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.
"My name is Kirby Reynolds [@kirbycellareynolds] and I live in Manhattan. I work for Birchbox, and my title is Social Media Associate, Community Manager—basically, I get to parlay my love of beauty into creating conversations about products and routines online. Some of my best beauty tips have come from family and friends, and my role kind of expands that network. I love those kinds of communal spaces for people who are into beauty. I remember reading Megan Duffy's Top Shelfie, which was the first place I'd ever seen a 'real person's' beauty routine validated—not to mention, very legitimate advice. That introduced me to social media that felt meaningful. And now I feel like it's come full circle!
I work in beauty and unwind in beauty. To relax, I'll do a mask and take a bath. With friends, it's all about nails and booze. Doing your nails is so soothing. Whenever I’m upset, my friend invites me over for a little lacquer and liquor. I don’t know if it is the mindlessness of the task or the formaldehyde in the nail polish, but I always feel better afterwards. For base coats, I like something opaque to make the polish pop—Butter Nail Foundation and Julep Oxygen Smoothing Base Coat are good. My go-to color is Essie's Like Linen, topped off with Seche Vite.
Overall, my beauty philosophy is to never look like I spent a ton of time on myself—even if I do. The worst thing you could call my look is polished. I’ll blow out my hair for 40 minutes perfectly, but then I’ll shake it around and mess it up to make it look slept-in. The only hair product I really feel strongly about is a Mason Pearson Popular Brush. They are amazing because they don’t mess up texture—other brushes break up my waves. I've also always loved Kérastase. The Nectar Thermique has been my go-to blowout cream since I was maybe 16. And dry shampoo! Klorane smells like nothing and really works. It can get a little heavy, so it’s important to hold the can far away. It doesn't have to coat your roots in order to be effective! Sometimes being a redhead is tough. I want to mess with the color all the time, but I feel a loyalty and responsibility to the red.
Skincare is also important. My routine has gotten much gentler recently, and now includes my décolletage—which is a major sign that my shit's together, right? In the morning, I’ll use a little Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk or Shiseido Ibuki Gentle Cleanser, which smells heavenly. I buff away my cleanser with a Liz Earle Muslin Cloth. Then I soak cotton pads in Liz Earle's Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion, which I refrigerate, and put that all over my eye. I like to use a serum on my face and neck, and right now I'm using two...Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum for dark marks from blemishes and Shiseido Ibuki Softening Concentrate for general glowiness. Then I put on Shiseido Ibuki Refining Moisturizer, which I was just introduced to, and it's changed my life. It makes my skin so soft, and the formula helps gently exfoliate.
At night, I take everything off. Lisa Eldridge’s 'How To Remove Eye Makeup' is gospel. You soak two pads in makeup remover and place one above and one below lashes for a minute, then have your mind blown when all your eye makeup comes off instantly. I cleanse with micellar water and follow with Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. Before bed, I slather on Embryolisse and Nuxe Rêve De Miel Ultra‑Nourishing Lip Balm. No matter how tired or drunk, this whole process always happens.
Accordingly, my daily makeup routine is influenced by not wanting to take off a ton of makeup every night. I'll use RMS "Un" Cover-Up in 00 on blemishes and undereyes. It's insanely high quality—it covers, it blends, and it stays—and it made me believe in natural products. I use the RMS Foundation Brush to apply the cover-up more heavily, and I'll stipple Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Porcelain around my nose. I'll mix in a little Benefit Dandelion Dew, which actually covers spots a little by sitting on top of the skin. I also like RMS Lip2cheek in Beloved for blush. Finally, I'll dot some W3ll People Bio Brightener Stick on the corners of my eyes.
My lashes are tinted because I hate taking off mascara, so I usually just curl them with a Shiseido Curler. I just learned how to do it correctly—start at your roots, crimp and pump three times. Then go to the middle of your lashes and crimp and pump two times. After that, go to the tip of your lashes and crimp and pump once. You are welcome. If I'm going out, I'll also put on four to five coats of L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes with a smudgey liner.
And because dramatic eyes look beautiful with a nude lip—I love Nars Chelsea Girls, which is a super moisturizing pot that stays on forever. It mutes lips without washing you out, and I'm currently hoarding them. On certain occassions, if I need a bold lip, I like Chanel La Fascinante or La Sensuelle. And always, always, always perfume...either Frederic Malle Lipstick Rose or Montale Dark Purple. They're statement accessories."
—as told to ITG
More like Kirby: read about stylist Bethany Bankston's moisture-first skincare routine, merchandiser Hannah Farren's eau de laundry, and Digital Strategist (and fellow redhead) Grace Abbott's high-low haircare routine in the #ITGTopShelfie.
