Nassia Matsa on Chic Antiperspirant, Big Brows and Her Most Epic Red-Carpet Look

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.

Ahead of London Fashion Week, we sat down with Nassia Matsa. After transitioning from writer to full-time model six years ago, she recently self-published a miniature photobook in the form of a bag charm called Model Check-in, filled with candid behind-the-scenes pictures of her captivating fashion life. Nassia is also increasingly outspoken about AI regulation after her physical likeness was stolen and used in advertising without her consent. Prepping for a whirlwind of castings, shows and events this season, Dove’s Refillable Anti-Perspirant is her best friend. “You’re always on the go, so you don’t have time to not smell good!” Nassia says. “There are two things about this chic antiperspirant: I really like elegant smells like the White Flower & Heliotrope Refill, and it's anti-white marks, which would be a tragedy, especially on the runway."

Below, Nassia shares her fashion-week essentials, her best beauty hacks and her current favourite scent.

1. Which beauty products give you the biggest mood boost at London Fashion Week?
Eye patches, because you get so tired you can’t open your eyes; lip balm, Dove Refillable Anti-Perspirant and a travel-sized hairbrush for a quick brush before going into a fitting.

2. If you could steal someone else’s makeup bag, whose would it be?
Gabbriette’s. She’s very cool and quite prolific. I love her style and how she’s brought darkness into mainstream fashion.

3. Describe your most epic beauty look from a shoot, an event or a red carpet
The first time I walked the red carpet with no makeup on [in 2024]. It wasn’t by choice; my flight was delayed, my suitcase was lost and my dress didn’t arrive on time. I enjoyed it, and it’s become my trademark now.

4. You only have one product to use for the rest of your life—what is it?
A good face serum because I don't like creams.

5. What’s the best piece of beauty advice that you have ever received?
My mother says things seem easier after a good night’s sleep.

6. It’s a bad hair day. What do you do?
A sleek bun. But if it doesn’t work with the outfit, sometimes you have to accept that it’s a bad hair day and move on.

7. You’ve got a spot. Are you team pop it or team leave it alone?
I do enjoy popping them. My dad’s trick is to put lemon on them, and I use spot stickers that I’ll also sometimes wear for no reason.

8. What's your signature fragrance?
At the moment, because I’m in London Fashion Week mode, I've been loving my Dove antiperspirant in the scent White Flower & Heliotrope because you want to be simple but still chic at castings. I’m also excited to try the Lily and Green Lime Refill because the scent is so fresh.

9. Strong lip or a strong eye?
A strong eye because I can’t say no to a canapé at a fashion party.

10. You’re having your nails done. What’s your go-to colour?
Nude due to work, but I’m happiest when I have nothing on my nails.

11. What's your beauty philosophy in a sentence?
Taking care of my skin without excess.

12. What's your favourite lipstick colour?
I’m more into a brownish lip liner (they last longer) with a smokey eye.

13. What’s the secret to your incredible skin?
A Mediterranean diet with loads of olive oil. My skin is the best when I come back from a holiday—it’s the sun and sea, eating well and sleeping well.

14. Candles, reed diffusers or nothing at all?
Candles! I'm burning a tomato one at the moment so I can pretend it’s still summer. Once I finish them, I clean out the jars and use them as cups.

15. What beauty product do you recommend to everyone?
Dove’s Refillable Anti-Perspirants, because you can’t go wrong. It’s eco-friendly, does the job and smells nice. It's an accessible luxury that you can use every day.

16. Name one beauty product that is always in your handbag
Eye serum to put under my eyes. I really love my dark circles, and I don’t want to cover them up. They try to [cover them] on set, but it makes my eyes look so small.

17. Which era of beauty inspires you most?
The next one, because I love seeing what beauty trends emerge each season. The “perfect” Instagram-face era is kind of over. I feel like we’re going to shift into characteristics that are not made for AI, the things that make us human.

18. Are you team dewy or matte?
Dewy for a fashion party, and sometimes I put lip gloss on my cheekbones. Matte if I get my makeup done for the red carpet, for a perfect finish.

19. Describe your brows in one word
Big. My top tip is to never pluck them. Just let them grow.

20. Confession time: how often do you clean your makeup brushes?
I don’t wear makeup when I’m not working, so I don’t use any brushes.

21. What beauty rule do you always break?
I don’t wear SPF during winter. I try and fail because it's so grey in London. That being said, sunsticks are a revelation for me because they’re light and my skin can still breathe.

22. Would you rather have ultra-skinny brows or bleached brows?
Bleached brows. I bleach them for fashion shoots, and I love them on me, but [it isn’t] good for my brows.

23 Which celebrity’s hair would you love to steal?
A good friend of mine, Sarah Necia, creates wigs for most celebrities, so I’ll go straight to the source for a couple of ‘50s-inspired wigs.

24. Best beauty hack?
Once a week or every other week, I mix olive oil with brown sugar, and it's a great body exfoliator and moisturiser.

25. What do you do in your downtime to relax and reset?
I love swimming, talking to my friends, scrolling on Instagram and eating tiramisu ice cream.

Shop Nassia Matsa's Favourite Beauty Products: