Gina Mari is just the kind of facialist we love – she incorporates the best natural products, seems to know just what we need, displays aspirational skin quality and is the kind of girl you want to drag out of the spa for margaritas…or juice! Here are this top Beverly Hills facialist’s personal insights for naturally glowing skin!
Green Goddess Guide: Gina Mari
- Can’t travel without:
When I travel my hair tends to get a little dry and frizzy. I always find a rich oil
like argan oil to tame it and give it a more polished look. I like to shower at night, so before bed I apply a little on wet hair and twist it up in a bun. - In a pinch:
If my skin is feeling a bit drab, I’ll dust a little bronzer on the apples of my cheeks to brighten everything up.
- Obsession of the moment:
I am, and always will be, obsessed with scents. I have Jo Malone diffusers in Pomegranate Noir and Red Roses
hidden all around my office. Jo Malone's Lemon Tart cologne from the new Sugar & Spice collection is my current favorite for the summer months. - Beautifying snack/meal:
I love to snack on fruits and vegetables with high water content to help keep my skin hydrated. Watermelon and carrots are the best. If we’re talking about favorite meals, I am huge fan of fresh chopped salads tossed with red wine vinegar.
- Beautifying drink:
My staff and I are really into juicing and our current favorite is Pressed Juicery’s Greens #5. It is made with Spinach, romaine, fennel, orange, pineapple and cilantro. The cilantro is our favorite!
- For ultra-glamorous effect:
I generally prefer a no-makeup look, however if I’m going out for the evening and want to be a little fancy, I’ll use a light, luminous and natural foundation to add a beautiful glow without looking like I'm wearing makeup.
- Perfect pout:
Once or twice a week while I am using a scrub on my face, I’ll gently scrub my lips as well to remove any dead skin cells and stimulate blood flow. When adding color, By Terry Gold Digger
is my new favorite gloss. It’s rich and emollient without feeling sticky or tacky. - Weirdest beauty habit:
I am a big fan of thinking that you look great. One way to make sure that happens is to ensure great lighting (I mean, how many times have we tried on bathing suits in poorly lit dressing rooms!). The lighting in my bathroom isn’t the best, so I wash my face in the kitchen. The windows create beautiful light and I leave my house feeling great!
- In the shower:
I keep an exfoliating towel, so I can do an extra scrub on my back after rinsing the conditioner out of my hair. Residue from conditioners can lead to unnecessary back and body breakouts, and the extra attention keeps my back clear.
- On my bedside table:
I always have a glass of water, and of course, tons of framed photos of my daughter. I keep hand cream and lip balm in my bedside drawer. Barr Co. has an amazing hand cream that I slather on my hands, elbows and neck at the end of the day and apply a rich balm for lips.
- Once a month:
I give myself a peel. The depth of the peel depends on which season we are in. In the summer months I’ll do a light lactic acid peel and in the winter months I’ll get a little more aggressive.
- After a long night or rough weekend:
If you’re just dealing with that last glass of wine you shouldn’t have ordered, I recommend extra hydration with coconut water and avoiding salty hangover food. If you’ve just come back from a crazy weekend in Vegas... bring out the big guns and use gentle ice packs to calm down inflammation and puffiness. Cool tea bags are also extremely effective for the under-eye area.
- On little sleep I rely on:
If I can’t get my hands on a wheat grass shot, I unapologetically rely on an iced americano from Starbucks.
- The product that changed my skin:
I recently found an amazing new product in New York: Dangene’s Serum #2. I have been using it for three weeks now and have noticed excellent results. It addresses issues such as acne and melasma and is also anti-aging. Snatch it up as soon as you can!
- Most treasured beauty tip:
Don’t pick your own skin and definitely avoid magnifying mirrors. Remember that the rest of the world sees you from an arm's-distance length away. As long as your skin looks great from that distance, don’t stress about what you look like in a 10-times magnifying mirror! Do yourself a favor and leave the health of your skin to a professional.
