Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is amodel , actress, and majorbeauty enthusiast.- After launching her beauty website Rose Inc. in 2018, the Hourglass Cosmetics ambassador now interviews big names in the industry for her new Quibi series "About Face."
- As part of Insider's
Beauty Files series, Huntington-Whiteley told us how she became interested inmakeup at a young age and her current favorite product, Pipette's Overnight Brightening Mask. - She also cited advice from makeup mogul Huda Kattan to "work your a-- off" as being one of the best things she learned while filming her new show.
Model, actress, and beauty enthusiast Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has gained much of her expertise by sitting in makeup chairs over the course of her career.
After launching her beauty-themed website Rose Inc. in 2018, she more recently became the first Hourglass Cosmetics ambassador in January. Now, Huntington-Whiteley is keeping up that momentum with "About Face," a Quibi show where she interviews the biggest names in beauty from Huda Kattan to Kylie Jenner.
The former Victoria's Secret Angel spoke to Insider for our series Beauty Files, which takes readers beyond the beauty world they see online. Here's what she had to say about her new show, current favorite skin-care product, and earliest makeup memories.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley says her mom sparked her interest in cosmetics
Amanda Krause: You have an extensive career, so I'm wondering where your interest in beauty started. Do you remember some of the first times you encountered makeup?
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley: Sitting on the corner of my mother's bed, watching her get ready for work or for a night out. I was just fascinated watching her transform, and watching how it shifted her confidence. I was also fascinated by picking up these products — it felt like true art to me the way you apply them.
Then, obviously, saving up my pocket money, buying my first beauty products, and starting modeling at the age of 16 — being immersed in the world of beauty and fashion, working every day having hair and makeup done by professionals, and learning from all of these incredible creators and artists.
Krause: What has that been like over the years?
Huntington-Whiteley: Every time I sit in the hair and makeup chair, I learn something. I now sort of reflect the motions of my mother where I sit down as one person and I get out of the makeup chair and I feel different.
I think makeup and beauty, there's always an element of it that feels superficial to a degree, but what I am fascinated by is the way it makes people feel and seeing change.
Her latest beauty venture is a Quibi show called 'About Face'
Krause: You've embarked on several successful beauty ventures. Tell me about your latest, "About Face," and what inspired you to create the show.
Huntington-Whiteley: "About Face" is a concept I came up with after I launched my beauty website Rose Inc. I was learning so much more about beauty brands. People always ask me what celebrities I get excited about meeting, and for me, very often, it's actually entrepreneurs or founders. I have so much respect for people in that line of work.
We were only scratching the surface of the storytelling on Rose Inc. and I wanted to go deeper with these founders' stories. I felt they all brought a unique perspective to what it means to be an entrepreneur today. I met with Quibi, I was blown away by their groundbreaking technology, and I felt this was the perfect platform to meld this show with them and bring it to the world.
Krause: Each episode, you go behind the scenes and speak to some of the biggest names in beauty. Is there one piece of advice from a guest that's really stuck with you?
Huntington-Whiteley: One of the standout moments was when I asked Huda Kattan: "What does it take to be a founder?"
She said: "You've gotta work your a-- off."
It's that simple, but it also requires dedication. She's truly passionate about what she does.
Huntington-Whiteley's current favorite beauty product is an overnight face mask
Krause: I'm curious about your beauty routine. Do you have a favorite product of all time?
Huntington-Whiteley: I'll tell you what I've been really loving lately: the Pipette Brightening Mask [$22]. I love it because I'm a busy mom, a busy woman, and I don't want to do 100,000 steps every night before I go to bed. This has lactic acid in it and it's also clean and non-toxic.
I basically apply it on my skin after I wash my face in the evening and go to bed, and it's doing all the work for me. It leaves my skin looking really even and luminous the next day and it feels good.
Krause: As you mentioned, the beauty world is constantly evolving. Where do you think you fit in this ever-changing industry?
Huntington-Whiteley: It's been really interesting to sit as a bystander in the beauty industry and also be in it.
The industry was so dominated by massive conglomerates and luxury brands who controlled everything, and what we've really witnessed in the last five years is complete and utter disruption of this age-old business model.
What's been really exciting is to see, for the most part, is these disruptors are women. The industry really inspires entrepreneurialism now.
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