Zara Larsson on £2,000 La Mer hauls and having a perfect nose

The vampy black lip liner, the subtly seductive smoky eye, the eyebrow piercing, the wet-look hair. Zara Larsson’s alter-ego make-up in the music video for her latest single Can’t Tame Her is a masterclass in alt-Y2K beauty, a look that asks: ​“What if Evanescence’s Amy Lee and Me Against The Music Britney had an all-singing, all-dancing baby?”

Not that we’re surprised. If there’s one thing the 25-year-old pop juggernaut can do (you know, aside from belting her way to the top of the charts), it’s turn out a killer beauty look. Over the years, we’ve seen Larsson pull off everything from crystal-embellished eyes to a surprisingly chic Teletubbie updo. And her signature cat eye? As Taylor Swift would say, it’s ​“sharp enough to kill a man”.

Speaking of, Larsson actually has more in common with Tay Tay than a shared love for flicked eyeliner. They’re both also all about autonomy. Keen Swifties will remember the battle between Taylor and her management over the ownership of her master recordings, which, failing resolution, eventually led to her decision to re-record those old albums.

Well, last year, Sweden’s greatest pop export since Abba did exactly the same thing – and won. Larsson purchased her entire discography and even set up her own label for good measure.

You could say, then, that Can’t Tame Her is a mini-manifesto for the defiant and self-assured artist: a middle finger to toxic men in the music industry and a rallying cry to fans to live their best lives. ​“No, you can’t tame the girl /​‘Cause she runs her own world,” she sings over infectious ​’80s synths. ​“So if she wants to party all night /​No, you can’t tame her.”

Fair enough. But pulling an all-nighter is never good for the skin, is it? Luckily, Larsson has a few tips for dealing with your morning-after beauty woes. And she can help streamline your daily skincare routine, too. Truly the people’s pop star.

The first thing I eat or drink when I wake up is…

Water, water, water!

My morning skincare regimen looks like…

I just slap on a moisturiser. I don’t wash my face unless I go in the shower and it accidentally happens. If I’m feeling really frisky, I usually put on the ACO Renewing Face Oil before my moisturiser.

The soundtrack to my morning routine is…

Shenseea – ShenYeng Anthem. Let’s go.

My go-to beauty hack for when I’ve pulled an all-nighter is…

Just don’t look in the mirror. Honestly. Put a beauty filter on if you have to post a picture.

The product I’ll reach for when I’ve got a pimple is…

Some kind of salicylic acid if I have it at home. If I’m travelling, I just try to moisturise a little extra.

My favourite brand of sunscreen is…

Supergoop! I love it. Their body sunscreen is amazing because it sparkles and the face sunscreen is amazing because it’s translucent and gives a matte finish.

My holy grail skincare product is…

Embryolisse moisturiser. That’s my baby.

My best kept beauty secret is…

Less is more. I truly feel that. Since I stopped having a 10-step skin routine, my skin has felt so much better. That’s what works for me anyway.

My favourite feature is my…

I really like my nose. It’s just cute. It’s right where it’s supposed to be. Or my lips in certain angles. I don’t really have a specific feature that I like, I just think everything comes together quite well.

My first beauty-related memory is…

When I wasn’t allowed to wear make-up as a kid, I would pinch my cheeks every three minutes to get the effect of rouge. I was maybe seven or eight years old.

The last life-changing product I discovered was…

Probably Botox. That was a little life-changing, if we’re being honest.

The best tactic for getting rid of stubborn waterproof mascara is…

Just a very oily make-up remover. I feel like that really helps break everything down.

I keep my lips moisturised with…

Glossier clear lip gloss. I bought so many that they gave me a free perfume! I probably cleared out their whole inventory. It really does work as the best moisturiser, better than any lip balm. Maybe it seals in the moisture? I don’t know, but it’s very good.

The bougiest beauty product I own is…

It’s not a make-up product, but I’m a very easy person to sell stuff to and a very lucky sales woman in the airport sold me, like, £2,000 worth of La Mer products. There’s honestly no reason they should cost that much and it didn’t even agree with my skin. I think I was just having PMS or something and wanted to feel good.

My favourite budget find is…

A supermarket eyeliner from a Swedish brand called Isa Dora. That’s the only eyeliner I’ve tried and it actually stays on. I have really oily eyelids, so it’s very rare that any other product works.

The face mask that never lets me down is…

The Estee Lauder Micro Essence sheet mask, because it’s just so hydrating and it makes my skin glow.

My signature scent is…

Fan Your Flames by Nishane, with a little spray of that free Glossier perfume I got. I think it’s called You.

TikTok made me buy it…

Not a single thing. Honestly. I literally have every product that I need and I’m a creature of habit, so for me to switch out something like a foundation from the one I already use is unheard of. I’m loyal to the bones.

My top tips for having a good hair day are…

Try not to touch your hair so much, which is really hard. And day-two curls are the best.

A hair product I can’t go without is…

The K18. I love it, I love it. The hype is real.

My evening skincare routine looks like…

I take my face off with The Ordinary make-up remover, then I put on a little Embryolisse and go to bed!

The very last product I apply before going to sleep is…

My second layer of Embryolisse! Keeping it simple, baby. And it kind of doubles as a face mask if you want it to.

The secret to a good night’s kip is…

To put down your phone and have it pitch-black. And sometimes I sleep with an eye mask.

Stream Can’t Tame Her immediately