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Interview with Rei

Today’s interview is with the beautiful Rei – all around superwoman and creator of Front Row Beauty. I was excited to interview Rei because I admire her taste in not only makeup and beauty, but also fashion – she always looks impeccable, from head to toe! Rei is down to earth, super charming, and manages not only her beauty site but also a full time job in consulting. Enjoy meeting the fabulous Rei!

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Who are you? What do you do, and where do you live? 

My name is Rei, and I grew up in Sydney, Australia. I work as an IT consultant for a large financial company. I am a funny and laid back girl with a relaxed approach to life. I can come across quite shy and introverted, but once you know me I tend to expose the chatty and quirky side of me. I am also a dog lover – I only have one dog for now and I wish to adopt more in the future.

I just turned 30 this year, and I am proud of it! I am at this age where I have gained a stronger sense of myself, being more confident and I have a clear vision of where my life is heading to. I am currently expecting a baby which is the best thing to ever happen in my life – it’s a life changing experience that makes me feel more accountable but complete.

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Can you share more about your interest in beauty and makeup, and  how you got started with your site?

I was deeply influenced by my mum . She was very precise and attentive to quality and details for everything. I used to ‘steal’ her makeup when I was young, and when I turned 16 she took me the department store and bought me an entire set of Dior makeup and Lancome skincare. I was completely hooked into anything related to beauty ever since then!

So naturally I dreamt of starting my own blog to share my thoughts, but I never had the courage to do so as I didn’t think anyone would be interested in what I had to say. It was my husband who encouraged me (partly because he was bored of me showing “my ever-growing collection” only to him!).

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Can you share some of your favorite beauty products – that you would buy again and again?

I can’t live without the very basic makeup items such as my Shu Uemura eyelash curler and mascara, Kate eyeliner, Cle De Peau concealer, Fresh Sugar lip balm and Chantecaille Future Skin foundation. Brands wise, I am a loyal fan of Chanel and Suqqu and I tend to collect new pieces from all their new collections.

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I know that your blog focuses largely on higher end beauty products. Could you share some of your favorite drugstore/cheaper finds?

There are so many great drugstore products I love! I have been using the Neutrogena’s eye makeup remover for years. Klorane’s dry shampoo is another staple for me. The French drugstore brand NUXE has a fantastic range of skincare. Also if you happen to be in Switzerland, don’t forget to grab a few bottles of sunscreen from their local brands. There is a reason most Swiss women have beautiful porcelain skin!

For makeup, Bourjois foundations rival high end brands, and Maybelline does the best mascaras! Last but not least, the Korean and Japanese drugstore brands make the best and most affordable masks and eyeliners.

What about skincare – can you share some favorite products? What have you used over and over again?

The Sisley Ecological Compound, La Mer moisturizer, Kiehl’s body moisturizer, Lancome Genefique are my must have skincare products all year round.

For Asian skincare, I swear by the SKII mask, Albion Skin Conditioner, and Cle De Peau UV base.

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What’s a piece of skincare/makeup advice that you adhere to?

I never over cleanse my skin and would never use anything harsh that strips the natural moisture off my skin. If time allows I also use a mask almost every day! For makeup, I like to keep my complexion looking as natural as possible and mainly stick to neutral earthy tones to enhance my features and make them appear more symmetrical.

Can you share a little bit about your style? What are some favorite pieces in your wardrobe?

My style has alway been ‘less is more’. I opt for clothes that have a minimalist design, with a modern vibe to them. Just like my makeup collection, my wardrobe mainly consists of hues of black, white, and grey, but recently I have been adding pieces with vibrant prints and bold colors in classic cuts.

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I like to invest in accessories – handbags, shoes and jewellery, as they help to complete an outfit. My favourite pieces are everything I have collected from Hermes so far. I just got into Hermes last year, and I was a very lucky girl who was able to get both Birkin and Kelly in one year from the shop! I would love to collect a rainbow of them one day, but at the moment I am looking into buying a new house (and the housing prices in Sydney are notoriously expensive) so I have to put my quest for Birkin on hold until I find the dream house!

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You are pregnant (and a gorgeous mama to be!) How has your style changed as you’ve been getting further along in your pregnancy? What are your favorite items to wear currently?

Well, after a period of trial and error, I have come to an conclusion that the normal maternity wear is just not for me. These days I am either in a shift and flowy dress or anything that has a draped and deconstructed silhouette. My favourite items to wear are my Helmut Lang blazers paired with a boyfriend tee and a legging. Or a rainbow of shift dresses which I cannot stop buying since I became pregnant! [

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What’s a piece of advice about style that you could share?

