Beauty Influencers’ Sunday Column, Vol. 4 – Ambassadors: Time To Level Up Speechcraft and Diplomacy!

Greetings from a stalwart party of beauty adventurers, fellow rogues! 😀

 

If you could be a brand ambassador for a makeup company, what brand would it be and why?

SARA | Germany | Color Me Loud
I haven’t given it a thought if I could be a good brand ambassador but if I would work with one company, that would be one of my top three brands, Tom Ford, Suqqu or Burberry. These are the brands I see growing in the future and deliver consistent quality. I am a little afraid though that everyone who goes before cameras for Tom Ford has to get naked *chuckle* just joking.

SYL | New Zealand | The Painted Rogue
You know what…I don’t think I can decide on one! There are many brands I admire and enjoy for various combinations of reasons, but I don’t actually know enough about any of them fundamentally (their principles, practices, etc) to want to put my own face and name to their brand. I think it would only happen if I had my own makeup brand, actually!

DEE | Canada | How Does Dee Do It
I’ve  been a legitimately big fan of many of Sephora’s recent products and I really like how they’ve rebranded themselves in terms of their quality and variety of offerings in the past 2 years or so. I’ve bought a LOT of their products and I haven’t had a single dud yet! Plus their customer service rocks. So I think I’d have a boat load of fun being an ambassador for them.

ERIN | USA | Clever Girl Reviews
My choice would be NARS. They are cruelty-free and ethnically inclusive! They also offer a range of colors so all tastes are represented!

MELISSA | Switzerland | Kiss & Make-up
Tough question. There are so many brands that I love, all for different reasons. But one brand that I can really identify with is Make Up For Ever. They’re not afraid of color, they don’t shy away from extremes and they think outside the box. I respect that. It’s just a really fun brand, ya know. And creative. And ballsy! I like to think that I too am creative, fun and ballsy. At least when it comes to make-up

JAA | USA/Thailand | Hello Jaa
I shouldn’t have asked this question because I am having a hard time deciding myself! I’d like to say VERSO because I love all the science behind their products but then I realized they are not really a makeup brand! I think I’ll go with MAC Cosmetics because it would be so much fun to present and play with new makeup collections all the time! They have some really nice, good-quality, and affordable staple-worthy products in the line-up, too. Their MUAs are also talented, professional, and friendly which are the type of people I want to be working with.

[Interested in joining BISC Network? Send your request to jaa*at*hellojaa.com]

There you have it, adventurers! If you could be the ambassador for any makeup brand, which one would it be? Or would it be your own?! 😀

Until next time, don’t forget to check for traps!

 

Syl

Beauty Influencers’ Sunday Column, Vol. 3 – The Mage Can Turn Back Time…What Do You Do?!

Greetings from a stalwart party of beauty adventurers, fellow rogues! 😀

 

If you could start your blog all over again, what would you do differently?

DEE | Canada | How Does Dee Do It
1.I would have made sure to choose a theme that allowed for featured images that were at least 640 px wide. I love blogs with large featured images for posts. 2.I would have networked WAY MORE and WAY SOONER..had I known how! I didn’t know how to connect with other bloggers till I was 6 months into my blog. I believed that the Internet would magically connect us :)) Still not a fan of Twitter but I love instagram, Bloglovin and just good old comments! Can’t stress how powerful a tool, as simple a thing as commenting can be.

AGATA | USA | Her and Makeup
Having been a blogger for less than a year, I still learn a lot every day and with time, I find out what works and what doesn’t. If there is one thing that I regret, it is that I did not start writing it earlier. My blog is my creative outlet, a place on the web where I can share my passion with others and interact with other people. I have never expected that Her and Makeup would bring me this much joy and that I would meet so many wonderful people through it- readers and fellow bloggers.

SYL | New Zealand | The Painted Rogue
To be honest, I’m reasonably happy with how my blog has trundled along! If I had things to do-over, however, I would be taking a serious look at my zany idea of starting a blog while wrestling with the end stages of The Battle of The Thesisbeast… There are so many things I want to do, but I’m forced to think: WHEN YOU’VE FINISHED YOUR PHD SYL, AND NOT BEFORE.

