Model Cynda McElvana Reveals Her Complete Routine For Glowing Skin And Hair

There’s something about looking into someone else’s makeup bag—it’s such an intimate window into their personality somehow. In addition, learning about someone else’s beauty routine helps us to discover new tips and tricks and adapt our own regimen. If you’ve ever had the urge to comb through someone else’s bathroom cabinets for a thorough browse of their beauty items, we’ve created the perfect series for you— Beauty Chat. In this brand new series, we’ll be talking with established and up-and-coming makeup artists, models and social media influencers about all the products they use to look great, even without a filter. 

For our very first installment of Beauty Chat, we chatted with fresh-faced model Cynda McElvana. Signed with Ford Models, McElvana is a young, blonde bombshell with glowing skin slaying the modeling world— some people just have it all, right? Despite her busy schedule, McElvana still makes it a priority each day to treat herself to some self-care. Here, the up-and-coming model shares her top beauty products. 

Skincare

I really don’t like to use harsh products on my face. I’m all about natural, moisturizing products that will leave me with refreshed, glowing skin. Each day, I wash my face with Say Yes To Carrots Cream Cleanser. After, I moisturize with Burt’s Bees Moisturizer— there’s no harsh chemicals, so your skin will feel nice and plump and stay hydrated all day. Before I go to sleep, I just rub a little olive oil under my eyes and around my nose where my skin dries out the most. If you’ve never tried this, you’ll be amazed at the serious hydration punch it packs. Finally, in the morning I spritz a little rose water on my face; rose water really helps to balance and refresh the skin.

Makeup

For makeup, I keep things pretty simple and mostly use drugstore products. It’s very important to me that I avoid brands that test on animals as I have a loving bunny, Levi. The only non-drugstore products I use are mascara, foundation and concealer. For my foundation and concealer, I like to use Urban Decay. The coverage is great but the finish is totally natural. For mascara, I’m obsessed with Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Mascara— your lashes will look out of this world with just one coat.

Hair Care

Lately, I’ve been using the Giovanni Avocado and Olive Oil Shampoo every 10 days or so. In addition, I use a coconut oil mask once a week to keep my ends hydrated. As far as daily styling, I just use Giovanni Avocado and Olive Oil Leave In Conditioner. I also will spritz a bit of rose water in my hair so everything smells fresh!

Body

I’m completely obsessed with baths, and I use a variety of products from Lush. The bath melts are particularly amazing, they make my skin seriously soft. Sometimes instead of using a bright Lush bomb, I keep things lowkey and just add a couple drops of olive oil to my bath or take a chamomile tea bath. After my baths each morning, I rub a little bit of coconut oil on my skin for a hydrated, glowy effect. Does deodorant count as body care? If so, I recently switched to Thai Crystal Deodorant Stone, and the reviews online are mixed, but for me, it works wonders.