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 Diana Blaszkiewicz, but on Into The Gloss I’m ArtsduMal. I just took the bar exam in Washington, DC, and I hope to be a commercial real estate finance lawyer soon. DC is pretty conservative—the legal world even more so. When I wear a bright pink lipstick, it opens up pathways of communication. You're expressing yourself, but also inviting others to look at you, talk to you, connect. I’d like to build a work wardrobe that brings me joy like makeup does—I follow @Walkofdame for inspiration.
Every month I get a facial at Blush Med, a spa here in DC where I have a membership. I also get the Clear and Brilliant [laser treatment] there, which clears congestion and helps with the texture of my skin. Of my beauty product inventory, I’d say, 25-percent of it contains things I’ve bought full price, 25-percent came from 'gift with purchase' deals, 25-percent is from discount stores, and the rest I find on Facebook swap groups. I'm not paying more than $100 if it doesn't involve a laser—you’ve got to shop around!
I rarely repurchase products because I love the thrill of trying something new, but the actual steps in my routine haven't changed in years. I always shower in the morning and shampoo my hair—no conditioner. I wash my face with Milky Jelly, which is the rare product I buy over and over again—I think I'm on my sixth or seventh bottle. For body, I use the Rad Soap Co body wash with tobacco and vetiver, and the Crystal Peel Microdermabrasion Bar soap on my butt. It’s the only thing that keeps breakouts at bay. And when I get out of the shower, I liberally apply Africa's Best body oil and start on my skincare.
With that comes OG Skinceuticals CE Ferulic serum, first. It’s fine, but I'm eyeing the new Dr. Dennis Gross IPL serum next. After that, I use a hyaluronic acid—I like this Indie Lee Stem Cell Serum that was a gift with purchase. Since it's winter, I'm using the Alchimie Forever Kantic+ Intensely Nourishing Cream. I love the texture and finish, but I hate that it smells like marshmallows. During the summer I use Drunk Elephant’s tinted sunscreen, but right now I’m getting my SPF from a Lancôme gift with purchase. And then the last step in my morning routine isn’t a cream at all, it’s a supplement. I take Mary Ruth’s multi-vitamins, which come in liquid form—I hate swallowing pills. And I also take a probiotic. I’m out the door in 30 minutes or less.
At work is where I usually do my makeup. I've been using the Chanel Vitalumèire Aqua foundation in 32 Beige Rose—it’s sheer and it makes me look glowy. I buy Nars Multiples from Nordstrom Rack—I put Mauritanie on my cheeks and eyes, 413 BLKR on my cheeks and lips, and then I buff it in with my foundation brush. If I use highlighter, it’s the Chanel Baume Essentiel highlighter in Sculpting. My everyday lip colors are Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy and Noir Moderne, a shimmery neutral and a sheer dark red. And I use Nars Audacious lip palette in 7 Deadly Sins a lot—I press the color onto my lips, and then it sort of looks like a stain. My workhorse eye look is Nars Himalayas eyeshadow with brown shadow on my bottom lash line. I think color can be work appropriate—I really like burgundy liner because it makes my eyes look more green. For mascara, I use whatever samples I have—right now it's Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir. And related to that, I learned about Lumify eye drops from ITG, and they’re my number one beauty must-have. My eyes are red and sensitive, and these drops make them insanely white.
At night, I take off my makeup with Bioderma or Milky Oil, and cleanse with Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser. Twice a week, I use the Dr. Dennis Gross Extra Strength Pads. They’re expensive—I like to cut the exfoliating pads in half, and then save the neutral pads to take off makeup when I travel. For something gentler, I use the Paula's Choice Weightless Advanced Repairing toner with niacinamide on some gauze. Then I spray my face with Odacité Aloe + Immortelle face mist and apply a face oil. Right now I'm using The Ordinary B Oil, which I like. When my face is nice and oily I will do a little gua sha, which I learned to use by watching Treatment by Lanshin and Britta Beauty videos. I get super puffy and I hold all my tension in my jaw, and this helps massage it out. When I'm done, I'll re-mist and re-oil if my skin needs it—otherwise, I'll just put Indie Lee Calendula Balm under my eyes and on my lips.
My idea of relaxation is being able to concentrate on one thing without distractions. I am involved in a DC Into The Gloss meetup group, which is nice because I have a space to talk about skincare and beauty. I also run a women’s wine group called Winona DC. I love a bottle or two of cheap Italian red with a margarita pizza and some friends. But if I’ve have had even one drink, you could throw as many makeup removing wipes you want at me, my makeup’s not coming off until the next morning. There’s just no way."
—as told to ITG
Photos via the author.
