First Look Fridays: Beauty Blogger Sabrina Newman of A New Mode

If you haven't discovered A New Mode, you're totally missing out. It's a fun, informative and unbelievably well-written blog covering everything from the latest fashion trends to the best summer beauty essentials. And behind its brilliance is Sabrina Newman, a supremely talented writer who's just as amazing in person! Read on to discover her favorite blush, the moisturizer she can't live without and how her Barbies influenced her love of fashion!



Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
I was born in New York, grew up in New Jersey, and now live in NYC, which is just as amazing as I always knew it would be! I knew I wanted to be a writer from a very young age -- like 6 or 7! I also always loved fashion and beauty. After graduating from Boston University with majors in English and Psych, I immediately began writing about fashion and beauty for various websites which eventually lead me to start a site of my very own.

How did you first become interested in beauty?
I honestly can't remember a time when I wasn't interested in beauty. When I was a little girl, would spend countless hours putting together outfits for my dolls and Barbies, as well as giving them makeovers using any beauty products I could find. When playing with dolls got old, I would experiment on myself, spending hours in my mom's closet wearing her heels, trying on her clothes, and playing with her makeup. I actually got pretty good at applying makeup by the tender age of 11 and would give all my friends makeovers.

Why did you decide to start your blog?
I had been writing for a bunch of different blogs for a while when the desire to have something to call my own took hold. I really just wanted to create a forum where I could share my knowledge and experiences in a fun, relatable way. I also really wanted to create a site that covered everything I was interested in reading and was written in a style and voice that would appeal to me personally.

I love the name of your blog! How did you come up with it?
What a process that was! The site covers everything -- fashion, beauty, lifestyle, relationships, etc., so finding a name that would encompass all those elements was definitely daunting.

I had a few decent contenders, but nothing I was crazy about and I really didn't want to have to settle. Basically, I made a list of words that I would want to be associated with the site -- fashion, style, shopping, beauty and so on. Then, I looked up synonyms and definitions for all those words. The one word that kept coming up was Mode. The more it appeared, the more I fell in love with it. From there, the name A New Mode just sprang into my mind and I felt the exact click that I knew I would when the perfect blog name manifested itself.

The name is definitely the perfect encapsulation of the site which is just that -- a new mode, a new way to approach style, beauty, life, love, relationships and all that fun stuff.

What have been some of the highlights of having your blog?
The greatest highlight is definitely the amazing readership we've acquired in such a short amount of time and the incredible response we've received. I can't even express how profoundly rewarding it is for me to hear that an article on the site encouraged someone to be more confident, to adopt a healthier lifestyle, to rock a look that they never thought they could pull off, helped them discover life-changing beauty products, and so on.

Maintaining the site requires an immense amount of work and dedication, but seeing it grow and inspire people the way I wanted it to makes it all well worth it.

What are your top 5 beauty essentials?

1) The Solution by Envision Beauty. A cleanser and moisturizer that also fights signs of aging and doesn't irritate my ultra sensitive skin!

2) NARS The Multiple in Orgasm. I never leave the house without dabbing this on my cheeks for a fresh flush.

3) Givenchy Phenomen'eyes Mascara. I have never seen a mascara make my lashes so full and voluminous!

4) Chanel lipgloss. I love all the pink and nude shades and never leave home without them!

5) M.A.C powder black eyeliner. It goes on really smooth and doesn't smudge.

What brands can you simply not live without?
Philosophy for yummy soaps.

NARS for blush.

M.A.C for eyeliner and shadows.

Avon for creams and moisturizers.

Sally Hansen for nail care.

Redken for all my hair needs.

Are there any other beauty blogs you read regularly? What are some that you like and why?

I really like Bellasugar and thedailyobsession. Both sites are fun and easy to read and give honest and thorough product reviews.