Celebrity makeup artist, Margret Avery has spent over 30 years making up famous faces such as Barbra Streisand, Goldie Hawn, Iman, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, and Al Pacino, to name just a few, and her work has graced the pages of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Interview, Elle, Marie Claire and many others.
Not only is Margret supremely talented, she is genuinely kind and absolutely gorgeous. Her skin is so radiant and flawless; I had to know her secret! Lucky for us, Margret was kind enough to answer a few questions about the skin care regime she teaches to her private clients, as well as her favorite cruelty-free products.
CFK: What is your skin care routine?
PM:
1) Remove your makeup with organic coconut oil. I find I have to take a bit out of the jar and warm it in my hands first, and then I massage the oil into the skin and eye area. I use a bit of water on a cotton pad to remove my eye makeup and then a DRY cotton pad to cleanse the skin (this is KEY – no water on the face).
2) Apply toner – according to your skin care needs (I use one with salicylic acid because my skin breaks out if I don’t).
3) Apply moisturizer or serum.
AM:
1) Cleanse skin with rosewater after getting out of the shower.
2) Apply moisturizer of your choice.
CFK: How did you develop this routine?
I came up with this routine after spending thousands of dollars over many years trying to keep my skin from breaking out and feeling constantly irritated. One day after work, I found I had to apply a ton of makeup to cover all of the red patches that came from all the new products I started to use, and felt stuck trying to figure out how to remove my makeup without it being a painful experience.
I was in so much pain that when water touched my skin it actually hurt more. The only other product I had at home at that time to remove my makeup was a very greasy cleanser that required no water. Just apply and remove your makeup. I did that for 3 days and my skin cleared up. I knew I would have to incorporate the toner or I would start to break out again, so I did that and I continued for a week. I found that it stayed clear, pain free and my skin looked smoother. I kept this up and to this day if I choose to veer off and experiment with another way of cleansing my skin several things happen; I break out, my skin is irritated, and I start to look wrinkled…the wrinkled part would cure anyone from wanting to change the routine.
I will add that in the summer months when it is 100 degrees and 100% humidity, I use a gel cleanser in the shower in the morning and then the rosewater toner when I get out of the shower. I only use organic products and have found tremendous relief in doing so.
CFK: What are your 3 favorite Cruelty-Free Beauty Products?
Three cruelty-free products that I like are:
Rosewater
Sentara Bio-Relaxing Serum
Sentara All-Weather Cream
Argan Oil
Actually that’s 4, but the serum is great for smoothing facial lines and can be used alone or with a moisturizer. I have been following this routine for years now and teach it to my clients. It has also kept me wrinkle free, a lovely side affect that I am happy to report.
