Actress Ava Paloma has perfected a beauty routine built on trust not trends. The actress, fresh off set for The Razor’s Edge James Franco and Paul Ben-Victor, treats skincare the same way she treats everything else: efficient, intentional, and rooted in what actually works for her body. A three-minute ice roller session and a Medicube routine get her through busy mornings; a Drunk Elephant mask and a Thai massage are reserved for the rare stretch of “me time.” And her real secret weapon isn’t a product at all, it’s sleep, which she calls the most underrated tool in the beauty conversation.
Paloma’s desire to deepen her understanding shapes how she approaches beauty. She swapped almond milk for organic whole milk after years of an unexplained rash, only to discover the “healthy” choice had been the problem all along. Motherhood shifted things for Paloma too. Instead of chasing a “bounce back,” she let her relationship with her body come from appreciation rather than urgency, and says she’s leaner now than before she was pregnant simply because she stopped forcing it. Here, she shares her go-to products, her philosophy on aging and self-care, and why she thinks beauty is less about routine and more about listening to your own body.
You are about to star in The Razor’s Edge starring James Franco and Paul Ben-Victor. How do you take care of yourself mentally and physically during a big project?
Stepping into a project like Razor’s Edge, alongside actors like James Franco and Paul Ben-Victor, is exactly the kind of experience that makes taking care of myself, mentally and physically, non-negotiable.
Mentally, my biggest tool is visualization. Long before I ever book a role, I spend time imagining myself already there: on set, in the scene, doing the work, what I’m wearing, how I feel walking to set with my coffee, how I greet everyone. So by the time I actually landed this part, it didn’t feel like a surprise, it felt like somewhere I’d already been. That mental rehearsal builds a real sense of confidence and worth. There’s no scrambling to prove I belong in the room, especially opposite actors of that caliber. I walk in already knowing I bring value, and that changes everything about how I show up. I’ve done this with marriage, with picking a house, with becoming a mother too. If you can see it, you can be it.
That visualization extends to how I look and feel physically too, which is exactly why I don’t believe in last-minute diets or crash fitness routines before a big project. I’m already living the way I want to feel on set, so there’s nothing to scramble to fix once the job is booked. Sleep is completely non-negotiable for me. I track my health rather than guess at it, regular bloodwork through Function Health tells me exactly what I need more of and what to pull back on, and I wear a Whoop to monitor my energy day to day. And the one that surprises people: I don’t over-exercise. Between chasing my toddler and staying generally active, I’ve found I don’t need to run miles or push hard in the gym. I’m very much in a less-is-more season, choosing relaxation over exertion, and it’s that steady, consistent baseline, not a last-minute scramble, that lets me show up fully prepared for a role like this.
You are currently in the best health of your life. What does that actually look like day to day?
Funny enough, I stopped working out as hard and I feel healthier than ever. I’ve moved toward eating when I’m actually hungry rather than snacking out of habit, and the shift has brought a lot less stress and a lot more time with my son. A typical day: wake up, check my Whoop score to see how I slept, coffee, set three priorities for the day, one work related, one family related, one miscellaneous, and work through them: play with my son, work on auditions, put him down for a nap, tape auditions, more playtime when he wakes up, walk the dogs. I keep it active but simple, and that simplicity is honestly the healthiest thing I’ve done for myself.
Your family owns Wildom Farm, a regenerative farm in Deep Creek, Maryland. How has that shaped the way you think about what you put in your body?
I feel incredibly fortunate to have access to farm-fresh food. My sister, Julie, runs the farm, and everything she produces is as nutritious as it is delicious, animals raised on organic feed, no antibiotics, no hormones, roaming pastures and foraging freely. Seeing that process up close has made me so much more aware of where my food actually comes from. Now I find myself reading labels, asking questions at the grocery store, and choosing quality over convenience whenever I can. I wish everyone had that kind of access, because once you’ve tasted the difference, it’s hard to go back. You can see more of what she does at @wildomfarm on Instagram.
How has becoming a mother changed your relationship with your body and the way you think about beauty?
