Taraji P. Henson has been celebrated as a style influencer ever since she snagged the role of Cookie Lyons on Empire. But one area where the Oscar-nominated actress deserves more praise is with her flawless skin.
She’s set to celebrate her 50th birthday on Sept. 11, 1970, and she still doesn’t look a day over 21! How does she find the time to keep a solid beauty routine? And, most importantly, what products does she use to stay ageless throughout the years?
Here’s what we found out about Taraji P. Henson’s favorite beauty products.
Must-have day cream
While Taraji P. Henson credits her genes and taking naps as two of her beauty secrets, there’s one product that’s so important to her upkeep. “I’ve been using Paul Scerri Moisturizing Day Cream for 20 years,” she shared with Today.
Taraji added that whatever television or film set she’s on, she makes sure they order this product for her so she can stay stocked up. With its cost-efficient price tag, the Empire actress says the affordable moisturizing cream beats out all the other expensive creams on the market.
Shea butter love
Taraji P. Henson entered a partnership with Jergens years ago, primarily because they introduced a line that incorporated shea butter. For Taraji, that was a game-changer. “I love skin that glows,” she told Glamour.
Her nightly routine includes lathering herself up with their shea butter lotion and immediately putting on a pair of socks to keep her feet soft and moisturized.
The perfect scalp remedies
In Jan. 2020, Taraji P. Henson launched a line of haircare products called TPH. Inspired by her own at-home scalp remedies, TPH is vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free. “You cannot expect to have healthy hair if you don’t have a healthy scalp,” she told Vogue.
Taraji was called to create the line after realizing many wigs, weaves, and braid wearers are neglecting their scalps. Thankfully, the actress is here to save the day! Her product of choice is called Never Salty, a scalp scrub infused with sugar crystals, apple cider vinegar, and coconut. Additional products include an Ultra Chill Scalp Serum, Ride or Die Leave-In Conditioner, and the Make It Rain Hydrating Conditioner.
She keeps her makeup simple
Despite what anyone (including Real Reality Gossip) has to say, Taraji P. Henson is in love with her fiancé, former football player Kelvin Hayden. To keep things spicy between them, Taraji shared with Allure how she gets ready for their date nights.
While she considers herself a minimalist when it comes to makeup, she still puts in an effort to camouflage blemishes. “Sometimes I just cover my dark circles, contour my cheekbones, throw on bronzer, and I’m out the door,” she said.
As for her favorite product to conceal imperfections, Taraji swears by Ashunta Sheriff’s Perfect Blend Stick.
She’s all about protective styles
Taraji P. Henson has learned throughout the years how important it is to wear protective hairstyles whenever she can. “I wear hair extensions often to avoid damage from heated styling tools,” she told InStyle.
But don’t get it twisted. She also loves rocking her real hair and told the publication she feels the most beautiful when she’s in her natural state.
A Carmex fiend
No one likes a dry, ashy lip, and Taraji P. Henson is no exception. “I have about ten or fifteen Carmex lip balms,” she told O, The Oprah Magazine.
The actress said she keeps the lip balms all over the place. There’s one in her purse, and several scattered throughout her house. “By my bed, in my drawer, in the bathroom. They’re everywhere,” she said.
Her secret to perfect touchups
While working on set, there isn’t always enough time for Taraji P. Henson to get her makeup touched up during breaks. So her team told Elle they use colorless, translucent blotting powders to help remove excess oil. And to maintain her makeup without adding more products to her face, Bocia blotting sheets come in handy.
Hold and shine
Taraji P. Henson spends a lot of time on set or at industry events. That’s why it’s important that her stylist uses only the best products on her tresses. According to StyleBlazer, to keep her hair in place all day and all night long, the actress opts for Motions Styling Spray, Hold & Shine.
Sweating for a good cause
One of Taraji P. Henson’s favorite beauty products isn’t actually a product at all. It’s her go-to beauty ritual that includes an infrared sauna. Some of the benefits include better sleep, relaxation, and relief for joint pain. Taraji uses it to help keep her skin looking amazing. “I used to couldn’t sit in the infrared sauna for more than 10 minutes; I’m up to an hour now,” she told Access Hollywood. Not only that, Taraji told the media outlet that the sauna is “so invigorating” and it helped her lose five pounds!
We can co-sign her love for infrared saunas as it’s one of our favorite places, too. Sweat the toxins out, clear your mind and watch your skin develop a natural glow on its own.
Her nighttime ritual
Taraji P. Henson told Self.com the first thing she does to get ready for bed is clean her face with a makeup wipe, like the soothing cucumber one made by Yes To. Then, she uses a Bioré exfoliant scrub, before ending her routine with the Bioré charcoal wash. This product is so bomb, Taraji says she doesn’t even need to get facials. The charcoal product gets the job done!
Are you shocked by any of Taraji P. Henson’s favorite beauty products?
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