Wednesday, June 24, 2015
10 Secrets of People Who Age Gracefully
Experts reveal tricks to keeping your youthful glow with each passing year.
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Thursday, June 18, 2015
16 Tips to Prevent Makeup from Melting Off in Hot Weather
Beach weekends, backyard BBQs, brunch at sidewalk cafés: You want to be outside enjoying the long, sunny days—and look great doing it. "Summer makeup should feel as comfortable as your favorite T-shirt," says Troy Surratt, founder of Surratt Beauty. But unless you're in some sort of perfect-climate dome, you know the havoc steamy temps can wreak. Happily, these strategies and beauty finds stand the test of time—and humidity.
A Fresher Face
Rethink your lotion: A rich moisturizer—paired with all that humidity—can cause makeup to slide off. "I tell my clients to use their heavy-duty creams at night, so skin is soft and smooth for foundation come morning," says Mally Roncal, founder of Mally Beauty.
Remember that it's all about that base: Switch to a long-wearing foundation, like MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation ($32; nordstrom.com). It tends to have less slip. Blend with a damp makeup sponge: "When wet, the sponge will bounce over skin, depositing the perfect amount of coverage for a dewy finish," Surratt says. Then gently press a tissue over your face to lift off any excess oil.
Banish grease: As the day goes on and your face gets moist, powder will settle in all the wrong places (those lines and creases). So use a mattifying balm to nix the slick instead. Try Revlon PhotoReady Prime + Anti Shine Balm ($12; target.com).
Related: 16 Adult Acne Myths, Busted
Budgeproof Blush
Fight the fade: "Creamy formulas melt into skin, imparting a natural glow," Roncal says. We like Charlotte Tilbury Colour of Youth Lip & Cheek Glow ($58; charlottetilbury.com). Dust a similar shade of powder blush right on top to keep color intact.
All-day radiance: "Everyone looks better with some warmth in their skin," Surratt says. He suggests sweeping bronzer over the places where you overheat first—across the hairline, down the nose and up the cheeks. Our pick: Make Up For Ever Pro Bronze Fusion ($36; sephora.com).
Related: 29 Beauty Tips You Need to Know
Pretty Eyes Now
Start with a clean slate: "Remove every stitch of oil before you put on shadow so it won't slide," says New York City celebrity makeup artist Suzy Gerstein. She swipes a remover-soaked cotton pad over lids before dabbing on a layer of primer to create a base.
Lighten up: Stick to pale, shimmery shadows, which have a brightening effect in the sun, Surratt says. He likes champagne, warm gold and crystal blue. Opt for creamier versions of your fave summer shade, since they have less fallout. Try Guerlain Summer Waterproof Cream Eye Shadow in Ocean Blue and White Sand ($32 each; guerlain.com).
Layer your liner: Dip a liner brush in gel eyeliner and push it right against the lash line for subtle definition. "Then trace with powder shadow to set it," Roncal says.
Seal the deal: No need to give up your go-to mascara just because it isn't waterproof. After you put it on, apply a water-resistant topcoat, like the new Clarins Double Fix' Mascara ($22; nordstrom.com). Says Surratt, "I love that these formulas keep you from rocking a pair of raccoon eyes but don't feel like tar on your lashes."
Related: The Golden Rules for Wide, Bright Eyes
Lasting Lip Color
Add a hint of tint: Gloss may be light, but it has a habit of slip-sliding away. Instead, Gerstein says, fill in your entire mouth with a pencil the shade of your lips, then top with a tinted balm. A good combo: It Cosmetics YLBB Waterproof Lip Liner Stain in Blushing Nude ($20; ulta.com) and Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Hydrating Lip Balm in N.10 ($36; neimanmarcus.com).
Boost staying power: To keep color from feathering and weathering, trace the rim of your mouth with concealer, Roncal recommends, using a thin lip brush for precision.
Sunscreen that looks good on you
The latest formulas are light and sheer—anything but goopy and ghostlike.
Mighty mist: Coola SPF 30 Makeup Setting Spray ($36; sephora.com). Shield your skin as you set your makeup with this invisible spray; infused with green tea and aloe, it feels wonderfully cooling on hot days.