Know your style, know your lifestyle and know your body shape, and always shop on the basis of that. As you age, the focus should be more shifted towards the quality and cut of the clothes. Styling is about creating this head to toe image that is a reflection of yourself, so don’t put yourself in anything you don’t feel comfortable in. And don’t buy things just because they are discounted – make sure you absolutely love them!

What are some of your other passions and hobbies?

I am a big foodie and love travelling. My husband and I have a mission to visit every 3 Michelin star restaurant in the world, so we always plan our trips based on our bookings with the restaurant. Discovering cheap and authentic Asian food is also a big part of our weekly routine.

Finally – please share something surprising about yourself!

I just recently took my braces off after two years, and none of my readers knew I had them!

 

Rei is so stunning! I was so happy to have the opportunity to do this interview – as a long time reader of Rei’s site I’d always wanted to see more of her fashion side, so I loved learning more about her very chic style. Also I have to mention that when Rei and I initially did this interview, she was a few months away from giving birth – she’s now just a few short weeks. Such an exciting time. Thank you very much to the beautiful Rei and best wishes to the momma to be! For more of Rei, please visit Front Row Beauty.

15 Comments

  • Reply
    Sonya
    July 25, 2013 at 9:27 am

    She is beautiful. I am in envy of her Lapis Van Cleef which I haven’t been able to locate in the twenty motif for some time. Thank you for featuring her.

  • Reply
    Kathy
    July 25, 2013 at 9:30 am

    Another great interview! I really enjoyed admiring her beautiful collection of makeup. It’s so organized! The display is just gorgeous. She makes solids look so simple and chic! Thanks for sharing!

    • Reply
      Katherine
      July 25, 2013 at 9:54 pm

      I love her style too and you’re right, Rei wears solids beautifully.

  • Reply
    Adele
    July 25, 2013 at 9:35 am

    Beautiful person inside & out. What an amazing make up collection. I thought I had a lot of Chanel make up but Rei definitely beats me hands down!
    Happy Thursday Hun xoxo
    http://www.intotheblonde.com/

  • Reply
    Naaj Rona
    July 25, 2013 at 12:37 pm

    Her dressing table is so organised. Her bag collection is awesome.

    She knows exactly what she wants, cannot mess around with this lady.

  • Reply
    ahhhsoneo
    July 26, 2013 at 12:35 am

    oh my goodness, I actually shrieked out aloud when I saw that Rei was this week’s interviewee! I love reading the interviews and I adore her blog, so the two together is just like Christmas in July. She really does have such fantastic style, I too wish she showed a little bit more of her style/fashion/accessories. Going back to re-read:) Totally made my night.

    • Reply
      Katherine
      July 26, 2013 at 8:12 am

      Thanks ahhhsoneo! SO glad you liked it 🙂

  • Reply
    courtney
    July 26, 2013 at 12:06 pm

    What an inspiring lady and definitely have make up envy right now, Wow what a collection!

    A Golden State of Mind

  • Reply
    Ava
    July 26, 2013 at 3:25 pm

    Dearest Katherine,

    You’ve done it again! I super adore Rei and am so pleased you did an interview with her! Like her, I organize with items in their original packaging — makes for easier packing and finding later on! LOL!
    Excellent job!
    🙂
    Have a lovely weekend!

    Ava Lon

  • Reply
    Sarah
    July 28, 2013 at 2:00 pm

    Adore her blog! I really love how her make up stash looks and that blue necklace, I want it right away!

  • Reply
    phiphi @ phiphi's blog
    July 30, 2013 at 4:28 pm

    she’s gorgeous and so down to earth. what a chic mommy to be too! xo

  • Reply
    Diva In Me
    August 1, 2013 at 8:40 am

    Thanks for sharing this interview with Rei. I’m glad I get to know her better. She’s a wonderful lady and definitely blessed. I do share some similarities with her in terms of makeup and skincare. Probably it’s the Asian skin =D She’s right about the Shu Uemura eye lashes curler. I had mine for almost 4 years now and I’m still using mine. I’m starting to love Chanel make-up and skincare a lot more now. It gets addicting too =D

  • Reply
    Pheobe
    August 2, 2014 at 1:51 am

    You have featured all 3 my love bloggers!!! Thank you!

    • Reply
      Katherine
      August 2, 2014 at 5:41 pm

      Hi Pheobe, thanks! Besides Rei who are the other top 3? 🙂

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