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 Maggie Holladay (@claudehome). I’m the founder of Claude Home, a vintage and design company, but my background is actually in fashion. While I was working for i-D, I had sort of a mental breakdown and started collecting all these random home decor things. My boyfriend at the time was like, ‘Maggie, we don’t need 90 coaster sets,’ and suggested I sell them on Instagram. A little while later I quit my job, started learning more about furniture, and gained a real following online. That’s when I realized I could make my side project into a full career.
Now I collect furniture full-time. I split my time between San Diego, Los Angeles, and NYC—I have a small showroom in the East Village, and I basically furnish that as an office for myself. When the pieces sell, I switch them out. But my main platform is still on Instagram, and I do a lot of consignment. Many of our pieces are vintage restored with new upholstery, and we also carry special collections by featured artists like Chandler McLellan and Roxanne Morrison. Last year I was really into bouclé, and currently I’m ordering leathers that wear well and become unique with use. They are really special. Sometimes I get attached to the pieces I collect, but the one thing that I cannot get rid of, for whatever reason, is a plain black vase. It’s the only thing I’m really attached to because I know I won’t find anything I like more.
A lot of people move into an apartment and think they have to completely furnish it within two weeks. It’s so frustrating. I know I’m not going to find anyone’s dream pieces in a week. I’ve lived in my apartment for two years and I stare at furniture for hours every day, and I’m not even finished decorating. You should really wait to fall in love with something, or save up money to get exactly what you want, instead of heading straight to Ikea. Because then your apartment ends up being this rushed process, and it looks rushed, and a bit generic. That’s my best piece of advice.
I spend a lot of time on my skin, and doing my routine is so therapeutic for me. After my morning shower, my skincare starts with a good wash. I’m obsessed with the Lesse Refining Cleanser, which is the perfect daily exfoliator. My next step is rubbing an ice cube all over my face. Not only is it refreshing, but I am also convinced it’s made an impact on the overall tone and texture of my face. Plus I think it’s added definition to my jawline. If you try it, you won’t regret it. After that I use Biologique Recherche’s Lotion P50, which has been a huge game changer for my skin. At night I massage in Agent Nateur’s Refining Ageless Serum with a gua sha, and then finish it all off with Drunk Elephant A Passioni Retinol Cream. But in the morning, I use Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Darker Skin Tones Hyaluronic Serum. I’ve noticed big changes in my hyperpigmentation since integrating that into my routine. I seal it with the Lesse Ritual Serum, which is a really nice moisturizer for sensitive skin and a great product for city-dwellers. I finalize my morning skincare with Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer and Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense SPF 30.
My hair is naturally curly, but it never made me feel confident. Five years ago I got a Japanese straightening treatment to change that, and now I think that decision ruined my hair. To reverse it I’d have to completely grow it out, and I’m not at a place where I can shave my head and start off fresh. So I just keep doing it. I have a lot of heat damage and breakage, so I use hair masks a lot—I just ran out of the Crown Affair mask, which is really good. And washing my hair with the super hydrating Oribe Shampoo and Conditioner for Brilliance and Shine kind of saves my life. When I get out I use the Crown Affair oil—that stuff smells insane. And then, Dyson makes literally the best hair products in the entire world. It takes five minutes to blow dry my hair with my Dyson blow dryer, and it looks so much smoother than if I used a normal one. I also have the straightener, which is cordless and amazing. If I use both I can make my hair look like I got a real blow out, but hand me any other hair machine and I have no idea what’s going on. I really want the Air Wrap next—I’ve been watching all these Tiktokers using it and I’m obsessed.
In my job, I take a lot of inspiration from free-form shapes found in nature and simple, muted palettes. I try to abide by that when it comes to my beauty regimen, too. If I’m going out at night or to get breakfast in the morning, I wear the same makeup. I start with Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage concealer in Sc-5 under my eyes and around my nose to cover up a little redness. Then I use Dior Luminous Silk foundation in 8. I never used to wear blush, but then two years ago I found Laura Mercier’s Kir Royale in Sephora. I’ll never change blushes because I feel like it’s really easy to go overboard. I wear Laura Mercier mascara, and then Laura Mercier lipstick in Brun Naturel, and that’s it. My thing is really my nails. I can’t feel put together unless I have a manicure, and I get them done pretty much every week. The last thing I did before the city shut down was get my nails done, and the first thing I did when salons opened up again was get my nails done. In the middle I had a panic attack every day—I literally put Bandaids over my nails at one point because I didn’t want to look at them. I have really bad nail-related anxiety.
I love musky, masculine scents. I use Byredo’s Bibliothèque, which I think is one of those scents that isn’t offensive to anybody. It wears really well, and I can still smell it on me at the end of the day. In the shower I’m obsessed with the Nécessaire Sandalwood body wash. It’s so moisturizing, and the packaging is calming to me. I take a bath every other night, and I love to use this Holibath soak. It’s very relaxing and hydrating. I’ll prop my computer up on the toilet, put on Grey’s Anatomy, pour myself a glass of wine or cup of tea and soak for 30 minutes. That’s my time to pamper myself and unplug from a busy day.”
—as told to ITG
Photos via the author
