As I mentioned on Friday, I spent Saturday in the headquarters of Simple Skin Care in Solihull as one of the judges for their Teen Video Blogger Beauty Boot Camp.
I really like Simple as a brand. They’re affordable, and the formulations are *ahem* simple. I’ve used their products off and on over the years and I always use their cleansing wipes for camping and lazy days so I was more than happy to be involved with their blogger competition.
This particular Boot Camp was to fill the Teen Video Blogger role. Amongst other things the winner would be given a nice new video camera and a years supply of Simple products and sent home to create video blogs for the Simple website about them.
Honestly, it was far, far too early for my self employed body clock when I arrived to creep around the Simple offices taking photos before our briefing. So early, in fact, that I forgot to put mascara on before leaving my hotel and had to borrow some off one of the other judges. How very professional of me….
The finalists (apart from a few late arrivals. Tut!) arrived for the morning session and after a few ice breaker tasks they were dispatched in groups to seperate rooms to create a short video blog about skin health and nutrition using a table full of plastic food and real chocolate as props. After half an hour they returned to present it to the judges and the other contestants.
The resulting short skits were generally interesting and entertaining and very hard to score as a judge. I tried really hard, but my score sheet contained a lot of crossing out. The real chocolate proved a popular prop and I was pretty impressed with how girls so young already have such a good understanding of the link between junk food and clear healthy skin.
After lunch there was a quick photo shoot with Shout magazine. At some point photos should emerge from this with me sat among the finalists like a giant clad all in purple, but as of yet I haven’t received them, I don’t know if I am pleased about this or not! I’m sure they’ll make it onto my facebook page when I get them.
The next task at the beauty boot camp was to create a skin care regime for a celebrity. Each finalist got a different celebrity profile and had to select from a range of products on the table the ones that would be best for that persons age, lifestyle and specific skin needs. Then they had to present to the rest of the group, the judges, and Stardoll TV who were filming the day.
By this point I was very glad I was a judge and not a finalist as it all looked like very hard work, frankly. Stardoll TV asked me to do a couple of little pieces to camera which reduced me to a quivering wreck, so presenting to a full group AND the camera would probably have finished me off.
The final step was individual interviews with me, Shout magazine and a pre prepared presentation to the Simple judges. To me, by this point, there were some stand out personalities and it was great to get a chance to find out more about them, their previous blogging experience and their ambitions. Some of them were so clear about their potential futures and what they hoped to gain from their time as the Simple Video Blogger that they left me for dust. If these are the bloggers of the future then the blogsphere will be a very interesting place.
Then, onto the deliberations. I felt a bit like I was on Masterchef or X Factor with a table covered in polaroid pictures and some intense discussion as we picked our top 3 finalists and the eventual winner.
Our final top 3 were Kaitlin Richmond, Victoria Howkins and Tegan Davies.
The winner, Tegan Davies will be profiled in the November issue of Shout magazine, which I shall buy, even if I never buy a copy again, being as I’m probably not really in it’s target demographic at the grand old age of *cough* 31.
As I was about to leave for the long drive back to Norwich I was handed a goodie bag of Simple products as a thank you. Some of them I’ve used before, and some I haven’t. Some I’m planning to review in future, and others will probably just work their way into my bathroom cabinet and enter into my regular skin care routine.
The lovely people at Simple were so generous, however, that I’ve decided to put together a little pack to give as a prize to one of you lovely lot. I have an exciting big giveaway planned for October, so I shall run this for just a week and I shan’t pimp it out too much to make sure a regular reader has a chance to win it!
In this prize pack are:
- Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes
- Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser
- Simple Kind to Eyes Nourishing Eye Make-Up Remover
- Simple Kind to Eyes Soothing Eye Balm
in short, everything you need for a new daily skin care regime.
All I want you to do is leave a comment to be entered into the draw.
If you’ve found my blog just because I’m running a competition then hello! If you want to enter I really would appreciate it if you were a follower in some way, so tell me if you’re following me on Facebook, Twitter, or if you’ve signed in using Google Friend Connect or subscribed to my RSS feed. Retro Chick really is a lovely place and I’d love to have you join in!
Good Luck!
The competition will end at midnight on Tuesday 28th September. The winner will be selected at random from all valid entries UK entries only I'm afraid. Sorry my lovely overseas readers, October's giveaway will be open to you all!
Comments
42 responses to “Simple Teen Video Blogger Beauty Boot Camp (and a sneaky giveaway)”
Sounds like you had a really interesting day. I used to use only Simple products – have been a little unfaithful in recent years! Great giveaway. I follow you 🙂 xx
Sounds like a great day. Lovely to see teenagers allying themselves with a brand like Simple.
I follow you on FB, Twitter and through your website.
Looking forward to seeing the shots from Shout.
