Charlize Theron is a natural beauty, but she still pays close attention to such things as her face, skin and hair. As a busy mom, actress and model in Dior’s latest J’Adore perfume campaign, she has one over-riding rule about beauty– keep it as simple as possible.
Theron, 41, has been a Hollywood A-lister since her breakout role in 2008’s “Might Joe Young.” But she’s probably best known for her Oscar-winning role in 2003’s “Monster,” playing serial killer Aileen Wuornos.
For the past two years, she’s been working almost non-stop in such widely varying films as 2015’s “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” and this year’s “The Last Face,” with former beau Sean Penn.
She has four more films on tap for next year, including motherhood comedy “Tully,” directed by Jason Bateman. She’ll also play a spy on the hunt for double agents in “The Coldest Day.”
Because she has a baby and a toddler, Charlize tells Vogue UK< /em> her mornings are rough sledding.
“I have really learned to take care of my skin at night, so the mornings really are often just a hot washcloth, brushing my teeth and putting sunblock on. I mean literally, that’s it,” she says.
After the kids are in bed, she spends a bit more time on herself. She explains:
The idea of not washing or exfoliating at least two times a week is just – I can’t imagine that. I really like the La Mer Cleansing Gel. Then Dior has a really gentle exfoliator – Instant Gentle Exfoliant – that I really love. I never used to use elixirs or anything like that, but Dior’s Prestige line has this Le Nectar De Nuit serum which is amazing, it has this incredible rose scent. My skin just loves that. Then I’ll end with a really great moisturiser. I like Dior’s L’Or De Vie La Crème moisturiser, or the Prestige La Crème. Then if it’s winter and really, really cold, I’ll use Crème De La Mer.
She also has her beauty indulgences for every now and then. “I am somebody who makes sure I get a good facial every few weeks… It’s really one of my favorite treats right now,” she says.
She also reveals she has a few beauty sins, like going to bed with her makeup on. “Doesn’t everybody? You’re tired, you hit the sack, you wake up forgetting you didn’t wash your face the night before…”
One thing she never forgets is sun block. “Lip balm and sunblock, always,” she tells the magazine.
“I wear sunblock every single day. I like the La Mer lip balm and the La Roche-Posay sunblock. It’s in my bag, it’s in the car… I’m always slathering myself and my kids in it – we’re big sunblock people.”
She’s whimsical about her hair because she’s always changing it usually to fit a movie role. But she has this advice in terms of products.
“I’ve definitely noticed the difference between sulfate and non-sulfate formulas, so that’s my one thing I won’t change – my hair products have to have no sulfates in,” she says.
As for beauty advice, she looks inward and recalls something her mother once told her.
My mom always told me to just be happy. Be happy with your life and the way you want to live it. I think it was empowering for me to grow up with a mother who told me that, and still tells me that today. When I’m struggling with something she’s like: what is it that you want? What will make you happy? That’s the most important thing. When you’re happy and you’re content and you’re at peace, I think there’s something in your eyes that can’t be manufactured – and a cream can’t give it to you. It has to come from your heart and soul.
Although Theron began her career as a model, she says she’s anything but.
“I’m a terrible model and they always kept saying to me: ‘We’re hiring you because you’re a great actress and we want to celebrate that.” So they’ve allowed me to express that a bit through these campaigns. In a weird way it gives you a little bit of ownership,” she says.
She draws inspiration from UK model Kate Moss, who defined fashion in the 1990s and models like Cara Delevingne draw inspiration from her.
Charlize has been working with Dior since 2004. The latest J’adore campaign, shot by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, was just rolled out this week.
In the new commercial, Charlize wears a gold one-shoulder gown, with an obvious nod to idealized Grecian goddesses. In fact, she even walks on water. The short film pays tribute to “The Water, the Earth, The Sun and me…We are Gold,” according to Dior.
Check out her videos below and photos. Let us know your thoughts and be sure to follow Celebrity Health & Fitness on Twitter for the latest news, insights and tips on beauty, health, diet, fashion and fitness from the most beautiful women in the world.