The Big British Beauty Poll

This week Olay launched it's Big British Beauty Poll and as a beauty blogger this gives me hope that brands are actually listening to us - the consumer.

Olay are looking to engage beauty and skincare consumers in the UK between the ages of 18-65 to find out their views on beauty brands, cult products, skincare concerns and consumer behaviour. Basically, what floats our boats and motivates us to buy a product. A 'beauty census' if you will.

In the midst of all this, the poll is also hoping to discover the nations all time icon of beauty and also offering 500,000 women in the UK the chance to trial, rate and review Olay's latest and most effective super serum.

You hear that? There is no celebrity telling us how amazing it is, Olay are asking you to tell them what you think of it!

I have just taken the poll today and what interests me the most are questions relating to our motivation in buying a product. Is it a celebrity endorsement? a magazine? an advert?

My answer was none of the above, what motivates me to buy a product and truly believe in it, is recommendation from friends, family and an even more valuable source of this day and age - blogs!

I know I can log on and get a genuine review of a product by reading the thoughts and opinions of real people who take the time to write about their passion - beauty, skincare, fashion ... whatever it may be. Like an old friend or your sister recommending the latest must have lipstick or eye serum, beauty bloggers engage in a community that is a large circle of friends who can be trusted to give you their honest thoughts, good or bad, on a product.

Bloggers take time to trial products, photograph them, sometimes we even get to see the gory before and wonderful after photographs as evidence of how well a product works. It truly is an invaluable source of beauty knowledge and at the best of times, a lovely community to be involved in.

As for my choice of beauty icon ... well, don't laugh but my ultimate beauty isn't even a real person. For me she is the ultimate glamourpuss, has a figure to die for and she just happens to be a redhead. She's sassy, strong and loyal to her man. Have you guessed yet? ... yup, it's Jessica Rabbit!

You can take part in The Big British Beauty Poll until 20th October 2010 so log on and let Olay know what your views are.

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