Former Nickelodeon Star Jennette McCurdy on Childhood Acting: ‘I Hated the Makeup They Put on Me — I Was a Tomboy’

You may recognize Jennette McCurdy from her days as Sam on Nickelodeon’s iCarly, but the 23-year-old is all grown up. And to prove it, she’s spilling all of her beauty secrets, including her makeup must-haves, in an interview with Into the Gloss.

Courtesy Into the Gloss

While McCurdy’s is used to getting glam on set, she’s encouraged to keep hair and makeup to a minimum for her latest role in Netflix’s Between. 

“It’s funny, because growing up acting, I hated all [of] the makeup they put on me — I was a tomboy and that foundation always felt so caked-on,” she told ITG. “But for this character [on Between], they wanted my hair slicked back, so every day it was in a pony that wasn’t even brushed. We’re talking minimal. And then I had the grown-out bangs, which would flop about, and they became known as the ‘little seagull wings’ on set.”

But she said it’s nerve-racking to be in front of the cameras all day without the boost of confidence makeup provides. “I find it easier to act when I feel comfortable with how I look with the makeup on. It’s such a vulnerable thing to have cameras in your face and a crew around watching you all day. Yeah, it can be uncomfortable, but I least I know my blemishes are covered. That’s a great feeling.”

Away from set, McCurdy relies on a few of her must-haves to keep her looking fresh-faced throughout the day — and insists that if they were to ever go out of stock, she’d not-so-quietly mourn for their loss.

“I have an irrational fear of my favorite products being discontinued, so I’m also always trying new products to have a backup,” she said. “Though if [Benefit Cosmetics’] They’re Real ever becomes discontinued, I will probably never wear mascara ever again.”

But at the end of the day, McCurdy is perfectly content with or without makeup and has grown to love herself more for it.

“For makeup, there was a time [when] I was big into smoky eyes. Not so much anymore, though, because I like to look wide-awake,” she told ITG. “Some tricks work better on certain people. I used to be like, ‘Oh! I want to be Jennifer Lopez, so I’ll make that happen today.’ But actually, maybe I should try being a better Jennette.”

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What are your must-have beauty products? Have any of your favorites ever been discontinued? Sound off below!

–Sarah Kinonen
Follow @sarahkinonen

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