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It’s no surprise that confidence comes naturally to Kelly Rowland. The singer, songwriter, and mother of two has built a career many artists dream of—from being in the greatest girl group of all time to her solo career and forays into acting—making her the perfect guest for Unilever’s discussion on beauty and intention setting in 2022 for their Embrace Y.O.U. campaign with Walmart.
Although Rowland is confident when it comes to beauty now, it wasn’t easy at the beginning of her career as a member of Destiny’s Child. “Things were so different in the ’90s,” Rowland says. “The lighting was different, the makeup was different, the artists and hairstyles were different. I would run into certain makeup artists—I’ve been pink, I’ve been green. I’ve been orange. I’ve had these conversations with different models and other artists, how photographers would be intimidating because they knew what they were talking about and their lighting was great. And I’m like, I don’t [look great]. I remember starting to have my voice. I would say what didn’t make me feel comfortable. They would look at me like I was crazy, which at the time, I’m only 17, 18 years old. If you were a kid, they didn’t really take you seriously. So having to find that voice and to speak up for myself was very real.”
These days Rowland is in full control of her image and beauty routine, especially when it comes to skin care. Fans have envied Rowland’s bouncy, glowing skin for years, and she’s finally ready to share her secret: More is more. “I do the most when it comes to skin care,” Rowland says. “A girlfriend of mine, I watched her wash her face with three products at one time, and her skin is phenomenal. So I started washing my face with three washes at one time. I love serums. I love facials. Love, love, love facials.” For some extra TLC, Rowland visits celebrity facialist and brand founder Shani Darden. (“During COVID, I couldn’t get to her quick enough,” she says. “She sent me a little kit and told me how to mix things and we sat there on FaceTime together and did a facial.”)
But her love affair with skin care came at an early age. “I’ve always loved skin-care products,” she says. “My mom was a product junkie. Loved products all on the sink. I got it from her. If you see my sink upstairs, you’d say, ‘That’s one too many things. You never use this.’ But sometimes I do like to break things up a bit because sometimes your skin just calls for something different. I don’t want it to just get used to the same thing.”
Ahead, Kelly Rowland shares the list of products that keep her hydrated and lifted for Glamour‘s Drop the Routine.
One that I use is by Dr. Grimes. I have eczema on my face—it pops up sometimes—so I use her gentle cleanser. There’s also one by Shani Darden that I use. It’s a cleansing serum that’s fantastic. And there’s also one by IS Clinical that I swear by.
Shani has a toner, but I rely on the retinol to do that job.
Dr. Nigma Serum No. 1. It’s a hyaluronic serum that’s amazing. Shani just actually came out with a new lactic acid serum that I tried two nights ago. That’s amazing. I woke up and my skin was just gleaming.
As a moisturizer, I use Augustinus Bader The Cream and, depending on what the weather is outside, I use The Rich Cream. Super moisturizing. I sleep with The Rich Cream sometimes; I love the way my skin looks the next day, because it’s fully hydrated.
There’s one by The Things We Do. [Founder] Vanessa Lee is a facialist and brilliant woman that I go to and she has an eye cream; it’s a jelly. That’s one of my favorites. I just tap it in with my pinkie.
When I’m about to go on the carpet and I have a sleeveless [dress], I put Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant Body Lotion all over my legs and on the muscle parts. That’s a really good beauty secret.
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I swear by Retinol Reform by Shani Darden—that has changed the game on my skin and changed my life.
Mutha Face Oil. It’s fantastic. I started using the body butter first. A girlfriend of mine bought it for me. I posted it and then they sent me this oil and I’m obsessed with it. When people send me stuff, I try it.
It’s called UnSun. It’s awesome. It’s light and doesn’t make my skin too pale. It’s my favorite sunscreen.
That’s usually honestly Vaseline. You’re able to carry the cute little jar and do your little thing. There’s one by Augustinus Bader that I use as well. He has lip balm too.
Have you seen these things called Zitstickas? They are the best. Once you get the zit gone away, now they have the little brightening patches.
Déesee’s Pro LED Mask Next Generation has the red light, the blue light. This one has a light also for eczema and psoriasis. I use whatever light that is—I think it’s green light—for my eczema. It’s like night and day when I use it.
The NuFace, the one that sends little shock waves, is amazing. They give you a little gel to blot across your face. Then there’s the facial wand by Shani Darden. I’m trying to double up [morning and night]. I’m trying to stay lifted. I use the NuFace on my neck as well. I use a heaping helping of all the products I use that I massage into my neck. I do not play with the neck.
Ariana Yaptangco is the senior beauty editor at Glamour. You can follow her on Instagram @arianayap.
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