Welcome to Shelf Life, where celebrities break down every last detail of their beauty routines. Today, actor Taraji P. Henson reveals her hidden beauty talent, the luxe tool she uses in her skin care routine, and her best hair care tips.
If you think pampering is a bad word, Taraji P. Henson is the wrong person to talk to. The actor takes her beauty routines and rituals very seriously. This includes slathering herself in fragrant body washes, creams, and oils daily, switching up her manicure weekly, and using an airbrush tool in her skin-care routine. If you’ve seen any of Henson’s onscreen characters (like Shug Avery in The Color Purple or Lauren in Think Like a Man) you know they tend to have a glamorous flair—that isn’t dissimilar from Henson IRL. “I love to luxuriate. That’s my favorite word,” Henson tells Allure.
Henson is now on a mission to help women everywhere incorporate a little luxury into their lives through her beauty brand, TPH by Taraji. “We [women] are so busy trying to take care of everybody else in the family….who’s taking care of us, who’s pouring into us?” says Henson. “I realized that we need to change this narrative.”
The brand has body and hair care products that are intended to be used together in a routine. At a glance, the aromatic five-step body and hair routines (which Henson herself abides by) might seem like a lot, but Henson sees them through the lens of self-care. “I look forward to washing my hair now, and I have these steps because it forces me to slow down,” she says.
Here, Henson breaks down her beauty practices in greater depth—including the spa practice she uses in her skin care routine and the personalized nail salon she’s created in her home.
Hair
I wash my hair every week. If it’s in a protective style, I spend a little more time on it and use a scalp scrub; usually my Never Salty Scalp Scrub. For my wash days, I’ll use the TPH by Taraji Strengthening & Lengthening line I love using the Felicia Leatherwood Detangler Brush while I have the New Levelz conditioner in my hair. If my hair is out [not in a protective style], nine times out of 10 it’s probably up in a curly bun.
Skin
I start by cleansing my face with the Miage Purity Clarifying Cleanser that Sheryl Lee Ralph gifted me. It cleans your face but doesn’t feel like it’s stripping it of all the moisture — plus it smells like bananas. I’ll use my Lancôme Crème Radiance Gentle Cleansing Creamy-Foam Cleanser too, depending on if I’m in Los Angeles or Atlanta. Right now, I’m in Atlanta, so the Miage is what I have in my shower.
If I have time in the morning, I’ll do a mask. If I don’t have time, I’ll use the Dermora Golden Glow Under Eye Patches because I feel like I need help under the eyes when I first wake up — they’re soothing and make me feel good. Then I use Dr. Diamond’s Metacine Plasma serum. My makeup artist gave me this Le Mieux airbrush tool, so I use that to spray on my serum. I always finish with my JMSolution Marine Luminous Pearl Sun Spray, which has SPF 50.
In the evenings, I’ll get in the dry sauna and sweat out those toxins. After that, I put on a hydrating mask, usually the JMSolutions Marine Luminous Pearl Deep Moisture Mask which is a three-step mask. It starts with the essence, the mask, then the face cream. After I do my mask, I’ll usually slather on the Miage Invoke The Night Cream, and then I’ll go to sleep.
Makeup
I try to duplicate what Saisha Beecham, my makeup artist, puts on my face. For my base, I use the Koh Gen Do foundation—if I’m doing a real face beat and I need coverage—and the Lip Bar Quick Conceal Caffeine concealer. I love the Fenty Beauty Match Stix Color Adaptive Blush, and there’s this Dior Backstage Contour palette that I love for bronzing. It’s discontinued now but it’s the perfect palette because it has a pink powder, a translucent powder, a dark brown shade for bronzing, and a light gold bronze for highlighter.
I always finish with the Lancôme L’Absolu Lip Gloss. It’s this incredible rosy plumping lip gloss that I love. I don’t even know if it’s plumping my lips, I just love it; I love things that tingle.
Body
My girlfriend Lisa Logan, who is a nail artist, makes soap through her brand The Body Suite, so she always sends me soap; I start with that in the shower.