In the business of posting everyday in June I missed my blog turning 5! How freaking cute is that! I don’t get a notification about it because I moved over from Blogger (omg those days) over to WordPress about 6 months in, so WordPress doesn’t count those months.
It’s weird to thing 5 years ago I was at University. It was the summer after first year. I’d just discovered YouTube was for something other than music videos and ‘Charlie bit my finger’, I was in that stage people now go through when they’re like 8 where I first discovered makeup and didn’t know how to wear it. And I documented my entire experience here.
You’ve seen me go from a novice with an obsession with Rimmel lipsticks to a makeup hoarder who still has no idea what they’re doing. I’m the literal definition of someone with all the gear and no idea! But I feel like I’ve found myself and that feels amazing!
I felt the only way really to celebrate this achievement would be to look back at 5 years of blogging…. so prepare for dreadful pictures in 1… 2… 3…
Oh the time before WordPress! These stats haven’t pulled through so I’m actually not entirely sure how many people read posts back then or what was my best performing post. But know that things had in the single digits of views. Probably a good thing because I had no idea what I was doing! These are taken on the desk I had when I was growing up which sadly got dismantled!
Funny to see that Barry M even then was my favourite nail polish brand! Also, those Rimmel lipsticks were a firm favourite for a long long long time!
Hello wordpress. But also hello blurry images. Also, this was when I first discovered sticky back marble paper was a thing and I’ve never looked back! Though I can see I didn’t even out the crinkle! Bless.
This was when I first started doing my ‘New In’ posts. It’s also the year I got my job at Superdrug and the obsession got slightly out of hand! But my blog was on the up and I was so freaking excited! I started to develop my style, still had a long way to go, but I was getting there.
Top 5 blog posts of 2016
New: Rimel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipsticks
New: L’Oreal Colour Riche Gold Obsessions
New: Rimmel Magif’Eyes Palette
This was the year that not only did my collection get slightly out of hand, but my blog also really took off. Posts were getting 3 figure views every time. I started to edit my photos slightly. And I was slowly getting there. Minus moving over to WordPress, this was the year I really think solidified my blog. It’s when I dropped the katieemmabeauty.wordpress url and took ownership of my space on the internet.
2017 was a weird year for me. I started it in a low place, but very quickly found pure happiness and I feel like it was in these final months at University I truly embraced everything it had to offer. I then graduated. Got my first job in London and life was off to a cracking start!
Top 5 blog posts of 2017
New In | Maybelline The Burgundy Palette
New L’Oreal Infaillible Blush Palettes
New | Maybelline Metallic Foil Lipsticks
Oh 2018. This was such a good year all round. My blog was flying. I found my dream job at a marketing agency in August, I really found my signature look. I moved out of home (& then moved again at the end of the year). I gained financial independence. I made some of the best friends in London a girl could ask for and life was pretty great.
Hands down my best year of blogging ever, this was also the year I posted 287 times. Yep, pretty much every day. It’s mental to look back and think just how hard I worked at this back then. And it was paying off. I was loving it. And you could tell
Top 5 blog posts of 2018
New | L’Oreal Cherry My Cheri Mega Eyeshadow Palette
New | L’Oreal Infaillible Foundation Stick and Concealer
New | Max Factor Miracle Glow Duo
2019 was a pretty quiet year over here. But it’s because my personal life ramped it up. My marketing job started to creep into all hours of the day and night (not a problem, I loved it), but it means I needed to take a step back. And while this was the year I found my style that I still use today and designed my blog in the format it is now. It’s the year I was really quiet. And stats reflect that. I lost all my followers on Instagram and I posted once in a blue moon.
Some of you stuck through it with me and I will forever me eternally grateful. But this was the year I needed to focus on my day job. I was perfectly happy. I met Alex. I went to the theatre or the pub most evenings and life was busier and better than ever. But it just meant I took a step back.
However I did post occasionally, so I’m still going to do the top 5…
Top 5 blog posts of 2019
New | Revlon Colorstay Endless Glow
New | L’Oreal More Than Concealer
New | Revolution Supreme Gloss
New | Maybelline Dream Urban Foundation
New | L’Oreal Infaillable Magic Drops
And that brings us to this year! I’m so excited to be back at it! On the blog, on instagram and even on YouTube (believe it or not). It’s been a pleasure to build back up this community over the last month and every day June has been hard work but I’ve never loved it more! I’m totally going to keep it up, but also not worry if I miss a day or two or ten (though hopefully not the latter). This is a place to share the products I’m loving, using, lusting over, you name it. I want to share with you my passion for hoarding makeup and the things I learn along the way.
I’m no expert, but I’m doing my best! This is also the year I want to love and celebrate the products I already own as well as posting about new ones, and it’s interesting to see that represented below
Top 5 posts of 2020 (so far)
New | Revolon Super Lustrous Matte Lipsticks
Review | Smashbox LA Cover Shot Eyeshadow Palette
A Year of Empties | Skincare, Haircare, Makeup | 2019
2020 Makeup Collection & Storage
Here’s to 5 more! If makeup blogs are even a thing 5 years from now
Katie x
congratulations on completing five successful years dear 💖
Awww thanks! It’s been a rollercoaster! x
You’re welcome dear 🤍 keep up the good work you are doing great 💗
Congratulations on 5 years ✨
Aww thanks mate x
congratulations! I have just discovered your blog so I’m a newbie. Keep up the good work! By the way, you should post about how you are able to balance working a full-time job and posting regularly. I fear I won’t be able to do that once I work. Any tips would be appreciated!
Awww thanks! <3
Oh ok, interesting! I'll add it to the list, it's been a challenge over the years and I've never got it 100% right, but I can share what I've picked up along the way! xx
Happy five years of blogging! Those Rimmel lipsticks are such a throwback, I remember loving those back in the day. Here’s to the next five years haha xx
Hannah | https://luxuryblush.co.uk/
Aww thanks! And yeah, I loved looking back at old products the entire blogging community used to be obsessed with!
Aw congratulations! Your photography style has changed and I love how creative you are. I loved the marble backdrop on a few of my posts too haha xx
Awww thanks! And yeah, all my surfaces are fake wood and I’m not a fan of it as it comes across really warm! So I live for marble paper! x
So awesome! Congrats and cheers to many more years.
http://www.fashionradi.com
Awww thanks mate! Yeah, fingers crossed x
Congratulations on five years! That is such an accomplishment!
Thanks! It’s been such a rollercoaster, but we’ve made it ey! x
Congratulations on 5 years! 😊
🌿 Marissa Belle × marsybun.com 🌿
Thanks mate! x
Happy 5th blogging birthday! What an achievement xx
Aww thanks, feel like you’ve been here through most of it! <3 xx
Congrats on 5 years girl! Such an amazing achievement!
https://www.emilyclareskinner.com
Awww thanks mate 🥰