I am so pleased to introduce you to my friend Yvonne Erickson. I worked with Yvonne at Microsoft and we have had the luck to reconnect recently as we have found that we have a few interests in common including the fact that we both started blogs related to our passions after retirement.
Yvonne produces a blog called BeautyBrainsandaBlog which allows readers to gather real-life insight into how to become their ‘best self. This is done leveraging in-depth interviews with highly successful individuals such as CxO’s, beauty bloggers, and lifestyle leaders.
Becoming a successful, self-directed, and happy individual requires focus, direction, and drive. Learning from other successful people may help shortcut our own journey while also allowing for a bit of fun along the way.
My blog generally focuses on designing your home, which can be quite an undertaking. Designing yourself is an equally challenging, yet personal endeavor. I am so excited to share Yvonne’s blog – she also featured my blog on her site which you can check out HERE. You will find new and inspiring ways through some of the harder questions we face relative to projecting a positive image, promoting our business skills effectively while also learning fun ways to relax and reflect your true self.
When did you start your blog and what was the inspiration?
I started my blog 2 years ago as a response to the many doubts and questions about our lives my friends, peers, and I were suffering from. As I spent more time listening to and responding to questions and doubts about so many areas of our lives, it was clear that there was interest in a broader discussion. Realizing that none of us can have all the answers I opted to elicit advice from individuals who had earned my respect and admiration on a variety of topics. I believe that everyone has a story to share. Someone has to ask the right questions, then be quiet and capture and share the knowledge with others. We work hard and support each other by allowing others to learn from our past. And so, a blog was born!
Inspirational and beautiful, inside and out, business leaders!
What do you like about makeup and is it something you have always been into?
Makeup is a form of creativity to me. To begin with, I don’t believe anyone needs makeup. Makeup is something to add to your daily routine to empathize and compliment your look. Makeup is NOT who you are. However, I believe that utilizing skincare as a required companion to make-up is a smart thing to do. If you are not taking care of your skin, no amount of makeup will transform or enhance your look. Your skin is your canvas and if properly cared for allows for a beautiful palette for makeup. In the same way you would not simply paint over existing defects in a wall and hope the paint hid the defect, we can’t expect to do that with our skin either.
Do you remember the first makeup item you purchased? What is the most recent makeup item you purchased?
That’s a long time ago! It had to be mascara. Mascara has always been one of my favorite products to use. The eyes are the doorway to the soul and the lashes frame that doorway. The most recent makeup item I purchased is a stunning eyeshadow palette from Viseart called Violette Étendu. The palette is magical and it’s one of my most treasured.
Who taught you to do makeup? What advice would you give to young girls just starting to wear makeup?
I’ve always enjoyed experimenting with makeup so most of what I know is self-taught. With the advent of stores such as Ulta and Sephora, I leveraged classes offered and received a more formal customer-based education. I further continue to utilize YouTube and Instagram beauty bloggers/influencers who provide a wide range of training and information.
My advice to young women, or anyone just starting to utilize skincare/makeup, is to put your time and money into skincare first! Determining what your skin needs to stay healthy is key to looking great for the long haul. Don’t be afraid to adjust your skincare requirements across the seasons. In the same way that you switch from snow boots in winter to sandals in summer, so does skin care needs skincare change.
With skincare taken care of you may now look at the addition of makeu/up. Make sure and do a true assessment of what you would like to focus on – for example, if you have the most amazing eyes, develop an understanding of color options and begin to integrate color into your makeup routine. Lisa J, one of my favorite influencers, did a great video on “How to choose the best colors for your eyes, using the color wheel.” Be sure to find 1-3 people who are skilled in the areas you wish to focus on and follow them. Also leverage your personal network of family and friends and secure their honest input into your new looks. And last, less is better! Let your inner beauty shine through and guide you.
How long does it take for you to do your makeup and what products do you use in a typical day? How do you change things up for special looks?
On a typical day, my focus is on skincare and it takes about 20 minutes total to 40 minutes if I add in facial tools such as NuFace to ensure my skin is clean, toned, moisturized and treated as needed. If I add in makeup, creating a casual look will add about 15 minutes to this time. My nighttime skincare routine can be a bit longer than my morning routine. Nighttime skincare routines provide my skin with the time required to put to use my serums, moisturizers, and specialty creams.
I do not utilize one product line for my make-up or skincare, and I am always trying new products to ensure I have the perfect combo of products which maximize my skin. Right now, I am happily using skincare products from Charlotte Tilbury, Colleen Rothschild, Estee Lauder and Clinique. While I leverage a range of makeup products my favorites brands are Charlotte Tilbury, Viseart, BK Beauty, Sydney Grace, Anastasia of Beverly Hills, Fenty, Hourglass, and Essence (best mascara ever!).
For special events, I add a bit of sparkle. I never listen to those who say you can’t sparkle after age 30! (There is a difference between looking like a disco ball and having an ethereal glow.) Additionally, my makeup looks for evening or special events tends to be more dramatic with deeper color and shades.
What is your favorite product? What product have you used the longest? What product are you looking to replace?
