The Comedian Whose Day Job Is Manning Glossier HQ’s Front Desk

You know the #ITGTopShelfie—our interview series that shares the beauty routines of Into The Gloss’ lovely, accomplished, and loyal community of readers. But starting this week, we’re also taking you into the bathrooms, cabinets, and makeup bags of some of Glossier’s own. These folks work in beauty, and they bring to the table lots of capital-t Thoughts about it. Submit yours 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 Ariel (@arielgitlin), Glossier HQ’s First Impressions Coordinator. That’s a fancy way of saying that I handle office administration, reception, and employee experience. When I’m not at work I’m acting and performing comedy at UCB. Some of my comedic idols have stopped by the front desk at Glossier HQ and I’ve gotten to attack them with questions and praise welcome them to the office in an extremely professional manner. Interacting with so many people I admire is my favorite part of my job, and actually, beauty has always been my way of expressing admiration. I brought a picture of Emma Watson to my hairdresser for years until finally I realized that I had the haircut, but just… didn’t look like her. Even though I talk to so many people at work, it’s rare that I wear a full face of makeup during the week. Instead, I save makeup for my comedy shows—that way, when I take off my silly wigs and show up at the afterparty, I look brave, and versatile.

When I first started at Glossier, I would buy whatever anyone who walked in with glowy skin used. It’s great to get recommendations from people, but I’ve since learned that being consistent with a routine is what matters most. I find I feel my best when I’m taking care of my skin and trying not to pick. I’m super lazy in the morning and I cannot wake up early to save my life, so I usually just spritz rosewater and use Glossier Priming Moisturizer Rich, which I love because it’s thick but not sticky, and SPF. I’ve worn sunscreen every single day since I was in fifth grade, because that’s when my mom started bribing me to do so, and Purito Centella Green Level SPF 50 is everything to me. I constantly repurchase it because I like the way it makes my skin feel and look—it has niacinamide in it, which helps control little breakouts.

Nighttime is when I do my real skincare routine. I start with Milky Jelly Cleanser, which takes off any makeup I’m wearing and doesn’t make my skin feel tight. But my favorite part of my entire day is when I use my P50 1970. I love her. She smells disgusting but I used to have cystic acne on my chin, and since using it regularly my breakouts have really decreased. Then I’ll choose a serum based on what my skin needs—lately I’ve been loving the Timeless Skincare Vitamin C+E and Ferulic Acid, which I picked up at oo35mm, but I have Mad Hippie’s vitamin C and Glossier Super Bounce on hand too. I use Bubblewrap under my eyes, and finish with the CosRX Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream. It’s so soothing, and particularly good in the wintertime. Then, when everything dries a little, I’ll use the Mario Badescu drying lotion on any zits that don’t have a head yet, and a CosRX Pimple Patch on any that do.

For a really long time I tried to look ‘castable’—whatever that means—and didn’t take beauty risks at all. But a few years ago I just decided to dye my hair pink for the summer, when I didn’t have much going on. As soon as I dyed it I booked the biggest part I’ve ever booked. If they want you, they want you: it’s a beauty and life lesson I come back to a lot. And now I’ll try anything. Eyelash lift? Facial massage? Please!! Sometimes it goes wrong, like my experiments with nail extensions. When I went to get them removed the technician took a Metrocard out of her desk and used it to pry them off, and now my nails are paper. That’s not how that’s usually done, right? It’s a good thing I looked so hot while they lasted!

My full-coverage foundation is the It Cosmetics CC Cream, which is the best thing ever. And on ‘no-makeup’ days I’ll still use a few drops of Glossier Skin Tint in G11 just to feel something. I also have two concealers: Stretch Concealer, which I’ll use under my eyes or all over my face, and Collection Cosmetics Lasting Perfection Concealer. The two are super different. I discovered the Lasting Perfection Concealer on Zoe Sugg’s YouTube channel and now have friends bring it back for me from the UK. I save it for covering blemishes.

2020 was the year I discovered bronzer. Fenty Beauty’s Sun Stalkr Instant Warmth Bronzer in Inda Sun has changed my life, as a very fair person. It just warms me up and gives my face a little depth. Then I use Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink, which I like because it doesn’t crease. My favorite highlighter is Nightshine in Pale Pearl—I think it’s an unsung hero. I put a few dots on my cheekbones, under my eyebrows, in the corner of my eyes and on the tip of my nose. I know other people put it on their cupid’s bow too, but mine is too sweaty 100-percent of the time. I fill in my eyebrows with the Nyx Micro Brow Pencil in Brunette, which I learned is a cheaper and better dupe for the one from Anastasia. And then I use Boy Brow in Brown to thicken them up and keep everything in place. One tube lasts me a long time because I wipe most of the product off of the brush before I use it, and I actually prefer how, after using it for a while, the formula gets waxier and tackier. I also found my perfect neutral lip this year, which is Generation G in Like with a little bit of Vinylic Lip in Pony layered on top. Chef’s kiss

I work all day and rehearse or perform many nights of the week, so finding time to myself is super important to me. I’ll make a big bowl of popcorn, spray it with coconut oil, dump some nutritional yeast on it, pour myself a seltzer, get under my sheets and put on any TV show where two gorgeous teens fall in love before something goes totally wrong. Now I’m trying to prioritize staying connected with people who I love and who make me laugh. One thing that’s helped is a book club where we read Jessica Simpson’s memoir and then discussed it on a Zoom call—considering I watched every episode of Newlyweds as it aired in 2003, the book was a game changer.”

—as told to ITG

Photos via the author

Featured via: ITG