Actor Millie Bobby Brown on her love of lavender, room service, and the scent of old make-up

Millie Bobby Brown has been in the collective consciousness of anyone who observes the cultural zeitgeist for so long, it’s hard to believe she’s only 19.

It's been seven years since the British actor first appeared in Netflix’s cult-hit series Stranger Things as the enigmatic Eleven, with her psychokinetic powers and the buzzcut to inspire all buzzcuts.

She’s since found herself starring alongside Henry Cavill and Helene Bonham Carter in Enola Holmes (Bobby Brown also has a producer credit); took on the role of a UNICEF ambassador; and has recently penned Nineteen Steps—a novel inspired by her family’s experience during World War II. In short, Bobby Brown has plenty to be proud of.

Today, however, Bobby Brown has dialled in from New York to chat all things wellness and beauty with Bazaar. She appeared on screen looking the very epitome of an ingenue, with a freshly scrubbed complexion and laissez faire hair; both in line with her personal beauty philosophy of “less is more”.

Her beauty brand Florence By Mills is fast taking over Gen Z bathroom shelves around the globe with its extensive range of skincare, bodycare, haircare, make-up, accessories and—now—fragrance. Wildly Me, a lightweight eau de toilette splash of irises, wisteria, and lavender sees classic notes often associated with an elegant older consumer transformed into a cosy, uplifting spritz that will no doubt please all ages. It’s unsurprising, really, given how much Bobby Brown is inspired by her great-grandmother when curating (the brand itself is named after her). Here she tells us more about her beauty muse, her skincare staples, and post-party routine.

On her scent inspiration

“My nan loves a bit of perfume, hers smelled like old time make-up. It’s like a powder room; like her make-up bag. Even her mascara—everything smelled so good,” she says when asked about her first memory of fragrance. Wildly Me is a youthful take on that sense of nostalgia, with some freshness thrown in reference to Bobby Brown’s love for outdoors.

“(It’s about) expressing your wildest, truest self. The mood board had things that were growing out from the Earth,” says Bobby Brown of her debut fragrance.

On finding peace in nature...

Considering the hectic lifestyle of a multi-hyphenate celebrity, it’s only natural that Bobby Brown looks to nature to reset herself.

“I go outside. I just take my shoes off, and step on the grass to ground myself. I'll sometimes read and I'll play with my animals, but being outside is where I feel the most peace,” she offers. “I won't ever push it on other people because I think that ultimately others can find peace in whatever they feel—whether that’s watching TV or baking, or being with your family. But I just feel most calm when I'm outside”.

 

On a streamlined skincare routine

True to her beauty ethos, Bobby Brown eschews gadgets and a 10-step routine for a much more achievable regime of cleansing, moisturising, and exfoliating only when needed.

“In the evenings, I use a washcloth to take my make-up off and then I use the Clear The Way Clarifying Wash from Florence By Mills for a deeper clean. I’ll then use the Dreamy Dew Moisturiser and Look Alive Brightening Eye Cream. I sometimes use the Hit Snooze Lip Mask or Glow Yeah Hydrating Lip Oil, depending on how much my lips need saving.” She takes a careful approach to exfoliating by sticking to a weekly treatment to keep her dry complexion soothed and happy. Sunscreen also plays a starring role in her routine as she name-checks her Sunny Skies SPF30 Sunscreen as an everyday go-to.

On a love for lavender

Next to being one of the key notes in Wildly Me, lavender is also Bobby Brown’s favourite scents to use for travelling and unwinding. You’ll never catch her boarding a long-haul flight without a lavender pillow spray in tow.

“I also love bath salts and shower bombs. It’s like a bath bomb but you put it at the bottom of the shower and the steam will carry it through. I love the lavender or eucalyptus ones. Eucalyptus to wake up and lavender to go to sleep.”

On a relatable post-party regime

If you’ve ever wondered what celebrities do after glamorous red carpet appearances, for Bobby Brown, it’s food, a hot shower, and a bit of reality TV. “The first thing I do is order room service—usually a club sandwich. Then, it’s shower, hair mask, and face mask. And I watch 90 Day Fiance.”

Stars, they really are just like us.

This piece originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar UK