I do not have time to read other blogs these days, with two websites to manage and a very active two year old, I am lucky if I return my emails. But when I do have free time, I check out my Web Snob partners' sites. One of them is Blogdorf Goodman, written by Annie Gugliotti. Initially, I was drawn to Annie's blog by it's very clever name but kept going back for her funny and often insightful posts. I am so thrilled she agreed to participate in our weekly profile and share her beauty secrets with everyone.
When did you start the blog and why?
I started Blogdorf Goodman on February 14th 2005. I was encouraged to start the blog by Robin at Now Smell This. We were friends from the makeupalley's fragrance board. We shared a mutual love for fragrances. Robin was having a blast with her blog and really encouraged me to take the plunge into blogging. I was not a strong writer but I did love swooning over lovely things so I decided that a blog would be a perfectly harmless thing. I wrote the blog for my friends and never dreamed that anyone else would read it.
What do you spend on beauty products each month?
It really depends on what collections have been launched. I did a lot of damage with the Nars and MAC spring collections. I am still recovering from that splurge.
So the amount can be several hundred dollars one month and the next month can be just $20.
Beauty fixation
I am addicted to shimmer powders because of the twinkle and sparkle.
I always stop for a good red lipstick.
My one great love is fragrances. I meet up with a group of friends several times a year to go fragrance shopping in NYC. It is a whole day devoted to nothing but perfumes.
Beauty Icons (who inspire you?)
Anything Gucci Westman, Dick Page or Pat McGrath do.
I also love Dita Von Teese's style.
Edible Addiction that doesn't make you fat
My vanilla nut creamer and it is not without fat. It is my only vice.
Beauty Secrets (tell us something that no one knows and that you have not disclosed on your site)
I use cheap shampoo and somehow manage to have good hair.
Beauty Bibles
The Blogs. I learn more at Beauty Addict than any magazine.
My favorite fragrance blogs are Now Smell This, Bois de Jasmin and Scentzilla.
I get my nail polish fix at the new blog All Lacquered Up.
Childhood Beauty ambitions
I wanted a vanity filled with perfumes.
I got my wish.
Morning Beauty routine
I have a cup of coffee with vanilla nut creamer.
I open my eyeshadow drawer and stare at it intently for 15 minutes.
I wash my face, brush my teeth and use Estee Lauder's Perfectionist CP Plus with Poly-Collagen Peptides
Then I use a moisturizer or Nars Brightening Serum.
I always use a primer before I put on my foundation.
I get my 2nd cup of coffee.
I get dressed and work quickly on my hair.
I powder and then work on my eyes. I use Urban Decay's Eye Primer and then a trio of shadows.
I use an eyelash curler and spend a significant amount of time working my short lashes into something presentable. Mascara application is not a 1 minute process for me. I wish it was.
I apply blush and a lippie.
The biggest decision of the day is my fragrance choice. I generally let my mood choose for me. If I know my day is going to be stressful I will grab my bottle of Luctor et Emergo by The People of the Labyrinths. This is my ultimate comfort scent. If I need a confidence boost I will reach for Frederic Malle's Le Parfum De Therese.
Must have travel beauty items
Shiseido Pureness Deep Cleansing foam, Nars Brightening Serum, Smashbox Primer, Shu Uemura's Eyelash curler, Nars Foul Play lipgloss, blotting powder, mascara and perfume.
Fabulous interview! Annie is so wonderful; she's a great blogger and an incredibly sweet person. I love these interviews and can't wait to learn more about other beauty bloggers!
BTW- have you considered letting someone else interview you? Or answering the questions yourself? I think readers would be very interested in your answers as well!
Thanks Tina!
The interview was a blast to do! Thanks for including me!
It has been wonderful to learn the beauty secrets of the other bloggers. I look forward to the rest of the gals in the series.
I agree with Meg...someone needs to interview you. I would love to see your answers!!!
Have a great weekend!
Annie
Awww, thanks girls. But don't you think it's already scandalous how much I talk about myself? For now I will keep the focus on other bloggers.
xoxo
Tina
You're not scandalous for talking about yourself!! You're fabulous!! I love this blog and constantly look for stuff FOR US GUYS!!! Hehe, and I look here for whatever great gift options...thanks so much for helping us guys make gift selections easier!!
Hi! This is my first time at your blog and I'm loving it, Great blog!
I loved the interview and that led me to BG, which I have now bookmarked. Annie, I have a question for you: your interview also led me to Beauty Addict and I enjoyed reading their product reviews. How do they arrive at those reviews? Are they tied to advertising on the site or are they independent of any such pressure to review their product? Thanks for giving such a fabulous interview and writing such an interesting blog.
P.S. And I'm with you regarding Tina. I would love to read more about our Bag Snob and our Beauty Snob. They are my first reads every morning.
Hi Coa-
I have not made the leap into advertising on my blog. I am really dragging my heels on making a final decision.
I am seriously considering it. One of my blogger friends funds her entire perfume spending on the money she makes. It would be nice to give my credit card a break. It would also be lovely to finally own all the Frederic Malle fragrances I covet.
Most of my reviews come from beauty items I splurged on. My credit card balance is too high for my liking. I keep buying with the excuse that it is "for the blog." LOL
Last year my friend Patti wrote a series of primer reviews for Blogdorf. Her reviews came from primers she owned and samples that we went looking for at Sephora, Saks, Nordstorm and Makeupalley. None came directly from any companies. Patti did her testing of the products with the same skincare routine along with the same foundation. She wanted to give them a fair chance. We took this project very seriously.
Well....she wrote a negative review for DHC's Primer. It performed very badly.
This review still gets negative comments a year later. They have attacked everything from Patti's skincare routine to the quality of the foundation used in the testing. It is clear that passions run deep for DHC. I have thought about deleting the entire post because it can be quite hurtful. I keep the review up because people need to know that this product did not perform as well as others.
The reaction to this review made me realize how powerful a good or bad review can be.
I want my blog to always be honest.
I want to be a good beauty resource.
When I swoon over a product it means I am truly smitten.
I swear on my MAC Parrot and my Lancome Behnaz lipstick.
(This is as serious as swearing on the bible...to me.)LOL
I agree with Annie. If any of you read Bag Snob, you will know that we're brutally honest (we even rip on bags from our advertisers!) about our reviews. It is the strength of our site and we made ourselves a promise to never give in!
Thank you so much for your responses. This was really coachwife6, a regular here on BagSnob and BeautySnob. I guess I hit enter and it just captured coa. Sorry about that.
Your honest and thorough response was more than I ever expected. And I thank you for your honesty and applaud you for continuing to take hits for something in which you believe.
I can't wait to read the archives of your forum.
If I can ask one more question, and if it's too personal into the background of writing a blog: how do you get advertisers? Tina talks about it funding her new bags, etc. and it just makes me wonder what makes a blog earn money?
As Tina may have read in my previous posts, I have worked in the media and I know the pressure at times between news/advertising. And to continue to be credible you have to avoid all types of pressure. It's tough, and I think sites that are press agents for products won't last. BagSnob rips bags when they are needed and she goes against some powerful giants by telling the truth. And her brutal honesty is what keeps us coming back for more.
Rambling now on a Saturday night. Thanks again for your time. I am honored you chose to give me such insight.
i just wanted to know if anyone has used the la mer creme? i want to treat myself for my upcoming birthday. it is a lot of money and need some encouragement.is it worth the dough?