Research into 2 inspirational images that fit my theme.

Meghan Young . (2014). The Fashion Gone Rouge 'Shine Theory' Stars Sarah Dick . Available: http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fashion-gone-rogue-shine-theory. Last accessed 24th Nov 2014 .

Initially this image caught my eye because of the skin, therefore it seems to fit my theme quite well. I like this image because the make up is not too strong, the focus seems to be on natural makeup. I can infer this from the fact that the model does not have any bright eye shadow or lipstick on, the tones are all very neutral. 

I also like this image because of the fact that the focus of the image is on the model. There is nothing going on the background, it is simply black, therefore the models stands out against this.

This image appeals to me because of the look of the skin. The model is contoured where her cheekbones are and is highlighted in all the areas that the skin needs to be, this means that the skin has been made to look perfect and there is nothing that I can find wrong with the skin in this image. Finally I particularly like the way the eyebrows look in this picture. They have been brushed up and look untamed, this again fits with the natural theme of the image. 

Staff . (2015 ). Spring Beauty Trends . Available: http://fillermagazine.com/beauty/still-beauty/spring-beauty-trends-2013-stark-beauty/. Last accessed 24th Nov 2014 .

This image really appeals to me. Again this is because the texture of the models skin looks flawless. I really love the softness if this image, the pose is really beautiful. The model gives off a soft persona as she is not looking directly into the camera in a dominating way. The model looks like she has taken in a deep breath and is about the let it out, this makes me think of stories and scenarios that the model may have been in and this is how I know I like this image, it makes me think. I also like the fact that the model is not wearing clothes, yes she has blue silk over her front, but there is nothing covering her back and this makes the image a little sexual, in a subtle and classy way without it hitting you right in the face. 

I like how the background and the font are the same colour yet different shades. I would not usually like this, and think that it is not very visible, however I think this works. I love the way the hair has been styled so that it is pushed back and away from the face, there is not much styling which gives the image a natural vibe. Finally I think the way the lighting is hitting her in all the right places makes this image particularly beautiful. 

Research into the industry and my blog.

Seeing as I will be producing a blog that is aimed at the beauty industry, I thought it would be very important to research the industry and find out whether my blog would fit in this industry and if so, where this would be.

Is my theme pertinent to the fashion/beauty industry? 
I believe my theme is 100% pertinent to the fashion/beauty industry. When researching skin care sales the estimated size of the global skin care market from 2012 to 2021 was 121 billion dollars as you can see below.  This figure does not even cover the amount spent on skin care before 2012. This alone tells me that there is a huge market for skin care products and therefore information on skin care and how skin care fits in with makeup routines.


Does my theme fit my target audience? (18-30).
Yes. This is because due to the rise of beauty bloggers and youtube makeup artists the demand for skin care has become less of an 'older woman' interest. Many more young females are interested and looking into skin care in a bid to hold back ageing and achieve naturally beautiful skin.

How will my theme fit into magazines?
Lately there has been a rise in the demand for natural, organic products that have not been tested on animals. This means that my theme would fit into the likes of Vogue and ELLE, as more consumers are willing to pay for higher end skin care products featured in these magazines if they come from organic, ethical producers.

How will my blog fit the industry?
When researching beauty blogs, I found a list of the 27 most powerful beauty blogs in the UK. Number three on the list was Lisa Eldridge, who frequently posts Youtube videos about her skin care routines and how she keeps her skin looking so flawless, as you can see below.



I found this video on her blog/website where she explains the products she uses. This proves that there is a massive market for blogging skin care secrets and regimes, proving that my blog would fit in well with the beauty industry.
This is furthermore proved by the fact that more and more magazines are reaching out to beauty blogs and bloggers to be features in their pages. Living in a digital age it would be silly to assume that a beauty blog will not fit into the beauty industry. 
Here are some figures from the sales of beauty magazines in the UK in 2013. 
ELLE:170286
VANITY FAIR:88377
INSTYLE UK:147219
VOGUE:193007
This is opposed to the whopping amount of subscibers and viewers that beauty blogs and boggers rack in on a daily basis. Therefore I 100% believe my blog would have a place in the beauty industry. 
Statistics found from http://www.blowltd.com/magazine/magazine/27-most-powerful-uk-beauty-bloggers-weve-crunched-the-numbers.html#.VlXnEmThDoA and http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/magazine-abcs-full-circulation-round-first-half-2013

But what about competitor skin care blogs?
Skin care blogs are the fastest growing consumer health information sites, they means that there is a lot of competition in the skin care area of blogging. This is because skin care blogs appeal to not only females but also to males who may be suffering from skin complaints such as acne. My blog would fit along side my competitors as it too will hold information on skin care and products. In terms of how my blog would stand out, mine would be able to offer makeup skills and advice, such as the best products for particular skin types and how to achieve certain looks as opposed to simply skin care products.

Theme for the brief.

What is my theme and why have I decided to choose this? 

I have decided to choose the theme skin for my blog. This is because skin is something I am very interested in, I am always looking for the best skin care products to improve the texture of my own skin and therefore the skin of any of my future cliental. I believe that skin is very different from one person to the next, however achieving perfect, blemish free skin is something that nearly everyone aims to achieve. Therefore I feel that this theme would suit my personality very well and I am excited  to start researching around this subject and hope the final outcome of my blog will be professional and informative.

What is my plan for my final blog?

My plan for my final blog will be to have a few different sets of images of women, all for the same theme, this being achieving a prefect base and the importance of taking care of the skin and how this effects the overall look and application of makeup. I will then aim to write about this in an informative way the projects the steps need to achieve this look. Furthermore I aim to include a product shoot that includes skin care products such as creams, cleansers and toners, sun protection and then the products that have been applied to the skin to give it the ending result of a natural healthy looking glow. (These will be foundations/BB creams and highlighters). With my product shoot, I aim to take pictures of lightweight products as this I think projects the message I am intending, that looking after the skin is one of the most important elements of flawless skin and keeping the products lightweight and by applying a light amount of them will keep the look very natural.

How do I aim to achieve this? 

I aim to achieve this by researching skin care and products on the market. This will inform my on what I need to write about for the text element of my blog. Furthermore I am going to research into skin editorials and images that have already been published in magazines so that I gain an understanding on the way in which my final images should look. (This includes the poses, background and camera angles of the shoots). Finally I plan to research swatches and product shoots that convey the sort of presentation I am looking for when I take my own product shots. These points will all lead me to be the most prepared I can be when going into my shoots and therefore I believe will give me the best chance of achieving a professional and informative final blog.

Initial pinterest boards

Follow adi's board digital beauty: skin. on Pinterest.



Here is my initial pinkest boards on my thoughts since I have decided that my theme for the brief will be skin.
Within this board you can see that my main aim for my images will be to present the prefect base and skin. This I think will be contrasted with the elements that you can not see on the skin with the naked eye, for example sun spots and some freckles are hidden when make up is applied and the skin looks 'perfect'. You can see that I have come to this idea from the pictures I found that highlighted sun damage with a UV light, which was an advertisement for sun cream and protection of the skin.
I have also found images of dripping creams on the skin. This has given me the idea that I could possibly drip foundation or products on the skin.
This was simply an initial look and essentially an online brain storm about the brief and my theme, however I think I have come across some really clever ideas to highlight skin care and how to achieve the best out of make up and the application of makeup.