Camila Cabello Gets Candid About Her Anxiety, Being a Night Owl, and Her Newest Partnership With OLIPOP
Camila Cabello is definitely known for her star power—and she's bringing that same energy to a very different medium. As the new brand ambassador for prebiotic, functional soda brand OLIPOP, she'll serve as the face of the brand and also work in tandem on their shared mission of making an impact in the health and wellness space. We sat down with the megastar to talk her fitness routine, favorite skin-care products, and what therapy has done for her in recent years.
Well+Good: Congrats on your new role—what made you want to get into a partnership with OLIPOP?
Camila Cabello: I grew up having soda with tacos—you know, Mexican people love Coca-Cola [laughs]. And it was just such a good replacement for that because it’s not a lot of sugar, and it just tastes so good. So my family and I became obsessed with it. During quarantine I would have one every day for mental health stuff (and also just health in general). I learned more about the microbiome and gut health, and OLIPOP is a drink that's so good for that, and so I wanted an opportunity to work with them. I started off as an investor in February, and then I just was happy to collaborate more with them.
W+G: As far as your favorite flavors, you alluded to Coca-Cola, but are there certain flavors that you gravitate toward?
CC: My favorite is definitely strawberry vanilla. And then when I have tacos or if I like, you know, have a burger once in a while, I'll have like the [Vintage Cola]. And the orange! I love the orange one.
W+G: Love that. You sort of alluded to this, when you touched on the gut microbiome, but how else are you interested in taking care of your gut? Are there go-to foods that you kind of gravitate towards or just things that you typically do to keep your gut healthy and happy?
CC: Well, I definitely think food is a big part of everything. So things that have natural probiotics like tea or yogurt. Um, but also I take probiotics every day.
W+G: There have been studies, as I'm sure you know, linking gut health to mental health as well. I'd love to hear what some of your go-tos are in terms of taking care of your mental health and not just your gut health?
CC: I have a bad habit of not, you know, hydrating enough, so baseline is drinking enough water, having like a well-balanced day in terms of food, having enough veggies and like not a lot of processed foods, and exercise. But then also you know, making sure I'm not too stressed and I'm having time to hang out with family and friends. Therapy is a big part of my life too. And sleep is huge for me. If I don't sleep, my anxiety and neuroticism is through the roof.
W+G: I'd love to hear how you got introduced to therapy. And then I'd also love to hear your sleep habits. Is there anything that you do in particular to kind of make sure that you get those hours?
CC: I started therapy when I was pretty young, like late teens, and I think it was just a necessity for me at that time. I just felt very, very anxious and sad as a result of that anxiety. I didn't really feel shy about asking for help, and I'm so glad I did cause I went on the journey of finding the right therapist. I connected with a few different therapists along the way, and they helped me in different moments of my life. But I definitely found one right now that I feel like really made the biggest difference. And, so I think it came first out of necessity and then out of just like really seeing the change therapy made in my life and seeing how much I grew as a person.
"I just felt very, very anxious and sad as a result of that anxiety. I didn't really feel shy about asking for help." — Camila Cabello
And as far as sleep, I realize it's better for me to sleep earlier so I try to go to sleep early and not be a night owl. Like even if I sleep at like two in the morning and wake up at noon, it's not the same as sleeping at like 11 p.m. and waking up at 8 a.m. Also I try not to like drink too much because drinking really affects the quality of my sleep.
W+G: Would you consider yourself a night owl by nature? Or are you more of an early riser type of person?
CC: No, I'm definitely more of a night owl, but I feel like when I'm a night owl I get into this pattern of like just never feeling rested and I'm just like always exhausted no matter how many hours I get, I'm just like tired.
W+G: Absolutely. I totally get that. When you don't get enough sleep or when you need some sort of like energy boost, what are some of your ways you get that?
CC: I usually drink a lot of water and try to to eat healthy that day, just to not like burden my body with other things. I find that if I’m not gonna get sleep and I’m eating bad and I’m not drinking water, and I'm drinking alcohol for example, and I'm stressed, I'm probably gonna get sick. But if I'm doing a few of those good things, then I'll probably be okay. And also even if I’m not sleeping, just like resting, laying down, napping, that helps.
W+G: Absolutely. Switching gears a bit, I'd love to hear what beauty products you're using nowadays. What products have you been relying on?
CC: I always use mascara, and I really like L'Oreal mascara. I've used it, honestly, ever since I was young. I just think it's so good. Also, I love Supergoop sunscreen.
W+G: Is there anything you've been gravitating toward recently for your day-to-day look?
CC: For a quick, casual, going-out look, I love putting blush on my cheeks and on my eyelids.
W+G: Are there any skin-care items you swear by?
CC: Ooh. Um, honestly I've been in the ocean a lot lately, and I feel like like saltwater is so good for my skin that I’ve barely used any products the past few days and my skin has never been better. But I also sunscreen, being well moisturized, serums, and taking your makeup off—like really washing well—is so important. I tend to get really clogged pores when I don't do a deep wash at night.
W+G: Changing the the topic again a little bit, you alluded to fitness being one of the things that keep you happy. What do you like to do in the gym?
CC: For cardio I really like to do stuff that's fun, like swimming or snorkeling or doing different sports. Like I really wanna play. Playing tennis also, or going dancing is the best—even literally going out to dance as a way of sweating—it's the best. Or taking a fun workout class with friends.
For myself, every day I try to do weight training. I have a trainer in LA [Melissa Alcantara], and if I'm not there with her, she has this app FitGurlMel. I just go to the gym and I do her weight sessions for like an hour. I feel like a little gym rat because I learned how to use the machines and stuff, and then I'm so sore the next day.
W+G: I love that. I feel like the gym can be very intimidating for a lot of people. Was there ever a time where you were intimidated?
CC: I didn't know how to use the machines until like three weeks ago [laughs]. Um, and it honestly just takes asking questions. Basically I just pulled up the app and asked people that work at the gym or people that are using the machines [for help]. They look intimidating but they're really not. Or you just YouTube a video or something. Maybe it'll take you 20 minutes to figure it out, but then you know how to use it for the rest of your life.
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W+G: Is there anything in the wellness sphere you've been really loving lately?
CC: I love meditation. I have the intention to do it like every day for 10 minutes; it really makes such a big difference for me. I love the Ten Percent Happier app. I do their courses, and they have like 10-minute meditations every day. It just makes such a big difference, and I’ve learned so much. I really grow as a person from doing those every day.
This interview’s been edited for length and clarity.
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