Creator of the Week: @blushing_bookworm
Meet Emily from @blushing_bookworm, a standout beauty creator on Iris. We had the chance to Interview Emily, and love her point of view in the beauty space. She strives to always be her authentic self "in a space overrun by faux perfection. I’m just a girl who loves sparkles and feeling my best."
How would you describe yourself as a creator?
“I would describe myself as a raw creator; nothing I create is polished or heavily edited in any way. My passions are swatches and makeup looks, most of which are at least semi-“wearable.” I want to show my followers how the looks appear in real life. I have acne I don’t work to cover, my hair is kind of always a mess, I’m not always dressed up. I strive to always be my authentic self in a space overrun by faux perfection. I’m just a girl who loves sparkles and feeling my best.”
What led you to join the beauty community?
“I joined the beauty community ultimately because I’ve never had anyone in my life to share my near-obsessive love for makeup with. I know people who love to wear makeup, but I’ve never known someone in my personal life who loves the craft of makeup, such as varying formulas, different finishes, luxurious packaging, etc., like I do. I love to discover new brands, try new techniques, and keep up with the new beauty launches. The beauty community gave me a place full of kindred spirits whose passions lie in the same places. I’ve made such good friends and found an outlet for my creativity, and I couldn’t be happier!”
What's your favorite thing about Iris?
“What I love about Iris is that it’s completely beauty-focused. I’m an Instagram creator, and sometimes it isn’t good for my mental health to see everything else on the app—like models with perfect bodies, celebrities, picture-perfect homes, etc. Iris keeps it to what I’m actually interested in and never makes me feel inadequate or insecure. It is a space of positivity that I really need in a social media app. I can’t wait for it to grow with even more beauty lovers who need the same thing.”
What are your top three beauty products of the moment?
Kosas Revealer Foundation
“This foundation is my holy grail and has been since it came out. It just never fails to make my skin look its best. It has a satin/natural skin finish, lasts so well on me, never emphasizes any dry spots, hydrates without making me look oily, and never breaks out my sensitive skin. It’s safe to say I’m obsessed.”
RMS Re-Dimension Powder Blushes
“These blushes are like the equivalent to drinking a gallon of water and staying on top of your skincare routine. The glow is intense yet doesn’t emphasize texture at all. It almost gives the appearance of a cream blush, but has the ease of use and lasting power of a powder blush.”
Róen Kiss My Liquid Lip Balm (especially the shade Charlie)
“This is the lip balm that stays in my purse at literally all times—I never want to live without it. It is the epitome of a comfortable gloss. It has a subtle minty fragrance that is so pleasant, it is so cushiony on the lips, fills in my lip lines, and goes with every single eye look I ever do. It’s a my-lips-but-better shade for me. It nourishes my lips and has decent lasting power for a glossy balm. The only thing that hurts a little is the price tag, but I think it’s worth it. I’ve gone through nearly 3 tubes at this point!”
What's something you want your followers to know about you?
“This is a hard one, because I truly find myself entirely uninteresting, but I guess I could talk about where my love of makeup comes from… Everyone’s got that one ~cool aunt~, right? Mine is basically a beauty and fashion icon. When I was around 8, I begged her to do my makeup. She only put on a sage green shadow on my lids and a mid-toned pink shade on my lips, but when I turned around and looked in the mirror, I was enamored by how it transformed my face. A bit young, I must admit, but I kept wearing makeup from then on out.
The other reason is, when my mom went through chemo and lost all of her hair and eyelashes, she had a similar reaction to my 8 year old self when she first saw her eyes with false lashes on. Makeup gave her back her confidence, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that.”
What's your favorite thing about the Iris community?
“I love that the Iris community is filled with genuine beauty lovers who want to share with others the products that make them feel like their best selves. Everyone is so kind in communicating with others, and they are so thorough and helpful in their product reviews. I have already learned so much about different products I want to try, and I can be confident that they really are good! In the same way, I trust the reviews steering me away from trying certain products. It’s just a one-stop-shop for beauty lovers to help one another out and share their honest opinions.”
What's your favorite beauty trend of the moment?
“I’m loving that pink blush has been so popular lately. I think it’s beautiful on everyone and gives the most natural, youthful, brightened appearance to the face.”
Do you have a game changing beauty tip that leveled up your makeup or skincare routine?
“For makeup, blush and bronzer placement really makes a big difference. I no longer put bronzer so much in the hollows of my cheeks, but more on my cheekbones where the sun naturally hits. I also apply my blush higher on my cheekbones, almost blending into the corner of my eyeshadow. Both of these give me such a naturally lifted look.
For skincare, toner in the morning has made a huge difference for me. As simple and common as it is, it wasn’t something I ever did before. Just a little toner on a cotton ball and it gently exfoliates my skin and gives it a plumpness that makes makeup go on so much better. Not exactly groundbreaking, but it has been a game changer for me.”
