Ana de Armas's Quarantine Beauty Routine

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Take one glance at Ana de Armas's glow and I guarantee you'll be hunting down her beauty routine. But it's not all contour and highlight for the Cuban-born actress — in fact, she's been adopting a less-is-more approach lately. That is, when she's not in the makeup chair getting glam for iconic roles, like her most recent part as Bond woman Paloma in No Time to Die, and Marilyn Monroe in upcoming Netflix film Blonde.

When she's at home, she much prefers giving her skin a break from makeup and luxuriating in La Mer products. Armas partnered up with the brand for the new-and-improved version of La Mer's The Concentrate, a next-level elixir that promises radiance, and her skin has been "very happy" ever since. To liven up her quarantine days, she'll occasionally swipe on a red lipstick to vacuum her house, because why not?

Ahead, she opens up about pushing past stereotypes in Hollywood as a Latina actress, transforming into Marilyn Monroe, and the glamour of being a Bond girl.

What's your beauty routine been like in quarantine?

Since every day feels like the weekend, I have time to wash my face, put on La Mer's The Concentrate serum, The Moisturizing Soft Cream, and face mask and try different treatments. I see and feel the difference in my skin; it's way more hydrated and luminous. Growing up in Cuba, I was always at the beach in the sun. I didn't have a good sense of skin care then. Now that I'm getting older, I'm way more aware of how important that is. When shooting movies, I have heavy makeup on for five months straight. Since I'm wearing less these days, my skin is very happy.

Do you miss getting glam for events?

Sometimes I'll just put on a deep red matte lipstick and vacuum my house. [laughs] I miss the energy in the room when getting ready for something. I love my stylist, hair, and makeup team. We turn on music, have a glass of Champagne, and play with makeup and clothes.

What are some of your earliest memories of Cuba?

Oh my gosh, I remember soaking my hair in beer before going to the beach so I would get natural, beautiful highlights when I laid in the sun. [laughs] It worked. I would even put honey in my hair because it's moisturizing, but it was awful to remove since it's so sticky.

How did it feel to transform into Marilyn Monroe for your upcoming role in Netflix's Blonde?

I mean, that was a trip. It was one of the most beautiful experiences of my career. There were several different shades of blond wigs because Marilyn went from golden blond to completely platinum. I really love all the beauty from that era. The whole transformation was fun, but it was a challenge for me and very scary to play that part. I hope I did a good job. It's intimidating taking on something that big. I can't wait for people to see it. Marilyn is such an icon. I took the part out of deep respect and total love for her, and I think that will show in the movie.

You also recently joined the ranks of legendary Bond women in No Time to Die. What's it like being a part of that world?

There's always going to be beauty, fantasy, and glamour. But that's just a fraction of my character. I didn't feel like I had to fit into any specific beauty standard or redefine who I was. I had the freedom to create a character [Paloma] who was real and reminded me of some of the badass friends I have. Paloma's personality is what makes her different. She's sassy and funny, and that's why she's memorable — it's about more than her looks.

Ana de Armas

Sometimes I'll just put on a deep red matte lipstick and vacuum my house."

— Ana de Armas

How have you pushed past the stereotypes associated with Latina women in Hollywood?

When I play a Latina role, I make different choices in creating the part to consciously not fall into a stereotype. At some point, you also navigate [stereotypes] by creating your own material. I find the stories that I want to tell. There are many Latina women in history who did incredible things that people just don't know about. I want to make [these women] known and remembered, and that's what's important for me to pursue. As an actor, it's interesting for me to explore our complexities and multicultural influences instead of just staying on the surface of what people think a Latina woman is supposed to be like.