Breanna Box is an IRL angel coming straight outta Los Angeles. We initially got hooked on her impeccable style, but stayed for her swell acting skills, beaut singing voice, theatrical makeup skillz, and LOL alter-ego, Gina with a G*.

To her, beauty stems from the soul, and when it comes to cultural issues, she’s especially passionate about America’s woeful immigration problems and the lack of education and funding surrounding mental health there. She approaches life with pride and empathy, and ultimately hopes to positively impact people through her art. Put simply, she’s a good egg.

Let the extremely likeable human teach you a ting or two about beauty, L.A. living, and female friendships. Who knows — you might (definitely will) find your next book, song, or beauty product obsession while you’re at it. Thanks, Breanna!

Where were you born, and where do you live now?
I was born in Minnesota and raised in Los Angeles. I am currently in Europe, and have not booked a return ticket yet…

How do you think your upbringing helped to shape your worldview?
I moved around a lot; I was always the “new kid.” I made so many different types of friends, got bullied, lived in both awful areas and really beautiful ones. I am extremely grateful for all of it, because I can now see through many perspectives. I think in order to grow, it’s important to be stretched and removed from your comfort zone. I’ll never forget my roots; I walk with pride and empathy.

Can you give us the Breanna elevator pitch?
Up and coming! *Cue the Julie London elevator music*

What have you been working on lately, and what’s in the pipeline for the rest of the year?
I’ve been recording my music, which is a dream for me to be doing. I will be working on wrapping up my package to gift to you ^_^.

Do you think female friendships are important? Why?
Of course! To have the same sex be a strong support system to motivate you forward is extremely important, and sadly, rare. I am blessed to have the women around me that I do. I am thankful for their pure love and happiness to see me achieve what my heart desires. Nothing can replace the energy of a whole, full woman who has your back, especially when she has a universe of creativity and purpose, like the ones I am lucky enough to have in my circle.

Do you exercise? What’s your routine?
I crave endorphins. When I’m in Los Angeles, I go to two classes of Platefit and Muay Thai a few times a week. I love to spar. I am just a Chun-Li IRL ;). When I’m travelling, I love to take a steam, then a cold shower. Shopping in a foreign country also becomes quite the cardio workout.

Who would play you in your biopic?
Juliette Binoche (she’s also a Pisces), Lauren Bacall, or Sandra Bernhard.

Which on-screen character do you most relate to?
Alice in Wonderland, The Joker, Medusa, Mommy Dearest, Lucy from Elfen Lied, TOMIE, and sometimes Aide from The Sopranos.

What’s your skincare routine? Tell us about the products you swear by.
I wake up and bump classical music before washing my face with Skinceuticals’ LHA Cleansing Gel (thanks to my facialist Sophia Phan, I found a line that does it all). I then use vitamin C oil, then vitamin B for moisture. Shiseido’s under-eye [cream] is next, or if I’m puffy from eating too many olives (I’m so sensitive to salt), I use Clinique’s Pep Start Eye Cream. Last, but the most important I put, is on SPF 35. I usually use Tatcha’s pore minimising sunscreen, but I just found a new product that doesn’t have any alcohol in it, from Juice Beauty. In the evening, I repeat, and every three days I use Skinceuticals’ face scrub, followed by Amorepacific’s overnight mask. I gotta recommend Amorepacific’s sheet mask — you put a serum underneath the two-piece sheet and let it soak, and voila; your face feels like a baby’s butt. I am currently testing their regime as well. I believe it’s good to switch it up sometimes; our skin gets used to the same products day in and day out… Or maybe I’m just fickle?

Do you wear makeup? What’s your go-to everyday product?
I am an extremist who wears nothing at all, or gives myself diamond tears and/or glitter clown eyes. On my less theatrical days, I curl my lashes with Kevyn Aucoin’s eyelash curler (which is the best), and highlight with a soft cherub gold from BECCA. I can’t leave the house without my favorite chapstick in the world or I’ll freak out. Qtica Intense Lip Repair Balm makes your lips feel like a cloud about to rain.