Safety tint: Skinceuticals Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50 ($25; amazon.com). The cream is perfect for summer: It provides just enough coverage (no foundation needed), mattifies oily skin and, of course, protects against sun damage.
Everyday essential: Tarteguard 30 Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($32; sephora.com). Made with maracuja oil and red algae, this nonsticky physicial block softens skin. Wear it alone or apply before primer.
Powder protection: ColoreScience Sunforgettable Mineral Sunscreen Brush SPF 30 ($42; amazon.com). This powder provides a soft-focus finish and a broad-spectrum UV block; the self-dispensing brush makes it a no-brainer to apply.
Watch the video: 3 Tips for Applying Sunscreen
A Fresher Face
Rethink your lotion: A rich moisturizer—paired with all that humidity—can cause makeup to slide off. "I tell my clients to use their heavy-duty creams at night, so skin is soft and smooth for foundation come morning," says Mally Roncal, founder of Mally Beauty.
Remember that it's all about that base: Switch to a long-wearing foundation, like MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation ($32; nordstrom.com). It tends to have less slip. Blend with a damp makeup sponge: "When wet, the sponge will bounce over skin, depositing the perfect amount of coverage for a dewy finish," Surratt says. Then gently press a tissue over your face to lift off any excess oil.
Banish grease: As the day goes on and your face gets moist, powder will settle in all the wrong places (those lines and creases). So use a mattifying balm to nix the slick instead. Try Revlon PhotoReady Prime + Anti Shine Balm ($12; target.com).
Related: 16 Adult Acne Myths, Busted
Budgeproof Blush
Fight the fade: "Creamy formulas melt into skin, imparting a natural glow," Roncal says. We like Charlotte Tilbury Colour of Youth Lip & Cheek Glow ($58; charlottetilbury.com). Dust a similar shade of powder blush right on top to keep color intact.
All-day radiance: "Everyone looks better with some warmth in their skin," Surratt says. He suggests sweeping bronzer over the places where you overheat first—across the hairline, down the nose and up the cheeks. Our pick: Make Up For Ever Pro Bronze Fusion ($36; sephora.com).
Related: 29 Beauty Tips You Need to Know
Pretty Eyes Now
Start with a clean slate: "Remove every stitch of oil before you put on shadow so it won't slide," says New York City celebrity makeup artist Suzy Gerstein. She swipes a remover-soaked cotton pad over lids before dabbing on a layer of primer to create a base.
Lighten up: Stick to pale, shimmery shadows, which have a brightening effect in the sun, Surratt says. He likes champagne, warm gold and crystal blue. Opt for creamier versions of your fave summer shade, since they have less fallout. Try Guerlain Summer Waterproof Cream Eye Shadow in Ocean Blue and White Sand ($32 each; guerlain.com).
Layer your liner: Dip a liner brush in gel eyeliner and push it right against the lash line for subtle definition. "Then trace with powder shadow to set it," Roncal says.
Seal the deal: No need to give up your go-to mascara just because it isn't waterproof. After you put it on, apply a water-resistant topcoat, like the new Clarins Double Fix' Mascara ($22; nordstrom.com). Says Surratt, "I love that these formulas keep you from rocking a pair of raccoon eyes but don't feel like tar on your lashes."
Related: The Golden Rules for Wide, Bright Eyes
Lasting Lip Color
Add a hint of tint: Gloss may be light, but it has a habit of slip-sliding away. Instead, Gerstein says, fill in your entire mouth with a pencil the shade of your lips, then top with a tinted balm. A good combo: It Cosmetics YLBB Waterproof Lip Liner Stain in Blushing Nude ($20; ulta.com) and Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Hydrating Lip Balm in N.10 ($36; neimanmarcus.com).
Boost staying power: To keep color from feathering and weathering, trace the rim of your mouth with concealer, Roncal recommends, using a thin lip brush for precision.
Sunscreen that looks good on you
The latest formulas are light and sheer—anything but goopy and ghostlike.
Mighty mist: Coola SPF 30 Makeup Setting Spray ($36; sephora.com). Shield your skin as you set your makeup with this invisible spray; infused with green tea and aloe, it feels wonderfully cooling on hot days.
