Rita Ora talks us through her exact summer beauty routine
From an £11 moisturiser to her immune-boosting throat spray and the Amazon accessory she’s never without, the singer details what’s in her beauty bag right now
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“I try not to to use too many products or wear too much makeup in summer: a simpler routine is best”, says 34-year-old singer Rita Ora, when we meet at a fancy Chelsea hotel in London. “But I really want fresh, glowy-looking skin: everyone wants to feel dewy”.
Well, I’d say she’s absolutely nailed that: I’m sitting next to her and up close, her skin is so flawless it looks almost airbrushed — so I can’t believe it when she later reveals that it is actually acne-prone and sensitive. And, despite it being a 30 degree heatwave, she has somehow mastered that elusive sweat-proof glow (unlike me).
We’re here to celebrate the launch of a new summer fragrance, Donna by luxury Swiss perfumer Gisada — which has top notes of iris, blossom, candy floss and Sicilian bergamot — and Rita, dressed in a billowing blush gown to match the elegant pink bottle, is a fan.
In the pink: writer Florence with Rita Ora
“Every time I put it on, people ask what I’m wearing — it’s like they’ve walked into this incredible garden”, she says. The award-winning floral, fruity scent originally launched in 2017, but has just been reformulated to be richer and longer-lasting.
Since rising to fame in 2012, the Kosovo-born singer — who grew up in West London and studied at the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School — has had multiple number one singles, and become a TV personality in her own right: as a judge on X Factor and The Voice in the UK, as well as The Masked Singer in the US. She is married to Oscar-winning New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi, the brains behind blockbusters from Thor to Jojo Rabbit.
Plus, Ora is also a savvy beauty entrepreneur in her own right, as the co-founder of Typebea (which we’ve tried at GTG): an inclusive haircare collection.
She founded it with her friend Anna Lahey, the creator of Vida Glow — the world’s number one best-selling marine collagen brand — and has bought a similarly science-backed approach to Typebea, developing a clever trademarked peptide complex. Their hero product, the Overnight Boosting Peptide Serum, £43, claims to reduce hair loss by up to 60 per cent in three months.
So, when it comes to all things beauty, Ora knows her stuff, especially as she’s used to travelling for work and needs hard-working products and tricks for when she’s in transit.
Fittingly, her latest single out is called Heat (it’s about celebrating your sexuality — Ora is bisexual) so just what are her heatwave-proof summer beauty secrets?
10 steps to on-the-go glow in summer by Rita Ora:
1. The bargain multi-tasking moisturiser to keep in your handbag
According to Ora, the cult Weleda Skin Food, £11.90, is “the only thing that matters on planet earth!” and she has been using it for “eternity”, since her Albanian mum Vera introduced her to it as a kid, growing up in West London.
She still keeps one on her at all times — using it as a lip balm or to soothe dry skin on the face, body and hands. It comes in light or heavy (she prefers the latter) and is super hydrating thanks to nourishing chamomile, calendula and reparative oils.
2. Start your day with a refreshing cryotherapy face mask
Twice a week, Rita applies a 111SKIN Cryo De-Puffing Facial Mask, £95 for five, in the morning before applying SPF, to leave a dewy residue. It’s a tip she picked up from her MUA Lisa Laudat (who’s also styled the likes of Demi Moore, Eva Mendes and Ellie Goulding).
The hydrogel mask combines cryotherapy with caffeine to deliver a cooling effect (you can pop it in the fridge, too) that revives ‘morning face’, de-puffing skin and minimising dark circles. “A great hydrating face mask in the sun is a must: everyone wants to feel dewy and glowy and have that natural effect”, explains Ora.
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3. The SPF that doesn’t block your pores
In summer, Rita says she uses a lot more SPF and her go-to is the Shani Darden Oil-free Sunscreen SPF 30, £27.64 (it’s currently sold out but check back for a restock) because the lightweight, non-greasy formula doesn’t congest her skin and it contains soothing aloe vera, too. Plus, it’s transparent, so leaves no white cast. She applies it in the morning and occasionally tops it up during the day, but not if she has makeup on (it’s a relief to hear I’m not the only one!).
