1. Q: Tell us a bit about yourself? How do you like to describe yourself and your self-care practice?
A.: I am an actress and a new mother. My routine hasn’t really changed much since birth- I always need something simple that I can stick to. I would like to think I’m someone who can do weekly face masks and use electrical gadgets on my face but I’m not and so simplicity is key!
However, I am an obsessive moisturizer and have never gone to bed not having something hydrating on my face and body.
Mornings I don’t cleanse my face, just water with the shower. Then toner and some kind of serum ( whether it be a vitamin C focused one or some other thing that I’m trying). After this, moisturizer and SPF. Moisturizer and SPF are applied to my body too.
I have dry skin and so I like my moisturizer to be thick in the am and the pm- a real favorite is the African Botanics Phyto-Collagen Restorative Cream. I also use eye cream in the am and pm- I love the Intense Renewal eye cream for both.
In the evenings I cleanse. I’m particularly fond of oil base cleansers as my face gets dry very quickly (unless it’s a really gentle foaming cleanser). I love the African Botanics Pure Marula Cleansing Oil. I love Marula oil in general and find it very restorative. I then use some kind of vitamin C serum, eye cream and then a Face oil. I need to layer moisture in the evening and so I do an oil earlier to let it really sink in and add a moisturizer just before bed. Sometimes I play with it in reverse and so the oil acts as a seal for the moisturizer, it depends how rich the one I am using is. I am in love with the Intensive Recovery Oil for this part of this routine.
As seasons change, I suffer intermittently with Perioral dermatitis and I need products that target this problem, usually comprised of very simple ingredients as something with too many chemicals or ingredients inflames it even more. Sometimes I use diaper rash cream, sometimes it’s a little more fancy like the African Botanics Silver Rescue Cream- it’s fantastic and has also acted as my evening moisturizer even when I don’t have a flare up.
2. Q: What beauty rituals help you keep grounded on your day to day?
A.: In terms of self-care, it’s mainly exercise. I am a compulsive walker - that is my main form of exercise along with yoga. I walked a lot pre pregnancy, I also ran but it now feels too jarring for my body. I always make sure I reapply SPF and wear a hat. Although I’m beginning to think that a baseball cap doesn’t do the full job that I need! Stretching is also very important to me, usually in the form of a yoga class. I haven’t been able to do much of either postpartum but looking forward to getting back to it and currently I am embracing slower days. I do love a massage and facial from time to time too. Also dipping in the ocean no matter what time of year, really puts me in a great mood.
I didn’t suffer from melasma during pregnancy but it has triggered a few unsightly sun spots to appear on my face and body. I’m hoping I can try laser for the first time to get rid of them - a push present to myself:)
