Salma Hayek, 50, may have broken into Hollywood via “hot girl” roles, but she long ago left them in the Desperado dust. These days, she has become quite the powerhouse: producing TV shows, running a skin care and make-up label called Nuance, investing in the company Juice Generation — and acting. This month, she’ll appear in the action film The Hitman’s Bodyguard, in theatres. Here, she reveals how she keeps her skin sane and why a particular Japanese masseuse is the woman to know.
SKIN CARE
I never cleanse my skin in the morning. My grandmother taught me that at night your skin replenishes all the things you lost during the day. Also, if I cleanse very well at night, why would it be dirty when I wake up? It’s for companies to have you use more products. I spritz rose water — it’s so gentle and wakes the skin up. Then I apply moisturiser. I have an oil from my line, Nuance, that I love. I don’t do sunscreen unless I’m going to be out in the sun all day. Why? I don’t think the chemicals in sunscreen are good for your skin. I believe in using it when you need it.
At night I take off my make-up with coconut oil. Then I use rose water to take off the residuals. You can use a hot towel with the rose water — you put a wet towel in the microwave — to do a little steam. I’ll use the camomile cleanser from Nuance. Then I splash with cold water. I have an edible mask with Juice Generation that has hibiscus in it that I might use. Or you can use a little bit of oatmeal and then some water or almond milk, and a little bit of honey. You let it soak, and it’s a great cleanser that makes your skin very soft.
But I don’t overexfoliate. Exfoliating a lot may make you look good in the short term, but not I think in the long term. I see many women in LA who have exfoliated so much they look shiny. I’ll use a mix of serums and oils depending on my skin that day. I love the Biologique Recherche Grand Millesime serum. Or I use the Anne Semonin Serum Precieux.
MAKE-UP
During the day, I just put on a little foundation and rub a little lipstick on my cheeks. Of course I have to get all dolled up for work and for press. Then I love the lip colours and textures of the Clinique Pop line. I just discovered them. I also use a lot of Charlotte Tilbury and throw a Sisley lip balm in my purse. Kevyn Aucoin has beautiful blushes.
There’s one concealer that is great for events. You don’t want to wear it every day because it’s too much coverage, but sometimes I need it for the red carpet. It’s the concealer by Cinema Secrets. I’ve also been into EcoTools brushes.
FRAGRANCE
Right now I’m wearing Charlotte Tilbury Scent of a Dream. It’s fresh and happy to me.
HAIR
It’s my natural colour, and it’s my natural white hairs. One of the reasons I don’t dye my hair is because I don’t have the patience to sit through it. I don’t want to spend what’s left of my youth pretending I’m younger and then not enjoying life. I get my hair cut wherever I’m working or doing publicity, and the hairdresser asks me, “Please, please, can I cut your hair?” It’s the same with my eyebrows. They grow and grow until a make-up artist looks at me and begs to do something to them because they’re so much.
My hair is curly and wild when I’m not working. I use Nuance hair oil to take down the frizz. Shampoo and conditioner, I change a lot. I like some Aveda ones, but I hear it’s important to keep changing your hair products. If my hair is really embarrassingly crazy, I put it in a ponytail.
OTHER SERVICES
I have this Japanese woman who comes from Tokyo, Mikiko. She goes to London and Paris for appointments about four times a year. It’s not easy to get in. I swear by her. Her technique requires four hands, so there are two people working on you. She massages your face. It’s a little crazy while you’re doing it. You have to say “eee” and “ahh.” Once you’re saying “ahh,” one person is pulling your tongue, and another is pulling and rubbing your head. I’ve never done anything like it.
Once she asked me, “Do you like your jaw more square or more round?” After she was done, you could see the difference! I always get the round. My face is square enough.
DIET AND FITNESS
I’m not an exercise person. I do scuba diving, but it’s not really exercise.
It doesn’t matter what my diet philosophy is because I don’t follow it. I don’t have the discipline. I think it’s because of exhaustion. I really want to change. I have this dream of finding a dietitian who will not only tell me what to eat, but also what to feed the kids. That way everyone is healthy and everyone eats the same thing, so I don’t have to break my head about what is everybody eating. This is my dream.
The only thing I do is that I don’t eat animals every day. I eat all kinds of meat, but I consume it sparsely. I would never eat two meats in a day. Sometimes I go several days without eating meat, but then I’ll go back. I tried one time to go raw; my body hated me. Sometimes I work really hard and want instant satisfaction in my life. I’m a craver — let’s face it.
