The model and influencer shares the products she swears by.
Alexis Ren Drops Her Skin-Care Routine
Alexis Ren is an open book. The 24-year-old model, influencer, and soon-to-be actor has been forthcoming about topics like body image and mental health since the start of her career nearly 10 years ago. She even has a dedicated platform called We Are Warriors, where she goes deep on physical and mental health, shares wellness tips, and spotlights experts in everything from finance to pilates.
When it comes to skincare, Ren has a similarly candid approach. “I've made it a purpose of mine to break the taboo [when it comes to treatments],” she tells Glamour. “It's weird when celebrities say, ‘Oh, yeah, I just used this cream.’ It's like, 'No, you don't.' I want to help girls understand that.” When it comes to treatments, new technologies, and cosmetic surgery, Ren is all for it. "I think it's spiritual and so empowering to be like, 'I literally can be whoever I want.'"
She continues, “I want to be that girl to be like, ‘No, get the nose job. If you want it, get it. Don't feel like you're being peer pressured into society's beauty standard. You're doing what you know is going to make you happy, and that should be celebrated."
Her view on it: Anything you do—including cosmetic surgery—should be for your own health and wellbeing. "I have so many conversations with young girls where they'll say, ‘Yeah, I would love to get this done, I would love to get this one.’ I am like, 'Don't feel guilty for that. Don't be ashamed, because every single girl that you look up to, I promise you, has had work done.'"
And she's so passionate about educating her Warriors that she recently hosted a workshop with celebrity facialist Sonya Dakar, who Ren credits for most of her own skin-care knowledge. “She's helped me understand the types of substances that work on my skin," Ren says. "She came on and taught a skin course to my community, and she broke down why we need vitamins, why we need hyaluronic acid. Then you don't have to rely on one brand. You can be like, 'I'm just looking for these exact ingredients.' It puts the power back in your hands.”
When it comes to her own routine, Ren is all about consistency. “It's similar to how I feel about working out,” she says. "It's not about doing intense products or harsh things. It's really just about consistency and making sure that when I wash to my face, it's 100%. If I have to, I'll wash my face twice. That's what I think really took my skin to the next level, when I realized how hard it is to get everything off. It's more of training your skin or body to be on a certain regimen."
Below, Ren breaks down what she calls her “skincare army” for the latest installment of Drop The Routine.
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My cleansers
I use two facial cleansers: One of them is the Sensi Wash by Sonya Dakar, and the other one is the Blueberry Rebalancing 5.5 Cleanser from Innisfree. The Sensi wash is made with oat milk, so it has this milky feel. That doesn't actually get the makeup off, it just cleanses my face. If have makeup on, I use something soapy that's going to get rid of everything and that's the Innisfree.
Sonya Dakar Sensi Wash
Innisfree Blueberry Rebalancing 5.5 Cleanser
My toner
I use the Elaluz All Day Beauty Water. That's not a toner, but it does the same thing for me. I spray it on just to hydrate my skin, and then I put on my serums.
Elaluz All Day Beauty Water
My serums
I just started implementing the Sonya Dakar Super Clear as a base. It's a preventative thing for breakouts, and I use it every day. Then I use the vitamin C serum with hyaluronic and vitamin C, which I've learned is important. I kind of pat it on as opposed to rub it in, because it peels away, which is kind of weird.
Sonya Dakar Super Clear
Sonya Dakar Ultima C Serum
My spot treatment
For the actual breakouts, I use the Starface patches. They're so fun; I forget they're on, and people are like, "Why do you have a sticker on your face?" They really work, it trips me out! I'm like, "Whoa, it's gone."
I breakout every now and then. For me, it's more about keeping the pores clean. I get tiny little blackheads or whiteheads, as opposed to breakouts. Usually, when I get a breakout, it's because I picked at a blackhead.
Starface Hydro-Stars Starter Pack
My moisturizers
After serums, I use the Stem Cell Transformer, which is an anti-aging cream. I just got on it. It's also by Sonya Dakar, and I think she said I can start it around 24, which is how old I am.
For my neck, I started using the SBLA Wand—I don't really know if it works, but I like to try things. It's this sculpting thing; you put it on your neck and under your chin and stuff, and it uses collagen tightening and metabolic melting, because our necks are the first parts of our body that you can really start to see aging. I wanted to start a treatment early, and I'm just trying this now. I use it every night just before bed time. I feel like we neglect our chest and our necks, but our chest is more sensitive than our face.
Sonya Dakar Stem Cell Transformer
SBLA Beauty Neck, Chin & Jawline Sculpting Wand
My face oil
A lot of the time I'll use the Kora Organics Noni Glow Face Oil. It's great. I love Miranda and her products.
