You can say a lot of things about the year that was 2017. But plenty of other sites are gearing up to do that this week, so ITG is going to sit back. Instead, we're going to let Victoria Beckham, Huda Kattan, Naomi Smalls, and all of our other wonderful interviewees do the talking today. And instead of rehashing the year's events, let's instead reminisce through the makeup cabinets we've photographed. Only happy thoughts here—and tips to take you smoothly into 2018. Here's to another year of beautiful living!
Skincare
"I read something once that the most important things are to brush your teeth, always use some kind of sunscreen—doesn’t matter if it’s cloudy out—and massage your face with a cream for one minute every day. So those are the things I’ve always done, and they’re very easy and cheap to do." —Jan De Villeneuve, model
“Every time I fly, I take a Tony Moly snail mask and when I arrive, my skin looks flawless.” —Huda Kattan, entrepreneur
"I start my day off with a Dove Beauty Bar. I really believe in that. It’s the only thing that makes me think my face is clean—a bar of soap that has been around [forever]. So I make sure my face is clean and then I started using this Chanel Sublimage. I like to go from a dollar soap to a $400 moisturizer. It’s a good modern balance!" —Marjon Carlos, writer
“After you mask I think it’s really important to double cleanse and check your face out because you don’t want to go out and have someone be like, ‘Is that clay in your hair?’ Which has happened to me…twice.” —Kelly Mittendorf, marketing manager
"As far as anti-aging, I think your activity and how you use your body is much more essential. I've done yoga since I was in college in the early '80s. Everyone does it now! [Laughs] I've practiced mysore ashtanga for the past 10 years or so. That's a major skin enhancer too—even my husband is taken aback when I come home from a class." —Temple Saint Clair, designer
"May Lindstrom Problem Solver Mask is the star of the show. It transforms. When you mix it it's all frothy, and I love painting it on. I make everybody do it when they come over. And it doesn't dry out your skin, or make it so you can't talk—you wake up the next morning with perfect skin. It pulls everything out." —Karen Lord, Pilates instructor
"I don’t use toner—I use Collosol. You can only buy this at French pharmacies. In the mornings, I'll soak a cotton pad and put this over my face. It is the secret to my skin, because it makes it so soft. It brings my face to life. I’ve never talked about it because I’ve never wanted to share it, but I do think this is a wonder product. People always ask me, 'What are you buying in the French pharmacies?' I’m always saying, 'You can get everything everywhere now, but this is the one thing.'" —Alessandra Steinherr, beauty editor
"I do think cleansing should be the base of anyone’s skin routine—it should make you feel really neutral afterwards—not dry, not oily. I’m obsessed with oil cleansers because they get rid of all the makeup without any effort whatsoever. My favorite is from Farmacy, it’s called Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm. It smells like heaven and gets rid of everything, no difficulty whatsoever." —Katie Jane Hughes, makeup artist
“My main priority is dealing with zits. Before going out, I used to put toothpaste on them, before realizing it made them much, much worse. Luckily, the cameras on Grace and Frankie are very forgiving. I've been using iS Clinical's Active Serum and the Cleansing Complex to zap my zits. And I always do these Skyn Iceland Eye Patches before an event. And after, too. It’s nice to know after a night of drinking I have something to aid in the de-puffing.” —Brooklyn Decker, actress
"I live by Clarisonic, I do, God bless it. Ever since I got it I’ve just been like, Bzzzzzzz. It really does give me a deep clean." —Yvonne Orji, actress
Makeup
"Oh, and for one of my most important ‘no-makeup tricks,’ I’ll also put a bit of brown eyeshadow on the pencil and line it under my eyes. It naturally opens my eyes because it looks like a shadow underneath. I cannot go out of my house without doing it. I just want to look stunning, shiny, and like I’m not wearing any makeup—but I do, honey. I do." —Ines Rau, model
“My mom has done stage makeup her whole life, and she taught me that your blush should never go past where the pupil of your eye is—any closer to your nose make it looks a bit silly, so it needs to stay kind of toward the edge of your face.” —Julia Campbell Gillies, model
"I think it’s important to take in mind your eye shape. If you have hooded eyes, you’re not going to do a really intense smoky eye or drag it up really high. Or, if you have really round eyes, you’re not going to bring most of that darkness into the center, because that’s going to make your eyes look closer together. You’ll want to focus most of it on the outer corners to lift and separate the eyes. Do a smokey eye that compliments, instead of a generic [template] smokey eye, because there’s no real one way to do it.” —Teni Panosian, vlogger
"For concealer, I’ve learned you need to have a bunch of them for different reasons. I have Clé De Peau, Chanel, and RMS and I authentically use them all. The Clé De Peau is pretty thick, so if I’m having my picture taken I’ll use that—but it feels a bit too thick for during the day. Then RMS Un Cover-Up feels nice for everyday use. Then the Chanel Éclat Lumière I think is great for when you have under eye circles." —Cassandra Grey, Violet Grey founder
“Tom Ford For Men Bronzing Gel is really good all over. When you bronze, you don't really need as much foundation because it evens out the red.” —Isamaya Ffrench, makeup artist
"I use RMS Beauty Un Cover-Up over my Goop Eye Cream so that it glides, but the most important thing is to use it with a brush. A lot of people will rub it in, and when you rub it in, you are moving the concealer away from the thing you want to conceal. That’s how you end up with tons of makeup on your face. If you pat, it changes everything. I feel like that’s what makes me look decent." —Jean Godfrey June, Goop beauty editor