I’m in awe of my body. Growing a human, delivering a pretty big baby, watching my belly expand, breastfeeding, I still can’t fully wrap my head around the fact that I’m making milk. It still makes me laugh. But it’s given me a much deeper appreciation for what a woman’s body can do, and I find motherhood genuinely beautiful.
I never felt rushed to “bounce back,” and I think that’s exactly what changed things for me. Letting go of that pressure allowed my relationship with my body to come from appreciation instead of urgency. The happiness I feel as a mom has made me more active and genuinely happier day to day, and in fact, a year and a half later, I’m leaner than I was before I was pregnant, not because I chased it, but because I stopped rushing it and let happiness lead the way.
What is your quick skincare routine when you’re on the go as a busy mom and actress, and what do you incorporate on the days when you have a little more “Me Time”?
On busy days, I start with an ice roller, three minutes and it de-puffs and wakes me right up. Then I’ve been using Medicube for my skincare routine, washing and moisturizing, and I do a quick facial massage with their moisturizer, which helps with lymphatic drainage. On my body, I use a product my sister Julie makes called Lather, made from pig lard, in my opinion even better than tallow, and it’s become a daily staple for me.
If I have a little me time, I’ll reach for a Drunk Elephant mask, or do a quick teeth whitening session with Moon, five minutes and my smile pops. And if I have a nice chunk of me time, you might find me at a Thai massage, shiatsu, reflexology, or acupressure session, I’m not picky. If they can work the knots out of my back or feet, I’m there.
Sleep seems to be the cornerstone of your wellness routine. Why do you think it is so underrated in the beauty and wellness conversation?
I think it’s hard to monetize, which is probably why it gets less airtime than skincare or supplements. Once I started tracking my sleep, it really made the difference. It showed me, in black and white, when I was sleeping well and when I wasn’t. Once you feel what it’s like to be truly rested, it’s almost shocking, you realize how long you’d been operating on empty. Fix your sleep, and your whole world shifts.
What are the beauty and wellness products you genuinely can’t live without right now?
In addition to anything I’ve already mentioned, Function Health, Medicube, my ice roller, Drunk Elephant, Moon whitening, and Lather, I’d add BioOptimizers Magnesium at night for deep sleep, Metagenics Omega 3 and Bluebonnet Calcium to replenish what breastfeeding depletes, Ogee Brightening Botanical Eye Balm, Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint, and a Withings Scale, it measures body composition, which I think matters so much more than weight alone.
You stay incredibly active as a working mom. How does moving your body affect your mindset and the way you show up in your work?
Completely. I have a very active son, and staying active with him keeps me energized in a way that carries directly into my work. When I’m moving, chasing him around, being outside, I feel sharper and more present, and that translates straight onto set. There’s also something about being around a toddler’s playfulness and curiosity every day that keeps those same muscles alive in me, because to me, those are two of the biggest components of great acting: being ready to play, and staying endlessly curious. Auditions and long shoot days both demand stamina and focus, and the more physically active and present I am day to day, the more grounded and ready I feel to fully show up in a scene.
What does elevated mom style mean to you in practice?
My elevated mom style consists of crisp white tees (Quince is my go-to), great denim (Madewell), a cinched waist to keep things polished, simple but elegant jewelry (Catbird), and lately I’m living in my New Balance sneakers. I usually finish it off with messy waves in my hair, put together, but never so precious that I’d hesitate to get on the floor and get messy with my kid. And sometimes I’ll top it all off with a Polo Sport hat, or if I’m really trying to impress my husband, a NY Rangers one.
What is the one piece of wellness advice you wish someone had told you earlier?
It’s okay to question everything when it comes to health. For years I drank almond milk thinking it was the better choice, but I also had a persistent rash around my nose that I couldn’t figure out. The moment I switched back to organic whole milk, it cleared up completely. Around the same time, I learned that the daily vitamin my doctor had recommended was actually causing my anxiety, it turned out I have an MTHFR mutation and can’t properly process folic acid.
The wellness space is always evolving. What we’re told works today can be completely upended tomorrow, and what works for the majority won’t necessarily work for you. Health is deeply individual, and asking questions, doing your own research, and paying attention to your own body is the best thing you can do for yourself.
Photo Credit:
Photogrpaher: Allie Hine
Stylist: Madison Reynolds
