Actresses, musicians and TV personalities have plenty in common — designer gowns and hall of fame hairstylists — but in the beauty world, all eyes are on their flawless skin. With their access to top skin care professionals and expert makeup artists (not to mention their always-knowledgeable mothers) celebrities can be a great source for transformative beauty tips.
Fortunately, celebs can’t resist spilling their best-kept beauty secrets, and thanks to paparazzi shots and on-air appearances, we know their tips really work. To help you battle those problem areas that sabotage your skin care and beauty routine, we rounded up an assortment of the best beauty tips from noteworthy Latinas. Click ahead to give your regimen an insider edge.
Rosario Dawson:
Rosario Dawson is a true blue New Yorker, but she admits that when she returns for a visit, her hometown isn’t the greatest place on earth … for her skin. The actress tells People magazine, “I’m from New York, but I’ve realized how long it’s been since I’ve been here because my face wasn’t acclimated. I had bad skin all of a sudden!” Her fix? Investing in a top-notch exfoliator, both chemical and physical, to slough away dead skin.
Dawson also relies on natural products that contain nature’s best skin care ingredients, like sea buckthorn berries from the Himalayas, to “knock out inflammation” and the city’s harsh pollutants, she tells CurlyNikki.com.
Joan Smalls :
Whether she’s walking the runways or appearing alongside Beyonce in a music video, Puerto Rican model Joan Smalls always strives to keep her skin in top-top shape. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she emphasized the importance of knowing your own skin before committing to a routine. “For me, I have to stick to a set regimen that I know works; I’ve learned a lot about my skin over the years,” she tells the magazine. “I tend to get oily on the T-zone of my face, while other areas are normal, so I always cleanse my face with a wash that contains salicylic acid and then I’ll moisturize. I also always keep lip balm close by; it creates a smoother surface before applying lipstick.”
As for a one-size-fits-all tip? “Moisturize a lot,” she tells Elle.com point blank. “During the morning, I tend to mix Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair $62, with Estée Lauder Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Face and Neck Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 15, $78. I do that throughout the day and it really, really helps.”
Demi Lovato :
Songstress Demi Lovato has age on her side, but admits establishing healthy everyday habits is what keeps her skin clear, radiant and in tip-top shape. ” … I drink a lot of water,” Lovato tells Allure, “but the most important thing is not sleeping in my makeup.”
Whether she’s on tour or finishing up a late-night shoot, Lovato sticks to a strict routine. She relies on makeup remover wipes, followed by a pore-clearing scrub and a hydrating toner, followed by a rich night cream before hitting the hay. In the daytime, Lovato is a firm believer in sunscreen and reapplying throughout the day.
Zoe Saldana :
Actress Zoe Saldana goes back to basics when it comes to maintaining her flawless complexion. “I think washing your face twice a day at least is the most important thing to do, especially when you live in a city because there’s so much pollution. Then there’s moisturizing and wearing sunblock,” Saldana tells InStyle. Instead of high-tech tools, she opts for something we all have at home. “My go-to tool I use is a small white towel to wash my face. I buy them in bulk every time I go to Costco.”
“My mother was a hippie and very health conscious, so growing up she always encouraged my sisters and I to be as natural as possible,” Saldana reminisces. “She gave us a book she bought at a garage sale about natural beauty remedies and we used to look up everything, like how to make masks out of oatmeal or give our hair highlights using henna tea or even rum. Once a year, we all still get together and put mayonnaise in our hair for old times’ sake.”
Last but not least, a positive attitude plays an integral role in Saldana’s skin care routine. “I’m actually one of those people that really enjoys taking care of their skin. I don’t see it as work, but really just as part of life, just like brushing your teeth.”
America Ferrera:
With the press calls, premieres and onslaught of different time zones, actress America Ferrera’s skin is constantly under different types of stress. “A really amazing facial is my beauty indulgence. I go to Linda Ross in Los Angeles, and she’s my savior with all the traveling and flying and lack of sleep and stress. Her facials save me,” the actress tells Allure.
When she isn’t in Los Angeles, Ferrera practices her own form of skin care rehab that is readily available everywhere she goes. “Once I started drinking more water, my skin, hair and nails all flourished,” the actress tells InStyle.
Christina Milian:
From her music career to her stint on ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars,” singer Christina Milian knows her fair share about stage makeup, but when it comes to her personal beauty routine and pulling together a look as a busy working mom, there’s only one thing that truly matters: “Lashes,” she tells MO-AM magazine. “You can have a whole face of nothing, but if you put some lashes on, it saves the day
Paulina Rubio :
While “X Factor” host Paulina Rubio boasts a radiant complexion in the spotlight, her skin care secret is all about staying out of the sunlight. “I love the sun, but I can’t tan anymore because I have spots. Even if I use sunscreen, the manchas come out,” the 42-year-old singer revealed in Glam Belleza Latina magazine. To keep spots and hyperpigmentation at bay, Rubio exfoliates from head to toe with skin brightening products.
