Photo Credit: @abbyhassett
Hey everyone my name is Annelise Cepero and I am an actor, singer, and model based in New York. I was born in Manhattan and raised in Yonkers. I really love living here in NY surrounded by so much diversity, art, and passionate people. It really inspires me to do my best and never stop dreaming big. I am a lover of film, theatre, music, cooking, and books based on history or historical fiction. I would also consider myself to be a little bit of a wannabe coffee connoisseur, I LOVE coffee.
First thing you do when you wake up?
9:00am: These days I’m struggling to get up any earlier than this, but I’m up! The aroma of my mom’s Café Crema is knocking at my nostrils and pulls me out of bed pretty quickly. First thing I do is float over to the bathroom and brush my teeth.
9:10am: I begin my morning ritual of making myself a hot latte. First goes in a quarter cup of espresso, and then I froth about a half cup of almond milk and swirl that on top. (Can you tell I want to be a coffee connoisseur?) The frother has become my best friend, truly. I finish it off with a spoonful of Chatfield’s Date Sugar and I’m ready to enjoy my morning.
9:20am: Along with my coffee I try and read a few chapters of whatever book I’m reading at the moment. Right now I’m reading “The Daughter’s Tale” by Armando Lucas Correa. Reading has been a wonderful way to escape and focus my attention away from the media.
Any ritual health/beauty/wellness routine or products?
Pilates has been a daily ritual of mine for a little over a year now. It has changed my life. I practice with the MWH Method and it’s amazing because I can do it in the comfort of my own home. It’s given me strength like never before and has allowed me to connect my body with my mind and soul. It has done wonders for my anxiety as well. My hair care routine is pretty laid back and carefree. I found that what works best for me is washing my hair, setting it with product, and if I have the time to air dry it then I will do that. But, if I’m in a rush I will set and dry it with a diffuser. As for skincare…finding skincare for myself has been a roller coaster ride. I suffer from eczema on my face and body and I can’t use a lot of products. The reason for that being most products I find have perfume or ingredients that cause my eczema to flare up. So, it has taken a lot of trial and error to find skincare that works for me and won’t irritate my skin.
Skincare Routine
Step 1 ~ Wash my face with either the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, or the Avène Gentle Milk Cleanser.
Step 2~ Follow up with a serum; usually either the Botanics Organic Facial Oil, the Cocokind Chia Facial Oil, or just an organic pure carrot seed oil.
Step 3~ Lather on the moisturizer, and I mean lather!! My favorite moisturizer at the moment is the Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream by Avène. My folks with super dry skin…I feel you!
Photo Credit: @abbyhassett
Favorite feature(s) on yourself and why?
My favorite features would have to be my hair and my eyebrows. These two features really make me feel like me. I’ve come a long way with my hair. I used to straighten it pretty much every day for school. This was simply because it was easier, and I went to a predominantly Caucasian middle and high school where I didn’t feel comfortable showing my most natural self. There weren’t many kids who looked like me and I didn’t want to give people a reason to ask questions about why I looked different. Fast forward to now; I’ve grown into myself and I’ve become confident in my ethnicity. I love my different and unique qualities and I’m grateful for the journey it took to get here.
How do your job, lifestyle, and background affect your routine?
I am an actress, singer, and model which means I’m usually wearing a lot of makeup, and it usually means my face is getting touched by many people. Because of this, my morning/night skincare routine is super essential to keep my skin fresh, hydrated, and clean. Sleep is also key for me. I try and get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep so I can wake up and sing at an audition, or make it to set for an early call time. Being an actress and singer, vocal health is important and is a priority for me. Before the pandemic when I was working and auditioning I had things I did that helped keep my voice at its best. Tips & Tricks: - Ginger Tea - Manuka Honey - Vocal Steam - Warmup Vocal Chords - LOTS OF WATER - Try not to whisper too much - Minimize Alcohol intake
What do you do to stay healthy?
I try my best to stay active daily doing Pilates or taking walks. But, I also don’t put pressure on myself or make myself feel awful if I didn’t exercise that day. Mental health is more important and if I’m getting down on myself that won’t help me in the slightest. Health starts from within. I enjoy eating clean and eating whole foods, but I try not to restrict myself to any cravings that I might get. I like to take Elderberry and Echinacea supplements every morning to support my immune system. I also practice meditation and prayer to keep my mind clear. Those are two steps that are important to me.
Any cultural tips/tricks you've learned from family and/or friends?
All tips I’ve learned from my mom and Abuela … 1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize the moment you step out of the shower! 2. If you don’t feel put together a little lipstick and some earrings go a long way. 3. Vicks VapoRub is a universal remedy.
How do you choose beauty products?
I tend to gravitate towards products that are super hydrating, don’t contain harsh chemicals that will irritate my skin/scalp, and are easy and quick to apply.
What is your ethnic background?
I am of Puerto Rican descent! People usually think that I am anything but since I appear to fall into different ethnic groups. I often find myself defending my ethnicity because many question if I’m actually Puerto Rican. I get questions like “Are you sure your Puerto Rican?” “You’re not mixed with anything else?” It’s uncanny because Puerto Ricans are of mixed ethnicity descending from the Taíno Indians, Africa, and Spain.
How do your ethnicity and identity intersect and affect your beauty preferences (or grievances)?
I am passionate about diversity and inclusion, especially in the entertainment and beauty industry since that’s my career. So I find myself supporting brands that show diversity in their marketing. Representation matters. It does affect how I shop for beauty products and what I choose to support. I am also a very visual person; if I’m buying products for my curly hair for example, it does help to see people with textured hair on the company’s packaging or marketing. It helps me relate to the product.
If you were to create the perfect beauty/wellness product for yourself, what would it be?
If I were to create a beauty product for myself, it would be a dry shampoo/refresher for curly hair. The ones that I have used in the past tend to frizz up my curls and leave a sticky residue. This would be amazing for those in between wash days!