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.
Age: Hi, my name is Age (@wssup_age).
Jihad: And I'm Jihad (@heyjihad). We're partners.
A: We consult for brands on marketing and image, and we just started producing digital content.
J: And we love beauty. We have to interact with an absurd amount of people on a daily basis. I try to make sure I always look 100.
A: I probably started experimenting with beauty when I was about six or seven. My younger sister would always let me brush her hair and I would try my best to paint her nails. My most memorable beauty moment would have to be my first experience with hair-lightening spray. My cousin had this beautiful long blond hair, and I noticed she kept spraying Sun In all over it. Naturally, it only made sense for me to go overboard with spraying mine, too. Next thing I knew, my dark brown hair was COMPLETELY orange. I had to live with bright orange hair for what felt like an eternity.
J: I can’t live without Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile soap. I usually like to use Peppermint in the morning or before going out, and Rose before bedtime. I’ve literally been using this stuff for as long as I can remember, so I love that it's familiar, inexpensive, and effective. It's kind of genius that it has 18 different uses—I use it to shave as well. I also frequently find myself attempting to conquer the label when I’m zoned out in the shower. For exfoliation, I like the Wakey Wakey scrub from Stripped Ego. It’s an all natural brown sugar, coffee, and peppermint dry scrub. I usually scoop a couple fingerfuls out and mix it with some Dr. Bronner’s and it's on and poppin'.
A: Before I flat-out lie and say I look for products with specific ingredients or purposes, I have to be honest and submit to the fact that I’m definitely a packaging consumer—I mean, if it's not appealing on the outside, chances are I’m not interested. Unless it’s free.
J: Age introduced me to Thayer’s Witch Hazel Rose Petal Toner. I never used toner before, but it feels good, fresh, and clean, and it feels like a nice neutralizer for my skin. Afterwards, I use Grown Alchemist’s Rosehip & Camellia Seed Antioxidant Facial Oil. I use it every day in the morning and at night before bed. I prefer an oil to a cream, as creams usually feel way too heavy and toxic to me. There was a period last winter where my lips were embarrassingly dry, so every night before bed for about a week, I used Grown Alchemist’s Watermelon & Vanilla Lip Balm. To this day, it is the only lip product I like to use. It’s thick and glossy, so a little goes a long way and you can tell that it's both hydrating and long-term conditioning. It also smells good enough to eat.
A: My hands down favorite product is my La Mer Eye Balm Intense. I make sure to use this both at the start and end of my day. I find that it brightens my under eye and really helps with puffiness. With me being on the go all the time and borderline overworked, I feel that it’s definitely a need.
J: I used to have a really dry scalp and I was super self-conscious about it. None of my barbers gave me useful advice until I started getting my hair cut at Human Nature on the Lower East Side. I see Tony there– who is the best– and he suggested I use coconut oil to help with the dryness. Since then I’ve used coconut oil about every other night before bed and my scalp’s been much better.
A: I really care about my lips, so my next two favorites are tied. I use the GlamGlow lip scrub to get rid of all the dead skin—at least twice a month—and it works wonders. In the winter, I use it a little more frequently, as it's a perfect retaliation against winter chapped lips. Amongst all of the daily lip care I’ll use, my favorite is the Grown Alchemist Lip Balm—Jihad put me onto it. It’s seriously the most perfect daily lip product out there. Everyone should invest.
J: The single product I am the biggest advocate for is Aesop’s Déodorant—not to be confused with the Herbal Deodorant, I don’t like that one so much. It’s aluminum-free, and aside from how great it smells, it's also a spray, which makes it ideal for sharing. I like to dance a lot when I'm out, and I’m known amongst my friends to always have this deodorant with me, so I’m frequently summoned to help them freshen up on the dance floor.
A: I always start my routine by washing my hands! If you don’t do that before touching your face, you’re doing it all wrong—but I’m here for you. Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub is my go-to at the moment. I only say at the moment because I try not to get too comfortable with one product. After washing my face, I always use Thayer’s Witch Hazel and Rose Petal Toner. I dab way more than I think is necessary on a cotton pad, but I just can’t help it. I love this stuff for two reasons — there’s no alcohol in it, and it smells great! After the toner dries, I then use one fingertip’s worth of Kiehl’s Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream Sunscreen mixed with a couple drops of Grown Alchemist Antioxidant Face Oil, and apply this to my face. I kid you not, this mixture keeps my face moisturized until I wash my face in the evening. Then I use some La Mer Eye Balm Intense–it’s great because there’s a slight yellowish, greenish tint and I find that it aids in hiding the dark circles under my eyes. Next comes the Maybelline NY Brow Precise and I finish with a spritz of Mario Badescu's facial spray with rosewater. There are herbs and aloe vera in the mixture, which help with hydration, and it’s great for an AM dewy look.
J: Today, my go-to brand for fragrance is Byredo. For the past four years I’ve been using Gypsy Water. One of my best friends wears Baudelaire and sometimes I’ll spray a hoodie with it—I like that one on clothing better than on my body. Sometimes I play with La Selle perfume extract, but only for really special occasions.
A: The best thing is argan oil, which is great for just about everything. I use it in my hair when it feels dry or damaged, or I’ll apply a few drops in my moisturizer if my skin looks or feels extra dry. I also recently learned about the importance of exfoliation.
—as told to ITG
Photos via the authors.
