A collection of articles, interviews, fashionable musings, and photos from the adventures of sci-fi author, interviewer and fashionista Kendra L. Saunders.
This blog celebrates body positivity and body diversity!
The
versatility of makeup made me fall in love with it. The power that it
can make people feel empowered, and show their beauty, also has been a
major factor in my obsession with makeup.
What is your go-to moisturizer?
My
go to moisturizer is Nourish and Shine by Jane Carter. My skin is very
dry and it gives me a lot of moisture and a silky feeling to my skin.
Also it doubles for hair, and thats a wonderful bonus, because of my
natural hair!
Matte lips, or lipgloss?
Matte Lipstick is everything to
me. I like when I can wear it all day and it doesn't feather on my
bottom lip. And it is non-transferable !
What time period in beauty do you most wish you could live in for a few days?
I
will always say I wish I could've lived in the 1700's era of Marie
Antoinette and King Louis. I absolutely love the pastel colors, the
art and the SUPREME BLUSH! It's such a staple, along with the beauty
mark. I know it's way different but I love studying that era in history!
Favorite beauty IGs to follow:
My favorite Beauty IG's to follow are @celia_leslie, @aaliyahjay & @goldenbih
Best way for fans to keep up with what you're doing?
Through my instagram @cocobeatit_ and my youtube which is @LifewithCourt.
What is your advice for plus sized fashionistas who want to look and feel fabulous?
Find
the silver lining in everything that happens. I love and accept who I
am . I love to stay positive even when it doesn't seem like there is
anything to smile about. I just do it. Stay fearless!
What can we do, right now, to make the world a better place?
To
make our world a better place, we should uplift ourselves. I feel that
we should change the way the younger generation perceives us. I use my
social media platform to show that there is more to me than showing my
body. I believe as women we should be better role models and think
before we act and change the perception that we only care about our
outer features, rather than what's inside of us. Encourage each other more. Implementing positivity is always a must, and I feel we sometimes
lack that whether we are male or female. It's essential that we all reach
for higher standards for ourselves and do not settle for less than we
deserve.
Favorite red lipstick: BeautyByRudy Wildfire; it is perfectly
pigmented and glossy lipstick.
Favorite song: Team by
Lorde, I honestly keep her whole album Pure Heroine on repeat everyday.
Favorite website for buying beauty: No website, I prefer to be at a
store seeing the product and swatching it. I don't like ordering online
for any beauty related products unless I really have to.
Favorite
nail polish: Currently chrome. Any color chrome, by the way. It's my
favorite and it lasts so long without chipping, if done the right way. I
get so many compliments too!
It's been a while since I featured an interview with an author, but when you talk to a lovely English gal who writes spec fic, loves fashion, and has a great sense of humor, you can't pass that up! I'm very excited to feature this interview with Nicky Peacock. Read on to find out more about her, her books, and her favorite fashion designers...
Ugly notebook or beautiful notebook? Oh, beautiful notebook. When I have a great notebook in my hand, it makes me what to fill it with beautiful things.
Do you make playlists inspire you? If so, what are three songs off your current favorite writing playlist? Music
is a big part of my writing. Listening to the right songs when you’re
writing an emotional scene or an action sequence can make all the
difference. I’m currently listening to Imagine Dragons. Their song
‘Friction’ is perfect for fight scenes (I seem to write a lot of them!)
I’m also listening to Fleur East’s Sax which is a real feel-good
montage song. And my favorite love song right now is Cut by Plumb, so
sharp and meaningful – it’s like a love story in itself. Have you ever traveled for writing research? If so, where did you go? I
haven’t physically traveled, but I’ve used Google Street View many
times. It’s a time and cost-effective way of researching a place. It’s
not the same of course, and I wish that I had the time and money to go
to every place I write about, but for now, it’s proving useful.
Where would you LOVE to travel for writing research? I
want to go to Venice for the carnival, Mexico for the Day of the Dead
and New Orleans for Mardi Gras. It would be the world-wind trip of
dressing up, great food, celebrations and wonderful music – and of
course, I’d worm the locations into my writing to justify it!
What's your favorite character name you've ever made up? I
like Britannia in the Battle of the Undead series. She’s a vampire who
has been working for the British crown for centuries. She’s very
patriotic and is inspired by the ancient warrior queen, Boudica.
Who do you think should get the Iron Throne in HBO's Game of Thrones? Daenerys
Targaryen – the throne is hers by right, and she’d make a fair queen.
