January was the biggest month ever on the blog. Insane amounts of you read the blog, subscribed to my YT channel,
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The amount of comments and requests for help that I am receiving is beyond overwhelming. This is by no means a complaint - at ALL - I love blogging and love that you read it, I just have guilt that I cannot reply to so many people. I'm sorryyyyy! I'm one person.
So a quick low-down of what's what:
Facebook. I do not have a Facebook page for the blog. Sorry but I don't see the point. I have the blog. Something else to look after would be 'migraine central'. I have a private FB that is just for family and people I know IRL. I currently have around 500+ friend requests from people I don't know. There are 50+ requests from help in the 'Other' messages part of Facebook asking for help with skin problems.
Twitter. I reply when I can but it's hit and miss.
Email. There are new requests for help in all of my email accounts every morning.
YouTube. I had no idea that private messages were a 'thing', until I found a ton of them by accident. I don't know how many there are because I panicked and went back to the normal comments. Sorry! I try and keep as up to date as possible with YT comments but I'm usually a week or so behind per video - if that makes sense.
Google Plus. I have absolutely NO idea how Google Plus works. None. It's like 'How do airplanes take off?' and 'Why don't ships sink?' I don't know. Clueless. If you've tried to talk to me via G+ I apologise profusely because it's still out there somewhere in the ether...
Tumblr. I have it, because I figured it may come in handy, but I literally do nothing with it except send it my Instagram feed. If you've talked to me via Tumblr - sorry. Again.
Pinterest. Love it, but can't spend too much time on it because it's like a black hole. If you've tried to talk to me via Pinterest.... GAH! Sorry. AGAIN.
Instagram. Easily my favourite, which means I spend most of my time there. If you leave a comment there it has more chance of being answered than anywhere else (along with the blog).I usually go back through the photographs and reply to as many as possible when I'm waiting around during public transport trips. :) But: I receive roughly 50 private message requests a week. I couldn't reply to you all if I tried.
Appointments. I have no appointments planned at the moment. I'm working on other things. Exciting things, but other things.
Like I said, no complaints at all, I have always been and still am incredibly grateful to you all for reading the blog and watching YouTube, just please please please don't think I am ignoring you. I just don't have the time to reply to you all. Sometimes I read a comment that says 'I would have expected you to reply to me by now!' and I'm all
I'M SO SORRY ERMAGHERDDD.
If, however, you do see me around in town, usually on beauty counters (my happy place), PLEASE stop me and ask me anything. Please.
I hope to have the capabilities to respond to a lot more people later in the year, but for now, please bear with!
And in case it was unclear, thank you. really. Thank you. Even those of you abusing me for not replying to you. You make me try harder.
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This made me laugh so much. It honestly makes my head spin just imagining what it must be like to be you. Though there are LOTS of fab bits too, obvs.
ReplyDeleteTbh I'm impressed at how much you DO respond to. xx
Me too, I was exhausted just imagining that list!
DeleteCaroline, maybe it's time to hire a part-time social media manager/intern? (I'm sure you'd have no problem finding one!) And maybe they could disable comments on certain channels so that people aren't leaving any in the first place? You are awesome, and I'm pretty sure everyone would agree that they'd love you to spend all your time on your passion and not on the back-end (well, you konw what I mean) :)
aw this was a lovely post! it's understandable that you can't reply to everything, i see how many comments etc you get and i'm like woahhhh haha
ReplyDeletehelen at thelovecatsinc.com
As sweet at this was, I'm mostly impressed by the Office gif. That just made my afternoon!
ReplyDeleteI recently discovered that a friend of mine loves your blog too and we shared a 'omg balm cleansing and acid toning' moment over coffee and cake, so for that I also thank you :)
Keep up the great work, it's appreciated!!
Caroline I've never commented on anything..ever! But I just wanted you to know that you help so much and I'm so glad I found your blog. I'm 36, have been pregnant or breastfeeding for 10 years (5 kids), took a bad reaction to one pregnancy which resulted in me eating pureed food through a straw as I grew another face...seriously! This has left me with scars. I have now developed roseaca after my last baby 8 months ago. I was in a black hole of skin despair..dramatic but true! I still don't know what I'm doing but I read your blog and it makes me laugh and it really helps! I'm trying to make improvements to help my skin..I wonder does projectile baby vomit have any skin benefits??? No? But seriously thank you!!
