The #ITGTopShelfie interview series focuses on the beauty routines of Into The Gloss' lovely, accomplished, and loyal community of readers. Submit your own on Instagram—post your Top Shelfie (tag us @intothegloss!) and include the hashtag #ITGTopShelfie for a chance to be featured on ITG.
"Hi! I'm Elyse Love, M.D. (@elyse.love) and I live in New York. I am a resident in a dermatology clinic—it's basically on-the-job training after medical school. I present each patient to a more senior physician who confirms and/or supplements my treatment choices. I also run a lifestyle blog for medical professionals, called Love and the Sky. Basically, it's my job to help people feel beautiful. I also get to try a lot of products and procedures, which is a ton of fun. My boyfriend is an upper level dermatology resident, too, so he teaches me a lot—which is very, very sexy. Yeah, I love my job.
The world of cosmetic dermatology has made me pretty uninterested in expensive, over-the-counter creams that have to be applied every night. It's also made me a lot less vain. Recently, I saw an 18 year-old with 70% of his body covered with thick psoriasis plaques, so that really puts a chin pimple into perspective. There are psychological impacts to skin diseases like that. I had severe, nodular cystic acne all throughout high school, so I tried a number of medicated creams during that time period. I finally found a dermatologist and a regimen that worked for me, and it cleared up in a matter of months. My fondest beauty moment was senior year when someone stopped me in the mall to tell me my skin was glowing. I played it cool—because I am very cool—but I was crying inside.
Sunscreen and tretinoin are my bible now. I've had more occassional pimples since moving to New York, so I'm also trying to use non-comedogenic products. In the mornings I apply La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Daily Antioxidant Serum with Sunscreen SPF 50 and Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer—which are two of my favorite beauty products. They're both very light and very effective. In the evenings, I always apply tretinoin 0.05% gel. I am a big fan of at home facials. My tried-and-true routine is Amorepacific Treatment Enzyme Peel followed by Boscia Luminizing Black Mask, plus or minus a sheet mask.
I just finished watching Suits, and Meghan Markle is my current beauty icon. Even if I skip makeup, I always manage my brows with Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer and Gel. I was a big fan of the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, but I’ve been a recent convert to the Laura Mercier Secret Concealer for undereye circles. It provides great coverage and never creases. I still keep the Nars around for no-makeup days when I want to cover a few dark spots. My favorite blush is MAC Sweet As Cocoa. It gives my cheekbones the perfect bronzy, gold shimmer. I also love my Stila Lip and Cheek Stains... When I wear them, I always get stopped and asked if I’m wearing makeup. They’re so natural and they sink right into skin. My favorite lip pencil has been discontinued—Buxom Lip Tarnish in Scandal—so I'm the look for a similar one. The most important part of my beauty routine is the last—highlighter! I’m obsessed. I use a Benefit Sun Beam Golden-Bronze Liquid Highlighter. It gives my skin a noticeable but subtle glow.
My hair routine needs a lot of work. I try to wash it once a week, but I'll often go three weeks without washing. It's such a process for me to wash, dry, and straighten—I do love my Babyliss straightener, though. I don't have many favorite hair products, because it never looks half as good when I do it as when a professional does it, but I will give a special mention to the Dove Extra Hold Hairspray—it keeps my hair straight in this awful New York humidity without making it feel hard.
Overall, my beauty philosophy is to be kind. Be kind to others because life is easier when you spread positive energy. Be kind to yourself—treat yourself often and forgive your imperfections and mistakes. Be kind to your skin! I die a little inside every time a patient tells me they scrub their skin. Don’t use harsh chemicals. Moisturize. Protect you skin, and show it off. Oh, and watch The Real Housewives of New York. That show is my yoga. I do actual yoga sometimes, but I hate it."
—as told to ITG
