Senegalese-American actress and producer Anna Diop likes Sephora—so much so that she says she’s clocked in a good two-plus hours browsing just the skin-care section. But she still had time for a role alongside LaKeith Stanfield, Benedict Cumberbatch, James McAvoy and more in The Book of Clarence this month. Read on for her first beauty memory, when she feels most beautiful and some seriously good product recommendations.
Beauty to me is…so many things. Being grounded in oneself. Being kind to others. Simplicity. Joy.
The greatest thing about aging is…gaining wisdom. Discernment. Becoming more self-determining— trusting my own instincts, intuition and intelligence.
I feel most beautiful when…my hair and skin are healthy—and I’m rocking both in their natural state.
The beauty move I still can’t master is…putting on lashes. They always look crazy when I try and do them on my own!
The beauty treatment I leave to the pros is…facials. I’m a big fan of the Hydrafacial. It always gives my skin a great reset.
The beauty product I always splurge on is…SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore ($150). It’s thick, yummy and calming for the skin.
The beauty product I always have with me is…Laneige lip balm ($18); I don’t love the feeling of my lips being dry, so I’m always reapplying.
The last beauty-related thing I did for the first time was…I started making green smoothies every morning. Reese Witherspoon posted a YouTube video where she shares the ingredients for her morning smoothie that she drinks for healthy, glowing skin, and I started incorporating that into my routine.
The beauty hack I’ve learned while getting ready on set is…double cleansing!
The best bathroom run-in I’ve ever had at an awards show was…with Zoe Saldana. She stepped on the train of my dress at a charity gala a few days ago and was incredibly sweet about it! We joked about it.
The one store I shop at the most is…Sephora; I love buying skin care—I could spend two hours in there.
The last beauty product I used until the end was…SkinCeuticals LHA Cleansing Gel ($45). Ever since I discovered it, I haven’t consistently used anything else. Game changer.
My favorite way to unwind is…bubble baths with lavender and essential oils.
My first beauty memory was…my mother braiding my hair as a young girl. She was so good at it, and I always felt so pretty after.
My biggest beauty muse is…Naomi Campbell, for obvious reasons. I pray I look that great at her age.
