Home to trendsetting style photographer Style.com contributor Tommy Ton, Jak and Jil is where I always go for sartorial inspiration. Ton’s photographs have a grittier quality than those posted on blogs like The Sartorialist and tend to focus just as intently on details like bags and shoes as they do the whole outfit.

Ton’s source material also tends to be more interesting – he photographs the editors, buyers and style icons that attend global fashion events as they’re entering and leaving shows and presentations, as well as models and designers. From time to time, he also does personal shoots with particularly stylish people like Vogue Nippon’s Anna Dello Russo. The blog is short on text and long on gorgeous street photography, just like I like it.

Visit Jak and Jil!

Maybe it’s Amy’s beautiful accent?

Maybe it’s her beautiful face?

Maybe it’s her unbridled honesty and bravery in trying anything and everything.

Or maybe it’s all of the above.

Whatever the reason, Makeup and Beauty is one of the sites I visit on a daily basis.

Best of all, Amy has recently added a Swapsies section for you to buy or swap makeup you no longer want!

I am so excited this week. You’ll find out why in a minute!

Inside Out Danielle is the brain child of Canadian blogger extraordinaire, Danielle Swain. To complement the site, Danielle also has an awesome You Tube Channel that I am, quite simply, addicted to.

There’s a number of reasons why we love Danielle’s blog. For a start, she’s absolutely GORGEOUS and it’s always nice to see beautiful people, isn’t it?

Secondly, she knows her stuff. Tips, tricks, hints. They’re all here and Danielle patiently explains them in some of the best tutorials I’ve seen.

Thirdly, she’s honest. Like me (yay, I found a kindred spirit), Danielle suffers from acne. Rather than hiding it, Danielle actually has a video tutorial of her with bare skin. So so brave and so empowering at the same time.

Finally, Danielle’s site isn’t just about makeup. Throughout her videos, we get to see Derek (her partner) as well as her lovely sister, Channy. They’re all so nice that it makes me want to move to Canada!

I was lucky enough to catch up with Danielle and ask her a few questions. Yay, our first very blogger interview! Read on to find our more about Danielle.

When did you become interested in makeup and all things beauty?

I always enjoyed playing with make-up and nail polish growing up, I remember watching my Grandmother apply it in the mornings thinking to myself “I can’t wait until I’m older!” I believe it was in grade 5 that I got my first play make-up, you know the kind you can barely see but it made you feel so glamorous haha. Well that’s when it all began. Went through many phases that’s for sure. This is when the “makeovers” began. I feel bad for my poor sister. I used to beg and beg her to let me do her hair, makeup and play “Spa”. She’s younger than me by less than 2 yrs but really wasn’t a girly girl. Thankfully she indulged me from time to time and let me do her make-up. Now a day’s watch out, I’ll do everyone’s make up. Of course if they let me. Sometimes begging comes into play, but typically people are more trusting considering my skills have developed more.

I really didn’t get fully into make-up until after I turned 18 though. It was then I started playing around with eye shadow, liner, discovering blush and bronzer. I didn’t think of it as an addiction and a career option until I started to get adult acne, I’ve always had spots here and there but they came full on at about age 20. That’s when I started experimenting with brushes, concealers, foundations, and really researching make-up. I started playing up my eye make-up creating dramatic eyes and playing with colors to bring the focus to my eyes rather than my awful skin.

What inspired you to start your website and YouTube Channel?

As you may or may not know, I currently work from home. Working from home is a pretty cool thing, but there are times when I do get lonely! Since I was looking for a way to be more social and to be more out there I decided to give YouTube a try. I just discovered the world of YouTube about a year ago and thought that would be great for me! I can’t live a day without obsessing about make-up and thought that I too could share some tips and tricks I had learned over the last two years dealing with my acne. I never expected anyone to really care what I had to say so I was surprised when more than 100 people started watching my videos! It truly is the best feeling in the world! It really has given me so much motivation to be more than just a YT’er I want to make this a profession. I’m currently looking into going to school to become a legitimate make-up artist! I can’t wait. Seriously I can’t! I literally am up late at night Googling and bursting from the seams at the very thought.

