Moms: Many of us wouldn't be alive without 'em. In honor of Mother's Day, a few of us at Glossier HQ took valuable company time to call our moms and interview them about—what else?—their beauty philosophies. These are the women who bought us our first face washes and concealers, so we figured we owed them some form of homage. Please enjoy the following mini Top Shelves. But first, call your mom. And tell her we said Happy Mother's Day:
Karen Kreighbaum, Account Executive, Medical Sales
Mother of Annie Kreighbaum, Executive Editor
"When I was a teenager, my best friend’s Aunt Helen was the most beautiful older woman who I knew. When I found out that she used Erno Lazlo, it became my beauty routine at 16. I didn’t want to age like the other moms! I use Erno Laszlo Phelityl Oil to take off my eye makeup, and then I wash my face with the Phelityl Cleansing Bar, rinsing with the Light Controlling Lotion. At night I apply the Phelityl Lotion mixed with Active Phelityl Cream under my eyes and on my lips, but during the day, I've started wearing Glossier Priming Moisturizer. My makeup starts with a dusting of Bobbi Brown Pale Yellow Loose Powder. I use Boy Brow in Brown on my brows. I always apply Eye Prime by Make Up For Ever, and then Bobbi's Taupe Eye Shadow with Urban Decay Eye Pencil in Demolition and Covergirl Lashexact Black. My blush is Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge in Powder Pink. On my lips, I'm addicted to Glossier’s Balm Dotcom and use it with Chanel lipsticks to add color. That’s it."
DonnaMarie Portale, Designer, @NeedToEmbellish
Mother of Eva Alt, Social Media Editor
"Since I've retired from teaching and now work at home, my morning routine is very simple. I wash my face with Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser in the morning. I'll put on Bare Minerals SkinLongevity Infusion as a serum, and then I put on Trader Joe's Enrich Face Lotion because it has a light SPF. If I'm going out, I use my Glossier Stretch Concealer, Boy Brow, and Mineral Fusion Volumizing Mascara. I'm a Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer girl and my go-to color is Raisin. At night I use Milky Jelly again to wash my face, and then I love to use an oil Eva gave me called CoverFX Custom Infusion Drops A+Jasmine. I also use an Arbonne RE9 Advanced Corrective Eye Crème. I love Arbonne products and sometimes use their RE9 Advanced Day Crème which has an SPF of 20. If I know I'm going to be outside all day I use Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock Lotion. Sunscreen is very important!"
Karen Kilbane, Jazzercise Instructor
Mother of Brennan Kilbane, Editorial Assistant
"My beauty philosophy is not about looking younger, it's about looking good for my age. Cleansing well is really important to me. I use the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser in the shower, and then I apply SK-II Facial Treatment Essence on a cotton ball all over my face and neck. You have to take care of your neck just like your face! Then I put on Eve Lom Hydrating Serum also on my face and neck, followed by Clarks Botanicals Eye Cream. I don't wear full foundation, just La Mer Skin Tint. My cheeks are red so I don't need blush, but I'll put on a little Bobbi Brown Bronzer. On my lips I like Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Brown or MAC Lipstick in Party Parrot for summer [ed note: Party Parrot is no more, but Flocking Fabulous is close and even punnier]. But something I also like to do is layer Nars Lip Gloss in Wonder over Bobbi Brown Raisin. Putting an orange-y gloss over a darker lipstick is a good look."
Pam Johnson, Retired Financial Executive and Attorney
Mother of Kim Johnson, Community Manager
"My beauty routine is pretty simple. I cleanse my face with my favorite Glossier product—Milky Jelly Cleanser. It feels so yummy on the skin and smells amazing. At night, I remove my makeup with Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes. I love the 'night calming' variety. They have a beautiful relaxing scent. As I’ve matured I’ve found that my skin tends to be very dry, so I’m always looking for a moisturizer that'll hydrate without leaving my skin feeling greasy. My new favorite face moisturizer is Diorsnow—I love the texture and that it has SPF. If my hair needs some extra hydration, I'll put in a few drops of argan oil at night before I go to bed. Once I’ve cleansed, moisturized and applied my makeup, I spray on a little Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Eau de Parfum and I’m ready for the day!"
Anne Knebl, Attorney
Mother of Claire Knebl, Senior Manager, Marketing, Content & Campaign Strategy
"I've used Dermablend for so long. I have vitiligo in places—a lack of pigment—and the Dermablend does a great job of covering and adding color. Then I use Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint on my nose or anywhere where there's redness, which smoothes out my complexion. On my cheeks I like using this Butter cream blush that I bought at Ulta—I read on ITG that cream blushes look more natural than powders. I also use the Urban Decay Naked Palette on my eyes. I like the matte tones but will add a little sparkle at the corners sometimes. As far as skincare, I wear sunscreen every day, which I started doing when I was younger. Back then, I neglected my forearms and jawline though, and now I have some age spots there. Wear sunscreen every day! And wear it on your arms too—don’t be like me. Every night, I use a little retinol, that's a must. That and the Natura Bissé Vitamin Cream. It smells like delicious citrus."
Rachel Ferber, Board Member, Encompass
Mother of Emily Ferber, Editor
"Both my hair and skin routines focus on moisture. I dealt with acne for a long time, but now I find that a good moisturizer makes my face feel and look better. I try to apply Aroma Actives Perfecting Day Serum right after bathing, and I follow with La Prairie Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Creme. If I'm feeling really dry, I'll use La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Sleep Mask, but a light layer. I never actually sleep in a mask—I prefer using them during the day. My hair is unprocessed and salt-and-pepper gray—and I love Davines Alchemic Conditioner Silver. It's purple, which is frightening, but it enhances my blue-gray natural color and makes my hair more manageable. On days when I don't use it, I apply pure argan oil to my hair right after towel drying. I need something light for control, and Kerastase Curl Fever works really well."
Patricia Newton, Teacher
Mother of Tom Newton, New Media Editor & Photographer
"My skin is slightly oily, so I wash my face morning and night with Noxzema—that takes my makeup off and really deeply cleanses my skin. I've been using it for 40 years! Then I use Oil of Olay for moisturizer every day with SPF. I've used that for 30 years, and I'll keep using it, because I don't have as many wrinkles as I could at my age. Fancy designer stuff irritates my skin, but I do use a Lancôme Mattifying Lotion. I also put foundation on, Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse, just to cover redness a bit. Then Covergirl Professional All-in-One Mascara, I've used that forever, too. The only lip balm I'll use is Glossier Balm Dotcom. I wash my hair with Pantene 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner and I color my hair with Clairol every three weeks. I don't want to go grey because it makes me look older, and I don't want to look older."
—as told to ITG
Photos via our moms.
Discover more of the Top Shelf—including the beauty routines of noted mothers Christie Brinkey, Miranda Kerr, and Bobbi Brown.
