Sabrina is one of my favorite bloggers because she has beautiful taste, a fantastic makeup collection and great style. She also has incredibly thoughtful posts which are written to be super helpful to her readers (labeling color swatches, showing how they look against the skin, and with clear and crisp photos). I adore reading blogs which are so clearly a labor of love – when an author has passion about their subject, it’s a pleasure to keep returning again and again to share in that hobby. Sabrina is definitely one of those bloggers and I’m sure you’ll enjoy her interview – Part 1 today focuses on her beauty collection, and Part 2 tomorrow focuses more on her style. Here we go!
First things first – who are you? What do you do, and where do you live?
My name is Sabrina, I’m from Southern California and currently work as a finance/business analyst and run The Beauty Look Book blog in my free time.
Taking inventory is something I’ve never been brave enough to do but my husband jokes that we have a mini-Saks in our house. I would say out of my whole collection, I own mostly Chanel.
The nail polish has definitely taken on a life of its own and out of all the different types of products, my nail polish stash is definitely the largest. I’ve just reached 100 Chanel nail polishes that I’ve collected since my college days (yes, most have lasted that long, only 2 have gone bad). I’ve collected 45 Dior nail polishes. Then there are a number of other brands that I have a few of, Rococo Nail Apparel, D&G, Rescue Beauty Lounge, Le Métier de Beauté, Paul & Joe etc.
I don’t have much experience with drugstore polishes – the downside of buying from the drugstore is that you can’t try before you buy, something I feel is key. I’ve played around with Revlon and Hard Candy which I’ve found to be ok for formula, but I’m mainly drawn to colors and packaging. I’d rather buy something I can try in-store first and I’m personally more drawn to the fashion-forward colors from Dior, Chanel, Rescue Beauty Lounge and D&G.
Lower end brands like OPI, Sephora for OPI and Zoya are decent and I find OPI’s quality to be just as good in quality as polishes 2-3x as pricey, however the color selection and finish just never compares to the complexity of something like Chanel’s Graphite or Dior’s Timeless Gold. I’ve never been a fan of Essie nail polishes, perhaps it’s the colors I’ve tried, but it usually takes me at least 3-4 coats to get the same coverage as what 1 coat of Chanel or Dior can achieve. I’m usually reaching for Chanel or Dior and I tend to stick with what I know.
- Koh Gen Do’s Macro Vintage Face Mask
- Koh Gen Do’s Cleansing Water
- Shiseido Cotton Pads
- Edward Bess’s entire beauty line
- Le Métier de Beauté glosses
- Dior Earth Reflection Quint
- Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara
- Dolce & Gabbana Powder Foundation
- Tom Ford Lipsticks
- Molton Brown Coco de Mer Shower Gel
- Phytojoba Shampoo
- Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy
- Chanel Rose Petale Blush
- Bobbi Brown Caviar Ink Gel Liner
- Laura Mercier Gold Metallic Cream Eyeshadow
… oops, I’ve gone over my limit. I don’t know that I would survive with just 7 products.
Three things for me:
1) Good skincare
2) A well matched foundation (to skin tone and skintype) and
3) A glowing bronzer.
Right now I’m loving Le Metier de Beaute’s Peau Vierge Day Cream and Cleanser, Koh Gen Do’s Royal Massage Milk, Macro Vintage Face Mask, Cleansing Water and Cle de Peau’s Foaming Cleanser. Foundation wise I’m loving Chanel’s Perfection Lumiere and Koh Gen Do’s Aqua Foundation. I can’t rave enough about Edward Bess Daydream Bronzer – it’s the perfect natural bronzer, makes the skin glow, it’s non-orangey, not too dark, but just dark enough to make your skin look naturally tan.
It’s hard to narrow my favorite to just one brand. I rarely stick to just one brand of products on any given day. Here are my top picks:
My best drugstore buys include Neutrogena’s Body Wash and the Eye Makeup Remover. Both effective yet gentle on the skin. I’ve repurchased numerous times ever since I can think back to when I started using beauty products.
Chanel creates some of the most beautiful face powders. The presentation is usually in the same square black lacquered compact which I love for its simplicity. I’ve been collecting only over recent years. There are some older ones I passed on that I would love to get my hands on.
Isn’t Sabrina’s beauty collection just amazing? She makes me want to go out and buy some new nail polishes and some bronzer (seriously, I’m clicking over to Sephora’s website right now)! I’d love for my beauty/vanity countertop to look like hers one day – thank you Sabrina for sharing your beautiful collection with us, and come back tomorrow for part two! You can check out The Beauty Look Book, here.
