Beauty tips, Trends and Products
Added: (Mon Mar 11 2019)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
tiny little sparkle particles in it and brings the dew in a very photo-ready way. I Elodie David Touboul, Fashion Director, Self Service
The #ITGTopShelfie interview series focuses on the beauty routines of Into The Gloss' lovely, accomplished, and loyal community of readers. Submit your own on Instagram—post your Top Shelfie (tag us @intothegloss!) and include the hashtag #ITGTopShelfie for a chance to be featured on ITG.
"Hiya! My name is Courtney and I live in North Carolina. I’m currently a student pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts. I study acting, so I’m always reading new plays and seeing shows with my friends—though Seinfeld on Hulu is good too. [Ed note: watch this.] I definitely relate to Elaine and Kramer on a spiritual level.
I love expressing myself with my hair—it’s incredibly liberating. During the winter, I usually put my natural hair in a wig to promote growth and protect it from dryness. With wigs, you can change your look instantly without sacrificing the health of your natural hair. If it doesn’t look good, you can just take it off—it’s amazing. I still love dyeing my hair crazy colors though—it’s most recently been forest green and a purple-y silver. I wash every two weeks with OGX Coconut Shampoo and Conditioner, and I also co-wash on some days.
In the mornings, I wake up and set my intentions for the day before I start my skincare. I had breakouts in late elementary and middle school, but my skin has cleared up tremendously since then—I’m so glad I finally have products that I know work for my skin. I go in with Clean and Clear to cleanse—the Morning Burst one in the morning when I’m taking my shower, and then the Night Relaxing one before I go to bed. At night, I take off all my makeup with whatever makeup wipe I have on deck, plus a splash of micellar water. I use the Target Apricot Scrub to clear pores on my chin, nose, and upper cheeks—it has small beads that gently exfoliate your face and leave it feeling smooth. And I always spray my face with Heritage Store Rosewater to lock in the moisture.
While it’s true that everyone’s got them, they carry significant cultural and historical heft in the Black and Latinx communities. To understand their importance is to understand the diversity of hair within these groups—not from person to person, but on an individual scale from hairline to kitchen. Baby hairs are softer and thinner than the rest of the hair on our head—in a fraction of an inch you can go from straight to coily. This is a wild and exciting experience for sure, and it’s also an invitation to a different styling opportunity, which in turn requires a different set of tools (more on that in a minute).
None of this is to erase the current conversation about baby hairs and appropriation, which is a larger conversation and one I'm happy to have. But for the moment, I'd like to simply celebrate the breadth of styling directions they present. Into The Gloss assembled somewhat of a dream team to come up with a few ideas. Hairstylist Rachel Lee and makeup artist Mimi Quiquine behind the scenes, and models Chavi St. Hill and Farhiya Shire in front on the lens. The outcome? Oh, baby.
My nighttime routine is a miracle. Clarifying cleanser, glycolic toner, retinol, and moisturizer—four products my skin is very clearly happy with. Add Zit Stick or a pimple patch when necessary and there’s no errant breakout I can’t solve. But at the moment, I do all my “fixing” at night. Should I ever be faced with a blemish or rough texture…how do you continue to perfect it during the day? Turns out I’ve been staring at the solution for years. Grown Alchemist Detox Serum is a product I stashed in my boyfriend’s medicine cabinet for god knows what reason. I thought it was your run of the mill, hydrating antioxidant serum with a nice rose smell—but peek at the ingredients list and lo and behold! There’s lactic acid! That paired with tri-peptides and aloe vera leaves my skin plump and ready for the day, and somehow looking even better when I get home. I’m not a fan of surprises, but this was a particularly good one this month. —Emily Ferber
The best thing about getting very coily hair blown out at a salon is that someone else does it for you. Similarly, the worst thing about getting very coily hair blown out at a salon is that someone else does it for you. There’s been plenty of times I’ve told the hairstylist to keep the blowdryer heat to an absolute minimum...but the fear, of heat damage, or stressed or damaged curls looms with each pass of the hot air. I’ve quelled my worries with this Finishing Serum from Iles. With the consistency of a leave-in conditioner, it left my hair velvety and cushioned in a way I only experience with Day 1 curls after wash day. It also has a laundry list of oils, nutrients, and UV protectants that will obviously make my hair the strongest it’s ever been—I think I’m going to try it as a styler too, can’t hurt right? —Utibe Mbagwu
If we’ve established that my night routine is solid (and that I now have a day serum that keeps my skin working its hardest), the last needle to thread in my otherwise very satisfying routine is the proper day moisturizer. I’ve always felt the Lancer line was a little too Hollywood and grownup for me—but let me tell you, there’s a reason all the Hollywood grownups are using this stuff. The Dani Skin Perfector is a light moisturizer that has would not call it tinted—you’re not covering anything up—but there is a skin-evening glow that is addictive. I spread it on and I feel like Victoria Beckham. I like that feeling. —EF