Model Zak Combell Shares Beauty Traditions and Tips

As we all gloss over the perfect Instagram photos of insta-models, I for one, can’t help but wonder: what are their secrets to effortless dewy skin and luscious locks? The secret isn’t so effortless. Swiss teen model Zak Combell, who’s page consists of gleaming golden hour selfies accompanied by hilarious memes, follows many meticulous steps in his beauty routine to get the perfect ‘gram. While Combell gives his followers a sneak peek every once and a while of his ‘natural’ beauty routine by posting shots of everything from orange face-masks to green hair-masks, he takes the time to spill all of his tips and tricks here. An integral part of his Moroccan and Algerian upbringing, Combell’s routine goes beyond just beauty and embodies self-care to the fullest extent. Continue to read below to find out Zak’s step-by-step tips, advice to his followers, and more.

What does your daily skincare routine look like?

The first thing I do in the morning is double-cleanse. I rinse my face once with hot water to open up my pores and then rinse with cold water to close my pores.

Since my skin type is combination of oily and dry, I incorporate lots of oils into my skincare routine. I moisturize with extra virgin olive oil and massage the oil into my skin for circulation and drainage. I love oils because my skin glows and feel fresh!

I also do a mask and exfoliate at least once a week. My favorite masks are from La Vallée de Rose.

What does your daily haircare routine look like?

Since I only wash my hair twice a week, I always blow out my hair again in the morning to restyle my hair from the day before to give it extra volume. When I wash my hair, my favorite product is the Kérastase Fine Frizzy Hair Pack—my hair feels like silk after without any frizz. I have naturally curly Arab hair but I like to wear it straight; using all three parts of this product does the trick!

What are cultural beauty traditions your family has passed down to you?

I do a hammam, also known as a Turkish ‘steam’ bath , at least once a month; using rose water and olive oil consistently throughout my routine; using Moroccan clay; drinking lots of green mint tea because of the benefits of the high levels of antioxidants—which combats scaring and aging; I also have learned to professionally thread.

Do you view taking care of your hair and skin as part of your upbringing, and if so, why is it so important?

I view self-care as personal and intimate; it is different for everyone, but essential to maintain a self-care routine.

This has been a crucial aspect of my Islamic upbringing. I was taught, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death.” [Shu’ab al-Iman]

If you were trapped on an island, what is one beauty product you would bring and why?

Logistically speaking, I would bring a moisturizer to combat the dryness from the sun and ocean.

What is a beauty trend you are into lately?

I’ve been a lot into the whole glass skin trend. Dewy skin makes me look fresh and healthy!

I’ve noticed you have posted DIY masks on your page before; what are they, what do they do, and why do you do them?

I love DIY skincare because I think it is really important to know what you are putting on your skin. By making my own natural products, I can control what I put on my skin.

I make my own simple toner by soaking rose petals in hot water, waiting for the petals to loose color and for the water to cool down—then it is ready to go!

I also make my own facial scrub with coffee grounds, water, lemon, sugar, and honey—the only rule is to make sure it isn’t too watery. Rub the scrub on your face in a circular motion then leave it on your face for 30 minutes before rinsing it off with cold water.

If you have ever experienced acne, how did you treat it? If you didn’t ever, how do you prevent it?

I have experienced acne, but it hasn’t ever been that bad. I notice I break out when I eat ailments with high sugar or fried food. Everything you put in your body will have an impact on the way you look outside; you have to make sure to always eat fruits and vegetables daily, try to only drink water rather than sodas which are really high in sugar and chemical products.

An acne tip that I also learned was that you shouldn’t get rid of all the oils your skin produces because oil acts as a barrier. When you have low amounts of oil in your skin you expose yourself to all the bad things like pollution, UV rays, etc. As a result, your skin will protect itself by producing sebum and that can cause breakouts.

Do you view your beauty routine as self care?

Yes—it totally is.

What advice can you give to your followers if they feel insecure about their skin or hair?

The advice that I would give my followers is to not worry about others’ opinions because skin and hair is all superficial. People who pay attention to your ‘imperfections’ are only projecting their own insecurities. People will like you for you—not for your hairstyle or how clear your skin is.