Welcome to Just Asking, the rapid-fire questionnaire where celebrities tell us everything we never needed to know about their beauty routines. This week’s participant is actor Marsai Martin, best known for her portrayal of Diane Johnson in the ABC series Black-ish. But as she tells us, she’s got a lot more going on than just that.
At the age of 19, I was an average college student struggling to figure out how to “work hard, play hard,” eat three full meals a day, and get at least eight hours of sleep every night (things I very much still struggle with eight years later). Marsai Martin, on the other hand, has accomplished more by that age than most “grown-ups” can say they have. In addition to her numerous acting roles, she has founded her own production company, Genius Productions, launched a press-on nail brand, Mari by Marsai, and recently launched an event series, Sai Summer Cookout But that wasn’t enough on her plate, so she also just added brand ambassador for Clinique to her list of many titles.
When I video chat with the Black-ish star, she looks just as accomplished as she sounds. Dressed in a bright green blazer, the actor wore her long, loose waves in a half-up style with face-framing tendrils. She paired it with neutral makeup, including a matte cut crease.
When I ask how she manages to juggle being an actor, producer, entrepreneur, and an everyday human, she says, “I wish I knew myself. I guess what helps a lot is my friends and my family; you always need to have support along the ride.” She punctuates her thoughts with lively hand movements, which give me a glimpse of her long nails. Her dimples peek out from her cheeks every time she giggles.
She attributes her work ethic to being a Leo. “It comes from the Leo in me that always wants to one up something that I do,” she says. “So I always strive to not just…to prove something to other people, but within myself, too, because the possibilities are endless.”
After casually mulling over her long list of successes, Martin gracefully acquiesced to our rapid-fire beauty questionnaire, Just Asking.
Allure: How long does your entire skin-care routine take from start to finish?
Marsai Martin: It varies depending on how tired I am or how energetic I feel. But most of the time, I give myself 15 to 20 minutes to get ready for the day. My night routine is way quicker than my day routine. It consists of Clinique’s Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm that has charcoal in it. Then, of course, I go in with a cleanser, toner, and a night serum for bed. I also have those little patches for pimples. That in itself probably takes a good 20 minutes.
Allure: What's a beauty tip you love to ignore?
Martin: I love to ignore eye creams. For some reason, I feel like I don't need it. Even though I can have the biggest eye bags in the world, I never touch it.
Allure: What was your happiest hair moment?
Martin: My happiest hair moment would probably be me showing up on set most of the time with my hair just out, no product, no edge control, no braids in, no nothing. Most of the time I like to just wash my hair and blow dry it, and it becomes one big Afro. I love when my hair is like that. It's the most freeing thing to me, and it feels like the ultimate restart. Ever since I was little, that is one style that I just cannot get over. I would be in it forever if I could, but I'm too much of an experimenting type of person, so I can't do that.
Allure: Who would you swap hair with, if given the chance?
Martin: I love my hair, let's not get it twisted, but my mom. And I think that's mainly because I see her every day and I see her do her hair and I'm just like, "Girl, I don't know how you do it." The way that she can make a ponytail perfect, I can't do that. I can't do that for the life of me.
Allure: The hair color you want to try next is:
Martin: I feel like I've kind of already tried it, but I want to try it again. It's like a super light brown — not copper because I've already done copper. I don't even know how else to describe it… It wouldn't be a super loud color because I don't really like loud colors unless I have it for a day or I'm just playing around.
Allure: What’s the “signature Marsai Martin” look?
Martin: I feel like a lot of people would have different answers for this one. I would have to say my glasses and my individual braids. Most of the time I [have braids] when it comes to vacations or I have a little wiggle room to be able to wear them for a long amount of time. That's definitely my signature look because everybody will say I'm their twin for the simple fact that they got braids and glasses on.
Allure: What is the item most unlikely to be in your makeup bag?
Martin: The most unlikely makeup item in my bag is probably lip gloss, surprisingly. I rarely use lip gloss. I'll go with something like a lip balm instead of lip gloss. I will have the ultimate glam look, then have my lip balm and just go in with that instead.
Allure: And the most used item in your makeup bag?
Martin: It’s probably contour or blush.
Allure: The most important beauty tip you’ve ever received is:
Martin: Leave your brows alone. Don't touch anything that got to do with your face. Obviously, we live in a society where we like to change the way that we look… and I have learned within myself you don't have to do it. You don't have to hop on a trend that may not even last for as long as you think.
More from Just Asking:
- Millie Bobby Brown Hated Wearing Fragrances Until She Made One Herself
- Hailey Bieber’s Next Big Manicure Idea? “Little Bugs”
- New Music Isn't the Only Thing Ariana Grande Is Dropping This Month
Now enjoy Skai Jackson trying nine things she's never done before:
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