Say hello to Unfiltered, a fresh beauty series where you’ll get an exclusive glimpse into the dressed-down beauty routines of our favorite celebrities and content creators. They’ll reveal their guilty-pleasure beauty practices, the five-minute-routine product lineup they can’t live without, the one good-skin tip they’ll be forever thankful for, and so much more. To bring every conversation full circle, we ask each celebrity to send us a selection of self-shot, filter-free photos of their choosing to capture the essence of their Unfiltered beauty philosophy.
Up next, we’re getting to know Outer Banks star and Revlon ambassador Madelyn Cline. Below, she’s answering all of our rapid-fire questions. She shared her skincare favorites, go to wellness picks, the best advice she’s ever received, and more. Enjoy!
I’m sure you travel a lot for work. What are the beauty staples you never leave home without?
When I travel, I do not travel light because I need my skincare! I like to have my home essentials and then I have my clothes and other associated items. But, I never, ever leave home without my HigherDose Red Light Mask ($349) You plug it in and it only takes 20 minutes. It’s simple and it’s easy. [I always have that] and my skincare, and my makeup bag.
I’m the same way. I can’t travel without my skincare essentials either. Can you walk me through your morning and evening skincare routine?
Morning and evening, I have to have my SkinCeuticals AHA/BHA cleanser. I also have to have my K-beauty oil cleanser that I use beforehand. I found it in a Korean beauty store and I love it. [The popularity of K-beauty] is the one trend on TikTok that has influenced me and it did not steer me wrong. I follow that up with Tatcha’s essence and then, of course, my SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic ($182), Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Moisturizer ($17), and La Roche-Posay sunscreen. [La Roche-Posay is] cheap, you can find it most anywhere, it gets the job done, and I don’t feel like it’s totally fragranced or anything. And then nighttime, [I use] the wash, the essence—that’s all the same—[but] I’ve also been using these ampoules. They’re like, like an extra rich serum. And then, I follow that up with my, my SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore Moisturizer and a retinol.
Do you have a favorite retinol?
I have a retinol from Apostrophe! They’re awesome. I’ve been using prescription-grade Clindamycin and retinol for years now and because I travel so much, it’s nice to be able to just call it in when I need it.
Is there anything you use in your beauty routine that might surprise people?
I tried mayonnaise as a hair mask once. I remember Blake Lively talking about it one time and I was obsessed with her so I tried it! It wasn’t good for my hair, but I did try it a few times.
Weirdly, I did that too when I was younger it was popular for a minute! Now that fall has rolled around, what does your makeup routine typically look like?
The end of summer always feels so specific to me. It feels a little nostalgic and it feels a little romantic. I feel like we’re romanticizing the summer that we’ve just had so deep oranges, reds and [colors that look like] a sunset [feel appropriate] which leads into the “Sunset Siren” look we’ve created with Revlon. It feels like the end of summer—coming in at the end of the day and whatever time you had. It feels a little sad, but also so lovely. So fall, to me, feels like the transition from these bright summery colors into—what feels to me like—winter [colors]: Deep neutrals and browns, so you’re kind of in the middle there.
What are a few of your favorite products to use to create the “Sunset Siren” look?
I love my Revlon Gel Serum Blush ($15) because it looks like skin. It looks like you’ve just come off of having a sunburn and I love looking like I have crispy skin. I also love to play up my eyes so [I use] the ColorStay Multiplayer Liquid-Glide Eye Pencil ($12) mostly on the waterline just to extend the lash line and it looks a little bit more natural than applying it to the top of the lid. Plus, you can smudge it. It kind of looks slept-in and sexy. And then, of course, the Revlon ColorStay Limitless Matte Lipstick ($14).
Are there any beauty products that you’ve discovered on the set of Outer Banks that you now can’t live without?
I’m going to be so honest with you—no. But sunscreen is key—sunscreen, sunscreen sunscreen. it’s so hot all the time and we’re sweating off all our makeup all the time. And, of course, we always layer sunscreen on top, but you have to keep applying. I also think good makeup starts with good skincare so sunscreen all the way!
I’m sure life changed quite a bit for you once you started doing Outer Banks. Are there any aspects of fame that you struggle with?
Yes! Being a hermit—staying inside sometimes and listening to yourself. I love my job and I love that it takes me to so many different places. I think it satisfies the urge in me to just fly by the seat of my pants and truthfully, fuck off. I think, for me, that’s one of the most healing things—to listen to yourself and know when you need to exit a situation or exit a place and go do something for yourself. I think it has taught me to prioritize listening to yourself first.
What are your go to self-care practices? Are you into meditating or using a sauna blanket?
I love a sauna blanket! The HigherDose one is so good, but I can’t travel with it because it weighs, like, 50 pounds—it’s massive. I’m not really great at meditation, but I think meditation can come in different ways. Meditation can be something within means or boundaries that’s serving your soul in the moment. Growing up, I used to work at a barn, and I would get up at 5 A.M. every morning and work for three hours taking care of the animals. To me, that felt very meditative. If it makes you happy, do it!
What are some words of wisdom or advice that you received early on in your career that stuck with you?
Don’t sh*t where you eat, don’t bite the hand that feeds you, and have gratitude.
And, what is your Unfiltered Beauty Philosophy in seven words or less?
Do what the f*ck you want!
Shop Madelyn Cline’s Unfiltered Beauty Edit
SkinCeuticals
LHA Cleansing Gel
Tatcha
The Essence Skincare Boosting Treatment
SkinCeuticals
C E Ferulic
Apostrophe
Prescription-Strength Acne Treatment
Embryolisse
Lait-Crème Concentré Moisturizer
La Roche-Posay
Anthelios Ultra Light Fluid Face Sunscreen SPF 60
SkinCeuticals
Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
Revlon
Illuminance Gel Serum Blush
Revlon
Colorstay Multiplayer Liquid-Glide Eye Pencil
Revlon
Colorstay Limitless Matte Liquid Lipstick
HigherDOSE
Red Light Face Mask
HigherDOSE
Infrared Sauna Blanket