KORA Organics Noni Glow Face Oil
My eye cream
For eye cream, I use the SuperLift by Sonya Dakar. It's for wrinkles, which I'm starting to focus on now, preventatively.
Sonya Dakar SuperLift
My Sunscreens
I'm very cautious when it comes to sun damage. When I was younger, I didn't really understand it. My mom was super holistic and was like, “You're fine. Don't worry.” You know that super organic, natural sunscreen you get at Whole Foods to the point where it's just chalk on your face? That's what she would give us. She was always like, "Natural is better," and so I believed that. I was in the sun my entire childhood, just at the beach in the sun, and around 17, 18 was I like, "I need to wear sunscreen all the fucking time."
I use two sunscreens, but I keep one of them in my purse. I use the ZitSticka Mega Shade Sunscreen Serum. It's made for sensitive and acne prone skin, and that's why I wanted to try it, because I feel like sunscreen really clogs the pores. Then I'll keep the SuperGoop! Glow Stick in my bag to just throw on every three to four hours, and I also just wear a hat.
ZitSticka Megashade Breakout-proof SPF Serum
Supergoop! Glow Stick Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++
My retinol
I use a retinol by Sonya Dakar as well. I don't really know much about retinol personally, but Sonya told me to use it every morning and every night. I think it's such a light formula that I can do it every morning and night. If I put this on in the morning, she was like, "Put a ton of sunscreen on." That's the one thing she said to me, because it makes your skin way too sensitive.
Sonya Dakar Retinu
My exfoliating mask
Sometimes I need an exfoliator, so I'll do the KORA Organics Turmeric Exfoliating Mask. I put that on in the shower, and then I'll just leave it on because it's a mask as well. It feels so good and fresh. I feel like I had a facial after I put it on; it's a very rare feeling to get.
KORA Organics Turmeric BHA Brightening Treatment Mask
My lip balm
I use the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. I love that one. I keep one in my bag and my car. I know it's a sleeping mask, but I use it every day.
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
My masks
I love eye masks. I'm like obsessed with them right now and think they're so fun. I like 111SKIN De-puffing Eye Masks, also the Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Mask.
For regular masks, I use the Osea White Algae Mask. The ingredients are so pure. I mean, this brand is an amazing brand. It feels like I'm genuinely putting on nature on my face. It's so light, and it refreshes my face. I don't personally need masks that dry out imperfections; for me, it's more so about rejuvenating and helping my skin regain buoyancy and shine and that kind of a vibe. I don't really know much about white algae, but I know my face loves it.
111Skin Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Mask
OSEA White Algae Mask
My tools
Sometimes I'll use this red light mask from Qure. Low key, I got it from an Instagram ad. It's a timed thing. It's fun because my friends can come over and use it whenever. I'll keep that on for 5-10 minutes. Honestly, sometimes I'll keep it on for like 30 minutes because that's actually how long facialists will use it on you. If I use the KORA Organics Noni Oil and then put it on with an eye mask, I feel like I'm someone else. You know what I mean?
Qure LED Light Therapy Mask
My treatments
I love seeing what technology can do. I think it's such an exciting time to be alive and young and we can control our avatar however we want it. I think that's so cool. I can't wait until it's just the same as blow dryers in our bathroom. You know what I mean? So normal. I'm excited for everyone to be able to experience beauty technology. It's similar to when TVs first came out—it was such a luxury. Now those things are 100 bucks or $50.
I've tried Morpheus8 micro needling. It produces a ton of collagen, because it's tiny needles on your face—not injecting anything. I've done that because I saw some premature sagging and was like, "What can I do?" I look brighter and feel more confident in my skin after, so I love that. I also use the microcurrent devices, where it rolls on your face and stimulates your muscles. I'm afraid of needles and injections, but I love all of this new technology. I want to try this thing called Forma. Apparently it's like a massage for your face, because it's just heat and micro currents. That sounds amazing.
I usually get a facial probably once a month. I think it's important to maintain. If you can't afford that, I would do it once every other month. It's not so much about the products they're putting on you; it's really about the extractions. I think that's necessary. It's an investment in your skin, because when I do stuff like this, I'm not searching and looking for products that will get rid of the acne. I'm going to a professional that's going to extract it for me. I think it saves money over time because I'm not spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars trying to figure out what products to get rid of my acne. In actuality, I just need someone to go into my skin and take out the infections.
Bella Cacciatore is the beauty writer at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellacacciatore_.
This story originally appeared on: Glamour - Author:Condé Nast
