The stunning and savvy model, Abigail Ratchford, is taking the media world by storm as “The Queen of Instagram”, a title endowed to her by Maxim magazine.
With an accumulated fan base of over 13 million combined social media followers and over 500,000 views on her daily Snapchat stories, this stunning brunette is a true internet sensation.
Beyond her thriving modeling career she is bringing the business woman in her to the forefront and capitalizing on today’s social media obsessed world by developing a highly anticipated YouTube channel, featuring behind the scenes looks at her doing what she loves including, make-up and beauty tutorials, work out segments, and cooking features.
We sat down with the lovely Abigail and discussed everything from her signature scent to her morning and evening skincare routines.
1. What is your signature scent?
Narciso Rodriguez For Her. I came upon it while I was duty free shopping at London Heathrow Airport. I smelled the sale clerk’s perfume and must have sounded crazy because I followed her and asked what scent she was wearing. It’s been my scent ever since and I always get compliments!
2. Which three beauty products couldn’t you live without?
~ Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder
~ L’oreal Paris Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara
~ Mac Lip Pencil, either Soar or Whirlwind
3. Talk us through your morning and evening skincare routines. How are they different?
My morning routine starts off by waking up and order Starbucks via Postmates. When I have time, I stock up on these awesome Korean Face Masks near my house In Koreatown (K-Town). They offer so many options to choose from and at an affordable price! I leave the mask on for about 35 minutes and look through my emails. Unless I’m working that day I try to not apply makeup every day
My night routine is simple. As someone who wears makeup for a living, it’s extremely important that I thoroughly wash my face before I go to bed. And of course moisturize!
4. How does your skin type affect the sort of makeup you wear?
I have a combo of oily and dry so I have to be very careful about which products I use. That’s why I love Laura Mercier’s Setting Powder because it neutralizes my skin and provides my face with a clean palette to work with.
5. Talk us through your everyday makeup routine.
First and most important is to moisturize. Then I will apply NARS Beauty Blender and Highlighter and then blend. After I’ll use setting powder and let my face set for about 10 minutes. To finish I use a light finishing spray and top it off with some lip liner and lip plumper or shiny neutral gloss.
6. Strong eye or strong lip?
Eyes are my trademark feature, so if I want to emphasize their beauty I’ll apply a deep smoky eye with a neutral lip. But every now and then I want a dramatic lip so if the mood calls, I’ll use a deep red or even a dark brown lip with a neutral eye. It’s all about balance!
7. What’s the best piece of beauty advice you have ever been given?
My Aunt always had perfect glowing skin when I was growing up and when I was a teen I asked her what made her skin glow. She told me that if you have enough time, apply facial moisturizer and then sit in a heated bath and drink a glass of wine. The bath naturally relaxes your skin while achieving some blush. It gives your face that dewy glow from the combination of steam and moisturizer.
8. Everyone loves a Sunday night pampering session. Talk us through yours.
It starts with a leave in conditioner, I’ll put that in for about 20-30 minutes and keep my hair up in a messy bun. Next comes exfoliating — Sunday is the day I dedicate to starting fresh. After I moisturize and make sure to exfoliate my lips.
9. What is your most decadent beauty product?
My Body Moisturizer by La Mer. It runs for about $700 so I try to not use it too much and save it for special occasions.
10. What’s your favorite hairstyle for a glamorous night out, and how do you achieve it
If I’m feeling adventurous I’ll go for a sleek straight look with a middle part, but my beachy waves are my go-to. To get the look all I do is use a curling iron. I take about an inch wide of hair and wrap it around the iron for about 40 seconds. After all is curled I use my hands to break the curls a little bit and tease it out. Then add a little hairspray to set and there you have it! Beachy Waves.
11. What are your 5 ingenious uses for coconut oil?
~ Hair Moisturizer & Shiner
~ Cooking Oil
~ Skin Moisturizer
~ Shaving! Not many people know this but it makes for an excellent shaving cream and it doesn’t have any of the chemicals like alcohol that are found in most shaving creams,
~ Self Tanner Remover. Another fun and unique use! If I need to get rid of my tanner, I’ll apply coconut oil as a dry scrub with some dove soap and use a loofa to scrub it off. I like to sit on the edge of my bath and then wash it all off after.
Main image at the very top of the article credit: Benjo Arwas
