Emilia Clarke. Photo: Clinique
Even lockdown hasn’t dimmed Emilia Clarke’s light with the Game of Thrones actor continuing to glow in her role as Clinique’s beauty ambassador. For her own routine, Clarke says that a year of lockdowns meant that her skincare rituals took on a self-care quality. “I’ve been taking my time with my beauty routine, because we now have the time to take!” she tells Vogue Arabia in a late afternoon Zoom call. “The extra care and being more thoughtful feels a bit more indulgent than being like – this is my morning routine and this is my evening routine. I’m doing a lot of masks as well, and the energy I’m putting into my skin is a lot more considered.”
The latest addition to her routine is Clinique’s Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator, the brand’s new update to its cult favorite Moisture Surge Intense 72H Lipid-Replenishing Hydrator, launching today and promising of 100 hours of extended skin hydration. “I have really dry skin so the hydrating formula is perfect,” Clarke explains. “It’s auto-replenishing, meaning that the aloe vera bio ferment and hyaluronic acid together encourages your skin to make more water. It’s ridiculous, as you put it on and 10, 15, 20 hours later, your skin still feels freshly hydrated. It’s got more battery charge to it than an iPhone.” For women in the Middle East, Clarke says that the moisture-rich formula works well in both climate extremes and with urban environments. “It’s perfect for when you’re in air-conditioning, as it keeps the moisture in and you don’t start feeling dried out,” she points out.
Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator. Photo: Clinique
Living through London’s lockdowns, Clarke says she’s also finding joy in mixing up her day to day beauty looks regardless of occasion or set beauty rules. “When it comes to makeup, you can do a smoky eye with a red lip, who’s going to tell you what to do? I don’t think there should be makeup rules, because you do whatever what works for you. You can experiment on what works for your face based on how you’re feeling and how you want to express yourself. I’m going to put on a full smoky eye to go to Tesco and that’s absolutely fine.”
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While the actor hasn’t yet had the opportunity to visit the Middle East, the theater regular found a connection to a particular Arab woman’s story, after attending a screening of For Sama, by the celebrated filmmaker who uses the pseudonym Waad Al-Kateab. The self-confessed film junkie Clarke – “I’m always watching something!” – says that the Syrian’s documentary made an impact on her, moving her to post about the film on her own social media, with Game of Thrones co-stars Rose Lesley and Kit Harington later posting their own messages of support.
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“I have never ever had a similar experience to how I felt watching that film. I couldn’t speak for how much I was crying,” Clarke shares with Vogue Arabia. “I was shaking when I came out, and when I saw her (Waad Al-Kateab). I just had to grab her and hold her,” she remembers. “There is genuinely not a week that goes by where I don’t have images from the film flashing through my head. I think she is the bravest, most beautiful, strongest, soulful creature I ever encountered, and I hope she continues with more work. I just think she’s remarkable,” Clarke continues, adding that she’s interested in taking in further film and art from the Middle East’s female creatives.
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Her approach to aging is equally thoughtful, acknowledging that her best work relies on her ability to emote. “I embrace the natural lines that come with aging. As an actor, it’s a very important thing to be expressive and able to show those emotions, and have your skin behave the way that skin normally does,” Clarke explains. “As I get older, I have more wisdom within myself. I have more experience to speak to, and I have a little more intelligence, because I’ve learnt from my years. I’m proud of that and if my face is reflecting what I’ve gained as a person, I’m down.”
