On how she wakes up in the morning
My morning routine depends on what’s happening in my life. Right now I’m rehearsing and away from home – my tour starts in the UK on 9 June – so I can be a little calmer. If I was at home, my morning ritual would probably include waking up the kids at 6.30am. Sometimes I try my best to get a little meditation in, but it depends on how much sleep I’ve had. I’ll definitely do a good (but quick) face wash using the Keys Soulcare Golden Cleanser to wash the night off my skin. To brighten my face and get it glowing, I’ll use the Let Me Glow Illuminating Serum – it’s amazing used alone or under make-up. Then boom! I’m upstairs waking up the boys, yelling and screaming, “Hurry up!”
That’s the normal way – today, as I had a moment to myself, I was a little more peaceful and quiet. I set my alarm about an hour earlier, and I’ve been reading this fascinating book – so I read for about 30 minutes, and then did a similar routine with my skincare.
On the book she’s reading right now
It’s so good. It’s called The Book by Alan Watts. He basically talks about the fact that [as humans] we’re taught to feel that we’re separate from everything else, which creates a feeling of alienation. If we actually understood that we are a part of everything, then we would look at things differently. What I love about it is that he starts to break down his philosophies.
On skincare tricks and rituals
I have a lot of fun tricks that I’ve discovered really work. After applying moisturiser, I use the most beautiful steamer – it’s my favourite thing. It’s such a luxury, but it’s a simple thing that everyone can do. I put rosewater in it because the scent is really beautiful. I’ll do it for about 10 to 15 minutes, to make my skin glow.
On rethinking her decision to forgo make-up in 2016
Starting when I was very young, my relationship to make-up was something that I learned over a lot of years in the business. I realised that this particular desire for perfection is heavy... I think that we somehow get this messaging that we’re supposed to be or look perfect, to not have a “flaw” or bump, or whatever. We feel obligated to look and behave in a certain way. And that’s not reality, right?
Over time I realised I needed to find my own relationship to my beauty, and not one that was imposed on me or that I adopted because I felt like it was expected of me. That’s what I was doing, which is the reason why I slowed down and decided I needed an extreme change [in my approach to make-up], so that I could understand who I wanted to be, who I was and who I am. I love – and have always loved – the expression of make-up, but my relationship with it had become a bit toxic. What I learned from that process is that the only beauty standard is the one that I create. Once I realised that, it was the clarity and balance I was looking for.
On her favourite way to work out
I love working out, but I like to change it up. I’m loving Pilates – it’s so good and you cultivate a different kind of strength. It hurts, but you feel yourself getting stronger. It requires a different consciousness from running or doing a crazy cardio thing. [That said] I do also love a dance-based cardio workout, which is a lot of fun because you can go crazy, it’s hard and you sweat to death!
I do yoga with three-pound weights, too. And there’s another beautiful workout that I love and talk about a lot. It’s called The Class and it’s online – it’s about how you think about things through movement, so it has a blend of the spiritual. It’s really special.
On self-help books
The Book is kind of self-help because it’s all about knowing who you are. I think a lot of what we’re all looking for is who we actually are, as opposed to what we’ve been taught or what people tell us to be, which I think is really hard for a lot of us. It opens you up to how you can connect with yourself. There’s another book I would recommend, which is called The Voice of Knowledge by Don Ruiz, who wrote The Four Agreements. Pick that book up and all of a sudden everything in your life makes sense!
On creative rituals she has while working
I keep a candle burning and use it as a moment to speak out loud my intentions for the day. Maybe on a certain day I need more energy or confidence – so I call it to myself. I also love incense and palo santo – it sets the vibe for clarity and ease. I love burning it because the space you’re in is so important and dressing rooms or backstage can be quite bland.
I also have so many different playlists. I have a jazz playlist if I’m trying to chill, or an up-tempo, big fun vibe. I have one that’s all focused on awesome female artists, which is so fun. I also do a lot of piano practice myself. In the dressing room, there will be a piano so I’ll be able to play and practice.
Another ritual is prayer. I always say a prayer before the show with the entire crew and team to allow everyone to be thankful and grounded. Gratitude is my big secret. If I’m in a funk, the one thing that pulls me out of it is to start listing what I’m grateful for. When I do that, I can’t feel how I felt before.
On why wellness – and soul-care – is important
What first got me started [on my wellbeing journey] was finding ways to create moments for myself and learning how to cultivate my own inner connection. That happened around the time my second son was born, and I was ripping and running and trying to be super-woman to all people. My friends asked me when the last time I did something for myself was– that’s when I started to try this meditation practice I love a lot, called Kundalini.
It gave me 15 minutes of space for myself each morning. Before that, I hadn’t been carving that time out because we’re not taught to be with ourselves ever – we’re taught to ask everybody else their opinions and run away from ourselves, because it’s too overwhelming to look at all these things. When I started to take time for myself, my relationship with myself changed, and I found that I was more sharp. Whereas before, I felt I had to get approval from every single person, I began to have my own identity and choices, and I was able to stand by them because I understood what I felt more than ever before. Simply because I was taking some time to listen.
That was the beginning of the idea behind “soul-care” – it’s about adding wellness, self and soul-care into your life as a practice, a regular everyday thing.
On the best beauty tip she’s received
I think the best beauty tip I ever got is from the people who didn’t know they were giving it to me. Because they were stressing me out and [metaphorically] pushing me against the wall – they made me choose myself. I believe that when you’re happy and you don’t have people pulling at you in a way that feels horrible, you are more beautiful because you’re able to be yourself, to be relaxed and to smile more.
On her happiest hair moment
Oh my gosh, I have been having so much fun. At the Met Gala, I had discs in my hair – that was so spectacular. The same beautiful hairstylist [Fesa Nu] did this crazy, crazy hair on me when I performed for the Donda 2 release party with Ye. I had a hair crown – she put safety pins in every single part of a big bun – it ended up being like a crown of safety pins, which was so me because I love this mixture of high-low and feminine-masculine. It makes me feel so good. Those two are my favourites in a super creative way – I love the experimentation, having fun and doing the unexpected.
On star signs
I am Aquarius and I think being one is incredible. I do brag about the fact that Aquariuses are awesome. I’ve read a few astrology books and I’m like wow, they literally have the secret door to my heart and know everything about me! No one’s exactly the same as their star sign, but there’s a dynamic there and it can really describe a certain personality.
On the secret to brilliant skin
Like a gallon of water a day. As much water as you could possibly drink, which is often hard. I put a lot of lemons in mine, because I feel it gives me more energy, and ice, which makes me feel like it’s more lemonade than water. Water is key, but the most important is happiness. You have to find your way to what brings you actual joy – and if you’re noticing that you’re not happy with whatever it might be, have the courage and bravery to find a way to change it. Because the only person that suffers is you. When you feel good about yourself, your choices and where you’re going – and you choose yourself – you’ll feel and look happy, and your skin will visibly be much more beautiful.
