About

About Jane Cunningham / British Beauty Blogger

I’m a beauty writer for both on-line and mainstream media. I’ve written 4 beauty books over the years and never want to write another! I have two children, a little poodle and live in South East London.

I started writing beauty for various newspapers. When I first started writing, my initiation was to be made Shopping Editor on a parenting magazine, because the previous incumbent had walked. Actually, it wasn’t long before I followed her, realising that there is only so much fascination a limited edition set of Duplo can induce.

I then had a column in The Guardian again about children’s product but progressed to some travel writing. Eventually, someone at The Express gave me a go at writing about beauty, and the rest is history. I’ve never enjoyed writing about anything as much as I do about beauty. It’s endlessly interesting, constantly changing and I am never lacking for subject matter.

I started British Beauty Blogger as a place to talk about products and experiences in a way that just wasn’t possible in magazines or papers: I wanted to say if a product was rubbish and not just discretely ‘not mention it’.. I just felt consumers had a right to know if they were throwing their money away. Basically, I had gathered so much product knowledge and it was all sitting in my brain doing nothing, so along came the blog.

So, I like to showcase products I think are excellent, beautiful, and exciting, as well as give a no holds barred point of view on products that aren’t so good. My thought is that if a brand is asking for money for a product that doesn’t do the job, isn’t great value for its market, is all smoke and mirrors, they need to go away and make a better one and not expect nobody to mention that it really isn’t very good.

Advertising Policy: I now take selected ads in an open fashion and sponsored posts which are clearly labelled. In the interests of being open, the sidebar is a paid for service for products I personally rate and like. You’ll never see anything I don’t actually like in the sidebar for the sake of a buck.

There is a flat rate for the sidebar place, and therefore no other fees to me. For more information visit Work With Me.

Hi, I’m a journalism student in my final year at Solent university Southampton. For my final major project I’m making a UK version of Allure magazine and was wondering if I can interview you for a feature? I’mhappy to conduct the interview over email and it would be great to get your answers to some beauty questions. Please let me know if you would be interested.
Chelsea

Reply

  • Hi there, I wonder if you had any trouble with the Weleda offer as I put in an order and paid but have not heard anything back from them. I’m wondering if it was too good to be true or if they were bombarded with orders? If you have any ideas that would be great.

    I love reading your blog and in fact I’ve been catching up on the last 10 or so. Keep it up.

    Reply

      1. Thanks Jane, I did email them yesterday but had not heard back. It could be that they’re waiting for all the boxes to be delivered to them. Fingers crossed! Thanks again

        Reply

        1. I experienced a delay with the Weleda offer myself, but all turned out fine in the end…
          I didn’t receive a dispatch email (which was promised in the original confirmation message) but my order did arrive after a few weeks.
          I think the delay/lack of communication from Weleda is just down to the popularity of the offer. For the incredible value and gorgeous products it’s well worth the wait though! 🙂
          I hope that’s a help. x

          Reply

  • Hi Korina, thanks for your email and apologies for the delay. I will keep hanging in there but to date still no response from them. Let’s hope they send out the package soon as it definitely ticks all the boxes for me too. I love their products and have used them for years.

    Reply

  • I love beauty and only a child but am a keen blogger please could you spread my blog around and follow it if you are interested in fashion and makeup and give me some advice as I’m not a experienced blogger. Thanks Erin x
    my blog is – vintagehaxs.blogspot.com

    Reply

  • I just love your blog!! I´m from Brazil but I´ve already lived in UK in the past and have family there. I love reading your posts daily!

    Reply

  • Hi Jane,

    I realise I’m posting this in the wrong place…but…what do you think about Beauty Pie. Caroline Hirons has been raving about it but when I look, it seems not very transparent how this thing is priced?

