With her flawless complexion and lean figure (not to mention her impeccable acting chops!), it’s no wonder Lupita Nyong’o is the darling of the 2014 awards show season.
Thanks to the 12 Years a Slave nominee’s fearless beauty choices — such as her blue and purple eye makeup at the 2014 SAG awards and her vampy lip color at the 2013 Gotham Independent Film Awards — the Kenyan-born newcomer has become the one to watch for on every red carpet.
“I love color. I’m enjoying trying all different shades,” Nyong’o, 30, says in the March 2014 issue of Glamour. “Makeup isn’t something I’ve worn a lot of in my life. So it’s good to work with someone like [makeup artist] Nick Barose, who is inspired by my complexion.”
To keep her skin hydrated and free of blemishes, Nyong’o takes an all-natural approach. “I love using natural oils,” she says. “I use avocado oil and Hawaiian kukui oil on my face. I like to keep things natural, simple, and straightforward.”
As for her famous crop top hairstyle, the Yale School of Drama grad says the decision to chop it off (over a decade ago) was spur-of-the-moment. “The first time I cut all my hair off was when I was 19. I just got fed up going to the salon every week. I’d had enough!’ she says. “On a whim, it was off. It’s low-maintenance.”