Kick off your shoes with Scotlass99!

Today in the "Kick Off Your Shoes with..." interview series we get to know the beautiful and talented Heather aka Scotlass99 from YouTube! Heather started doing makeup videos about 9 months ago and I'm so glad I came across her channel when I did. Not only does she have a beautiful accent that makes you want to listen to all her videos but she keeps you coming back for more just to see what she has come up with next. Her looks vary from soft and feminine to colorful and dramatic while still being completely wearable. Her videos also include fun tags, hauls and reviews.

ICM: At what age did you discover make-up and start wearing makeup and what did you wear at first?
SL: I’ve always been a girly girl really and I remember playing with my mum’s make-up when I was about 7 or 8. In fact, I recall doing my mum’s make-up for her at that age (It wasn’t pretty people!). I didn’t properly start wearing make-up until I was in high school, aged around 11. I remember using foundation and a dark plum shimmer lipstick, I’m sure it was Heather Shimmer by 17 cosmetics!

ICM: What made you really get into make-up (wearing and/or collecting)?
SL: When I was around 17-18, living my single girl life, my friend and I used to spend days in Frasers Department Store in Glasgow, which has an amazing beauty hall (with a MAC which ironically, I never went to until recently!). I remember my first ever high-end beauty product – YSL Touché Éclat. I had seen Geri Haliwell from the Spice Girls using it on a fly-on-the-wall documentary and remember thinking “If it’s good enough for her, it’s good enough for me” and I went out and bought one! The girls at the YSL counter were so friendly, and asked me if I’d like a makeover. Needless to say I went home with almost £100 worth of products! So for a while, everything was YSL! I then broadened my horizons and began to buy Lancôme products. I still have 4 of their eye shadows from their Wizard of Oz collection; a bright yellow, green, blue and orange, they are gorgeous! Then I met my other half, fell in love (awww!), bought a house together and settled down. I was no longer interested in spending £21 on mascara and would pick up whatever was cheapest in Boots! My love for make-up was still there, it was just further down on my list of priorities. Then I found the beauty community on YouTube and all those warm-and-fuzzy butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling that I used to get when thinking about make-up came flooding back!

ICM: What role did or does the YT beauty community play into your love of make-up?
SL: Well I stumbled over the YouTube make-up community by chance really. My first subscription on YT was lonelygirl15 (oh the shame of it!) and I came across a video by Amy04 - for those of you who haven’t seen her videos, go and check them out! I am now subscribed to over 200 YouTubers; I’m a bit of a video junkie and find it more entertaining than watching the TV! It plays a huge part in my love of make-up! I would never have thought of buying MAC products until seeing YouTube videos! I also wasn’t aware of how spoiled for choice all the American YouTubers are when it comes to make-up and I’ve made it my mission to try out all these products they rave about! Not an easy task, finding international shipping from the US to the UK is a nightmare!

ICM: Did you start out with drugstore makeup first? If yes what was the first brand(s) you remember using?
SL: I was a drugstore girl! In fact, I still am sometimes. I’m not a make-up snob and will try anything once! My first brands were things like Rimmel, 17, Collection 2000, Barry M and the Body Shop. I remember struggling to find the perfect foundation colour – I swung between an unflattering shade of orange and white!

ICM: Who’s your favorite Drag Queen?
SL: I love Paul O’Grady as Lily Savage. He/she is hilarious and totally over-the-top! Not sure if he/she is classed as a ‘drag-queen’ per-se…but he/she is the only one I can think of!

ICM: What was the first brand of high end makeup you ever remember using?
SL: As I’ve said, I was introduced to YSL by Geri Haliwell (in a round-a-bout way)! After purchasing the Touché Éclat, I finally managed to find my ideal foundation colour! Then I discovered my Holy Grail mascara, YSL Faux Cils! I remember the first time the assistant tried it on me. She did one eye and then handed me the mirror. I was stunned, my lashes were super long, thick and glossy – I was sold!

ICM: What are your staple items, the ones you can’t live without and have replaced at least once if not more?
SL: My ultimate, all-time, can’t live without item is Urban Decay Primer Potion. Who knew you could wear eyeshadow all day and it wouldn’t crease? When I first bought this product I was skeptical of its claims, but it really does keep your shadow looking great all day! I also love Studio Fix Fluid by MAC. It provides a nice, buildable coverage and gives a natural finish. It also wears well and doesn’t disintegrate from your face during the day like other foundations I’ve tried!

ICM: Bret Michaels or Dee Snider and why?
SL: I’m not really familiar with either of them! But Google tells me they are both rock stars! I’m going to say Bret Michaels because I saw a picture of him and he was wearing a nice headscarf!

ICM: Any makeup or skincare tips or tricks that you’d like to share?
SL: Blusher, blusher, blusher! It makes such a huge difference you the way you look! If I’m in a rush I will do foundation, blusher and mascara and I’m ready to go! I apply blush to the apples of my cheeks as it gives a more natural effect. Also, always remove your make-up! It doesn’t matter how tired I am I always make an attempt, and follow it with a good moisturizer. Apparently the skin repairs itself at night and therefore I slather on some Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Night Cream to help it along!