Safety tint: Skinceuticals Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50 ($25; amazon.com). The cream is perfect for summer: It provides just enough coverage (no foundation needed), mattifies oily skin and, of course, protects against sun damage.
Everyday essential: Tarteguard 30 Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($32; sephora.com). Made with maracuja oil and red algae, this nonsticky physicial block softens skin. Wear it alone or apply before primer.
Powder protection: ColoreScience Sunforgettable Mineral Sunscreen Brush SPF 30 ($42; amazon.com). This powder provides a soft-focus finish and a broad-spectrum UV block; the self-dispensing brush makes it a no-brainer to apply.
Watch the video: 3 Tips for Applying Sunscreen
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
How to Get Beachy Waves for Every Hair Type
The Universal Prep Step
There's one nonnegotiable when it comes to creating waves sans hot tools: starting with damp strands. "Hair is like wax; it's only malleable when wet," explains Riawna Capri, celebrity stylist for Clear Scalp & Hair. "It will set in whatever shape it dries in." The techniques here work best on clean, towel-dried hair and should be left to set overnight.
If your hair is... fine & straight
Thinner strands can go limp and lifeless in humid temps, so focus on creating both waves and va-va-voom volume.
To plump strands without weighing them down, mist a thickening spray from roots to tips, explains San Diego celebrity stylist Jet Rhys. We like Pantene Pro-V Powerful Body Booster Spray ($5; drugstore.com). Before bed, divide damp hair into four sections and tightly braid each one, starting 1 to 2 inches away from your scalp. "On straight hair, waves look the most natural when they begin slightly farther down," says celebrity stylist and Dove Hair Curl Expert Cynthia Alvarez. Pin the end of each plait to the opposite side of your head to secure the style overnight. In the a.m., remove pins and unravel braids. Flip your head over and spritz on a generous dose of dry texturizing spray: "This adds fullness and roughs up strands so they look less polished," Alvarez says. Try Shu Uemura Art of Hair Texture Waves ($38; shuuemuraartofhair-usa.com).
Related: Fight Frizzy Hair All Summer
If your hair is... curly & frizzy
Stretch out your curls correctly and they'll relax into loose, luscious waves.
Prep wet hair with a combo of gel and mousse; the former gives hold, the latter keeps strands touchable. Mix equal parts in your hands and apply throughout your hair. Our picks: Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel ($26; ulta.com) and Oribe Surfcomber Tousled Texture Mousse ($37; neimanmarcus.com). Split hair into five sections, one on top and two on either side of your head. Twist each piece, starting at the scalp. "It's essential to twist from the root so the wave is consistent throughout the length of the hair," Alvarez says. Pin the twists back at your crown—leaving them hanging increases the chance of frizz. Unwind in the morning, but lay off the product. Oversaturating hair will bring back your natural curl pattern. A spritz of hairspray, like Suave Professionals Luxe Style Infusion Anti-Humidity Hairspray ($5; walmart.com), is all you need.
Related: How to Look Great This Summer
If your hair is... short
Don't stress if you have cropped strands—as long as your hair is at least chin-length, you, too, can make waves.
Take a 1/2-inch piece of hair and fold the ends halfway up, forming a loop. Roll the loop up until you reach the root, securing it with bobby pins flat against your head, Rhys says. Repeat with remaining hair. Once you remove the pins in the morning, define your waves with a molding paste, such as Kevin Murphy Hair Resort ($25; go to kevinmurphy.com.au for salons). "It's important to play up the piecey-ness so the finished style doesn't look like a 1920s wave," Capri explains. Flip your head over and rake a dime-size dollop through the undersides and along the ends of your strands.
if your hair is... thick & wavy
Lucky you: All you need to do is accentuate your natural texture.
Section towel-dried strands into four equal pieces, then work a nickel-size drop of curling cream through each to enhance the existing bend in your hair. Try Redken Curvaceous Full Swirl Cream Serum ($19; ulta.com). Split each section in half and tie the two pieces together in an overhand knot, as if you were starting to tie shoelaces; continue all the way down and secure with an elastic. Says Rhys, "This kind of crisscrossing brings out the natural wave, without it looking like an overly defined ringlet." Undo the next morning and tousle, then finish with a few shots of salt spray to create that edgy post-swim texture. A pro fave: Bumble and Bumble Surf Infusion ($29; sephora.com).
