Swide Magazine by Dolce&Gabbana

A mid-week success story to inspire you all. In our regular Swide series we interview leading bloggers to ask them what life is really like in the blogasphere.

'Life isn't fair' is the usual midweek retort, but then occasionally you come aross a story that ensures cynicism is put away (at least for a day or two).

Lauren who creates short videos from her living room and bedroom shows viewers how they can apply makeup and recreate various looks, attracting more than 40 million views to her YouTube videos and almost 230,000 subscribers to her channel.

Down to earth, cheeky, and chatty with a Geordie accent, Lauren's no-nonsense approach got the stamp of approval from the UK's Guardian newspaper and she landed an editorial role writing a weekly beauty column (check it out here www.guardian.co.uk/lauren-luke-smoky-eyes). This was followed in February 2009 by launching her official website ByLaurenLuke.com and in April she began selling her own signature cosmetics line, named By Lauren Luke.

Lauren will also appear as an Avatar in a Nintendo DS game due to be released late in 2009 and has signed a book deal with Hodder & Stoughton, and the book will be available in the Fall/Autumn of 2009. Could Lauren be the new Oprah we wonder? We caught up with the wonder woman of the web to find out more.

ONLINE IS A WAY OF LIFE. DO YOU OPT FOR A NON-WIFI SPOT IN YOUR SPARE TIME OR IS YOUR BLOG ALL CONSUMING?

It’s all consuming and I think it has to be to make it work and keep in touch with everyone. I’m on there when I wake and before bed :)

DO YOU STILL READ PRINT MAGAZINES?
I used to read them all but I always wondered why I came away feeling really down and it wasn't until I had a break from them and returned one day that I realized why I felt so bad before. It’s because a lot of the magazines sell you an idea and I never could have even dreamed of achieving that. It’s all about "she's too fat", "she's too skinny", and “look how gorgeous she is now that she's lost all of her weight". You don't need this kind of subliminal bad complex thing in your life.

THERE ARE SO MANY BLOGS OUT THERE – HOW DO YOU SORT THE GOOD FROM THE BAD?
I like blogs that are updated regularly and with lots of photos for me to peep at :) It’s also wonderful when you get replies from readers/viewers. People love interaction not loneliness.

WHO IN YOUR OPINION ROCKS THE BLOGASPHERE? DO YOU SUFFER FROM BLOG ENVY?
Oh it would have to be Oprah Winfrey. She is one hell of a great women & she has what I think everyone wants...people like her and when she started on Twitter before she'd even spoke she had so many followers that everyone would drool over.

HAVE YOU EVER BLOGGED WHEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND REGRETTED IT?
No I haven’t actually but that’s because I don't really drink alcohol that often. One glass of red and I am away with the fairies.

STRANGEST PLACE YOU’VE BLOGGED FROM?
It would have to be 11 floors up on top of a roof in NYC. It was a beautiful hot day and I remember the roof was practically melting.

IS THERE A PERSON YOU’D WISH WOULD START A BLOG?
There are a few but I don't know if they have or haven't yet. There are so many copycats out there that pretend to be...such and such but who knows if its really them.

HOW DO YOU SEE TWITTER IMPACTING ON BLOGGING?
To be honest I think Twitter has killed a multitude of things like email, blogs and a lot of the social networking sites. I think this is because you can only reply in short bursts making it possible to reply to lots of things going on.

MOST EXTREME BLOGGING SITUATION?
I once tried to film on top of a roof in NYC but it was blowing of gale and I could see makeup was going everywhere so I had to cut the camera off. I blog that way ;)

WHAT’S BEEN YOU MOST SUCCESSFUL POST?
It has to be the Leona Lewis Bleeding Love inspired make-up look. She is gorgeous and so was her make up in that video.

FOR ANY BUDDING BLOGGERS – WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE ON MAKING IT WORK?
I would say to take your time on it. You want a blog that will run the course and build as you go so take it easy and enjoy yourself. Try and reply to comments you get and put lots of exciting facts and pictures up there so people can enjoy themselves whilst on your blog.
Make it interactive as much as possible too. I don't think people like faceless sites anymore.

A LIFE IN THE DAY OF A BLOGGER – ARE YOU WITH YOUR LAPTOP ALL DAY?
YES :) with my mobile and red bull beside me.

I blog mostly from my bedroom right next to the window. I love watching out the window especially when its beautiful weather. I hear the birds tweeting and I feel inspired. I should maybe try the beach next time :)

With special thanks to Lauren Luke

Follow Lauren Luke's make-up tips at www.bylaurenluke.com

To read more in our Meet The Bloggers series see:

www.swide.com/Meet-the-bloggers--Susanna-Lau--Stylebubble

www.swide.com/Meet-the-bloggers--Liberty-London-Girl

www.swide.com/Meet-the-bloggers--BryanBoy

www.swide.com/Meet-the-bloggers--Kitsune-Noir

www.swide.com/Meet-the-bloggers--Melanie-Crete

Kerry Olsen

Source & Photo Credit: Lauren Luke

 

TAGS: lauren luke make-up youtube makeup guru the guardian cosmetics make-up tutorials oprah online magazine fashion magazine beauty meet the bloggers bryanboy liberty london girl kitsuennoir bloggers melanie crètè