Beauty Talk

Actor LAURA DERN on going filter-free, owning her sexiness and taking a clean approach to skincare

- SAMANTHA SIMON

When you were growing up, who taught you about all things beauty?

My grandma raised me with my mum. She really honoured her face. The only make-up she wore was lipstick and mascara and that remains what I consider beautiful. Even though my daughter [Jaya Harper, 15] and I have never discussed it, she loves lip balms and mascara too, so I realise that as a little girl she was watching me get ready—just like I watched my grandma.

How has your approach to skincare changed since being named a brand activist for clean beauty brand True Botanicals?

I’m not a purist, but I try to keep it clean and natural. I always thought I was very health-conscious about my beauty routine, keeping it simple with a few seemingly organic products. But pollutants add up. Now I won’t use anything that’s not safe for my daughter to use. I don’t want to poison myself. Women haven’t asked questions in the past; we just trusted labels. As we become more educated, it’s wonderful to learn what’s good for us—even if we still have a few vices.