PR Info for Companies & Small Businesses

If you handle PR and would like me to review, test out and promote your products on my blog/website, please contact me.

My email is: kisses@valentinekisses.com

My beauty blog and website popularity increases daily because my readers know I'm a trusted source for all things beauty related. I provide my readers with an accurate representation and detailed review of all products I receive. They trust in my opinion and look forward to what I have to say and what I have to show them. In addition, I post new content every day (or almost every day). This all adds up to readers who come back time and time again.

Currently, on my blog, I have over 1,900 followers and receive over 40,000 unique web hits each month. Those stats continue to rise, usually by the day.

As a former entrepreneur I know the importance of exposure and product promotion. I combine both my beauty knowledge and business knowledge into one powerful package. Continue reading to view a list of everything you can expect from me. I go above and beyond. Always!

A few quick notes:

I'm honored to work with any company who believes I have something to add. I work with all companies -- from a small Etsy shop to big time, well known brands.
I will provide a detailed review after trying out the product and provide many detailed, high-quality photos of your product. I educate myself on each product before I write my review, so I'm able to answer my readers questions and provide accurate information.
I treat all products as though I purchased them with my own money; meaning I review each item honestly and never allow the fact that an item was sent for free to effect my opinion. My readers trust in my opinion and I want to keep it that way.
Each item you send will receive its own blog post, on its own day. Multiple shades of the same item will be posted in the same blog post; it's only a different blog post for each different item type.
If sending multiple products there may be a few days to a few weeks in between blog posts; other times they are posted one day after the other. It all depends on how much blog content I already have scheduled/planned, but I do promise that everything will be featured on my blog at some point.
In addition to posting on my blog, I will also post all products on this website - which is basically my blog in website form. I'm slowly adding content, swatches and reviews to this website as I have time. My main priority right now is my blog.
If a product really does not work for me I will contact you ahead of time to see if there is something I'm doing wrong before I write my review. Sometimes there is an easy answer to why a product isn't working and I'd like to give you the chance to educate me more. All reviews express my honest opinions. However, I always like to look on the bright side of things. If a product doesn't work for me I'll mention why it didn't work, but I will also mention why it could work for my readers.
I do NOT require full sized products (although they are happily accepted, of course!). You can send travel sized samples, lab samples, sample packets, homemade samples, etc. I can work with just about anything you send.
I accept all beauty-related products, such as:
- makeup - all products, formulas, shades
- skin care - all products & tools; my skin type is combo/oily, acne-prone; I'm looking to correct dark spots (hyper pigmentation from acne), I don't really have to worry about wrinkles yet (I'm only 27) but I still want to prevent them and do use anti-aging products on a daily basis (I do have laugh lines that I cannot stand). Please do not send anything with Benzyol Peroxide; I'm allergic and can't use products with that ingredient.
- nail polish - all products, formulas, shades (I personally love all glitters and bolder shades -- nail polish is my major obsession so anything is very well received)
- body care - all products & tools; this includes (but not limited to): lotions, hair removal, sun & tanning products
- hair care - all products & tools; this includes (but not limited to): shampoo, conditioner, styling products, styling tools, hair extensions, hair color, hair treatments/masks; my hair type is fine, long, slightly wavy (more straight than wavy), oily scalp, and color treated. I have brown hair (on the darker side) and currently have some blue highlights on the underside of my hair. I also have a friend with blonde hair who is my willing model for hair extensions so I can show my readers how they will look on both a brunette and a blonde.
- bath items - all products; this includes (but not limited to): shower gel, soaps, scrubs -- although I should mention that I'm a shower girl and not a bath girl. Things like bath salts will be reviewed, but not by me (I'll let friends/family test drive them instead).
- teeth whitening products - this includes toothpastes and teeth whitening systems/kits
- products for men - my husband is a willing model/product tester for men's grooming products.
- kid-friendly products - I have a 6 year old son, as well as two nieces (12 and 10 years old), a nephew (15 years old) and several neighborhood kids who are willing guinea pigs to kid/tween friendly bath and beauty items.
There are some products I will NOT review; they are:
- waxes - I don't wax as a hair removal method and I don't intend to start because I am a total chicken when it comes to waxes. However, my husband and some friends are willing models/tester that I can use.
- pills or drinks - If I need to take a pill or drink a special drink, I won't test them out.
Here are my basic stats:
- I'm located in the United States - Front Royal, Virginia to be exact.
- I'll be 28 years old in April 2012
- I'm a wife, mommy, stay-at-home-mom, and I also volunteer every week at my son's school
- Blogging is my passion, my obsession and my "job", even though I don't make any money from it. I just genuinely enjoy what I do, and I'm beyond lucky to call it work.
- I'm extremely dedicated and hard working. As a former photographer, I use my photography equipment to take detailed, high-quality photos that my readers love to see. I write detailed, informative reviews - after testing out the product and educating myself on it. I'm also really dedicated to my readers; I take the time to answer all questions they leave in the comment section on my blog, as well as answer all emails I receive.

