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 Alice Spiller [@alicespiller]. I live in Denver, Colorado, where I’m a brand and content marketing specialist at a healthcare company. Working for a company that helps save lives is both humbling and rewarding. Since I work in a corporate environment, there is definitely a pressure to look pulled together and professional. That definitely influences my approach to makeup—I would never do a bright lip or anything wild for work. If I want to experiment with a new look, I try it on the weekend or evenings instead. I am obsessed with face masks, and I do one almost every morning before work to help me get ready for the day. I throw on a mask, make some coffee, and catch up on emails. It feels oddly productive.
Beauty is such a passion for me and I honestly get so much enjoyment out of it. Researching products, watching tutorials, reading reviews...I love it so much—definitely my biggest hobby. I wash my face every night with Glossier Milky Jelly. It’s so hydrating which is really important when you live somewhere as dry as Colorado. After cleansing I usually use Glossier Priming Moisturizer Rich, but I just started using the Nivea Creme. I used to use the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream in the morning too, but I ran out a month ago and haven’t had chance to replace it yet. It’s expensive but definitely worth the money. I swear it made my skin look so glowy and healthy. I would get compliments every single time I used it.
I try to give myself a facial massage once a week with an oil. Right now, my oil of choice is the Boscia Tsubaki Beauty Oil. It smells amazing and you only need a couple of tiny drops to cover your entire face. I blend it in using a facial massage routine I saw on Sarah Chapman’s YouTube page. In the winter, I use the Glossier Moon Mask a few nights a week as a sleep mask. I really notice a difference in my skin in the morning—I look well rested, even if I was up until 2:00AM watching Lisa Eldridge makeup videos.
I always start my makeup routine with the Laura Mercier Primer in Radiance. I have used it for years and it’s incredible and lasts forever. I put a few drops all over my face using my hands and it gives the best glow—not too glittery or shimmery. Next is foundation, but I’m constantly changing out what formula I use. Right now, it’s YSL All-In-One BB Cream in Medium, which has great coverage and is slightly oily so it doesn’t settle into my fine lines, which I really love. I also love the Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder in 5. I used it all summer and it’s completely seamless and so light. You can barely notice it on your skin. After foundation I dot a bit of BareMinerals BareSkin Concealer in Medium on my undereyes. A Sephora employee talked me into it and I was hesitant at first, but ended up really loving it. It is a serum concealer so it doesn’t crack in those tiny lines under your eyes. I also use Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in SC-3 with my BeautyBlender to cover any zits or acne scars. It's pretty heavy-duty but I find that using the BeautyBlender really helps it set. Plus it stays on forever.
After that I use Charlotte Tilbury’s Filmstar Bronze and Glow contour palette in Light to Medium. The bronzer is such a good color. I use it in the hollows of my cheeks and around my hairline, and then put the highlighter on the tops of my cheekbones and down the bridge of my nose. It's so foolproof. Next, I brush out my brows using a spoolie, because they can get a little unruly. I stopped waxing them a year ago, and they have really taken on a life of their own. I have to trim them every few weeks because they get so long. I fill in any holes with Anastasia Brow Definer in Medium Brown, and swipe on some clear Boy Brow to keep them in place. I never wear eyeliner because I think it ages you and makes your eyes look smaller. Plus I’m terrible at putting it on. I just started using L'Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara and I’m pretty impressed. I think I have had at least four people comment on how long my lashes are since I started using it, and it's so affordable. I don’t usually wear lipstick, but right now I’m really into Charlotte Tilbury’s Very Victoria. Apparently, Meghan Markle wore it for her engagement interview, so I ran to Nordstrom and bought it right away.
When I am finished applying my makeup I take a tiny dab of face cream—maybe the size of a dime—and warm it up in my hands, then pat it all over my face. It really softens your makeup and adds a dewiness. I hate when I can see caked on powder or makeup, and I think just adding that tiny bit of lotion really lets your makeup seamlessly blend into your skin in a way that’s natural and fresh. I also use Glossier Balm Dotcom as an eye cream in winter. My under eyes get so dry, and putting a few dabs on at nighttime before bed has made a huge difference for me.
My hair is really fine and flat, and I just buy whatever shampoo and conditioner is on sale at Walgreens—right now I’m using Pantene. Once a week I use the Christophe Robin Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt—it really is as amazing as everyone says. It helps clear out product buildup and I feel like my hair is so much cleaner and lighter after I use it. I’m a big fan of the Christophe Robin Volumizing Mist with Rosewater, and I spritz that on my damp roots and massage it into my scalp. It smells so good and it's not sticky at all. I tip my head upside down and blow-dry with my Dyson Supersonic and my Mason Pearson. I know you technically aren’t supposed to use a Mason Pearson with heat but it doesn’t rip my hair out and makes the finished product so smooth and glossy. On dirty hair days, I swear by Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush. I’ve used it for years and whenever I run out without a back-up on hand I have a full-blown anxiety attack. Because my hair is so fine and flat, I’ve always been really curious about perms. I read Miranda Kerr’s After Dark and she mentioned that she had a perm to give body and wave to her hair, and I’m dying to get one now.
About three years ago I really wanted eyelash extensions, but didn’t want to spend the money. I found someone who was in training that offered to do them for a really good price. After five HOURS—seriously—I came out with half of my eyelashes glued to each other. Blinking was painful. By the time I drove back to my apartment, my eyes were completely swollen! I panicked and grabbed some olive oil from the kitchen and tried to douse my eyelash extensions in them and loosen the glue. I ended up pulling most of them out while they were still attached and had patchy eyelashes for almost a year. Lesson learned—you get what you pay for."
—as told to ITG
