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game face
June 18, 2012

Game Face: Amber Valletta

By Christina Han

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Photo: Pamela Hanson/Trunk Archive

As a beauty editor, the one question I get asked the most is “What skin-care products should I be using?” Well, starting now, I’m going to let a whole bunch of different women answer that question for you in this here new column, where I call up people whose skin-care regimens I want to know about, too. 

Amber Valletta has gorgeous, stunning, flawless skin — skin worthy of all those adjectives that women’s magazines drag out in their celebrity profiles. The model and actress has a philosophy of “more natural, less chemical” when it comes to products and gravitates toward brands like Arcona, which friend Shiva Rose recommended, and Éminence, which practically makes us best friends (sorry, Shiva). She even mixes up her own herbal concoctions (recipes prescribed by her Ayurvedic doctor, Martha Soffer), stored in mason jars to combat acne breakouts (yes, her normal-to-dry yet seemingly perfect complexion is not immune to zits). But even though she takes great care in deciding what goes on to her face, Valletta’s actual routine only takes about five minutes each morning and night. For her, it’s all about keeping things to a minimum. “I’m not one of those people who spends loads and loads of time in front of the mirror,” she says. “Maybe it’s because I’ve spent my whole life in front of the mirror, getting hair and makeup done, that it bores me to tears.” We can get on board with that. Click through our slideshow to check out her whole regimen, including personal snapshots of her “mixes” (which look totally sketchy, but they must work).

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"It has a good consistency where I can layer makeup over it and it won't crease or get dry." Dr. Colbert Nourish Eye Cream
"This is the herbal mixture for the mask. I mix it with water and make a paste or goat's milk. 
 "This soap leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean, but not dry. Its also easy to travel with because it's in a jar — no mess!" Ar...  "This soap leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean, but not dry. Its also easy to travel with because it's in a jar — no mess!" Arcona Toner Tea Bar, $32, Nordstrom
"I use my Clarisonic brush to exfoliate about once or twice a week. But recently my brush broke, so now I’m using it without the vibration."... "I use my Clarisonic brush to exfoliate about once or twice a week. But recently my brush broke, so now I’m using it without the vibration." Clarisonic Mia Skin Cleansing System, $149, Sephora
"My daily moisturizing consists of Arcona's Desert Mist, which is a serum that creates a barrier against free radicals and hydrates; Magic White ... "My daily moisturizing consists of Arcona's Desert Mist, which is a serum that creates a barrier against free radicals and hydrates; Magic White Ice, which is great for balancing out your skin; and if my skin is feeling really dry, like when I'm traveling, I'll use the Peptide Hydrating Complex, too." Arcona Desert Mist, $32, Nordstrom Arcona Magic White Ice, $47, Nordstrom Arcona Peptide Hydrating Complex, $75, Nordstrom
"I like the Éminence dermafoliant because it's a gentle cleanser and exfoliant. Plus, it smells good!" Éminence Str... "I like the Éminence dermafoliant because it's a gentle cleanser and exfoliant. Plus, it smells good!" Éminence Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant, $46, Éminence
"If my skin is feeling dry, I’ll spray some rose water after washing my face. I just get this at Whole Foods. " Heritage Rose Water, $8... "If my skin is feeling dry, I’ll spray some rose water after washing my face. I just get this at Whole Foods. " Heritage Rose Water, $8.79, Heritage Store
"Lately, I've been using NIA 24 in a SPF 30 or 55. I layer this on top of the moisturizers." NIA 24 Sunscreen SPF 30, $45, NIA 24
"If I’m busy and haven’t had time to come home after a workout to wash my face, I’ll swipe the Triad pads all over. I keep them in my car or gym ... "If I’m busy and haven’t had time to come home after a workout to wash my face, I’ll swipe the Triad pads all over. I keep them in my car or gym bag." Arcona Triad Toner Pads, $30, Nordstrom
"Sometimes I forget to put on eye cream, but the one I’ve been using lately is Dr. Colbert’s Nourish. The consistency is good, and you can put ma... "Sometimes I forget to put on eye cream, but the one I’ve been using lately is Dr. Colbert’s Nourish. The consistency is good, and you can put makeup on top without it creasing or drying out." Dr. Colbert Nourish Eye Cream, $110, Colbert, M.D.
"I had an outburst of acne this year for some reason. So I did a major detox with an Ayurvedic doc. She mixes up her own oils and herbs. One of t... "I had an outburst of acne this year for some reason. So I did a major detox with an Ayurvedic doc. She mixes up her own oils and herbs. One of the things I’ve been doing quite frequently in the last few months is incorporating this neem oil that my doctor makes herself. It smells kind of funny, but I mix it with baking soda and put it on my skin. The baking soda is an alkaline, which settles the pH balance in skin. It's also a natural exfoliant." Neem oil, available at Surya Spa
"Also for acne, my doctor gave me an Ayurvedic herbal mixture, custom blended just for my needs, to make my own masks at home. I mix it with the ... "Also for acne, my doctor gave me an Ayurvedic herbal mixture, custom blended just for my needs, to make my own masks at home. I mix it with the goat milk to make a paste, get into the bathtub, and let the mask sit on my face for fifteen minutes. It looks disgusting. It doesn’t smell that bad, but it looks like witchcraft. Ayurvedic Herbal Mixture, available at Surya Spa
"Another thing my doctor told me to do is to wash my face with goats' milk. It's a natural lactic acid. I don't use it every day because I travel... "Another thing my doctor told me to do is to wash my face with goats' milk. It's a natural lactic acid. I don't use it every day because I travel a lot, and it doesn't travel well. Mostly, I'll just splash it on my face a few times a week after cleansing, then pat dry." 
"This is an oil with a sesame base that's been infused with Ayurvedic herbs. I put it on for healing and pigmentation issues." Infused ... "This is an oil with a sesame base that's been infused with Ayurvedic herbs. I put it on for healing and pigmentation issues." Infused Herbal Sesame Oil, available at Surya Spa
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Tags:

  • beauty
  • slideshow
  • amber valletta
  • game face

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