BEAUTY NOTES

Zendaya Reveals Her Beauty Secrets, and Why Drinking Water Doesn’t Replace a Proper Skincare Regimen

The actress, singer, and CoverGirl talks DIY glamour.


Dark Lipstick

Zendaya is the rare example of a star who is just as daring with her hair and makeup as her wardrobe, so it’s only fitting that the 21 year-old is the newest face of CoverGirl. And that’s on top of a busy career, which already includes singing, acting in films like Spider-Man: Homecoming, and designing her own collection. Somehow, Zendaya finds time to do her own facials, make her own tinted moisturizer, and share her beauty tips with W‘s readers. Here, Zendaya opens up about her skincare essentials, why a red lip and luminous skin should be everyone’s go-to look, and more.

Your look in three words:

Fearless, free, rule-breaker.

Medicine cabinet snapshot:

Mostly natural products, witch hazel, rose water and vitamin E oil.

Good skin starts with:

Mixing your favorite moisturizer with a couple pumps of your fav foundation, and bam…tinted moisturizer.

Best advice from your dermatologist:

Sunscreen is a MUST.

Best advice from your facialist:

Well, since I pretty much do my own facials, I say ALWAYS take your makeup off before bed!

SPF of choice:

Mario Badescu SPF 30 ($28, ulta.com).

Zendaya Is the Ultimate Hair Chameleon

Attending the Pastry Lite Shoe Collection Launch Party in 2011, a young Zendaya wore her hair in tousled curls in a nude, glossy lip.

Photo by Getty.

Wearing her hair in a faux bob with side-swept bangs and glossy pink lip, Zendaya looked chic at the 40th American Music Awards in 2012.

Photo by Getty.

Zendaya keeps her long brunette locks sleek straight with a frosted metallic smoky eye at the 2013 American Music Awards.

Photo by Getty.

With a sleek up do and a bold, matte red lip, Zendaya arrives at the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Governors Awards in 2014.

Photo by Getty.

At the BET Awards in 2014, Zendaya wore her hair in long French braids paired with a dramatic cat eye.

Photo by Getty.

Zendaya debuted a dark brunette bob with messy bangs and blunt bangs at the FOX’s 2014 Teen Choice Awards.

Photo by Getty.

Back to her long locks, Zendaya wore a blonde highlighted sleek, low pony at the 2014 Radio Disney Music Awards.

Jon Kopaloff

Wearing her hair in a sleek, twisted up do with a light contour on the cheekbones and nude lip, Zendaya attended the 12th annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards in 2015.

Photo by Getty.

Zendaya wore a dark brunette bob at the Star Wars: The Force Awakens Los Angeles premiere in 2015.

Photo by Getty.

Channeling the ’70s with an sleek bob and a jade green smoky eye, Zendaya looked cool at the 28th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards.

Photo by Getty.

At the Essence 6th Annual Black Women In Music in 2015, Zendaya wore her hair in a playful braided up do with a nude lip.

Photo by Getty.

At the 87th Annual Academy Awards in 2015, singer Zendaya wore her long dreads in a half up do with a glossy nude lip.

Photo by Getty.

Wearing a rocker chic faux blonde mullet, Zendaya wowed at the 58th Grammy Awards in 2016.

Photo by Getty.

At the 2017 MTV Movie And TV Awards, Zendaya kept her look elegant with polished curls and a jade green smoky eye.

Photo by Getty.

Crimped waves with blunt bangs and a nude lip was Zendaya’s look at the Art of Elysium 2016 HEAVEN Gala.

Photo by Getty.

Attending the Louis Vuitton fashion show during Paris Fashion Week, Zendaya wore her long loose curls side-parted with a matte mauve lip.

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At the Nickelodeon’s 2017 Kids’ Choice Awards, Zendaya wore her hair in a sleek, middle-parted tousled pony with a copper smoky eye and a glossy lip.

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Turning heads at the 2017 Costume Institute Gala, Zendaya wore her hair in voluminous, brushed out curls with a vibrant coral red lip.

Photo by Getty.

Zendaya channeled old Hollywood at the16th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball, wearing a sleek, S-wave up do with a dark smoky eye.

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Attending the Spider-Man: Homecoming Hollywood premiere, Zendaya opted for loose, tousled curls with luminous skin.

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At the Teen Choice Awards 2017, Zendaya paired her voluminous curls and bangs with a berry stained lip.

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Stepping out in a show-stopping afro with a nude glossy lip, Zendaya arrives at the 3rd Annual InStyle Awards.

Jon Kopaloff
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Makeup miracles:

I’ve rediscovered my love for a red lip. Simple, glowy skin and a red lip is everything on everyone. So for me CoverGirl Melting Pout Liquid Lipstick has the perfect vibrant red, they are super pigmented – I love it.

Never leave the house without:

Lip gloss.

A good hair day starts with:

Curl cream and a diffuser.

Nails must be:

Done, if I look a mess, my nails will always be done. Personal obsession.

Product that you picked up from the pros:

Pat McGrath highlighter stick and balm duo.

A woman should smell like:

This women prefers to smell like Gardenia.

Appointment you’d love to nab:

My favorite appointments are with my girl Kelley Baker Brows, she’s the only one I trust with my babies.

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Spa-cation at:

Anywhere with warm ocean water.

TSA-friendly essentials:

CoverGirl Oh Sugar! Lip Balm ($8, ulta.com), you can use it on lips and cheeks for a natural tint.

Best advice from mom:

Protect your energy and your space, you can create the positivity you want to surround yourself with by your actions.

Best-kept beauty secret:

CoverGirl Total Tease Mascara, makes my lashes huge but not clumpy…magical.

Beauty myth you’d like to debunk:

Just “drinking more water” does not replace a skincare routine. It’s good for you no doubt, but it will not make all your blemishes disappear overnight, especially for those with problem skin.

Watch: Zendaya Wishes She Had Michael Jackson’s Dance Moves