Christina, the brains and beauty behind the fabulous blog
Red Lip Gloss,
was kind enough to let us peek into her beauty routine. She has some amazing tips and product recommendations! We both share a deep appreciation for cleansing oils, Audrey Hepburn, and fuchsia lipstick; I definitely plan to check out her must-haves! Not only is Christina gorgeous (I kinda want her haircut...!), she's also getting married soon
and sells Avon in her spare time. If you haven't read her
blog yet, you need to. It's full of more great product reviews (she's a palette junkie!), plus a regular feature of DIY Beauty Fridays! I'm thrilled to have been able to interview her. Thanks, Christina!
At what age did you first start wearing makeup?
I began using make-up at a very young age as I was a dancer. Whether it was for competitions or recitals, make-up was a must! However, outside of the dance studio, I began wearing make-up when I was 12. I can still remember my first lipstick color and how it always smeared around my mouth. (Before the days of nude lip liner).
How did you learn to apply it?
I was extremely lucky as my mom was a cosmetician so she taught me everything she knew. And I’m so glad she did because when I first started wearing make-up, I had no idea what I was doing or how to apply anything!
What products were your favorite back then?
Ooo, good question. I was OBSESSED with a Mary Kay Lipstick back in the day. It was a slightly orangey nude tone. (Not flattering at all.) I also used some of my mom’s concealer and she was an avid Clinique fan.
What are your current favorites?
Ha, how much time do you have? My current favorite products are Joe FRESH Lipstick in Fuchsia, Youngblood Concealer in Fair and Clinique’s Pore Minimizing Instant Perfector. (It’s the best primer around!)
What is your usual makeup routine? How does it change from day to night?
I never plan my makeup before sitting down in my vanity chair because I never know what mood I’m in. However, a typical work make-up look consists of a primer, tinted moisturizer, concealer, powder if I’m covering a blemish, bronzer, blush, highlighter, tons of mascara and a super bright lipstick. If I’m going out in the evenings then I play up my eyes with bronze tones or greys. I LOVE the smoky eye look!
What product could you never live without, and what will you never try again?
I have three products that I can not live without – Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink in the Afternoon, Avon’s SuperSHOCK Mascara in Black and Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical. This lipstick is the PERFECT shade of pink and works with both a smoky eye or a simple classic look. This mascara has slowly become my favorite and I honestly will never go back to anything else because it makes my eyes POP. This dry shampoo is very inexpensive and works just as well as the expensive brands. The product I would never try again would be Benefit’s Bad Gal Lash Mascara. With all the hype I’ve read about it, I thought it was going to be a miracle product. It was the biggest letdown of anything I’ve ever tried.
Got a special tip or trick you'd like to share?
Ooo, I have so many!!! Alright, here are two.
Trick: If you’re looking to buy some new make-up brushes look no further then a painting supply store. Their paint brushes are just as good as brand names but cost a fraction of the price. Plus, they last way longer since the brushes are made to take a beating.
Quick Tip: Never buy a lip scrub again. Make your own with extra-virgin olive oil and sugar. It works exactly the same as a store bought scrub but you can customize the amount of grittiness yourself.
AND, last one, I promise. Use a nude lip liner instead of colored. A nude will hold your color in place and as your lipstick wears off, you won’t be left with a bright red or pink ring around your mouth.
How do you take care of your skin?
I am a huge believer in skin care as it was something my mother instilled in me at a very young age. For a cleanser I use DHC’s Deep Cleansing Oil. I wasn’t sure how I felt about using an oil to cleanse my skin but it removes all make-up extremely easily and leaves my skin very moisturized. For a toner I use Burt’s Bees Rosewater and Glycerin Toner. The smell is divine and it leaves my skin very smooth and blemish-free. For a moisturizer, my go-to right now is Clarins HydraQuench Rich Cream. Whenever winter hits my skin needs added moisture and this cream is perfect for that. For an eye cream I use Clinique’s All About Eyes. I’ve been using this for years (even before the time I needed it) and love how easy it is to use and how long a container can last. Last but not least, I use a scrub about twice a week and love anything by St.Ives. Their sensitive skin apricot scrub is a dream.
Who are your beauty inspirations?
This is a tough question for me as I have quite a few. I would say that Audrey Hepburn is not only my beauty inspiration but also my style icon as well. She was such an iconic beauty without even trying to. Plus, she was a dancer like me so I feel we would have had a lot in common. Ha. Next would be Zooey Deschanel. She is one of my favorite actresses and I would give ANYTHING to have her hair…