Related: Tricks for Beautiful, Low Maintenance Hair
DIY salt spray
When there's no beach day on the horizon, you can re-create the effect of salt water and ocean breezes at home with Capri's simple salt spray hack. In a spray bottle, combine 8 ounces warm water, 2 teaspoons coarse sea salt or Epsom salts, 1 teaspoon gel (for hold) and 4 or 5 drops of moisturizing coconut oil (which will also provide a yummy tropical scent). Shake well, then spritz liberally onto towel-dried hair.
Second-day style alert!
Day two? Try an updo: "Waves are the perfect foundation for a messy topknot, which works best when there's lots of texture and grip to the hair," Capri says. Spritz a dry shampoo along roots and massage with your fingers; this both absorbs excess oil and adds volume. Pull all your hair straight up from the crown, then twist and wrap it around itself until it forms a loose bun. Secure with bobby pins, but don't worry if a few pieces fall out—untidy is better. If your hair is on the shorter side, twist only the top half (the section from ear to ear) into a knot, leaving the rest down and loose.
There's one nonnegotiable when it comes to creating waves sans hot tools: starting with damp strands. "Hair is like wax; it's only malleable when wet," explains Riawna Capri, celebrity stylist for Clear Scalp & Hair. "It will set in whatever shape it dries in." The techniques here work best on clean, towel-dried hair and should be left to set overnight.
If your hair is... fine & straight
Thinner strands can go limp and lifeless in humid temps, so focus on creating both waves and va-va-voom volume.
To plump strands without weighing them down, mist a thickening spray from roots to tips, explains San Diego celebrity stylist Jet Rhys. We like Pantene Pro-V Powerful Body Booster Spray ($5; drugstore.com). Before bed, divide damp hair into four sections and tightly braid each one, starting 1 to 2 inches away from your scalp. "On straight hair, waves look the most natural when they begin slightly farther down," says celebrity stylist and Dove Hair Curl Expert Cynthia Alvarez. Pin the end of each plait to the opposite side of your head to secure the style overnight. In the a.m., remove pins and unravel braids. Flip your head over and spritz on a generous dose of dry texturizing spray: "This adds fullness and roughs up strands so they look less polished," Alvarez says. Try Shu Uemura Art of Hair Texture Waves ($38; shuuemuraartofhair-usa.com).
Related: Fight Frizzy Hair All Summer
If your hair is... curly & frizzy
Stretch out your curls correctly and they'll relax into loose, luscious waves.
Prep wet hair with a combo of gel and mousse; the former gives hold, the latter keeps strands touchable. Mix equal parts in your hands and apply throughout your hair. Our picks: Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel ($26; ulta.com) and Oribe Surfcomber Tousled Texture Mousse ($37; neimanmarcus.com). Split hair into five sections, one on top and two on either side of your head. Twist each piece, starting at the scalp. "It's essential to twist from the root so the wave is consistent throughout the length of the hair," Alvarez says. Pin the twists back at your crown—leaving them hanging increases the chance of frizz. Unwind in the morning, but lay off the product. Oversaturating hair will bring back your natural curl pattern. A spritz of hairspray, like Suave Professionals Luxe Style Infusion Anti-Humidity Hairspray ($5; walmart.com), is all you need.
Related: How to Look Great This Summer
If your hair is... short
Don't stress if you have cropped strands—as long as your hair is at least chin-length, you, too, can make waves.
Take a 1/2-inch piece of hair and fold the ends halfway up, forming a loop. Roll the loop up until you reach the root, securing it with bobby pins flat against your head, Rhys says. Repeat with remaining hair. Once you remove the pins in the morning, define your waves with a molding paste, such as Kevin Murphy Hair Resort ($25; go to kevinmurphy.com.au for salons). "It's important to play up the piecey-ness so the finished style doesn't look like a 1920s wave," Capri explains. Flip your head over and rake a dime-size dollop through the undersides and along the ends of your strands.
if your hair is... thick & wavy
Lucky you: All you need to do is accentuate your natural texture.