My site really came shortly after; I can honestly tell you the site wasn’t my idea, rather an idea from my boss. I’m glad he came up with the idea because now I love it! It’s basically like my own personal diary haha. I great way to get my obsessions out the in open, it really isn’t your typical site though, it’s still in the works but I hope to do more with it. So keep your eyes peeled!

What is the toughest part of being a guru?

It’s crazy being labeled as a Guru, I feel I haven’t quite earned that label as of yet. I am trying though! I have to say though trying to gain that respectable title has been quite tough but in a good way! Trust me it so is! There is a lot of work to it, more than a lot of people know. But with goals, dreams, aspirations there always is. But honestly the “hater” comments. Even though I haven’t gotten many it really is the toughest. I don’t where these people come from but its awful that they feel the need to bring people down. If you don’t like it don’t watch it, as simple as that. I don’t get why someone would put in the effort to leave a nasty comment rather than just watch something else. Who knows!

What is the best part of being a guru?

Oh my goodness there is so many sweet things that have come with being a “Guru” even though I’m working towards that title so far I have to say that the best part is the support! No word of a lie! That is seriously the best feeling in the world! I started doing YouTube as a past-time and a way to become more social and never would have thought I would get the love I’ve gotten so far. I feel like I have made so many friends, not to be cheesy and melodramatic but it’s the truth.

What hints and tips do you have for any other would-be gurus who want to start their own website or channel?

I’d for sure be yourself. People can see through “fake-ness”. Don’t try to be someone your not. I know we’ve all heard that before, but it’s seriously the best piece of advice you can take. Alongside with the obvious. I have to say is just to relax, no matter what you do someone is going to have an opinion, don’t be afraid to be open and say what you want to say. I find a lot of people censor what they really want to say and I feel it makes all the difference just being true to yourself, if you don’t agree with something than that’s cool, we’re not all the same and that’s a good thing so let’s stick to that. As for a website, PROOF READ! I absolutely hate having to do this but it’s seriously a make or breaker.

What is your daily skin care routine?

Still wanting to try a few other skin care lines, but I keep going back to this one:

Morning, wash face with Spectro Jel cleanser, exfoliate with St. Ivest Apricot scrub (make sure to be very gentle this exfoliater is very abrasive), rinse, pat dry and then apply my Cetaphil Daily moisturizer with SPF 15. Then I go on with my make-up. Oh and of course don’t forget chap stick! I use whatever’s around to me chapstick is chapstick. I prefer Chapstick brand or the Polysporin brand but anything will do fine.

Night, I use sensitive baby wipes just to get the make-up off, and then I wash with my Spectro Jel Cleanser and a warm face cloth (I take a new on daily just to make sure its clean) and gently rub in a circular motion, I then rinse and watch my face again to make sure there isn’t any trace of make up this time without the face cloth. Then again with my Cetaphil lotion. If I have any spots I typically use my Freeman’s clay facemask and dab on to affected areas then go to bed, I found this has really helped dry up stubborn pimples.

And that’s about that. Nothing fancy.

Can you name 5 products that you cannot live without?

Oh this is easy! NARS Sheer Glow foundation [Jane: Oh I totally agree on this one, love the Sheer Glow], Cetaphil moisturizer with SPF 15, MAC Mineralize Skin Finish-Natural, St. Ives Apricot Scrub, and my NARS Laguna bronzer, I could of kept going lol. Those for sure are products I seriously couldn’t live a day without, they have become a necessity like water! Yea, that’s right I said it. All you ladies know you have those products too.

What do you think are going to be the big trends for the rest of 2010.

Make-up wise I’d have to say dramatic liner for sure! I think bold lips are making a huge comeback, I’ve seen alot of people straying from their concealer lipsticks. This is exciting! haha. Fashion wise, Maxi dresses without a doubt in my opinion! We shall have to wait and see

Thanks Danielle – what fabulous responses!

The Muse is a blogging icon and an all round nice gal.

An insurance broker by day, beauty blogger by night, her site is updated regularly and is chock full of wonderful beauty treats.

