Danai Gurira doesn’t do contouring
Looking good with the BlackPanther actress
Actress and playwright Danai Gurira was born in Iowa but grew up Zimbabwe. That may be an explanation for why, when it comes to beauty, Gurira, who plays the kick-butt General Okoye in Black Panther, finds fun in variety.
Now living in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, Gurira, 40, will be reprising Okoye for Avengers: Infinity War, out in Thai cinemas tomorrow. Find out what beauty staples she has been leaning into lately.
SKINCARE
I really feel like I’ve been on a constant journey on how to enjoy beauty, and it’s about the things you pick up along the way. I started experimenting with make-up in my teens. Sometimes I do a little less; sometimes I do a little more. Often I just use CeraVe. It’s a gentle cleanser and good for combination skin. I also like having a hyaluronic acid component in my routine.
Then I use a lot of Sisley. My make-up artist introduced me to Sisley when I was battling dehydration in the dead of winter in New York. She used the Black Rose Cream Mask on me, which is really less of a mask and more of a cream. It was really great for my skin, and now I always have it for long flights. I also use the mattifying moisturiser, which is oil-free. And I have their lip stuff. It’s just a lip balm, but it’s pretty fantastic.
I’ve been on set a lot lately, and that’s when I really stick with what works for me. The worst thing would be to disrupt my skincare. If I’m going to be in the sun, I might add the Sisley All Day All Year, which has sun-protection. I’ll also use Clarins Beauty Flash Balm before I put on make-up. It’s hydrating and glow-y. I use it religiously.
MAKE-UP
I definitely take what I learn from the pros and apply it to what I do at home. Lately I’ve really grown to love a good lip. Sometimes I’ll do something subtle, and sometimes I’ll go for it — it depends on what I’m wearing. My make-up artist ends up giving me a lot of lip products because I’m a germaphobe and don’t want to share. I have a great collection. I use a lot of Chanel lipstick for the bold colours. They have a really great variety of reds that work on my skin tone. For my character on Black Panther, I brought out my own Chanel lipstick in Etienne, which is like a burgundy red. It worked so well, it became part of my character.
Otherwise, I don’t wear a ton of make-up daily, but I do love to explore. The older I get, the more confident I am exploring.
My key things are eyeliner, some shadow and a gloss. Sometimes I put a base on over my Beauty Flash glow, but only if I need it. If I do, I use MAC Matchmaster in Nos.9 and 10. Eyeliner — I would say I have some good ones from MAC. MAC also has some great eye shadow palettes I lean into. I have mascara by L’Oréal.
The one thing I don’t do is contour. I would never even attempt it. It’s partly because I leave that kind of stuff to the pros, but even when I’m working with make-up artists, I don’t like when they contour so much that I can’t see my face anymore. I want to see my face!
HAIR
My hair is very short right now. I had a ‘fro until I started shooting Black Panther. For the movie, I went down to basically bald. In some way it’s been bald ever since. I love short hair. I think it can be a bold look. I like the user-friendliness of my hair now. There’s an ease to it.
But I think long hair can look beautiful as well. There is no one way. The beauty is in the variety. Actually, I’m trying to grow my hair out again, but then sometimes I have to cut it for a reshoot, so I’m back where I started.
I use a lot of Shea Moisture shampoos and conditioners. I have a variety. I travel so much that I have them in all of my travel things. I don’t use a ton of hair products, but if I do, I’m looking for something hydrating. I like the Moroccanoil sprays.
FRAGRANCE
I don’t really wear fragrance. But sometimes I’ll use one that’s aromatic — I tend not to wear florals. I go for something like Le Labo Santal 33, which both men and women can use.
When I’m working with make-up artists, I don’t like when they contour so much that I can’t see my face. I want to see my face!