!

Have you ever heard about the brand PixiBeauty? If not, you're missing out! It's a beauty and skincare brand that offers incredible products to bring out your natural beauty. They've been around for 20 glowing years to provide "pure, awakening & skin-loving products that create a naturally radiant 'just had a good night's sleep' look." Sounds pretty amazing, right?

For today, I am sharing my collection of their skincare and beauty products and my favorites among them (which was actually hard to pick because they are all good!)

*By the way, all of these products are PR gifted, but this is not a sponsored post* 

Here's their PixiGlow Cake ($28 each):

It comes in two Shade: GlidedBare Glow and PinkChampagne Glow. These 3-in-1 coordinated cheek colour and light-diffusing palette help to achieve a naturally healthy, radiant complexion with flushed apples of the cheeks, subtle contouring, and glowing highlights. These will definitely give you the naturally healthy and radiant glow! I can't pick just one from these two because I used each dependent on which look I am trying to achieve.

Here's their Rose-Infused Collection:

These are probably one of my favorite collections. I love everything pink and rose. :) This collection includes the following:

Rose Glow Mist - this refreshing Mist helps moisturize skin, improve elasticity and provide free radical protection - $15 

Rose Ceramide Cream -  this ultra-rich cream provides long-lasting nourishment and help to improve skin's elasticity while protecting it against environmental aggressors - $24

Rose Cream Cleanser - this is a soothing and gentle cleanser that helps strengthen and soften the skin - $18

Rose Tonic - this toner rehydrates, replenishes, and refreshes skin while gently removing any impurities - $15

Rose Flash Balm - a great pick-me-up 3-in-1 moisturizer that instantly moisturizes and brightens the skin that can be used as a mask or a primer - $24

Rose Caviar Essence - this gorgeous looking product with its encapsulated flower oils is a weightless serum-essence that helps nourish and hydrate skin while providing immediate and long-term radiance - $24

Rose Oil Blend - a botanical blend that rejuvenates, restores and renews the skin to help improve its elasticity and glow - $24

Makeup Fixing Mist - keep that glow locked with this makeup setting spray that prolongs makeup wear while keeping your skin hydrated - $15 

Among these products, my top two favorites are Rose Caviar Essence and Rose Ceramide Cream!

Here's their Eye Reflections Shadow Palette ($24 each): 

They come in 4 shades:

Mixed Metals 

Reflex Lights

Natural Beauty

Rustic Sunset

I am fortunate enough to get a hold of Reflex Lights and Natural Beauty palettes! And my favorite is the Reflex Lights between the two.

Here's their Glow Tonic Collection:

Glow Tonic To-Go - you want your glow tonic to-go? Here's their solution! The travel-friendly pads pre-soaked in Glow Tonic so you can quickly achieve that toned, brightened, and hydrated skin wherever you go - $18

Glow Tonic Serum - this serum is all about hydrating and moisturizing while providing gentle exfoliation to the skin to show a radiant complexion - $24

On-The-Glow - would be one of my favorites! This multi-tasking stick can hydrate the lips, body, and hair! It's a perfect travel-buddy moisturizer -  $18

Phenomenal Gel - this neutralizing moisturizer  helps stabilize skin's pH levels while providing moisture and balance complexion - $24

Glow Tonic (100 ml) - this is my first and most favorite Pixi Product of all time! This gentle toner smoothes the skin and gives it a healthier glow - $15

Glow Tonic Cleansing Gel - this will probably be my least favorite skincare product from PixiBeauty. Although it promises to remove impurities and brighten the skin, I did not feel or see anything special when I used it. - $18

And yes, the Glow Tonic will always be one of my forever favorites!

Here's their complete Vitamin C Collection:

I got 5 of these products which I listed below:    

Vitamin-C Juice Cleanser - it gently cleanses and brightens skin while improving the overall tone and appearance of your complexion while boosting your skin's natural luminosity. - $18

Vitamin-C Tonic - this toner helps prep your skin to your skincare routine. It helps create a smooth and vibrant complexion while soothing and brightening your skin. - $15

Vitamin-C Serum - this serum provides immediate and long-term radiance and helps reduce the effects of sun damage. - $24

Vitamin-C Caviar Balm - this brightening leave-on mask provides deep hydration while nourishing the skin and providing heavenly moisture day and night. - $24

Vitamin-C Lotion - this lotion provides hydration and protects the skin from sun damage while boosting the skin's luminosity and gives skin smoother complexion. -  $24

I used up the Vitamin-C Juice Cleaner and Vitamin-C Tonic pretty quickly, which tells you that it has become my favorites from this collection. Among others that I don't currently own, I am down on trying the Beautifeye Eye Patches ($24), Vitamin C Sheet Mask ($10), and the Vitamin Wakeup Mist ($15).