Also, with the White Walkers bearing down on the Wall, they’re going to
need her dragons, it looks like dragon glass is the only thing that can
kill them. If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be? For
only one day? Hmmm, I guess I’d like to see what it would be like to be
an animal rather than a person. Perhaps a wolf in the forests of
Romania running wild with the pack. What's the best way for your fans to keep up with your adventures? My blog http:nickypeacockauthor.wordpress.com and my Twitter, @Nickyp_author When you're not writing, you are usually... Working,
promoting my writing or attempting cook healthy meals and exercising.
I’m kind of boring, really. All my fun is had in my imagination, and
then that spills onto the page for readers. My fashion obsessed alien, Griffin, would want to know: do you have any favorite high fashion designers? LOL,
we should probably send your character Griffin shopping with my vampire
character Britannia. Even in a zombie apocalypse, she’s keeping an eye
on her outfit choices! I’d go classic for my favorite designer with
Chanel, but to be honest, I’m more of a high street girl. Here in the
UK, we have some of the best clothes shops in the world. My favs are:
H&M and TK Maxx and online Hell Bunny, Collectif and Lindy Bop.
Flat shoes, running shoes, boots, flip-flops, or heels? Boots,
I hate my fat ankles, so they would cover them up! They’re comfortable
and look good with both tight jeans and skirts. Also, I get cold
quickly, so they’d keep me warm and snug all day.
You can spend a day at Jurassic Park. Would you do it, and if so, where would you spend most of the day? The
gift shop! LOL, I’d probably like to pet some baby veggie dinosaurs, so
perhaps the petting zoo part. I'm too cowardly to get near any big
dinosaurs or even the roller-coasters!
Music, color, spiritual theories, sci-fi, feminism and glitter swirl together in the kaleidoscope that is Eriel Indigo. Her music is catchy, and her presence rooted firmly between goofy/fun-loving/space-minded, and the deeper, more soulful aspects of life. Recently, I had the chance to chat with her via email a bit about her new song, Born an Angel (from the upcoming GALACTIVATE), as well as the beautiful, surreal world she lives in. Read on...
What is your chosen battle tactic against anxiety or negativity?
I am a very empathic, sensitive creature so I do have experience with
anxiety and sadness. Personally I think it's first important to do a lot
of self inquiry to discover what your highest excitement is; what you
love doing, whether it's creative or logical and engage with it as much
as possible, while setting the intention to utilize your passion to be
in service to the world.
Other than that, meditation,
kundalini yoga/breathwork, sounding/tapping, dance or any kind of
cardio exercise that floats your boat, healthy human touch and animal
snuggles, reconnecting with nature and striving to trust and create
meaningful connections with others who inspire and support you.
Great advice. I feel like not enough artists talk about struggling with these things, but we as women especially tend to hide it so we don't appear anything less than strong. Onto another topic: Like
me, you love scifi and are creating your own artistic statements in the
realms of the speculative. What do you find yourself going back to
again and again for science fiction inspiration?
Ah! It's true, I am a scifi junky;;) I don't really need to go to any
content for "scifi" inspiration because really the work I create that
might seem like scifi to others is actually quite real to me. I really
do identify emotionally more with other planetary cultures and sentient
beings (yes this may sound crazy to some) so it's the information I have
gleaned from these other realms that fuels the perhaps more scifi
seeming portions of my work:)
I do love so many scifi films though. To me they just seem closer to reality ;;)
As an add-on have you seen the M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming music video series?! One of the dopest bodies of work I have EVER seen.
I haven't seen that, but I definitely will check it out. I know M83 has really pushed the limits with art and music for quite some time. Can you tell us a little about what to expect from your new song?
"Born an Angel" is off of my upcoming debut album GALACTIVATE. This
track is more in the Earthly and autobiographical than space pop
lyrically, but musically is still pretty trippy with a lot of vocal cuts
and electro sparkle;;)
I
love seeing a throwback to trip-hop, as a fan of Sneaker Pimps and some
of the lesser known experimental artists of the 90s. Who are some of
your favorite trip-hop artists?
Oh
yeah, gimme alllll the trip hop, baby. There's so much good stuff;
Portishead, obviously holds the crown, Lovage, Cibo Matto, Goldfrapp,
Sneaker Pimps, Bjork, Massive Attack, Morcheeba, Tricky, Esthero, DJ
Shadow, RJD2... I mean, we could go on for a while here.
I'll have to look some of those up that I haven't heard yet! What is the best way for your fans to reach/contact you on social media?
