Anya Taylor-Joy on the Secret to a Perfect At-Home Spa Day
After her hauntingly beautiful breakthrough in 2015’s The Witch, Anya Taylor-Joy was at the top of just about every “one to watch” list in Hollywood. For some new stars, that can be the start and stop of their careers. Not Taylor-Joy. The hype this time was real, and she followed that early success with a memorable role in M. Night Shyamalan’s buzzy thriller, Split, followed by the sequel Glass. Next up, the 22-year-old is appearing as Illyana Rasputina (Magik) in the X-Men spin-off, The New Mutants.
So what’s an actress on the rise to do after she’s landed a superhero blockbuster? A gorgeous beauty campaign, naturally. Enter a partnership with Viktor&Rolf on the debut of the brand’s new Flowerbomb Midnight fragrance. Flowerbomb Midnight plays on the brand’s iconic Flowerbomb by honoring the original’s bright floral scent. But add in notes of night-blooming jasmine, patchouli, and blackcurrant, and the result is a sensual, bold perfume that feels both feminine and fierce—which is Taylor-Joy’s favorite part. “It’s saying that things aren’t just black or white—or black and pink, in this instance,” she explains. “Femininity and fierceness are able to co-exist. They’re not mutually exclusive.”
It’s fitting for Taylor-Joy, a woman who demands your full attention on screen but will warmly pause, mid-sentence, to compliment your shoes. And when it comes to beauty, she’s completely fearless—ready to shave her head or try a full glitter look if the occasion calls for it. Here, she answers our Big Beauty Questions.
What’s one beauty trend you love, but would never try?
ATJ: Oh, I’m not sure there are many of those. I mean, I don’t think my agent would let me shave my head just yet—but I’d be down to do it. I think I’d be down to try anything. Pink mascara might look a bit weird on me, but I’d try it for sure.
I love that you’d try anything. Is there any beauty trend that would scare you or be a challenge for you?
ATJ: A very nude lip, actually, because my eyes are so big that unless I have a color on my lips I tend to look a bit like an owl. Just because my skin is so fair, and the natural pigment of my lip is actually quite dull. For the Flowerbomb campaign, they put foundation on top of my lips and that instinctually freaked me out a little bit—but I ended up liking it. There’s something exciting about showing the face that you’re most vulnerable in to the entire world.
What’s one beauty trend you wish you had never tried?
ATJ: Before I realized that I would never be good at putting on makeup, I definitely went through the raccoon eye phase. I thought I was cool; looking back, decidedly less so. But I’m proud that I tried it.
What’s one beauty rule you swear by?
ATJ: Best thing: If you want to seem like you’ve made an effort, just literally slick on lipstick. It ties everything together. You don’t need to do your eyes. You don’t need to do anything else; just lipstick, and you’re ready to go.
What’s one beauty rule you think is BS?
ATJ: The whole, “eyes and lips and everything fades.” I think that you can go for whatever you want. I’ve seen people pull off some really daring looks to my rapturous applause. So I think you can do whatever you want.
Fill in the blank: “I love my hair…”
ATJ: …when it’s wet and salty. I love the ocean and that texture that it gets when you’ve been surfing or swimming. I don’t own a hair dryer. I tend to just wash my hair, put it up in a bun, and let it dry.
You travel constantly. What city gives you the greatest beauty inspiration?