'My name is Julia Solomon (@thejuliasolomon), and I live in Astoria, Queens. I’m a stand up comedian, which means I have two day jobs. Luckily, they’re both great. I do social media and packaging for Caru Skincare Co., an all-natural and organic skincare company, and I also work at a children’s furniture and accessories store. I’ve been in New York for almost two years now, but I went to college in Chicago for theatre. My first week at school, I did an open mic and that was that—I loved it. I started training at Second City and iO Theatre, and now I usually perform at The Annoyance Theatre in Williamsburg and UCB East Village.
Doing stand-up definitely influences the way I think about beauty—but not in a good way. Comedy is about noticing the little details that other people don’t. Sometimes I read so many beauty blogs and fluff pieces that I start thinking how trivial things are and that it doesn’t matter what my complexion is like. It makes me want to turn off my computer and really ‘live my life,’ but then I walk by a mirror and remember that, with time, I will age, so I better get a new night cream.
I grew up in a family primarily made up of women, so they really influenced my relationship with beauty. My mom and aunts would put on face masks just to be like, ‘Oh, let’s show them this thing we all do. They’ll love it and think it’s funny,’ which is true—everyone looks funny with a mask on.
I’m not so much passionate about skincare as I am obsessed with it. It’s not a vain thing. Some people work out excessively so that their bodies won’t fail them when they are older—sort of like a defense mechanism against death or a way of controlling one aspect of your life. This is my defense mechanism, I guess. If I do all the right things—wash my face, tone, moisturize, etc.—then it’s my own way of being able to say, ‘OK, you did all those things. No need to worry about anything scary that could happen to you as you get older!’
I always use Boscia’s Makeup-Breakup Cool Cleansing Oil to take off my makeup. It’s the best thing for stubborn mascara. Then, I go in with Klurskin’s Rose and White Tea Gentle Glycolic Cleanser, just to make sure there is nothing left. I used to use another cleanser, but I switched to Klurskin’s because it has no parabens, perfumes, or dyes. The glycolic acid in it is good for getting rid of dead skin cells, making sure pores aren’t clogged and everything else the woman from Sephora told me. Ole Henriksen is one of my favorite brands, and I used to use almost everything in their line but had to stop. Partly because I’ve been too broke to repurchase, but mostly because I've been more interested in brands with very natural ingredient lists. I’ll probably go back to using them though because they made my skin look great from all that vitamin C. My favorite products from the line are the Truth Revealed Vitamin C Super Crème SPF 15, the Truth Crème Advanced Hydration, and the Truth Serum Collagen Booster. That said, I totally bail on being ‘all-natural’ when it comes to Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Peel Extra Strength Formula. It totally resurfaces your skin, and I swear I notice a difference in blackheads when I stop using it.
I found this Caru Skincare Co. Rock + Rose Facial Toner from work, which I follow up with Caru Skincare Co. Rose Toner. Both are all natural, organic, and they calm down irritated or red skin. The serum is super hydrating, so I don’t use a moisturizer after, and it smells amazing.
In terms of makeup, I love the Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes in Bountiful Beige. I usually put my makeup on while riding on the subway, so this is perfect because I don’t even need a mirror, and I don’t have to use a brush. More recently, since I’m trying to use non-toxic makeup, I’ve been using RMS Beauty Eye Polish in Lunar and Solar. I use Lunar first and then dab a little bit of Solar on top. Since the formula is coconut based, it’s really lightweight, though it does crease a bit. And I love Benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara because I put it on, and all of a sudden, boom. I don’t know what else to say about it other than it really works. For my base, I use Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream in Vanilla 02. I feel like my skin can still breathe in it. Before, I felt like I was just clogging up pores with my old tinted moisturizer. So far, this leaves the most natural look compared to others that I’ve tried.
I wear Nars Blush in Orgasm because one swipe of that stuff and you’re good to go, even if you have nothing else on. It’s a nice little pick-me-up. My favorite lipsticks are Chanel Rouge Allure in Insolente [ed note: shade discontinued] and Nars Lipstick in Schiap. The Chanel is a bright pink that, just like the Orgasm, is enough to wear on its own. Me putting on my Nars Shiap lipstick is the equivalent of putting on a leather jacket and shades. I just feel like a hot badass. It’s such a loud color, but it’s really modern. Anyone who knows me will you tell you I think big, bold lips and big hair are the best. When I see someone with a lot of volume and perfectly filled in lips, I basically just look at them in awe.”
—as told to ITG
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