What’s your haircare approach? And the products you use?
I love my natural curl, and Oribe’s Gold Lust is the ONLY product that nourishes my baby curls the way I like. It defines without making me look greasy. I wash with Shen Jun, condition with Gold Lust, and then towel dry. I try to not ever use heat on my hair unless I’m in a curling mood. I also haven’t felt a brush quite like the WET brush. Every other brush rips my hair out, so if you have curly hair, I recommend you go buy one ASAP.

What’s the biggest beauty mistake you’ve made?
Piercing my septum and nose, and over-tweezing my eyebrows. Thank God I’m a hairy Italian, and they grew back.

When do you feel your best?
Singing naked in the jungle.

How do you unwind?
Massages, movies, meditation, making music, and manga.

What’s that one word that you can’t stop saying at the moment?
“Ting” and “bub.”

Favorite online shopping spot?
Amazon for books and every random ting I probably don’t need, but in that moment CANNOT live without.

What songs are on high rotation for you at the moment?
Twice Ken-Do Remix – Little Dragon; Too Fast – Sonder; Mask Off REMIX with Kendrick; Gimmie Chocolate – Babymetal; Money Honey – Tanerélle. The new ALT-J album is ear candy, and Julie London is always playing somewhere in my house if I’m not having a rave in the car.

Where are your favourite places to shop, eat, and drink in L.A.?
Crossroads; it’s the only spot that’s vegan and doesn’t taste like it. I’ve introduced friends to it who are so not about that life, and they love it. I also have an insane addiction to Babycakes bakery in NYC; here it is called Erin McKenna’s. It’s a place that allows me to play another fun trick on people at parties: I show up with a box full of donuts, eclairs, and cookies, and watch them devour the goodies. I then let them know they just had gluten free vegan sweets at its finest. Mario’s is the best Peruvian spot with the spiciest green sauce.

What’s your favourite travel destination? Why?
So far it’s been Venice, Italy. It felt like a dream. I cried when I left. Iceland is pure magic. However, I am DYING to go to Japan. My heart will be so content there with all that sushi, anime, technology, dessert, and cute things I can purchase there instead of relentlessly hunting on the internet.

What’s your earliest beauty memory?
The smell of my mother’s Chanel perfume, and the way my grandma did and still does her eyeliner so perfect; she never goes too far in on the bottom lid.

If you could resurrect one beauty trend, what would it be?
The 1700s.

What’s your most treasured item of clothing/jewellery?
The gold chain my mother gave me.

What does ‘beauty’ mean to you?
Soul. Being near someone who radiates what their purpose on Earth is. I think someone with a pure laugh is beautiful, and those little sparks that someone has that no one else possesses.

What are you most excited for in 2017?
I’m enjoying every step I take. You’ll have to walk with me to see.

What social and cultural issues are most important to you at the moment?
The immigration issues we are having are extremely unfair. I have close friends who work harder than any American I know, yet they don’t have this green card which is the golden ticket to being free in the land of the free. That doesn’t make any sense to me. Also, the lack of education for mental illness. It’s infuriating that only the financially equipped have access to proper care for their children, whereas everyone else is just getting fed pills to numb the “problem.” Our lack of education and support on this topic really upsets me.

What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
Letters To A Young Poet by R. M. Rilke; Meditations by Marcus Aurelius; The Bible.

Who is your biggest hero? Why?
My grandpa. He’s the most charismatic person I’ve ever met. You can put him in a room with anyone, and he will make them laugh and feel a type of special they’ve never felt. I hope to impact every person I come in contact with the way he does.

What would you most like to be remembered by?
Soothing or awakening someone’s being through a song or a film. That is all I want, to touch someone’s soul I’ve never met before.

*Shout out to all Gina with a G fans: Breanna’s alter-ego is taking a slight sabbatical, but we’ve been assured she’ll soon return.

Words, Madeleine Woon. Photography, Dana Boulos.