The actress Gabrielle Union, 41, stars in the hit BET series “Being Mary Jane,” now filming its second season. She also has a role in “Finally Famous,” a film by Chris Rock set to play at the Toronto Film Festival in September. Born in Omaha, Ms. Union splits her time between Los Angeles and Miami, where she shares a home with her fiancé Dwyane Wade, who plays for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. Here, she discusses her beauty routine.
SKIN CARE
I try to drink a gallon of water a day, and I try to get in 32 ounces with breakfast. It’s the biggest thing for hair, skin, nails. And I’m filming “Being Mary Jane” in Atlanta now, and it’s hot as hell here. Then to the shower: I use a pink grapefruit face wash by Neutrogena — I’m a spokeswoman for the brand — and Rainbath shower gel. After, I tend to use oil for my body. For my face, I keep it old school. This week, we’re on nights, so sleep is hard to come by. I’ve had puffiness. I chill some tea bags — right now it’s Lipton — and use them on my under-eye. Lately, I’ve been going through a hormonal shift and getting blemishes. My saving grace has been Rapid Tone Repair, which helps fade dark marks.
MAKEUP
Luckily, I kind of like my face. I’m pretty much a lip balm, eyeliner and mascara girl. If I want drama, but not a whole face, I might smudge the eyeliner with a Q-Tip for a smoky look. I keep the rest of my skin bare, so you’re strangely mysterious yet fresh-faced. For nighttime or events, it’s generally somebody else doing it. Left to my own recourse, I’ll pump up the smokiness. For my wedding, though, I’m for soft and pretty. Fortunately or unfortunately, I’ve been on a lot of red carpets. I can’t really reinvent the wheel with a hairstyle I haven’t tried before. I’m not going to do a wacky bun. I’m going to look like the best version of myself possible.
FRAGRANCE
I have a signature fragrance: Lumière Noire. I wear it every day, all day. My girlfriend, who owns a boutique in Miami, started carrying it. But it took me a minute. “Let me go home with this free sample and see what the mister thinks.” When I walked into the bedroom, he said: “What is that? You smell amazing.” So that was it. I’ve also found some really cool products here on my days off. I kind of love I AM Love Chakra Crystal Mist. The label says you’re supposed to set your intention with it for the day — don’t lose your mind and become a psychotic actor. So I’ve incorporated it into my routine in the morning. It’s like my last little exclamation point to my beauty routine. After I get out of the shower, I walk through this mist of pink rose feeling like Donna Summer.
HAIR
I work with Larry Sims, a hair genius and innovator. He also works with Lupita [Nyong’o]. He did her hair for the Oscars. Larry and I met a long time ago, when I was filming “Bring It On.” He started as a background dancer with Missy Elliott and the singing group Blaque.
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When I can’t get to the salon, I do my own deep conditioning. In “Finally Famous,” the role took me blond. It was a strange experience with very interesting reactions. Suddenly my character and integrity were questioned. When the movie was over, my hair fell out. I spent the last year trying to get it healthy. I have a hooded dryer at home. I put on conditioner — Carol’s Daughter has a great repairing mask — put on one of those cheapie hotel shower caps, turn on “Downton Abbey” and sit under the dryer. When I’m styling my hair, I’ll blow-dry it and prep my edges. For anyone with coarser hair texture, there’s an amazing invention by Madame C. J. Walker that you use along the edges of your hairline. Then I’ll flatiron.
SERVICES
I swear by massages every week. With manis and pedis, I get gels — I’m obsessed with OPI Gelish — and go every two weeks to change the color. I also love a good facial. For a lot of us women, every month you go through a crazy hormone situation, so I treat myself when I feel bloated and unattractive. I might still be bloated afterward, but I try to make myself cute. And I started getting acupuncture from this great guy in Miami, James Rohr. Dwyane was getting it for migraines. I saw how much it really helped him and thought, “Hey, I have a host of ailments.” Going from day to night shoots, you can get insomnia. It’s helped me with that.
DIET AND FITNESS
I didn’t pay attention to diet and fitness until magazines and blogs started with the super-zoom images. As if that’s not enough, they’ll draw a circle with an arrow pointing out the exact imperfection. I try to stay active. When I’m working, I’ll get Freshology meal delivery. Right now, in Atlanta, I work with an Earth Candy Arts chef who does vegan, gluten-free, et cetera. I became vegan Monday through Friday. What I want might be biscuits covered in gravy, but I have to stay the same size for work from beginning to end.
When I’m not working, I try to be reasonable: One day maybe it’s a bacon cheeseburger, another day it’s quinoa and kale. I try to stay close to my fighting weight so that when it’s time to go back to work, I don’t have to do one of those crazy diets.
When I’m not working, I try to be reasonable: One day maybe it’s a bacon cheeseburger, another day it’s quinoa and kale. I try to stay close to my fighting weight so that when it’s time to go back to work, I don’t have to do one of those crazy diets.
