Eva Mendes is so much more than Ryan’s original ‘Hey Girl’ and new mother to their daughter. Long before Mr Gosling, Eva had carved out a curvaceous, coveted shape on the international film and fashion sphere. As magnetic in We Own The Night as she is charming in Hitch and heart-wrenchingly heartbreaking in A Place Beyond The Pines, this American born, Cuban beauty is on another stratosphere when it comes to health, her wardrobe, her skin and hair, and of course, yes, her hotter than hot partner.
BEAUTY:
“I don’t want ‘sexy’ to be my defining characteristic,” Eva has said. “I’m definitely responsible for the image that I put out there… but… I’d love for my ambition and will and intellect and sense of humour to define me as well.”
Eva admits that her looks have meant being taken seriously has been harder to do, and that she has had to work really hard on loving herself, “and I do,” she has said.
This kickback against societies perception that beautiful actresses just make for good gossip magazine fodder, has been a driving force for Eva, and has only proven to make her more enchanting.
That’s not to say that her face hasn’t been the reason she has amassed part of her fortune. As a former spokes model for Revlon and Pantene as well as muse for Thierry Mugler’s iconic Angel fragrance, Eva is well known for her cosmetic connections.
At home though, “I don’t like much make up for my everyday look,” she says, adding that she uses Dr. Perricone No Foundation and Dr Hauschka Lip Moisturiser as base products.
But before all that, she kick starts her complexion via her metabolism with lemon-spiked water, noting hydration high on her list of priorities for keeping her skin perfect. For facials – and dietary guidelines to keep her skin glowing – Eva is an avid-fan of Dr. Perricone, who has treated the actress for regular facial visits.
Internal health is a deal breaker for the beauty, she has said. “Makeup artists can only do so much,” she has said in an interview. “If you’re not well-rested and well-nourished, it will show on your face. So drink lots of water and eat well… and ditch the cigarettes!”
WELLBEING:
Eva has also played ambassador for Reebok, which is the perfect match, as she is a self-confessed running fan, regularly mixing it up between distance running, intervals, track, hills and treadmill. Also a client of Hollywood heavyweight trainer, Harley Pasternak, Eva is adamant that maintaining her curves is key, so in addition to her running regime, the two work on strength training, abdominal work and hamstring exercises – which are all sure to hold her in good stead post-pregnancy.
“Although I’m like every other woman in the world, and I don’t say ‘yay!’ I’m going to be in the gym for two hours; it’s something that I find extremely beneficial and I do it,” Eva has said.
This attitude holds her in good stead, as she is not one to starve herself of indulgences. Her focus – she has said – is on the inside out, “so it’s all about what I’m eating, how I’m feeding my body and how much water I’m drinking,” says the whole-meal bread lover and non-meat eater (she is a well lauded PETA advocate)
Her tip to daily diet maintenance is to keep it dark saying that this ensures she stays away from white pasta, white rice and white bread. “That keeps things simple for me,” she has said.
FASHION:
Handbag and overcoat designers the world over were no doubt gifting this gal with plenty during her pregnancy as she cleverly kept her baby bump a secret with big coats and strategically placed bags for months. Quite the reverse of her controversial – scantily clad – Calvin Klein underwear campaign she shot prior to her pregnancy.
Eva has also launched her own fashion line, a demure collection of vintage inspired pieces for “real women”.
“There isn’t a piece in my collection that I won’t wear,” she has said. “My customer is not a fan of the way tabloids cover celebrity style, “Who wore it best”, she told The Huffington Post on launching the line. “It’s disastrous for women’s self-esteem. With fashion, there is no right or wrong.”
On the red carpet, Eva is often clad in designer clobber such as Oscar de la Renta, Stella McCartney, and Versace, but she is a thrift shop girl through and through, saying that she regularly gets asked at cafes and the likes where her dresses are from, and can’t bring herself to tell admirers she brought it for $6 en-route to pick up her coffee!
