- A First-Timer’s Guide to the Perfect Gala Dress - February 20, 2024
- How to Style Yellow Dresses for Every Occasion - February 12, 2024
- Exploring the Versatility of Brown Dresses: Casual to Formal Styles - February 11, 2024
Last updated 5 months ago.
Rachel Anise, founder of the Beauty Professor, has a unique approach to all things beauty. While our instagram feeds are constantly dominated with over-baked makeup, Rachel’s gravitation towards a more natural approach to beauty is a breath of fresh air. Her go-to makeup look is to always create a subtle fresh-faced bronze glow that is infinitely more wearable. Her exceptionally informative website breaks down beauty products like no other. With swatches of all of the latest product releases and her blunt, honest opinion that’s smart, unfiltered and candid, her view on all things beauty is educational and helpful for anyone looking to find the best high quality products to create a gorgeous natural glow. Rachel kindly agreed to share some of her beauty expertise for our ‘Influencer & Expert‘ series, revealing her favorite products, her formal makeup advice and how we can easily revamp our beauty routines.
JOVANI: Tell us a little about BeautyProfessor.net – how did it all begin and what is your own personal beauty ethos?
RACHEL: I started Beauty Professor after co-authoring a college-level public speaking textbook with another professor. I had been in “writer’s mode” for over two years and upon completion of the book, I was inspired to continue my literary creativity, this time, focusing on makeup! I started Beauty Professor one day during my winter break in 2012 and have never looked back. I am so grateful to be able to share my beauty and skincare finds with readers from all walks of life. I also take swatching very seriously as many visit my blog to find their perfect match before ordering a product online…natural sunlight is my best friend in those moments. My personal beauty ethos is clean and classic: I adore even skin, lightly bronzed cheeks, warm neutrals on the eyes and a pinky nude lip. I am essentially on the quest for products that effortlessly create this look, which I like to call, “the best version of one’s self.” Trends may come and go, but my aesthetic stays the same!
JOVANI: What expensive products would you say are absolutely worth their price tag?
RACHEL: I believe that skincare—especially one’s serums and eye cream—should be treated like an investment product and, consequently, can often come with a higher price tag. The best makeup is good skin; some lines that I believe are well worth it include Mila Moursi, La Prairie, SK-II, Biologique Recherche, Erasa and Le Metier de Beaute. Additionally, well-crafted brushes are another worthwhile endeavor; I recommend Surratt Beauty’s Artistique Highlight and Cheek Brushes, Jenny Patinkin’s The Petites Set (they’re vegan!) and Wayne Goss’ Airbrush. Unequivocally, they will take your makeup application to the next level.
JOVANI: What are your favorite affordable beauty buys?
RACHEL: I love Maybelline mascara and the product launches from Physician’s Formula are always sublime. I am also consistently impressed with everything I try from Girlactik,..their Face Veil in See Through is exceptional.
JOVANI: We want to revamp our daily makeup routine – what are the essentials you would advise are ‘must haves’ to use on a daily basis to create a great natural look?
RACHEL: Find a foundation that brings out the best in your skin and be prepared to bump up (or down) a shade as the seasons change. Mixing is also an option! I recommend also having natural bronzer, glowing highlighter, brow mascara (Tom Ford Fiber Brow is brilliant) and black eyeliner (my go-to is by Gucci) at your disposal as all three can transform a look in seconds. Finally, don’t be afraid to have a few different lipstick options in your handbag at any given time; I always have nude, pink, coral and beige shades—in both lipstick and lip gloss formulas—bouncing around my bag so that I can match my lips to my mood, which changes throughout the day!
JOVANI: What is your go-to evening makeup look?
RACHEL: My go-to evening makeup look is much like my daytime look; I just may intensify the color for additional impact. I create a flawless base, warm cheeks with a dash of pinky coral cream blush, highlight my upper cheekbones and the bridge of my nose and use plenty of mascara (which I much prefer to false lashes). I also love to add a black liquid line on top of warm peachy bronze eyeshadow for fresh twist on a neutral eye.
JOVANI: Any tips for keeping makeup in place and fresh-looking for a formal event?
RACHEL: To keep makeup looking fresh for an evening out, avoid the urge to over apply; more product on means more product to maintain! Always use a primer (I love Hourglass Veil and my trusty Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge) and a foundation that has proven to have longevity (a formal event is not the time to try a new foundation for the first time…too risky!). Carry a bit of loose powder for touch ups (Sisley-Paris makes a great one that comes in its own compact) and and try layering (lipliner, lipstick, then gloss) when it comes to creating a bulletproof lipstick look.
JOVANI: There are so many trends for foundation application – beauty blenders, different types of brushes – do you buy into any of these or what do you think is the best application method?
RACHEL: I am a major foundation lover and prefer to either use my fingers or a Beauty Blender for application; it’s my goal to have foundation look as natural as possible—even when embracing full coverage—so these application techniques seem to workbest. #foundationphile
JOVANI: Tell us a little bit about your daily skin care routine.
RACHEL: I start by cleansing my face with Micellar water or a creamy cleanser by 37 Actives. Then I tone with either the Mila Moursi pH Balancing Toner or Biologique Recherche P50 PIGM 400. Typically, I apply the Mila Moursi Dual Action Serum or the Erasa serum. I always follow with the Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge #2 and then add a dash of sunscreen and eye cream. I also love Sisley-Paris, SK-II, La Prairie and Clé de Peau Beauté for targeted formulas and masks.
JOVANI: Have you ever stumbled on an innovative or unique product that has really surprised you?
RACHEL: All the time…that is one of the best parts of Beauty Professor! I really like the Foreo Luna for washing my face in the shower and swear by the Miracle Body Transformer—this tinted lotion for arms, legs and decollete—which always makes me feel more confident in shorts and dresses. I also adore the Surratt Beauty Relevee Eyelash Curler, which is—by far—the best I have ever used.
JOVANI: We don’t talk about beauty ingredients and their potential danger to our health enough. Are there any ingredients you actively avoid and would advise people to look for on the label?
RACHEL: I generally avoid products that are heavily fragranced as my skin is very sensitive and can react to overly perfumed formulas. I also am allergic to Lanolin and avoid skincare and makeup that list it their ingredients list. In general, I much prefer physical sunscreen to chemical sunscreen and do my best to embrace products that are as “clean” as possible.
JOVANI: Do you have a signature scent?
RACHEL: Although I am grateful to have the opportunity to try so many fragrance launches, at the end of the day, I reach for Byredo’s Mojave Ghost the most, which is exceptionally dreamy. I also have run through a couple of bottles of Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille over the past few years.
_______________________
A big thank you to Rachel for taking part in our interview series and sharing her beauty knowledge. Stay up to date with all of her latest beauty reviews and more by checking out BeautyProfessor.net and don’t forget to follow her on instagram and facebook.