Sounds like it was a bit of a nerve wracking day for you in general but well worth it, I’m sure!
I follow you on Twitter & email(I think-technophobe!lol)
I already stalk you everywhere. 🙂 What a lovely day, bet it was great to be on the panel – nice that they chose someone that was a bit ‘different’ for it too.
Oh and by the way – the second line of your paragraph starting with ‘The resulting short skits..’ I couldn’t work out what you’re trying to say! 😀
Skit – a short theatrical sketch or act!
Love simple stuff. Solihull isn’t that far from me. I’ve been reading this blog for a while, its great
Interesting day / post in Brum!
I was a finalist in their ‘Search for a Teen Simple Star’ competition I’ve been to the head office in Solihull and I was a finalist in the competition so I’m in the pictures above. Only a finalist knows the secrets to their products! I use their products everyday and the Rapid Action Spot Zapper works wonders on my skin.
I can’t wait to see the spread in November’s issue of Shout. Simple are my favourite beauty brand in the world!
my mum always uses simple and although I’m a product whore I do like their products – I’m a daily reader!
That looked so fun, I’m glad every one had a good time, I love simple 🙂 I can’t wait till the shout addition with simple in it, I’m most hyped for Victoria 🙂
It looks like a fun day! I <3 Simple products, I'm excited to see the winners blog!
Thank you Katie, I am looking forward to starting it all of, it is going to be a great time ahead, you can read my blog at the following address, you will get to see what I had to say about winning, plus other bits, but i haven’t started officially as yet, but when I do you will see the posts there as well as the videos.
Thank you..
http://tegan-davies.blogspot.com/
Hi there,
I’ve been using Simple face-wash for years (like over ten, oh, I’m so old!), but never any of the other products. Time to give them a try I think.
I follow on Twitter/Facebook too. x
Hi hun I’m from facebook but am sure you already know that lol.
Would love to win this, I used to use the simple soap (when it was in round bars) when I was younger. I loved it. Also used to use the tubes of moisturiser!
simple are great products,i use them and now my daughter 11 likes them more than me
What a lovely prize and an amazing day too by the looks of it!
xx
oooh! Looks like an amazing event! Great piccies! I’ve been following you here, on FB ad twitter for a long while now, and love, love you & your blog, as I may have said before :oP
This is perfect for me…I love Simple products!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Tracy x (@mummiafelice)
I pop in every day just to read what you have been up to and what fashion and beauty tips you have to offer.
I love to use the wipes, like you for camping and other weekenders but am in the market for some eye make up remover
Looking forward to reading your product reviews too
Hiya, I pop over to your website every couple of days to catch up and i love it =) and i use the simple make up remover all the time!
vikki x
I am following on Twitter (beclee09) and google
xx
I follow you on facebook and I love Simpple stuff!
i use simple for my sensitive skin. i love the wipes after a night out!
i also follow on webpage and facebook!
Hello! Found you from Twitter xx
I love Simple skincare products! If I use anything else I break out in hives :p
Katie xox
Oh to be 15 again!!! Great blog…am following on facebook 🙂
I think you know, I’m following you on Google, Twitter and on Facebook and everywhere else I can!! HA!
I adore Simple stuff as I have THE most senstive skin EVER, it is literlaly the only skin care brand I can use!!!
FAB FAB Post! LOOOOVVVVEEEE!
Hi, I’m a follower on Facebook, great prize thanks 🙂 Good luck everyone!
what an excitinfg day and great write up:)
looks like you had a fab day!
I follow on twitter @josie301 FB & google
Wow just got in here in time I am a follower on facebook even had lengthy discussions on your page about norwich carboots and charity shops love the blog by the way!
Sounds like you had a fun time.
I’m a long term follower
@BigFashionista x x
Looks like you had a great day. I’m following on Facebook!
Sounds like a good day to me !
I love Simple… It’s the only product that works in my opinion…
S xxx
hiya,
I found out about this article through Facebook because teen simple posted about your competition, and i’m I’ve read your article because I found it very interesting as I was interested in what tasks the girls had to do in order to win.
congrats to Tegan by the way
🙂
Thank you Kerry.
Hi
I follow your blog through facebook, its realy interesting. the skin care pack looks great I normaly use boots traditional and lush but thoust wipes look realy handy.
THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED!!
Thanks for your entries 😀
Hi Retro Chick, what a great article, It thoroughly was a good day, and you have some really great shots, It was great to meet you as I do read your blogs. I was worried how my pictures were going to look too, but you seem to have some that I really liked, I don’t think you should worry either about how you will look, as a stylish ahem 31 year old, you looked good.
Ah Tegan, thank you!
It was lovely to meet you too, and congratulations on your win!
Thank you again, I hope are paths cross agian at some point.