While memorizing scripts is part of her profession, actress Kate Mansi has no intention of memorizing the EU’s extensive list of 1,328 ingredients prohibited in cosmetics.
In 2018, the Daytime Emmy winner made the decision to detox her beauty products after discovering that U.S. cosmetics regulations, restricting only 11 ingredients, hadn’t been updated since 1938. This led Mansi to take matters into her own hands and strive for a completely clean and nontoxic beauty routine, necessitating the elimination of thousands of questionable ingredients from her collection.
“When I apply something to my skin, I want to be aware of its origin,” Mansi shares, known for her role on Days of Our Lives. “As consumers, we are constantly making choices, and I aspire for my external appearance to mirror my inner values—making informed choices that reflect my awareness and recognizing the significant impact they have.”
With so many potentially harmful ingredients present in common products, Mansi reveals how she navigated her transition and shared the clean beauty tips she’s picked up along her journey in a conversation with Intomodel.
Transitioning to Green Beauty
Despite being a long-time vegetarian and eating a vegan diet, Mansi found the initial shift to clean beauty to be quite a challenge.
Memorizing all the ingredients banned by the EU was not only overwhelming but also unrealistic. Instead, she found a more manageable approach that has since transformed her makeup bag.
“Start with the fundamentals rather than agonizing over knowing every single chemical and its toxicity levels,” Mansi recommends. She began by replacing her top five skincare essentials—eye cream, moisturizer, cleanser, hair products, and body wash—and her five makeup staples, which included foundation, tinted moisturizer with SPF, a lip product, mascara, and blush.
Mansi’s Clever Clean Beauty Tips
Throughout her year-long mission to overhaul her beauty routine, Mansi discovered several clever hacks.
One intriguing method she employs, popular in the 1980s, is a technique called icing. “I take an ice cube and glide it over my face while bent over the sink—it really wakes up my skin! I noticed a difference within a week!” Mansi exclaims, noting that this cold therapy helps clear pores and reduce redness.
Just remember to use caution: keep the ice moving to avoid freezing your skin by lingering too long in one spot.
Mansi is equally dedicated to sun protection, applying sunscreen religiously and reapplying it every couple of hours. She ensures to apply it generously to her face, arms, neck, hands, and even her ears, and opts for natural lip balm with SPF. During her outdoor hikes, she sports protective arm sleeves as well.
“Some of our family has Italian and French backgrounds, and they find it amusing that American women think sunscreen is just for the face,” she laughs.
Research supports this, revealing that sunscreen not only prevents damage but may also reverse existing skin issues. A study published in Dermatologic Surgery in 2016 found that regular sunscreen use improved skin clarity, texture, and dark spots.
Mansi also swears by plum oil for a radiant complexion and keeps tea tree oil handy for its antibacterial effects on occasional breakouts.
Wellness for Beauty
While Mansi carefully attends to her skincare from the outside, she attributes much of her enviable complexion to her overall wellness commitment.
The actress, who was previously a dancer, discovered acupuncture and cupping therapies after suffering a foot injury during a half marathon, which sparked her interest in Eastern medicine. “I view my physical and inner wellness as a different aspect of myself that I must care for,” she reflects.
This understanding led her to recognize the connection between her physical health and well-being. For example, a period of inactivity due to her injury resulted in an imbalance that contributed to breakouts. Additionally, she has identified that stress often manifests as blemishes along her jawline.
Currently, Mansi stays active by going hiking and participating in hot yoga sculpt classes, along with indulging in deep tissue massages with CBD oil to alleviate stress. She also prioritizes her mental well-being. “When I’m not filming, I attend therapy weekly, treating my mental health with the same importance as my physical health,” she explains.
This holistic approach isn’t just for her personal benefit; she believes it reflects a broader cultural shift.
“We’re moving from a mindset of ‘what’s best for me’ to asking deeper questions about ‘what’s better for others and the planet in my choices?’” she observes.
