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! My name is Brianna Sancious (@africa_bytoto) and I’m an artist and art administrator in Brooklyn, New York. I went to school for painting and I’ve been in the art industry for a couple years, and though I’m in between work at the moment, I’m very passionate about working with and around art. As an artist, I tend see how beauty is influenced by art, and then how art is influenced by beauty. Really, there are so many ways to take care of yourself–whatever those are, I think it’s important to pay attention to the things that improve your mood and overall outlook with yourself. That’s the best beauty secret.

I started experimenting with makeup at a young age. My inspiration always come from the iconic women of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s–Cindy Crawford, Janet Jackson, Christy Turlington, Kate Moss... Sometime this past spring, Marc Jacobs Beauty released a Kate Moss-inspired lipstick shade, Kate 260, and I loved it–perfect for a casual look or for a date night out. But it was discontinued! Should have bought more while it was still available... Another favorite is Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. I’ll curl my lashes to give them some volume first, and follow with that. And because I want to look sun-kissed all the time, I wear Glossier Haloscope in Topaz almost every day.

My full routine is lengthy if I have enough time. Preferably I’ll work out first thing, then come home and shower. That's when I wash my hair with the Davines Love Shampoo and I brush my hair in the water. Then I do the Cantu Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream and finish with argan oil. Once I’m out, I like to do a face mask and some serious skincare before I get ready. Biologique Recherche lotion P50V 1970 has been a game changer for me, along with serums. Those kinds of products are hard because you have to be patient, but if you’re consistent, you see improvement over time. One of my top, quick beauty tricks is that when I have a blemish, I use Glossier Super Pure with the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. It really does help minimize them over night.

Makeup I keep very simple. I'll set my brows with clear gel, and add some blush–RMS lip2cheek in Beloved–and a setting powder. If I’m going out, I prefer a bold red lip to a nude or something subtler. And then perfume–Byredo’s La Tulipe is my favorite.

I read about beauty a lot, and the best thing I have learned is that it is never ending. THERE IS SO MUCH TO TRY. You can meet some really great people and get so much inspiration through the beauty community—I’m often inspired by what I see other women using. Funnily enough, it’s also what’s helped me to feel comfortable in my own skin."

–as told to ITG