Fiancé? Check. Mother? Yes. Actress, model, and singer? Of course. Serayah McNeill—our May 2025 of the ESSENCE digital coverstar alongside Joey Bada$$—is a jack of all trades. Best known for her role as Tiana Brown-Lyon in Fox’s Empire, the multi-hyphenate also doubles as a beauty buff with a skincare bag full of secrets. And, lucky for us, they’re all well-documented. 

Squeezing a bottle of honey, one might assume she’s sweetening her tea. Instead, she’s using it as a remedy for dry skin—rubbing it on and letting it sit for 10 minutes. “Honey is a natural humectant, attracting and retaining moisture in the skin,” she said in an Instagram post, following up with Innis Free’s Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Cream, Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentré, and Neutrogena Clear Face Serum Sunscreen. 

During pregnancy, skincare was at the top of McNeill’s priority list, too. “One of the first things that I thought about when I found out I was pregnant was—stretch marks,” she said in another post. Using Skinomatics Body Oil, which proved to be quite effective given how smooth her skin looks. (See: her post cradling her belly with French tips). 

From routine facials to skin hacks, skincare has undoubtedly been the core of her beauty secrets. But, beauty is more than just skin deep. As the ambassador of MYAVANA haircare, McNeill started taking her haircare just as seriously by doing a hair analysis, the brand’s way of surveying the health of your hair. Additionally, we can’t forget her ultra-glam moments, either. Think: a Hollywood curled ponytail at her baby shower and Boho braids for a night out with her fiancé.

More recently, she’s been seen out with elegant updos and ultra-glam makeup to match, for what looked like a date night. For the Hollywood Unlocked IMPACT Awards, a pinstripe strapless gown did the trick as well. Meanwhile, her hair was worn down and voluminously. The perfect touch on top of sultry makeup. Other times, like when she’s hanging out with her son, she’ll opt for a slicked back bun and a touch of blush.

Safe to say, her beauty hacks are all worth trying yourself. 

In honor of her birthday, scroll on for more of her best beauty hacks and moments. 

Author: India Espy-Jones

Read the original article on Essence.