Anok Yai’s Beauty Must-Haves Include French Tips, Rose Oil, and Hemorrhoid Cream
A recipe for success if I’ve ever heard of one.
If there’s anything that Anok Yai has proven over the span of her career, it’s that nothing is impossible for the supermodel. From accidentally being discovered on the campus of Howard University to walking runways all over the world, Yai has been collecting bucket list experiences like infinity stones, and her latest endeavor as the face of Mugler’s new launch, Alien Pulp Eau de Parfum, is, again, something most models could only dream of.
“Before I even started in fashion, I remember always watching the YouTube videos of the Mugler couture shows and seeing the way the women presented themselves,” Yai tells me in a recent sit-down. “The designs were so intricate. Then I would also see the fragrance ads, and I'd be like, oh my God, I want to be a part of that world.”
Fast forward to the present day, and not only has she walked the brand’s runway multiple times, but she’s also its fragrance ambassador, a role that feels extremely fitting given her love for the famous “Alien” line. We get into all that and more, including some of Yai’s unconventional beauty secrets (spoiler: hemorrhoid cream is involved), her views on aging, and the mindset mantra that gets her ready to tackle her very hectic schedule and life. Keep reading to see what really gets Anok Yai In The Mood.
“‘My intuition is my advantage,’ and ‘the future belongs to those who believe in the power of their dreams.’ Those are two of my favorites, but I have mantras all over my room that I love to look at when I wake up in the morning. As women, we have such strong intuition. We all have it, but I feel like sometimes like we ignore it. But we really shouldn’t. I think of intuition as a message from the universe. It’s a gift from God. Once I learned to really listen to it and hone in on what my intuition and my spirit are telling me, I’ve approached the world so differently. Specifically from a more kind, gentle, and protective space.”
"I don’t do it anymore, but this is a hack. So, for us, Fashion Week isn't a week. It's a full month of just back-to-back shows. And the days can easily be 16 hours. You don't sleep. You're just constantly going. And we're doing our best to look young, fresh, and cute. But the eye bags don’t stop for anyone. So I’ve used hemorrhoid cream under my eyes, and it works like a charm to snatch them up."
“It used to be the Mugler Eau de Parfum, the dark purple one. But now that it's summer, I like to smell more fresh, fruity, and flirty, so I’ve been using Alien Pulp nonstop. I think the reason I love it so much is because of the raspberry note. It adds such an uplifting, effervescent vibe to a perfume, and that’s exactly how I feel when I wear it—sparkly.”
"A contoured eye and clear lip gloss. Plus approximately 100 sprays of perfume."
"Right now I’m actually playing more with hair colors. I'm thinking about going for an auburn base color with dark tips."
"Almond French tips on my hands and a straight, square French tip on my toes."
"Either I'm doing the whole regimen, or I'm knocked out with my makeup on. There’s no in between."
“I’m Black. I don’t age. I’m kidding. But to me, aging is a beautiful thing. I think we, as a society, should embrace it. I also think there's too much stigma attached to it. We have to fix that. There are 13-year-old children wearing retinol."
"I always use rose oil after I take a shower. I usually buy one that I can’t pronounce from this Hamam in Paris that I go to, but any rose oil can do."
Shop Anok's Beauty Routine
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