After moving to the dude ranch with her family, actress Danielle Monet – who appeared on Nickelodeon’s hit series Zoey 101 And winner-Began to associate what was on his dinner plate with the various animals used in the rodeo. Since then, Monet has dedicated his life to his greatest passion: veganism. Now, the 33-year-old mother of two not only advocates a plant-based lifestyle to her more than 4.3 million Instagram followers, but is also an avid investor in eco-conscious brands, founder of her own ethical lifestyle app and co-founder of clean beauty subscription box Kinder Beauty. Beauty editor Aruka Sanchi sat down with Monet to talk about beauty, veganism and exactly what she looks like in her skincare routine.
Daniela Monet
morning routine
After a morning yoga class, I start my day with a coffee smoothie. I mix together a superfood powder, black coffee, almond butter, banana, a date, ice and almond milk – it’s so incredible. For my morning skin care, I usually use Vitamin C Serum and Ursa Major Golden Hour Recovery Cream as a daily moisturizer, but if my face feels sensitive or if I have breakouts, I like OSEA Blemish Balm to wake up my skin. Up and since my skin is drier than normal, I’m big on hydration, so I’m always drinking water.
All day beauty rules
I’m a huge hide fan, and always have been since I was little. I love that bright and awake look and feel like it resonates a lot with my personality, so I’ve been using Ariana Grande’s Rem Beauty Sweetener Concealer (gotta support my daughter!) I’m so happy with it—it covers really well. But it is not as thick as other concealers. Then I use a W3LL People Supernatural Stick Bronzer and finish with a lip balm—summer Fridays are my go-to.
night routine
I remove everything using a reusable cotton round with my toner and a good facial oil. I usually jump in the shower afterwards to wash everything off with water—I don’t use any harsh cleansers. When I step out, I hydrate my body with Dirty Lamb Apricot Cleansing Oil and apply eye cream, serum and moisturizer. I usually try to stay away from anything that dries out my skin.
Daniela Monet
One product I can’t live without
When I was pregnant, I took this yoga class, and at the end, we would use this kiki cream on our stomachs. It’s one of the cleanest-ingredients you can find (think organic shea, mango, and cocoa butters), and you can use it on absolutely anyone. It’s fairly expensive, so it’s not the most accessible option, but it’s a huge jar that lasts forever. I use it all over for hydration, but it’s also great for healing so if your baby gets boo-boo, you can use it too.
How to overhaul your routine
Part with the products you have and give yourself a chance to start fresh. Go with the mindset of simplification—that’s my approach. I really like to go back to the basics and focus on understanding the material. What cruelty-free means, why vegan is good, and what ingredients aren’t vegan—all these things help a lot going forward.
going vegan
It may not be as easy as you want. Change will happen, but it is the most beautiful change you can make for yourself. We are all very self-centered in many ways. While we truly aspire to do good for others and the planet, we care about ourselves first and foremost, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Because if we don’t we won’t be able to refund.
“For me, veganism is the biggest testament to doing something incredible for yourself. I’m a mother of two now, and I care about them being 100 percent healthy and capable—it’s different now. We have to do well for ourselves so that we are there for others, and then the impact we make on the lives of animals and the environment is also huge.” – Daniela Monet
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Aruka collection (@ruukes) is VegNews’ beauty and style editor who’s always on the lookout for exciting new vegan products to test out.