The Glowdown: Gillian Anderson Shares the Beauty Secrets We All Want to Know

Welcome to The Glowdown, the series where we dive into the beauty secrets of our favourite celebrities as they get real about their routines and non-negotiables exclusively with us. Join them as they sit in our beauty hot seat and we fire off a round of quick questions, giving you never-before-shared insight into the products they can't live without, their secrets to getting red carpet–ready, beauty pet peeves, and the genius tips they've picked up along the way. This is no-holds-barred beauty at its finest.

This month, we sat down with Gillian Anderson. The actress, activist and author has just been announced as the newest spokesperson for L’Oréal Paris, so we were keen to ask her all about her go-to products. Below, Anderson shares the one L’Oréal Paris makeup product she can't live without, her daily skincare routine and why she'll never reveal her signature fragrance…

1. Which beauty product gives you the biggest mood-boost?
Probably L’Oreal Paris Panorama Mascara. We were laughing about it before as I would usually wear individual lashes, but once we put this mascara on we didn’t need to because it gives so much volume.

2. If you could steal someone else’s makeup bag, whose would it be?
Grayson Perry.

3. Which of the characters that you’ve played do you think would have the best beauty routine?
Probably Stella Gibson [from The Fall].

4. What’s the best piece of beauty advice you have ever received?
I don’t know whether it’s advice that I’ve received, but it’s become really clear to me, at least for my face, that less is more.

5. What is your everyday skincare routine?
Since I've been working with L’Oréal Paris, [I've been] introduced to L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Collagen Expert Day Cream, which is extraordinary and has become a part of my morning skincare routine. I put it on before makeup, and it feels amazing on the skin. All of the makeup artists talk about how well makeup sits on top of that moisturiser.

6. Do you have a signature fragrance?
I do, but I’m not going to tell you what it is... I mean, why would I? I don’t want anybody else to smell like me.

7. You’re having your nails done. What’s your go-to colour?
I remember them because they are all similar. Ballet Slippers by Essie and Sugar Daddy by Essie. They are [both] soft pink [shades] that are quite transparent.

8. Which era of beauty inspires you most?
Not as inspiration, but '70s beauty with those shades of blues and greens does tickle my fancy.

9. What do you do in your downtime to relax and reset?
I walk my dog. She has two mothers because I’m away so much, but when I’m her mother and I walk her and actually move my legs in nature, I call that downtime.

10. What dog do you have?
An Australian Labradoodle called Stella. She's very moody!

11. What's the best book you read last year?
Western Lane by Chetna Maroo. I really enjoyed that.

12. Where's your favourite place to eat in London?
Any of the Ottolenghi restaurants.

13. What's the best part of your morning?
Before anybody else is awake.

14. What's the best role you've ever played?
Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire.

15. What's the best item in your wardrobe currently?
White patent-leather boots.

16. Who would you say is the best co-star?
That's hard, that's really hard... Vanessa Kirby in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Shop Gillian Anderson's Favourite Beauty Products: