Marianne Mychaskiw has always loved makeup and skincare. She still remembers creating a shrine to the beauty section of YM Magazine in her childhood bedroom – an obvious foreshadowing of what was to come professionally. After a years-long stint as the associate beauty editor at InStyle, followed by a brand copywriting gig, Mychaskiw is returning to her editorial roots. She sat down with Lively to discuss her career and shared the beauty items she always keeps in her bag.
Lively: When did you first become interested in beauty and thought, ‘Wow I can make this into a career’?
Marianne Mychaskiw: I've been obsessed with beauty since I was young and wallpapering my bedroom with the beauty section of YM Magazine. But I didn't realize I could turn it into a career until college. I was able to get an internship in the beauty department at Good Housekeeping my junior year and decided to pursue a career in beauty from that point on. I landed at InStyle after graduation as a beauty intern on digital, and eventually my role there grew and evolved as the internet did (Instagram didn't even exist when I started out there!). I was promoted and eventually was associate beauty editor when I decided to explore brand copywriting for a year and some change, but I missed home and decided to go back to editorial on a freelance basis!
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L: What do you love the most about your job?
MM: I love learning about new products and industry trends and finding ways to write about them that’s relatable and fun. I'm a firm believer that beauty should make people happy and feel good about themselves.
L: Coolest work perk you’ve experienced so far?
MM: There is so much science that goes into creating products, and while I was garbage at chemistry in high school, I love speaking to creators about how they have discovered that certain ingredients when used in tandem can impart amazing results. Then getting to try out the product for myself.
L: Is there a skincare or beauty product out there that you think all women could benefit from?
MM: I know retinol can seem intimidating, but for me, it's kind of the one-two-punch in targeting signs of aging while reducing breakouts. If you're new to retinol, start slowly to build up your skin's tolerance by using a retinol-based product once or twice a week, then increasing use from there if your skin can take it. My favorites are Peter Thomas Roth's Retinol Fusion PM, and Sunday Riley's Luna Oil. Sunscreen is essential during the day, especially if you're using retinol, and I love La Prairie's formula.
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L: Is there a product you’re obsessed with and can’t live without?
MM: Glamglow anything! I feel like whenever I have an issue with my skin, I can throw on a Glamglow mask and immediately notice a difference in the problem area. I go through phases where I break out like I'm 15, and their Supermud mask is great for killing any unexpected activity.
L: Is there a makeup or skincare "don't" you’re guilty of committing?
MM: Fully guilty of picking at my pores. It used to be terrible back in high school, but I've tried to reel it in by a LOT and just take better care of my skin as a whole.
L: And most importantly: what’s in your makeup bag?
MM: I live and die for liquid eyeliner, so I keep Tarte's Double Take Liner with me at all times. I use Revitalash serum to grow my lashes, then I'll cocktail three different mascaras to make them look super long and dramatic -- currently, I'm into IL MAKIAGE's Icon Mascara, Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash, and Tarte's Maneater. I use Anastasia Brow Powder to fill in my eyebrows, IL MAKIAGE foundation in #80 over areas where my skin needs extra love (I like to use it as concealer), then finish everything off with Pat McGrath's Highlighting Trio and Tarte's Cheek Stain. I'm one of those people who will never not use lip gloss, and I love Pat McGrath's Lust Gloss in Pale Fire Nectar.