I love eyeshadow. I love all types except for course, heavy glitter. I have used eyeshadow since I first started buying makeup. Eyeshadow is like a box of crayons to a blank piece of paper. So many options, limited only by time and imagination. Additionally, I have been known to use eyeshadow as a lip and cheek color which can complement an existing eye look. For example, if I have used peach and brown colors on my eye, I may take a light swipe of peach eyeshadow and put it on top of or under sheer gloss. I will also take a small amount of the peach color and dust it over my cheekbones. (especially pretty if it has a shimmer to it.)
I no longer like using thick or heavy face makeup. I replaced those formulas with products that allow my skin to have a soft, skin-like look while still offering a bit of coverage. I have also replaced many of my powder formulas with cream formulas. (Blush, bronzer, etc.) Using creams gives textured and mature skin a more natural, glowing look.
If you could only use 5 products, which ones would you choose?
- Moisturizer – Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
- Foundation – Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longware foundation or Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation
- Blush – Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush
- Bronzer – Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Finish
- Lip Gloss – Maybelline Lifter Gloss.
Do you have online influencers or others that you get inspiration from? Are there any books or other resources that you would recommend for people looking to increase their makeup skills?
Yes, there are many very talented and positive influencers who I follow. Lisa J Makeup, Mel Thompson, Glitzy Fritzy, Ms. Gold Girl, Abby Bliss White, and Angie of Hot and Flashy are some of my favorites. Additionally, Margaret Manning of Sixty and Me fame has recently joined the blogger community. I find her honesty so refreshing as well as her zest for new experiences. My most recent favorite influencer is Hung Vanngo who may be found on Instagram. He does the most beautiful makeup looks and his voice is so soothing I could listen to it forever. I always pick up a new tip when watching his videos. There are LOTS of other awesome influencers, but these are folks who share my skin type, needs, and styles and I rely on their expertise regularly. You can find a list of the beauty influencers interviews I’ve completed by looking at the “Beauty” option on my blog.
I don’t tend to utilize or purchase beauty books as there are so many online options for learning about makeup and skincare. Because makeup and skincare trends evolve so quickly you can look at YouTube and Instagram for inspiration, reviews and product knowledge. There are, however, two books I do own and are written by Kevyn Aucoin and are called Face Forward and Making Faces. Not only are they full of tips and tricks but they are beautiful to display and really showcase how magical makeup can be.
How often do you shop for cosmetic products and who is your favorite reseller?
Daily! I love to look and see what’s new! I don’t have a favorite reseller but rather several I choose from. Nordstrom, Ulta, Sephora and Beautylish along with a select group of product lines websites (Charlotte Tilbury, Viseart, BK Beauty, Sydney Grace and Colleen Rothschild)
Do you have a signature scent?
I have worn Chanel Coco Mademoiselle forever and still love its classic scent. It just feels so feminine and can be worn from day into evening
What makeup tools do you use to apply your makeup?
For makeup application I love using BK Beauty brushes. I also utilize a sponge along with my fingers from time to time. The E.l.f. Hydro Camo Sponge is a favorite as it is so adaptable.
How has your makeup routine changed over the past 10 years?
I have increased my skincare program and added in more age-appropriate items to combat aging. I ensure my skincare is specific not only to my skin type also to the seasonality and unique needs of my skin. I apply less face makeup (concealer and foundation) preferring to let my skin shine through.
Do you like trying new products or do you stick to a routine?
Routine is my nemesis. I embrace change and integrating new products into my routine. However, I do research new products prior to bringing them into my routine. It’s imperative to ensure all chemicals, creams etc. all play well together.
What is your favorite drugstore product?
Revlon Photo Ready candid foundation and concealer. Both of these products rival high-cost store brands. Also I simply can’t get enough of the Maybelline Lifter Gloss Lip Gloss Makeup with Hyaluronic Acid. It’s amazing!
Inspirational women!
Can you share a bit about the “brains” portion of your blog?
Of course! As I created my blog I knew addressing the brain would be a core element. Without a brain, what are we? What can we do, feel, demonstrate or envision? We may be beautiful, but we would only be shells unable to comprehend, appreciate, learn from, or replicate that beauty.
While looking good and surrounding ourselves with elements that bring us joy and beauty are wonderful, we could not experience any of that without a brain. It’s also worth noting that we use a very small portion of our brains today. This lack of use, in my mind, is an advantage if we opt to utilize the vast amount of space remaining vs. allowing it to remain fallow.
More than ever, we need people who possess the ability to think, analyze, formulate and provide answers to the many complexities facing the new world we find ourselves in. Combining my appreciation of all things beautiful certainly included the brain.
I believe that the best we leave behind are the hard-won learnings of our own life. What better way to share of yourself than sharing your story and all its lessons? So, beauty and brains partnered to become my blog.
More inspirational women!
What are your goals with your blog in the coming year?
I have three goals this year.
- I am continuing the STEM articles. Directing and keeping young women in STEM related fields of study and careers is simply not an option we can ignore.
- The second goal is to develop a broader viewership allowing for greater breadth of representation and inclusion.
- Last, I will begin the development of a women’s conference to be held in late 2022, early 2023. This will bring together a series of speakers, with trainings and networking sessions for women providing them with the skills, information, plans and confidence to live their best lives while contributing to the betterment of others.
How can people stay connected with you?
beautybrainsandablog@outlook.com
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonneierickson
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