I grew up a bunhead, the code name for ballet dancers who wear their hair in a top knot morning, noon, and night. Anyway, the fact I had just met Zoë Saldana, one of the actresses from Center Stage, a movie that I was basically OBSESSED with while growing up, put me on cloud nine—we talked about our bunheaded pasts and she was so cool and down to earth it was like talking to a friend. So down to earth, in fact, that I realized I had just told her that I still perform periodically with a dance group here in the city, and one that’s quite unusual. “Wow, I just told Zoë Saldana I still Ukrainian folk dance,” I thought to myself, horrified. Luckily, while I was spilling my secrets that humid afternoon, so was Zoë, who opened up about her family, fragrance, and her beauty faves in general.

Oh my god it’s so gross out today. “You know, I love being in a humid environment—but not like tropical humidity. I like New York and East Coast humidity because living in the West Coast, trust me, you will prefer this over July heat any day where your lips start to chap, your nails and hair break, and your skin always feels itchy.”

Well, at least you’re glowing all the time! Speaking of glow—your skin is so beautiful, how do you keep it looking so flawless? “I think washing your face twice a day at least is the most important thing to do, especially when you live in a city because there’s so much pollution. Then there’s s moisturizing and wearing sunblock. I’m actually one of those people that really enjoys taking care of their skin. I don’t see it as work, but really just as part of life, just like brushing your teeth.”

So what are some of your most trusted skincare products? “I’ve always used Cetaphil cleanser and moisturizer. My skin’s not very sensitive, but because I travel so much, it sometimes reacts to the change in environments. I’ve also been using La Prairie Cellular Power Infusion. It makes my skin feel rejuvenated.”

Do you ever use any of those high-tech devices on your skin? “No, my go-to tool I use is a small white towel to wash my face. I buy them in bulk every time I go to Costco.”

Do you get facials regularly? “I do, at least once a month. I go to this amazing girl in Los Angeles who works at the Mid Valley Dermatology center. I’m very particular, so I won’t go to a place unless I find someone I can trust, but she’s amazing because she really looks after your skin. I hate when someone overloads my face with products or tries to oversell me crap.”

What sort of treatments do you get? “I’ll do whatever the person that I trust tells me I need, but I don’t like to get extractions every time because I like to encourage my body to do things on its own. I do love when they use the steam to open up my pores, and microdermabrasion treatments. I’ve been hooked on the diamond machine since I was a teenager when my mom and I used to go to a place in Queens together that used one.”

Read More at Allure: HERE

I remember watching Center Stage the summer before sixth grade with all of my dance friends and seeing Zoe Saldana as the feisty Eva Rodriguez. Girl was fierce. I wanted to be her and will forever give her credit for my sassy-pants attitude. While she appeared in a ton of movies after Center Stage like Crossroads, Drumline, and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, her career didn’t blow up until 2009. Two massive blockbusters, Star Trek and Avatar, launched Zoe into super-stardom. She’s now every Comic Con go-ers dream, whether they’re fantasizing about the sexy space goddess Uhura or the phenomenally hot (and blue) Neytiri. Zoe has it going on. Her newest film, Colombiana, is in theaters now. You can see her kick ass as the gorgeous Cataleya, who becomes an assassin after her parents are murdered. She’s definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Recently we had the opportunity to discuss some hot topics with Zoe, and here’s what she said:

1. Who inspires you most?

My family, my mother and sisters have all inspired me. They have all been supportive and by my side through everything. I learn from them and they are my best friends.

2. If you could give yourself 5 years ago some advice, what would it be?

I would probably say even if things don’t always go your way, still believe in yourself and keep trying to move forward.

3. What did you think you would be doing now when you were 18?

I was a trained dancer for years but knew that I had this desire to continue performing and loved the creative outlet of acting. I always wanted to do something that I could express myself, challenge myself, and do something creative.

4. What advice do you have for aspiring actresses?

I think I would say that if you really want it badly then believe in yourself, be strong, keep learning and don’t be afraid to take chances.

5. What’s the worst advice you’ve ever gotten?

That I should just stay in my comfort zone.

6. What’s your biggest turn off?

I think ignorance is a huge turn off.

Read the rest of the interview: HERE

Zoe Saldana might be better known for her day job as a successful actress, but she’s also translated her burgeoning fashion interests into a second job as the founder/partner of My Fashion Database. Two years ago, when Saldana launched the site, along with her fiancé, former model Keith Britton, and the help of their close friend Jordan Glassberg, they were simply trying to provide fast, efficient answers to their own style questions: Who shot that editorial in V magazine from September 2008? Who was the manicurist for the recent Lindsey Wixson spread in i-D? This month, MyFDB, dubbed “fashion’s IMDB,” was relaunched with expanded features, including the ability to view ad campaigns and immediately shop the looks. Tonight, the actress will celebrate the relaunch with, what else, a party in New York as fashion week here comes to a close. Saldana spoke to Style.com about MyFDB, mused over a Prabal collaboration, and the next job title she wants: intern.
—Kristin Studeman
What prompted you to create MyFDB?
The initial idea came about in 2006. It came from our desire to cater to the things that were missing for us. As an actress it was hard for me to feel so aloof on what goes on in fashion. Every time you leave your house, you are wearing clothes and you have to create an image. We wanted to give people all the info they need for that.

Are there any issues in particular you were trying provide answers for with MyFDB?
Yes—what am I going to wear? Besides Style.com, which is so informative, no one else out there is really giving you information like this. With MyFDB, you can find out who is this photographer, who are the stylists that work with certain brands, who are the hair and makeup people that I might find interesting. It’s for things like that that are hard to find. There wasn’t that one site to where you could find out Lara Stone’s editorials, who does she have a contract with, etc.

What is the most useful feature of your site?
I love that MyFDB has the largest directory of fashion people and companies out there. That, to me, is one of the best features. It just gives you access without taking away the class and the poise that fashion has. It’s not a social network. I would say it’s classier than that, maybe that’s not the right word, but it’s a useful tool for people.

What features do you hope to add to the site in the near future?
I would like to provide a chance to see vintage magazines from back in the day and see how magazines have evolved according to our cultural and political evolution. That would be pretty cool, right?

I know you have been asked before if you would design your own collection and you sound hesitant. What about a collaboration with a designer, like your good friend Prabal Gurung?
That is something that I would love to do. I would only do it if I could collaborate with someone like Prabal. He’s like a little Meryl Streep when it comes to fashion—he is just stellar. There are many amazing designers that are completely prolific. To sit and be in the same room as them when they are putting their collections together would be really cool. From Tom Ford to Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy, those guys have paved the way. It would be amazing actually to do an internship.

I am guessing any and all of those designers would love to have Zoe Saldana as their intern. Are you serious?
I would get them coffee just so I could listen. I have been to Francisco Costa’s work studio in New York and to see him working, it’s wonderful. They [designers] are true pirates and rock stars. They are kind of like Nascar drivers. There is no such thing as an off-season and they are racing year round. Not many people understand that.

Read the rest of the interview at Style: HERE