Being the masochist that I am, I’ll spend often spend a good hour on the couch lurking girls on Instagram with #flawless beauty shelves before embarking on my own nightly beauty regime. I make my way to my own cabinet-less bathroom, vowing to make a spacious, light-filled cupboard the first priority in my next house. Out of all the covetable shelves we’ve stumbled upon at THE FILE, none quite compare to Alex Muskat’s.

Alex’s Instagram is here to feed your FOMO, exhibiting every cult makeup, skin, and hair product on your wish list. Her fragrance line-up alone is enough to make you want to haul ass to your nearest Sephora and spend all your Euro summer 2018 savings on bottles and bottles of luxurious scents.

Aside from being a bewty queen, the dream girl spends her days improving the Los Angeles creative scene, working with brands like Youth To The People, LNA Clothing, and Galore, as well making beautiful art. We asked her to share her top six desert island products, and she came back with the goods. Thanks, Alex!



Diptyque Olene

“Perfume is one of the things in life that will always be important to me. When I was younger, I wanted to go to France and learn to become a parfumeur. I still may do it, who knows. Unique scent combinations really excite me, and when I came across Olene about five years ago I immediately knew it was the one. I’ve never identified so strongly with a specific scent. It’s definitely in your face; nothing subtle about this jasmine, narcissus, and white flower blend. There’s just something about it that makes me unreasonably happy.”

1

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

“I’ve always had intense eyebrows. When I was younger, I used to try anything to change them, but I came to realize that they were a feature on my face that wasn’t going anywhere. I don’t pluck them or do anything to them now – my only exception is the Clear Brow Gel by Anastasia Beverly Hills. I brush my eyebrows up every morning with the clear gel and it makes them look a bit more intentional and styled. I’m not so much a fan of the overdrawn eyebrow – I think girls will look back in a few years and possibly regret the trend. I’ve found that enhancing my natural features always seem to work best.”

2

Youth To The People Age Prevention Serum

“This serum is my wonder product. It carries a lot of weight in my household. It’s created from all natural ingredients and is proven to boost collagen. As I greet the middle of my 20s, it’s become really important for me to prevent wrinkles and maintain hydrated skin. This Youth To The People serum is one of those products I can pinpoint that changed my skin pretty instantly. I wash my face with their Age Prevention Cleanser then add the serum to lock in as much moisture as possible. I love that it’s vitamin-packed and restorative. Definitely a life hack.”

3

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid

“I fell in love with this product years ago – I started wearing it in high school, actually. I’m pretty much a sucker for any illuminator, because I opt for the natural makeup look. I’m completely fine admitting my unwavering addiction to shimmery beauty products… let’s attribute it to my ‘90s upbringing. This one, however, is my absolute favorite. I place it on my cheekbones, use it as eyeshadow, and sometimes blend it into my moisturizer. It has this warm, golden hue that makes me feel like I just got back from a really luxe vacation. The whole matte beauty trend can’t promise that! A healthy glow never hurt anyone.”

4

Thayers Witch Hazel

This is the product that every effortlessly-cool girl has recommended to me. I’ll admit this is one of the newer products I’ve adopted, but it has changed my skin for the better in the shortest amount of time. Also, I can totally get down with any hippie skincare product available at Whole Foods. I use Thayers every morning and evening without fail. It’s become a bit ritualistic for me, actually. A ritual I don’t ever see myself giving up.”

5

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate

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“When I was growing up, my mom always said I had ‘English skin’, which essentially meant that my skin was sensitive and dry. As I’ve grown up, I’ve learned to hydrate my skin with coconut oil, and the importance of exfoliating at least once a week. This Kate Somerville exfoliant has changed the game for me. It’s strong enough to leave your skin feeling extremely soft, while being gentle enough for bi-weekly use.”

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Words, Madeleine Woon. With thanks to Alex Muskat