“I’m All About What Works”

Entrepreneur, model and TV personality Nicole Williams-English has taken the beauty and fashion world by storm—jet-setting across the globe with husband and former NFL star Larry English. A former ambassador for Savage x Fenty and star of E!’s hit series WAGS, Nicole is also the founder of the swimwear brand Nia Lynn and recently hit the runway for Sports Illustrated. Off the catwalk, she’s a dedicated mom and animal advocate, serving as the U.S. Celebrity Ambassador for World Animal Protection and repping plant-based powerhouse Beyond Meat, all while making time for “the treatments that work.”

Word on the street is that you know your beauty products. What does your current routine look like?

“Oh wow! I’m 41. My whole life, I’ve taken really good care of my skin. I try my best. Now, I have a two-and-a-half-year-old, so I am a toddler mom and life is a little bit more crazy. A lot less going out, a lot less getting facials. I try to do as much as I can at home with what I have.

With that being said, I do have a routine that I like to stick to. I try a lot of new brands, but I go back to my old faithfuls. Right now, I’m really big on red light therapy. I have many different machines. I don’t just have one! I’m into the red LED masks, and I have this small handheld red LED light that I used to use—it’s just right by my bed. And, we just got an infrared sauna. We got that installed outside, and they sent me a red LED panel. So now, I have this red LED panel up on my balcony. I put my swimsuit on at night, I put my little goggles on, and I just sit there and relax before I go to bed. It’s really good for sleep, really good for anti-aging, really good for inflammation. I’m big on that. I try to do that every night before bed. That’s my number-one.”

That sounds amazing. A little at-home spa moment.

“That is what I do after I put the baby to bed. After being at the park and all the play gyms and stuff like that, I go home, get a nice shower and do my red LED light therapy. I’m also pretty good about washing my face; I never leave my makeup on. I’ve been really big on that my whole life. I don’t care how young I was, how drunk I was coming home from the club. I would be the only one waking up with a fresh face. All my other girlfriends would have mascara smudged everywhere, still have their makeup on from the night before, but I’m big on washing your face and going to bed clean.

I wash my face every night, and then I really love Augustinus Bader. That’s my favorite and I’ve been using it for a long time. I use the Rich Cream ($305). Some say it’s a little thick, but I find that it works for me, especially at my age. I need a little bit more hydration. In addition to the cream, I use the Serum ($380) and I use the Oil ($270)—I use the oil at the end of everything. I just lather up my neck and my whole face. I find that to be very hydrating.

I also use a retinol, maybe twice a week. Right now, I’m trying this retinol from 111SKIN, and then I love a vitamin C serum. That’s always amazing. I try to use that throughout the week as well. I also love an ice roller. You know how people are really diving into putting their face in the ice water or the ice bucket thing? I like the ice roller. I just have one from Skinthesis that I use that my facialist, Melissa, gave me. I ice-roll my face almost every morning…or, at least I try, depending on what time my toddler wakes up. That’s something that I like to do for puffiness.

Other than that, I like to try different things. Right now, there’s this whole salmon sperm facial that I want to try that I haven’t tried yet. I’m also big on Sofwave. Have you tried it yet?”

Yes, good stuff.

“I’ve tried almost everything! I’ve done Morpheus three times in a row—I did three of them back to back. I’m also a fan of Sofwave. My husband and I just went to this biohacker dinner the other night—he had a whole house full of machines and things to keep you young. And he swears by Sofwave! That solidified it for me, because I’m the type of person who always asks: ‘What really works?’ I get confused and overwhelmed because what truly works—what is actually anti-aging and helping you, versus what is hype and thinning out your skin. But he said Sofwave is one of the best to do, so I am going to keep doing it.”

You’re also the queen of swimsuits with your line and Sports Illustrated. Do you have any sunscreens you like right now, and are you pretty good about your sun protection?

“Yes, I’m pretty good about it. I’m using Supergoop! right now. I just bought it. It’s almost like a highlighter that you put on your face, on the cheekbones. I love it. I’m obsessed with that. They do have really great sunscreens. That’s one of the ones I’m using right now.”

When you’re in your normal, non-modeling life, do you not wear a lot of makeup? Is makeup for your job, and your regular life is for skin care?

“Yes, that’s exactly my thing. When I go out, I like to wear just a little bit of concealer. I like the Charlotte Tilbury. It’s like a translucent foundation. It’s not so much coverage like you’re going out for a night, but just enough. I put it on with a brush. Gives me a little tint, but it stays glowy throughout the day and more sheer.

Then, I usually draw on my eyebrows. I love Benefit. That’s my favorite eyebrow pencil. The one with the little three strokes. It’s so amazing. It looks like real hair.

I use that with some eyebrow gel and then maybe I put on a lip liner, but that’s it. I just keep it clean because I’m just momming all day long. I want to be ready for everything, but I also don’t want to be overdone. A slickback ponytail, very light, sheer makeup, my sunscreen, and then that’s about it. That’s what I do. That’s my daily routine.”

You’re also very into animal advocacy. Does that play a role into what products you will use?

“It does. Over the years, learning more and more about this, I will say, I never really looked into it or knew about it when I was younger. As I’m learning more about cruelty-free brands and that you can actually get a good brand that is cruelty-free, I’m replacing more and more stuff. At this point, most of my makeup is cruelty-free. Actually, probably all of it.

Skin care…I guess it is a little tough because then you’ll look at the label and it’ll say, ‘Not tested on animals,’ but then it might be sold in a country that is. Those are also things that could be missed. I love that CoverGirl is doing cruelty-free. I love Hourglass and Tarte Cosmetics—both are amazing. I have a wide range of makeup that I love that are cruelty-free. I do try to follow that as much as I can. I always try to step back, do my research and then go from there—I try to do better, always.”

My last question: Do you have anything exciting going on as summer wraps up?

“I’m trying to get back on TV right now. There are some things that are in the mix. I’ve been doing a lot of interviews with some networks. Hopefully, I will be getting back on TV by this time next year. I am also working on some stuff with Sports Illustrated, which is really fun. Obviously, they’re very secretive, and we can’t really tell too much, but there are some big things coming out there. I’m just happy to have a change of season! I’m Canadian. I like the four seasons! I like to have a little bit of cold, but I live in LA, and, right now, it’s very hot. I’m looking forward to fall.”