Here's a list of what I can offer you!

Swatch photos of the product(s) sent to me...

The photoshoot stage is my favorite part of testing and reviewing a product. Swatch photos are the top requested and most looked at content on both my blog and this website.
I take many photos of each product I receive. This includes photos of the product, swatch photos, and before & after photos (when necessary - such as for foundations and concealers).
As a former photographer, I use my photography equipment to shoot the best quality photos, which includes studio lighting.
I am extremely detailed when it comes to photographing each product. My goal is to create a series of photos that provide my readers with a detailed look at each product; I want them to see the photos and not need anything else to know they want/need to have that product.
The number of photos I take will depend on the type product I'm photographing. I follow a different protocol for each product type I'm photographing.
Although I use professional lighting for 99% of all products I receive, sometimes a product can benefit from outdoor (direct sun) lighting. Whenever this is the case, such as for holographic nail polishes, I also include outdoor (sunlight) photos.
All swatches are posted on both my beauty blog and ValentineKisses.com.
On my beauty blog, each separate product type will receive it's own post that includes swatches (this is the same post the review would be posted in).
The more products you send, the more exposure you receive.
On ValentineKisses.com, swatch photos are posted on your brand's main swatch page (which shows swatches of all products I own from that brand). I organize swatches by product type on the brand's main swatch page (click here for an example).
Continued exposure of all swatches! I never remove swatch photos, which means for years and years to come those photos will still be out there and available. In some cases I may re-do swatch photos, but that simply means I'm making the photos even better!

Review of the product(s) sent to me...

I write an honest and detailed review on each product I receive. I treat each item as if I purchased it with my own money and don't allow the fact it was sent for free to affect my opinion.
A review for each separate product type will be posted.
The more products you send, the more exposure you receive.
Sending multiple shades of the same product will not increase the number of posts (as they are still considered one product type); it will, however, increase the number of swatch photos you receive.
My reviews are mostly based on my personal experience with each product, but I will include any information you request to be included within the review.
I test out each product before I write my review. The length of time I need to test a product varies depending on the type of product it is. For example: an eyeshadow usually only needs to be used one or two times before I'm able to write my review, but a skincare product may take several days or weeks to be able to write an accurate review.
If I'm getting mixed results from a product, or if a product just didn't work for me at all, I never say "well this product is awful" and give up; Instead I will try to use the product in different ways to get a better result, or I will test it out on a friend. I may even contact you for further information on why the product isn't providing the results it should. If I'm unable to get the desired results you can still rest easy knowing I will provide a professional review on the product. I always look on the positive side of things. I will still report my experience, but also educate my readers as to why the product wasn't a good fit for me and why it very well could work perfectly for them.
All reviews are posted on both my beauty blog and ValentineKisses.com.
Continued exposure of all reviews! I never remove a review, which means for years and years to come that information will still be out there and available.

