By now, you have probably read about Australian Beauty Blogger Weekend in about 20 different blog posts. Instead of telling you what the weekend enthralls I thought what better way to share with you what I walked away with from every single event.

Lessons I’ve learned from these events (some of which I have probably tweeted about):

IMATS 2011

• Always do your research before going to a makeup convention like this scale
• Have a wishlist ready and study your map to shop efficiently (to avoid crowds)
• Time your shopping and shows so you won’t miss out anything
• Go as early as possible, best if you can go in as soon as it opens
• Bring cash with you, not all stalls accepts card
• Accept that not all brand has samples for trial, so be sure you do point #1 quite extensively
• Personal Highlight: Hakuhodo makeup brushes completes me. Check it out if you haven’t.

With El*

Beauty Directory

• Etiquette in dealing with PR from a beauty blogger’s perspective
• Always say your thank yous and pleases, it’s even better if it’s delivered via a snail mail with a personal touch
• Pick up the phone if you can’t always meet the PR to foster a solid relationship
• Like friends, PR relationship is a natural evolution, it takes time to build it up, you can’t hurry that process
• PR are professionals, approach with respect. Treat them as if you’re a corporation dealing with another business
• PR will have a bad day too so try to be considerate and don’t take things too personally
• On beauty events, be sure to reply to RSVPs. Don’t agree and not show up or ignore the invitation because you’re from a different city. I get Sydney invites all the time but I make it to a point to respond why I can’t attend them.
• Bloggers must have a reason to justify why you want to be in an event
• Keep PR informed and have your stats/blog snapshot ready on hand at all times. Be sure to invest time in it
• Calling in to ask for a product is actually welcomed in the beauty industry
• When you write, think of your audience and write with a point of difference
• Grammar, spelling and sentence structure is key!
• Personal Highlight: Got to catch up and squeeze insider goss out from Eleanor (beauty ed of InStyle).

With Deb

Maxted Thomas Gala Night

• Ladies, I cannot stress this enough.  Do not ever take things in ANY events that were not given to you by the people hosting the event. You may have a million excuses (eg: but it’s obviously goodies for bloggers, but other people are taking them, but the queue is too long, but someone told me its’ okay) well guess what? It’s NEVER OKAY to take things, period.
• Always wait for your opportunity to speak to the PR (to build your relationship) and gently request. If you can’t be bothered to make the effort, what makes you think you’re entitled to stuff their products in your bag? Most beauty events have heaps of beauty products on the event as ‘props’ and ‘decoration’ for you to look, touch and to experience their products. That doesn’t mean you can stuff it in your bag and walk home with it.
• Have integrity, use some common sense and for those of you helping yourself with stuff, shame on you and when those product review go online, the PR will wonder did I meet that person and how did they get them.
• Personal Highlight: Photobooth sessions with my girls, winning Benefit’s lucky dip and catching up with Debbie (beauty ed) from beautyheaven! #winning

Karen Ledbury for Alpha H*

Alpha H for Beautiful Skin

• The question “who created 3 steps for skincare anyway” was raise and it was indeed a good point, which bible wrote that?
• Skin needs to prep itself to take on more potent skincare to fully benefit from it
• When treating skin it’s more important to assess skin’s condition (genetics and lifestyle choices too) rather than just its biological age
• Liquid Gold Skin Perfecting System promises instant and gratifying results to combat anti-ageing, dullness and overall skin condition
• Personal Highlight: Receiving the Liquid Gold Skin Perfecting System, I can’t wait to trial this.

Face of Australia Masterclass

• Makeup artist Kirsty Dolores share her makeup tips on using bronzing & illuminating pearls to enhance your everyday makeup look
• Understand your face shape to contour and highlight accordingly
• When applying makeup always start from the middle and blend outward
• Face of Australia Liquid Eyeliner is perfect from super thin to the thickest eyeliner style
• Personal highlight: To be able to view the Masterclass Look Book and Malibu Barbie lipstick prior to it launching to the market

Key Note Speaker – Bahar Etminan from RESCU

• Take time and effort to explain your point of difference to PR
• Embargo dates is the nail in your coffin for your blogging career, look out for it
• Be patient and persistent. Send your updated media kit quarterly
• You need to payback PR’s hospitality for inviting you to an event
• Know how much your blog is costing you
• Beware of agencies who are offering the impossible monetary offers (pretty much don’t sell out)
• Know your twist on the same old beauty question, know who you are
• Read, research and be in the know with what’s going on in the industry
• Keep a record of events, people, products and  notes of everything. Have a system, have a library
• It’s okay to be you. Don’t copy others’ voice, opinion and methodology (pointing at you copy cats)
• Don’t steal, don’t sell, don’t trade and most importantly don’t horde beauty products
• Always return products if they have been requested back by PR
• If you ask/request for products you should know that you’re expected of a review
• Always be in touch with PR, your followers and your community
• Sell yourself, sell your brand but don’t sell out (there’s a fine line between those)
• Personal highlight: While I did not agree 100% of what was being shared during this session, I did walk away with 3 key things in mind. Respect. Professionalism. Common Sense.

Sometimes a blogger’s work does feel like a full time job. While I don’t have intention to do this as a full time job or get into the beauty industry, there’s certainly plenty of room for improvement. Overall, I had an amazing time over ABBW 2011, met a lot of new blogging friends and had a great time with the MBBE girls.

 Well done Jacie & Kimmie.

*Pictures taken by my camera.

Images courtesy of The Australian Beauty Bloggers Weekend are not to be reproduced, republished or reused. Images remain the property of The Australian Beauty Bloggers Weekend.