What essentials should a woman pack for a festival?
Well,
my love that depends on the festival! One doesn't really need
protective goggles in the woods but if you catch yourself in the desert
in a seven hour dust storm, you had better hope you have those blessed
things.
Essential for
every festival: Sparkles, if you're a sparkle pony, good dancin' shoes,
headlamp, water bottle, warm and cool steezy attire, wetnaps, backpack,
friends, mind expanding treats or just some nice snacks to share::D
But
really the ultimate guide to what you need at a festival is most
certainly Burning Man Radical Self Reliance Packing List. Really a great
read for any camper;;)
Love this. I'd like to try Burning Man one day, really. Onto another important topic: What is the best way for a woman to get in touch with her sexual power?
Well we are a diverse bunch so I venture to say it's different for
anyone, but I would recommend doing some reading on tantra, sex magic
and self pleasuring meditation exercises for empowerment and getting to
know your own body.
Other than that, more self inquiry on what makes one feel healthy and
powerful sexually. This could take form in so many ways. I have quite a
spiritual experience of sexuality and I think it is important to develop
one's self in this way but you know, there's also BDSM, polyamory, role
playing, fetish, furries and Goddess only knows what else out there to
explore so I say do your research, be safe and have at it! You never
know where your own personal ecstasy might be hiding.
Favorite lipstick ever?
Well, I don't love to applaud companies but hot damn is matte MAC Ruby Woo the most perfect red a girl could hope for.
Thanks Kendra! Sending you giant pink and turquoise bliss bubbles of love::)
Every now and again you bump into a social media account that just changes your life; whether it's a Twitter account that makes you laugh until it hurts, a Youtuber who gives the actual best tutorials on hairstyles, or an Instagram star who makes you want to up your makeup game, sometimes you just find a go-to favorite. For me, one of those go-to favorites is Martina Gutfreund of instagram/enchanted.forest
Martina is many things- part modern fairy, part hippie, part artist. She creates paintings, jewelry, and beautiful pictures that she shares on Instagram, all from her stunning Canadian homeland. Her 25k+ followers know they can look to her for inspiration in magic, purple hair, great lipstick, and brightly colored paintings, and there's a sense of easy girl power about her circle of friends and social media presence. And she loves sci-fi! (Super excited about that, as a science fiction author myself). I reached out to her for an interview, and we talked about cultivating a social media brand, spirituality, her favorite model, and how she upkeeps her gorgeous hair...
I’ve
been following your Instagram for quite some time, and have found
myself having the following conversation with friends, “Look at
this… isn’t this beautiful? This girl is amazing.” You’ve
curated such a beautiful, peaceful social media presence, both
because of the content of your pictures AND the color palette. What
is your secret to making a cohesive Instagram presence?
I
definitely started my theme from the very beginning and improved the
quality of what I was posting over time by browsing through popular
blogs and other Instagram accounts. It really helps when you can take
inspiration from other popular photos and re-create them in your own
unique way! I figured I wanted to share the things that I found most
important in my life, which are art & the environment, so most of
my photos generally relate to those themes. I’m not sure why my
colour palette is so cohesive, I’m not the best at editing so I
will give all of the credits to my camera and the Valencia/Aden
filters. The best tip I would give, is to choose a theme that you
seriously enjoy in your own life, so that creating the photos never
becomes a chore… the only times I struggle are when I can’t find
the time to paint enough new stuff!
You
are very interested in spiritual matters. Do you have any rituals for
happiness or peace when you are feeling stressed out?
To
be honest, I have very strange spiritual views; they can appear very
dry to most outsiders, but I find a lot of comfort in my ideas of
existence. Usually when I’m getting overly stressed, I just remind
myself that I’m a tiny blip of nothing in the midst of more nothing
in the grand scheme of things, really what I’m going through is
just another incredibly insignificant moment within the space-time
continuum. It sounds a bit dark and pessimistic, but man the universe
is immense and there is so much more you could be doing than spending
your energy stressing over little things. I’m not sure if I’m
making much sense at this point, but being so incredibly
infinitesimal tends to put things into perspective.
What
is body confidence to you, and what do you do on days where you feel
less confident?
Ahhhh
the never ending struggle of body confidence! This is a tough one for
me, as I have really only begun taking confidence in my appearance
and personality in the last 2 years or so. It is a constant battle to
stay positive about those aspects and truly love myself, I’m not
even sure how to define what that would look like if I were to ever
achieve it. I suppose not putting myself down would be a good start;
I usually deal with it by throwing on a flattering outfit and doing
some stellar makeup. It’s not the best solution, but it’s
something that has always worked for me… I know it’s a Band-Aid
more than anything else, and that can be bad when those feelings
build up over the years of being covered up and pushed aside.
