Karoline Herr: The beauty, fashion & interior blogger behind FROLLEIN HERR

Meet Karo: founder and all-around amazing woman behind Frollein Herr, a blogzine where she shares her insight on fashion, beauty, and interior design.

First thing first, tell us how you got into beauty.

Well, my love for everything beautiful and aesthetic started at a young age while playing dress-up, making pearl bracelets in my room, or going through my mother's beauty cabinet. But it was when I was about 13 or 14 that I learned that fashion or beauty could really be a career. So after school, I studied literature with a clear goal to work as a fashion and beauty editor, and luckily that’s what I became. I worked for two big fashion magazines in the beauty department before founding my own blog.

Where do you usually find out about new products and beauty trends?

My main channel for info and trends of all sorts is definitely Instagram. My feed is filled with products, stylings, and reviews. Besides that I regularly read magazines (online and offline), look at runway shows, backstage pictures, campaigns and listen carefully to my readers or girlfriends.

As a beauty editor, you receive tons of new products to try. But how many are actually making it into your daily rotation? And how do you choose the lucky ones that end up being on your bathroom shelf?

Wow – to be honest: 10 to 20% maximum! It is such a shame that I can’t try and test everything but I only have one head of hair, ten fingers, one face, and one body. But I like to give products to my sister or close friends to test and let me know their thoughts afterward. The ones that I personally want to try are the ones that I already know and that worked really well for me or products that make me curious. This could be because of an ingredient, the brand philosophy, a new texture, or a great product and brand design. Beauty is so personal – it honestly just has to click. 

Right, we want to know your beauty secrets. What is your daily beauty regimen? What is your weekly beauty regimen?

Two years ago I struggled with Perioral Dermatitis which is a skin condition related to using too many different products. Since then I’m trying to keep my routine as simple as I can: Micellar water, Cleanser, Toner, Serum & cream. I exfoliate twice a week (enzyme peel or AHA) and use a purifying mask. The most important step for me personally is the cleansing part. I just love pure & freshly cleansed skin.

An expensive-but-worth-it product or treatment?

Wow. There simply are too many. Over the years I tried several products that were really expensive but absolutely worth it. For example Royal Fern, Susanne Kaufmann, or La Mer in the skincare department. For perfumes, I absolutely love high-end niche brands like Vilhelm Perfumery – expensive but amazing.

Let’s talk about body care. What are your favorite products?

I have to admit: I never use a cream on my body (except sun protection). I don’t really know why, but I always get cold so fast after showering or taking a bath that I cant wait to get dressed again. But I do love bath oils. One of my favorites is by Susanne Kaufmann.

What is your favorite workout? And your favorite supplement?

And again: not my favorite beauty part! I don’t do sports. And I mean NEVER. I played tennis from age 5 to 18 and trained every single day and when I turned 18 I realized that I didn’t really like it and stopped from one day to the other and haven't moved since. I’m terribly lazy and haven’t found a sport that I really enjoy. But I really hope that this won’t stay like this forever. I love supplements that are as clean as it gets and really do their job.

Tell us one of your best-kept beauty secrets.

I’d be a really bag beauty blogger if I didn’t share my beauty secrets ;) So no secret tips that I haven’t told.

Are there any beauty secrets that your mother or grandmother passed down to you?

Don’t forget to put cream on your neck!

What are the three beauty products you always have in your handbag?

Comb (for my long bangs), lipstick (usually more than one), and a mattifying powder (I get oily very quickly).

Favorite App on your phone?

Instagram!

What is your self-care approach?

I try not to be too strict with myself and learn to forgive mistakes or little flaws. This is a tough task when working in the beauty and fashion industry, but I’m getting better every day.

And now, a quickfire round. Last thing before bed?

Reading. Have been doing it for years and can not go a night without it. Sometimes it’s just for five minutes, sometimes for an hour but nothing quiets my mind as effectively as a good book (bloody thrillers are my favorite). Afterward, I sleep like a baby.

First thing in the morning?

Eating breakfast. I always wake up hungry and have to eat right away.

Your favorite holistic destination?

My bed. Nothing gives me more peace than a good nights sleep.

What is your best hidden talent?

I learn song lyrics really fast without wanting it! that's actually a talent that is not always as pleasurable as it sounds because I know every word of really bad songs or tv commercials too.

What is one dream you have that you have yet to accomplish?

To really live in the moment. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been chasing something and working hard to get somewhere or wait for something. As it turns out: that “somewhere” or “something” is a myth. So I’d really like to try and enjoy myself more, look sideways instead of just being focused on the road in front of me.

And last but not least: how do you like your water?