In the year since Amy has started Café Makeup, her blog has become my go-to place for making up my mind about buying many a Chanel products (and other stuff, too). It's no wonder she takes pride in the quality of her photos- they are truly wonderful. So much, actually, that she makes me rethink even items I don't want. Her great eye and attention to details makes Café Makeup a daily must-read for me. I hope it's become one of yours, too.
Here's Amy in her own words:
When did you start blogging and why? I started Café Makeup in December, 2009, after a few people emailed to suggest it. My decades-long love affair with Chanel makeup, as well as my love of other high end makeup, must have shown through. Also, I know a bit about European makeup, which I think is a little unusual for a U.S.-based blog.
Every blog seems to have a special voice - what's the message on your blog? Lovely photographs - it's my passion. My husband bought me a camera system with several flashes at the start. I'll take hundreds of pictures, literally, before posting. I color check the product against my computer screen. I do my best to show the color as accurately as I'm able, as well as the texture and quality, because it's so important.
Have you always been a beauty fanatic or did it come later in life for you? What made it blossom? My love of beauty came from shopping with my mother, who bought me a tiny bottle of Chanel No. 5 for my 18th birthday. Makeup is something so many women have in common - I've had so many great conversations with complete strangers about beauty.
Tell us a little about yourself. I live in California, but my heart is in Paris. Every year, I try to spend a month renting an apartment there. Last time, I did a "makeup shopping in Paris" series, and I hope to do another one this year.
What's your daily beauty routine? I wake up quite early, usually to check email or read as preparation for my work day. Most days, I'll polish my nails then so I have a fresh coat at the start. After I'm up, I start with skincare, usually a serum and eye cream. As my skincare soaks in, I lay out the makeup for the day. Afterwards, hair and then running out the door at about 100 miles an hour. At night, I use Shu Uemura cleansing oil, the Clarisonic and then follow with a toner. I really cleanse my skin thoroughly. I use Avene Diacneal at night, with an eye cream. I try to do extra skincare or a hair mask on Sunday mornings, when I have more time.
How many lipsticks/glosses can be found in your handbag at any given time? What a great question! Never less than one, and never more than five. I'm very strict about it. One or two neutrals, a killer red, and a pink or two. My handbags are usually huge, but I already have a cell phone, iPad, and the rest. Five's enough for me - I change them really frequently.
What's the best beauty advice you've ever received? Drink water and exercise - if you are healthy, the rest will fall into place.
What's the most surprising thing you have learned since you started blogging? There are 1,000 things, ranging from how Google works, dealing with trolls, how to stay true to yourself and even some coding. How not to panic during a software upgrade. But most of all, how wonderful fellow bloggers can be. There are real people behind each of the beauty blogs, and many of them have great advice. Really, emails with my blogging friends really keeps me going.
Top image: Norman Parkinson for Vogue, 1952
Second image by Amy