Stellar makeup and a standby favorite outfit do it for me too. No shame there! Your
hair is gorgeous. What do you use to upkeep the color?
Ooooh
noooo, not this question! Well, I dye it about once every 2 months
with Manic Panic dyes, but it’s really my washing habits that keep
the colour. I wash the actual dreaded part once every 10 days or so
with a really gentle dread shampoo and lukewarm water, so the colour
lasts foreeever. My non-dreaded section gets a lot more attention
though since I hate it when my hair feels greasy, so it’s usually
really faded compared to the dreads.
(Some of Martina's beautiful creations)
You make jewelry, but do
you have a favorite jewelry designer? Clothing designer?
Hmm,
I would have to say my favourite jewelry designer is Studiolil on
etsy (her insta is just @Studiolil ) she makes the most beautiful
septum rings! I bought my first one from her when her shop was just
starting to gain traction around 2 years ago, and I am so impressed
with how much her work and business has grown since then. I can’t
say I specifically have a favourite clothing designer; I do a lot of
shopping in second-hand stores or re-purpose old unwanted items from
family members. I really admire anybody who sews or crochets their
clothes from scratch, it such an amazing skill set to have. A few of
my favourite instagrammers that do this are @cosmicsun_ &
@voodoufairy & @maya_gipsygreen … they’re all so talented!
You
live in Canada, and in the winter, it looks like you live in a snowy
fairytale. How do you keep to your aesthetic in winter?
It’s
a little tougher to keep up in the winter, since most of the flora
and fauna disappear under the snow and I can’t find as many
interesting things to photograph. I try my best to travel to the
Rocky Mountains on a regular basis, since it’s so incredibly
gorgeous there year-round. I guess things just get a little less
colourful for those months, I really love the beauty winter, but it’s
that dreadful grey period that kills me. Right before the snow and
right after the snow…everything looks so dead and lifeless - it’s
honestly a little depressing for me during those few weeks.
(Just try to tell me that this isn't a winter fairytale!)
What
are your go-to natural remedies and tricks for when you have a cold?
I
am a stubborn nut when it comes to sickness, I will do all it takes
to let my body fight it off without any help. I recently tried that
and ended up sick for 3 weeks; eventually a pretty little hospital
trip made me take some antibiotics… not kidding when I say
stubborn! Perhaps it’s a sign that I should start to use some mild
herbal remedies?
Ouch! Yes, herbal remedies for sure... Sambucol, vitamin C, and Zycam are some of my standbys. Who
are your female heroes?
I’m
not really sure how to answer this one, I want to come up with some
big name that people will resonate with, but all I can really think
of is Chantelle Winnie. She is an international model from Canada who
was born with Vitiligo and has become such a positive role model for
anybody struggling with low confidence related to appearance or
bullying. I mean she’s obviously freakin’ gorgeous, but I love
her level of maturity and depth when she’s speaking about
contemporary issues – definitely somebody to check out if you
haven’t heard of her!
What
is the greatest life advice a woman has ever given you?
Yikes!
I don’t have a very fantastic memory when it comes to the
specifics. I suppose I can definitely look to my sweet Mama for the
best life advice, she’s the only one that kept telling me to stay
true to myself and pursue what I’m passionate about. I highly doubt
that I would still be painting and creating if it wasn’t for her
constant support many years ago… believe it or not, I was actually
trying to go into business school before pursuing the arts.
What
would you like to say to all of your many, many fans who follow you,
create art inspired by you, and love your pictures?
A
lot. Too much, so get ready for some soft cheese, because what you
have done for me has melted my heart! You guys have no idea how much
my perspective on both my career and self-image has changed since
gaining a presence on social media. I’m quite an introvert so I
never had much outside input on my work besides family and a handful
of peers, having the encouragement and support from thousands of
people has really helped me break out of that shell. It feels amazing
to finally have the confidence to bring my work to festivals and
display it for so many people to see… and to actually be able to
talk to strangers (that has been a struggle my whole life, but
interacting with all of the beautiful souls via the internet has
helped my socializing skills immensely – people are pretty cool I
guess!) hopefully it will all stick for a lifetime! I will be forever
grateful for the endless kindness I’ve been shown, and am on a
mission to internalize that and continue to pass it on to others for
as long as I can. I want everybody to feel that they don’t need to
put up walls, and can be comfortable with who they are… so thank
you all for showing me so much love, you’re absolutely amazing! <3
Fun
questions:
If
someone wrote a science fiction or fantasy book based on your life,
what would you want them to name you?
