Tina Craig
The Protocol: Tina Craig
Our series featuring the daily routines, expert advice, and beauty tips of industry insiders (read: those who’ve got it down to a science). Because we should all have a Protocol.
U Beauty founder. OG influencer. Official Bag Snob. Tina Craig is known as many things, but almost ultimately, she's a total skincare guru. So it's naturally no surprise her Protocol is packed with beauty tips and tricks we should all be following.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Check my phone for texts, followed by 10 minutes of daily meditation with the Calm app.
Describe your morning and evening skincare routines.
Every day, I start with what I call the Four C’s of skincare: First, Cleanse with just cold water (I never use hot water on my face!), no cleanser. Then comes the Compound: One or two pumps of the Resurfacing Compound, gently massaged into the skin, is all I need. Then I apply The SCULPT Arm Compound all over my arms, along with your neck, décolletage, even hands.
Next, Cream: I wait 30 seconds and apply The SUPER Hydrator, which seals in the Compound and hydrates. I love a good eye cream and Clé de Peau Beauté Enhancing Eye Contour Cream Supreme is among the best.
Finally, Cover: This step only applies to daytime. I put SPF on every day, even if I’m not going outside. Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50 is a good one, but let’s just say they’ll be a new one coming out this year that I might be partial to!
In the evening, my typical routine is the same, minus sunscreen and plus a non-exfoliating cleanser: Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil to remove every trace of makeup thoroughly or iS Clinical Cleansing Complex gel, which has subtle exfoliators to remove dead cells, if I hadn’t been wearing makeup.
I also never go to bed without wearing a SiO Beauty ChestLift patch! It’s like a genius compression belt that ensures I wake up with a smooth décolleté.
Do you have a fitness routine? If yes, what are your objectives/goals when you work out?
I like to work out first thing in the morning to get it out of the way. I usually jump on my treadmill the minute I wake up or wake up with a mix of push-ups and planks. My favorite fitness routine is a series of Pilates mat exercises done at home, along with a quick sweat session on the treadmill, set to the highest incline, holding hand weights. My goal is really simple: to feel good and healthy.
Have you tried any in-office cosmetic procedures (lasers, fillers, microneedling, etc.)?
I’ve been doing PRP microneedling since I was 38 years old! I also love in-office RF treatments with Dr Nigma in LA. I’ve tried Botox in the past but don’t love the results. Now with U Beauty, I find I don’t need Botox at all.
Which procedures do you love, and which would you never try (or never try again!)?
I will always love a good facial, especially from the brilliant Joanna Czech.
U Beauty actually all started because for so long I was desperate to find a great resurfacing product that also simplified my elaborate skincare routine, but I was having a hard time. Laser resurfacing wasn’t an appealing option for me, since the results are unpredictable for Asian skin and it can cause permanent changes in pigmentation. So the Resurfacing Compound was born.
What’s your diet like on a typical day?
I start every day with a cup of Pique green tea; it’s the only kind that never makes me jittery because it’s so pure. My two go-tos are their Sun Goddess Matcha Sticks and Pu’er Green Tea Crystals. I also add two scoops of Shore Magic Marine Collagen.
As for the rest of the day, I listen to my body and while I try to eat healthily and avoid too much sugar and sodium, if I want French fries, I’m having French fries!
What's the last thing you do before you go to bed?
Say goodnight to my 16 year old, then I get in bed and turn on a sleep meditation app.
Who’s your beauty idol?
My grandmother. She taught me that beauty is about self-love. If you take care of yourself, you feel more confident. And what’s a bigger confidence-booster than healthy, glowy skin?
What’s the most high-maintenance aspect of your beauty protocol?
I’ve always loved a good facial, but this past year, I’ve gotten really into DIY rituals, which I guess isn’t that high-maintenance, after all. Enter the Fire and Ice Facial, which was something I’ve done at some of the most luxurious spas in the world and realized I can replicate at home with nothing more than things I have in my kitchen pantry and refrigerator (it involves plain yogurt, honey and frozen almond milk or tea, to name a few).
I also love my rollers and gadgets. The Joanna Czech Facial Massager mimics an esthetician’s massage to maximize product absorption, stimulate circulation and help with lymphatic drainage, which also helps the skin absorb product. When I have extra time on Sunday, I’ll use it to “wake up” and bring more oxygen to my skin tissue. Or I’ll use the genius TriPollar Stop X RF tool for about 20 minutes. It’s an at-home radio frequency treatment which causes controlled damage to the skin’s different layers, encouraging natural healing processes and collagen production. Last but not least, Georgia Louise’s Hollywood EGF Micro-Needling roller controls the depth of needles, so you don’t risk damaging your precious skin, while treating everything from fine lines to dullness.
What’s the best piece of beauty advice you’ve gotten?
Stop being so hard on yourself! You’re never going to be as young as you are today. So enjoy every minute! Also, know, and remember, your worth. Don’t devote time to toxic people who make you feel less than you are. It’s okay if some people don’t like you. Love yourself.
What’s your 24-hour plan for getting ready for a big event or photoshoot?
Now that events and photoshoots are finally happening again, I’m really eager to get back in the swing of things! Even if that means a little extra planning.
I’ll double up on veggies, vitamin C ,and water all day. No salt nor alcohol the night before and I try not to drink water past 8pm.
Then two hours prior, I’ll start getting ready with the Clé de Peau Illuminating Concentrate mask, a three-part treatment that, with Japanese pearl and golden silk extract, delivers a professional-level glow, along with Jillian Dempsey’s Gold Bar massage roller or the Renée Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Peel. Followed by coconut milk ice roll that I freeze myself: It makes my skin smooth and prepped for makeup!
What do you do when you want to reset, regroup, or detox?
It sounds obvious, but meditation has changed my life. Also, a hot bath with detox sea salts and a good book!
