Ariana DeBose Can't Live Without These Skincare Essentials (Exclusive)

Ariana DeBose Beauty Essentials — Ariana DeBose's beauty essentials. Photo:
MOVI Inc.; Cetaphil; The Beauty Sandwich; Essence

When it comes to her beauty routine, award-winning actress Ariana DeBose takes inspiration from her family.

"My grandmother and my aunt have always been like, 'You have to take care of your skin,'" DeBose, 33, tells PEOPLE exclusively. Though she didn't always heed their advice, now, she's leaning into the tip more than ever before, while putting her own spin on her overall approach.

“My outlook on beauty is ‘whatever makes you feel confident’ is what you should do. Other people's perception of beauty doesn't interest me anymore. I am interested in feeling beautiful for myself."

That means the West Side Story star uses products that she says, first and foremost, “help me feel my best," leading her to a partnership with Optase Life, which just launched an innovation — a Sensitive Eye Makeup Remover — that DeBose uses daily.

On partnering with the brand for its new launch DeBose says: "We're talking about a team of people who came together to create a great product. They specialize in the science," she says, adding: "They're providing a solution."

These days, self-care is as important to DeBose as skincare. “Right now, I'm in [my] 'I do whatever the f–k I want to do' era. Because I think women of color are very good at saying 'yes,' and showing up for everybody. Then we get tired, and we forget to show up for ourselves. I'm showing up for me right now."

DeBose prioritizes sleep ("eight hours, babes"), journaling, and an occasional cold plunge.

Read on for the products that amplify her natural glow.

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Eye Makeup Remover

"In my routine, the first thing I do is I take off my eye makeup because the way that I like my makeup, my eyes are the thing. There's quite a bit to get off, whether it be eyeliner, lashes, glue," says DeBose on why she uses this high-performing, but gentle, makeup remover — formulated with hyaluronic acid, manuka honey and ionized water — that leaves her skin feeling "nourished and moisturized."

Buy It! Optase Life Sensitive Eye Makeup Remover, $17; optase.com

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Waterproof Mascara

Essence Mascara — Essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Waterproof Mascara.
Essence

“What I love about it: it is not a flaky, waterproof mascara,” shares DeBose of this drugstore pick. “I'm a half-and-half girl. I do love a luxury product if it's the right product for my needs. But I'm also a queen on a budget. Life is about compromise, darling.”

Buy It! Essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Waterproof Mascara, $5; amazon.com

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Hydrating Face Mask

Dr. Jart Face Mask — Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution Face Mask.
Dr. Jart

“Super great hydration. If my skin's feeling dry or when I have a really long day of press, sometimes in between major events, I plop that on," DeBose says of this hyaluronic acid-packed mask. "It revives the skin and helps my makeup stay.”

Buy It! Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution PRO Glow Face Mask with Hyaluronic Acid, $10; sephora.com

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Sensitive Skin-Friendly Cleanser

Cetaphil Cleaner — Cetaphil Healthy Radiance Creamy Cleanser.
Cetaphil

DeBose wasn’t serious about taking care of her skin when she was performing on Broadway in her 20s. Then, as she neared her 30s, she realized: "Girl, you got to wash your face." Now, she incorporates this skin-brightening cleanser into her day and nighttime regimens. “A little bit goes a long way. I like that it's affordable. My skin is not irritated. There's no redness. I feel moisturized and truly clean after."

Buy It! Cetaphil Healthy Radiance Creamy Cleanser, $20; walmart.com

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Clarifying Serum

“I use specific serums for different moments or whatever phase my skin is in,” says DeBose, who's worked with celebrity esthetician and facialist Joanna Vargas, the creator of this brightening and revitalizing serum. “One little pump, shwoop shwoop on the T-zone, massage, massage. Fan, fan, fan. You're done."

Buy It! Joanna Vargas Daily Serum, $85; revolve.com

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Skin-Snatching Elixir

Beauty Sandwich Serum — The Beauty Sandwich by Iván Pol SS02 Snatching Sauce.
The Beauty Sandwich

"Research shows that hazelnut [an ingredient in this high-end formula] can act as a lifting agent. If I have a carpet to prepare for or if I'm going to go into filming, then I'll incorporate this into my beauty routine once a day, at night."

Buy It! The Beauty Sandwich SS02 Snatching Sauce, $130; thebeautysandwich.com