Grammy-nominated and award-winning singer, actor, and advocate Demi Lovato is all about living authentically. Part of that, she says, is being honest about cosmetic tweakments. “Xeomin makes me feel like my most confident self while still looking like myself,” she says. The newest celebrity to join the prescription injection brand’s “Beauty on Your Terms” campaign, Lovato spoke to Bazaar about stepping into her truest self and how that relates to her relationship with beauty.
"I find my creativity to be a channel for my authenticity. I get into the studio and I write about my most vulnerable feelings,” she says. “I put it out there in front of the world, and it’s very therapeutic to me. It’s being true to me—and that’s the whole [theme] of this campaign.”
Xeomin’s partnership with the 31-year-old star speaks to the rising trend known as prejuvenation—the clinical prevention of the signs of aging before they occur. For instance, injectable neurotoxins can stop fine lines from deepening into wrinkles. And while younger patients do run the risk of developing a tolerance to wrinkle-smoothing cosmeceuticals with repeated exposure, as board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jason Roostaeian explains, Xeomin’s formula contains a lower amount than its competitors’ of the binding proteins the body develops a resistance to. As such, Xeomin may be more appropriate for younger patients over the long term.
Lovato, who admits she does have some fine lines, also prefers Xeomin’s “purer” formulation over other brands, calling it a “SmartTox” that allows her to be more mindful of what’s injected into her body. “It only has the ingredients that I need in order to achieve the consistent results that I get,” she says.
It’s clear the singer’s connection to beauty is more than skin deep, as she explains that her close relationships with the members of her beauty team are incredibly important to her. “When you work so much with people, they become like your family, and I found that to be the same with my glam squad, because we’re together so often,” Lovato says. “I’m really close with my makeup artist Jill Powell—she’s amazing, and I love her so much—as well as celebrity makeup artist Etienne Ortega, my hairstylist Alex Loo, and my esthetician Renée Rouleau."
The Dallas-based Rouleau will fly in to give clients like Lovato monthly facials, and in fact, Lovato’s tailored regimen consists strictly of the celebrity esthetician’s eponymous product line. “I really love the line because the products work so well for my skin. I know they won’t break me out, and they will keep my skin clear,” Lovato says. “I’m pretty diligent about my skincare routine and give myself a facial twice per week.” Among her favorites from the brand are the Renée Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Scrub and industry-beloved masks the Triple Berry Smoothing Peel and the Rapid Response Detox Masque. Lovato calls the products “heaven-sent.”
She says self-care has “always been a priority” for her, because of how it connects her to herself. “We live in a society where it’s all about the hustle culture, working hard, and we don’t take a lot of time to ourselves. Also, because we’re always on our phones, finding time to stay present is important as well,” she says.
It’s important because over the years, skincare needs—and so much else—will evolve. “As you grow and get older, you learn things about yourself you didn’t know before, and your values and beliefs change. That all is a reflection of your most authentic self,” Lovato says. “I stay more present, I try not to worry about what other people think of me, [and I try not to] sweat the small stuff.” Physical and mental activity supports that mindset. “Stretching is also really helpful to me for taking a second to breathe, or [practicing] meditation,” she says. “I’m kind of bad about meditation, where I don’t do it enough. I go through phases and then I fall off.” She recently took up a new hobby to ground herself, as well: making her own incense.
Lovato’s impressive self-awareness evinces her commitment to self-exploration and learning; she admits that some of what she’s learned along the way has surprised her. “I discovered that I was nonbinary, and that felt right to me. I wouldn’t have imagined that in my future, but when I pay attention to how I’m feeling in this moment today, it makes complete sense,” she says, adding that she is comfortable with traditional feminine she/her pronouns, as well as they/them.
I asked whether she had advice to offer to readers and fans. “The key is finding whatever it is that helps you stay present. Whatever works for you, lean into that,” Lovato says. “I would also say to take the pressure off yourself to please other people. It’s not about pleasing other people—it’s about pleasing yourself.” This applies to beauty standards, as well, Lovato notes: “If your beauty expectations are too high for yourself, reevaluate and do some soul-searching. It is all about self-care, self-love, and not what other people think about you.”
Jessica Ourisman is a freelance beauty editor for publications such as Harper's Bazaar, Allure, InStyle, POPSUGAR, Byrdie, The Zoe Report, and more. She has previously lived and worked in New York, NY, and Paris, France, but is currently based in Los Angeles, CA. She loves covering topics related to skincare, cosmetics, aesthetics, and trends, as well as exploring the intersection of wellness and beauty. Follow along on Instagram or check out her portfolio.
