Cynthia Erivo | Beauty of Pride Beauty Memo

I think there's something about

being able to see all of my skin

that makes me feel really empowered.

To me, Pride means the audacity to exist fully,

to be proud of all of the facets of who you are,

and to share that with the world

because I know that there are many

who simply can't use their voices for themselves.

So I think it's important to see someone who is out

and proud and living and succeeding

and doing things that are good for them

so that they can also do the things

that they wanna do for themselves as well.

I think it allows for people to dress

and to become whoever they want to be.

If we can't find the confidence in ourselves,

sometimes we use makeup to help.

And if that's where you are,

then at least there's something

that you can use to help encourage the person you are

in the inside to come out.

Everyone is an individual, so sod them.

I've never followed trends.

I don't believe in them

because each person is very different,

and everyone needs something different.

And each person has an individual beauty,

and if we're all trying to look the same,

just how very boring, how very, very dull.

So do what's good for you and look like you.

I think that that is the thing

that is starting to go missing.

And I want to, like, encourage people

to enhance your own beauty

and not make your beauty look like someone else's.

When I cut my hair off,

that was because I wanted people to just see my face,

all of it.

I think there's something about

being able to see all of my skin

that makes me feel really empowered.

So I guess that's something radical in the name of beauty,

but I think it's more in the name of showing up as myself.

An artist from the '70s called Sylvester,

he made a song called You Make Me Feel.

♪ You make me feel mighty real ♪

Sylvester just didn't get the shine and the love

that they were meant to get.

That song is iconic.

I had a big old Afro.

It was big and long, and I used to love it.

Sometimes I would put it in a headscarf.

I would plait it, twist it, all of those things,

and it would grow very, very healthily.

And it was a lot to do, and I loved it.

But then I just was like, Ah, I think I'm okay without it.

Sometimes silence is key. [laughs]

It's okay to be by yourself.

Makeup artist used makeup that was too light for my skin,

and I didn't see it until I saw it.

That is not great ever.

My fragrance personality is eclectic.

I never use just one.

It's sort of a balance of deep, light, and floral.

One, drink your water.

Two, double cleanse.

Please take off your makeup before you go to sleep, please.

It's so good for you.

Take it off.

Let the skin breathe.

Put it on again in the morning.

If we're talking about all over beauty,

my nails are something that I take great care of

and take great pride in.

And I love them because not only do they make me happy,

and I think that they're my calling card at this point,

but the time I get to spend with the wonderful woman

who does my nails.

Her name is Rose Hackle.

She's the one that comes up with all these ideas.

The wonderful thing about beauty

is that you can become a canvas for someone else,

and you could allow someone's creativity to grow.

That feeling that you have right now

if you're 15 is real.

You're not crazy.

And also, you're really fabulous,

so just keep going. [laughs]

You're gonna be fine.

The Serum by Augustinus Bader

'cause that stuff is very expensive.

There's a couple of masks that are hard to get.

There's, like, an American brand mask that you have to mix.

It's like a powder that turns into like a jelly.

I'd probably save that

'cause everything else is replaceable, I think.