Here's their PixiPretties Collection:

The Layers Highlighting Palette - with this highlighting palette, you can customize your own highlight by mixing it together and layering it. It's a multi-use glow-mix palette for your lids and cheeks. - $24

Eye Heart Palette - this palette includes wearable and light-reflective shades in a super silky formula that helps you to easily create stunning looks. - $20

Glow-y Powder - This silky soft, multi-dimensional highlighter has prismatic particles that give you the most gorgeous and radiant glow. It comes in two shades - Fetch (brown tone) and Wednesdays (pink tone). - $16

Endless Shade Stick - An easy-to-use shadow stick that helps you to create a beautiful eye-look quickly. It definitely falls into the on-the-go category, and what more interesting is that it is smudge-proof! I have this is One and Done, Copper Glaze and Matte Cocoa shades, but it's available in 4 other shades: Pearl Lustre, Pink Quartz, Matte Cognac, Bronze Blaze- $14

Lit Kit - This Kit includes Liquid Fairy Lights, a long-wear, liquid glimmer eyeshadow, and MatteLast Liquid Lip that provides full-on color while keeping the lips hydrated. It comes in two varieties - Day and Night, so you can easily change up your look - classic to dramatic! - $18

My top two from this collection is definitely the Eye Heart Palette and the Lip Kit!

Here's their complete Hydrating Milky Collection:

I am so happy I got to own 6 of them:

Hydrating Milky Makeup Remover - this is a gentle makeup remover that helps you get rid of the most long-wearing makeup without stripping the skin's essential moisture. - $24

Hydrating Milky Cleanser - it's a creamy daily face wash that gently cleanses the skin while providing it with deep hydration. It's suitable for all skin types and ideal for dry skin. - $18

Hydrating Milky Peel - a gentle exfoliating micro-peel product that clears away dead skin cells to show brighter skin. - $24

Milky Tonic - this is a balancing and hydrating milk-enriched toner that help soothe your complexion and provides essential hydration to the skin while helps your skin relax.  - $29

Hydrating Milky Serum - this serum helps hydrates and revitalizes skin while giving it the protection it needs and improving its elasticity. - $24

Hydrating Milky Lotion - this multi-use lotion can be used for face and body to deliver instant moisture and long-term hydration. - $24

Missing in this collection is their Supersized Hydrating Milky Mist, 160 ml ($20), and the smaller version - 80 ml bottle ($15). My favorites would be the Hydrating Milky Makeup Remover and  Hydrating Milky Peel.

Here's their Retinol and Jasmine Collection:

Retinol Jasmine Cleanser - this is a creamy moisturizing cleanser that helps remove all impurities for smoother, firmer, and more radiant-looking skin. - $18

Retinol Tonic - this multi-action treatment toner helps reduce fine lines and smoothes the complexion while soothing sensitive skin. - $15

Overnight Retinol Oil - this smoothing night oil helps restore skin plumpness and improve the appearance of fine lines and pores. - $24

Retinol Jasmine Lotion - this lightweight moisturizing lotion helps to ensure healthier-looking skin by while leaving skin feeling renewed and nourished. - $24    

Retinol Eye Cream - this super nourishing eye cream helps improve skin's elasticity and helps minimize the look of fine lines around the eye area. - $22

Among these fantastic products, my favorites are the Overnight Retinol Oil and Retinol Eye Cream.

Here's more of the Pixi Beauty Products I currently owned and loving:

Glitter-y Eye Quad - this quad of four glittery shades is perfect as a finishing toper to add sparkles on your eye makeup looks. It's available in 3 shades: Rose Bronze, Gold Lava, and Blue Pearl. I currently owned the Rose Bronze palette. - $14

Liplift Max - this peptide-infused lip plumper is a volume-maximizing lip treatment that hydrates and nourishes the lips with its cooling sensation and glossy finish. It's available in 5 shades: Petal Ice, Honey Sheen, Sheer Rose, Sweet Nectar, and Peony Bloom. I have 3 of these - the Petal Ice, Sweet Nectar, and Peony Bloom shades.  - $14

H20 SkinDrink - this intense moisture gel delivers a burst of hydration to the skin while instantly rejuvenates and refreshes it. - $6 for mini and $22 for the regular size.

Makeup Melting Cleansing Cloths - these pre-moistened cleansing cloths can effectively remove makeup while calming the skin and leaving it feeling perfectly clean and balanced. - $10

Large Lash Mascara - this mascara has a specialized and buildable formula that intensely volumizes and lengthens the lashes with its oversized brush. $16

Summer Glow Palette - this silky natural mineral powders in a mix of matte & glowing finishes is perfect for creating a natural sunkissed glow look. $20

There's so many to love from Pixi Beauty! What's your favorite collection or product? If you haven't owned any yet, what would be the most you are excited to try?

