'Tonight I’m going to the Parley for the Oceans benefit at the United Nations—my friend, a photographer who's very involved with ocean-life conservation, invited me to go with him. I volunteer with organizations that work on environmental protection and sustainability around the city, so it's something I'm definitely interested in. Now that I'm back in school, I really enjoy going to talks or events with like-minded people to have conversations about the world. I can't go out as much because I have class during the week, though. But on the weekends, I'll go out with Hanne, Jacquelyn, and Kasia to a bar or a party just to dance and have a little fun.

Tonight, I have a few friends over to help with hair and makeup— Braydon Nelson for my hair and Mark Edio for my makeup. Braydon is Canadian, too, and I think I met him through Toni Garrn because she's really good friends with him. And then Mark is conveniently my neighbor—he's obsessed with my dogs, so he'll come over when I'm not home and walk them. They're good friends, and they came up with my look tonight after I showed them my dress from Valentino. It's a bit dreamy and really intricately beaded, so they went for a summery, bronze look with a bit of a ‘70s wave.

We decided it was best to have my hair down. I’m always wearing it up every day anyway, so it’s a nice change for events. Braydon set my wet waves using R+Co One Prep Spray and then diffused my hair to dry it. After he brushed it out, we sprayed some Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray at the root then applied R+Co Tinsel Smoothing Oil on the ends. Because it's an event, we finished with R+Co Outer Space Flexible Hairspray for the humidity.

Masking is super important before I go out. I'm always masking. The SK-II Facial Treatment Mask is really hydrating, more so than any other mask. They’re great for traveling, too. That’s why I buy them. I just pop one in my bag, and it’s easy rather than carrying around a big bottle of essence or something like that. I’ll even put them on during a flight sometimes. It preps my skin for makeup before events. It’s always good to have healthy skin for events.

I don’t wear tons of makeup, but if I do, I’ll do a little liner, mascara, and some highlighter. For the most part, I just try to have nice, healthy, fresh skin. Tonight, we used Flawless Ethereal Fluid Foundation from Three Cosmetics. Then Mark highlighted my face with Nars Illuminator in Copacabana and sculpted with Charlotte Tilbury's Filmstar Bronze and Glow for a soft definition. I don't normally contour myself, but Mark knows my face, so I trust him.

I really like Nars products for everything—lips and eyes. Their colors and textures are really nice. On myself, I usually just do a lip, but tonight we did a soft eye and then just balm on the lips. Mark used this Nars Matte Eyeshadow in Bali to give some definition, and then he pressed some loose pigment from Three Cosmetics called Shimmering Color Veil on top for some sheen. We just curled my lashes and used Chanel's Le Volume de Chanel Mascara on the top and bottom lashes. Pretty simple.”

—as told to ITG

Alana Zimmer photographed by Tom Newton on June 29, 2015. Read about Anja Rubik's peanut butter trick to fit into a gala dress without the bloating, avoid getting drunk too fast, and keep you full throughout the party in her Top Shelf After Dark. Then, see Alana's photo album from her trip to Hawaii with Hanne and Jacquelyn.