Ha!
This is a great question since I’m a huge fantasy and sci-fi fan -
I’m going to have to choose wisely. First off, I’d obviously be
some sort of weird creature, because I’m only human in this
particular reality… hmmmm. Zorbina of Blagdalon! Blagdalon being my
home planet, which is covered with small tree caves that each hold a
different dimension within them. I think I’d probably be covered in
lots of eyeballs and would resemble a sea cucumber or starfish…
Zorbina seems to suit that!
Pretend
MAC cosmetics is going to make a lipstick for you. What color would
it be?
It
would be a pink & purple pastel glitter galaxy!
Finally,
what is your current favorite:
lipstick:
I mostly wear Sephora’s nude shade of lipstick with a darker liner
underneath; I’ve been trying to rock a more natural look lately
It's not every day that you get to speak with a woman who is not only an artist, but also a business owner- and a marketing genius! Lyn Vargas has built her brand of colorful, highly-pigmented lipcolors from the ground up; she dreams the colors, creates them, sells them, and markets them to the fashion-savvy around the world. Instagram stars from England and Sweden post selfies wearing House of Beauty, right along with girls (and boys!) all over America, the company's country of origin.
House of Beauty is a joyful company that offers a riot of colors that will look beautiful on dark and light skintones alike, and all skintones in between. They even offer opaque gold lip colors, the likes of which you're seldom to see anywhere else!
Just as importantly, House of Beauty rejects the secretive business model of brands who separate themselves from their customers like royalty behind a castle moat. HoB not only allows all reviews, positive or negative, but they encourage them, and promise never to delete or hide any negative reviews. That's strong belief in a product!
Below is my interview with Lyn, where she talks some very in-depth suggestions for women considering opening their own business, how she creates her lip colors, and her relationship with beauty bloggers the world over...
1. Why did you decide to create such bright and memorable colors?
I wanted to have a broad range of colors to cater to every personality and all walks of life. When I use to be a beauty blogger, one of my favorite things to do was create lip art, but found that I could not really find lip colors to use for my art. So I would make my own mixtures using lip pencils, eyeshadows, NYX milk pencil, and clear gloss to create my own creamy paint. I also loved being able to create different looks and get into character, so as an artist, a lot of this is what inspires me now. I want to create colors that are your standard wearables, but I also really wanted to offer unique colors for artists that they can use so the possibilities would be endless. Like paint to a painter. My lip hybrids are so versatile and that's the beauty of it. I also love the idea that people are stepping out of the box, wearing colors that they wouldn't normally wear.
I also must give credit to my ex manufacturer. Some of the colors that are bold and colorful that you see in my line have been reformulated from when I carried her line when we had a partnership. So in truth, colors such as Aquarius and Taboo for instance were colors she manufactured to me prior with her lip creams, but when I became an independent company, many of my customers asked for those colors to come back and I made a new and improved reformulation using my own recipe.
2.When did you first decide you wanted to go into business for yourself?
I always wanted to but in March 2015, I was kind of forced into it. I started my business with a silent partner and before it was House of Beauty, my old line was called Premium Vanity. My ex manufacturer ended our business relationship abruptly. I had quit my full time job to focus on my business, so when she no longer wanted to do business with me, it was either sink or swim. I could not risk not being able to put food on the table or a roof over my kids' heads. So I worked hard. Through constant trial and error, I did not give up until I finally created a lip formula I was in love with. This was the birth of House of Beauty and (of me) being the sole owner and sole creator of my line. Everything started to fall into place. One door closed and three more opened. I was blessed with GOD guiding my hands and also the support and help I got from my husband, my company PR Kathryn, and the help of Courtney that created my website, even my promoters. Everything fell into place and led me to where I am now.
3.What is your advice to ladies who have a dream they want to turn into a business?
My advice is to motivate yourself to achieve your goal. I see a lot of girls that say I dream about this and I dream about that, yet they don't make any effort in trying to make their dream come true or they try a little and at the first sight of trouble, they give up. Unless you won the lottery or something, your dream is not just going to fall on your lap. You have to want it enough and actually do something about it to make it happen. Dedicate yourself and your time and take that step after step closer to your goal until it happens and if it does not do well, then at least you tried! So have that drive and be strong because the beginning is always the hardest part.