ReplyDeleteAnyone who sends you such horrible comments is an idiot. Full stop. You are doing great Caroline. If they want you to reply sooner, they can make an appointment with you. The rest of us value what you do, and appreciate all the effort that goes into this and the value of all your knowledge, so please don't feel bad. I'd say anyone that messages to say they thought you'd reply sooner does not deserve your reply. It's rude and they are rude.
ReplyDeleteAn idea: why not publishing the questions you get instead of messaging privately? I know you are doing the FAQ now, but maybe publishing every question would make more material available and people would message you less? Just a thought.
I absolutely agree with everything!!! And it´s a great idea to publish the questions!
DeleteOf course- u are just one person. So if you don't mind please answer this question- hahaha joking! Love love love your blog and YT channel! Thank you 😘
ReplyDeleteListen, if I were you I'd be rocking in a corner somewhere looking at the amount of requests you get in a single day.
ReplyDeleteI got a reply on Twitter!!!!! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! Much love
ReplyDeleteThat's the price of success, Caroline! :)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, if you need a social media helper, let me know (I'm serious, that's what I do for a living, I don't just read beauty blogs all day).
I think you're a goddess for working full time, have a family who you clearly dote on AND run a blog, YT and other social media sites as comprehensively as you do.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I crave more Hirons Content (tell me more things. MOAR!!!), I TOTALLY appreciate where you're coming from and didn't want to add to the tide. My little girl is nearly 4 months old, and sometimes it's a struggle just to get out of the house before midday, so you have my awe.
Much love x
Super sweet post and honestly, Reading your blog and following your instagram has saved my skin. I used to have terribly red patches of acne on my face and it was the most upsetting emotional experience, but no longer. I discovered acids and serums through your posts and they have been so good for me. Thank you, Abbie xx
ReplyDeleteCaroline replied to me on twitter!!! She made my day!!! Thanks to you
ReplyDeleteYou forgot twitter!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your feed!
Totally understandable am commenting with Google + and I still have no clue to why it exists and what it is. Although now your Instagram comments are going to triple! X
ReplyDeleteFislittleblog.com
You're a brilliant woman. Lovely post. Stay healthy and happy. Reading your blog is one of my Fab me-time treats. Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteCaroline, you never fail to amuse me! No apologies needed to be honest - Everything we need is right here on your incredible Blog! :)
ReplyDeleteAmylaurenxo.blogspot.co.uk
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ReplyDeleteI'm always astonished at how much you manage to do. Frankly, I would be hiding under the bed by now. I take my hat off to you!
ReplyDeleteL
I was going to leave a response but this pretty much summarises what I what thinking. I take my hat off as well! Thank you x
DeleteTotally agree. no need to apologises,I am amazed of how much you manage between blog/videos/interviews/FAMILY and all of the other things.... hope to hear more about the new exciting projects.
Deleteany chance it implies a Paris trip?
I love your blog and Instagram - you're the reason I'm now obsessed with skincare! After 3 wks of following your advice (re double cleansing/flannels!) my skin is sooo much better! I've just purchased Liquid Gold, Pixi toner, Hydraluron and Pepta Bright - cannot wait to see the results!! So despite my current poverty-stricken state I thank you! x
ReplyDeleteCaroline, you are doing a wonderful job. I read your blog looking for more information on skincare, products and such, that may help me and/or pertain to what I need. You post enough information that I can easily find what I want on my own. Which is why I don't feel the need to ask questions and wait for a reply. You are giving us the kitchen sink and beyond, the least we can do is search for it on our own. So, don't ever ever feel bad or be sorry. You have done plenty. Heck, changed my skin and how I take care of it. I salute you. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Kay. Caroline's invaluable advice is here on the blog, we just need to look through to find it. Caroline already gives so much information throughout the blog, the least we can do is think for ourselves. It has changed my skin so much and I am very grateful. x
DeleteThis is a really lovely post, don't no how you work all this around your normal life. Keep up the hard work I love checking your blog everyday to see new post :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your knowledge with us in the first place. You didn't have to and don't have to, but thank you all the same. Whenever or wherever, it's very much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI would just like to point out that The Big Lebowski is one of the best movies ever made. EVER.