Section towel-dried strands into four equal pieces, then work a nickel-size drop of curling cream through each to enhance the existing bend in your hair. Try Redken Curvaceous Full Swirl Cream Serum ($19; ulta.com). Split each section in half and tie the two pieces together in an overhand knot, as if you were starting to tie shoelaces; continue all the way down and secure with an elastic. Says Rhys, "This kind of crisscrossing brings out the natural wave, without it looking like an overly defined ringlet." Undo the next morning and tousle, then finish with a few shots of salt spray to create that edgy post-swim texture. A pro fave: Bumble and Bumble Surf Infusion ($29; sephora.com).
Related: Tricks for Beautiful, Low Maintenance Hair
DIY salt spray
When there's no beach day on the horizon, you can re-create the effect of salt water and ocean breezes at home with Capri's simple salt spray hack. In a spray bottle, combine 8 ounces warm water, 2 teaspoons coarse sea salt or Epsom salts, 1 teaspoon gel (for hold) and 4 or 5 drops of moisturizing coconut oil (which will also provide a yummy tropical scent). Shake well, then spritz liberally onto towel-dried hair.
Second-day style alert!
Day two? Try an updo: "Waves are the perfect foundation for a messy topknot, which works best when there's lots of texture and grip to the hair," Capri says. Spritz a dry shampoo along roots and massage with your fingers; this both absorbs excess oil and adds volume. Pull all your hair straight up from the crown, then twist and wrap it around itself until it forms a loose bun. Secure with bobby pins, but don't worry if a few pieces fall out—untidy is better. If your hair is on the shorter side, twist only the top half (the section from ear to ear) into a knot, leaving the rest down and loose.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Ashley Greene Is One of Us
"This is the part I was telling you about," Ashley Greene says, pointing down at the canyon below. We're hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains, high above the fast-paced world of Hollywood, and the views at the top are stunning: clusters of lavish homes, lush trees and a blue sky that looks like it came straight out of a Crayola box.
It doesn't hurt that it's a perfect, 84-degrees-and-sunny California day, and that up here, it's just us, a dusty trail and a few random hikers who don't seem to recognize that there's a movie star in their midst. There are also no paparazzi—only a guy and his big, fluffy dog, which Ashley (who has four dogs of her own) stops to pet. "Hey, cutie," she says, scratching the dog's head before heading back uphill.
This hiking trail, located less than 10 minutes from her home, is a regular part of the 28-year-old's fitness regimen and a place she comes to clear her head. "Part of working out for me is having the ability to break away from all the stresses of the day," she says. "Up here, it's so pretty—you feel like you're not in L.A. at all." Then she adds with a laugh, "Don't give away the location!"
It makes sense that sporty Ashley—who, fittingly, is the face of Oakley women's eyewear—needs a private escape from the daily pressures of her acting career. In 2005, when she was just 17, she left her mom, dad and brother in Jacksonville, Fla., and moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. In 2007, she hit the jackpot by landing her best-known role to date: Alice Cullen in the Twilight saga, a part she went on to play in five blockbuster movies released over five years. In her latest film, Burying the Ex, she plays Evelyn, a girlfriend from hell "who also happens to be a zombie. Evelyn just takes it to the extreme," she says—and when it comes to her workouts, so does Ashley, considering that an hour and a half into our hike, she has barely broken a sweat.
RELATED: Burn More Calories with Hiking
Besides hiking, what are your favorite workouts?
I try to be active every day. I work with my trainer, doing metabolic circuit training, three times a week, and I do kickboxing, which I really love. It's one of the most intense things because at a certain point you just stop thinking and react. It's a great way to get out aggression. I also do a VersaClimber class that's great because it's so much cardio, and you just sweat everything out.
You have an older brother. Were you a tomboy as a kid?
Yeah, and we were super close and still are. He lives with me. I have a lot of boy cousins, and for the longest time I was the only girl. I played football with them and climbed trees and did martial arts. My mom tried to put me into dance, and I was like, "No thanks, Mom. I'm gonna go fight people."
