Chatting Makeup with Lollipop26 from YouTube
YouTube makeup videos are as addictive as crack, and one of my favorite dealers is Laura Farrant, aka Lollipop26. Laura is British, makeup obsessed, and cute-as-a-button! I pinned her down for an interview via email (she’s currently living halfway across the world in Dubai). Enjoy, and subscribe to her channel while you’re at it!
- How did you get the inspiration to start v-logging/blogging?
I have always read beauty blogs, devoured beauty books but it wasn’t until 2007, when I found a video about MAC Fluidline on YouTube that it really started to take hold. I watched thousands of videos, spent (alot) of money on products and explored the world of beauty passionately. Then one day, whilst bored at home - I was looking after my mum who had just had an operation - I made my first video. I didn’t really think anyone would see it but I started getting positive feedback straight away and that really was that.
- Did your YouTube videos inspire your blog, or vice versa?
My videos definitely inspired my blog. However, shoddy my videos may seem, it does take a lot of time to produce one. You have to get setup, do the video, edit out the inevitable mistakes and then post it up - that’s hours. A blog however can be updated in 10 minutes and I have always found the process of writing extremely therapeutic so about 9 months after my videos had been on YouTube, the blog was created.
- Who’s your personal beauty/style icon?
I love Lauren Conrad and anyone who exudes that natural beauty but I have to say that I am more inspired by everyday people. I spend hours looking at sites like Tumblr and Lookbook, where regular people post their looks, and that is incredibly inspiring - and addictive.
- What’s the best beauty advice you’ve ever received?
Drink lots of water to see a difference in energy, skin and everything else inbetween. Do I follow that gem? Sometimes! It’s a daily struggle but one I am trying to master 
- Take us back to your very first video…Did you imagine you’d build up such a huge following?
I was quiet as a mouse and not really as comfortable in the camera as I am now. Over time I got more and more confident but one thing always remained the same - I like to think people watch my videos because I am honest. I am not paid by a company to have a certain point-of-view and I would never risk my credibility to do so and I think subscribers know that. If it’s rubbish I won’t suggest otherwise and if its incredible then I will share it with you.
- What are your tips for a new beauty v-logger?
I alway say make the videos and write the posts that you would actually watch or read. As soon as you start copying or are driven by ulterior motives you become unwatchable. This is meant to be a fun hobby so make sure you remember that. Also don’t got offended by ubiquitious haters - everyone gets them so simply “block and delete” and remember that 99% of the people watching love you.
- You, desert island, five beauty products: go!
Oh god, here is where really shallow because of the ridiculous things that I deem essential but anyway….By Terry Baume de Rose - great for lips, cuticles and any dryness, Tweezermans to prevent a monobrow - should I also say mirror? No! - Lilash to ensure long, luscious lashes, Shu Uemura painting liner in black and Kiehl’s children’s SPF 50 sunscreen.
- Which brand are you most likely to blow all your money on, and why?
I am probably going to go with MAC. I feel like MAC is good value for money - the products are good quality and not outrageously expensive compared to the rest of the department store market. It’s also fun and inspiring - whether you are playing with colour or neutrals there are various textures and looks that they sell.
- In light of the recent FTC ruling over bloggers, enlighten us: do you get most of the products you review for free, pay for them yourself, or is a nice split of the two?
This is easy for me. I think because I am a reader of blogs I know what works and what doesn’t and honestly, when I read about things that have been sent for free, I simply get bored. I think PR posts have a completely different psychological stance than posts where the blogger has purchased the product themselves. There is less passion and emotional investment than if you pay your own money for something. Some bloggers do it well - but most don’t know how to pitch products without gushing and sounding over-zealously ecstatic. I maybe accept 5% of what I am offered and I want to keep it that way. I got into this because I love beauty products - and that includes the whole paying-my-own-money for it element too.
- Take us through your daily v-logging/blogging/work routine. How much does your beauty life intersect with your work life? Do your colleagues know?
My colleagues in my new position don’t know although I think within a day they realised I am manically interested in makeup and don’t bat an eyelid that I have nail polish and multiple lip products on my desk. It’s me. Blogging and vlogging happens either at night or at the weekends. It would be amazing if it became a full-time occupation - I think that’s my ultimate goal but I want to interlink it with my current marketing research position so it would be a bit of blogging and a bit of trend prediction too.
- We see little peeks of your apartment in your videos…how’s Dubai, and what are you doing there?
I work for a global online company and manage a series of research and insight products for them. I have always wanted to live here so it came at a great time. I always describe Dubai as “LA with an Islamic twist”. You have to drive everywhere, it can be superficial at times but the sun shines and there is beautiful nature surrounding you.
- What’s on the horizon for you?
I don’t have a set answer for that. I think I will keep doing what I am doing and see what opportunities - if any - arise. On a less philsophical note I am thinking about becoming a blonde - but that’s a whole other blog post
Tags: Laura Farrant, Lollipop26, YouTube makeup gurus
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:12 am
Watching her video on her blog now…kind of obsessed with her….and also want to run out to get Flowerbomb!
November 24th, 2009 at 12:14 am
love her !
November 24th, 2009 at 6:27 am
Wow,
Great interview. u are really honest that is why one of my fav guru’s. You should do blond. You can always go back.
xoxo
November 24th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
she’s so lovely!! x