Great interview!! Going over now. =)
i would love to play in her dresser!
This is awesome! I love Sabrina, I'm a huge fan of her blog
Of all your blog posts this is my least favorite. Over consumerism at it's finest. Collecting bottles of perishable nail polish and make up that for the most part all look the same color……umm ok
I love the colors of those 2 Dior polishes and those Chanel powders are beautiful aswell.
But personally I don't see the point of having that much make-up at all, it will probably be difficult already to just wear everything once.
But it does look great on photo
http://www.tripsandtreasures.blogspot.com
fashion & lifestyle in Belgium
I love the colors of those 2 Dior polishes and those Chanel powders are beautiful aswell.
But personally I don't see the point of having that much make-up at all, it will probably be difficult already to just wear everything once.
But it does look great on photo
http://www.tripsandtreasures.blogspot.com
fashion & lifestyle in Belgium
Lovely interview! One thing about Sabrina too is her integrity. She's very honest in her reviews. Even high end lines have hits and misses–although she edits before she buys, she's very honest if something doesn't live up to her high expectations. I trust her reviews over any standard magazine beauty editor's opinion–she knows her lines and has a keen eye for quality.
I love Sabrina and her blog is one of my faves! I'm loving her collection and wish we could see ALL of it
Can't wait for part 2!
she has the best collections and reviews! i love how she shows things that are similar to the shades she`s talking about! i would die for her nail polish collection!
I love living vicariously through The Beauty Look Book. Thanks for your wonderful reviews Sabrina! I want to know more about all those fragrances…please, please….
@Anonymous I am sorry that you didn't like this interview, but I have to put in a note here that if you go to her blog, you'll see that Sabrina uses all of these colors of nail polish/powder, etc. She collects them not just to have them (and honestly what is wrong with that?) but also to have lots of different swatches to educate her readers…we all have our own hobbies and loves, so to each our own
Sabrina is hands down my favorite makeup blogger. I learned so much about the collections and what to look for from her–and with those lessons I put together a whole new makeup collection a couple of years ago. My color choice–especially for lips–are very different from hers, but she did me the immense favor of explaining quality and such. And looking at these pictures . . . I really, really, really need to finish out my collection of Edward Bess. His shadows are the best.
It's fabulous that she's being featured here–The Beauty Look Book is amazing and should be on every woman's radar. *And, Sabrina–Thank you for all you do!*
I love The Beauty Look Book, so glad you could interview Sabrina. Can't wait for part 2!
My favorite interview on your blog! The presentation is so beautiful and perfectly edited. Those pictures could be on the pages of Vogue. I'm sure Monet and Michaelangelo would argue that subtle differences in color can make a big difference.
oh how cool you did a post / an interview with Sabrina! Her blog is definitely my favourite beauty blog and I just love her posts!
AMAZING!!! Love this interview:) Can't wait for part 2!
Wow. I wish I had her collection too! I just can't see splurging on Chanel polishes. I know $20 isn't bad, but when you can get a similar color at $10, it makes a difference.
@Amy
Yes!!! You articulated so clearly what I wanted to post so I thought I would give you props. I agree, this was fantastic interview! I have loved Beauty Look Book and looked to Sabrina for honest reviews for quite some time. She has turned me onto all kinds of different brands and products that I would never have thought to try on my own (e.g., Koh Gen Do).
This totally just made me want to buy new makeup and organize it in a stylish way! Great post, will have to check her out!!
Hi Katherine,
Excellent subject choice. I have been Sabrina's fan over the years. She's also has been kind enough to send me some of the samples that didn't work for her but did work for me. She's very thorough and trust worthy. Definitely a daily read for me.
Can't wait for Pt.2!
Gorgeous photos and lovely interview
I definitely need her skills. I love all this make-up!
It's a great interview and gorgeous pictures. Thank you so much, Ladies, for the inspiration!
Thank you so much Katherine for featuring me and for your never ending support!
Ahhh, the result of my 2 favorite blogs colliding <3
Thanks ladies!
xo
Leona
Wow, I think I have like 2 lipsticks, 2 eyeshadows, 1 mascara, and 1 nail polish total. Embarrassing. Her collection is amazing!
http://www.saysskippy.blogspot.com
Awesome interview Katherine! I have read her blog before and love the crisp pictures and the honest reviews
can't wait for pt 2 
And I thought my nail polish collection was crazy! Sabrina's is to die for! Thanks for introducing another fabulous blogger xoxo Marissa
http://happiness-is-the-little-things.blogspot.com/
the nail polish selection is amazing! And since I don't have a refined palette when it comes to quality of nail polish, it's nice to read from an expert
Wow! I am in love with her make-up collection! I adore how she displays it too… Definitely will be checking her blog out!