Did you ever get injured?
I broke my femur. I was on a trampoline—so, kids, listen to your parents! I was just standing there, and my brother's friend and my best friend were jumping. He double-bounced me, and his knee connected with my femur and snapped it. I knew it was broken. The sound was unmistakable.
Oh no, how awful.
I have a high pain tolerance, and they put pins in, and when they took them out later it rebroke the same day. I had to wear half a body cast up to my waist. My biggest concern was that it was summer and I wasn't going to be able to go into the pool. But I definitely got really close to my parents because I had to rely on them for everything.
Did your upbringing help you when you moved to L.A.?
Because I was so young, I didn't grasp the insanity this world has to offer, and how difficult it is to break into this industry. My dad was a Marine, and we were taught we could do anything we put our minds to, and that mediocrity wasn't an option. I got a C once, and I was like, "C is average." And they were like, "You're not average, and you're never gonna be average." I feel lucky to have my family, and friends who will call me on my sh-t. To hear yes all the time is just not healthy. That's a hard thing to realize coming out here: Every single day, no matter how successful you are, there's always gonna be failure.
Do you ever feel like you're only as good as your last role?
Unfortunately, yeah. That's the thing: You can have an amazing performance and a great role, but the second you don't get the next one, the feelings of rejection and not being good enough kind of come back to you. Thankfully, I have a good support system. But the struggle is real.
RELATED: How to be Assertive and Love it!
Is there pressure in Hollywood to always look good?
Yeah, there's always going to be pressure. Anyone who doesn't feel pressure is a really good liar. You're always going to be too skinny or too fat or too muscular, and I've gotten every single one of those.
You've been called too fat?
Yeah, and listen, everyone has a different perception of what they think perfect is, and you're never gonna be able to please everyone. It's so tough, but once you come to terms with that, it's a little easier to deal with. At this point, I care more about what people are saying about my acting ability than what I look like. When I started and got Twilight, I think I was 20, and I was more impressionable. Now I'm 28, and if people are unhappy with the way I look, then they can be unhappy. But I feel strong and healthy and happy. Some people, like Gisele Bundchen, have crazy genes, and that's just what she looks like. But most of us are not 5'11" and don't look like that naturally.
Have you tried any weird fad diet where you later thought, What was I thinking?
I lasted a day on that cayenne pepper diet. It gave me a headache and I was really grumpy. It was like, "This cannot be healthy." I've done juicing and then quickly realized that I couldn't just do juices if I was gonna continue to work out the way I do. Right now, I feel the strongest I've ever been. I lift things and my guy friends are just like, "What?!"
Is bulking up a concern?
I was hesitant to start training the way my trainer trains because it is a lot of weight. But the way he does it, your heart rate is up the entire time, so you actually get very strong but stay lean. That's important because on film, you don't want to be bigger than the male actors, which does happen.
Really, the guys are small?
A lot of male actors are so tiny. Unless they're from Australia, and then you get, like, the Hemsworths and Hugh Jackman.
What's a typical meal for you?
Even though there are meals on set, I generally pack stuff. I have a lot of willpower, but once you get to craft services, it's doughnuts and Cheetos and it's more difficult to say no. There's a reason I don't keep Cheez-Its in the house.
Is that your weakness?
I like Cheez-Its a lot, which goes against everything I stand for. I like sodium so much, but that's difficult when you're on-screen because it makes you retain water. At the end of the day, you have to allow yourself those things, as long as they're not a staple. You don't want to be the girl who's looking at the back label of everything!
Do you cook?
I do, a little bit. My boyfriend, Paul Khoury, grew up cooking, so we cook at home a lot. That way you can control what's going into your body.
Would you like to have kids?
Oh, yeah. No more than three. Probably two. I'm the opposite of my mom—she had us really young, and now she and my dad are able to have fun. I want to get married, enjoy that, and then when I'm ready to completely give myself to my kids, I will. But I'm a little too selfish still.
Have you ever gotten a paycheck and gone wild?