4. Stick to a brightening concealer day-to-day
Day to day, Ora takes a less is more approach to makeup — and after applying her SPF, she only dabs on some Makeup By Mario Surrealskin Awakening Concealer, £28, under her eyes. It has a buildable, crease-proof formula which uses caffeine for further de-puffing, tightening and brightening. “My advice is to simplify your routine so it’s not too heavy,” she says.
5. For light, glowy coverage: combine a filter fluid and tinted moisturiser
When she does wear more makeup, she still likes to keep it light. Instead of foundation, she swears by the Dior Forever Glow Star Filter, £45, for a radiance-boosting base: you can apply it alone, under a tint, or dot it over the top as a highlighter for a blurring effect. “It’s lighter than other filters and makes your skin look so bronzy and gorgeous without being too shiny, just like you’re naturally glowing,” she says.
For extra coverage, Ora says Lisa Eldridge’s Seamless Skin Enhancing Skin Tint, £37, is “phenomenal”: a tinted moisturiser formulated with 78 per cent skincare ingredients, including hydrating glycerin and plumping sunflower seed and prickly pear oil.
6. Pack exfoliating wipes to prevent breakouts on the go
Despite Ora’s glowy skin, you might be surprised to hear that it’s pretty sensitive, and she actually gets a ton of breakouts, especially when she has to wear heavier makeup for work.
So every week she uses the iS Clinical Active Peel System, £92, for 15 treatments: it’s a two-step acid peel wipe combo, that hydrates, resurfaces and polishes, to smooth your skin tone and texture. She loves how fuss-free the wipes are and they’re easy to pack when you’re travelling.
7. A monthly facial with “all the machines”
Every month, Rita visits her Notting Hill based aesthetician Keren Bartov for a deep exfoliating and cleansing facial — “the ultimate London-based facial guru in my opinion”, as she puts it — and she’s not the only one who thinks so. Bartov boasts an A-list roster of clients from Carey Mulligan to Cara Delevingne.
Bartov is known for taking a bespoke, hi-tech approach with 50 advanced medical technologies onsite — and that’s what Ora loves: “she has all the machines!” For her facial, she uses a personalised combination of extraction, deep cleaning and lasers to banish acne and stimulate collagen.
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8. Sweat-proof your hair through the day with a super-charged dry shampoo
Ora doesn’t like to wash her hair too much and says that her Typebea’s 3-in-1 Dry Shampoo, £20.80, helps to delay washday: it cleanses the scalp with natural ingredients like exfoliating lactic acid, while stimulating hair growth (with the signature baicapil complex) and adding volume.
The ultra-fine mist soaks up oil, sweat and odour without leaving residue, leavings swishy notes of citrus and bergamot. She says, “It comes in a travel size, but I need the full amount [in my handbag] — it keeps you going throughout the day, especially when sweating in this heat!”
9. Support your immunity on holiday with a throat spray
Ora is a big believer in immune support, especially as she travels so often, and says her secret weapon is Propolis Immune Support Throat Spray, £26.26. It contains sustainably-sourced bee propolis, a natural substance made by bees from plant and tree resin, blended with their own enzymes, which is thought to have antibacterial, healing and immune-boosting properties. “It’s also a great breath refresher, so two-in-one — I live with this thing. Everyone needs one,” she says.
Plus, she is never without a bottle of the skin-soothing, organic Dr. Bronner Lavender Hand Hygiene Spray, £5.69, which she uses to fight germs on the go without drying out her hands.
10. Finally… don’t leave the house without a budget hand fan!
If you’re wondering how Ora treads the fine line between summer glow and hot sweaty mess, she always keeps a portable, rechargeable VersionTech Hand Held Fan, £16.89, in her handbag. “I don’t care if you feel like a diva, or people look at you crazy — why wouldn’t you want a fan on you at all times?! It’s so important to keep the sweat off your face”, she laughs. We’ve been told!
The Gisada Donna Eau de Parfum is out now, from £58.40 for 50ml
