The last year has proved to be quite a memorable one for Scarlett Johansson. She appeared in three much-discussed films: Chef, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Lucy. In September, she gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Rose. She celebrated the big 3-0 right before Thanksgiving. And it was recently revealed that she secretly wed Romain Dauriac, her French fiancé. Good thing the A-list actress and current face of Dolce & Gabbana fragrance and cosmetics spent her 20s learning how to have it all. Johansson has been working steadily since her 2003 breakout in Lost in Translation and she’s racked up a long list of accolades along the way, including a Tony; a BAFTA award; and Esquire’s Sexiest Woman Alive nod, not once but twice. Despite a very full plate, Johansson sat down to chat with Style.com about party makeup (shop some of her festive favorites in the slideshow above), motherhood, and why she decks herself out like a “frickin’ Christmas tree” every chance she gets.
Your haircut looks so great! What inspired you to chop it off?
Thanks! I don’t know—I just wanted to cut it, I guess. I’m really bad at doing my hair. I think I got sick of putting it in a ponytail or piling it under a wig and having that take up time.
I can see why you might want to save time now that you’re a mother. Has your beauty routine changed since Rose was born?
It’s not crazy-different. I never really had a crazy beauty routine. I’m not one that goes out to spas and gets treatments. If anything, it’s just about trying to find time to go to the gym. You just have to make whatever time you can.
As the face of Dolce & Gabbana, what are your top product picks?
I’ve always liked the Passion Duo lip colors. I love a lot of the lipsticks, but [Classic Cream Lipstick in] Devil is the perfect red for me. Passioneyes mascara is pretty great, too. We did a campaign for it not too long ago. Pat McGrath is, like, the lash legend. She was so adamant about making the perfect wand for a “false lash” mascara. And I love the packaging of the holiday collection.
Are you a holiday party hopper or do you prefer to sip hot cocoa in your pj’s?
I like holiday parties. I probably like them even more now because I never go out anymore. I’m like, “Whoo-hoo!” any time there’s an opportunity to celebrate. I put on every piece of clothing I own, and all my jewelry—I’m like a frickin’ Christmas tree. But I like holiday parties because they’re not work-related. It’s an opportunity for a big group of friends to get together and drink a bunch of champagne and dance. I love the festive holiday spirit. I love to stay at home in pajamas, too, but that’s what my family Christmas is like. We’re very cozy and casual. Everyone is taking naps—that sort of thing. And I have friends who throw ugly-sweater parties, and I love that.
Those ugly-sweater parties never seem to die, do they?
I love a theme!
What holiday traditions are you looking forward to with your family?
We usually do Secret Santa. I always look forward to that. We put a price limit on [our gifts] and you get creative. I love dressing up my gift with hideous wrapping paper. We get very competitive—it’s a fun process.
If you’re short on time but need to get glammed up for a soiree, what’s your ultimate one-and-done makeup trick?
If I was out during the day and then I only had a few minutes to get ready for a party, I would probably do a liner and another coat of mascara and bold lip.
Can you craft your own cat-eye?
I can! I’m not bad. I’ve been wearing winged eyeliner for so long. Once you get it down, it becomes your thing. I like to use an angled brush [and cream liner] to do it.
Have you picked up any of those coveted French-girl beauty tips since you’ve been living in Paris?
The hair there is so low-maintenance. It’s like nobody colors their hair—like it’s not overly highlighted. I’m so bad with my hair anyway that I appreciate the wash-and-go!
You’ve had some distinctive hair looks in your movies, from the pink wig you wore in Lost in Translation to your shaggy, chocolate bob in Under the Skin. Which look do you love the most?
The red hair for Avengers is so great because it’s such a character trait. She’s such a special, spicy little character that when that flick of red hair goes by, everybody’s like, “There’s the Black Widow!” Whether it’s Cap 2 [Captain America: The Winter Soldier] or Avengers or Iron Man, we do different styles, but it’s always fun to put that hair back on. I love playing that character. I also loved having platinum hair for The Black Dahlia. That 1940s look was so beautiful. As I’ve gotten older, I wear a lot more wigs because it’s such an easy way to seamlessly transition into another person.
You’ve always struck me as someone who is naturally slender, like you’re not killing yourself in Pilates class for three hours a day. What’s your fitness routine and has it changed since the baby?
It’s pretty much the same. I do the same fitness routine as my big muscle-man trainer. A lot of it is endurance, stability, and strength training. I like to work up a sweat. I’ve tried Pilates and yoga and all that, and I like to dabble in different things, but I always come back to a good old-fashioned athletic, full-body workout.
Do you enjoy it?
Yeah, I like working out. Of course, like anyone, I have days when I don’t want to go. Those are the days when you should go because then you stick to it. Once I get into a routine of going to the gym every day when I’m working, it’s easy for me to just keep going. It makes me feel good. But once I start to slack, it’s so hard to go back. Especially when you lose your muscle tone.
Hopefully, you treat yourself, too. Have you been indulging in French food?
Oh, yeah! I love French food. I love the breads and patés—all that stuff. I don’t eat cheese, though, which shocks my French family and friends.
I bet the no-cheese rule goes over really well with the locals.
Yeah, it’s kind of sacrilegious. I might as well tell them that I only drink liquids and I don’t eat food! It’s actually caused arguments at the table. Like, insults have been thrown.
I bet! Do you have a favorite restaurant?
I like Le Comptoir. It’s in the 6th [arrondissement]. They don’t take reservations, so you have to just wait and get in there, if you can. The food is absolutely delicious.
Let’s end with some words of wisdom. What were some of the standout lessons you learned about life during your 20s?
I’ve learned the importance of having open communication with myself and in my relationships with people. As I get older, I see the value of being up-front and honest about the way you feel, even if it’s painful to admit. The truth is really the best way to strengthen your relationships with yourself and others. So, communication is the best lesson that I’ve learned. Also, give yourself a break. You can be so hard on yourself in your 20s. I’ve learned to be more accepting.
