From Make-up Lover To Make-up Blogger How To Look Beyond Your Disability To Reach Your Goals
14 Mar 2012:
I always believe that you should support the little guy, and there's no littler guy, well girl actually, than Sophie Keay, who's my subject for today's blog. So, from one blogger to another, I am here to pass on the wisdom of one of my favourite Facebook girls.....
Sophie was born just outside of Perth, in Western Australia, with the same disability that I have; Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or more commonly known as brittle bones. But unlike me, she hasn't kept count of the amount of fractures she's had, but I'm sure it'd be up there in the hundreds.
Sophie is currently studying for a Diploma of Community Services Work at TAFE, which will enable her to fulfil one of her passions; helping people, possibly as a youth worker. But at the moment, the sky's the limit for this 19 year old go-getter.
Despite using an electric wheelchair to get around, Sophie doesn't feel like she should base her life around being disabled as such, and doesn't want her disability to dictate what she can and can't do where goals and career opportunities are concerned.
In between studying and being an Aunty to her most adored two year old Nephew Alex, Sophie decided to turn another passion of hers, into a serious hobby. Sophie is a real girly girl, and absolutely loves everything to do with make-up and hair. After spending countless hours researching every make-up product under the sun, reading blogs and watching YouTube beauty tutorials, she created a blog of her own, where she offers product reviews, advice, tips and any other helpful beauty related info she can think of.
I know the subject of beauty isn't going to appeal to all of my blog readers, but I thought that Sophie is a great person to write about, because she has such a great attitude and outlook on life, and doesn't let anything stop her. She shows that no matter what obstacles you have in front of you, or what your disability is, if you want something badly enough to go after it, your dreams can become reality.
If you'd like to get all the hottest tips and stay up to date with Sophie's blog,
Born To Buy
, you can follow her here: www.dontstopbuying.blogspot.com or you can Like her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/borntobuy - Until then, you can check out Sophie's answers below, to some questions I threw at her about life, her blog, and why she's decided to turn a passion into a potential career opportunity.
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO START YOUR OWN MAKE UP BLOG?
About a year and a half before I start my blog I became obsessed with beauty channels on YouTube. I would stay up all night watching tutorials, product reviews, hauls and, well, anything else that a beauty guru wanted to throw at me. I also started heavily researching products (both on YouTube and through blogs) before buying them to see what people thought of them and if they were suited to my skin type etc. Approximately a year ago I decided I definitely wanted to either start a blog or a beauty channel on YouTube and a blog won. I love to write so I figured it was the perfect way for me to get to write whilst sharing my love of all this beauty related with the world. It was only an idea for a number of months until I discussed it with a friend. She said she'd been thinking about writing a book blog so we decided enough was enough and we both made our blogs that night.
HOW DO YOU GET YOUR MAKE UP SAMPLES TO TRY? DO YOU PURCHASE THEM OR DO COMPANIES GIVE THEM TO YOU?
It's a little bit of both, really. I have a lot of my MAC and NARS samples because I go in and ask for them. I discuss the product I want, why I want it and ask for a sample to take home and try. Make up counters are really good about giving samples. It's a great way to build rapport with a customer and, obviously, it's a fantastic way to try before you buy. I was recently contacted by a skincare company via my Facebook page and offered a number of skincare products to review, which was really exciting (review will be up by the end of the week, by the way).
In general, however, I have no issues with contacting companies. I'm really happy with how the blog has taken off and I'm not afraid to try and get it out there. I recently contacted a company, in fact, and I was offered a fantastic prize that a lucky viewer will be receiving really soon. Stay tuned!
HOW MANY FOLLOWERS DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE?
I have 56 blog followers, 40 Twitter followers and 144 likes on my Facebook page.
HAS YOUR FOLLOWING GROWN MUCH SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED?
Oh I guess so, yeah. I mean I started with 0 views back in September and now I'm almost at 20,000. I love receiving blog comments, tweets or Facebook likes or notifications from people I don't know, too. That's not to say I don't love it when I get them from people I do know but, when I don't know them, it's like
Wow, people are reading this!
WHERE DO YOU HOPE YOUR BLOG WILL TAKE YOU EVENTUALLY?
I have no idea, to be honest. Anywhere would be great. I'm studying a Diploma of Community Services Work at the moment, focusing on Youth Work, so I'd love to somehow incorporate my love for all things beauty related with Youth Work. I also think an online store would be fantastic so we'll just see what happens.
ANY BLOGGERS/WEBSITES THAT INSPIRED YOU TO START A BLOG?
Surprisingly enough, I don't have many beauty blogs that I read religiously. I especially didn't when I started mine. There is a YouTuber, however, that I absolutely adore. Arden Rose (or Arose186 if you're looking for her on YouTube) has a great beauty channel. In my opinion she's fun, funny and she doesn't take much too seriously.
WHAT'S YOUR GOAL FOR THE AMOUNT OF FOLLOWERS YOU'D LIKE TO GET?
I don't really have a goal, to be honest. I suppose as many as possible would be nice.
WHAT'S YOUR ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE BEAUTY PRODUCT?
Far out! Really? If I had to choose one product only, it would probably be MAC's Select Cover Up concealer. Throughout high school I was lucky enough to have fairly clear skin so when I have a few blemishes (or a lot, which seems to be the case lately) I want them covered up and gone as soon as possible.
WHO'S SOMEONE THAT WOULD MAKE YOU JUST DIE IF THEY READ YOUR BLOG?
This is probably terribly embarrassing but it's Delta Goodrem. I've been a Delta Goodrem fan since her Nina Tucker days on Neighbours and, to me, the woman can't do anything wrong. She's definitely my girl crush. I bet there's people looking at my blog's name, Born to Buy, going
Ohhhhhh
right about now.
I don't call many people an inspiration, but she is to me. She's an incredibly talented and strong woman and, to top it all off, her hair and make-up always looks amazing.
WHAT'S BEEN YOUR MOST POPULAR ARTICLE OR PRODUCT TO WRITE ABOUT?
This surprised me, actually. As far as my statistics are concerned, the most viewed post is a comparison of two foundations; Revlon's Colorstay for combination/oily skin and MAC's Studio Fix Fluid. There has been a lot of discussion about the similarities between the two foundations so I decided to compare them for my viewers and, well, myself.
HOW DO PEOPLE FOLLOW YOU?
To follow the blog, click the 'Follow' icon at the very top of the web page.
DO YOU HAVE ANY VIDEO TUTORIAL'S OR WOULD YOU CONSIDER THEM? I HEAR THEY'RE PRETTY POPULAR......
I've thought about it, yeah, and I'd love to do it eventually. I've wanted to do photo based tutorials on the blog for a while now, but I want to get a better camera first. I really like my camera but I can't get it to focus whenever I try and take photos of eye or lip make up. I have no idea why, but it's driving me insane.
