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Mickey Sumner describes her approach to skin care as “simple.” But don't confuse that to mean the 37-year-old actor doesn't put much thought into her routine—quite the opposite, in fact. In doing “as little as possible” for her skin, she's also putting conscious effort and care into the impact her routine has on the environment. That means using less, but also shopping from mission-oriented brands that are vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainably minded.
“I'm really trying to find more products with glass packaging, so I'm not using as much plastic,” she says. “I love that there are more companies paving the way with sustainability. I actually don't even use regular toothpaste anymore. I use those little capsules from Bite that you chew—they come in glass bottles too.”
Even on the set of TNT's hit dystopian thriller Snowpiercer, Sumner is always looking for ways to be more mindful with her routine. “I had this whole conversation with my makeup artist about whether or not we could use reusable Q-tips,” she says. “I've seen some silicone ones out there and am so curious about them.”
On set is also where she's picked up the lion's share of the skin-care advice she follows. “I had really bad acne as a teenager and in my early 20s, so I was sort of trying everything,” says Sumner. “Then when I got pregnant, my skin really cleaned up, I guess, because of the hormones. Now I'm really careful with what I eat and what I use.”
Ahead of the season two finale of Snowpiercer (which airs on TNT on Monday, March 29, at 9 p.m. E.T.), we asked Sumner to break down everything she's been using to keep both her skin and conscious clear. Read on as she drops her routine.
My Cleanser
I stopped using cleanser in the morning. I read an article that said you're not really getting dirty at night, so why cleanse in the morning? Now I just use water and a face cloth. Sometimes if I'm filming and it's really early, or if my face is a little puffy and I feel like I need help, I'll pour ice into the sink and have a very cold ice wash. It really wakes up my face and pulls it together. I learned that trick from Anna Friel, who's an amazing actress, and have been using it ever since.
At night I use Osea's Ocean Cleanser. I love the company's philosophy—it's cruelty-free, they use organic, bioavailable seaweed, and they're a family-run business out of Malibu. I think that's really cool. And everything comes in a glass bottle. The cleanser really gets all my makeup off from the day. I've also been using Philosophy's Purity Cleanser as a remover to get my eye makeup off from work. Unfortunately, it comes in a plastic bottle, but it smells really good.
My Face Mist
After a cold rinse in the morning, I like to follow it up with a little bit of Herbivore's Rose Hydrating Face Mist. It smells so great and feels amazing on. It's another brand I love because of its glass packaging.
My Serum
I also use Herbivore's Bakuchiol Serum. If I'm being honest, I'm not quite sure if I'm using it in the right order of my skin-care routine, but either way, it leaves my skin feeling so smooth and hydrated. I don't love using a whole lot of moisturizer on my skin because it feels too heavy and greasy, and this just seeps in and feels like I'm not caked in anything heavy. I also love the color of all the Herbivore products. They're so jewel-like and delicious.
My Exfoliator
I was finding my skin was dry, dull, and tired, so one of the makeup artists on my show introduced me to the Glycolic Renew Overnight Cream from SkinCeuticals. I've been using that at night and it's been a game changer. Anything exfoliating usually breaks me out, but this glycolic cream totally changed my skin and makes me wake up feeling incredible.
My Face Oils
I prefer faces oils more than moisturizers, so I kind of have a bunch. I cycle between them and like to switch them out depending on how I feel. There's no real science behind it. Two of my favorites are the Herbivore Orchid Antioxidant Face Oil, which smells so good, and the Eminence Facial Recovery Oil, which is organic and also smells amazing. A good scent is important!
My Sunscreen
After breakfast, if I'm going out or doing anything, I use this tinted moisturizer with SPF from Alastin Skincare. It feels light, and I like that it's tinted so I don't have to wear foundation. Since it's also a sunscreen, it's kind of a three-in-one.
If I'm really going out into the sun, I use SkinCeuticals Physical UV Defense with SPF 30. A dermatologist gave it to me and told me to wear it, so I was like, okay! It's paraben-free and uses mineral filters to block out U.V. rays. I have pretty fair skin and can burn really easily, so sunscreen is important to me. I also try to always wear hats and sunglasses.
My Undereye Patches
They're probably terrible for the environment, but if it's an early morning and I'm filming, I like to drive to work with my Shiseido Uplifting and Firming Eye Masks on. I have a four-year-old and wake up really early, so sometimes a girl just kind of needs it for being onscreen. They really help bring down any puffiness and feel super cooling. I hope they come out with a reusable option soon.
My Lip Balm
I got hooked on Burt's Bees because that's what I use on set. My character doesn't really wear any color on her lips, so the makeup team was using that on me. There's peppermint oil in it, and I got a little bit addicted to that tingly feeling. I also like the way it smells.
My Body Exfoliator
I use a dry brush every day on my skin—no particular brand; it's like a natural wood and bristle body brush. I used to follow a macrobiotic regimen when I was a teenager, and that was part of the routine. You'd brush every morning and every evening, and it really sort of stuck with me. I brush all over, starting with my face really, really, really lightly. You're supposed to always brush toward your heart. So above my heart I brush down, and below it I brush up. I'm really interested in lymphatic drainage and lymphatic massages, and I think all of the brushing helps. And then I don't have to use any other exfoliators on my body either. The brush does it all.
My Red Light Treatment
I really love my Joov Infared Light. I have the full body panel, but it comes in a range of different sizes. I'm always cold, and standing in front of it feels so good. It's supposed to help boost collagen production and soothe inflammation. I have it on the back of my bathroom door, and use it for 20 minutes a couple times a week. You just stand there and turn about every five minutes.
After using it I usually feel like I've got more energy. I don't know if I've seen dramatic shifts in my skin, but I do think it makes a difference with my inner health. Like if I'm achy from working out too hard, I've noticed it helps with recovery.
My Body Cream
I have to shout out my friends who just created this amazing, all-natural menstrual pain relief cream. The brand is called Luteal and is based out of Vancouver. They're incredibly conscious in their marketing and ingredients. The Luteal Menstrual Pain Relief Cream smells amazing and really works. There's so much stuff around your period that's geared toward helping you get through the day and staying productive, but Luteal is framed around making sure you take care of yourself while you're on your period. I think it's such an important way to reframe the conversation.
Follow Mickey Sumner on Instagram @sumnermickey. This interview has been edited and condensed.
