The Glowdown: Adwoa Aboah Reveals the Beauty Secrets Everyone Wants to Learn About

      Welcome to The Glowdown, a series where we explore the beauty secrets of our favorite celebrities as they share their routines and essentials exclusively with us. Join them in our beauty hot seat as we ask a series of quick questions, revealing unique insights into the products they can’t live without, their red carpet readiness, beauty pet peeves, and the expert tips they've learned along the way. This is unfiltered beauty at its best. This month, we spoke with Adwoa Aboah. The British actress and model is currently the global ambassador for Jo Malone London and represents the brand’s English Pear & Freesia and Mother's Day campaign. We were excited to ask Aboah about her fragrance recommendations, favorite beauty products, and how she plans to celebrate her first Mother's Day as a new mother.

      How do you plan to spend your first Mother's Day as a new mom? I think I should receive lots of gifts from my partner and anyone else who wants to contribute to this journey. … But seriously, I’ll probably do something special with Shy. It’s amusing because in these early months and years, it’s mainly me who will recognize the significance. I think I’ll be back in L.A., and there’s a great place to take low-res family photos. My boyfriend took some for me at Christmas, and Shy was on this Greek plinth; they turned out beautifully. Also, my boyfriend is getting me a tattoo, so I'll be doing that too. I’m still deciding what I want it to be.

      What is your favorite fragrance, and how do you like to wear it? I adore Jo Malone London's English Pear & Freesia, and I also really like Red Roses. I find scent pairing fabulous, and I enjoy wearing both simultaneously. I’m just starting to wear fragrance again after not being able to handle any scents during pregnancy due to severe nausea. I usually love candles, but I couldn’t tolerate them recently. Once you have a baby, you become very aware of their pure scent, and you want to preserve that. Plus, as I’m breastfeeding, I want to keep that connection special. My mother wears a lot of perfume, and when she'd come in, Shy would be like, “Who is this?” It can be overwhelming for babies.

      What beauty product gives you the biggest mood boost? I haven't been wearing much makeup lately, but I’m really into Hailey Bieber's Rhode Pocket Blush in Toasted Teddy. Luckily, I still have a hint of that glow from the pregnancy hormones, so the extra bit of color is helpful.

      If you could borrow someone else's makeup bag, whose would it be? That’s a great question. Pat McGrath would be incredible to steal from. She doesn’t even have a makeup bag; she travels with a suitcase!

      What does your everyday skincare routine look like? I have a fairly strict yet simple routine. I use a lot of SkinCeuticals products, like their Redness Neutralizer, which was sold out but is thankfully back. I also use their C E Ferulic Vitamin C Serum and a good SPF.

      What’s the best piece of beauty advice you’ve ever received? My mom always advised me to remove my makeup before bed. Whether sober or not, late nights or early nights, I’ve always followed that. I know people who sleep in their makeup and still look fantastic, so who knows if that's really a hard rule! Just don’t complicate things too much. We all receive such incredible products, and while they do work, sticking to what you know works for you is essential. I’m quite strict about what I apply on my skin due to past experiences with acne. Honestly, it all comes down to the SPF.

      What is your signature fragrance for date nights? Red Roses by Jo Malone London.

      Do you prefer a strong lip or a strong eye? Oh, that’s tough! I’d probably lean toward a strong eye. I’m not a fan of smoky eyes, but I do like graphic liner. Let’s go with strong eyes.

      When getting your nails done, what’s your go-to color? Right now, I’m going for red. I tend to stick with the same shades, and I have this really lovely reddish-orange polish I use. Or I might opt for a clear finish.

      Which beauty era inspires you the most? The ‘90s always stands out to me because it’s quite graphic, fun, and a bit messy, which I appreciate.

      What is your biggest beauty no-no? I won’t cover up my freckles, so I steer clear of full-coverage foundation. That’s a definite no for me. Even when I struggled with my skin, I just didn’t like it. I appreciate contour, but it doesn’t work for me. Honestly, I believe I look better with less makeup.

      Who has the best beauty routine among those you’ve met? There are several, but Emily Ratajkowski does