Once, after one of my bigger paychecks, I bought a Burberry bag and a Marc Jacobs bag. You have to allow yourself to splurge once in a while. Although I've definitely had to learn restraint. It's hard when you grow up relatively poor; I watched my dad work for everything we had. So being able to buy things you only dreamed of, you have to check yourself. Because if you do that too much, you're gonna be broke—but with a bunch of really nice bags!
Ashley's Favorite Things
Indulgence: "McDonald's Vanilla Cone."
Beauty products: "Charlotte Tilbury mascara, Eos lip balm, Guerlain bronzer and Anastasia brow pencil."
Instagram accounts: "@bestvacations and @livelokai. The photos are always breathtaking and inspirational. Or anything with animals."
Fitness apps: "Lumosity and Fitbit, for mind and body."
Jeans: "Ripped J Brand blue jeans and Mother blue jeans."
Summer must-haves: "Oakley Kickback sunglasses and HydroPeptide Solar Defense sunscreen."
Hair finds: "Davines shampoo and conditioner, and anything Oribe for styling."
Drink: "Blue Moon beer with an orange slice."
TV shows: "Orphan Black, House of Cards, and The Royals (guilty pleasure!)."
It doesn't hurt that it's a perfect, 84-degrees-and-sunny California day, and that up here, it's just us, a dusty trail and a few random hikers who don't seem to recognize that there's a movie star in their midst. There are also no paparazzi—only a guy and his big, fluffy dog, which Ashley (who has four dogs of her own) stops to pet. "Hey, cutie," she says, scratching the dog's head before heading back uphill.
This hiking trail, located less than 10 minutes from her home, is a regular part of the 28-year-old's fitness regimen and a place she comes to clear her head. "Part of working out for me is having the ability to break away from all the stresses of the day," she says. "Up here, it's so pretty—you feel like you're not in L.A. at all." Then she adds with a laugh, "Don't give away the location!"
It makes sense that sporty Ashley—who, fittingly, is the face of Oakley women's eyewear—needs a private escape from the daily pressures of her acting career. In 2005, when she was just 17, she left her mom, dad and brother in Jacksonville, Fla., and moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. In 2007, she hit the jackpot by landing her best-known role to date: Alice Cullen in the Twilight saga, a part she went on to play in five blockbuster movies released over five years. In her latest film, Burying the Ex, she plays Evelyn, a girlfriend from hell "who also happens to be a zombie. Evelyn just takes it to the extreme," she says—and when it comes to her workouts, so does Ashley, considering that an hour and a half into our hike, she has barely broken a sweat.
RELATED: Burn More Calories with Hiking
Besides hiking, what are your favorite workouts?
I try to be active every day. I work with my trainer, doing metabolic circuit training, three times a week, and I do kickboxing, which I really love. It's one of the most intense things because at a certain point you just stop thinking and react. It's a great way to get out aggression. I also do a VersaClimber class that's great because it's so much cardio, and you just sweat everything out.
You have an older brother. Were you a tomboy as a kid?
Yeah, and we were super close and still are. He lives with me. I have a lot of boy cousins, and for the longest time I was the only girl. I played football with them and climbed trees and did martial arts. My mom tried to put me into dance, and I was like, "No thanks, Mom. I'm gonna go fight people."
Did you ever get injured?
I broke my femur. I was on a trampoline—so, kids, listen to your parents! I was just standing there, and my brother's friend and my best friend were jumping. He double-bounced me, and his knee connected with my femur and snapped it. I knew it was broken. The sound was unmistakable.
Oh no, how awful.
I have a high pain tolerance, and they put pins in, and when they took them out later it rebroke the same day. I had to wear half a body cast up to my waist. My biggest concern was that it was summer and I wasn't going to be able to go into the pool. But I definitely got really close to my parents because I had to rely on them for everything.
Did your upbringing help you when you moved to L.A.?
Because I was so young, I didn't grasp the insanity this world has to offer, and how difficult it is to break into this industry. My dad was a Marine, and we were taught we could do anything we put our minds to, and that mediocrity wasn't an option. I got a C once, and I was like, "C is average." And they were like, "You're not average, and you're never gonna be average." I feel lucky to have my family, and friends who will call me on my sh-t. To hear yes all the time is just not healthy. That's a hard thing to realize coming out here: Every single day, no matter how successful you are, there's always gonna be failure.