My skin loves you, my credit card HATES you. lol. Thanks for everything! x
ReplyDeletethank YOU caroline! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're amazing. Don't apologise for not providing a free service to people who don't appreciate your time.
ReplyDeleteBless you Caroline. Well written :) x
ReplyDeleteI love your love for GIFs :) the Oprah one <3
ReplyDeleteHuge fangirl here. Love you! @lizalaska
ReplyDeleteYou're amazing! I have no idea how you answer as many comments as you do. Also, as a personal thank you, this blog made me realize that I had super dry and dehydrated skin NOT oily skin. Life (though not my bank account) got much better once I started using the right stuff for my face (and got rid of apricot scrub and a certain very famous cleansing brush;) ). Game changer! Thanks for all your hard work!
ReplyDeleteFirst up congrats! And huge admiration for responding to what you can! I only recently discovered your blog as I've been having nightmare skin and been doing a lot of research. With your advice I have seen a good improvement but theres still room for some more work! I tweeted you the other day with a concern in the hope you may spot it but it must of gone under your radar (no biggie I can only imagine what it must be like!). I wondered whether you could give me some pointers? Apologies, this is probably the worst place to post this but I've just about given up on my skin...
ReplyDeleteI'm getting married this time next year so I need to fix it - pronto! I suffer from clogged pores on either side of my chin and cheeks with raised bumps that do burst on my chin when gently squeezed, I was having a lot of bad breakouts which have calmed down now. I can get dryness too so think I have combo skin. I need to get rid of the bumps!
I purchased Cane + Austin acne acid pads which are starting to take effect 3 weeks in - at the start they burnt like hell and caused bad inflamed spots but now my skin is dealing with them fine with just a tingle and sometimes I only use half or even a third of a pad - whatever's necessary. Ive definitely seen a reduction in oiliness. I use Ren Cleansing Balm morning and night with a flannel (double cleanse at night) as well as Lush facial soap (I will upgrade this to a proper oil balm later this month!). I then use the acid pads followed by a Dr Organics oil then Caudelie VinoPerfect moisturiser in the day and Body Shop serum or an oil at night. (I've also just started to take omega 3 and multivitamins!).
Any idea where I'm going wrong?
An anxious bride to be!
xx
Working with social media is often a pain. I love Instagram though. The Dude, Abides.
ReplyDeleteGurl! It's fine! Everyone knows you're human and can't reply to every single little comment. Don't feel guilty about it. Emotions give you wrinkles. We don't want any of that ;)
ReplyDeleteCaroline, Thanks, really Thanks for your generosity with us.
ReplyDeleteI am a reader from Chile, 50 with very very dry and sensitive skin. I found your blog last June when I was desperate with my poor skin. I read all the blog, every post, specially all the clinics, taking notes.
I was using all La Mer range… I know, how bad, I was absolutely dehydrated. But now everything has changed, my skin is flexible, plumped, glowing. Even though 97% of the products you recommend are not sold here, I have managed to get most of them.
And for the questions, I think almost all of them are already answered in the blog, especially those about products you recommend - your blog is full of recommended products, explained in detail. The “Can’t find it?” tool is excellent!
Best wishes, Maria-Cristina.
Caroline you are nuts -- you don't need to apologize!! Because of your blog I finally have skin that lasts more than 2 days without a new spot, my acne scars are finally healing, and my skin is no longer red. I can actually go out without makeup and not feel awful about my skin. Never, ever apologize! Srly, you're the bomb (do people still say that?). Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Exciting things?! Yippy, this is going to be good :)
Hi Caroline,
ReplyDeleteThe temptation is so often to see our favourite people on the internet as superhuman and infallible creatures who don't sleep and are completely at the disposition of their fans at all times. It's funny, but I doubt that if they knew you in real life they'd be as comfortable asking so much of you. Like, who would feel comfortable asking someone they knew such voluminous and specific questions to their face/via email/via telephone at all hours of the day? They'd realise they were being annoying and, dare I say it, a little bit entitled.
I'm sure that 99% of readers here are lovely and appreciate you a lot, but I fear that people can forget you're not just a fount of all knowledge and solver of skincare problems, but a busy business woman, wife, mother and friend.
