Go vegan with your skincare routine. Carmen Cherry of Zolton’s in Scottsdale tells us how!
Earth Day beauty isn’t just about being good to mother nature, it’s about being good to your skin, too! Carmen Cherry, licensed aesthetician at Zolton’s Salon & Day Spa in Scottsdale, is a vegan and highly-skilled vegan cook who incorporates her extensive knowledge of healthy eating into comprehensive skincare plans for her clients. Zolton’s was among the first spas in the Valley to use vegan treatments and organic hair care. Here, Cherry gives us some insight into vegan skincare.
What exactly makes a treatment or beauty product ‘vegan?‘
Beauty products or spa treatments that use no animal products, products that have not been tested on animals, and brands that use zero artificial preservatives are considered vegan.
Are there any health benefits to vegan skin care?
Yes! Vegan skincare products are made from fruit and vegetable ingredients that are full of vitamins and antioxidants. They’re good-for-you ingredients that nourish skin.
Great! So for interested Spa Girls, what are your recommendations for vegan beauty products we can use at home?
Skin Script is a fantastic vegan skincare line that’s based locally in Tempe. Hylunia is another professional line with some great vegan product options. For a more economical approach, use olive and coconut oils. They are both great moisturizers!
Spa Girls love mixing up DIY home spa beauty recipes. Do you have a favorite at-home vegan spa recipe our readers can try?
Definitely. I actually make my own vegan sugar scrubs. I created six different scents but my favorite is my Lemon Scrub. It’s really easy. You just mix sweet almond oil, lemon zest, vitamin E, and vegan sugar.
Sounds great! Let’s talk about specific skin maladies now. What kind of natural ingredients should we look for if we have problematic or acne-prone skin?
I would suggest using tea tree oil as an antibacterial on-spot treatment for blemishes. Witch hazel is a natural astringent that balances the PH of the skin, preventing bacterial growth. This is great for oily or irritated skin. Aloe vera-based moisturizers will hydrate and reduce inflammation.
What about those of us who want to get rid of lines and wrinkles around the eyes?
Use a gentle vegan scrub once or twice a week to exfoliate the eyes first and then use an eye treatment serum that contains vegan peptides, vitamin E, and/or jojoba oil. Avocado oil is also great to cleanse, hydrate and remove makeup, which allows the serum to do its job. You can always use a couple of cool cucumber slices to reduce puffiness. I use Skin Script Tri-Peptide eye cream every night. It’s a wonderful eye treatment that prevents fine lines.
And, finally, what kind of natural ingredients should Spa Girls look for if they need to fix dry skin?
All-natural oils like coconut, olive, almond, grape seed and aloe vera. I always recommend drinking plenty of water to keep the skin hydrated and use SPF 30 daily to prevent premature aging.
Zolton’s Salon & Day Spa is located in Grayhawk Plaza in Scottsdale, AZ. For more about Zolton’s or to book a skincare service with Carmen Cherry, visit zoltons.com or call 480.513.8414.
