Hollywood darling Ellie Kemper—you know her from The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt—captured our hearts with her comedy, but it turns out she’s quite the skin-care buff, too. And thanks to her new partnership with Tom’s of Maine and its Prebiotic Personal Care line, she’s becoming quite well-versed in the microbiome too. Here, she gives us the scoop.
NewBeauty: What beauty tips have you learned on the set of your shows?
Ellie Kemper: MOISTURIZE! Hydrate, rest, moisturize. This lays the foundation for everything else.
NB: What are your desert-island beauty products?
EK: I must have facial moisturizer—Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentré ($28)—and lip balm, Aquaphor Lip Repair ($4). Anything else is a bonus. But without these two items, I will age 100 years in an instant.
NB: Which beauty skill do you consider yourself a pro at?
EK: This is a hard one, because these skills do not come naturally to me! I’m going to say exfoliation. Is that a skill? I can exfoliate with the best of them.
NB: Which skill has been the hardest for you to master?
EK: I think that contour seems difficult to pull off elegantly. I’ve tried and failed many times.
NB: In what ways do you practice self-care?
EK: I run and take barre classes. I need some sort of exercise every day or I get into a funk. It helps to center me, to focus me. And for those 45 minutes, I try not to think about anything except what I’m doing that very moment.
NB: What beauty trends are you really into right now?
EK: Everybody knows about probiotics by now, but prebiotics are something new I’ve discovered this year. Just recently, Tom’s of Maine launched a full line of Prebiotic Personal Care products—everything from toothpaste and deodorant to body wash, bar soap and hand soap. These products support your body’s good bacteria to help maintain a healthy balance—we could all use a little more balance these days, right?
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NB: How did your Toms of Maine partnership come to be?
EK: I’ve been making a concerted effort to pay more attention to the products I choose, and that’s why my partnership with Tom’s of Maine has been such a great fit. As a brand, they strive to leave the world better than they found it, which I love. Working with Tom’s of Maine on their Prebiotic Personal Care launch, I’ve learned so much about the importance of fostering a healthy microbiome and how we can help support our body’s good bacteria with prebiotics. The Soft Rose natural Prebiotic deodorant is my personal go-to. I love how it’s super easy to incorporate into my routine and a simple shift toward natural ingredients that help me look and feel my best.
NB: Do you use mostly clean or organic personal care/beauty products?
EK: When I was pregnant with my first son, I really started paying attention to the ingredients in everything I was using, from food to toothpaste to deodorant. While it’s not always possible, I try to go clean whenever I can.
NB: What is something your fans would be surprised to learn about you?
EK: I am very awkward around dogs.
