I Believe in Simple Skincare—These Essential Items Give Me My Best Skin Ever
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Allison McNamaraThe Lineup is a monthly series where we're giving you an inside peek at the beauty lineups of cool fashion people, editors, makeup artists, hairstylists, and estheticians—all the people we trust the most. Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at all the can't-live-without products that make their worlds go round.
If there's one thing Allison McNamara, the founder of Mara, wants you to know, it's that you don't need a thousand skincare products to get a healthy, glowing complexion. In fact, some of the most minimal and tightly curated routines yield the best results. You just need to know which products and ingredients are worth using. McNamara knows this from personal experience. "Growing up, I had really dry skin, which I naturally proceeded to bathe in the oil-free face washes and lotions that defined the '00s, ultimately hurting my skin barrier and drying me out even more," she says. "This caused painful breakouts on top of my mild, but still present, teenage acne. I discovered the power of retinol early on but wasn't immune to the super-harsh, drying side effects." It was this skincare journey that inspired her to create Mara—a line of oil-based skincare staples formulated to moisturize, soothe, and support.
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Allison McNamaraMcNamara mirrors the brand's simple skincare philosophy in her own "less is more" routine. "You can have incredible skin in three steps or less, which is why at Mara we always say, 'Cleanse, treat, hydrate.' It's really as simple as that," she says. "Skincare should be intuitive, and your routine should have all the key ingredient pillars that you cycle through depending on the needs of your skin, which change daily based on environment, hormones, and stress levels."
Since great skin starts on the inside and flows outward, McNamara bolsters her simple skincare routine with a robust wellness routine. "I start off every day by setting the day's intentions and journaling, followed by a few minutes of morning sunlight to balance my circadian rhythm and my skincare routine," she says. "I believe that wellness starts within, so a healthy diet, moving my body, and practicing gratitude have transformed my life over the past few years. I do Pilates four times a week along with long walks and hikes. I finish every night off with magnesium supplements, reading, journaling, and some light visualization meditation. Spending time on and with ourselves goes so far beyond skincare. It's being present in your body with your thoughts and appreciating all that it does for you each day." Ahead, see 23 beauty and wellness items that make McNamara look and feel her best.
"I created this cleanser to be super multifunctional, so I love using it in the morning on damp skin and in the evening on dry skin. It removes every trace of makeup, SPF, etc., and leaves your skin so soft and supported. I also love to use it for gua sha, to dermaplane, or even as a light peel! I legitimately get excited to wash my face now."
"I have always loved a hydrating essence, especially in the a.m. if I don't feel like I need a full face-wash moment but still want my skin to be hydrated to better absorb my serums. This new one from Rhode is so supportive; I simply love it."
"Out of all my Mara products, this is the one I go through the most! I use it every single morning. It's so perfect under makeup and SPF and does a killer job improving the look of sun damage and hyperpigmentation and delivers an incredible lit-from-within glow."
Nothing gets the job done quite like a Retin-A prescription. I use this a few nights a week (rotating with my Mara Algae Retinol Oil), and let me tell you—getting through the purge is worth it if you want a super-smooth, poreless-looking canvas.
Note: Retin-A or Tretinoin is only available by prescription. See a dermatologist to learn more.
"It's hard for me to keep at-home beauty modalities a part of my consistent routine. [It's] usually because the excitement wears off, and I get lazy. However, LED has so many amazing benefits for overall skin health (yes, I have seen a difference!), and this mask makes it so easy and isn't intimidating to use. You only need three minutes! It's a splurge, but on a cost-per-use basis, it pays for itself in no time."
"My holy-grail, desert-island skincare product! I launched my brand with this product for a reason–it's full of everything your skin needs (fatty acids, phytonutrients, omegas) and works on all skin types. Some nights, I only use this on my face, especially when I'm traveling and packing light. You'll really see what I mean when I say you'll 'sea' the glow. It's also great over intense actives or mixed in with face cream."
"Fact: Washing my hair has always been my least favorite beauty 'thing.' It’s more of a chore to me, really. I don't wash my hair often (usually one to two times a week), so I prefer a really deep cleanse when I do. Ouai Detox Shampoo is a staple in my shower and never leaves behind any residue."
"I don't use conditioner every time I wash my hair (OMG, I know) because a lot of them tend to dry out my hair more or weigh it down. Not this masque, though! I love this entire Hydr-8 line by Vegamour, but the masque is something I look forward to using and leaves my strands so soft."
"My hair is always—and I mean always—in a ponytail. The Crown Affair gel has completely changed my (hair) life because I can get that super-slick look without having to add more shower days. You can literally brush this stuff out, and it's like nothing ever happened. It's brilliant. It's my little secret to faking the clean-girl look when my hair is usually anything but."
"First off, for the smell alone, this hair oil is simply divine. But added bonus, I love to use it the night before wash day on slightly damp hair to hydrate root to tip. I'll also use a little bit on my ends if I decide to curl or style my hair."
"I began formulating our new body oil ahead of my wedding in Tulum, knowing that I wanted to create a body oil with effective actives for targeting all my key concerns: firmness, cellulite, and elasticity. This body oil not only smells incredible but also really works and pairs perfectly with our lymphatic drainage tool. Plus, even though it's oil, it doesn't leave behind an oil slick, so you can actually put on clothes after!"
"Okay, this product is amazing! I love the firming ingredients and the smell, but the real standout is the warming sensation as the product works its magic. I apply it every day before Pilates, and you can quite literally feel the burn."
"The best beauty treatment is a good night's sleep. Sadly, sleep doesn't come easily to me without a little support. This supplement has seven forms of magnesium (including magnesium glycinate, which is what you want to look for if sleep is your issue). Let me tell you—I get good rest even after the craziest days with this! Plus, magnesium is so important for cellular regeneration, which also helps your skin."
"While I don't like washing my hair, I do love taking multiple quick showers a day. I adore this body wash from Nécessaire because it doesn't dry out my skin and has a super-soft sandalwood scent, which is my favorite."
"This is the best clean deodorant on the market if you are a stinky sweater. It comes in two formulas, a pot and a stick, and I always have both at all times. Even your hardest workout doesn't stand a chance against this one."
"This is one of those products that make you look 10 times better with literally no effort. I wear Glowy Super Gel religiously, and during the week, it's really the only thing on my face besides my skincare and SPF. I love the sheen it leaves behind without looking glittery or shiny."
"This is my favorite contour stick. The shade is perfect. It lasts forever and never looks too heavy or dirty on my skin."
"I am a victim of late '90s brows and never thought I could be a 'just brow gel' kind of person… until Kosas launched Air Brow. It fluffs the brows, fills in where needed, and keeps them in place."
"If you're someone who has a hard time with mascara in general, this one's for you! I wear contacts that tend to violently disagree with most mascara formulas, but not this one. It is the only mascara I will wear!"
"A good red lip is my night-out go-to, and Make Beauty's Red Emission has been my top choice since it launched! I love how slim the component is, making it easy to apply, and it fits in all my mini bags. The color payoff is incredible!"
"Truly a holy grail-concealer. The older I get, the less concealer I use, but this one is a star!"
"Somebody Wood has become my go-to scent. I get so many compliments on it, and it reminds me of a brisk walk in the forest."
"I freak out when I don't have one of these on me, so you can literally find at least one on me wherever I am. I created this lip balm to feel spa-like, both in scent and application, and it makes my lips look so full and plump."