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.

“My name is Elisa Marshall (@byelisa), and I’m the owner and founder of Maman. I’m based in New York City, but currently writing from Montréal. I've been here for six months—I came here with my husband to have my beautiful baby boy named Yves, and open a new Maman location. Between balancing a newborn, eight restaurants, and freelance design work I don’t have a lot of time anymore, but every day is different, which is what I love about my life. Some days I get to do fun things, like host events or make cakes, and others I’m answering emails or putting out fires behind the scenes. It’s a little bit of everything—I love a challenge, and it’s good to keep different creative outlets.

My big hair has become my trademark, so it’s usually my main beauty focus. But when I was growing up, I hated it—I vividly remember wishing I had flat, blonde, straight hair instead. This was the Spice Girl era, and I could not get enough chunky, platinum highlights and hair mascara. Before we owned a straightener, my sister and I would go to the basement, take the legs off the ironing board, lie down on the floor and iron each other's hair. The result was far from desirable, as we could never quite get as close to the roots as we wanted. (It left me with a few forehead scars, too.) Now, I actually love my curly hair. It’s very full, and with the right products I can keep it styled for around three days.

I currently wash with Playa shampoo, which leaves my hair feeling clean, yet not too clean. I also love the beachy smell. After shampooing, I use a whole lot of conditioner and a paddle brush to get it all untangled and smooth. My hair often gets matted at the back, and my knots can be painful and difficult to brush out. To help it along, sometimes I rub some coconut oil in with my conditioner. Then, after rinsing, I jump right into styling while my hair is very wet. I find that if I don’t do this, or I let it dry too long in a towel before adding product, my hair separates and I end up with frizzy curls as opposed to defined ringlets. I lightly squeeze and scrunch my curls with my hands while adding the Kérastase Discipline Mousse. I love how it gives a great hold yet doesn’t weigh down my curls. Once it is evenly distributed, I give a light coat of spray, concentrating it at the roots for volume. Then flip my hair upside down and diffuse it with my Dyson.

Since I already have to take a little more time in the bathroom during hair washing days, I save masks and exfoliating for that day as well. My current favorite is the June Jacobs Cranberry Pomegranate Moisture Masque. It smells fantastic and I love the texture—it makes me feel like I’m putting buttercream icing on my face. Facials are my favorite thing to do when I have a little more me time, and when I’m in New York, I love to get quick ones at Heyday. I’m also hoping to try a Cryo Facial soon—freezing your face off sounds scary, but still more approachable than the snail or vampire facials I’m seeing everywhere!

I don’t usually have time for an eight-step routine, so for skincare, I opt for only the necessities. I use Estée Lauder Perfectly Clean Crème Cleanser as my everyday face wash, and have Klorane’s Floral Eye Makeup Remover on hand as well. I’ve been using it for years, and it’s a staple. Eminence Organics is an incredible line of skincare products I discovered in Vancouver, and I’m absolutely obsessed with their Rosehip Triple C&E Firming Oil. I apply that all over, and once it’s absorbed, I use the Hydra Eclat Serum and Cellularose Liftessence Daily Cream from By Terry. On my body, I use the Agent Nateur Holi(Rose) deodorant which pairs well with my Bastide Rose Olivier fragrance. I also love their Figue D’Ete hand and body lotion, which is hydrating and not too strongly scented.

I keep my makeup simple during the day. I’ve been using L’Oréal Voluminous mascara in Blackest Black for years—I have tried many others, but always go back. It gives me full, lush lashes at a reasonable price. The Estée Lauder Double Wear Eyeliner in Onyx has a smooth, creamy texture even though it’s waterproof—most waterproof pencils I’ve tried are pretty dry. For my lips, I love everything from Lano—I use the clear balms for day and switch to the tinted at night. The original Superbalm and the Lemonaid Scrubba-Balm are my favorites. And I love the Estée Lauder Perfectionist Concealer and Serum. One end is a liquid concealer, and the other is a stick. I dab a bit around my eyes and on any other little spots, and blend with my fingers. It’s so convenient to keep one in my purse, one in my diaper bag, and one in my bathroom.

My maman taught me to stay positive, and it’s something I am always conscious of. I try to say yes, and then figure out how it can be done. I try to help where I can. And I try to find something good in every bad situation. I want to say that something like yoga or meditation keeps me grounded, but honestly, both put me to sleep. Instead, my favorite way to unwind is lying in bed with my baby and my pup, with a glass of red wine in hand and a computer on my lap. Yes, I already have Pinterest boards for the next five years of Yves’ birthday parties—but I also like looking up recipes, creating new mood boards, or redoing my house in my head. I often think of a quote from interior decorator Elsie de Wolfe where she says, ‘I am going to make everything around me beautiful, and that will be my life.’ That’s the mantra I try to live by.”

—as told to ITG

Photos via the author