With that being said, don't feel bad. You've already given us so much and anything more is a privilege. Thank you for everything you give to us. In the time I've been following your blog, your advice has completely transformed my approach to skincare, and I am one of many of your dedicated readers/viewers/etc who feel the same.
In the meantime, if any readers of Caroline that are waiting to have their questions answered:
a) look back over her blogposts and videos, your questions would probably already be answered there
b) do your own research
c) go see a dermatologist/skincare guru. If you want really specialised advice, be willing to pay for it.
Hope I haven't upset anyone. Just want people to take a step back, appreciate what you give to us already (which is incredible) and stop using foaming cleansers. Is that too much to ask? :P
xxx
I just want to add how much you are appreciated! You are Wonder Woman and super woman combined! I got a lovely comment from a stranger the other day about my skin. I gave her some of your advice and she asked if I was a beauty blogger! Ha! I said no I just follow your blog religiously and gave her your blog. :-D
ReplyDeleteAnother avid reader who thinks that apologies are not necessary.
ReplyDeleteThe search facility (Can't find it?) on the blog is amazing and I now hope that more people will utilise it and take more time to search for answers already given instead of just firing questions at you and then whinging about lack of replies.
The FAQs that you have been doing are great. Thank you for all that you do for us.
Honestly you do so much for us already just by being here! Fingers crossed for all your exciting things! And thank you for being so diligent and committed to the blog and us all :)
ReplyDeleteYou are an angel, but surely you needn't apologize! I think it's obvious, to whoever follows you avidly, that you cannot possibly answer every call for help.
ReplyDeleteI do agree, though, that reading the blog in its entirely can supply one with a lot of fascinating and useful information. That is what I did when I first discovered you.
I've already told you once, I think, that last year I became very very sick. It was about 9 months after I discovered your blog, and in spite of feeling terrible physically and emotionally, my skin still looked amazing (so much so that I just could not belive that it would still be so with all my other problems at the time). This may sound absurd, but this was such a great comfort during that dark time! So let the nay sayers keep on saying that beauty is only superficial... We know otherwise!
I didn't read the post, I just came to watch the rotund man dancing. I'll probably be back for more.
ReplyDeleteI see no reason for anyone who gives of their time so freely, to provide advice and information, for free, to apologise for not having the ability to clone themselves. You're a busy Mum and you work full time and yet you still manage to do blog posts and videos and reply to people. I've no idea how you do it, I'm retired and I still wouldn't be able to keep up with all that you do. Do I eagerly stalk your blog and You Tube for new additions daily, yup sure I do, but that just makes me more grateful when something pops up for me to read or watch. I seriously could listen/watch you talk about skincare all day. I am incredibly grateful for what you're doing and people everywhere I'm sure are reaping the benefits of your knowledge. None of us however want to see you end up cowering in a corner under the pressure of it all, so just enjoy sharing your knowledge when and where you can.
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing!! Congratulations!! I share your blog with anyone and everyone, explaining you are writing the "best skincare blog in the universe". I was rambling about essential oils and skincare with a friend today and I swear half of it is stuff learned here and the rest is stuff I taught myself out of curiosity! <3
ReplyDeletexo
Sara
(And I can normally learn everything I need to know just from reading...you are a superhero just for juggling family and job at the same time, let alone a blog....never feel like you aren't doing enough!)
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of people don't know how much info you have stashed on the blog.....FAQ's, Cheatsheets, problem categories and the search option. I know everyone thinks their issue is unique, but while there can be unique aspects the above areas are great places to start. I found all of them no problem, but perhaps an overview of what's on your blog and where as a reminder from time to time? Thanks for all you do!
ReplyDeleteLet's face it, no one knows how Google+ works anyway! :p I love the personal and direct communication that comes from your regular blog updates - and Instagram is everything useful about social networking, but actually fun, so I understand why it's your favourite :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, you lovely woman you.
ReplyDeletedoing an amazing job Caroline, I don't know how you do it, I struggle to post three times a week and nobody asks me for Skincare advice except my mam, ha ha!,
ReplyDeleteIf you had the time to reply to all of us you wouldn't be posting such great content. I just feel privileged whenever you do reply. No apologies necessary IMO. Xx
ReplyDelete