Gracie Abrams on sci-fi skin solutions and the best ever brow gel
Photography by Abby Waisler
Daily Beauty Rituals: As she embarks on the UK leg of her world tour, the singer-songwriter tells us what she’s slapping on her face pre-show, post-show and the morning after.
Beauty
Words: Olive Pometsey
It takes a hell of a lot of stamina to survive a world tour, but Gracie Abrams learned from the best. Earlier this year, she opened for Taylor Swift on her award-winning Eras Tour, which is set to smash records and then some. And back in 2022, she supported Olivia Rodrigo on her debut Sour Tour.
“I have so many great memories from both,” says Abrams effusively. “The way Olivia completely crushed her first ever tour should be studied – she captivated every crowd.”
And her stint with Swift? “The Eras Tour changed me as a person. Taylor is a walking masterclass in talent, execution, creativity and joy. I will never fully process what it was to spend my summer in her orbit… And her fans, oh my God. They are next level.”
But Abrams has been surrounded by her own adoring fans over the past year, too. Somehow, the 24-year-old has juggled those sell-out stadium gigs with her own sell-out headline tour, playing shows around America to commemorate her third studio album Good Riddance. An album about, as she puts it, “growing up, falling out of something, accountability and leaving home,” the record is 16 tracks of wistful, singer-songwriter pop at its finest – tracks that sound great in a stadium, sure, but really come to life in a more intimate setting.
“Stadiums are the coolest, it’s like being on another planet, but they’ve also made me fall harder in love with small venues where you can almost see everybody’s faces,” says Abrams. So, a downsize was in order for the UK leg of the Good Riddance tour, which starts today in the more humble (but still impressive) Manchester Academy. “I literally cannot wait for this next leg. It feels like a dream already.”
During her downtime, the LA native is planning to soak up our cities’ sights with some “aimless wandering”. But, if we’re being hand-on-heart honest, we’re more interested in what Abrams’ will be getting up to on stage and, specifically, her makeup looks. “I like to feel like myself, it helps me sink into the music more,” she says. “I like clean skin and brushed up brows, and recently I’ve been into a plummier lip, something darker.”
And Abrams’ behind-the-scenes beauty routine is equally simple. Refreshing, eh?
Photography by Abby Waisler
The first thing I eat or drink when I wake up is…
Black tea with honey.
My morning skincare regime looks like…
Washing my face and putting on serums and a moisturiser, and this insanely good SPF. It’s new to my routine but I’m a fan. SkinBetter makes it.
The soundtrack to my morning routine is…
All the new Mitski because holy shit. And then also This House by Japanese Breakfast. I can’t stop listening.
My go-to beauty hack for when I’ve pulled an all-nighter is…
Ice all over my face. I genuinely think it does more for my brain than my actual face, but that’s OK.
The product I’ll reach for when I’ve got a pimple is…
Jan Marini Benzoyl Peroxide 10% treatment. Made by gods, I swear.
Photography by Abby Waisler
My favourite brand of sunscreen is…
My holy grail skincare product is…
Aquaphor [Eucerin in the UK] because it’s as healing emotionally and mentally as it is physically. I hope they never, ever rebrand. Nothing is more familiar to me.
My best kept beauty secret is…
Probably the brow gel I use. People seem to think they just sit that way naturally, but it takes brow gel. The brand is Refy.
My favourite feature is…
My teeth.
Because…
I really like having a gap now. I didn’t used to, which is sad.
My first beauty-related memory is…
When girls in middle school started wearing mascara before I did. I just remember thinking really hard about it.
The last life-changing product I discovered was…
The black honey lip stain by Clinique. I believe I’m really late to this one, but at least I arrived eventually.
The best tactic for getting rid of stubborn waterproof mascara is…
I personally hate mascara and I extra hate waterproof, so I can’t really tell you. Someone else help.
I keep my lips moisturised with…
Aquaphor, duh. Or the Laneige lip mask. I want to eat that stuff.
The bougiest beauty product I own is…
This embarrassingly large red light that my dermatologist suggested I get. It’s the kind of thing I want to hide away anytime someone comes over for the first time, because it looks like something you’d find in a spaceship and not a home.
My favourite budget find is…
Can I say Aquaphor again? Oh, but also, at the K‑spa I love in LA, they sell these amazing skin scrubby things that I use constantly.
The face mask that never lets me down is…
The Multi-enzyme fruit mask peel situation from Artisan Of Skin. I’m botching the proper title, but in AOS I trust.
My signature scent is…
TikTok made me buy it…
That crazy effective hairbrush straightener. I haven’t used an actual iron since.
My top tips for having a good hair day are…
This R+Co dry shampoo paste. I use it all the time.
My evening skincare routine looks like…
Serums and moisturisers yet again. An eye cream now, too. I’m elderly I guess.
The very last product I apply before going to sleep is…
Aquaphor. Surprise.
The secret to a good night’s kip is…
Tea and back scratches ideally, if you have someone cool to give you those. And I love CBD these days. I also fall asleep with my heating pad every single night no matter what.
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