01of 08The Beauty of Being Vanessa WilliamsCourtesy Vanessa WilliamsAfter 40 years in the spotlight,Vanessa Williamsis taking the experience of aging in the public eye in stride. “At 59, I joke that when a woman of a certain age walks into a room, she scans everyone from head to toe [thinking] what have they done? Is it a good job? Is it working?“For the multi-hyphenate star, it’s about looking like the best version of herself, and being clear on what she will — and won’t — do. “There’s a new machine out pretty much every year, and I have tried some,” Williams tells PEOPLE. “I would love to be able to live in a time when we have magical tape that dissolves into our skin and [helps with] elasticity and all that stuff. But that’s a dream, so it’s [about] assessing the risks attached. Is a line worth a cut?“But in the end, Williams knows what’s most important is to come from a place of gratefulness. “When you feel good about yourself, you can create beauty wherever you go.“Ahead, Williams shares the short list of essentials that help her look and feel her best, including creations from beauty industry vets like Hi Beautiful You founder Richard Anderson. “He’s such an innovator. His new skin tint [see next slide] is one of my all time favorites — and themascarais amazing, too.”
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The Beauty of Being Vanessa Williams
Courtesy Vanessa Williams
After 40 years in the spotlight,Vanessa Williamsis taking the experience of aging in the public eye in stride. “At 59, I joke that when a woman of a certain age walks into a room, she scans everyone from head to toe [thinking] what have they done? Is it a good job? Is it working?”
For the multi-hyphenate star, it’s about looking like the best version of herself, and being clear on what she will — and won’t — do. “There’s a new machine out pretty much every year, and I have tried some,” Williams tells PEOPLE. “I would love to be able to live in a time when we have magical tape that dissolves into our skin and [helps with] elasticity and all that stuff. But that’s a dream, so it’s [about] assessing the risks attached. Is a line worth a cut?”
But in the end, Williams knows what’s most important is to come from a place of gratefulness. “When you feel good about yourself, you can create beauty wherever you go.”
Ahead, Williams shares the short list of essentials that help her look and feel her best, including creations from beauty industry vets like Hi Beautiful You founder Richard Anderson. “He’s such an innovator. His new skin tint [see next slide] is one of my all time favorites — and themascarais amazing, too.”
02of 08Skin Tint"I don’t leave the house without it,” Williams says of this weightless gel, which blurs imperfections. “It’s matte so it takes that unwanted shine away while letting your skin shine through.“Buy It!Hi Beautiful You Be You Skin Skin Perfecting Tint in Rich, $48;hibeautifulyou.com
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Skin Tint
“I don’t leave the house without it,” Williams says of this weightless gel, which blurs imperfections. “It’s matte so it takes that unwanted shine away while letting your skin shine through.”
Buy It!Hi Beautiful You Be You Skin Skin Perfecting Tint in Rich, $48;hibeautifulyou.com
03of 08Makeup Remover WipesThese are Williams' go-to for taking off stage makeup. “They’re gentle wipes with just the perfect amount of oil that makes your skin feel good,” she says.Buy It!Serge Lutens Makeup Up Remover, $40;sergelutens.com
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Makeup Remover Wipes
These are Williams' go-to for taking off stage makeup. “They’re gentle wipes with just the perfect amount of oil that makes your skin feel good,” she says.
Buy It!Serge Lutens Makeup Up Remover, $40;sergelutens.com
04of 08Face ScrubWilliams has been “hooked” on this exfoliator ever since a beauty editor friend introduced it to her. Its gentle biodegradable beads “aren’t abrasive, so it’s a great daily scrub that takes that layer [of dead skin] off and leaves the skin feeling wonderful.“Buy It!Vivier Vitamin C Scrub, $53;vivierskin.com
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Face Scrub
Williams has been “hooked” on this exfoliator ever since a beauty editor friend introduced it to her. Its gentle biodegradable beads “aren’t abrasive, so it’s a great daily scrub that takes that layer [of dead skin] off and leaves the skin feeling wonderful.”
Buy It!Vivier Vitamin C Scrub, $53;vivierskin.com
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Luxe Lipstick
Williams put this relatively new collection from La Perla to the test on Broadway during her run inPOTUS. “It’s full coverage, but creamy enough that it doesn’t dry out your lips. And the colors arereallynice.”
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Moisturizing Serum
Buy It!Derrick Rutledge Aura Glow Serum, $79;amazon.com
07of 08Nourishing SerumWilliams discovered this in the last year so but it’s become a fast favorite, she says. “Sometimes I get red on my forehead and on the apples of my cheeks. This calms, soothes and evens out my skin tone.” It’s also become her secret weapon for protecting her skin from the environment. “Those brown spots you can get from the sun, I’m trying to avoid that!“Buy It!Flowerkist Botanical Brightening Serum, $90;flowerkist.com
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Nourishing Serum
Williams discovered this in the last year so but it’s become a fast favorite, she says. “Sometimes I get red on my forehead and on the apples of my cheeks. This calms, soothes and evens out my skin tone.” It’s also become her secret weapon for protecting her skin from the environment. “Those brown spots you can get from the sun, I’m trying to avoid that!”
Buy It!Flowerkist Botanical Brightening Serum, $90;flowerkist.com
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Facial Sculpting Device
Buy It!ZIIP GX Series, $495;ziipbeauty.com
source: people.com
