Cupcakes and Cashmere’s Emily Schuman on what makes her happy

By Natasha Bruno

February is a tough month for even those among us not depleted by SAD.

To help battle the blahs, we look to celebrity blogger Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere fame—we had a moment to sit down with her during her recent trip to Holt Renfrew in Toronto—about the perfume and the pretty things that keep her glowing and upbeat, year-round.

QUESTION: What is your favourite fragrance or beauty product that’s an instant pick me up?

SCHUMAN: I wear Carnal Flower by Frederic Malle. It’s basically pure tuberose. I think oftentimes those white florals, which I’m usually drawn to, can go a little sweet, and a little bit more summery. This one has like some sort of underlining note that makes it almost a little woodsy, and it kind of has like this sexy sultry take on it. And I’ve been going through the bottle so quickly, I’m embarrassed. I’ll spritz it on myself at night before I get into bed. I’m just so obsessed with it. It’s also one of the first fragrances that people have literally stopped me on the street to ask me what I’m wearing. It’s pretty incredible. You always hear that written up in magazines being like ‘people actually…’ but I mean I’ve had women run after me. It’s pretty crazy.

Q: Do you have a favourite beauty product that’s your go-to pick me up too?

SCHUMAN: It’s called St Tropez, and it is a shimmer lotion. And the person who does my makeup—often I’m working with Estee Lauder since I’m their guest blogger—always dabs it on my cheekbones up to my brow bone. And it just gives you like this luminescence. It smells really nice and fresh, and it’s just one of those things that despite how much makeup you’re wearing—like if you’re wearing only concealer, only mascara—if you dab a little bit of that on, your face just has that inner glow kind of look. 

Cupcakes and Cashmere—the book—by Emily Schuman, $22, www.chapters.indigo.ca