Bambi Does Beauty: Glamour Magazine's resident columnist shares her guide to mastering the 'Less is More' approach

In Conversation with Elle McNamara, otherwise known as @BambiDoesBeauty.

Elle founded @bambidoesbeauty back in 2016, inspired by her genuine interest and admiration for beauty. Since then, Elle has gone from strength to strength, named as "Inspirational blogger to follow” by Stylist Magazine in 2018 and is now a beauty columnist for Glamour magazine online. Within our interview Elle shares key recommendations, what treatments she’ll be treating herself to post lockdown and how her job as a beauty columnist at Glamour started from complimenting a Sunday Roast Dinner!

By Hannah Tappin

If you constantly dream of fresh-faced, glowing, dewy skin, Elle is your woman to turn to for beauty advice. On her instagram she posts reels, tips and advice for a whole host of skin related issues, spanning from acne, rosacea, dryness and sensitivity to name a few. What’s great and particularly unique about Elle’s account is that it seamlessly integrates beauty into a wider self care and wellness routine to enrich your sense of wellbeing and promote positive mental health. Alongside her beauty, Elle openly shares relatable life tips, personal struggles and comical expectation versus reality style posts. She is a breath of fresh air from contour heavy, over-filtered and promotions of perfection on Instagram. Her realness, authenticity and comical charm really shines throughout her posts and sets her apart.

Hannah: According to Pinterest's trend predictions 2021 report, 'Skinimalism is the new glow up'. This refers to a natural, effortless, simple and sustainable beauty look where the skin can shine through. I think your approach to beauty has consistently advocated this, why was this important to focus on for you personally?

Elle: I suppose it's always been important for me to create content that was authentically me, and for a good while now my personal aesthetic has been that less is more, undone look. It was only as my audience grew, I realised it was important to others - in an industry which was (at the time I began) saturated with heavy contouring and the need to falsify faces.

Hannah: Brilliant, your authenticity certainly shines through. For someone new to skincare regimes and perhaps feeling overwhelmed, what are key recommendations and advice you would give?

Elle: Introduce ONE product at a time. I often get photos sent to me with a whole range of new products that the persons bought, asking me when to apply each. I try and persuade them to hold fire, introducing one or two products maximum (say a cleanser and a moisturiser) as it’s the best way to know what's working (or not) for your skin. I'd also recommend determining what it is you want your skincare to do, is it pigmentation your concerned with? Acne? Dehydration/Dryness? Then you can look into products and ingredients accordingly. Know your skin first, and don't fall for every new buzzword ingredient on the market.

Hannah: Yes I think simplifying and personalising skincare can help a lot. Some great advice! Could you briefly talk through your journey into becoming an amazing, positively influential, beauty columnist at Glamour?

‘The editor and I followed each other on Instagram, and she put a story of her Sunday Roast, I replied saying it look uh-maze (it did lol) and she was like "Oh by the way we need to get you in the office to discuss you contributing to Glamour" I was shooketh!’.

Elle: This one always makes me smile because it was the most organic beginning! The editor and I followed each other on Instagram, and she put up a story of her Sunday Roast, I replied saying it look uh-maze (it did lol) and she was like "Oh by the way we need to get you in the office to discuss you contributing to Glamour" I was shooketh! We then met and it's been the most effortless and enjoyable role for me. It also keeps my brain ticking over as Instagram can feel a bit one dimensional sometimes, it's nice to have another outlet.

Hannah: Wow! That’s such a funny story. How crazy to think it all started from a Sunday Roast! HannahRoseInspired.com aims to inspire others to pursue their passions, creativity and examines the psychology behind creative industries, what role does psychology play in what you do?

‘Influencers are bridging the gap between the product and the consumer more than ever, and that's whats selling’.

Elle: I would say there's two major ways psychology plays into my industry.

1) First being, the consumer appetite for "influencers". Purchasing decisions are being made under the influence of a persons favourite content creator (whether it be Youtube/Instagram/TikTok). Gone are the days when a TV advert would grab our attention, influencers are bridging the gap between the product and the consumer more than ever, and that's whats selling.

2) Another way in which I believe psychology plays a part in what I do is the ever rising need for self care and wellness. Searches for skincare have sky rocketed since the pandemic, skincare is something people can take enjoyment from, from the comfort of their homes. We all know that beauty means so much more to people than just the way they look, it can make people feel a certain way too.

‘We all know that beauty means so much more to people than just the way they look, it can make people feel a certain way too’.

Hannah: Yes, I think ‘Genuinfluencers’ like yourself, are particularly influential to people in recent times! I agree self-care is vital for promoting positive mental wellbeing. Do you have any advice for young people on building confidence, self-esteem and believing in yourself?

