Facialist – Ft McMurray's Homepage

These days it’s nearly impossible to know what women are spending on the way they look. Someone with Instagram-flawless contouring might have honed her craft using the finest from the drugstore aisles, and the utterly makeup-free type might be spending thousands on laser treatments and serums. Enter our series What It Costs to Be Me, in which we’re asking interesting women for radical transparency.

Next up? Shani Darden, 45, celebrity esthetician and founder of Shani Darden Skin Care, from Los Angeles, California. Her grand total? $49,758

Shani Darden has incredible self-restraint. “I get sent a lot of skin-care products to try,” says the esthetician. “But I tend to stick with my usual lineup.” Darden’s controlled approach stems from years of watching her clients’ skin suffer as they added unnecessary steps and frivolous products into their routines. “If you use really effective products, you don’t need a lot of them,” she says.

Darden stays true to that same philosophy when curating retail products for her Beverly Hills skin studio, where she stocks science-driven brands like Furtuna Skin—for which she serves as an ambassador—and Dr. Dennis Gross in addition to her own line, Shani Darden Skin Care.

Although running the latter could be its own full-time job, Darden still makes time to perform custom facials for VIP clients like Jessica Alba and January Jones. Here, the products, treatments, and tools that help her look and feel her best through it all.

My shower routine: $88

I’m really lazy in the shower, to be honest. I’m not into scrubs or anything like that. I’m in there for maybe six minutes, tops. Everything I do use is by Ouai—shampoo, conditioner, and Body Cleanser ($28). I love the smell of it all; it’s just good and clean. I like their Clean Shampoo ($28), but I actually use their Treatment Masque ($32) in place of conditioner. I just have so much hair that I have to use an even thicker formula.

My post-shower body routine: $184

While my body is still wet from the shower, I like to use The Honest Company Organic Body Oil ($10). It absorbs really quickly, so sometimes I’ll do Ouai Body Crème ($38) moisturizer over that. I’m obsessed. But I do like to switch it up. I use Environ Body Vitamin Treatment ($136) quite a bit, especially on my arms. It’s two oils: one has lactic acid and the other has vitamins A, C, and E. It’s hydrating, but it also treats crepey skin and pigmentation.

My hair-styling routine: $202

I don’t wash my hair every single day, but if I have, I’ll use Ouai Hair Oil ($28) on damp hair. If I haven’t washed my hair, I’ll usually just apply a dry shampoo—Kristin Ess Style Reviving Dry Shampoo ($14) doesn’t leave a film—and add some curl with my T3 Professional Ceramic Curling Iron ($160).

My daytime skin-care routine: free because of my job (but if I paid it would be $2,360)

If I get up early, after I wash my face with my super-gentle Daily Cleansing Serum ($38), I’ll do an LED light treatment for about 20 minutes. I use the Déesse Pro Mask Next Generation ($1,900), usually on the red-light setting. It helps with antiaging by boosting collagen production in your skin. I’ve been using it for years and years now, and it makes such a big difference.

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I have five different creams that I switch between because sometimes I want a fluid, and sometimes I want a richer cream. Right now, I’m using my Bespoke Cream by Georgia Louise ($350). I recently launched a machine in my spa where we analyze your skin and create a bespoke skin care cream. I use either my Vital Finishing Serum ($150) or the Genaissance de La Mer the Serum Essence ($665) to finish, and then I will use SPF. I love La Mer the Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Daily ($95). I use my Rose Water mist ($120) during the day to rehydrate my skin. I like to have it in my handbag—I just like the way it feels and smells.

My Nighttime Skin Care Additions: $2,183

Three months on and three months off, I’ll use a retinol. The Environ South Africa line has retinols that are really gentle. I’ll do that at night with a vitamin C like Lara Devgan Platinum Vitamin C+ Luminous Night Serum ($145). The finishing serum is always La Mer the Concentrate.

Three times a week, I do my Sleeping Beauty Oil ($120) and gua sha with my Butterfly Stone or my Cryo Freeze Tools. I then wash my face and apply Pulse+GLO Ion Enhancer ($165), which is an electric sheet mask, for 20 minutes. The other two times a week, I use my GLOLite LED Mask ($950) for 10 to 20 minutes. Once I finish, I’ll put on either my Bespoke Cream or the La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream ($180) and Eye Concentrate. The other thing I use is my Environ Gold Roller ($298) five times a week. It takes one minute, and I’ve been doing it for so many years now to push the product further into my skin and induce collagen. On Sunday mornings, I use the NuFace Facial Toning Device ($325), which is my favorite at-home microcurrent.

My Daytime Makeup: $431

I’m more about skin care than makeup. I try not to use any coverage unless I have an event, but my new obsession is Gucci Westman’s blush sticks. I love the Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks in Dou Dou ($50) and Poppet ($50) to just get a little bit of color. If I’m going out after work, I can just literally accentuate my cheeks and I’m good to go. I use Trish McEvoy Lash Curling Mascara ($32) because it doesn’t transfer or smudge, and then I’ll use Charlotte Tilbury Feline Flick Liquid Eyeliner ($30). For me, it’s about more the eyes. During the day, I always use the La Mer Lip Balm ($65). I’m really obsessed over Lara Devgan’s Platinum Lip Plump ($50)—it just swells up your lips and gives them a rosy color. I also love Dior Addict Lip Maximizer ($34). For events, I’m obsessed with La Mer the Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation ($120). It goes on so well and gives such lovely coverage, like a sheer look. It’s great to travel with.

My Nighttime Makeup: $118

I love the Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick in Biscuit ($48) for my cheeks, and I’ll always do a bright red shade of Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick ($38) to bring a bit of color to my skin. For concealer, I’m really loving Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Away ($32).

My Bi-Annual Haircut: $1,360

I’m really lazy with my hair. I see Chris McMillan for my cuts ($680). I was introduced to him by Jennifer Aniston, and I see him when I’m in L.A. every four to six months. I have long hair that’s in good condition because I let it dry naturally. I don’t use a blow-dryer. Whenever I see him, he gives me bangs. He’ll always try and re-style me, but I just like my hair simple and clean. It’s expensive, but so worth it.

My Styling Extras: $130

I love Amika: 3D Volume Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner ($20 each). I use them to give my hair some thickness and some more luster. My new obsession is Deborah Pagani; she’s come up with these beautiful hair accessories, like pins. I typically do my hair in a French twist or a bun, so I like to do that with one of her Large Sleek Hair Pins ($90).

My Essential Treatments: $2,960

I go to L.A. every month now and when I’m there, I get a Japanese massage ($140) at Hideko Spa near Brentwood. It’s truly amazing. I have a weekly massage ($200 per session) that I get at home because I bend over so much with my job—I need it. My personal masseuse is amazing, but he doesn’t want to be named because he’s so booked up.

My Wellness Routine: $3,900

I’m a diabetic and also have Hashimoto’s disease, so I’m very careful when it comes to my wellbeing. I see Daniela Turley, who’s a naturopath. She makes me tinctures to boost my immune system, liver, and kidneys. I also go to Rahav Wellness, which is under the care of Dr. Miriam Rahav. She’s a functional medicine doctor who tests my blood, makes me easy programs of supplements, and offers holistic treatments ($500 per appointment, three times a year) for my morning and nighttime regimens.

I also do pilates at Equinox two times a week ($2,400 membership per year). It’s a great way to sculpt and tone your body and a workout that I really enjoy. In the spring and summer, I walk to work every day for 20 minutes. I love the freedom.

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