Shakira shows off her pearly whites. Photo courtesy of CrestYou might say international pop star Shakira is an overachiever. She's about to release a new album (which she calls a mix of her old classic sound with rock 'n' roll attitude and dance tracks), she's returning as a mentor on "The Voice," she's a member of President Obama's Advisory Commission on Educational
Excellence for Hispanics, and she's adjusting to her new role as mother to 9-month-old Milanwith her soccer-star boyfriend, Gerard Piqué.
Now she can add one more responsibility to her roster: serving as the new celebrity global brand ambassador for Crest and Oral-B 3D White. The campaign is all about the power of a smile, and abc news had the opportunity to speak with Shakira in Barcelona last week about her newest gig. We also got the scoop on her beauty tips, her must-have fashion items, and why she feels a smile is the ultimate accessory.
abc news: Something people may not know is that you always do your own makeup. With access to so many experts and artists, why do you do it yourself?
Shakira: Because I'm good. [Laughs]
I'm cheap. I'm fast. [Laughs]
What's something special you do before a red carpet appearance?
Sometimes if I'm dehydrated from flying, I put vitamin E capsules from the pharmacy on my skin. They'll make you glow. And not too much makeup. Sometimes I look at pictures from when I was 10 years younger and I look older in those pictures. I was wearing way too much makeup 'cause I had a makeup artist then.: Shakira's Style Evolution
Shakira regrets some of her old fringed outfits, like this one from Spanish TV in 2001. (Getty Images)
Usually I remember performances, but I don't remember the clothes. But I do remember stuff that I should have never worn! [Laughs.] Red shorts with black leather fringes that I wore when I was 14 or 15 for this TV show, and a studded red jacket with fringes too? Uh-uh. Not a pretty picture... Obviously that happens to every one of us with fashion. You see pictures of yourself and think, "Why did I decide to wear that that day?" I'm a little more cautious with my decisions [so I don't] wear something too risqué.
What are your go-to fashion items and designers?
I'm a jeans girl. I love being in my old pair of jeans. I love Alaia. He's one of my favorite designers and people in the world. He's a good friend. I love Helmet Lang and Versace. My Helmet Lang T-shirts are like a faithful dog. Something that's always there and you can rely on.
What are your go-to fashion items and designers?
I'm a jeans girl. I love being in my old pair of jeans. I love Alaia. He's one of my favorite designers and people in the world. He's a good friend. I love Helmet Lang and Versace. My Helmet Lang T-shirts are like a faithful dog. Something that's always there and you can rely on.
What's the best beauty advice you've ever gotten?
Wear sunscreen. That's the best advice. I don't fry under the sun. Yeah, it gives you the cool look like you've been on vacation all the time, but it lasts, what, a week? And then you have to live with the damage it does to your skin.
What is your typical beauty routine when traveling?
It's very important to keep it simple, so I try not to use too much, just to keep my skin clean, and remove my makeup at night… I discovered that vitamin C does wonders, so I apply vitamin C every morning before I put my makeup on. Or even if I don't put makeup on. For my hair, I try not to use products with too much alcohol because they dry your hair, so I use more natural oils. Blondes really need it and with specially treated hair, you need a lot of nutrition. I've had every bad colorist in the world do my color and burn my hair. [Laughs.] My hair has a history of tears and sweat. But you overcome it eventually, and you have to take care of it.
Do you have any beauty tips you can share with our readers?
I sometimes scrub with natural sugar and moisturizing cream, and I rub it on once in a while to get rid of dead skin.
I sometimes scrub with natural sugar and moisturizing cream, and I rub it on once in a while to get rid of dead skin.
Why is having a great smile so important, and what is the secret to a great smile?
The secret to a great smile is being uninhibited and open and sincere. I think that people who smile ear to ear aren't hiding anything, they are genuine, and I think that's appreciated by others. My mother-in-law—well, she's not my mother-in-law, but Gerard's mother—she smiles from here to here [points to her cheeks]. And it's such a beautiful, honest, and inviting smile that makes her so approachable. I realize that people who have that kind of smile are very friendly and project that image.
The secret to a great smile is being uninhibited and open and sincere. I think that people who smile ear to ear aren't hiding anything, they are genuine, and I think that's appreciated by others. My mother-in-law—well, she's not my mother-in-law, but Gerard's mother—she smiles from here to here [points to her cheeks]. And it's such a beautiful, honest, and inviting smile that makes her so approachable. I realize that people who have that kind of smile are very friendly and project that image.
What truly makes you smile?
Seeing my own son smile is an instant incentive. Seeing Gerard smile. Witnessing when [Gerard's team] Barça wins. [Laughs.] Being onstage and performing for a big audience and seeing them sing along to my tunes. That's an incredible feeling that usually makes me smile. Good news in general makes me smile. I'm a smiler—I've done it my entire life. Sometimes in an annoying way for some people. For example, photographers sometimes when I'm in a photo session, they're like, "Can you stop smiling for a second, please?" and I'm like, "I can't help it!" Because they want the sexy picture, the Angelina Jolie, and I always go back to my smile. I'm thrilled to be part of a campaign that promotes smiling. There's no better makeup than a smile.
Young girls are under so much pressure to achieve unrealistic beauty ideals. How do you define beauty, and what advice do you have for young women struggling with their own self-confidence?
Artists also sometimes feel under that pressure ourselves. We have to struggle with the fact that you are not perfect and there are so many expectations of being perfect and achieving those impossible beauty standards. I love my work, but sometimes it has disadvantages where you can't go out on the street because you just woke up. You can, but you won't like the pictures you're going to find the next morning, especially with the paparazzi. We preoccupy too much with finding the right accessories and the right dresses and the right products and makeup and all that, and yeah, they do help, but what's really vital for us is to work on our self-confidence and trust ourselves. I think there's nothing sexier than loving yourself and not trying too hard. When you are yourself and you show that self-respect, people tend to do the same to you. I would say all those accessories and products out there are great to help us improve, but the most important thing is that we believe in our inner beauty and project it.
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