"I’m based in LA, which is where Netflix’s Love is filmed, and I just finished working on three films. I've also just done some directing... Recently I directed a short documentary about a woman named Grace Hopper who started programming computers during World War II. I really fell in love with her, and I have so much respect for women in STEM fields in general. It’s become a sort of side passion of mine, even though I really don’t know anything about computers. I’m hoping to do a series of documentaries that tell stories about women in technology and celebrate women and girls achieving in the field. You know, I always like to do something different than what I’ve done before. It’s fun to feel like you’re pushing yourself.
Working in film and TV presents a challenge beauty-wise because you’re wearing makeup all day, so when I'm not working, I go without. I didn’t really understand anything about skincare growing up and then when I started to work more, I started breaking out, but I didn’t understand why. I feel like I’ve learned to maintain my skin. And if you have healthy skin, makeup looks better, because it's not just sitting on top. I have to be dilligent about washing makeup off at night, or I'll break out. I use coconut oil to break down and take off my makeup—it's pretty gentle—and then I use Le Mieux or La Mer to moisturize. The feel of the Moisturizing Soft Cream on your skin is unlike anything else. You can feel the intense moisture. Also, their lip balm tastes so good. You just want to eat it off.
Then, I use Dr. Lancer’s SPF and a Colorescience Brush-On Powder Sunscreen. It’s easy to re-apply on the go, and if you’re wearing makeup on set, you can put it up on top and it won’t mess anything up. I try to be diligent about reapplying sunscreen. I also use a facial scrub and cleanser from Dr. Lancer. Actresses all end up talking about our dermatologists—it’s common topic of conversation here in LA. That, and ear, nose, and throat doctors. I have a lot of issues with my vocal chords, and if you get a bad cold or a sinus infection, it'll really affect your voice. We all have ENTs and dermatologists.
When I'm not working, I try not to wear too much makeup. Maybe some waterproof mascara—the Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara works really well and doesn’t end up transferring underneath my eyes. I don’t wear any concealer or foundation in my real life. Not even for meetings. I’ll even go out with pimple cream on my face, I really don’t care. I swear, I don’t wear anything besides moisturizer. I have a mom that took forever to get ready when I was little and I would stand there asking to leave. I think, in reaction to that, I just want to get dressed and get out the door.
Out of laziness, I don’t style my hair—I wash and go. I also feel like the less heat I use on my hair is probably the better for it. I started using Unite Shampoo and Conditioner—they also have a leave-in conditioner spray that has really helped me a lot. After dyeing my hair blond for years and years it’s finally healthy again. I had almost forgotten what my natural hair color was, until I got lazy and stopped dyeing it. I had a pretty crazy ombré for a while that I was trying to pretend was on purpose. It looked a little nuts."
—as told to ITG
Gillian Jacobs photographed by Tom Newton in New York on February 9, 2017.