SUNNY | Belgium | Mostly Sunny Blog
“I wish I had/hadn’t…” is simply not a part of my philosophy. With that said, if I could start my blog all over again, I would have joined Instagram sooner. I resisted the idea for the longest time, knowing I am not a very visual person. However, finally joining Instagram has given me the opportunity to rethink a lot of things. What makes a popular Instagram picture? Maybe I can expand on the idea and incorporate it on the blog. As a result, Mostly Sunny has evolved in ways that I could not have foreseen. It’s an amazing ride!

ERIN | USA | Clever Girl Reviews
I wouldn’t do much differently. I often see other people’s layouts, color stories, and fonts with a certain air of jealousy but mine looks different and is more candid. The only thing I would chang is I would have waited to apply for Google Adsense until I was back on American soil, they won’t give me an account.

LENA | USA | Lenallure
Looking back, I can’t say I have too many regrets. There are things that I wish I knew back then, though. If I could start my blog all over again, I would spend time to learn basics like photography, blog platforms, SEO, etc. I would be more careful to form my relationships with PR and brands as well. I would always remember quality is more important than quantity, yet I would be more consistent with my posts. I would make the same efforts to stay true to myself, if not more.

JAA | USA/Thailand | Hello Jaa
I’d start experimenting with portrait studio lighting sooner. My older posts would have been more complete. I’d also make sure to choose a layout that accommodates larger picture size because I believe larger photos create higher impact. Another thing would be to tell myself to not be shy and connect with other bloggers sooner! It is more fun to have someone with the same interest to talk to and you just learn so much from them! Last thing would be to implement a Pin It button on all my photos right away because Pinterest is among the top three social networks that drive traffic to my blog the most.

[Interested in joining BISC Network? Send your request to jaa*at*hellojaa.com]

There you have it, adventurers! What would you do if you could start your blog over? What would you do if you could start a blog for the first time? 😀

Until next time, don’t forget to check for traps!

 

Syl

Beauty Influencers’ Sunday Column, Vol. 2 – Makeup Tips For New Adventurers!

Greetings from a stalwart party of beauty adventurers, fellow rogues! 😀

 

What beauty advice would you pass on to someone who wants to start wearing makeup for the first time?

SYL | New Zealand | The Painted Rogue
My first advice to anyone asking me about makeup is this: Relax and have fun! Makeup is about making yourself feel good and being creative, so just enjoy it, and stay true to your preferences and interests.

LILY | Malaysia | Chloe Ash
Have fun! Don’t be afraid to experiment with colors and go crazy with different looks (you can always remove it!). Sooner or later, you’ll know what looks best on you and settle into your signature style

ERIN | USA | Clever Girl Reviews
1. Figure out what your area of concern or interest is; like covering up acne or really bold eyes or lips.
2. Use the internet to your advantage before you go shopping.
3. Decide how much you want to invest; both time and money.
4. Know yourself and you are attracted to!
5. Don’t be afraid to spend more on staples!

AGATA | USA | Her and Makeup
Don’t do it, it’s a trap! Just kidding! Remember that you are beautiful just the way you are and makeup is supposed to enhance your natural beauty, not cover it! Invest in a few good base products- a well matched foundation, a good concealer and a neutral eyeshadow palette or a couple single eyeshadows. Buy a few good brushes, they make a huge difference in makeup application. Go to a drugstore for a mascara, blush and a lip color and see what shades work best for you. Lastly, read a lot of beauty blogs and watch YouTube tutorials on how to apply makeup. But since you’re already here, reading this, you are already doing the right thing!

SARA | Germany | Color Me Loud
I believe one should start with finding out what really makes a huge difference and work on getting it right. If you have short undefined lashed that might be mascara, or for sparse eye brows it can be eye brow pencil. Are your lips not very pigmented, maybe a bright lipstick will give your face a lift. It is important to know it doesn’t happen in one day but all needs lots of practice. Another important thing is to build up slowly. It is difficult to blend once you apply too much and it may look very overdone in a second. Take the most of the product at the back of your hand and go slowly. This applies for foundation, concealer, eye shadow and blush. Another important thing is to get the right tools and investing slowly in brushes, these make a huge difference in application as well.

JAA | USA/Thailand | Hello Jaa
Research! Look for someone who has the same features as you and learn from them. It will save you a lot of time, money, and headaches trying to figure out what does and does not work for you. Once you get the basics down, then you can start experimenting on your own. Don’t give up if you can’t get it right the first time. Believe that practice makes perfect. I am still learning every day!