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My Blogging and Influencer Journey - Looking Back

 

I have previously posted a blog post about my journey into becoming an influencer with a tad bit of information and enough tips for you to begin your own influencer journey.

Today, I am giving you a detailed background and timeline about how I started!

The Beginning – Stepping into the world of blogging.

I always wanted to have my own website because I know somewhere in me – is someone who loves to write. I purchased my own domain in September 2016 and started working on the design of my blog. However, it's not until March 2017 that I finally and officially launched it!

The Next Step – Building my Instagram Foundation and Presence

March 27, 2015, when I dived into the Instagram craze and opened my account just for personal use. I was just posting random photos of everything. Came 2016, I was a stay-at-home wife doing odd jobs online and obviously had a lot of spare time in my hands to be on social media platforms, specifically Instagram. I saw people getting free stuff and sharing their thoughts about them. I said to myself, "I want to do that too." I started following freebie hunters so I can learn where to get free products to review that led me to discover different platforms and websites and started signing up for them. I always love to share my thoughts and my experiences with others, so that little fire of passion for sharing my first-hand experiences to others, later become that Influencer passion I have until now. In March 2017, I started to get products to review. I accepted everything – from scissors to kitchen utensils, pet supplies, makeup, and skincare. Then I came to love skincare and makeup – that became another passion.

I then started following makeup bloggers and skincare enthusiasts. I slowly learned how to do makeup and started to have a complete skincare routine! Makeup and skincare became my niche. I enjoyed watching makeup tutorials on Youtube and Instagram. And when TikTok emerged and took over the world (okay, I am just being exaggerated here!), beauty influencers became more active in sharing their talents in this video-based social media platform where they can be more creative. I can tell you that they are absolutely fun to watch!

True, there's a lot of fantastic beauty influencers in TikTok right now, but Popsugar rounded up a few talented beauty influencers that you should be following.

Although blogging is my passion, sadly, I stopped May 2019 due to a lack of time and motivation.

Reaching some milestones – Expanding my Instagram Family

So going back to my journey, I started my Instagram with around 150 – 200 followers, and most of them are friends and family. I reached my first 500 followers in May 2017 and mark the 1000 followers around September that same year. I can't remember exactly how I grew from there, but all I know was, I was stuck at 3k followers for so long – probably a year (2018 - 2019). Fast forward August 2020 – I just recently reached 6k!

And along with it, I was able to find time and motivation again to continue blogging, hence, rebranded and relaunched my blog!

It was a struggle to grew my Instagram following but always thankful to those people who supported me from Day 1. I believe that it's imperative that you know who your target audience is and that you are willing to show up for them every single time, even if you don't feel like it. Engagement is key. I have also learned that taking good photos and adding a compelling caption that gives them a glimpse of who you are, helps a lot in retaining your existing followers and gaining new ones. Plus, don't forget to play with the hashtags if you want your post to be seen by new people.

My current goal is to have 10k followers by the end of the year. Let's make this happen!

Collaborations and Sponsorship – The endless possibility

Is the number of followers important in getting those collabs and sponsorship? For me, it's a yes and no answer. And I will tell you why. I had gotten quite a few collabs when I was just starting out, especially from small brands that needed product testers and can offer you free products. There are also several platforms where you can work with different brands, even if you still don't have that big following. So, in this sense, the number of followers is not essential in getting collaborations. Some brands actually prefer micro-influencers (influencers with less than 10k followers), because they tend to have a higher engagement rate. This means their products will actually be seen by engaged and interested people.

However, big company and higher-end brands tend to rely on macro-influencers (influencers who have over 10k followers) which obviously have a better following. The logic behind this is that, their product will be visible to more people because macro-influencers have a higher reach. Macro-influencers also tend to have a higher chance of getting a paid sponsorship – meaning, brands are willing to pay them with money along with free products, to promote their brand. So yes, in this case, follower count, really counts! Still, this is not always the case; micro-influencers can be paid and offered sponsorship by brands too. I actually have a current paid brand deal in the works while I am still considered a micro-influencer. So all of this comes down to different factors and also depends on the brands.

But nevertheless, we can see here that influencers are becoming essential parts of marketing. That is why many brands are depending on them to promote their products. And then, this is where influencer marketing platforms play an essential role. They help brands find the best and trusted influencers to promote their products. See, for example, Intellifluence, an influencer marketing platform that is home for more than 80k influencers from 176 countries, all ready to collaborate with the right brands. And since beauty is one of the most popular niches, they have a new approach to beauty marketing. They have a pool of talented cosmetics influencers who are waiting to collaborate with beauty brands. 

All that being said, influencer marketing seems to be staying for a long while. And for this reason, if you want to start your own journey as an influencer, now is the time!

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