"I have a trick for contouring, actually. I think a lot of people focus on the darker color to get that look. But it’s important to blend it in with a lighter color around the jawline, the nose, the center of the face, underneath the eyes, the top of the cheeks, and the forehead. And not with highlighter! Just with something lighter than the contour shade—I just use my Skin Perfecting Powder. It just mattes everything down and helps blend everything together. Then you can highlight on top of that. Think about it—if you’re shading, like making a painting, you’re not just going to use a dark color, you’re going to use a light color that complements the dark color. It’s like painting a picture." —Victoria Beckham, Posh Spice
“A cat-eye is me. I feel like I can't leave the house without it. I use the Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen, but only to draw. Then I go back and fill in with the Benefit Push-Up Liner. I swear by it.” —Liz Uy, stylist
“Sleep in drag—absolutely not. It's so much makeup, there is definitely a time limit for keeping it on. I use duct tape to take off a lot of the stones and glitter.” —Naomi Smalls, drag queen
Hair
“Oh God, my hair is always an issue for me. It’s been short for a while–short hair is harder to style, but you know what I did? I got a perm called the American Wave Perm. I heard it was the healthiest type of perm, so I did that. It was really great for during the summer because I didn’t have to do anything to my hair. I just would get in the water and get out and it would have this nice wave to it.” —Miranda Kerr, model
“I actually bought an Aesop shampoo for [my dog] Frank, and then I ran out of my shampoo, so I used his, and it’s so nice. It’s really soft! Frank, I’m sorry!” —Coco Baudelle, model
"A wide array of combs is essential–you need a small barber comb to keep in your purse, and the one with the metal end so you can part your hair perfectly. You also need a tight brush. Mason Pearson makes really nice ones." —Recho Omondi, designer
“I cut my daughter's and husband's hair and I trim my hair myself. The secret is to cut vertically.” —Bianca Balti, model
“If I'm going to an event, I'll wash my hair the night before. It has a lot of volume so when I wash it, it looks huge. I'll blow dry it, go to sleep, wake up, and it looks good.” —Sabina Socol, writer
Body
"There’s this exfoliator called the Cure—it’s for your face, but I use it on my neck and chest right before I shower if I’m going out. It makes the whole area really shiny and nice." —Sarah Staudinger, designer
“This might sound weird, but I use MAC Face and Body on my legs to even them out and give them a bit of color. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs is also really great, and I’ll use the Michael Kors Fabulous Body Lotion if I’m doing a shoot for lingerie or going to a casting. It gives you that shimmer.” —Shanina Shaik, model
Health & General Well-Being
"Food affects my skin and energy so dramatically. When I'm filming something, I'm gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, alcohol-free, and chugging water. The moment I wrap, I'm freebasing bread and pasta, swimming in ice cream, and, like, injecting wine into my eyes." —Betty Gilpin, actress
"In China, I feel like it’s all about your inner health first. My routine is a combination—so I take acai and maca powder in the morning. Maca is really good for your hormones, so I take it to regulate everything. From my grandmother, I learned about Goji berries, ginseng, ginger—you put them in hot water and let them sit for a couple hours. It’s really good for women’s health, for the skin, everything." —Estelle Chen, model
“My last beauty secret is that I meditate before bed. I’ve noticed that I look so much better when I do. I love to connect with the universe, so I do it when I wake up and when I go to bed for 10 to 15 minutes. Being in the now, focusing on your breathing—it’s like giving a hug to yourself, to your soul. It’s so rejuvenating.” —Ines Rau, model
"Supplement-wise, I'm a little insane. I'm trying to calm down and be a little less crazy about it, but I definitely noticed a change when I started taking magnesium. I get stressed out and crave chocolate all the time, and it's very good about curbing my sweet cravings. And it helps me sleep better. Any Omega 3,6 too—I was a vegetarian for a long time and then I started eating fish again, so I’m taking the fish oil. I think it’s good for you." —Camille Rowe, model
"I have a jet lag treatment that’s really soothing. First, I have to have Jo Malone Red Roses, it’s my favorite candle. If I get in late, I’ll immediately jump in the bath—the Rodin Bath Oil is so amazing and chic. Then I’ll put the La Mer Perfecting Treatment on my face. This shit is good! Afterwards, I have the Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Cream—it’s massively hydrating. A lot of the Skinceuticals line is too strong for me, but this just soothes jet-lagged skin so well. That’s the routine." —Karen Elson, model
"Really, beauty and self-care are one and the same for me. We're in this culture that's all about rush rush rush, and putting everything and everyone before yourself is glorified behavior. But taking care of yourself is a huge part of your quality of life. Life is not just about making money. You can’t just be about that. You need to take time to relax. Then it's easier for you to express yourself." —Ebonee Davis, activist
“You’re only young and beautiful while you’re young and beautiful! Take a risk, dress up! Wear slutty clothes, wear crazy makeup, push yourself to do it. When you’re in your 50s, you don't want to look back and be like ‘Damn, I was so modest.’ What’s the point in being modest? I want to look expensive, over-the-top and flawless. To show that you actually give a shit is fun.” —Teddy Quinlivan, model
Photos via ITG.
Last year heard some pretty decent tips, too. Read here for 2016's.
