Makeup artist and hair stylist Kristen Linares has become the go-to St. Louis blogger for all things beauty. Owner of salon Thirteenth and Washington, she has spent the past eight years honing her craft, teaching hair color and styling techniques around the country, and running her blog, Beauty and the Brain, which won Best Beauty Blog during the Saint Louis Fashion Week Blog Awards.
T&S: Why and when did you start your blog, Beauty and the Brain?
KL: About a year and a half ago. I didn’t do it with the mentality that it would be a big thing, just something fun for me to do and to help grow my hair and makeup business.
T&S: What’s your personal beauty routine?
KL: I’m religious about cleansing, toning and moisturizing. I use Blissoma, a natural skin care line made in St. Louis. I use their cleanser, which is a makeup remover and cleanser in one. I use their toner, which allows the moisturizer to absorb more than what it would without the toner. I also use Blissoma’s anti-bacterial moisturizing serum. Sometimes under my eyes I’ll apply tinted moisturizer, whether it’s Chanel or Glo Minerals, and buff it in with an EcoTools brush. For a natural glow, I sweep a luster shimmer brick from Glo Minerals over my cheeks and nose.
T&S: What beauty tips do you have for those who might not be comfortable changing their look?
KL: There are no quick fixes for anything. You don’t go to the gym and just lose 10 pounds after working out for one day. It’s a change in your lifestyle. Cleanse, tone and moisturize day and night, because you’re exposed to outdoor pollution, grime and sweat. There’s no magic potion that’s going to instantly fix everything. Be mindful of what you’re putting into your body because it’s going to show on the outside.
T&S: Any advice for aspiring beauty bloggers?
KL: Stay true to yourself. The name of my blog is Beauty and the Brain because I like stuff that is beautiful on the outside but I also have the intelligence to budget myself. Be who you are in your blog and type your words as if you were speaking them.
T&S: Where do you get your beauty inspiration?
KL: I find inspiration in everything from the colors and textures in nature, the way music makes me feel, movies, music videos, and fashion weeks across the globe. A lot of my inspiration comes from my surroundings. If it’s a really gloomy day, I might do a blog post on how to cheer yourself up with bright clothing or lip colors.
T&S: What are some of your favorite products?
KL: I’m obsessed with Davines, which uses great-quality ingredients and lots of natural plant extracts. Their packaging is recycled materials and they plant trees in Costa Rica to offset their carbon emissions.
T&S: Where do you see your blog going in five years?
KL: I want to have a few more celebrity clients under my belt. My goal in St. Louis is to be creating celebrities rather than going after the ones that are already there. I would rather help someone grow into their image and create their image so that way when they go onto New York or L.A., they can say, “Kristen did all of my platinum blonde hair and my cat eye.”
By Marylyn Simpson