Launching her blog Caviar & Cashmere in 2011 to showcase the best-of-the-best in luxury lifestyle finds, last year saw founder Caitlyn Chase use her successful digital platforms to springboard further entrepreneurial pursuits – launching a skincare line of the same name. A veteran of the beauty industry, the Caviar & Cashmere brand played into Caitlyn’s long-held dreams of having her own line of non-toxic skincare products.
With the latest product in the range – the Intensive Eye Repair – launching earlier this month, we thought now was the perfect time to pull Caitlyn aside to take part in our latest Fast 50. Here she chats to us about all things beauty, blogging and business… and everything in between.
Missed the last articles in the 50 Questions series? Click the links to read interviews with Klarabellle, Monosigne’s Signe Nørtoft, Gemmacarlotta’s Gemma Surgo.
1. Age? 32
2. Height? 5’7”
3. Best beauty product of all time? My Caviar & Cashmere Skincare HydraLuxe Creme
4. Five beauty products you can’t live without? All four of my Caviar & Cashmere Skincare products, and the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
5. Hair “done” or messy? Done
6. Favourite fragrance? “Good Girl Gone Bad” by Kilian or Black Orchid by Tom Ford
7. Favourite item of clothing? My classic Chanel tweed blazer
8. Favourite fashion brand? Basically anything on Net-a-Porter
9. Gym or exercising outdoors? Outdoors
10. Healthy eating or treating yourself? A little bit of both
11. Can you cook? Yes! I love to cook, I find it very cathartic
12. Favourite food to indulge in? Talenti Mint Chocolate Chip Gelato or pizza!
13. First thing you pick from the mini-bar? M&Ms
14. Favourite hobby? Traveling!
15. A strange fact about you that followers might not know? I call my parents at least twice a day
16. Biggest fear? Bad sushi or being locked in an elevator
17. Blog or YouTube? Blog
18. Iphone or camera? Camera
19. Type of camera? Sony a7R IV
20. Lightroom or VSCO? VSCO
21. Favourite filter? The C-family in VSCO
22. Favourite way to edit pics? Natural light with subtle pops of saturation
23. 9-5 job or full-time influencer? Full-time blogger and brand founder
24. How did you first get your start in Instablogging? I started my career as a magazine writer, and then launched my blog in 2011. I created my social media as a supplement to the content I was writing on Caviar & Cashmere. My blog still remains my main platform
25. How much time goes into a normal picture found on your Instagram account? It depends what the purpose of the photo is. Some are photos taken in my daily life that are shot in the moment by a friend with one or two takes, others are for campaigns which can take hours, maybe a day, to conceptualize, plan and execute
26. What’s your top Instagram tip? Don’t take it (or yourself) too seriously
27. Who takes your pics? If I am shooting a campaign, I will work with a talented photographer. Right now, I call my friend Cesar Uribe to shoot any campaigns that come my way
28. Career highlight since being an influencer? Olay asked my mom and I to model in an advertising campaign for a new launch, which ended up being a 2-page spread that was printed in big magazines all over the U.S. It was a dream to do something like this with my mom, who used to be a model and is still today my biggest champion
29. Career lowlight since being an influencer? I aim to remain optimistic and always see things in a positive light or as a learning. One challenge has been ensuring brands recognise my talent and realise what my work is worth, and when they do not, walking away and having the strength to say no and leave money on the table
30. Best campaign you’ve ever worked on? That’s a tough one, I have had the pleasure of working with so many greats brands. The most memorable campaign was in 2018, when I was sent to Tel Aviv to work with the Israeli Foreign Trade Administration on a beauty campaign with Israeli cosmetic brands
31. Worst thing that’s happened to you on a photo shoot? The photographer lost his memory card after a full day of shooting
32. The best gift you’ve ever received as an influencer? Wow, that’s a good question and so tough to answer. I am thankful for everything I’ve received, but the most meaningful are the gifts with true thought behind them, such as a monogrammed purse or a trip with a custom itinerary planned just for me
33. Last thing you googled? Flights from LA to NYC
34. Favourite film? ‘Casablanca’
35. Favourite book? ‘The Forty Rules of Love’ by Rumi
36. Living in the city or living by the beach? I grew up in Malibu, so definitely by the beach
37. Favourite travel destination? South Africa, Italy, or Turkey
38. Most Instagram-worthy spot? Beverly Hills Hotel or Santorini, Greece
39. Top three essentials to pack when traveling? Pre-planned outfits, a camera, and a Global Entry card!
40. Going out clubbing or quiet dinner with friends? Quiet dinner with family or friends
41. Partner or single? Currently in love with my freedom
42. Siblings? One older sister
43. What city are you currently living in? Los Angeles
44. Celebrity/influencer crush? @garyjanetti (he’s SO funny, but unfortunately is taken and does not play on my team)
45. Pets? A gigantic Goldenoodle named George
46. What is your best asset? My optimism
47. Biggest misconception about you and your job? That this industry is vapid and does not require any talent
48. Top five Instagram accounts to follow? @cnntravel @voguemagazine @nochill @byrdiebeauty @forbes
49. Favourite quote you live by? “If it isn’t a ‘hell yes’ then it is a no”
50. Top career tip? Your network is your net-worth, so be kind to everyone you meet.
All images: Caitlyn Chase
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