The Muse is always honest, a wonderful trait in a beauty blogger, which means you will always get a fair and impartial review.

Did I mention she’s hella funny too?

I highly recommend her site. It’s informative, fun and a must read.

If you’re totally a makeup girl and don’t venture onto fashion blogs very often, I have to urge you to take a look at Refinery29 from time to time. They do an excellent job with fashion news, trends, and the occasional beauty blast, and they come up with great slideshows in particular.

Recently, they rounded up their choices for the coolest (or warmest?) nail polish shades for spring, and I liked their picks so much that I decided I couldn’t improve on them. My favorite of them all was Illamasqua’s bright yellow, but you’ll have to check out their blog to see it for yourself.

Read the Top 10 here!

A recent discovery for me, Lipglossiping is the brainchild of English fabulouso, Charlotte.

Charlotte is absolutely fearless in her trials of all the latest and greatest products. Her amazing photography, combined with honest opinion is wonderfully refreshing and a must visit. I especially love her lipstick reviews.

Charlotte was recently the very first UK blogger to trial the Alice in Wonderland palette from Urban Decay – which gives you an indication of the esteem in which she is held.

SHE IS AWESOME.

If you want to know all about the latest nail collections from a wonderfully kind and generous lady, then look no further than Getcha Nails Did.

Blogger Brooke has been in this nail game a while. And it shows. She has an amazing nail polish recall, a collection to be envied, and her nails are stunning. Everytime I look at her site, I end up adding more to my lemming list.

It also helps that Brooke is a kind and generous blogger. She is known for her fantastic contests. And she is incredibly supportive to new bloggers, linking to them and promoting them from her site.

I have to warn you though – go to Brooke’s site and you will walk away wanting more lacquers. That’s a promise.

Cora, from Vintage or Tacky, is a ray of sunshine in the beauty world.

She is gorgeous.

She is hilariously funny and entertaining.

And the girl is talented. Uber talented. Super duper uber talented.

Indeed, when it comes to bright, exquisite makeup tutorials, Cora is usually my first stop. She is utterly fearless and her execution is second to none.

As with all the blogs we love, Vintage or Tacky is a time-vacuum. I can spend hours there and not even notice the time go by!

Ok, so technically, Plasticland isn’t a blog. It’s a shop. But it’s a shop I can spend hours (and lots of cash) in.

These guys specialise in all things retro. But unlike many retro shops, which charge you an arm and a leg, Plasticland is extraordinarily cheap. Seriously, these Mary Jane pumps are only $39!

My only warning? Go armed with a credit card. It’s addictive stuff.

Being Australian myself, I’m always on the look out for Aussie beauty blogs.

For me, they don’t come any better than Violet Le Beaux. Utterly unique, completely innovative and an absolute thrill to read. Just to give you an indication of the infinite creativity of Violet, she recently did a tutorial on how to store eyelashes in a cake. No, really. Check out the link.

Violet is a person who never lets the mundaneness of life stifle her passion for the innovative. I absolutely adore her.

Reading Spoiled Pretty is like sitting down with your favourite girlfriend for a chat.

It’s owner, Daneen, is one of the sweetest people in the blogosphere, but don’t mistake that sweetness for being a pushover. If she doesn’t like something, she’ll say it – straight out and honestly.

What I love about Spoiled Pretty is that Daneen answers all those burning questions we all have. She has an almost uncanny way of knowing what people’s fears and trepidations are with makeup.

We love Daneen at Spoiled Pretty. Definitely worthy of being a Blog We Love.

If you have a blog you love, let us know and we’ll check it out. It could end up being one of the blogs we love!

Pixiwoo isn’t strictly a blog. Although sisters Samantha and Nicole have a website called Fashion Face, it is their You Tube Channel that attracts close to 100,000 subscribers.

These sisters have the most addictive tutorials. I settle down in the evening planning to watch just one, and end up watching 10. They are straight forward, to the point, and expert in their craft.

Once again, I warn you about the addictiveness of the Blogs We Love. If you do go and visit Pixiwoo, be sure to put some time aside.