Secondly, based on past experience, it is best you work on your own. If not, then make sure you have contracts. If you're getting products from a private label or private manufacturer, make sure it is done in a professional manner. Even contact a business attorney or a business savvy friend who has a lot of knowledge on how to start your own business the right way. Educate yourself and believe in yourself. You won't know unless you try.
4. Bold eyes and bold lips at the same time... yes or no?
As a makeup artist, usually the answer is no. Usually, you would tone down your lip color when pairing with bold eyes and visa versa, but when doing editorial looks or you feel a bit dramatic why not? As long as it compliments each other.
5. What is your personal favorite lip hybrid from House of Beauty?
That's like asking me what my favorite food is. I have so many. Really it just depends on my mood. I can't answer that, they're my babies I love them all.
6. How does it feel to see bloggers around the world wearing your products? Is it still exciting?
I love it!! Yes it is exciting to me. I'm still in awe when I see orders from all around the world!
7. You create House of Beauty products by hand. Where do you draw inspiration from when you are creating a new color?
I am not really the type of person to stalk companies and be like, "Oh let me see if I can dupe that". No. To me it is like the art of cooking. Being a mixologist. I see ingredients in front me and I am like ohh I wonder what I would get if I mix this and that together? Or ideas will just pop up in my mind. Sometimes my own taste in colors inspire me, the season we are in or I may even have customers suggest a color and I try to satisfy that. Majority of the time, my imagination gets the best of me.
8. In the past, there were not enough colors formulated to fit women of color, and many women were frustrated about the small amount of choices they had. Are your colors rich enough for women of color to wear confidently?
Absolutely!! They love my colors and leave amazing reviews on my review page @hob_reviews on Instagram. I carry a broad range of colors, almost 75 and growing! Many of them are so rich and pigmented that they will compliment darker skin tones.
9. That's amazing to hear! So... you feature pictures of fans wearing your products, via social media. How can fans get featured on Instagram?
They can simply use my hashtag #houseofbeautyco and/or tag me in the photo for a chance to be featured. Just a little hint, I love swatches, product shots and clear photos :)
10. What is the most memorable thing a woman has told you about life?
I must apologize, I honestly can't remember off hand anything memorable. Life itself has taught me about life.
11. Who are your female heroes?
First and foremost, my mother. My grandmother and my aunt.
12. What do you do on days when you don't feel confident?
Sometimes, I fix myself up because it makes me feel better and puts a little pep in my step, or I speak to my close friends/family to help ease my insecurities.
13. Fun questions:
If you could make up Heidi Klum or Jennifer Lopez, who would you choose and what House of Beauty products would you use on her?
Definitely Jennifer Lopez. I saw her rock a yellow color, so I would definitely use Kill Bill. Also Fusion, Seductive, Dragon, Spank My Pank, Nude Brulee, Kathryn and Chiffon.
14. If you could spend a day with Jon Snow (Game of Thrones) or Han Solo (Star Wars) which would you choose and why?
I would love to answer this but I do not know who they are because I have not watched either. So sorry! Maybe if you asked which out of the two brothers from Supernatural lol.
15.Finally, what is your current favorite:
Mascara: Maybelline Blackest Black Mega Plush Volume Express
I'm so excited to welcome one of my favorite makeup artists, who I first spotted on Instagram: Elina Liljeholm. Elina's work is absolutely gorgeous, and she posts snaps that will make you want to pick up your red/berry lipstick again!
Read below as we talk about tips for great selfies, how to achieve white-blonde hair, and Elina's advice for being a success on Instagram...
First of all, we have to talk about your amazing white-blonde hair. How do you maintain such a white blonde?
Actually, I don´t do much! I am very light blonde naturally (you can see it in the fact that I have been lazy lately and have like 5 cm outgrowth, haha) and all I do is bleach my outgrowth one time about every 3-4 months and use silver conditioner like every other shower. Mostly people talk about silver shampoo when it comes to white/grey hair, but I prefer conditioner (there´s so many in the stores nowadays) because it keeps your hair healthier!
Oh, good to know! I'll have to get my hands on some of that conditioner. You are a makeup selfie queen. What is your advice to girls who want their makeup to look striking and beautiful in pictures?