[Interested in being a part of BISC Network? Send your email/media kit to jaa*at*hellojaa.com]

 

There you have it, adventurers! What would be your top tip to someone just getting into makeup for the first time? 😀

Until next time, don’t forget to check for traps!

 

Syl

Beauty Influencers’ Sunday Column, Vol. 1 – Adventurers: Assemble!

Greetings from a stalwart party of beauty adventurers, fellow rogues! 😀

Today I’d like to welcome you to a brand new series called Beauty Influencer’s Sunday Column! BISC is a network of handpicked beauty bloggers who will be here on the second and fourth Sunday of every month to share their beauty-related thoughts based on a specific question asked by Jaa at HelloJaa. For this very first volume, let’s start with the Blogger Introduction where you will learn about the bloggers, their skin type, their makeup style, and their makeup bag staples!

Our panel of selected bloggers

The interview

– AGATA –

USA; Her and Makeup
Skin color and type: MAC NW20; normal
Makeup style: Smokey eyes with neutral brown shades, pink lips, pink and glowy cheeks
Makeup bag staples:  Mac Face and Body foundation in N2, Buxom Lash Waterproof mascara in Black, and Dior Addict Gloss in Princess

– ALICE –

Belgium; Alice Yeh
Skin color and type: MAC NC25; dry to normal
Makeup style: Fairly neutral with a natural smokey-eye
Makeup bag staples: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk in shade 6.5 (The one foundation I rely on on bad skin days and big events. It guarantees great skin without failure. Thanks to it’s medium – buildable coverage, it blurs imperfections and creates a beautiful soft-focus look. It blends in so beautifully that even a magnifying mirror fails to detect it. I call it an Instagram filter in a bottle because that’s exactly what it is.), Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner in shade Sepia Ink (Whilst I describe my make-up look to be rather neutral, I do have to confess that I haven’t been able to leave the house without a flick on the eyes. Bobbi Brown’s formula is hard to beat: it’s longwearing, smudge-free and budge-free. It applies so easily that it omits the need of cotton buds. Sepia Ink is a very dark ashy brown and wears beautifully day and night. I’ve caught myself to reach back to this time and time again.), and Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in shade Amazing Grace (A neutral lipstick hunt is generally just a wild-goose chase in my books because most of them are either too pink or too pale. Amazing Grace however is my current neutral lip love. The shade injects just the perfect amount of colour to perk up your complexion without being overly pink. Some people rock pink so naturally but I’m definitely not one of them. The formula rocks as well. It’s a creamy matte formula – yes you’ve read that well – that feels great on the lips and fades into the prettiest stain after having been displayed for a good few hours. There’s just nothing not to love.)

– DEE –

Canada; How Does Dee Do It
Skin color and type: NC 35-NC42 (depending on the time of year ); dry
Makeup style: Neutral with a pop of brights/colour
Makeup bag staples:  Nivea Lip Smoothie lip balm in Acai & Wild Apple (now called  Nivea Lip Care Kiss of Vitamin Swirl), Too Faced Teddy Berry lipstick, and Bobbi Brown Corrector (Peach)

– ERIN –

USA; Clever Girl Reviews
Skin color and type: Ranges from N/NW 5 to 15 depending on the time of year; combination with Rosacea; it can veer very dry and dehydrated in winter
Makeup style: Softer looks for day, bolder looks for night
Makeup bag staples: Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer in Raisin (I have bought at least 30 tubes since it came out), L’Oreal Voluminous Full Definition (20 – 40 tubes. I’ve lost count), and Armani Sheer Blush in #2 (this blush is worth every cent if you can find it)

– JAA –

USA/Thailand; Hello Jaa
Skin color and type: MAC NC30; combination
Makeup style: Smokey neutral
Makeup bag staples: Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer in Ocher, Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick in Cruise, and Kat Von D Ink Liner in Trooper

– KRISTEN –

USA; Glambunctious
Skin color and type: MAC NW25, NARS Deauville; combination
Makeup style: Soft, with a focus on the eyes
Makeup bag staples: Glossier Balm Dotcom, a gorgeous, do-it-all eyeshadow like Urban Decay YDK, and a beautiful blush–lately I’ve been loving Milani Rose Powder Blush in Romantic Rose

