In February’s Cosmo, Herbal Essences’ new ambassador Mischa Barton shows us how to do Hollywood hair without a superstar salary. Check out her revealing beauty secrets:
Do you ever have bad hair days? “I definitely have bad hair days! My hair’s a bit unruly sometimes, so I condition it lots. I don’t actually mind messy hair; I quite like a ‘tousled’ look. My hair doesn’t dry completely straight. I don’t like it when it looks too perfect, so long as it feels great.”
What’s your favourite way to wear your hair? Are you quite experimental or conservative with it? “I change things around, but for the most part I just wear it down and natural – so much gets done to my hair when I’m doing red carpet things or especially when I’m acting, so when I’m not working I really like to give it a break in my free time.”
Do you feel pressure to look your best all the time, or do you have a good sense of perspective about it? “I think it’s cooler when girls look themselves, so I don’t fuss too much about the way I look – I really dress for me. I think it’s important as a girl that the way you dress and the way you look are for yourself and you’re not just trying to please other people all the time.”
What are you favourite beauty treatments? Do you like going to spas? Which are your favourites? “I do love a good spa! I love massages and I go for lots of those. And I love a good steam room too. I’ve been to all kinds of spas – I go to Saturnia in Italy with my family and love visiting the spas around there, and even just the local day spas in LA are great place to escape to.”
What’s your beauty must-have? “I’m not really a lip gloss girl, but I really like lip balm, so I normally carry one of those with me (I love By Terry Rose Lip Balm).”
What’s your typical beauty routine in the morning and evening? “I’m not too high-maintenance – I just wash my face morning and night then I just use a good moisturiser, sometimes something with an SPF if I think it’s necessary, and I always keep cleansing wipes by my bed to make sure I take my make-up off because otherwise I can be a bit lazy! Otherwise that’s pretty much it.”
When you feel you need a treat, what is your greatest pleasure? “Taking some friends for a day at the spa- we always have a great time, it’s always really fun and a great way to relax, too.”
What energises you if you’re feeling tired? “If I’m feeling really lazy, I’ll take a long bath with scented oil or bubble bath. That’s when I can’t be bothered to stand up in the shower! At the end of a 12-hour day, that’s usually where you’ll find me! And I’m a champion sleeper, too!”
Cosmopolitan (UK) | February 2009