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.
"My name is Hope Brimelow (@hopebrimelow) and I live in Brooklyn. I'm a photo editor, currently with National Geographic Traveler. The wonderful part of my job is that I get to spend my day looking at and commissioning beautiful images. I do find makeup intimidating, though. Maybe because I had the opportunity to see the best of the best. I used to work for WSJ, which has a wonderfully effortless and elegant approach to beauty and that really inspired me. I worked on fashion shoots and saw the work of some amazing makeup artists firsthand. I met Pat McGrath for a story—she came to the office and greeted me with the warmest smile and then whipped out boxes and boxes of polaroids of past shoots she had done. Sorting through the collection of amazing images with the most elaborate makeup made me realize what an art form makeup can be.
After my travels last year I got a job at Allure, which I was excited about as a chance to learn all these beauty tricks. I picked up a lot, but what has really stayed with me is an appreciation for complex scents—for better or for worse, becauses they're also expensive. We shot a lot of Diptyque candles while I was there and I fell in love with them. I now buy a new one every time I get a new freelance job and then I place the old ones on my shelf. Trophies! My winter scent is Vanille, but with this sunshine I’ve been thinking of switching over to Freesia. I've also become obsessed with Aesop products. I love the hand soap Resurrection Aromatique, with mandarin rind, rosemary leaf, and cedar atlas.
I’m still in my experimental phase with beauty. Or rather I'm in the stage where you admire the experimental stage. I have a huge amount of respect for anyone who knows what they’re doing. I just don't want to care—I think that's when it gets stressful. I’ve found products that work, and I’ve embraced my rosy cheeks! If I need coverage, I’ll use Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 4.75, which is light but rosy. Otherwise it's Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint because it's super easy. I was given a beautyblender at Allure and I have been applying my foundation with it and it seems to allow my makeup to sink in. I then use Glossier Haloscope in Moonstone on my eyelids and my cheeks.
When I use mascara I use Maybelline Full ‘N Soft. I also dye my eyelashes and I get them done at Benefit. Because I'm so pale I feel like it's obvious when my mascara starts to drip, so I dye them to get around that. I also have a new sunblock I’ve been using that works well and doesn’t give me breakouts. It’s a skier’s sunblock—I got it in Sun Valley, Idaho—Beyond Coastal Active Sunscreen SPF 34. Sunscreen always dries out my skin and this is the only one that hasn’t.
I shower at night and use Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Moisture Cream on my whole body—I have very sensitive skin so I often check out the baby beauty aisle because the products are always very mild. Then I spray my face with Avene Thermal Spring Water and follow it with the Antirougeurs Redness Relief Dermo-Cleansing Milk. Then I apply Olive Squalane Oil. I love this oil. I have gone through periods of trying different oils, and this has proven to be the most moisturizing. I also like jojoba oil, but olive oil squalane has a thicker consistency which is better for me. I got it from a facialist, initially, and then I realized I could order the Botanical Beauty brand online for a lot less money.
I don't smoke weed, but I use this marijuana cream all over my body. Not sure if it's legal to have in NYC, but sometimes when my skin is incredibly dry, I'll use Canna Care. It has THC in it but a lot of other nourishing natural ingredients like grapeseed oil, almond oil, chamomile, and calendula. It really clears out any dry, flaky spots I may have. I also put it on my ankle, because I tore the ligaments a couple years ago and I find that the cream really soothes it.
Last spring I went to Lithuania to visit a friend and she told me that I had to get a mud bath in Druskininkai. It's been a spa town since the early 19th century because it was believed that minerals found in the waters produced health benefits. During Soviet occupation massive sanatoriums were built and people traveled from all over. Today some still exist and you can get the same treatments.
The mud bath consisted of going into a little stall with a bright pink bath. A disgruntled woman then comes in and points at me and sternly says 'all off!' while pointing to my clothes. She then turned the faucet of the bath, and to my amazement out splattered dark brown mud. I lowered myself into the thick mud and couldn't help but burst out laughing. My friend was in the next stall and I heard her giggling too, and we spent the next 10 minutes laughing and swishing around in thick warm mud. A timer went off and we were ushered out and into a shower. I do have to say that my skin felt immediately softer. Definitely worth it!"
—as told to ITG