– LAARNI –

Philippines; Xoxo Laarni
Skin color and type: MAC 35; combination
Makeup style: Neutral eye makeup + red lips
Makeup bag staples:  MAC Lipstick in Russian Red, MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW30, and MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder/Pressed

– LENA –

USA; Lenallure
Skin color and type: I’ve never been actually matched with any MAC foundation, but I think I am close to NC15​. Although my natural complexion has quite a bit of pink undertones, I like foundations with clean yellow base. Shu Uemura 784 is my favorite one; skin type: combination, aging​
Makeup style: I usually go for a natural style that looks “put together” if that makes any sense. I love wearing smoky eyes but lately I’ve been often wearing brighter lips with softened eyes.​
Makeup bag staples: Chanel Poudre Douce in Lila (This is a discontinued pressed powder from Chanel, so I am not sure about the price. You can still get it on eBay, though. ​It beautifully brightens up the mid-day tired complexion adding sutble shimmer. I really like it!), Lancome Lip Lover in Lip Lover (This is the “default” pink lippie that goes with everything in my opinion. Very moisturizing and easy to touch-up.), and Tatcha Aburatorigamy Beauty Paper

– LILY –

Malaysia; Chloe Ash
Skin color and type: MAC15-20, Chanel B10, Dior 011; normal on most days
Makeup style: Smokey eyes most of the time, from day time appropriate to dramatic smokey
Makeup bag staples:  Bobbi Brown Creamy Matte Lip Color in Razzberry, Dior Lip Maximizer, and Dior Lip Glow

– MELISSA –

Switzerland; Kiss & Make-up
Skin color and type: Light to light-medium warm. I haven’t been matched at MAC in years but I think I’m an NC20; oily, acne-prone and sometimes dehydrated (I’m so lucky…)
Makeup style: You know me, I go smokey all the way!
Makeup bag staples: Smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof Khol Liner in Raven, MAC Invisible Set Powder, and Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

– RAE –

Canada; the Notice: a beauty blog
Skin color and type: MAC NC15; Cover FX G20; dry and sensitive
Makeup style: Sheer and sparkly!
Makeup bag staples: Make Up For Ever Graphic Liner, Bobbi Brown Lip Balm SPF 15, and Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in 085 Sugar Plum

– SARA –

Germany; Color Me Loud
Skin color and type: MAC NC 20, Chanel B20, YSL B20; dry to normal, acne-prone
Makeup style: Smokey eyes (preferably taupe or purple), nude lips, minimal blush
Makeup bag staples: Guerlain Lipstick G in Gemma, Dior Star Concealer, and Chikuhodo retractable lip brush

– SHARI –

Philippines; The Misty Mom
Skin color and type: MAC NC30, Bobbi Brown Warm Beige; combination
Makeup style: Minimal but with a bold lip, if possible!
Makeup bag staples: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard, Ellis Faas Compact Powder in S401, Dior Addict Lip Glow

– SUNNY –

Belgium; Mostly Sunny Blog
Skin color and type: MAC NC 25-30; combination with oily T-zone and normal cheeks
Makeup style: I usually go for a simple and neutral eye look with winged-out eyeliner, as well as a bright pop of color on the lips!
Makeup bag staples: Hourglass Soft Brunette Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil, Le Métier de Beauté Coral Nymph Crème Fresh Tint, and Dior Aventure Addict Extreme

– SYL –

New Zealand; The Painted Rogue
Skin color and type: Cool-neutral vampire. I’ve never been matched to MAC, but NARS Siberia comes close-ish. Let’s just go with vampire.
Makeup style: I like my bases super sheer and natural, my eyeshadows shimmery and my lipsticks…well, I just love lipsticks. ALL OF THEM. Also: purple and glitter.
Makeup bag staples: A lipstick (Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Roselip – an Asia exclusive shade so you can check the Asia-specific versions of Guerlain.com), a concealer (Collection Lasting Perfection, shade 01 Fair; can get it from Countdown supermarkets here in NZ, and drugstores/supermarkets in the UK), and eyelash curlers (mine are Chanel)

And that’s it! Please let us know if you like this BISC series! We’ll see you again on February 22^nd, 2015!

 

There you have it, adventurers! Until next time, don’t forget to check for traps!