In playing Lara Jean Covey in the hit Netflix film trilogy To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Lana Condor allowed young Asian-American women to see themselves in an onscreen star. The series came to an end last year, but the 24-year-old actor is busier than ever: She recently became an ambassador for Neutrogena’s hair division, having been a face of the brand since 2020, and she’s producing and starring in an upcoming Netflix miniseries called Boo, Bitch. Condor spoke to us about representation, inspiration and how she keeps her hair healthy.

ON BEING ONE OF THE FIRST ASIAN-AMERICAN WOMEN TO PLAY THE LEAD IN A YOUNG-ADULT FILM

“When I got the audition notice in my email, I remember sitting there and being like, ‘I need to get this. I don’t have an option—I need to book this.’ Netflix has such a wide reach, so a lot of people were going to see this romcom. I had really high hopes that it would impact our community in a positive way. It meant the world to me.”

ON WHO INSPIRES HER

“Lucy Liu and Sandra Oh are my icons. They are incredible Asian actors, and the fact that they have persevered and continue to have successful careers is something that I really admire because it takes a lot of strength to push through obstacles as a female Asian actor in the entertainment world.”

ON WORKING WITH NEUTROGENA

“I feel very honoured to be representing such an iconic brand that everyone knows and loves and that’s widely accessible. It’s amazing as an Asian-American woman to be invited to join their family, especially since I’ve been using Neutrogena since I was young.”

ON HER HAIR-CARE ROUTINE

“When I’m filming, my hair has to look fresh, so I have heat and product on it every single day. Because of that, I have to wash it at night. I love the Healthy Scalp Hydro Boost line. It’s something that I’ve been using since Neutrogena rolled it out. My scalp and hair are pretty dry, and the line contains hyaluronic acid, which locks in moisture and keeps my hair and scalp healthy and moisturized.”

ON THE BEST BEAUTY TIPS SHE’S LEARNED

“If a scene requires me to cry, my eyes get so puffy. I was working with a makeup artist the other day who introduced me to these cold balls that you roll on your eyes and face. They push out any moisture that you might be holding in, and they work fairly instantly—so they’re very much a holy-grail product for me. Another thing I learned from professionals in the makeup world is if you look tired—or if you are tired—add more blush because it gives the illusion that you’re well rested. I’m a big blush wearer because I’m in a constant state of feeling tired!”

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