Emily DiDonato, Covey
Emily DiDonato washing her face with Covey First of All Cleanser.

About a month ago, I got a top-secret mailer from supermodel Emily DiDonato: a pretty little box packed with three pastel-packaged skincare products—each clearly labeled with the order in which you apply them. Along with cleansing gel, vitamin C serum, and lightweight moisturizer, there was a note welcoming me to the Covey Skin regimen: an essentials-only skincare routine brought to life by the model, as well as Google Executive Christina Uribe and dermatologist Julie Russak, MD.

I admit the line surprised me initially, mostly because a trip to YouTube proves that the 30-year-old has tried, tested, and sworn by much more extensive skincare routines in the past. At one point, she admits that her regimen included over ten different formulas from a slew of different brands. But when she didn’t see results worthy of such a thorough (and expensive!) regimen, she sought to find a super-simple, stress-free line consisting of products perfect for morning and evening. That’s precisely when the idea for Covey Skin was born.

Dr. Russak, the brand’s consulting derm, shared a similar sentiment—one rooted in science.“While I’ve loved watching the interest in skincare grow over the past years across social media, there is an overwhelming amount of products to choose from, and not all of them are compatible with each other,” said Russak in line with Covey Skin’s launch. “What actually makes the biggest difference in a skincare routine is using the same products consistently, not swapping products each day.”

As Russak puts it, the Covey routine “protects skin during the day and repairs skin overnight.” But even so, one essential product that the line doesn’t include is a broad-spectrum sunscreen. According to DiDonato, that’s the only extra item she’s implemented as the last step in her morning routine. Perhaps SPF will be the next product that gets added to the line? After all, we can’t talk about a core skincare regimen without talking about sunscreen.

Ahead, DiDonato chats with GRAZIA USA about the Covey regimen, including the meaning behind the brand name, her favorite product in the core trio, and more.

Emily DiDonato, Covey

How did you decide on the brand-name, “Covey?”

A covey (pronounced kuh-vee) means a small flock of birds that protect and care for each other. And that’s what the core mission of The Covey Routine is: To create the essential-only products that protect and care for your skin.

When did you decide you wanted to significantly pare down your beauty routine? 

Taking care of my skin has always been so important to me, especially because I’ve been modeling for so long. But even after spending thousands of hours and dollars investing into a 12-step routine, I wasn’t seeing results, and I had product fatigue. Deep diving into the comments on my beauty content, I realized I wasn’t alone. That’s why we developed Covey: To create an uncomplicated, universal and intuitive routine that works day and night. Today my skincare routine is four steps: Cleanse with Covey’s First of All Cleanser, apply Covey’s Next Up Vitamin C Serum, seal it in with Last But Not Least Moisturizer, and apply SPF. And my skin has never looked or felt better. What I’ve learned is that you don’t need an arsenal of products – you need fewer, more effective ones.

What’s your skin type, and is Covey ideal for all skin types?

I have sensitive skin, which is why it was so important to me that Covey be gentle, yet effective and work across all skin types and concerns. The key ingredients in the routine, like THD ascorbate (a derivative of vitamin C), babbasu oil, and squalane were cherry-picked because they are gentle but effective in both protecting and repairing skin. We purposefully chose ingredients that support and boost your skin’s inherent functions. We were also extremely intentional about the ingredients we left out of our products. All Covey products are free of parabens, sulfates, fragrances, synthetic dyes, silicone, essential oils, and phthalates, which are known skin irritants.

While working with dermatologist Dr. Julie Russak, was there anything you learned from her that surprised you?

We’ve all been forced to become Reddit-certified “skincare scientists” over the past few years. With so many products and ingredients to choose from, it’s hard to figure out what you truly need in a routine. Dr. Russak has taught me that it’s about quality and consistency when it comes to creating a routine. She taught me that one of the main reasons that many people don’t see results from their skincare routines is because they’re constantly swapping products in and out—playing product roulette—and not giving the ingredients a chance to work.

What non-product-related tips do you have for readers? 

What you put into your body is as important as what you put on it. I know you’ve heard it a million times before, but it’s true: Your skin is a reflection of what you put into your body. Food like salmon, berries, olive oil, sweet potatoes, and carrots because of their nutritional benefits, but also because of their beauty benefits. When I want to look extra glowy before a shoot, I avoid dehydrating foods and drinks, like caffeine, and up my water intake.

Your favorite product in The Covey Regimen?

I don’t love to play favorites. It’s like asking to choose a favorite child! But if I had to pick one, it would be the cleanser. I road-tested dozens of cleansers after shoot days, and this cleanser was the only one that removed every stitch of makeup in a single step, including waterproof mascara, without ever leaving my skin feeling tight or stripped. No double-cleanse needed.

Despite the development of The Covey Regimen, are you still a skincare shelfie lover?

I still love to admire a good shelfie and stalk what products people are using, but I’ve been fully converted to skinimalism!

Keep scrolling to shop DiDonato’s skincare regimen.

Covey
COVEY FIRST OF ALL CLEANSER, $29 VIA COVEY. SHOP NOW
Covey
COVEY NEXT UP VITAMIN C SERUM, $59 VIA COVEY. SHOP NOW
Covey
COVEY LAST BUT NOT LEAST MOISTURIZER, $49 VIA COVEY. SHOP NOW
Covey, First Aid Beauty
FIRST AID BEAUTY WEIGHTLESS LIQUID MINERAL SUNSCREEN SPF 30, $34 VIA ULTA BEAUTY. SHOP NOW All products featured on GRAZIA are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Grazia may earn an affiliate commission.