Review of the product(s) sent to me... posted on other sites...

In addition to writing reviews for my beauty blog and ValentineKisses.com, I will also write reviews on other websites.
Websites I post reviews on: Sephora, Ulta, QVC, HSN, Beauty.com, MakeupAlley, Luuux, and any other shopping site I come across that has your product and allows me to write a review. You can also give me a list of sites you would like me to make reviews on.
If allowed, I will upload swatch and product photos to add to my review.

Links back to you...

I always link back to your company or where you'd like my readers to purchase your items.
I'm also happy to link to your company social network pages upon request (Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, etc.)

Speedy Service...

I'm very hard working and give my best effort to get your reviews & swatches up on my blog as soon as possible.
Depending on my blogging schedule, I may be able to get the first post up within a day or two of receiving the item.
However, it may take longer. I may have other posts that are scheduled to go up first or I may have other obligations that could delay the process.
If you sent multiple items there could be a few days to a few weeks in between blog posts of your products depending on what else I have scheduled, and which items I was able to review/test out already.
I will post about each and every items you send me.

(optional) Host a giveaway sponsored by your company...

My readers love to enter giveaways, which always attract even more readers (increasing your exposure)!
Giveaways are posted on both my beauty blog and ValentineKisses.com.
I will host the giveaways mostly on my blog, but may also create a giveaway page on ValentineKisses.com
Your giveaway will receive it's own post, which increases exposure.
You provide me with the prize details and entry requirements (such as how old they must be to enter, who the giveaway is open to - United States or Internationally).
You can choose to have mandatory entries, such as Liking your company on Facebook, signing up for your company newsletter, or visiting your website to select their favorite product.
I select all winners using Random.org
Once a winner has been chosen I will contact you with all the required information you need about the winner. From there, your company is responsible for shipping the prize to the winner.
optional: I will ship the prize to the winner if the prize was sent to me along with the other product(s) for review/swatches. However, if you choose this method I will have to put the restriction that only United States residents can enter to keep my shipping costs down.

(optional) Tutorial using the product(s) sent to me...

If requested, I will create a tutorial showing my readers how to use the product(s).
Currently I'm only creating photo tutorials, but will create video tutorials in the future. I can assure you my photo tutorials are very informative.
Tutorials are posted on both my beauty blog and ValentineKisses.com.
Continued exposure of each tutorial! I never remove a tutorial, which means for years and years to come each tutorial will be out there and available.
Sometimes, even if you have not requested a tutorial, I will still create a tutorial because it may be helpful to my readers.

(optional) Provide product & swatch photos for your company...

This is a great option for smaller companies who do not have the resources and/or funds to provide their customers with quality and detailed product & swatch photos. Remember, the better detail you can show of the product the more likely someone is to buy that product without ever trying it out or seeing it in person!
If requested, I can provide you with a CD/DVD of swatch and product photos for your company to use however you see fit at absolutely no charge.
The CD/DVD will include all images in both high-res and web-sized formats.
Images are all .jpeg unless otherwise requested.
A quick phone or email consultation will finalize all details - such as what background you want, how many photos of each products, what specifically you'd like me to photograph, if you'd like me to add a watermark, etc. You can also tell me to do what I feel will be best and I'll be sure to provide you with great photos!
You have full rights to the images, however, I need to be able to use the photos on both my beauty blog and ValentineKisses.com, only for the purpose of your company's review and swatch posts.

Guarantee & My Honest Opinion...

You have my unconditional guarantee that I will work with you in a professional manner and fulfill everything we discuss and agree upon.
Unlike some bloggers, I don't pick and choose what I review. I will review everything that was sent to me because I am honored and grateful that you've selected to work with me.
As stated before, all my reviews are based on my opinion - be it good, bad or a mix of both.
I am dedicated to helping my readers learn about beauty products and will always keep that top priority when reviewing, swatching or creating a tutorial from the products you send me.