Beautezine is one Canada’s leading beauty blogs. Founder and editor Jessica Desjardins knows her beauty inside and out, so we asked her to share a bit of her knowledge for this week’s Be Our Guest.
I had been blogging for a little while, but I really wanted to do something different in the beauty blog world. I always like getting creative, and I had this idea to combine the visual appeal of a magazine with the daily format of a blog, so I took about 3 months to develop the concept and the site before launching it. I launched Beautezine on January 1, 2011… but it has definitely evolved since then!
I came up with the name by a little play on words, “Beauty” and “e-zine” (as in e-magazine). I squished them together to create Beautezine!
Do you have a “daytime job”? If so, where is it/what do you do?
Beautezine is my day job and it has been for about one and a half years now! It was very scary but exciting to quit my job, but I haven’t ever looked back and it feels great to love what I do every single day (it did start out as a hobby in the first place)
What is in your makeup bag at all times?
Way too much! Haha! I’ve always got some sort of foundation, concealer, eyeshadow, brow product, eyelash curler, mascara, eyeliner, blush, lipstick and lipbalm at all times. As I’m testing new products and finding new favourites, things in my makeup bag tend to swap out, but for the most part I always have those products in there.
Hair product you don’t leave home without?
Hairspray! It’s the one product I use religiously! Just like my makeup, I tend to switch which one I’m using from day to day, but I don’t feel ‘complete’ without finishing off with hairspray (extra strong hold, please)!
Do you have a beauty regimen? If so, what is it?
I do, but it’s probably not as crazy as most people think! I’m very simple with skincare, because my skin is so sensitive and it goes crazy when I use too many things. I usually cleanse with some gentle cleansing water and apply a light moisturizer afterwards. If it’s bedtime, I’ll use a serum before that, and an eye cream as well. I always wear perfume, even if I don’t wear any makeup… I just find it really lifts my mood! My makeup usually consists of whatever I’m testing that day, and if there’s nothing to test or I give myself a day off, I’ll either go with a very basic look or nothing at all! My makeup regimen basically revolves around testing products so I can review them… so it changes daily!
Most memorable moment of BeautEzine?
Getting thrown into New York Fashion Week three days before it started. I went to NYC all alone (it was also my first time in the city, by the way) and stayed for 9 days. It was one of the most amazing and terrifying experiences I’ve ever had!
Essi or OPI?
That’s a tough one… I love Essie’s unique colors, but OPI has had my heart for a long time. I love the
formula and the extra-wide brush makes it so easy to apply!
Lipstick colour of the season?
This season, lipstick is getting quite vampy! Deep wine shades are super popular for fall, and while it takes a little courage to wear them, you’ve never felt more powerful than when you do!
What’s the best part about living in Ottawa? Where are the best places to visit, sleep, shop and eat there when visiting?
Ottawa is a such a beautiful city! The market is always so lively, especially in the summer, and if you come in the winter you have to go skating on the Rideau Canal and get a beavertail! One of my favourite places to eat is called Benny’s Bistro- it’s this small little Parisian cafe in the back of The French Baker (this baker does the best macarons in Ottawa, by the way). Their brunch is absolutely incredible! Even though I’m moving to Toronto at the end of the month, I’m going to miss Ottawa and I’ll always look forward to coming back!
What’s the one beauty myth you’d like to break?
That you shouldn’t wear blush if you have redness in your skin or rosacea. I think every woman looks better with a little blush on! If you feel like you have too much redness in your cheeks already, use a little corrector or foundation to tone it down, but bring back a healthy glow (in the right spots) with a little blush and it will do wonders for your complexion!