Happy Holidays!!
Bella xox
http://www.chicinvancity.com/
holy wow!
I too am a Chanel makeup and polish collector and love The Beauty Look Book! As I live in Australia and receive the collections much later, I find her reviews invaluable. Each time a new collection is released I await her reviews eagerly. Thank you Sabrina for sharing your lovely collection with us.
The Chanel nail varnish collection is VERY impressive xoxo
http://www.intotheblonde.com/
Wow! I'm drooling over her collection of Chanel nail polishes! hehe
What a terrific interview! Thank you for profiling one of the best beauty bloggers out there. Sabrina's posts are a must-read and while, yes, she has amazing taste and style, that would mean nothing if she weren't such a decent and kind person. I think she is thoughtful on every level – to the product she is reviewing, to the collection, to the reader. I appreciate her candor and thoroughness. If beauty mags knew what they were doing, Lina would be an editor. Can't wait to read part II!
Laura
Great interview! I can't wait for tomorrow's post!
I'm not sure I've ever been more jealous of a nail polish collection in my life. All those Chanels are just to die for! I'm a new follower
I hope you'll stop by my blog some time and say hi and follow back if you're interested.
Sarah
http://comingunstitched.blogspot.com
Is this really her? http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ap9QEZPjFxU/TbNHW8TprqI/AAAAAAAAC3s/VXIK1WjL3nM/s1600/bangs1.jpg I'm surprise she doesn't use much make-up. I'd love to see that bronzer she recommends on her. Sounds like a great bronzer. She looks quite pale on this photo (if that is her).
Her nail polish collection is TDF! Thanks for the interview Kat.
Opps. Guess that was Michelle from another blog! This seems to be her. http://beautyxpose.com/2010/beautyschool/beauty-blogger-qa-sabrina-from-the-beauty-look-book.html
I found an explanation of why she doesn't show her face. http://www.thebeautylookbook.com/2010/10/blogging-tips-from-beauty-look-book.html All props to her!!
She obviously has a really keen eye for organization…I do love how everything seems to be displayed like a chic boutique would display it's items.
http://thefashionableesq.blogspot.com/
I just drooled over the Chanel nail polish collection! So jealous!
Great Great interview! I was especially interested in what she had to say about polishes (that collection is bananas!)- I've never really thought there was a difference, but now I think I may have to increase the budget…
Ah, I love her blog!!! And her collection is seriously to die for. *o* Look at all the Chanel polish…oh my!!!
Great post i love it!
http://paquetevistasbien.blogspot.com
I've always been into skincare but with make up and manicures I'm completely backwards so this is blowing my mind! Have to take notes!
Her collection is gorgeous! Advice priceless. Exquisite interview Katherine.
http://sassyuptownchic.blogspot.com/
OMG cosmetics! though I'm a late bloomer I'm love to have all of those now. I'm more into skincare before than make ups but now so many add ons like nail polish and all. love evrything in this post very eye caddy!
oh gosh i'm not a beauty person and i'm drooling over every single pix! *must go look for chanel & dior polishes*
thanks for posting this amazing feature, kat!
Nail polish is NOT perishable.
Great interview and such lovely photos. The Beauty Look Book was one of the first blogs I stumbled across when I discovered beauty blogs a few years ago. I always look forward to Sabrina's amazing posts!
WOW!!!!!!!!! She is one lucky girl with great style and taste! What i would give to have a room like that! I love Jo Malone perfumes too!!!!
Totally drooling over her Chanel nail polishes and i agree, she surely can proclaim to have a mini Saks at home!lol
I've not heard of Edward Bess before, is it American?
Great post!!!!!
Cinz
http://cinzee.wordpress.com
Katherine, I just LOVE your interview blogs. Thanks for the introducing Sabrina to the rest of us!
great interview. love seeing beauty bloggers interview other beauty bloggers. so fun. her collection is to DIE for!
WOW. She just gave me a serious Sephora craving.
I agree that Chanel has great makeup. If I could afford it, I would use their stuff exclusively!
I absolutely HAVE to know what that Chanel nail polish is on the top tier of the cake stand! It is SO pretty and zoom didn't work.
[...] Hi everybody! Today is Part 2 of Sabrina of The Beauty Look Book’s interview (Part 1 here). Today’s post focuses on Sabrina’s personal style and fashion, which you will see is [...]
What a beautiful collection!
Beauty is such a wonderful part of being a woman. Did you ever try By Terry products?
J’adore!
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