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I'm not a skincare aficionado by any means, but as I enter my late twenties, I am becoming more and more aware of how important it is to develop a skincare routine with tiers and layers and to partake in that routine religiously. Skincare is genetics meet preparation, after all. Here on xoNecole, we talk everything from the right way to layer skincare products to the best hyperpigmentation products on the market. So as I look for more tips and tricks to add to my ritual in Operation Flawless Skin, there's no wonder actress Kat Graham is on my beauty radar.

Most known for her starring role in the CW hit The Vampire Diaries, the 29-year-old does a little of everything, from singing and dancing to modeling and acting. Recently, the starlet took The Cut behind the scenes of her getting ready for the Dior show during Paris Fashion Week, all the while filling us in on her biggest beauty and wellness secrets. Check them out below.

Kat Graham On Her Beauty & Wellness Routine During The Day

Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

Juicing has been all the rage as of late. In addition to the many benefits juicing does for the body, it also has an amazing effect on the skin. For those who struggle with acne or other skin problems, detoxing the body through juicing might be just what the doctor ordered. Kat loves juicing and makes sure to get some aloe into her diet as well:

"When I have a big day where I might have a lot of press, I'll juice during the day. There's a lot of really great juices that really bring out your skin. I didn't juice all day today, I snuck in a few French fries, but I did drink a lot of aloe as well."

Just as important as taking care of your skin on the inside is taking care of your skin on the outside. Kat reiterates that eating well and drinking copious amounts of water day in and day out are fundamental to her approach to skincare:

"You've got to eat well. A lot of people think they're going to have great skin just through topicals, and sure, there are plenty of products that can get you to a really great place. But if you're not eating well, if you're not drinking enough water, if you're leading a stressful life, if you're smoking, if you're sponsoring your bad habits, your stress and anger will show and it will manifest into a pimple, or redness, or an extra wrinkle you don't want. How you treat your body and deal with the world is huge."

And don't let the melanin fool you, protecting the skin is still of the utmost importance to Kat. She said:

"I have to protect my skin even though I'm a black woman because I will still get a lot of sunspots and freckles if I don't take care of my skin. I like a lot of drugstore products, to be honest. I mean I like SK-II and Laura Mercier, as far as fancier things, but I really love argan oil on my hair or my cheekbones for an event."

Kat Graham On Her Nighttime Routine

Kat might have to be dolled up for her day job, but at night, she prefers to let her skin breathe ASAP and removing her makeup is the ultimate first step of her nighttime routine:

"It consists usually of taking off my makeup and then kind of locking in some moisturizer. I'm a pretty big fan of Neutrogena and Aveeno wipes, but I've noticed that sometimes I need a little bit more because a lot of the makeup I wear is long-lasting from being on set or at a photo shoot or an event. After the makeup remover wipes, I usually go and use the Dior Hydra Life makeup remover. It's insane, I don't know what's in it but it's pure magic to me. I thought I lost it once and haven't felt that kind of panic in a while."

Sleep is also a big necessity for her in terms of maintaining her state of mind and her flawless skin. And since she starts her days at the crack of dawn, the earlier, the better:

"If I had my way I'd be in bed by 9 p.m. I'm not a night person at all. After 9, I'm pretty useless. I'll honestly go to bed around 10:30 p.m. I get up at 5:30 a.m. every day, no matter what."
"I love a good charcoal face mask, and I'll do that the night before a big event. When I'm jet-lagged I use a little lavender oil under my nose and it makes me sleep like a baby."

To read her feature on The Cut in full, click here.

Featured image by Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

 

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