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.
“I’m Isabella Soto (@isabellasotop), founder of the online boutique 8vo Ático. I’ve been living in Miami for eight years, but I’m from Venezuela. My parents knew the situation in Caracas was getting harsh, so they let me go to Miami by myself when I was 16. Suddenly, I was in a new country, living alone in an apartment. The good thing was three of my best friends from Venezuela had moved to Miami a few years before, so they introduced me to the high school and their parents acted as my emergency contacts. Miami is a similar environment to Venezuela, but sometimes I still miss the warmth and connection of Latin America—I haven’t been able to find that in any other place.
My mom was a model back in Venezuela, and she’s always loved fashion. I definitely got that from her. My style has changed so much over the years. In Venezuela, everything is over the top but nobody wears shorts. When I moved to Miami I basically only wore shorts and Brandy Melville tops. When I moved to New York for college, I couldn’t keep dressing how I did in Miami, or how I dressed in Venezuela, so that’s when I started to figure out what I really liked. It all clicked when I traveled to Copenhagen and discovered Scandinavian style. Scandinavian style is kind of similar to Latin American style in that both are super feminine and play with different patterns and colors. But Scandinavian style is a little more cool. They might wear something sexy and feminine with a pair of sneakers, where in Latin America you would wear heels. The two styles made sense to me, because my personal style is right in the middle.
In the morning when I wake up, I wash my face with Naturopathica Colloidal Silver and Salicylic Acid Cleanser. I found it at Sana Skin Studio in Miami. They do the most amazing facials with natural products, and after I went in for my first facial they recommended that cleanser. When I was breaking out a lot, this was the only thing that actually calmed it. After that I use this Victoria Beckham by Augustinus Bader Cell Rejuvenating Power Serum, to make my skin super glowy and hydrated. I first fell in love with the Augustinus Bader Rich Cream, which I wear even when it’s 100 degrees in Miami. I used to have little bumps under my skin and that changed it. Plus, it’s a miracle if a product doesn’t break me out, so that’s why I bought the Victoria Beckham version. I let that sit for a little bit, then I use the Ursa Major vitamin C and Josh Rosebrook’s Nutrient Day Cream with SPF 30. That’s important, especially in Miami. After my morning routine I’ll do some work and maybe go work out—at around 1:30 I feel like I need to wash my face again. In the afternoon I use the Agent Nateur Holi(water) Pearl and Rose Hyaluronic Essence and Supernal’s Cosmic Glow Oil, which has been a dream. It’s the only oil that hasn’t broken me out.
I have super, super curly hair, which is something else I got from my mom. After she took me to get my first blowout, I couldn’t wear my hair in curls anymore. I’ve tried keratin treatments, but I realized I prefer to just have it curly so I don’t have to worry about it when I go to the beach or the pool, and just blow dry it straight once a week. My favorite hairdryer is the Drybar one, because it has enough force to actually dry my hair. When I go on trips I use the little T3 one that you can just fold in half and put it in your bag. But the humidity in Miami makes it impossible for my blowouts to last, so I usually go to a Dominican place near my house. They know exactly how to blow dry my hair. I also get my hair colored every six months or so. Miami is tricky when it comes to hair color, and I think IGK is the best place to go.
The Olaplex Bond Smoother is the heat protectant I use when I blow dry my hair—it’s perfect for frizz, and has really helped me with breakage. I also wash my hair with Olaplex shampoo and conditioner. I use a lot of the conditioner. If I want to add texture, I use the Ouai Conditioning Cream to scrunch it a little bit. And then I use a hair oil. I’m on my third bottle of Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil, which I love because it doesn’t make my hair greasy, but recently I’ve hopped on the Crown Affair oil train. It’s very good and smells amazing. I have a nighttime fragrance and a daytime fragrance, and I finally feel like I’ve nailed down the ones I like best. Frédéric Malle’s Sale Gosse is very beachy and fresh, and it has a bit of a floral note. When I first smelled it, I thought it smelled like being in Capri. At night I use Le Labo’s Another 13, which is a bit musky and not super sweet.
If I’m going to wear makeup, I’ll put a little Saie Beauty Dew Balm all over my face using my fingertips. Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Filter is kind of like foundation, but it doesn’t cover much. And then I’ll wear this Sunnies Face Airblush in Peached, or Tower 28’s tinted balm in Magic Hour. They’re basically the same color, but the Tower 28 is more glossy. I go to this place in Miami called Dafne Evangelista Beauty Lounge to get my brows threaded, and then I use Saie’s Brow Butter to tame them. And I also use the Saie Mascara. It doesn’t melt down into my eyes by the end of the night, so it’s a keeper. Finally, my favorite lip product is this Pat McGrath Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Lip Balm in Blow Up. It’s almost the same tone as my lips.”
—as told to ITG
Photos via the author