Do you ever feel like you're only as good as your last role?
Unfortunately, yeah. That's the thing: You can have an amazing performance and a great role, but the second you don't get the next one, the feelings of rejection and not being good enough kind of come back to you. Thankfully, I have a good support system. But the struggle is real.
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Is there pressure in Hollywood to always look good?
Yeah, there's always going to be pressure. Anyone who doesn't feel pressure is a really good liar. You're always going to be too skinny or too fat or too muscular, and I've gotten every single one of those.
You've been called too fat?
Yeah, and listen, everyone has a different perception of what they think perfect is, and you're never gonna be able to please everyone. It's so tough, but once you come to terms with that, it's a little easier to deal with. At this point, I care more about what people are saying about my acting ability than what I look like. When I started and got Twilight, I think I was 20, and I was more impressionable. Now I'm 28, and if people are unhappy with the way I look, then they can be unhappy. But I feel strong and healthy and happy. Some people, like Gisele Bundchen, have crazy genes, and that's just what she looks like. But most of us are not 5'11" and don't look like that naturally.
Have you tried any weird fad diet where you later thought, What was I thinking?
I lasted a day on that cayenne pepper diet. It gave me a headache and I was really grumpy. It was like, "This cannot be healthy." I've done juicing and then quickly realized that I couldn't just do juices if I was gonna continue to work out the way I do. Right now, I feel the strongest I've ever been. I lift things and my guy friends are just like, "What?!"
Is bulking up a concern?
I was hesitant to start training the way my trainer trains because it is a lot of weight. But the way he does it, your heart rate is up the entire time, so you actually get very strong but stay lean. That's important because on film, you don't want to be bigger than the male actors, which does happen.
Really, the guys are small?
A lot of male actors are so tiny. Unless they're from Australia, and then you get, like, the Hemsworths and Hugh Jackman.
What's a typical meal for you?
Even though there are meals on set, I generally pack stuff. I have a lot of willpower, but once you get to craft services, it's doughnuts and Cheetos and it's more difficult to say no. There's a reason I don't keep Cheez-Its in the house.
Is that your weakness?
I like Cheez-Its a lot, which goes against everything I stand for. I like sodium so much, but that's difficult when you're on-screen because it makes you retain water. At the end of the day, you have to allow yourself those things, as long as they're not a staple. You don't want to be the girl who's looking at the back label of everything!
Do you cook?
I do, a little bit. My boyfriend, Paul Khoury, grew up cooking, so we cook at home a lot. That way you can control what's going into your body.
Would you like to have kids?
Oh, yeah. No more than three. Probably two. I'm the opposite of my mom—she had us really young, and now she and my dad are able to have fun. I want to get married, enjoy that, and then when I'm ready to completely give myself to my kids, I will. But I'm a little too selfish still.
Have you ever gotten a paycheck and gone wild?
Once, after one of my bigger paychecks, I bought a Burberry bag and a Marc Jacobs bag. You have to allow yourself to splurge once in a while. Although I've definitely had to learn restraint. It's hard when you grow up relatively poor; I watched my dad work for everything we had. So being able to buy things you only dreamed of, you have to check yourself. Because if you do that too much, you're gonna be broke—but with a bunch of really nice bags!
Ashley's Favorite Things
Indulgence: "McDonald's Vanilla Cone."
Beauty products: "Charlotte Tilbury mascara, Eos lip balm, Guerlain bronzer and Anastasia brow pencil."
Instagram accounts: "@bestvacations and @livelokai. The photos are always breathtaking and inspirational. Or anything with animals."
Fitness apps: "Lumosity and Fitbit, for mind and body."
Jeans: "Ripped J Brand blue jeans and Mother blue jeans."
Summer must-haves: "Oakley Kickback sunglasses and HydroPeptide Solar Defense sunscreen."
Hair finds: "Davines shampoo and conditioner, and anything Oribe for styling."
Drink: "Blue Moon beer with an orange slice."
TV shows: "Orphan Black, House of Cards, and The Royals (guilty pleasure!)."
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