Mary Beth Barone never set out to be a comedian—it started as a curiosity, a Gemini impulse to try something new. At the time, she was working at Warby Parker and decided to sign up for improv classes “just to have a hobby.” What she found instead was pure joy. Improv quickly led to stand-up, and from her very first time on stage she knew she’d found her calling.

Those early gigs weren’t easy. Open mics can be intimidating, especially as a woman, and “bringer shows” added another layer of pressure—you could only perform if you convinced at least five people to come watch. But in one of those dimly lit rooms in Bushwick, Barone met Benito Skinner. She remembers watching his set and being struck by his star quality: even in front of a half-empty bar, he managed to light up the room. As fate would have it, he felt the same about her performance. Their shared admiration sparked a friendship that soon evolved into creative partnership.

Together, they launched Ride, a podcast designed to be a bright, celebratory space—a mix of cultural commentary, personal catch-ups, and plenty of laughter. Barone, who describes herself as type A, balances out Skinner’s more chaotic energy, creating a dynamic that listeners immediately connected with. That synergy eventually grew into Overcompensating, a semi-autobiographical comedy inspired by Skinner’s college years as a closeted gay man. Barone plays Grace, his blunt, misunderstood sister, and relished the chance to bring the character’s complexity to life.

A Skin Routine Anchored in Simplicity

Barone’s beauty rituals are as thoughtful as her comedy, though she admits her skin has tested her patience over the years. A bout of dermatitis left her searching for solutions, and what ultimately worked was unconventional: a prescription shampoo with ketoconazole, used as a face wash. “It sounds strange,” she laughs, “but it completely keeps the dermatitis in check.”

Her mornings begin thanks to Pinky, her dog, who acts as a natural alarm clock at 8 a.m. After a walk and coffee, Barone rolls a chilled rose quartz roller across her skin before cleansing. She keeps the rest minimal, saving her enthusiasm for a few standout products.

Two are non-negotiables: 111Skin’s rose gold eye masks and classic Carmex lip balm. The eye patches, discovered during a facial in England, are now a travel-only indulgence. As for Carmex? “I have one in every corner of my apartment,” she says. Rumors about its ingredients don’t faze her—she loves the scent, the feel, and the fact that it’s affordable.

Spray tans are another fixture in her beauty arsenal, though they’ve come with lessons learned. A Kim Kardashian Halloween costume years ago introduced her to Sugared + Bronzed, but also to the importance of applying barrier cream to her armpits to avoid clogged pores. Now she swears by their level four tan—less orange, more natural.

Makeup as Performance

Barone approaches makeup differently depending on the day. For casual outings, she keeps it light; for shows, the ritual becomes part of the performance. Alone in her hotel room, she relishes the time spent doing her hair and carefully applying makeup.

Her base routine revolves around Charlotte Tilbury: the Beautiful Skin concealer, Flawless foundation, and Pillow Talk highlighter. She often blends the foundation with a discontinued Bobbi Brown tinted moisturizer for the perfect balance of coverage and glow. Application is always with a Beautyblender. “Yes, it eats product,” she jokes, “but it’s hungry, and I respect that.”

For eyes, she alternates between Dior Backstage Glow palettes, Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk shadows, and a reliable Anastasia Brow Definer. Mascara loyalty belongs to Trish McEvoy’s tubing formula—less drama, but no smudges. On lips, Carmex reigns supreme, though she keeps Fenty’s Hot Chocolit gloss, a Summer Fridays tint, and a red MAC lipstick in rotation. Bold colors, she admits, can look perfect in the mirror but less flattering hours into an event, so she often leans toward dramatic eye looks instead.

Hair and the Tools That Matter

If Barone could commit to two lifelong partners outside comedy, they’d be her Dyson vacuum and her Amika blow dryer brush. “It’s basically a magic wand,” she says, capable of giving her a salon-level blowout in under an hour. She pairs it with Color Wow’s Dream Coat anti-frizz spray, a product she fell in love with after a hairstylist used it on set.

Though naturally a brunette, she recently went blonde for Overcompensating. The experiment proved fun, but she’s ready to return to brown—a decision timed perfectly with her birthday. “Messy brunette hair is a vibe. Messy blonde hair? Not so much.”

Her washing routine is low-maintenance: Kevin Murphy’s Angel Wash twice a week, conditioner only every other week to avoid buildup, and his Bedroom.Hair texturizing spray for added body. For travel, she packs her DevaCurl hair towel—an unassuming but essential staple she credits her mom with finding.

Smiles, Scents, and Small Luxuries

Barone takes her dental routine as seriously as her skincare. After a childhood stint with braces (and the predictable retainer neglect), she turned to Invisalign to correct a wayward tooth. Painful, yes, but worth it. “You only get one set of teeth,” she says, “and I plan to keep mine as long as possible.” Her oral care kit includes Verve’s SLS-free toothpaste, discovered by her sister, and Oral-B’s Glide floss, which she uses compulsively.

Fragrance, on the other hand, is refreshingly simple: one signature scent. After smelling Maison Louis Marie’s No.04 Bois de Balincourt on a cousin, she immediately adopted it as her own and hasn’t strayed since.

Her nails follow a similar philosophy. Having sworn off damaging gel extensions, she now shapes them herself at home—always oval, always neat. Her go-to polish is Essie’s Lilacism, a soft lavender shade that draws compliments year-round.

The Balance of Work and Ritual

Comedy may have been an unexpected career path, but Barone has built it into something joyful and lasting, grounded in collaboration and self-expression. Her routines—whether a chilled face roller, a Carmex tube tucked in every corner, or the small luxury of a salon-worthy blowout at home—are less about vanity and more about balance.

In a life filled with performances, podcasts, and projects, these rituals serve as anchors. They remind her that care, like comedy, works best when it’s personal, consistent, and not afraid to laugh at itself along the way.