ICM: What would you say to someone who is just getting into makeup to help him or her get started on the right foot?
SL: Experiment! Get yourself a palette, such as my beloved 120 palette from eBay, and try out different colour combinations and don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone! Also, do your research. Not everything with the MAC logo is worth buying, so don’t be sucked in (sometimes easier said than done!)! Buy key colours and speak to the MUA’s, they are trained and should give you advice and tips.

ICM: What do you do for a living and how does makeup play a role in that if any?
SL: I work in Human Resources in the Public Sector, it’s not glamorous or exciting, but it pays the bills and funds my addiction! I wear very little make-up to work, because I’m always late and rushing about! So a full face of make-up doesn’t often factor into my daily routine where work is concerned!

ICM: If you had to label your makeup style what would you call it?
SL: Eclectic! One day I can have a neutral make-up look, the next a smokey eye look and then some crazy green look going on! It is determined by how creative I feel on the day!

ICM: Where do you get your inspiration for looks?
SL: I get inspiration from magazines, celebrities and other YT Guru’s! I like to re-create looks I’ve seen, but I try to mix it up and make it work for my face!

ICM: Was or is there a specific genre of music that influenced your makeup style?
SL: Sometimes the kind of music I’m listening to can influence the style of the make-up look, i.e. soft, sultry, wild, crazy depending on the type of music!

ICM: What is your favorite “go to” look if you have little time but don’t want to run out the door with a naked face?
SL: Ha! This is most days! I’m always running around late! My 5 minute face is Studio Fix Fluid (NC25 in Winter, NC30 in Summer) applied with clean fingers (don’t have time to fiddle around with brushes!). Next I conceal with Everyday Minerals Multitasking concealer, great for all-round coverage. I then apply mascara, currently Colossal by Maybelline or Rimmel Extra Super Lash by Rimmel and follow with MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty. For my lips it’s either Pearl and Shine Lip Balm by Nivea or MAC Lipglass in Underage.

ICM: Why did you start making videos on YT and or start a blog?
SL: Hmmm…good question! I had been watching videos for a while before I started making videos, but I finally caved. It looked like so much fun and once I got over my initial nerves it was fine! My first video was a contest entry for debstan1, another UK YouTuber, I didn’t win but I had such fun doing it! It’s a bit like an addiction and once you get a taste for it, you want more and more! I recently set up a Blog as a way of posting little nuggets of make-up goodness! It’s a lot easier to quickly post pictures of LOTD’s (Look of the Day) than to record, convert, edit, save and then upload videos! It’s in its infancy, and needs a lot of work, but I plan to put some hours into it over the next few months!

ICM: Looking back, what are some things you wish someone would have told you before you jumped into the makeup addiction?
SL: That I’d end up spending a lot of money! My view is that I don’t drink much or smoke, so I allow myself to indulge in my make-up addiction instead!

ICM: What is your favorite color?
SL: I love purple. From the lightest lilac to the darkest plum. It’s such a rich, decadent colour and I love it on my nails, my eyes and my clothes!

ICM: What is your favorite type of food or your favorite dish?
SL: I love Chinese food. I love when we have friends round, and we all order something different and it’s like a buffet, and we just pick away at all the dishes! Yum!

ICM: What other hobbies do you have?
SL: I’m a very creative person and I enjoy card-making, scrapbooking and making my own jewellery. My other half always laughs because whenever we go on holiday and take loads of pictures and I keep every single receipt, ticket and napkin so that I can compile a scrapbook when I get home! It’s very therapeutic though, and it helps to preserve memories that I would otherwise forget! On a cold, rainy day I love to snuggle up on the couch and reminisce!

ICM: What is your favorite 80s movie?
SL: I love Grease 2! Michelle Pheifer in that movie is amazing! When I was younger I wanted to be her in that movie! A lot of Grease snobs sneer at Grease 2, but it’s a fabulous movie!

ICM: What is your favorite online store(s) for beauty products or deals?
SL: You can’t beat eBay for a bit of beauty bargain-hunting! If I see something in a magazine or on YouTube, I will usually check eBay first to see if it’s cheaper! Also, eBay is a good source of international make-up items. I have also used www.hqhair.com which stocks make-up brands such as Nars, Laura Mercier and Urban Decay. They have a subsidiary site called HQOutletStore, which sells off make-up, skincare and bath & body products at vastly reduced prices!

ICM: Who is your favorite comedian?
SL: I love to laugh, it’s good for the soul. My favourite comedians are Lee Evans or Peter Kay. I also love ‘the big yin’ - Billy Connolly!

ICM: Anything else you’d like to share with the readers?
SL: I would like to thank the people who have subscribed to me and who leave the kindest comments! I really appreciate overy single one of you! And for those of you reading who haven’t already subscribed, what are you waiting for?! x

To find out more about Scotlass99 check out the links below!

YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/scotlass99
Blog address: http://www.scotlass99.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/scotlass99