Two things are the most important to get a nice makeup picture: Light and a good camera! The light is number one because most cameras (even phone cameras, not the selfie cam tho) are good enough to get ok pictures. I use as much light as I possibly can. I live in an apartment and I don´t feel comfy to go outside and take pictures (but it´s really the best!) so most often I take them on my balcony where it´s almost daylight. Or by the biggest window. Just a lamp or two in a dark room is not good enough. The picture will be hard to get sharp and all the colours just disappear. So yeah, good lighting!
A good camera is the best to have for close ups. You need to be able to zoom properly to get these reeaaally close and sharp pictures. A nice camera is also more able to catch all the colours and shadows you want, and it just over all makes the pictures look prettier. In my opinion, haha!
You feature a lot of really strong lipcolors (red, purple, etc). Do you use lipliner? Do you have a favorite lipliner?
Actually I don´t! I have thought for SO long that I should buy one since I have a little bit of trouble getting the lipstick to stay through the whole day. But I don´t have a job right now and I feel that I can´t spend money on makeup, so I´ve never bought one. And I don´t even understand why. They´re not even that expensive, haha!
What is your opinion: Can a girl wear a dark eye AND a bold lip? If so, how should they pull it off?
YES. I live with the idea that there are no rules with makeup. Just wear what the hell you like, no matter what "rules" you break. Just go crazy with colours all over your face if that´s what you feel like!
When I wear it I most often go for a matte smoky eye in some greyish brown shade and winged liner matched with berry lips. OR when I feel more edgy, or if it´s a boring day I go for red-pink-purple-orange-ish smoky eyes matched with really dark lips. Kind of grungy!
Ah yes, the grunge look is back in for sure! Love those tips. Who are some of your favorite models?
Oh damn, I have so many!
Like Gina Harrison. Her body is like the most amazing shit I´ve seen (she looks like something from a superhero-magazine or something) and I love her style. Or Winnie Harlow. I´m just amazed by her skin. She looks so cool! Or Diandra Forrest. Her looks is so unique and she´s so beautiful. I also think about Charlotte Free or Audrey Kitching. They are both people who got into the modeling business with crazy coloured hair and a more edgy style. I really have this thing for people who look like something more than the ordinary. People with looks you don´t see every day. It just speaks to me!
Do you have plans for professional modeling in the future?
I´ve always thought it would be so FUN to model and I´ve always been really comfy in front of the camera. But I don´t know. I'm just 152 cm tall (5´0) and not super thin so I would have such a hard time to get into the business and it would be so much hard work and I just don´t want it that much. I love beauty and art and creativity so I think makeup artistry fits me better anyways. But if I had the chance in front of me some day, I think I would take it!
It's interesting that Tyra Banks recently allowed shorter models on America's Next Top Model. I hope we see more diversity in modeling, for sure. It's time! But next question... what would you like to say to your many fans (Over 17k and counting!)?
Thank you so much for supporting me the way you do!! It makes this instagram thing so much fun and sometimes I feel so guilty for not answering all of your super sweet comments. I promise that I read them all tho and I try to at least respond to every question I get. I want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for inspiring me and supporting me and sharing my pictures and all these kind words you write on my pictures and all the ideas you have when I feel uninspired and all the collaborations you want me in on. Just thank you for all of that! :*
What is the best way for people to follow in your footsteps?
You mean to keep this Instagram thing going? I think you need to have a passion or at least an interest for what you are doing and post about. If it´s just something you do for popularity (or what the purpose might be), I imagine it soon gets boring and like something you force yourself to do instead of enjoying it. For example, these looks that I do, I did them before I used Instagram too. I just didn´t post it online the same way. If I just did it to post online or to please others, I would get sick and tired of it and hate it. So yeah, do something you love and document it. That´s the easiest way!
Fun questions:
Would you rather live in the world of Game of Thrones, or as a superhero in Avengers, and why?
As a superhero! I actually don´t know much about Avengers, but enough to know that I would rather save the world than fight for some throne, haha! And who doesn´t want superpowers and to wear some of these cool outfits? I sure do!
If you could spend a full day as any celebrity, which would you be?
Easy. Ivy Levan. I'm totally fangirling over her. She seems so down to earth and so intelligent, has a LOT of humor, look gorgeous in every way, has this amazing, deep voice and has the style of my dreams. She is all that I want to be, haha!
Finally, what is your current favorite:
song? I´m stuck with Chlöe Howl - Paper Heart right now. It´s such a happy song and I love her accent.
lipstick? Trust Issues from AnastasiaBeverlyHills. It´s the perfect dark purpleish red. Just what I love.
online store? Wildfox. I use to sit there and just look through their lookbooks. Really inspiring!
piece of clothing? My black transparent long shirt-dress-thingy from H&M. I wear it with anything and you can wear it just on it´s own like a dress, like a kimono if you don´t close it, as a shirt if you put half of it in your pants or whatever. It´s the best!
website? I´m boring and say YouTube. And don´t even think I need to explain why. Everyone uses it and loves it, haha!
