Tinashe’s right: she looks so good on my mood board. 

Radiant smile on red carpets: check. Sleek honey blonde locks in her Insta selfies: check. And, of course, her renowned poreless skin: big check. It’s like she was manufactured at the pretty factory for stardom. Yes, she may have won the genetic lottery for Hollywood good looks, but the rest is the result of a decade-long (you read that right: a decade—feel old yet?) learning curve of polishing her vocal prowess, honing her craft and more importantly, perfecting her self-care.

Let’s be clear: longevity as a pop star is no easy feat. Hot off the Houston stage, the songstress dials in without an ounce of exhaustion in her voice. It’s been just a few hours since her hours-long performance. She’s freshly checked into her Atlanta hotel before that night’s show and fulfilling rounds of interviews about her latest tracks, buzziest collabs, and partnership with skincare brand Cetaphil. Bubbly, peppy, and ready to dive in 100%, she is unmistakably Tinashe.

There’s a theory that it takes 10 years to master one’s craft, and, well, Tinashe’s perfectly on time. Introduced on the world stage in 2014 with her hit track, “2 on”, Tinashe is no newbie to the spotlight—HD paparazzi shots and zoom camera lenses included. Seven studio albums and two world tours on, the Kentucky native is well acquainted with the popstar lifestyle: sleepless nights in the recording studio, globe-trotting for screaming fans at sold-out performances, and flaunting her picture-perfect everything around the clock. 

These days, you can most frequently find her on an elevated platform in a jam-packed venue. The singer is in the throes of her highest career highs as of yet. Her latest era, titled “Quantum Baby,” has transformed her name from 2010s R&B crooner to a modern-day genre-bending superstar. With summer anthem, “Nasty,” and an album of ass-shaking tracks in her back pocket, Tinashe is reaping what she sowed over the past year, headlining her 38-date journey across the Americas, Australia, Asia, and Europe. Quite literally a “bus, club, ‘nother club, ‘nother club, plane, next place, no sleep” type of deal. Exhausting, it sounds. Still, amidst the vagabonding and dense stage makeup, that quintessential Tinashe glow has not skipped a beat.

Rest assured, she’s no gatekeeper, though. The magic to her fresh face is not found in the expensive lasers and high-maintenance fillers of Hollywood med spas. There’s no nip or tuck on the market to get this complexion. Instead, Tinashe strips it back to basics. Her secret: some good old-fashioned (self) TLC.

“I feel the most in my element when I’m not neglecting myself and my skin. Honestly, when I was younger, I had what I call ‘unproblematic skin,’ so I kind of just…ignored it,” she laughs. “I never had a skincare routine.” 

Cue the collective envy! 

“But as I got older, I realized that skincare is an extra layer to my self-care routine. Giving back to myself and nurturing myself is so important,” Tinashe quickly clarifies. 

This quells some of my brewing jealousy. 

When it comes to keeping her skin glowing and grounded through the whirlwind days of her ongoing world tour, Tinashe's got it down to a fine science—or rather, a refreshingly simple art. Step one: hydration. From packing a humidifier on the road to sealing her skin barrier with ultra lush cream formulas, she keeps moisture on lock for her vocals and her looks. 

Step two: stick with the essentials. Tinashe spills she is most frequently reaching for SPF (a new add after years of her mother’s pestering advice) and “a really good moisturizer” (with a drawn-out emphasis on the “really” so you know it’s real). Her favorite? The Gentle Exfoliating SA Lotion by Cetaphil (a velvety smooth moisturizer with Salicylic Acid, Mandelic Acid, and PHAs) which she vows is her daily holy grail. Nashe notes it’s good to use in your next “everything shower” for full body radiance. Naturally, I believed her, so I added it to my cart before the interview was even over. You may want to do the same before it sells out.

With nine more countries to go until tour wraps, Tinashe carves out a little peace of mind between nights of commanding crowds. Her formula, she says, is a mixture of sunshine (“It’s so important to see the sun”), nutritious eats (anything but McDonald’s), and staying grounded (“I like to have a family member on the road, someone that makes me feel like I don't have to perform all the time”).

After all, the me-time rituals aren’t just about staying sane—they’re about staying ready. 

“I’m always thinking about what’s next. The wheels are always turning,” Tinashe shares, her voice equal parts relaxed and resolute. She hints at new visuals (“I have fun things planned for the fans”) and—gasp!—new releases in the works. Yes, folks, the third part of her sonic trilogy is on the way.

“It's funny because when I'm on tour, the first thing I think about is how I really need to get back in the studio,” she explains of her all-hands-on-deck approach to constantly pushing forward. “I'm just feeling very inspired and excited to use that inspiration for the next wave.”

In the meantime, we'll all be upping our at-home night-time routine, adding Quantum Baby dance breaks and Cetaphil moisturizers to the the lineup.