First Look Fridays: Dina Fierro of eye4style

I'm thrilled to bring you this week's edition of First Look Fridays, featuring the lovely Dina Fierro of eye4style! Dina's blog is one of my must-reads every day -- her beauty news is unparalleled, her enthusiasm knows no bounds, and she's really got her eye on the pulse of fashion and beauty! A native New Yorker, Dina studied fashion buying at FIT and pursued internships in styling, magazine editorial and fashion public relations. "I fell in love with the fashion and beauty industries," she says. "It was meant to be." Read on to discover more about this fabulous gal!

Why did you decide to start your blog?
I had been working in the fashion department at Budget Living and doing some freelance writing for other magazines and newspapers. BL folded in February of 2006 and in the midst of interviewing with other major publishers, I decided to start eye4style as a creative outlet.

I love the name of your blog! How did you come up with it?
I wish I had a fun story to share but it was literally just a quick brainstorm session ... I thought it was fun and a little bit clever and now ... here I am!

Do you have a "day job?" What is it?
I do! I have to pay for the shoes somehow, you know? :) I lead the fashion and beauty practice for Attention, a social media firm.

What have been some of the highlights of having your blog?
It sounds cheesy and it sounds cliched, but the highlight has easily been all of the new friends I've made through blogging. The blogging community is warm, friendly, fun and collaborative. It's also been fab to see blogs become so important in the world of media. It's no longer just magazines that drive awareness for brands ... in fact, in many ways, the blogosphere is actually more powerful.

What are your top 5 beauty essentials?
1) MAC Tendertones -- I simply cannot be without lipgloss and these give great gloss and smell like Jolly Ranchers!

2) Cold Process Bar Soaps -- I love Nesti Dante (but it's hard to find! I stock up at The Bathroom in the West Village), Acca Kappa and Earthworks.

3) Child Extremely Rich Body Creme -- I was introduced to this luscious body moisturizer at the Henri Bendel Beauty Breakfast earlier this year. It's richly scented (you don't even need to layer with the perfume) and leaves skin with a slight sheen. Fab!

4) Art of Shaving's Rose Absolute Shave Cream & Brush -- I can't abide by waxing, it's so painful! So I swear by this beautifully scented, moisturizing shave cream. You just need the tiniest bit on the brush and it produces an amazing amount of lather.

5) And last but not least, I adore Ineke After My Own Heart -- It's a lovely, fresh, green lilac fragrance. It may be a little light for winter though ... we shall see. Time to get sniffing!

What brands can you simply not live without?
1) Bobbi Brown for her amazing concealers and endlessly wearable colors.

2) Three Custom Color for the power of custom blending and the personal attention.

Playing with products must be fun -- but what are some things you do for fun outside of blogging?
I read incessantly -- both fiction and non. I also have embarrassingly bad taste in TV ... let's just say I'm not above The Bachelor and The Ghost Whisperer.

Are there any other beauty blogs you read regularly? What are some that you like and why?
I read and love a ton of other blogs! A few of my faves are:

1) Beauty Blogging Junkie and makeup loves me for their knowledge and sass.

2) The Beauty of Life (ahem!) for her boundless enthusiasm and energy. (Editor's note: Awww! Thanks, Dina!)

3) The Daily Obsession for their discerning taste.

4) I also log into Fashionista, Jezebel and Racked on a daily basis for their NYC and fashion-related insider scoop.

Thanks so much to the fabulous Dina Fierro for granting me this interview! Now be sure to check out eye4style immediately!