'My name is Toby Franklin [@tobyfranklin88]. I'm 25 and currently work as a marketing manager for one of Australia’s largest hospitality groups, Keystone, in Sydney. Before starting my new role at Keystone, I spent some time working for L’Oreal Luxe, as well as interning with Janna Johnson O'Toole and Amy Starr in the beauty department at Elle Australia. I also spent a few years modeling with Vivien’s in Brisbane and Chadwick in Sydney, so I've spent a lot of time around hair and makeup artists—I have friends now who contact me before they purchase products because they know I will have tried it, or at least read up on it.
My first beauty memory would probably be traveling around with my mum, Noni Yates. She was a performing guest artist for Redken Australia and is still in the industry today working from a salon in Kingscliff. For my 12th birthday she bought me my first cologne, Tommy. From that I developed a love for fragrance—at one time having around 50. Now I try limiting myself to 10, my favorites being Tom Ford Black Orchid and Oud Wood, as well as Giorgio Armani Prive Vetiver Babylone.
I'm sure to a lot of people it seems that I have too many beauty products, but I honestly find a time to use each and every one of them depending on what my skin is doing that day or how I want it to look. Every morning and night, I give my skin a thorough cleanse—and for that I have a few cleansers that I rotate. Some are simple and some a little more advanced with AHA & BHA. Three times a week I will give my skin a good exfoliation with Kate Somerville ExfoliKate. I love everything about this scrub and my skin always looks way more refined after using it. Every evening, I use Perricone MD Firming Facial Toner, which gives my skin gentle daily exfoliation and prepares it for my serums. I change my serums up a bit depending on what I am trying to focus on. At night, I really love Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair—I don’t even know how many bottles of it I've gone through. It really does a great job of hydrating the skin and making it look like you’ve had the best sleep. Then I follow with an eye cream and moisturizer. Once a week I'll switch my night moisturizer for La Prairie Skin Caviar Sleep Mask—it melts straight into the skin and plumps it right up by morning. If I am ever looking tired or have a breakout, I'll work some magic with By Terry Touch-Expert Advanced Multi-Corrective Concealer and Giorgio Armani Face Fabric in Natural Beige #003. When my skin is a little congested, I always turn to Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment—I would recommend this mask to anyone with problematic skin. It is a lifesaver. Sadly, I just found out it’s no longer available in Australia. I need to stock up on it next time I'm in the United States!
For hair, I tend to find myself trying to replicate Zac Efron's hairstyles, but sadly can never quite get it right. I alternate between the Kiehl's Amino Acid Shampoo and Conditioner and Kérastase Elixir K Ultime range, then blow-dry, wax and I am out the door.
I don’t really have beauty 'secrets,' but my skin always looks best when I’ve been consistent with having a green juice each day and cutting out alcohol and sugar. I also love the Perricone MD Vitamins—also not available in Australia—as well as the Beauty Chef Detox and Glow Inner Beauty powders. I also swear by Nivea Body Wash in the shower and Q10 Body Lotion.”
—as told to ITG
The #ITGTopShelfie series puts the focus on the lives and beauty routines of Into The Gloss's lovely, accomplished, and loyal community of readers. Show us your own Top Shelfie on Instagram—tag us @intothegloss, and include the hashtag #ITGTopShelfie.
