Carmen Electra Confesses to Past Beauty Mistakes: 'I Would Often Sleep While Still Wearing Makeup'

When 90’s icon Carmen Electra soft-launched her skin-care line earlier this year, it “just felt right.” Feelings aside, at 53, the model and actress is leaning heavily on what she’s learned about skin care (and science) along the way, as she rolls out her Electra Skincare brand to a bigger audience.

It just feels like the right moment to share everything I’ve learned over the years. Growing up, my mom was always preaching about taking care of your skin…but honestly, we didn’t have all the amazing products out there today. We’d wash our faces with soap and water—keeping it simple, you know? But I always knew that there was more to skin care, even if I didn’t know what exactly at the time.

Fast-forward to where I was constantly in front of the camera, working long hours, sometimes even falling asleep with a full face of makeup. (I mean, I’m talking full glam—the works!) At the time, I didn’t notice much of an impact, but as I got older and started working with big-name photographers and high-profile makeup artists things began to change. I started breaking out in ways I never had before, and that was a wake-up call for me. I realized that it was time to give my skin the attention it deserved.

I dove deep into researching and experimenting with different products, trying to figure out what worked for my skin. It’s been a journey, and it took some trial and error, but now, I finally feel like I’ve cracked the code. And I want to share that knowledge with others, so they don’t have to go through the same trial and error that I did. My goal with this line is to help people feel more confident and comfortable in their own skin—no matter where they are on their skin-care journey.

I’ve actually dabbled in the skin-care business before, but I wasn’t able to fully connect with my partner at the time on how I wanted the products to feel, look and work. But when I teamed up with Rudy Mawer for Electra Skincare, everything clicked. We have a shared vision for clean, effective, and affordable products that everyone can use. We wanted to create something that wasn’t just about luxury but also about providing real results without breaking the bank.

We’re kicking things off with three essential products that I truly believe in—something every skin-care routine needs: a Hydrating Face Moisturizer, a Nourishing Cleansing Balm and an Oxygenating Serum. These are the products I use every day, and I’m so excited to share them with the world.

Getting into the skin-care market was definitely a challenge, but it’s also been an exciting journey. There’s such a demand for products that actually work—people want that glowing, healthy skin at any age. The tough part was figuring out how to stand out in such a crowded space.

For me, I really took my time with Electra Skincare. I wasn’t in a rush to launch just to be part of the trend. I’ve seen too many products that promise the world but fall short, and I wasn’t going to put my name on anything this time that I didn’t believe in 100 percent. I spent months researching, testing and living in the products myself—using them day in and day out. I wanted to be sure that what I was offering wasn’t just another skin-care line, but something that would truly make a difference in people’s skin and help them feel good. I’m so proud of what we’ve created.

Oh, absolutely! Over the years, I’ve tried everything—from high-end products like Kate Somerville, which I love, to good old drugstore Vaseline. I’ve always been on the hunt for what works best for my skin. 

Oh, I’m definitely a true glam girl—I just love it! I think it comes from my mom, honestly. She was such a glamorous woman. She didn’t really use a lot of makeup, but she had these stunning high cheekbones and a natural Marilyn Monroe vibe. I always looked up to her and saw her as a huge inspiration when it came to beauty.

One of my favorite beauty moments would be working with Pat McGrath on my Max Factor campaign. I got to play with so many different colors and looks, and working with them for five years was such an amazing learning experience. I really got to understand the importance of skin care and how to keep your skin glowing under all that glam. It taught me so much about the balance between makeup and skin care.

As for regrets? I don’t really have any makeup regrets—I see it all as part of the journey. Even if I was doing my makeup myself, it was always a learning experience, and I think that’s part of the fun! But… I will say, my biggest regret is sleeping in makeup. I’m not proud of it, but we’ve all been there, right? That’s something I’ve learned the hard way—it’s just not worth it!

I think by now, everyone knows that drinking water is your best friend. Seriously, it’s a game changer. And, of course, sweating it out with a good workout—that’s just the basics of taking care of your body. But wellness isn’t just about what you do on the outside, it’s also about what’s going on inside. I’m big on taking my vitamins and, of course, taking care of my skin. It’s all about balance, you know?

If you look back at pictures of me from before I started doing dance music, I used to drink sodas all the time—like, everywhere I went. It was crazy! But once I started focusing on water, and tricked myself into actually enjoying it, I noticed a huge difference. My body felt better, and my skin started to glow. I still have a cheat day every now!

Lately, I’ve really been dialing in on my skin-care routine. I’ve been using the Electra Skincare Cleansing Balm, the Oxygenating Serum and the Hydrating Face Moisturizer, and I’m obsessed. Honestly, these three products really give you everything you need for an effective daily routine—cleanse, hydrate and give your skin that fresh, glowing look.

I’ve always loved a good skin-care routine, and I keep it pretty simple now with just a few key products. I used to get facials every now and then, and I always loved the oxygen facials. They made my skin feel so fresh. But honestly, I haven’t had one in a long time.

Since I’ve been using my products consistently, I feel like I don’t really need facials anymore. It’s kind of funny—I almost forgot about them! The products I use now give my skin that same clean, glowing feel that facials used to. So, for me, it’s all about sticking to a solid routine that works.

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