Danielle Brooks, 31, Shared the Simple Routine That Keeps Her Skin Clear and Glowing

Photo credit: Instagram/Danielle Brooks
Photo credit: Instagram/Danielle Brooks
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Danielle Brooks, 31, shared the skincare routine that helps keep her oily, acne-prone skin clear and glowing.

  • “I try to keep it simple because I’ve had a lot of issues with my skin in the past and I finally have gotten [it] to a good place,” she said.

  • The routine features a cleanser, two serums, and a moisturizer, plus some occasional extras.


After a day of Zoom interviews, the last thing Danielle Brooks wants to do is spend an hour on skincare. That’s why she keeps her nighttime routine to a maximum of “five or six” products.

“I try to keep it simple because I’ve had a lot of issues with my skin in the past and I finally have gotten [it] to a good place,” she said in a Go to Bed with Me video for Harper’s Bazaar. Plus, her job as an actress requires her to use loads of hair and makeup products all day.

The Mahalia star is one to stay loyal to her favorites, too. According to a Coveteur interview from 2016, she’s used some of the same skincare for at least five years.

Her first step is the most important.

Before applying anything to her face, Brooks washes her hands. “A lot of people miss this step but it’s important,” she said. “You don’t know how many things you touch all day.” She’s especially aware of it now because of the pandemic.

She uses a tried-and-true gentle cleanser.

For her sensitive skin, Brooks has used Cetaphil’s Gentle Foaming Cleanser for years. After wetting her skin with warm water, she removes her lashes if she’s wearing them, applies a pump to a facial cleansing brush and gets to it. “This is a heaven-sent product,” she said, referring to the cleanser. “It is so gentle on the face ... this has been a life saver.”

She double-cleanses with micellar water.

To really ensure she’s removed all of her makeup, the new mom follows her first cleanse with Bioderma Sensibio H20 on a facial cloth from Mary Kay.

Two serums have stolen her heart.

And she discovered them both by accident. The first, which she found when it was gifted to her, is Beauty Counter’s All Bright Vitamin C Serum. She applies it after cleansing. “My face is really sensitive so I don’t like putting too many things on,” she explained, adding that she “used to have one of those [facial] rollers” to apply it with, but thinks her fingers work just fine.

She follows that with Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Serum, which she fell in love with after doing a commercial for the brand. “That stuff make your skin feel so silky smooth ... I feel like a whole new woman when I wake up,” she said. “I feel like it just gets my skin right back intact.” The serum contains hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, and caffeine, which work together to hydrate, smooth, and depuff.

After applying both the tinctures, the actress’s skin has a considerable shine. “I used to get nervous when I see my face so oily because I have oily skin naturally, but it’s OK,” she shared. “When you clean your skin well your skin needs oil.” (She’s not wrong! Experts say the key to controlling shine is ensuring your skin has enough moisture in the first place.)

Next up, moisturizer.

She uses the cult-favorite Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream, which is beloved for for its simple, nourishing ingredients and non-greasy finish. “It really does hydrate,” Brooks said while dotting it onto her skin. “Especially you know, in the spring.”

She uses Bio Oil to fade dark spots.

According to a sponsored post with the brand, Bio Oil has helped Brooks fade her acne scars. “I went through a period of time when I had a ton of breakouts and dark spots on my face,” she wrote on Instagram. “Since then @biooilusa has helped me tremendously with my dark spots! I love all of my melanin and Bio-Oil does too!”

Occasionally, she’ll give herself a facial.

When she’s “getting really fancy” Brooks uses the Dr. Dennis Gross Pro Facial Steamer in conjunction with her favorite face mask, Caudalíe’s Instant Detox mask (which is also a favorite of Drew Barrymore’s!). The treatment uses rose clay, papaya enzymes, and tannins to gently exfoliate and tighten pores, revealing a glowing complexion after every use.

She wraps up with a relaxing face mist.

Brooks seals her serums and cream with Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist, which she keeps in her miniature skincare fridge so that it feels cool and refreshing. “It just smells good and it’s nice mist,” she said. “You just feel rich.”

After putting on her pink silk bonnet, she and her skin are ready to rest.

You Might Also Like