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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Tracee Ellis Ross shares beauty, hair and health secrets

via lovebrownsugar (source nytimes blog)
by Tina Turnbow
TT: How does the look for your character differ from your own personal taste in hair, makeup and fashion?
TER: Dr. Carla Reed and I are similar in many ways, in hair and makeup, especially. As a mother and a therapist, Carla is very much about self-acceptance and celebrating who you are, which is also very much a motto of mine. One of the ways that is expressed is through Carla’s natural hair, makeup and style. Our style is similar, but Carla is more colorful and softer than I am in her lines. I dress a little edgier, and I wear more black. It’s important to me that Carla looks like she did her hair and makeup herself. I have been very conscious about not wanting her to look too “made up.” However, like me, she loves a bold lip and a pop of mascara.
TT: Can you tell me about a few products that you and Carla like?
TER: Our favorite lipstick colors are Nars Funny Face and Schiap, and Nars Damned Velvet Matte Lip Pencil. For a natural lip, it’s all about Nars Blonde Venus. And from M.A.C, we like Ruby Woo and the Magenta lip pencil with a bit of lip balm. For mascara,Cover Girl Lash Blast in Very Black is the very best.
TT: How do you keep your hair so fabulous looking?
TER: When I’m not working, I spend a lot of time on my hair. When it’s time for my hair to get some rest, I either wear it in a ponytail, bun or my favorite “milkmaid” braid. My everyday essentials are Kim Kimble satin rubber bands, Bumble and Bumble Quenching Complex leave-in conditioner, Aestelance Hydrate leave-in conditioner. When slicking my hair into a clean pony, bun or braid, I mix a little Moroccanoil with water and smooth it on. The shampoo and conditioners I use depend on how I’m styling my hair — that list is reeeally extensive.
TT: When it comes to your lovely skin, what is your usual regime?
TR: For my face, the regime is always the same — keep it clean and hydrated. I useCosMedix Benefit Clean and their Emulsion lotion. Recently, I was talked into buying a stuuupidly, insanely expensive product. I resisted forever, but during my 13 hour shoot days I got desperate! So I surrendered and I love it. It makes my skin look like I got an extra two hours of sleep. It’s called ICS Intensive Collagen Serum by Purigenix. I keep that in the fridge. I also love light therapy for the skin. I have a LightStim Red Light that I travel with. At night I take my eye makeup off with Klorane. I remove lipstick with Klorane Wet Wipes. It is important to me to take care of my skin. In general I don’t like to wear foundation; I’m not a fan of the look. I like my skin fresh and natural enough so my freckles show through. I am big on moisturizing. I switch it up and mix products all the time, but my main moisturizer, the Cosmedix Emulsion, is the one thing that stays consistent.
TT: Do you have a body skin care routine?
TR: I dry brush as often as possible. I like to sit in front of the TV and work on my “problem areas.” I don’t drink coffee, so I especially do it when I’m really tired and can’t wake up. It gets the circulation flowing, which is key. I love scrub mitts from the Korean spa with my Jason Rosewater Body Wash in the shower. Then I mix two lotions from Whole Foods: Kiss My Face Calendula and Honey, and Shikai Dry Skin lotion.
TT: When you want to glam it up, what do you reach for?
TER: Besides the bold lip that I love so much — it would be a smoky eye. For that I use lots of mascara for a nice, full, spiky lash, a deep smoky grey or black eyeshadow and black liquid liner by Prestige — it’s the best!
TT: You usually have an array of essential oils. Are there certain ones you always have with you, for various purposes?
TER: I love essential oils. I go through phases with what I wear as my perfume. Haley Van Oosten, of L’Oeil du Vert, makes a special oil for me that we developed together. That is my main scent. It’s called “Tracee.” But I also wear others of hers like Raven, Doves at Dawn or Peacock. Or I use Young Living Oils. As perfume, I love their Geranium oil. I often use an array of their other oils medicinally: Gentle Baby, Release, Peace and Calming, Immune and Inner Child, depending on my needs. And lastly my body worker, Linda Bienenfeld, makes extraordinary body oils that I live for. The one called Bliss is a favorite.
TT: As for your fitness routine, is there anything you include consistently or do you like to mix it up?
TER: I have always worked out. I was a runner growing up and I have always been competitive and athletic. I have tried everything and been through many phases. I like to keep it interesting and varied. I had a good two years where I was obsessed with spinning. I also boxed at a gym in L.A. and I loved that! It was good for a while but it was closing my heart space and I like it open, not on the defensive. I did Pilates, and I was a big yoga girl for years. I will never stop doing Gyrotonics. It is wonderful for the body and I have a pulley tower at home in my meditation room. In the last year I have fallen in love with the Tracy Anderson Method; it’s fantastic! It’s fun and hard as hell. It keeps me interested because my program changes all the time, and I love how my body responds.
TT: What nutritional supplements do you take, if any?
TER: Nothing really. I eat well and drink lots of water, and I get my sleep. I like eight hours. I barely eat sugar, gluten or dairy, even though I love all three. I don’t drink soda or caffeine — never have.
TT: Do you have a favorite meal?
TER: I listen to my body. Some days all I want is a good steak and others, I crave veggies and quinoa.
TT: Of all possible splurges and indulgences, which do you like best?
TER: Anything pretty!! Crazy high-heel shoes — especially ones by Azzedine Alaïa. Beautiful clothes. Wonderful food — mostly salty foods like sushi, olives, cheese, French fries and potato chips.
TT: Who creates some of your favorite “pretty” items?
TER: Some designers I like are Azzedine Alaïa, Jane Mayle, Marni, Dries Van Noten, Alexander McQueen. I wear Pierre Hardy, YSL and Christian Louboutin shoes. I’m a huge vintage lover and, of course, Zara!
TT: Growing up, did you gather beauty inspiration, makeup or style tips from your mom that still influence you today?
TER: Of course. I used to sit in the dressing room with my mom and watch her do her makeup for the stage. It was heaven. Sometimes she would let me play with the makeup once she went on stage. Well, really I was only allowed to play with the blush. She would show me where the brush was and the blush I could use. It was Il Makiage Pink Joy, with the red wooden blush brush. I still love a sweet pink cheek, similar to that color

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