Have you heard about The Beauty Blog Network? This beauty chick has been a member for the past couple of years, and it's all thanks to the fabulous Elke Von Freudenberg. If you think you can multitask, you ain't seen nothing yet! Elke somehow manages to not only run The Beauty Blog Network, but she also has her own blog, a successful brand of eyebrow products called The Model Brow and she's a full-time makeup artist. Are you tired yet? Well, don't get too exhausted -- because you'll find out some truly amazing stuff about Elke if you keep reading!
Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
I was born in Munich, but grew up in Southern California. I moved to New York about 10 years ago. I went to Beauty School [my] senior year in high school and got my Esthetician's license the same month I graduated high school.
How did you first become interested in makeup, and what led you to become a makeup artist and blogger?
As a little girl, I was known for stealing and kinda ruining my mom's Vogue and Harper's Bazaar magazines. One day she found them all gone and she knew I had them. At 6 years old, I was sitting in my room with her magazines around me, crying because I couldn't get the watercolor on my face to look like the models in the editorials. Needless to say, I didn't realize it was makeup. My mom knew before me that I'd get into it. So in high school I thought I wanted to be a model and actually went to modeling school, and starting doing makeup on the other students oh photo shoot day. I had photographers tell me I was really good at it and that's how I got started. That led to me ditching classes in high school and college to run off and do photo shoots ... (ssshh, don't tell my mom, I don't think she knows!) and that started my career.
Blogging started when as a beauty editor of an online magazine went under and I just continued it as a newsletter and then as a blog.
Have you worked with any makeup artists who inspired you? What did they teach you?
I never assisted anyone when I started, because to be honest, I never knew you could. In photography, assisting wasn't as common then as assisting on films or TV. So I pretty much taught myself. But virtually every fashion magazine was my inspiration.
But when Kevyn Aucoin came on the scene, that's when my career took off because everyone suddenly need a makeup artist to do the gorgeous looks. Natural makeup was no longer in. Kevyn's work was definitely and still is my inspiration. I pray that another amazing makeup artist like him comes along, but then, I really don't want anyone else like him. He definitely was a one of a kind.
What are some of the moments that have stood out as highlights in your career?
1) Working on Kate Moss, because she was my first supermodel that I ever worked on.
2) Having a photographer tell me that my work is just as good as Kevyn Aucoin's.
3) Being asked to do makeup on the red carpet of the Emmys, Oscars and Golden Globes.
What inspired you to start the Beauty Blog Network?
I always noticed that most networks had their focus in fashion, and whatever beauty blogs were involved got forgotten about. I knew there had to be other beauty bloggers and beauty blog readers out there, so I started The Beauty Blog Network, to put the best beauty blogs in one place. Our guidelines to get in are strict, and it's by invite only, so it's not a directory of beauty blogs. It's truly the best ones out there.
What are your top 3 makeup tips?
1) Apply 1 coat each of 2 different mascaras. Any two. You'll get great lashes.
2) The right brush is the key. If a color is not going on right, or looks off, try another makeup brush.
3) Try fiber optic brushes. They are amazing at turning any bright color into a wearable or pastel shade.
What are your top 5 beauty essentials?
1) My fiber optic brushes, in all sizes.
5) Alison Raffaele Invisible Powder
What brands can you simply not live without?
MAC, Cargo, Lancome and Face Atelier.
Being a makeup artist and blogger must be fun -- but what do you do for fun when you're not playing with makeup or blogging?
Seriously? I love going to the movies, or a great dinner with great friends. But I love what I do so much, that it really doesn't seem like work. It's more a dream come true.
Great interview! That's awesome that Elke worked with Kate Moss. I've seen a couple of Elke's videos online and she seems real passionate about what she does. Love inspiring artists ;)
ReplyDeleteMany women feel uncomfortable without their make up and wish they had the natural beauty and self confidence to look good as soon as they wake up, or at the gym or beach. It would be great to save time each morning.
ReplyDelete