Oscar-winning actress and Lancôme spokeswoman Penélope Cruz loves a bad movie, is no stranger to bed-head, and isn't too shabby with scissors and a pot of hot wax. We sat down with Cruz for InStyle’s September issue, where we learned everything from her off-duty makeup routine to the six beauty products she can’t live without. Read on for our exclusive interview with the star, and then keep scrolling to shop her must-haves!
You grew up in Spain. What's the best beauty tip you picked up there?
Well, my parents owned a hair salon in Madrid, so I was surrounded by beauty. I've cut a lot of people's hair and even learned how to wax. I actually waxed Salma Hayek's legs once. Great friend, right?
Great friend, indeed.
She proved how much she trusts me. I always say if my acting career doesn't go well, I have a backup.
Are you equally skilled at doing your own hair and makeup?
I can do it, but I normally like a natural look. On a regular day I just wear lip color and mascara. And sometimes I wait so long to brush my hair that I look like a Rastafarian.
Were you confident about your looks growing up?
When I read articles and hear actresses say, "Oh, I was the ugly duckling in high school," it sounds strange to me. It's like, who hasn't had those moments in their life?
I think we all have. So with a busy career and two kids, how do you find time to wind down?
I try to carve out at least 30 minutes for myself every day. I might read a book or get a massage—or I'll watch a really bad movie. Like, the worst possible movie I can find!
Penélope's Beauty Must-Haves:
"This is the perfume of my life ($75; lancome.com)—I've been wearing it since my teens. It's really a coincidence that I'm now the face of it."
Kérastase Nutritive Masquintense
"This is the best hair mask ($63; kerastase-usa.com). It was always in my mother's hair salon, and she knows a lot about healthy hair."
Lancôme Grandiôse Mascara
"The wand ($32; lancome.com) has a very special design that lets you reach every single lash, even the tricky ones in the corners."
Nuance Blue Agave Wave Enhancing Styling Swirl
"Salma Hayek sent me this with a few of her other products, and they are all really, really great ($13; cvs.com)!"
Vitamix 5200
"I use this to make juices as well as gazpacho ($449; vitamix.com). In Spain we eat gazpacho almost every day, so you get a lot of vegetables in a way that is very delicious."
Santa Maria Novella Soap in Rose and Pomegranate
"I love these old Italian soaps ($18 each; santamarianovellausa.com). Some of them smell like baby powder and remind me of the ones my grandmother always used."
