A Vegetarian’s Skincare Routine: Sandra Seifert Shares Her Evening Regimen

In our newest Before Bed series, Sandra Seifert shares how she takes care of her skin in the evening!

The perfect skincare regimen for your complexion exists, it just takes a good deal of research and practice. However, if you find yourself in a constant loop of hits and misses, make things a tad bit easier for yourself by learning from skincare enthusiasts and specialists. Gone are the days of only dreaming of a flawless face as now we feature various personalities who seem to know the key to achieving their best skin.

This time, Seventh-Day Adventist entrepreneur and Miss Earth-Air 2009, Sandra Seifert (@sandraseifert) is the belle of Tatler's Before Bed series. She is the owner of Bakehaus by Sandra Seifert (@bakehausbysandraseifert) and Suravilla (@suravillaofficial). Join her and discover her skincare secrets, hacks, nightmares and tips:

Above Photo: Sandra Seifert

What is your skin type?

Normal.

What inspired you to care for your skin?

The bible says in 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 that our bodies are temples: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which is God's." These verses have deeply inspired me to take better care of my diet, health and skin.

Do you find it difficult to find vegan/cruelty-free skincare products?

In the past, it was definitely more difficult to source vegan/cruelty-free skincare products. However, with the latest trends in society shifting toward a greener and healthier lifestyle, we are definitely seeing them more and more, even in the Philippines.

Do you think having a plant-based diet affects your skin? How does it affect yours?

Definitely. Over many years, research has linked plant-based diets to lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers (as compared with diets high in meat and other animal products.) Plant-based foods are also rich in Vitamin C and E which are great for our skin. I used to develop allergies whenever I would consume dairy products and shellfish. After eliminating these from my diet, I noticed that the allergies completely disappeared. And, I’ve often been told that I look much younger than my age—I attribute that to my diet.

Above Photo: Sandra Seifert

How did you find a skincare routine that works for you?

I’ve never been the type of woman to focus too much on my skin - probably because I never had any skin issues growing up. Thus, finding a skincare routine happened over time when I started testing different products (that were often gifted to me by brands themselves!) Until I discovered the products that were truly compatible with my skin, I would really just wash my face with water and use a simple cleanser like Cetaphil or Ponds Cold Cream when I had to wash off makeup. Two of the local brands I absolutely adore are Green Mama and Kana Kare: I love the fact that Andy (founder of Green Mama) and Rene (founder of Kana Kare and OhHoliday!) have developed natural, paraben- and cruelty-free products that are locally sourced and accessible, even during the pandemic. Their products are gentle yet very effective on my skin, and scalp. And, once you find products that match your skin, you naturally develop a routine around it.

Photo 1 of 3 Photo: Sandra Seifert

Photo 2 of 3 Photo: Sandra Seifert

Photo 3 of 3 Photo: Sandra Seifert

What is your evening skincare routine?

In the evening, I usually keep my skincare routine fairly simple:

1. I wash my face with water

2. Cleanse with Green Mama's Cleansing Foam

3. Scrub with Green Mama's Turmeric VCO and Honey Scrub (1 x per week)

4. Rinse with water

5. Apply Naturschon's Vegan Olive Face Oil

6. I also use Green Mama’s “Wellness in A Bottle” which I massage on my temples and spray “Lavender Relaxing Mist” on my neck and upper body which I spray on right before bed

7. On my scalp, I apply Kana Kare’s Kana Hair Regrowth Therapy Oil

8. Drink a small cup of Oh Holiday’s Stimulating Hair Tea

Are there any products you consider a skincare holy grail?

My holy grail products would have to be Aloe Vera and any type of natural oil like Argan, Avocado or Olive Oil - you can usually find these everywhere! I also can’t live without Green Mama’s Skin Defence Cream, Johnson and Johnson Baby Oil, Naturschon's Vegan Olive Face Cream and Face Oil, La Roche Posay Nutritic for my lips, Honest Everything Primer, Dior Backstage Face and Body Glow, and Shu Uemura Clarifying Cleansing Oil.

Above Photo courtesy of Sandra Seifert

How about facemasks? Do you use any?

I rarely use facemasks. Actually, the only times I would use them are when my brother Michael would visit town and we would bond over Netflix, Plant-based snacks and facials!

Do you have a beauty/skincare horror story?

Anytime I would eat something that isn’t plant-based I would experience rashes on my body especially when an ingredient like casein is involved which you usually find in cheeses. These rashes are extremely itchy!

How often do you practise skin fasting (a break from skincare)?

Often! I don’t have religious skincare routines, especially now that I am both a mom and businesswoman. My goal is actually to do as little as possible with my face and keep it away from any form of chemical. If it were possible, I would be happy with just applying water!

What's a skincare rule you've broken that have done wonders to your skin?

One of the eight laws of health is to get enough sunlight. So when I do go under the sun, I don’t apply any sunscreen—instead, I just make sure to drink a full glass of water and expose my skin to the sun around noon for 15 minutes every other day of the week to get that natural Vitamin D!

Above Photo courtesy of Sandra Seifert

What is a skincare hack you think we should know?

Definitely eating a whole food plant-based diet which I first discovered at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church at the age of 16. What is unique to this church is that they actually have a health message which can be summarised as the 8 Laws of Health: N-E-W-S-T-A-R-T (Acronym) which stands for Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, (Fresh) Air, Rest, and Trust in God. In fact, the 8 laws of health are my personal beauty secret, especially to having a more youthful appearance! For instance, a plant-based diet, combined with regular exercise, drinking lots of water, enough sunlight exposure, being temperate in all things (and avoiding things like tobacco and alcohol), inhaling fresh air, proper daily rest (7-8 hours) and weekly rest (keeping the Sabbath), and trusting in God (keeps you positive and worry less!) are a recipe you can apply for life! I also recommend going make-up free so your skin can breathe, you save time getting ready (and money!) and you literally become confident in "your own skin!”

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