In answer to our customers’ most frequently asked question when Dara’s not in our studio, she's sharing which products she uses on her face every day. Read on for her current regimen, with a quick review of each skincare and makeup product.

Cleanser

I bounce between cleansers frequently; my skin can swing from a little dry to a little oily depending on the time of year, and I find that changing my cleanser is the easiest way to adjust my routine without having to mess with things too much. 

For quite some time, these have been the three I’ve used the most, and they’re my current rotation:

- I use Dara’s Water every evening, or anytime I need to remove sunscreen and/or makeup: nothing removes mineral sunscreen more effectively, with zero drama. It’s also the one cleanser I’ll bring with me if I’m traveling, because it just does it all.
Pro tip: always rinse your face afterwards. It might not feel like you need to, but it’s always better for your skin to rinse off any cleanser (even a micellar or non-micellar water).

- I’ll use Luzern Pure Cleansing Creme when my skin needs something cushy and moisturizing, or when I’m using a Gua Sha tool or these awesome Tension Tamers (perfect for tight jaws!).

- I tend to reach for 27 Rosiers Fight Grime when I want something that feels more deeply cleansing, like after a sweaty workout. Despite its pleasant foaminess, it’s never left my face feeling dry.

Mist 

I love a good mist, and it’s a step that can make a huge difference in your skin if it tends to be dehydrated — a mist helps supply skin with extra hydration to lock in during your subsequent steps. My current favorite is Luzern’s Firming Facial Mist: it’s very hydrating and soothing, and its extra firming benefits are always a good idea.

Serum

You can generally consider your serum to be the power step in your routine, and these two serums are my Holy Grail products. I’ve used them daily and nightly for the past couple of years, and my skin has never been better: it’s more resilient, brighter, and firmer, and I never worry that I’m missing out on something that could be better — which is such a great feeling.

- I use the Sea Serum during the day as a super-antioxidant protector (it’s both more broad-reaching and less irritating than a Vitamin C serum) and super hydrator with long-term skin-firming and brightening benefits. It’s also made my skin much more resilient and less reactive over time. I instantly loved it when I first started using it, and it feels like it just gets better and better.

- I use the Sea Retinal at night to smooth, unravel past damage, and add firming and brightening power, too. For the first six months or so, I would sometimes use it on top of a serum as a bit of a buffer, but I find that I don’t need to do that anymore — I just slather it on and I never have any irritation. This is one of those products that slowly and sneakily crept into my heart, and I didn’t quite realize how good it was until I’d been using it for a few months.

Moisturizer

Both morning and night, I’ve been reaching for Kristina Holey + Marie Veronique’s Barrier Restore Serum, which I find is the perfect weight for me right now (when I need something a little richer, I use Dara's Oil — more on that below). If you have sensitive skin, it’s also a very helpful product to pack on trips since it can help soothe a variety of skin issues.

Sunscreen & makeup

My favorite sunscreen is Ava Isa Every Morning, which I love for its ability to provide mineral-based sun protection without drying out skin. I do find that I sometimes need to add back a little bit of warmth, which I do with Olio E Osso’s Tinted Balm in Ganache.

I don’t wear much makeup on a regular basis, but if I want to look a little more polished, I’ll use Suntegrity’s 5-in-1 sheered out with Dara’s Oil, the deeply nourishing and calming oil very kindly created for me by Marie Veronique (a longtime favorite!) and applied with Orcé’s sponge. It makes the coverage very, very light, but that’s usually all I’m going for.

When I remember (or have time), I’ll use Eye of Horus Liquid Define in Black, which I recommend to nearly everyone who comes into our shop. If I can use it, anyone can: it’s the most drama-free liquid liner out there. I use it with Lily Lolo Natural Mascara, which I like for its super-natural finish, and Olio e Osso Tinted Balm in Poppy. They're all quick, subtle, and impossible to mess up if you're a makeup minimalist, too.

- DAra