Zoe Saldaña is writing her own beauty rules. The Academy Award-winning actress, producer, and mother of three has become a Global Ambassador for iconic beauty brand Lancôme , joining a powerhouse roster of women including Julia Roberts, Olivia Rodrigo, and Isabella Rossellini.
The announcement coincides with the launch of Lancôme’s breakthrough five-product collection, Absolue Longevity MD , which utilizes supplement ingredient Mitopure to target fine lines, firmness, and other signs of biological aging.
Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE, Saldaña calls the role “a true definition of a partnership.”
“I speak up. And they’re listening. I feel heard. I never felt that before in my prior partnerships with beauty [brands], but I also was not in a position where I still completely knew myself. I still thought that who I was needed to be defined by others’ acceptance.”
A Shared Vision – Advocating for Women
Being valued for who she truly is is just as important as being aligned on a goal. Saldaña and the team behind Lancôme see eye to eye there, too.
“We’re both coming from a place where we genuinely want to advocate for women and celebrate women,” she says.
| Partnership Element | Saldaña’s Perspective |
|---|---|
| Being heard | “I feel heard” – a first in her beauty partnerships |
| Self-knowledge | Now knows herself; previously sought others’ acceptance |
| Shared goal | Advocate for and celebrate women |
A Lifelong Connection to Lancôme
Saldaña and the brand go way back – a few decades, in fact, to her childhood. The Lioness actress spent much of those years in the Dominican Republic , where she remembers seeing Trésor perfume on her grandmother’s dresser.
“My grandmother had the best perfumes when I was growing up,” she recalls.
| Family Member | Influence |
|---|---|
| Grandmother | Seamstress who sold textiles, embroidery, buttons; had Lancôme staples on her dresser |
| Mother | “Natural Bohemian woman” – taught her natural beauty |
“My mom was such a natural Bohemian woman, and I learned beauty like that from her. But my grandma was a seamstress… I remember just wanting to be with her because it meant that as soon as she would leave her bedroom, I would open up all of her things and go through her makeup and her skincare, and Lancôme was a staple.”
The Power of Positive Words – ‘Never Underestimate the Power of Speaking Positive Words to Your Children’
Saldaña’s mother and grandmother also taught her the power of self-worth.
“The first time that I felt beautiful was when my mom and my grandmother used to say that I was, so never underestimate the power of speaking positive words to your children. They believe anything you say, anything you do. If in [my mom’s] eyes, I was beautiful, it didn’t matter who would come right after her and would discredit what she had just already planted in me, which is a foundation of self-acceptance.”
Distinguishing Genuine Compliments from Objectification
“Because those were my first encounters of being called beautiful and feeling beautiful, I always knew when I felt comfortable if someone said it coming from a genuine place of acknowledgement and admiration, versus someone coming from a place of exploitation or objectification.”
Growing Up in the Dominican Republic – ‘An Abundant Definition of Beauty’
Growing up in the Dominican Republic had an even larger impact on her perspective on beauty.
“I learned a much more abundant definition of beauty, that it came in all shapes, and skin colors, and hair textures, and body shapes,” she says.
Saldaña learned to love being a Black Latina woman while there. Coming back to the United States made her keenly aware of a lack of representation in Hollywood.
“I didn’t see me in those spaces. I always noticed that imbalance. And very early on, I knew it wasn’t because of me. It was because of other people’s problems and perception.”
Rejecting ‘Traditional’ Narratives
“So, therefore, every time someone would come to me and say, ‘We’re going to go traditional,’ I knew what that meant. And what was frustrating was the fact that those were still very powerful entities that controlled the narrative.”
The actress says that she saw the issue as:
“More of a power dynamic and was less about discrimination — and I never accepted it for myself. I wasn’t a victim of it. I was never going to participate in it. For me, it was just, ‘This is the game of chess, and you’re cheating. Because if you play fair, you have a 50% chance or more that I’m going to win.’”
Lancôme’s Perspective – ‘A Grounded Authority’
Vania Lacascade , Lancôme Global Brand President, explained why Saldaña is the perfect fit:
“[She] brings a grounded authority and a rare intellectual depth that resonate deeply with today’s women, who seek substance over surface. Beyond her energy and grace, it is her unwavering sense of self and her commitment to meaningful storytelling that make her such a powerful voice for Lancôme.”
The Product – Absolue Longevity MD
Saldaña is the radiant face of the Intercept duo , which consists of a serum ($175) and cream ($155), for people aged 35 to 55. The full Absolue Longevity MD collection includes five products targeting biological age rather than chronological age.
| Collection | Target Age | Products |
|---|---|---|
| Anticipate | Under 35 | Cream ($145) |
| Intercept | 35-55 (Saldaña’s line) | Serum ($175), Cream ($155) |
| Reset | Over 55 | Serum ($175), Cream ($155) |
What Is Biological Age?
While chronological age is the number of years since you were born, biological age “reflects the current state of the skin’s cells and supporting structures, such as collagen and elastin,” according to the brand.
The Key Ingredient – Mitopure
Lancôme has partnered with Swiss biotech company Timeline to utilize Mitopure , a patented, highly pure form of Urolithin A, in this collection. The ingestible supplement has been clinically studied for its ability to support mitochondrial health .
“It helps cells clean out what no longer functions optimally and restore their energy potential,” the brand shares.
In Absolue Longevity MD, Mitopure is – for the first time – integrated into topical skincare , working in tandem with the brand’s proprietary compounds designed specifically for the biology of the skin.
A Three-System Approach
The collection does away with a one-size-fits-all approach:
| System | Target Biological Age | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Anticipate | Under 35 | Preserve youthful look; address earliest signs |
| Intercept | 35-55 (Saldaña) | Address signs as they emerge |
| Reset | Over 55 | Renew and revitalize |
Saldaña’s Evening Skincare Routine
While the article does not detail her exact routine, Saldaña notes that she now indulges in an evening skincare practice – a ritual that aligns with Lancôme’s philosophy of intentional, results-driven self-care.
A Full-Circle Moment
Saldaña’s journey with Lancôme is deeply personal. From sneaking into her grandmother’s bedroom as a child to open her Lancôme products, to now being the face of the brand’s most innovative skincare line – it is a full-circle moment.
| Then | Now |
|---|---|
| Child in Dominican Republic | Academy Award-winning actress |
| Sneaking grandmother’s Lancôme products | Global Ambassador for Lancôme |
| Learning beauty from family | Defining beauty on her own terms |
‘I Feel Heard’
Zoe Saldaña’s partnership with Lancôme is not just another celebrity beauty deal. It is a collaboration built on mutual respect, shared values, and genuine listening.
As Saldaña puts it: “I speak up. And they’re listening. I feel heard.”
For a woman who spent her childhood sneaking her grandmother’s Lancôme products in the Dominican Republic, becoming the face of the brand’s most innovative skincare line – while advocating for women, celebrating diversity, and rejecting narrow definitions of beauty – is a powerful statement.
At 47, Saldaña is not following anyone else’s rules. She is writing her own. And Lancôme is proud to be by her side.