Elle: Don't believe everyone! My dissertation for university was the original idea for Bambi, it was more fashion back then and in print, but still it was the idea that got me to where I am today, and it got a 2:2, which I was quite disappointed in as I'd been getting 2:1 and 1st's in the projects up until then. If I had sat around and thought about that for too long that might have put me off moving Bambi to Instagram, and creating Bambi Does Beauty.

You don't have to be the loudest person in the room, when there's a large group of people I'm probably the quietest. There's something to be said for quiet confidence.

Hannah: Yes I agree, quiet confidence can come across more genuine too. The pandemic has definitely forced many to do beauty routines at home, what are the essentials of your lockdown beauty regime and what treatments (not that you need any!) will you want doing when restrictions lift?

Elle: Oooooh that's a good one! Ahh the possibilities...Well, I've realised I'm a lot more low maintenance than I thought when it comes to beauty. I used to rely on my visits to the salon in London for my hair colour, now I'm growing my colour out and it's healthier than ever, so I'll be keeping it up for as long as I can hold out! One thing I miss MAJORLY is massages. I would literally go for a massage like every week. Thai ones are the best for me, there is also this chain of amazing walk-in seated massages in London called Walk In Backrub and I'd spend all my money there. I'm going to book myself in for an hour and a half massage once I can!

Hannah: That sounds amazing! A perfect way to de-stress after a very turbulent year! You stood out to me to feature because you have a strong voice of genuine authenticity in your content which I think is special and rare in the beauty space, how did you find your personal voice?

‘If we're really going to dig deep I think my need to be as 'me' as I can, comes from the want to connect with people. I'm very introverted and don't have many friends, and that's been my choice most of the time, but I love the connection I have with people across the world and that has always come from when I've been authentically me, so thats encouraged me to continue in that way’.

Elle: That's really kind of you to say, thank you. To be honest I've always been like this! I've always been vocal with my opinions and thoughts, not loud but just vocal when asked and very strong on what I liked and don't like, I'm not easy going (lol). If we're really going to dig deep I think my need to be as 'me' as I can, comes from the want to connect with people. I'm very introverted and don't have many friends, and that's been my choice most of the time, but I love the connection I have with people across the world and that has always come from when I've been authentically me, so thats encouraged me to continue in that way.

Hannah: I love that! Thanks for sharing so openly. I completely agree people are always most drawn to what feels most real. I think authenticity resonates more with people psychologically as it relates more closely to their genuine thoughts, feelings and emotions about beauty, amongst other topics. Connection I think is another fantastic thing to come out of social media, so it’s great your playing a huge part in a positive way! What would be your top piece of advice you would give to your younger self starting out having graduated from university?

‘Be your own brand!’

Elle: Be your own brand! It took me 5 years to finally do it after graduating but I remember my lecturer at the time telling us this and I was thinking "Why would I want to do that? I'll just get a job" turns out I'm the sort of person that works well on their own, and not on a 9-5 schedule working for others.

Hannah: Yes, I think work-schedules are changing to evolve to be more flexible than ever before, so I think this is a very useful piece of advice!I think your honest and minimal beauty approach is so inspiring, as it encourages women to embrace their beauty and natural skin, what and who inspires you?

Elle: Oooooh, well I've always been inspired by supermodels and magazine shoots. I used to mood board my walls with magazine cuttings. I loved Gemma Ward's wide eyes, Natalie Vodianova's baby face and Kate Moss' ethereal beauty. Nowadays I keep my inspiration on my Instagram saved (genius idea from Instagram there!).

Hannah: Wow! Very similar to myself! I still do mood boards everyday now! Yes, I think it’s hard for anyone not be mesmerised by 90’s Kate Moss’ captivating, ethereal beauty especially! Finally, one of my favourite parts of your feed is the hashtag #BambiDoesLife, where you share life advice in a sometimes comical, sometimes emotional and refreshingly honest way. What inspired or prompted you to start that and why was it important to you?

‘#BambiDoesLife was born out of that need to create content that went further than beauty. I hope it can make people, laugh, smile and relate to the circumstances I've been in and the ways I've felt’.

Elle: It's funny and oh so accurate your choice of words there, as those are the top three ways I'd describe myself. I was feeling like there was a part of me I wasn't able to show with beauty (my humour in particular and struggles with mental health) and #BambiDoesLife was born out of that need to create content that went further than beauty. I hope it can make people, laugh, smile and relate to the circumstances I've been in and the ways I've felt.

Hannah: Yes, I think it’s so important to show and embrace being multi-faceted as human beings, especially as women. You have certainly achieved your aim of making people, laugh, smile and relate to you. That’s exactly why you made such an impression on me personally. To see more of Elle’s beauty tips & tricks, click @BambiDoesBeauty. Thank you so much for featuring. For anyone looking for a beauty ‘skin-fluencer’ to follow for positive inspiration that provides an honest voice in a relatable way, look no further!