You probably know world-renowned actress Tessa Thompson, 40, by her knees-shuddering icy poise as Charlotte Hale on HBO’s Westworld, her incredible combat skills and Black Girl Power as Valkyrie in Thor: Ragnarök & Avengers: Endgame, and her breathtaking and statement-making looks on every red carpet she graces.
But do you know how she maintains her silky smooth and radiant complexion? How she manages to look so goddess-like in every beauty campaign and on-screen interview?
Keep scrolling to uncover Tessa’s best-kept beauty secrets and practices, including the one foundation she’s used for over two decades, contributing to her timeless and dewy glow.
Tessa’s All About These Firming Eye Gel Masks
Dark, dehydrated, puffy under-eyes are an unfortunate consequence in Tessa Thompson’s line of work. So, by default, she’s pretty well-versed in counteracting them. Enter her all-time favorite gel masks: The Skyn Iceland’s Hydro Cool-Firming Eye Gels ($46).
The set of single-use, disposable eye gels feature a cooling transdermal gel infused with ginkgo biloba, coenzyme Q10, and hydrolyzed elastin to cool and soothe, firm and tone, and reduce the appearance of fine lines, puffiness, and wrinkles.
So Basically, Anything That Depuffs Is Her Best-Kept Beauty Secret
For Tessa, the best form of self-care is getting a lot of sleep. She also believes in the power of gua sha and massages. And ice. Yes, dipping your face in a bowl of ice every morning does wonders for your skin and mind.
She also swears by green tea. It helps whiten her eyes (that explains a lot!) and is a double whammy when it comes to depuffing and making your eyes wider. And for those days when Tessa hasn’t had enough sleep, green tea helps wake her up and is a fabulous antioxidant.
That’s her trick to a refreshed, radiant, and always-put-together beauty look.
This Face Mask = Tessa Thompson-Like Baby Skin
No one can deny the power of a good face mask moment, including Ms. Tessa Thompson. Her go-to? The Eminence Organic Eight Green Phyto Mask ($59).
‘It’s really spicy and fantastic. You feel like you have baby skin after applying it (which is the goal of applying face masks, right?),’ she said in a 2017 interview with Instyle.
And yes, this mask is a little on the pricier side, and there might be better and more pocket-friendly alternatives, but if you’re looking to splurge (because you deserve it!) and want to achieve that timeless, dewy, and sexy Tessa Thompson-approved glow, snag this organic bb before stocks last.
This Foundation Is Her Everything
Tessa has been using the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation for over two decades. According to her, this foundation was life-changing in the sense that she had such a difficult time with makeup artists finding a shade that worked for her skin tone.
She’d often see herself on camera and not feel like herself – until she discovered Armani, The Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, to be exact. Since then, she can’t count the number of people she’s introduced to the brand and was even more eclectic when Armani approached her to be their brand ambassador.
As for how she loves applying the foundation, Tessa spritzes some rose water first (to get that more natural look) and then applies her Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation ($93) in Tan Golden and Deep Golden. She learned that from a MUA, and it has made a significant difference in her life.
And Let’s Not Forget This Primer, Concealer, And Lipstick
Tessa used to discount the power of primer. She never understood the big deal about it until she became the ambassador for Armani Beauty. Now, she can’t skip it, no matter what, and loves how it feels so good and makes everything go on smoothly.
The Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer ($44) is her favorite go-to (and best-kept secret to a silky-smooth complexion). She also loves the Fluid Sheer Glow Enhancer in Champagne ($61). It gives you this sexy, au-naturel, and healthy glow that’s jaw-dropping.
And let’s not forget the Armani Beauty Lip Lower Lipstick ($61). It’s moisturizing and makes her feel powerful.
With Age Comes Gadgets, So Don’t Discount Them – Tessa Doesn’t (Anymore)
‘Maybe this comes with getting older, but I’m much more interested in gadgets than I used to be,’ Tessa told Coveteur earlier last year.
And her favorite skincare device? FaceGym’s Faceshot Electric Microneedling Device + Vitamin Ampoules ($275).
It’s a two-in-one microneedling and liquid vitamin treatment that delivers gentle but effective exfoliation. It also encourages skin rejuvenation, strengthens complexion, and reveals smoother, healthier skin.
Bath Salts? Yes, In The Name Of Odin, Yes, Please!
For refreshed, revitalized skin and a moment of rejuvenation and relaxation for her mind and body, Tessa takes to the bathtub.
‘I’m a huge bath person. Adding salts to the tub is a fantastic way to relax,’ she told Instyle in a recent interview. And the best part about this beauty practice?
It’s pretty accessible and affordable. All you need is a bathtub and a massive bag of salts (Tessa loves Dr Teal’s Epsom Salt Bath Soaking Solution, $8), and you’re good to go. Step out of the tub feeling like a new being with smoother, calmer, and softer skin (and a zen AF mindset).
She Would Bring This Body Butter To A Desert Island
Tessa’s friend Zoë introduced her to Simply Divine Botanicals How Now Brown Cacao Body Butter ($35), and now she always wears it. It’s a little secret of hers. It’s deliciously scented and feels like you can eat it all the time, but it’s a thick body butter that does wonders for your skin and soul.
The brand also has a body mask – Honey, I Shrunk The Pores ($34) – that’s so cute and safe for daily use. Tessa says it looks sort of like a marmalade or something (you could spread it on your toast), but it’s really incredible and naturally luxurious!
Tessa’s Obsession With This Blow Dryer Is A Little Unhinged
When it comes to her hair, Tessa loves playing around with color (hello, Lacy), but she also loves everything about Pattern Beauty. She’s especially gotten into the brand’s Blow Dryer ($256).
‘I bought it just as a consumer myself. I was like, I have to buy this blow dryer because it’s so beautiful. I am a curly-haired person who never got the diffuser, so this has become a more recent obsession,’ she told Coveteur during a May 2023 interview.
There you have it, sis!
Now, you can call yourself a Tessa Thompson beauty secrets expert. If you loved her routine and practices, it’s time to incorporate some into your 2024 everything self-care routine. You can get all her go-tos at Sephora and Amazon.
