Lancôme’s La Vie est Belle Campaign is all about celebrating the facility of community and happiness. With a robust forged of happiness activists, including Julia Roberts, Amanda Seyfried, Penelope Cruz, French music sensation Aya Nakamura, Zendaya, and newly appointed ambassador Hoyeon, the campaign goals to showcase the unstoppable force of sorority and share the ambassadors’ vision of life through a series of video portraits. Shot by legendary fashion photographer Mario Sorrenti and directed by rising star Emmanuel Adjei, the campaign features an exclusive reinterpretation of the long-lasting song “What a Wonderful World” lip sung by the ambassadors — by women for ladies.

In an exclusive interview with ESSENCE, Lancôme ambassador Zendaya shares her thoughts on beauty, her off-duty makeup look, and what happiness means to her. The actress credits her mother and grandmother for shaping her idea of beauty and showing her that there is no such thing as a one definition. She also touched on prioritizing joy, even during difficult times. She cites moments like the discharge of the “Savage Remix” by Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion during quarantine as something that brought her immense joy. As a Lancôme ambassador, beauty and happiness are major pillars of the brand’s heritage, and Zendaya speaks to the alignment she has in collaboration with Lancôme’s ethos.

Read on to listen to more about how Zendaya takes care of her sensitive skin, what shaped her beauty perspective, and what being a Lancôme ambassador means to her.

Who has most affected your idea of beauty?

My mom was not into the quintessential glamorous things. She was a teacher and focused most of her energy on being a teacher, but to me, she was still extremely beautiful. I desired to be like her. However, I had people like my grandmother, who was all the time glamorous and liked getting dressed up and wearing heels. I believe having either side showed me that there’s really nobody definition of what it means to be beautiful. I learned to embrace all of it.

On a mean day while you’re not working, what’s your go-to makeup look?

Possibly just a little concealer or just a little blush. I’ll brush my eyebrows. And sometimes mascara, but I don’t all the time like having to take it off at the top of the day.

You’ve said you’ve gotten sensitive skin — how do you deal with it?

I’ve learned to work out things that work for me and stick to them. That was hard for me after I was younger. I’d be impatient and wish something to work, like, tomorrow. Eventually, I learned that the outcomes occur over time. So far as core products, I like the Génifique serum. It’s nice and light-weight but very hydrating, and I especially like it after I travel. Keeping your skin hydrated is so essential.

“Happiness means a lot to me. I believe with the 12 months that so many individuals have had, it’s so essential to prioritize happiness and the things that bring you joy and never feel bad for feeling joyful.”

What beauty treatments do you prefer to have often?

None, really. Simply because, again, my skin is so sensitive, and I never understand how it’s going to react to something. I keep on with my core products and routine.

What’s one of the best tip you’ve ever learned from an expert makeup artist?

After I was a child, I learned the best way to do my makeup pretty quickly because I often felt that other people didn’t do it right. I never use one shade of foundation. One thing I learned is constructing with cream foundations, brushing and buffing those into the skin—and never being afraid to mess around. Oh, and to do your face after you do your eyes. I don’t understand why people do their eyes after their face. You begin together with your eyes! That way, any fallout doesn’t matter.

What do you’re keen on most about being a Lancôme ambassador?

I appreciate the spirit of collaboration and the way we’re all the time trying latest things. I like that in my campaigns, we’ve been capable of be just a little bit experimental while still maintaining the heritage of the brand. Beyond that, Lancôme is thought for its color range, which is significant to me. Also, there’s a top quality to the products.

What’s your first memory of discovering Lancôme products?

My grandma. She’d let me go in her bathroom and play along with her makeup and do makeup on other people, like her or my cousins or whoever was around. I specifically remember a blue or blue-gray eyeliner. I just loved fidgeting with it.

The thought of spreading happiness sits at the guts of every thing done at Lancôme. What does happiness mean to you?

Happiness means a lot to me. I believe with the 12 months that so many individuals have had, it’s so essential to prioritize happiness and the things that bring you joy and never feel bad for feeling joyful. And even small moments count. After I was in quarantine, the happiest thing for me was when Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion got here out with “Savage Remix.” That, to me, was a lot joy. I used to be like, “I don’t care. I’m playing this all day, day by day.” Within the shower. Ending a puzzle. This song is getting me through.