Ciara Big Beauty Questions
Courtesy of Degree/Channing Smith
Big Beauty Questions

Here’s What Makes Ciara Break Out in Nervous Sweat

The singer shares her tips for staying fresh, plus the desert-island beauty products she can't live without. 

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If you’re prone to nervous sweating, you’re far from alone—and in exceptionally good company. Because Ciara, yes, the Ciara, is also a self-proclaimed anxious sweater, and she wants you to know that it’s more common than you think.

“Two out of three Americans experience anxious sweat,” Ciara tells Glamour, adding that she has a slew of personal “sweat triggers” herself. “Being a performer, a mom—sometimes life comes at you fast with your kids, or getting ready for interviews on live TV—all these different things that I do in my life. I move a lot.”

Always on the go, Ciara knew she needed something that could keep up. “I was looking for that one deodorant that could be game-changing and make me feel secure and give me the confidence that I needed as it related to heavier sweat,” she says. “And Unlimited by Degree had the answer.”

After realizing how much sweat can impact one’s life—and especially confidence—Ciara was inspired to partner with Degree in honor of their newly launched Unlimited by Degree Collection. “Unlimited by Degree is next-level, and so I’m just super excited to get out and talk with people and share on my platform,” she says. “Anxious sweat prevents people from having the confidence that they need, and in certain situations, everything from preparing for an interview for a job to going on a date, the little things that I think no one should miss out on. It’s about living life without limits.”

Courtesy of Degree

Ahead, Ciara shares her beauty secrets, including her go-to nail color and the desert-island products she can’t live without, for Glamour’s Big Beauty Questions

Glamour: What’s one beauty rule that you swear by?

Ciara: It goes back to confidence—you’ve got to make sure you always have your deodorant on when you walk out the door. But I would also say if you have good eyebrows, you can have a good face, a good beat. If eyebrows are bad, everything is off for the face.

What’s your personal sweat trigger? 

Oh, my Lord, I have a few. If I’m getting ready for a performance…once I get on the stage or preparing for live TV, that can be a sweat trigger. Like, “Woo!” for a live television performance. I have three babies, so they come at me and all at one time sometimes. Plus, I’m trying to juggle work and all these other things, I’m like, “Ooh, Lordy.” So those are definitely some of my moments.

Degree Unlimited 96-Hour Antiperspirant & Deodorant Dry Spray

What’s one beauty rule that you think is BS?

There shouldn’t be any beauty rules. I think that all of the things that are part of us is what makes us beautifully us. It’s what makes us who we are, even down to freckles. I’m getting more freckles on my face, and I’m actually really loving it. But those little things. It’s like, embrace who you are. There shouldn’t be any rules. So all the rules are BS.

You can only use three products for the rest of your life. What are they and why?

Unlimited by Degree, check. Got to stay fresh. I would say I need a good lip moisturizer. Got to have that. Can’t have the dry lips. We can’t do the crusty lips. Then I’m going to say a flatiron, just because you’re making me pick three. I can go on about that list. But yeah, flatiron, good lip moisturizer, and Degree.

What colors are you loving on your nails right now?

I have nude. I love nude. This is always my favorite color. It’s my go-to. I like having fun with my nails but keeping it simple. You can flex more from day to nighttime. I do have fun when it’s time, like music videos, and depending on the look it requires me to do something extra special, I’ll do it. But nude is my jam.

What’s your go-to getting ready music?

I love Sade. Sade’s amazing. Sabrina Claudio. I love relaxing music. I even love Italian music. Italian music is pretty awesome as well.

What’s the last Instagram rabbit hole you went down and why?

I love funny videos. I love laughing. I don’t want this to sound bad, but if people run into things or slip and fall, I like that kind of stuff. There was this video of this woman, she was blindfolded and she was scooping up money with a spatula on a plate and everyone was hyping her up. They were like, “Yeah, yeah, you got it!” She wasn’t scooping up nothing. Those little things. I love that kind of stuff. I can laugh all day. 

What’s your favorite emoji?

My favorite emoji is the dancing emoji. The dancer girl with the dress, the red dress.

If you could change one thing about beauty perceptions on social media or in Hollywood, what would that be?

It should be about living in a world where diversity is fully embraced and not being limited by the color of our skin or gender to do certain roles. In the beginning in the film and the beauty world, there was kind of one identity to describe certain things. People were compartmentalized, whether it’s by the color of your skin or by the shape of your body. There was a certain kind of expectation of what a character would look like. For me it’s about embracing diversity and celebrating the uniqueness of us all and giving everyone an opportunity in some of the best roles and in moments.

Who are the women who inspire you the most right now?

I always will say my mom inspires me. My grandmother inspires me. My grandmother’s a very, very strong woman. I love her to death. My best friend Yolanda, she’s my makeup artist as well, and she always inspires me. And my girls too, all of my girls. When I look at my friends, I think they always make me so proud because everyone is out here hustling and doing their best and putting their best foot forward every day. Just trying to level up in every way possible and to achieve their dreams. And so I’m always rooting on my girls and they’re always rooting me on as well. As I mentioned, Yolanda is one of my girls too; my makeup artist and best friend. It’s really good to have that support. It’s really good I think for all of us to be there for each other and to have everyone there. For me it’s really a gift, it’s really a blessing.


Danielle Sinay is the associate beauty editor at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @daniellesinay.