“Some days I don’t feel strong enough, and some days I don’t feel good, but it’s about meeting yourself where you’re at and taking the time,” said Cara Delevingne.
In conversation with WWD, post-International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women on Nov. 25, the 33-year-old model and L’Oréal Paris spokeswoman for Stand Up, a program empowering bystanders to safely intervene in street harassment, discussed the convergence of beauty and personal development in tandem with her ever-changing wellness routine.
Related Articles
Delevingne started by explaining how she’s managed to harness strength through multiple channels, from self-defense workouts to breathwork, rest and relaxation after an emotional episode.
You May Also Like
When it comes to beauty, Delevingne said she’s learned to take the pressure off, to ignore the noise and enjoy her own rituals. “It’s a form of self-expression,” she said. “I find it quite meditative when I take my time to get ready for something.
“Honestly, forget the party, it’s about getting ready sometimes for me with the music, and having fun,” she continued. “Getting dinner with your friends and putting on a fun lip color — it just can make a little difference to something that feels very big.”
Othertimes, beauty isn’t about makeup at all for Delevingne. If she isn’t in the mood to put products on her face, she won’t. “It just depends on how I feel and is about meeting myself where I’m at,” she noted.
When she’s under the weather, Delevingne will certainly reach for Vitamin C over concealer, but supplements aren’t fixtures in her daily routine either. Products, vitamins and otherwise are taken on a need-basis. “I adapt to how I’m feeling,” the Chanel muse explained. Same goes for her social calendar. “If I want a night in, I can say I’ll be somewhere, but there’s always a 50/50 chance I might not go. I tend to proclaim my flakiness early, so technically I’m not flaky,” she continued.
That said, she does have a few wellness non-negotiables, including 10 minutes of breathing exercises and yoga each morning before she’s allowed to unlock her phone. This is to help wake her muscles and “get the blood flowing” in her body. Delevingne also tries to drink at least one “massive bottle of water” a day.
“I try to take little moments for myself before my day really starts. And throughout the day, I remind myself to take a breath. I get overwhelmed pretty easily, so I think it’s really important to take a deep breath and try to let everything go — clear my head and get all the negative self-talk out,” she noted. “And at the end of the day, as you’re going to bed, congratulate yourself on having a successful day — even if you’ve done nothing — because every day lived is a successful day.”