At 31 years old, actress Alexandra Daddario is all over Hollywood—whether you know her from San Andreas, True Detective or her most recent role in Baywatch, you were probably drawn in by her piercing blue eyes and girl-next-door demeanor. But this A-lister has much more to offer than just strikingly good looks, as we learned when we sat down with her to catch up on beauty, wellness and everything in between.
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NewBeauty: What is the best beauty tip you learned while filming Baywatch?
Alexandra Daddario: Sunscreen is an obvious answer, but people forget to put it on their hair/scalp. Your hair and head can burn too—as I learned—so don’t forget to buy an SPF spray or something meant for your hair to protect yourself completely from the sun.
NB: What is your weekly fitness regimen like? Did you have to kick it up 100 notches for Baywatch?
AD: I did kick up my workout regimen for Baywatch. I added in weight training, which was something I had never done consistently before, and I found that it really helped. I do a lot of hot yoga, too, and that was something I continued, and then I threw in swimming as well. I was working out five times a week, which is way more than I would ever normally. And I doubled up sometimes. I would do yoga in the morning and then go on a hike. I think it helped to notch everything up for a couple months and find a way to make some of the workouts part of my regular life once Baywatch was finished.
NB: How big a role does skin care play in your beauty routine?
AD: I am into skin care. I use natural products when I can. Sunscreen is the thing everyone repeats over and over, but I also think getting enough sleep, not smoking and being regular with your exercise can all help, too. Yoga also de-stresses and helps calm inflammation in the body, which can help your skin age better.
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NB: What is your favorite beauty trend you’ve discovered this year?
AD: Face oils. I’ve tried a bunch, but sometimes they’re not effective or they cause breakouts. My favorite product I found is Vintner’s Daughter, an incredibly amazing face oil that performs miracles. I don’t know how it works, but it helped with some bad breakouts I was having and they haven’t come back.
NB: Which treatments are part of your regular wellness regimen?
AD: Acupuncture is something I love and do often. It helps me sleep and relax and it’s helped me with frozen shoulder and neck pain. I find it to be amazing. I don’t get massages or go to the chiropractor or anything like that—it’s pretty much just acupuncture.
NB: What is your ultimate “cheat day” meal?
AD: An In-N-Out Burger burger and ice cream. Sometimes I just feel—you know—tonight I’m not going to worry about it and I’m just going to eat what I want. If you work hard and pay attention to what you eat, it’s OK to cheat.
NB: What is your must-have beauty product?
AD: Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Face Wash Scrub—it is gentle enough for my skin. Some scrubs can be too abrasive. And it’s an inexpensive face wash that really works.
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NB: How did you get involved with See America and why is it important to you?
AD: I think it’s important for people to be reminded about the doctors’ appointments that they sometimes try to avoid. A quick visit to the eye doctor can help prevent different diseases that can cause blindness and issues down the road. So when See America approached me about #EyePic, I thought it was a great campaign to get involved in to get people excited about vision on social media and raise money for the American Foundation for the Blind. For some reason, we all know to go to the dentist and to our yearly physicals, but people go for years without getting their eyes checked.
NB: What do you fixate on when you look in the mirror?
AD: I try not to fixate too much on my appearance. I did that a lot as a teenager and in my 20s, and I feel liberated now in my 30s that the things I worried about regarding my appearance don’t bother me as much anymore. In general I try to focus on my flaws as a human and how to be a better person, or figure out how to handle things differently if I feel I’ve made a mistake.
NB: Who are your beauty icons?
AD: Charlize Theron. She’s gorgeous, but strong and confident and I’m always impressed by how down-to-earth she seems. Also Katharine Hepburn, Diane Keaton—women who changed the way we were “supposed” to dress.
