Alycia Debnam-Carey

During Paris Fashion Week,  skincare can take a backseat to the shows, the parties, the events, the meetings; it can be somewhat, relentless. And at the first sign of chaos, often the first thing we drop is our self care: exercise, sleep, wellbeing, beauty routines, settlement. But LA-based Australian actress Alycia Debnam-Carey knows how to keep things consistent, she knows how to maintain confidence under fire, and importantly she knows the power of skincare essentials that work – on and off screen.

And when she travels, she takes with her the products that work hardest for her. Years of trial and error, of being on set and receiving all the most valuable recommendations from hair and make-up artists makes her routine, coveted. When we sat down with Alycia in her Paris hotel in the Marais, she was preparing to attend the Fall / Winter 26  Zimmermann PFW show, and we talked through what she genuinely uses, what she genuinely loves the most and importantly, why. Beauty-behind-closed doors at its finest.

Beauty for me is confidence. It’s how you move in the world and how you treat people, how you interact with people, how you treat yourself. Sometimes you see the most beautiful person, but if they’re not a good person, I think you just see it. I know that’s such a cliché answer, but I do think it’s true. People who have that inner beauty – joy, kindness, it radiates. So I really try and lead with that. Otherwise, you know, a spa and a massage, a sauna and facials, all the other things, help!

For my morning skincare morning, I’ve been trying this new Augustinus Bader cleanser. I need a cleanser that doesn’t feel harsh, but it still gets in there, and this is a really good combo. It’s gentle, but I feel like it’s doing the work. I have combination skin, and it can be tricky to get the balance right, so I’m typically someone who sticks to my routine and keeps it simple.

I’m also trialling out the Rhode products at the moment and this glazing milk, I’m not kidding, is unreal. It leaves that beautiful glowy under the skin feel for makeup, but it’s not greasy. It also has a really nice texture.

I’ve also been trying the Tatcha Longevity Serum. This is really special. Whatever is in this is just doing great things for my skin. I went to Okinawa with them and they were sharing how everything is from seaweed and natural ingredients sourced from a blue zone, which is where everyone lives to over a hundred. So I was like, give me whatever this is!  And it’s working. So we love.

The Shisedo Beneficence is my holy grail. I feel like I’ve seen a couple of people talk about this, and it’s the best eye cream I’ve found. It’s great for dark circles, it’s just got a good consistency and it lasts for a long time. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s just really good. And I think people talk about whether eye creams are a hack or not. I think the right ones are not, I really believe that. Other people will say, “It’s just moisturiser in a tiny pot” but not for the right ones. It’s also great under makeup, it creates a nice plump moisture that will support make-up to really absorb into the skin. I should just like be a product mascot for whatever this is because it’s really good!

I also like to layer some serums in to the mix and love the Skinceuticals C E Ferulic serum also, it’s one of my favourites.

When I’m flying a lot and in different time zones, I might get the occasional break out, so I use the Mario Badescu drying oil, I swear by that. If I need to get rid of something, I put it on any spot and it’s goes quickly.

For evening, I do a similar routine to my morning skincare regime, but I lock everything in with a bit more moisture. I’m careful because if I use too many different products, my skin can break out. For me, it’s more about keeping things consistent – I have to be careful to not go rogue. That for me is the key to great skin, keeping it simple and not trying to do too many crazy things.

For night time, I will also add retinol and I like the Is Clinical retinol, which is gentle, but it’s not too intense  – you don’t wake up and feel like your face is stripped of!

The concealer I’ve been using at the moment is the Dior Forever Skin Correct, which is more of a match for my overall complexion. It’s looks less obvious that I’m wearing a concealer, which I like and it’s got a really nice consistency. I don’t typically use foundation unless I’m going out, but if I do, it’s the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk, which I feel like everyone loves, it’s the best one.

I love a little contour. I’m a cool tone complexion, and I like Fenty. I like to use the amber shade that just gives me that nice natural contour, warms me up a little bit and doesn’t look too crazy.

I also use and love the Chanel bronzer, it’s perfect. It makes me feel like I’ve been on vacation, and it’s four days in when your skin feels all sunny and sun-kissed.

And speaking of sun-kissed, what I like to do as well is use this Ilia blush in dreamer, it’s the perfect sunburn colour – it’s looks like you’ve been out in the sun and you’ve got a little colour, flushed and beachy without looking like you have rosacea so I love that.

Then my eyebrows, I’m very particular with them. I love the Dior show brow which has a little brush at the end, which makes it easy.

And then I have my own MAC Cosmetics eyeshadow palette that I just do a quick swipe. I’ve made my own, you can tell it’s well loved because it’s held together with scotch tape!

For every day I use the glossier mascara, it’s very natural. I like my mascara to separate the lashes and not look too clumpy. For going out I love the Dior show, which has a bit more impact, but for every day I like to keep it simple and lived in, like it’s me, only better.

I also use the Tower 28 highlighter. It’s almost more like a balm, and it’s not glittery or sparkly, just dewy, so you get that subtle natural sheen that looks like a natural glow.

And then lips, I have been on that whole Nina Park train – I’ve been trying to figure out that perfectly diffused, slightly overlined lip, so I’ve been using a MAC Cosmetics brown chestnut liner. I do it all around, slightly overlined and then I buff it out with a little lip brush.

I used the Hourglass gloss lipstick which also feels like a lip balm, it’s a really good combination and it’s also hydrating too.  Since I am going to the Zimmermann Paris Fashion Week show today,  I’m wearing the Make Up Forever 606 lipstick – it’s the perfect shade of mauve pink, but a little bit darker, I love this colour. It’s like a little like a tint, but it gives that really nice pinkish brown and it works back well with the pink Zimmermann lace dress I am wearing, which I love.

I feel like wellness is as much of a part of makeup, body, skincare as it’s everything. It is the foundation. I’m a very active person, I like working out and I love to move my body. I do a lot of like pilates, gym, running. That combined with eating well, and drinking a lot of water.

Saunas are also really amazing for me and red light therapy I find is incredible. I now also like getting consistent facials including electromagnetic facials , which train the muscles so they’re active and you get a nice little lift that makes you feel like you have slept and you’re the best version of yourself!  My wellness philosophy is a holistic everything philosophy.

I see Diandra Politano for facials. She’s so beautiful and just the most gorgeous energy and does great facials. She has been doing laser genesis on my skin, and I always leave feeling very glowy.

The Uni body combo is great for body. It’s like a 24 hour serum. The moisturiser is thinner than a body butter but it’s so beautiful, and the smell is crazy good. Combined with the oil together, it stays longer, and it’s not too slippery. You know when you put on a moisturiser and then you can’t wear any of your clothes because everything feels greasy suddenly? This does not do that at all.

I’m a perfume freak, I have so many. I’m trying the Glossier one at the moment, it’s not the original one, it’s a little bit more sexy, a little bit more like nighttime

Today is a great example of that – I’m wearing this beautiful vibrant pink sheer Zimmermann dress to their Paris Fashion Week show – it’s so romantic, but also sheer, so it’s equally sexy. When I’m wearing a statement piece that is a little more feminine and dramatic, like this one, I like to lean into a more minimal make-up direction, something that is a little more paired back, clean and dewy.

Alycia wears Zimmermann Luna Lace Billow Gown. Shop here.