Rubio’s other skin care secrets? “I have a lot of good habits, I drink a tequila once in a while, but not in excess, I do a lot of exercise, I love to sleep, and overall, love. Love is everything, almost more important than oxygen.”
Sessilee Lopez:
With high-fashion editorial shoots and dramatic runway makeup, Model Sessile Lopez’s skin is often under stress and covered with an onslaught of products. How does she deal with breakouts on the go? “I take honey with me for a mask,” she tells Essence.com. “It takes off the dead skin and leftover makeup. I also do an avocado-apricot-honey mask when my skin needs mois
Michelle Rodriguez :
“Fast and Furious” actress Michelle Rodriguez is living proof that less is more. With a minimal, laid-back beauty routine, she allows her natural beauty to shine through. “My must-have beauty product is my moisturizer. I care more about my skin and its maintenance than I do covering it up,” Rodriguez tells Beauty Logic Blog.
When she needs to cover up, Rodriguez keeps it simple. “I cover my blemishes when I go out on the town with some tea tree oil to disinfect them, and then I’ll put on an oil-free cover up under my eyes if I didn’t sleep. After that I will apply a little lip stain on the cheeks (if I’ve neglected my weekly vitamin intake) for a fresh complexion. I’ll put a little mascara, but that sums it up,” she explains.
At the end of the day, the actress advocates treating yourself well both inside and out. “I’m not much of a beauty queen but I do believe the advice worth giving is maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” she says. “Skin and body issues are usually a representation of bodily imbalances.”
Naya Rivera:
As a key character on the hit series “Glee,” Naya Rivera has experienced firsthand the toll multiple trips to the makeup chair can have on skin. “During filming I definitely have to spend a lot more time on taking care of my skin,” she tells Examiner.com. “I wash my face like three times a day since there is so much makeup involved.” While it’s important to keep her face clean of pore-clogging makeup, that volume of cleansing can strip skin of much-needed moisture. Rivera’s secret cure? “I use hydrocortisone as a moisturizer. It’s a little trick that my mom taught
Victoria Justice:
For her anti-aging skin care regimen, actress and singer Victoria Justice stands by the notion that mother knows best. “I’m only 19, so I’m not super concerned about aging. But my mom didn’t drink, smoke or tan while growing up, and she looks great. I’m following her plan,” Justice tells SELF. As for her own prescription? “I wash off my makeup every night before bed. It’s my #1 rule for good skin,” she reveals in the magazine.
To battle blemishes, Justice says “I haven’t found anything better than sleep and a good concealer.” If that method fails, she puts another one of her mom’s beauty tricks to use. “If it’s over my lip or on my cheek, I color it with a brown pencil. Instant beauty mark! I got that from my mom — she was a disco queen and has lots of tips,” says Justice..
In the beauty department, Justice is all about emphasizing her natural features on the go. “If I have no time to touch up, I get a natural glow by pinching my cheeks 10 times really hard,” she confesses. “Well, not so hard that I bruise.” She also loves carrying lip stains, because they’re universally flattering, and they “stay put so you don’t have to constantly reapply!”
Stacey Dash:
Actress Stacey Dash says her secret to maintaining youthful skin is establishing good habits early on and sticking to them. “I’ve been washing my face before I go to bed since I was 15,” she tells People.com. As for her current skin care routine, Dash focuses on streamlining. “I keep it very, very simple,” she tells Latina.com. “I do eye cream and sunscreen every day. Even if you’ve got olive skin, or brown skin, you still need sunscreen,” she explains. And of course, nothing trumps a healthy lifestyle and a sound mind. “I work out really hard four days a week. I eat healthy, and I drink a lot of water,” she tells People.com “And thinking young is key. Fear will age you. I enjoy life,” says Dash.
Nina Garcia :
Nina Garcia is a force to be reckoned with in the fashion world, and as Creative Director of Marie Claire, she knows more than her fair share of beauty advice. As a multitakser with multiple projects under her belt, her makeup routine is all about efficiency. Her picks: “A great concealer and a touch of bronzer. If all else fails, hide behind a pair of oversized sunglasses,” she tells Destination Kors. As for her one makeup must-have, she always has a lip balm at the ready.
Alexis Bledel :
Actress Alexis Bledel is known for her flawless complexion and youthful skin. In “The Black Book of Hollywood Beauty Secrets,” she came clean about her fountain of youth. “About once a week, I steam my face with pure olive oil,” she says. “You just get a bowl of hot water, dab a little olive oil on your dry spots, and let it do its work. It’s an old trick that really works and your skin stays soft and line-free.”