Thank you!
Thank you too for this interview! It was a pleasure :)
About half a year ago, I was first introduced to the lushly decorated, gorgeously stocked Glam356 in Columbus, OH. The shop is full of dresses, jewelry, accessories, old fashion magazines, enough sparkly things to excite a magpie, and stunningly beautiful ladies shopping or working. Quite frankly, you feel like a Kardashian just from stepping into the shop.
Laura, the beautiful brains behind the brand, owns not just Glam356, but two other stores, and her own cosmetics line, Smart Bomb. I talked with her recently about Smart Bomb, and about her shops. Continue reading for her advice for women who want to open a boutique, and lots of insider information about her good-for-you skincare and cosmetics...
First off--- Smart Bomb Cosmetics. We have to talk about Smart Bomb. The packaging! The delicious smells! The colors! How long ago did you launch Smart Bomb?
- I launched Smart Bomb cosmetics about 6 years ago. I wanted a line that was really great for the skin & really fun to look at when applying the products.
(Just look at those beauties! Gimme gimme gimme!)
If a woman could only order one product from Smart Bomb, what must she ABSOLUTELY have?
- - My absolute must have product is my Elixirs. They are a moisturizer & a makeup primer in one product. These elixirs transform the skin to be healthy, radiant looking & extends the wear of your makeup.
The logo and packaging are to die for. Seriously, I want a t-shirt of it or something. So so so chic. But what's inside is even better. Tell us a little about what makes Smart Bomb such a safe and special choice in skincare and cosmetics?
- I created Smart Bomb cosmetics because of dealing with my clients & myself that had skin conditions that needed extra care (such as acne, aging & problematic skin conditions.) I created a line that is TALC & Bismuth Oxychloride free. I found when I put my clients on Smart Bomb products and their own personalized regimen, the skin dramatically improved the way it looked and performed. Once they see & feel the difference they are hooked.
Your lipsticks are amazing. Do they work for women of all skin tones?
-My lipsticks are created to look amazing on all skin tones. I have everything from a light nude color to vibrant red & everything in between.
You are also, of course, a store owner with two locations. Why did you decide to open your shops, and what is the vibe you're going for at those shops?
- I now have 3 locations. I opened my first boutique about 15 yrs ago. I wanted to share my love of all things glamorous and posh. I filled my store with clothing, beauty, and accessories. Women loved the combination of these items in one location ( one stop boutique shopping ).
I wanted to create the vibe of a really glamorous, sincerely happy place for women to shop.
You definitely achieved that; I always feel like even the Kardashians would be proud of your shop, since it really does have EVERYTHING! But okay... I've mentioned this to you before; I'm obsessed with your glamorous Marilyn Monroe-esque blonde hair! How do you keep your hair so beautiful and sparkling blonde?
- Oh you are so sweet Ms. Kendra ! I was born a blonde and have had much help over the years to keep it that way (;
I have naturally wavy hair but prefer to wear it straight. I try to not use too much heat on it and allow it to air dry whenever possible. I use a really good leave in conditioner on my hair after washing it and I like to use baking soda& vinegar at least once a week on my hair to get rid of all the hair spray & product build up.
Oooh, I might have to try that then! What is your advice for women who are thinking of opening a shop?
- Make sure that having a boutique is truly your passion. There are many wonderful things about being your own boss but make sure that you have a well thought out game plan for success. My best piece of advice is to fill your boutique with items that you are truly in love with. Create your own vibe and atmosphere. Do not try to replicate someone else’s look. Stay true to your likes and individuality when it comes to creating your environment. Be passionate, be your authentic self and you will succeed.
I have a special place on my website called “ The Smarty Hotline.” Please feel free to ask any questions that you may have. I am here to help you find your smart, glamorous self!
Finally, what is your current favorite:
Online store:- www.shoptiques.com It is a website with the BEST boutiques from all over the world. Of course my boutique GLAM356 is found on this site at www.glam356.shoptiques.com (;
Song:- Honey I’m Good -by Andy Grammer. This song is about being happy with your spouse and I LOVE my hubby <3
City for visiting/vacationing: -Miami
Summertime drink:- Grapefruit Shandy by Illusive Traveler
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