Clinique has a latest ambassador.

The Estée Lauder Cos.-owned beauty giant has named Marsai Martin its latest brand ambassador and partner producer, a first-of-its-kind dual role giving her a creative hand within the campaigns she’s fronting.

“We’re introducing along with her a latest model of brand name partnership where she’s collaborating with us, and he or she’s going to have a major impact on creative output on all campaigns that feature her,” said Michelle Freyre, president, global brands, Clinique and Origins, at Lauder. “We’re taking a look at it as a pivot from other traditional beauty campaigns to satisfy her where she is as a more authentic self.”

Martin has had her hands full, recently. For one, her latest show, “Saturdays,” just debuted with Disney, and he or she also has the sequel to the animated film “Paw Patrol” within the works. Beauty plays a job in her post-work winding down, she said.

“My favorite a part of beauty is taking all the pieces off, with the ability to cleanse at the tip of the day and just have that moment to myself that’s very comforting and really protected,” Marsai said. “My favorite product is the Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm, but on the headquarters, we also talked about Moisture Surge, which has SPF, and I assumed that was very clever.”

Martin’s journey with the brand also mimics that of latest adopters, Freyre said. “She was accustomed to the brand through her mom and pop….It’s been this multigenerational brand immersion for her. Clinique has all the time been a brand supported by a word of mouth from generation to generation.”

The partnership also gives Clinique an entrypoint to younger shoppers. “We actually respect that [Martin] is that this voice for a younger generation, and we knew we would have liked to tap into that creative mind for a younger, latest perspective,” Freyre continued.

Martin’s first ad campaign will launch in spring 2024, however the duo is already creating social content, said Kay Hsu, vp, global creative, digital brand at Clinique. “She’s such a multifaceted talent, she’s bringing a singular perspective, and he or she’s such a purveyor of cultural and social conversations, and he or she’s also bringing all of her talents as an actress and a dancer.”

For Martin, bringing all of her skills to the table was a part of the appeal. “I normally vary the brands that I work with depending on if I actually have any background with it, or if there’s any creativity behind it. I wish to be outgoing with the brands I collaborate with,” Martin said. “This was a primary for me because I’ve worked with brands before previously, but in this fashion, I can be a partner. I’m a creator first.”

The partnership also comes at a time of growth for Clinique. Freyre noted that Clinique’s Almost Lipstick Black Honey, which has seen sustained virality on TikTok for the past two years, is the highest lipstick shade within the U.S. — ”This has an enormous halo on the entire makeup business, which really is on fire,” she said — and Moisture Surge sales remain strong globally.

Clinique’s parent company, Lauder, reported earnings Wednesday that saw net sales decline 12 percent within the quarter ending March 31, with skincare net sales down 17 percent as a consequence of the slow recovery of travel retail in Asia.