How To Achieve Cameron Diaz’s California-Girl Glow And Smooth Skin
[email protected] | July 28, 23
Whether you’ve been a fan of hers since her debut in The Mask or started following her later in her career, you can’t deny that Cameron Diaz is as gorgeous as she is talented. She’s the quintessential California girl, and it shows in her low-key approach to beauty. Her typical look includes chiseled cheekbones, a bright lip and beachy waves, giving her a fresh and youthful vibe at 46. We chatted with some our favorite makeup and skin pros to see how we could score Cameron’s glowing, girl-next-door look for ourselves.
Celebrity makeup artist Erwin Gomez, who’s worked with Jennifer Garner and Eva Longoria and has his own cosmetics line, says Diaz knows how to highlight her features. “She has a naturally effervescent charm about her and her beauty routine really works at amplifying that while maintaining a low-key approach and feel: lightweight foundation, light blush/bronzer and either a bold lip or bold eye,” he explains. But as gorgeous as her skin is, Diaz admits in one of her books, The Body Book, to having battled breakouts for years. “I had terrible, terrible, skin,” she reveals. “It was embarrassing, and I did everything I could think of to make it go away. I tried to cover it with makeup.”
If you’re prone to acne as well, Gomez recommends exfoliating properly before applying a powder foundation. “Having a great base to work with is crucial when making sure your makeup stays in place, especially if you have sensitive, acne-prone skin,” he shares. “I’d recommend SkinCeuticals® LHA Cleansing Gel ($40) in the morning — it has hydroxy acids to help exfoliate and improve skin clarity — followed by [the brand’s] oil-free moisturizer ($62) and Matte UV Defense Sunscreen ($34).” Follow that with a powder foundation to help keep your skin matte if you’re especially oily (we like Make Up For Ever® Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation, ($37), then you can dab a hydrating concealer on any pesky blemishes. “I love my Erwin Gomez CosmeticsTM N25 Concealer ($25) because it holds all day without drying or flaking with flawless coverage,” he says.
If you have scars from acne, you aren’t resigned to covering them up with makeup for the rest of your life. Dr. Alexander Blinski, Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of NYC-based Plump recommends incorporating a retinol-based product into your skincare routine to help cell turnover and trying some professional treatments to smooth out your skin, such as microneedling and lasers.
[Editor’s note: Retinol shouldn’t be used by those who are pregnant, considering getting pregnant, or nursing. Please consult with your doctor before use.]
“Acne scars are generally caused by improper healing,” he explains. “When our body has an injury, it repairs itself the quickest and safest way possible — depending on the depth and type of injury, our body makes scar tissue.” Both lasers and microneedling treatments help stimulate new collagen under controlled conditions, meaning they won’t just help improve the look of post-acne marks, but may also have anti-aging benefits. Learn more about lasers that can treat your skin here.
Diaz is also known for her bronzed, sculpted cheekbones, which you can mimic with makeup. “I’d apply highlighter only on the high points of cheekbones (stay away from the apples of the cheeks) and around the brow bone area for a sexy, radiant effect,” Gomez says. “For bronzer, I always recommend using something that isn’t too orangey and is more matte than shimmery.” We’re fans of the IT Cosmetics® Bye Bye Pores Bronzer ($30) — it has a satin-finish, creates a natural-looking glow, and has an oil-free, pore-blurring effect (ideal for acne-prone complexions).
Another option that can make your cheekbones look more plump is injectable temporary filler, which can be administered by an experienced provider. “These treatments can be done in one session or over multiple sessions,” Dr. Blinski explains.
[Editor’s note: Injectable filler is a temporary treatment that adds volume to areas of the face such as the lips, cheeks, and laugh lines. Like any medical treatment, it has potential risks and side effects. Be sure to talk to a licensed provider to see if it’s right for you. Have more questions? Chat with our team of trained aesthetics specialists now.]
In her most recent work, The Longevity Book, the actress (who has tried injectable wrinkle reducers), explains she doesn’t judge anyone who opts for aesthetic procedures. After all, it’s a highly personal decision: if you prefer the look of your cheekbones with injectable filler or your forehead with injectable wrinkle reducers, then that’s for you to decide.
[Editor’s note: Injectable wrinkle reducers are used to temporarily smooth the look of moderate to severe wrinkles in certain areas of the face such as the forehead, frown lines, and crow’s feet. They should not be used more frequently than every three months. Like any medical treatment, they have potential risks and side effects. Be sure to talk to a licensed provider to see if they’re right for you. Have more questions? Chat with our team of trained aesthetics specialists now.]
As you recreate Diaz’s signature look, you can’t forget lipstick! While Diaz tends to keep her makeup fairly low-key, she is known to rock a pop of color of her lips on the red carpet. To achieve her red lip, Gomez recommends investing in a highly-pigmented lip stain. “I love a good, bold red lip and use it on a variety of my celebrity clientele,” he says. “I like to use Erwin Gomez Cosmetics Lip Stain in China ($32) because it’s long-wearing, and it’s a blue-toned red, which is flattering for most skin tones.” Bonus: because of those blue undertones in your lip color, it’ll help cancel out any yellow in your teeth for a bright smile just like Diaz’s.
