ALL ABOUT THE EYEBROWS
Amanda Seyfried, new mother and Clé de Peau Beauté brand ambassador for the past seven years, gives NINA HIDAYAT some makeup tips
DRESSED IN A figure-hugging mini dress and pumps, Amanda Seyfried doesn’t resemble a new mother. The petite actress has miraculously shed her pregnancy pounds when we meet her in May, only two months after her delivery. Even though she keeps details of her baby daughter a secret, Seyfried is undeniably overjoyed about her new “role”. Her face aglow, she says: “I feel the most feminine I’ve ever been - and the most empowered.”
The actress has come to Singapore to promote the fall/winter 2017 collection of Clé de Peau Beauté, an ultra-luxurious beauty brand established by Japan’s Shiseido Group. She has been a global ambassador for the brand for the past seven years.
Aged 31, Seyfried has spent two decades in the limelight. She made her mark on the box office when starring in the musical Mamma
Mia! (2008), alongside Meryl Streep. She is set to reprise that role in the sequel next year. The versatile actress has also played critically acclaimed, sometimes risqué, parts in movies like Chloe (2010) and Lovelace (2013).
On the red carpet, Seyfried made headlines recently when she wore a custom Versace dress with the word “Equality” sewn on it. She was protesting the lack of pay parity for actresses in Hollywood.
Away from Hollywood, Seyfried lives in a quiet town located two hours north of Manhattan with her husband (actor Thomas Sadoski, who accompanied her to Singapore), their daughter and their dog (Finn).
“It’s funny. Some days I don’t even look at the mirror to check what’s going on,” Seyfried smiles. “It’s really liberating. I wake up every morning and brush my teeth, wash my face, do my skincare routine, and then I’m good.” We asked the actress about her skincare routine and shifting ideas of beauty. Highlights of the interview:
WHAT’S YOUR DAILY BEAUTY ROUTINE LIKE?
It depends on whether or not I’m working. When I do movies, I work for 12 - 15 hours a day. If the set is outdoors, I use Le Crème (with SPF emulsion) to protect my skin from the sun. I really like being out in the sun, but I really need to be discipline with my skin.
Honestly, I prefer not to wear a lot of makeup. I use concealer, because I don’t wear foundation. Plus a little mascara, if I haven’t dyed my lashes. I keep it light, even with lipstick I dab it off with my fingers.
HOW HAS MOTHERHOOD CHANGED YOUR ROUTINE, AND YOUR LIFE IN GENERAL?
It hasn’t changed my routine too much in terms of skincare. Nowadays, I feel like I have a different perspective on what beauty is. How I feel about it, how I feel about myself. I used to be kind of obsessive about my body shape. Now, I don’t have time for that. And I don’t care that much. I have so much more time to be present, and it’s really great.
HOW DID YOU MAINTAIN YOUR SKIN WHEN YOU WERE PREGNANT?
I was kind of nervous about what would happen to mine, and if I had to switch up my skincare routine. Luckily, my skin loved being pregnant and now it loves breastfeeding. With Cle de Peau, you trust that you’re doing the best for your skin. That your skin will be the best it will ever be. I mean, my skin feels great, even though I just got through a hormone whirlwind with pregnancy and delivery.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT CLE DE PEAU’S NEW COLLECTION?
It’s the most colourful one yet. It’s packed with Chinese influences, and I think it’s pretty cool.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SHADE IN THIS COLLECTION?
Dragon Red. I’m constantly picking out the red. Every shade works differently with your skin, and every season the red looks different.
WHAT’S THE BEST BEAUTY ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
Lucia (Pieroni, Cle de Peau’s Makeup Creative Director) taught me that it’s all about the eyebrows. When I first started with the brand, my brows were not wonderful. So Lucia did my eyebrows and I was like: ‘Wow!’. She also taught me how to perfectly contour my eyes with twocoloured cream shadows. Overall, I think I know what look is best for me. I can now do my own makeup in five minutes.