For summer, we're running a series showcasing the skincare products of our most-loved beauty influencers and what they're buying at Sephora. Each week, we’re sending our favorite gurus to their local stores to document their entire shopping sprees on Byrdie's Snapchat. Make sure to tune in each Saturday to follow along, and check back here monthly to see (and shop!) the items that made it into their Sephora carts. Enjoy.
Glowing, smooth, clear, youthful-looking skin? There's a superfood for that. While we all know the health (and skin) benefits of eating a nutrient-rich diet, applying these boosters topically can also do your body good. Our favorite salad staples (we're looking at you, kale) have been making cameos in the skincare world for some time now, and with summer now in full swing, we're ready to get serious about our diets—our skin diets, that is.
Since health and beauty gurus Aja Dang, Candice Kumai, Yovana Mendoza, and Teni Panosian are all about living a healthy lifestyle both inside and out, we knew they'd be the perfect people to turn to for more info on this new wave of superfoods skincare (and they were game to share their go-to products from Sephora as well). Consider yourselves warned: The products you're about to read about are good enough to eat—almost.
Aja Dang, who recently turned 30, tells us she's worked hard to hone in on her ideal skincare routine, and she has one particular concern top of mind. "I've noticed how much my skin has changed over the years," she says. "I'm really in need of products that'll give me a healthy, youthful glow." Well, she went to the right place: Sephora at The Grove, where she spoke with Keisha, a senior Sephora skincare expert, who helped her find the ideal products to add to her routine. What'd they land on?
"There are two types of vitamin C in this mask that'll not only give you an instant glow, but also a brighter, more even-toned complexion over time," says Keisha. It's also infused with antioxidant-rich Japanese beautyberry, which stabilizes vitamin C, making this product even more effective. As if that wasn't enough, it's also formulated with a gentle AHA complex of seven fruits that help remove debris and buildup to help visibly improve texture while helping to restore a more youthful appearance.
Now that Dang has radiance covered, Keisha suggested something that'd help with fine lines. This super-hydrating and visually plumping moisturizer is made solely by bees that live on Farmacy's farm and pollinate the echinacea flowers growing there. The result? A super-potent dose of antioxidants to protect skin and fight off signs of aging from environmental damage. It's also formulated with hyaluronic acid, which locks in moisture.
Candice Kumai has been leading a healthy lifestyle for years. The model turned chef and food writer dedicates the majority of her time to creating original content and developing recipes with good-for-you ingredients. Since she's been part of the wellness industry for quite some time, she has her skincare routine down pat. Her go-to products?
Kumai is actually friends with the Tata Harper, so naturally she uses one of the skincare company's masks. She especially loves using this one when she knows she's got a long week ahead of her. "It totally clears out my pores," she says. Aside from that, there's a potent AHA superfruit blend containing ingredients like orange and sugarcane for natural exfoliation and to minimize the appearance of pores, while willowbark balances excess oil without overdrying to fight future blemishes. It's also infused with micro-crystals for additional exfoliation and smoother, clearer-looking skin. The best part? It won't overdry skin, making it the perfect mask for all skin types.
After using her clarifying mask, Kumai follows up with a face oil to seal in moisture and the benefits of her previous mask. Her go-to is from Miranda Kerr's brand, KORA Organics—it's made with nutrient-rich noni fruit (seriously, it has over 100 vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants), and Kerr calls it her beauty secret. This oil softens and replenishes skin's appearance and supports its natural radiance. It's packed with essential fatty acids and absorbs quickly—not just that, but it visibly brightens and plumps skin. What does Kumai do after her skin's refreshed? Whip up a superfood-packed snack, of course.
For Yovana Mendoza, a healthy lifestyle means feeding your body, mind, and spirit with the best of the best. And to her, that's living a raw vegan lifestyle. The Rawvana blogger is all about creating harmony in life and being mindful of what she's putting in and on her body. In other words, she doesn't just eat well—she makes sure her skin does, too.
How does she do that? By using an antioxidant-rich gel cleanser packed with a trio of superfoods: kale, spinach, and green tea. The trio keeps her complexion glowing, and helps protect against free-radical damage that ages skin. The cleanser also removes makeup easily and prevents buildup in pores—without stripping skin of its moisture. "I love massaging it into my face," says Mendoza. "It feels so soft."
Nuts are a key part of Mendoza's diet, and they're also a key part of her skincare routine. This is one of her favorite moisturizers because it's made with 100% pure argan oil (which comes from the argan nut). "I can't get enough of this lightweight, buttery texture," she says. "It honestly melts into my skin and leaves it feeling smooth and glowing." It's fast-absorbing, and it instantly nurtures and protects skin with essential fatty acids and vitamin E. What’s more, a blend of watermelon seed oil, aloe nectar, and shea butter help soften and reduce the appearance of redness and inflammation.
L.A.-based beauty vlogger Teni Panosian says she feels her best when her skin is awake, glowing, and clear. How does she do it? She curates her skincare based on her schedule. Since she spent some time at the beach in Santa Monica she gave her skin some extra TLC as soon as she was home.
To start, she used this charcoal-infused mask that removes blackheads, impurities, and excess oil as it gently exfoliates. "Charcoal is a mega-detoxifier," she says. "I like to apply a layer to my skin and then wait until it hardens to peel it off." Like most people, Panosian finds that peeling it off in one swift motion is the most satisfying part—you're revealing a brighter, clearer complexion while minimizing the appearance of pores. When you apply it, make sure it's an opaque layer so it's easy to peel off. The mask goes on shiny, and you can tell it's ready to be peeled off when it looks matte black.
After doing a mask, Panosian loves to follow up with a moisturizer. "I never wear creams in summer, except for this. My skin drinks it up; it absorbs right in." That's exactly the goal: You don't want your moisturizer to feel sticky or greasy after applying it, especially in the summer, and this lightweight, hydrating moisturizer never will. It revitalizes skin and gives an overall glow with a potent citrus-powered blend of lemon, orange, and vitamins C, E, and B5. Bonus: It has a delicious citrus scent.
If you're ready to start taking better care of your skin, make sure to check out all the must-try products infused with superfoods at Sephora.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions.
