Founded in 2006 by Beauty Expert Lianne Farbes, The Makeup Girl, is one of the most popular beauty blogs on the web. Named a Top 50 Beauty Blog, the website was also featured in InStyle’s 2009 Best of Web issue and has been listed among the best beauty blogs by Glamour.com and Woman’s Day.

Why did you decide to rebrand The Makeup Girl?
I wanted a fresher look that more closely reflected my personality and the voice of the site.

How does the new look better reflect your blog’s vision?
I love the bright colors! The shades are some of my personal favorites. I think the new look is more reflective of the conversational nature of the site. People always say that reading my blog is like hanging out with a girlfriend and overindulging in all things beauty.

In true blogger form, you asked your readers to vote between two logo designs and announced the winning design by way of an updated website. In what other ways do your readers help define The Makeup Girl brand?
My readers are the best! They always ask the smart questions (which I try to answer as quickly and concisely as possible!) and are so supportive. When I collaborated with MAC Cosmetics, some of them suggested that I launch an entire line! Reader loyalty and support pushes me to make The Makeup Girl as informative and useful as possible.

You were one of ten bloggers selected to participate in MAC Cosmetics Bloggers’ Obsessions Collection. Given their purchase influence, are bloggers the new celebrities?
Oh wow. I don’t know about that, but I do feel the collection broke down some barriers— especially in demonstrating the influence bloggers can have on a product or brand launch.

What other initiatives have you launched to broaden your community?
I always like to have my hands in the cookie jar! Getting my name out there has been incredibly helpful in cultivating community, while also helping establish The Makeup Girl as a beauty authority. Two years ago, I launched Cocktails & Couture, a beauty networking event held twice a year during New York Fashion Week. This past year, I was also fortunate to attend the Independent Spirit Awards in Los Angeles as an Aveeno brand ambassador. Appearing in television segments and aligning myself with select beauty brands has also helped enhance community growth.

The blogosphere has grown exponentially since you launched in 2006. What do you feel sets your blog apart from other beauty blogs?
That’s a really great question because I think a lot of people (including bloggers) minimize the amount of work that goes into writing a blog. That being said, The Makeup Girl is a blog that people can come to for real advice, real experiences and honest and insightful product reviews. In a sea of blogs that just copy and paste press releases, I think it’s important to have both a point of view that real women can relate to.