You may recognize Serayah McNeill from Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" music video or perhaps, from the hit show Empire. In real life though, it may surprise you that the young actress known for her fierce roles is actually very down-to-earth when it comes to her beauty habits. For this edition of The Beauty Beat, the 20-year-old shares what's in her hair-care arsenal, her favorite ingredient and the surprising scent she's loving right now.
What are your everyday makeup products?
During the day, I prefer lighter coverage and usually just go with a tinted moisturizer and a concealer. I love Iman BB cream. It's really hydrating with SPF and it's the perfect buttery texture. As for concealer, right now I'm obsessed with MAC's line in NC42 and I also really like True Match by L'Oréal.
What is your favorite lip color right now?
One of my high school friends introduced me to Snob by MAC. I'm obsessed with it. It's a nude, sheer pink so it works well for anything. There's also this really cool one, Red Velvet by Lime Crime, that a makeup artist introduced me to for the premiere of Dope. It's like a gloss, which makes it moisturizing, but it goes on matte. It's long-wear and it doesn't go anywhere.
What's your signature scent? What does it smell like and what does it remind you of?
I'm loving Nude by Rihanna. It's not too flowery. It's very fresh but still very girly. It smells current.
Bronzer or blush?
I actually really love both, but I go with blush more for every day. I love a matte blush, like Harmony by MAC. I think MAC's colors are always really true, which I prefer. If I'm going out at night I love NARS Bronzer for a nice contour.
What is your best non-product related beauty tip?
I've recently started getting into all-natural skin care. I'm a big fan of using natural products because I have sensitive skin. One of my favorite ingredients is honey. It's deep penetrating and extra moisturizing. About once a week I will slather my face in honey for 15 minutes. I also mix a bit of sugar with a little honey to make a face scrub, which I do about twice a week.
What products do you use on your hair?
I tend to use a lot of conditioner. My favorite is by DevaCurl. It's water-based instead of oil-based so a lot healthier for curly hair. I also use Tresemmé natural conditioner as a detangler in the shower, which I rinse out but not all the way. I usually only wash my hair once a week, so if I need a refresher I'll spritz it with DevaCurl's curl refresher.