    Would love your thoughts…

    Clare x

    Reply

    1. Hi Clare – you’re always welcome to drop me an email if you have questions. So, I don’t feel particularly enthusiastic about Beauty Pie because it feels marketing based rather than quality based. Marcia Kilgore, who is the founder, is one of the most skilled marketers I have ever come across and also founded Fitflop (which I LOVE), Soap & Glory and Bliss. She’s just really, really good at this, but I can’t personally buy into something that purports to be high quality product but cannot provide proof of it. Just because they say so doesn’t make it so. I also don’t like the hidden costs of picking and packing (if they still have that – I haven’t looked at the brand in a while) – I’d almost rather they put the prices up to incorporate that which obviously would interfere with the marketing angle of being low cost. In truth, make up and skin care doesn’t cost very much to make – even high quality cosmetics – it’s all the surrounding costs (counters, advertising etc) that we end up paying for (I did a feature on the real cost of a lipstick with a formulator and he worked out that an average price £10 lipstick contains less than a tenth of a penny’s worth of actual product in it) so I can see how costs are driven down but it’s foolish to think that they’re ‘bargains’. Marcia is a very clever woman indeed so the entire strategy of this brand is marketing based and it’s just not the way I want to buy my products. Is my personal view!

      Reply

  • Jane, just wondering have you ever come across a South African skincare brand called African Extracts – I stumbled across them several years ago when staying with friends in Pietermaritzburg and then found they were available in Australia where we were living then. I was delighted to find they now have a UK base and have renewed my ‘acquaintance’ with their day and night creams, which contain rooibos – I think rooibos is their USP! Very well priced, ie v inexpensive. I do enjoy reading your blog even though I am probably your oldest reader!

    Reply

    1. Thanks Annabel… I’m sure you aren’t – I have several older readers and anyway – who’s counting!? :-). No, I haven’t although there are several African and South African skin care brands around at the moment and I’ve seen Rooibos as an ingredient for sure. It sounds really interesting and I’m glad you’ve discovered it again!

      Reply

  • Hi Jane. I know you’ve probably heard this before but your blog IS TRULY AMAZING! Most blogs present their information so robotically so it’s a huge relief to actually stumble upon one that doesn’t. Your personal style of writing is not only appreciated here but also quite remarkable. Please keep up the good work and never stop blogging.

    Reply

  • Hi Jane, I’ve been following your blog for over a year now! And I’ve received some invaluable information from you. Keep up the great work! There are very few beauty blogs that actually provide useful info. Most of the blogs out there look like they’re promoting or selling.

    But here, we always get what we’re looking for. Thank you for that!

    All the love 🙂 x

    Reply

  • Hi Jane, always so good to read your reviews and see you on Instagram! I was wondering if you have any suggestion, or a post coming soon about sunscreens. In 3 weeks (unless Covid strikes back badly) we are leaving for a 3-week dream holiday to Chile; there we’ll experience different climates and temperatures, from desert to glaciers and be outdoors most of the time. Therefore I need to wear a good sunscreen, but it has to be one that I can comfortably wear under my make up and foundation. I am prepared to pay for ‘premium’ brands, but no pilling or showing through! Any suggestion or recommendation would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance and best wishes, Carla

    Reply

    1. Hi Carla – sounds like an amazing trip! The difficulty with sunscreen under make up is that the textures are often not compatible which is what causes the pilling. I think I’d recommend a tinted SPF for your face so you’re doing both at once – La Roche Posay Tinted BB SPF 50 would be a good option then you just won’t run into that problem – it’s more SPF than tint which is different to other tinted SPF products that are more tint than SPF. You can put other make up over it such as blush or bronzer. I also find, in a hot climate, I never want to pile on layers of creams because it makes my face sweat. You can also look at the Ambre Solaire Over Make Up Spray SPF50 for times where you do want to wear your ‘proper’ foundation and may run into incidental sun (i.e. not sunbathing). Hope that’s helpful 🙂

      Reply

    1. I always recommend Avene for anyone with sensitive skin – my daughter Lucy has really reactive skin and it’s what she can use x

      Reply

  • Hi Jane, I received a Wycon liquid velvet foundation for Christmas- it is fabulous. However I can only find an Italian website to order from with a minimum spend of £150 ?Any tips of how else or where to order from ?

    Reply

    1. I’ve had a very good look across the internet and don’t seem to be able to find it. However, they have stores all over Europe so if you or any of your friends are taking holidays in the summer, you will be able to pick it up. I’m getting my friend to bring me back lipsticks from the US – patience and someone will end up in a place where it’s sold 🙂

      Reply

    1. All done Judith – you should receive an email asking you to confirm subscription. Please check your spam folder if you don’t see one. x

      Reply

    • Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    *
    *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    -->