Wellness With Allison McNamara | MARA Founder on Skincare, Wellness & Daily Rituals
Allison McNamara is the founder and CEO of MARA, the award-winning algae-powered skincare brand redefining modern luxury beauty. A former beauty editor turned entrepreneur, she brings a sharp perspective on innovation, wellness, and creating products that make high-performance skincare feel effortless.
Q: As someone who’s built a brand around the idea that great skin doesn’t have to be complicated, what are your true daily wellness non-negotiables?
A: I've always believed consistency beats complexity. My daily wellness essentials are movement in some form, red light therapy, infrared sauna, my morning and evening skincare rituals, whole foods, and prioritizing sleep and recovery with insights from my Oura Ring. It's about creating simple habits that help me feel my best every day. I also swear by Bio Optimizers magnesium and Sisterly multi-vitamins.
Q: You’ve spent years in beauty as both an editor and founder. What’s one wellness or beauty “rule” you no longer believe in?
A: I no longer believe wellness has to look perfect to work. As an editor, I was exposed to every trend and every new routine. As a founder, I've learned that the most impactful habits are often the least glamorous: getting enough sleep, moving your body, eating well, and being consistent. The basics really do matter most. That's also why I love skincare that minimizes your routine into fewer steps and I'm always trying to find multiple uses for our formulas so they can work into your routine seamlessly.
Q: Which Juna product has become a staple for you, and how does it fit into your daily routine?
A: I really love the Juna Detox Drops because they are soooo easy to add into my routine and I love adding a little something extra to my water.
Q: As a founder, how do you protect your energy and manage stress while building a brand?
A: Building a brand is a marathon, not a sprint, so I've learned that protecting my energy is just as important as managing my time. I prioritize movement every day, stay consistent with my sleep, and try to make decisions based on data rather than emotion whenever possible. I've also learned that not every problem requires an immediate reaction; sometimes the best thing you can do is step away, get perspective, and come back with a clearer mind. I also am a big fan of the mute / unfollow-- what we consume impacts us more than we realize!
Q: What’s currently in your wellness lineup? Supplements, rituals, treatments, anything you genuinely swear by.
A: For supplements, I take a Pure multi-vitamin, Bio Optimizers magnesium every night and NAD+. For skincare, I never skip MARA Pearl Peptide Glaze and MARA Sea Vitamin C Serum in the morning, and as for SPF I rotate between Good Weather Skin SPF and MARA Sea Kale Sunscreen Serum. I also love my Hooga red light panel in the morning for 5 minutes while I journal. At night, I love both of the MARA Cleansers and MARA Algae Retinol Oil + MARA SeaDream Creme, my favorite combo. I've recently added in Calecium serum and the BioEffect EFG eye serum, both are great! To exfoliate, I like Eighth Day Pads and Lennox & Sixteenth Laser Serum; I also love MARA Flower Acid Algae Serum, it's by far stronger than the first two. And as for treatments I'm pretty minimal, I love microneedling 4x a year and monthly lymphatic drainage massages!
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