Gorgeous LAURA MARANO swung by our LA hotel for a quick shoot and chat. It was short but sweet with this multi-talented female force. We enjoyed listening to her debut album “I May Be an Actress, but I can’t Fake how I Feel” rich with her amazing voice and thought provoking lyrics. We were hooked. Laura is open and dreamy in front of the camera…a perfect bare subject. So scroll on down and check her thoughts on her music, latest adventures, skincare and that mane of curls created by Ted Gibson, who shares a few words on the fun style. Thank you Laura for taking the time to sweep us away with your compelling spirit and incredible talent.

The Bare Magazine: We had a short but sweet shoot in LA! It was so nice catching up and listening to your new album! Can you describe what the album means to you? And in what way you are hoping the music will resonate/connect with listeners?

Laura Marano: It was so lovely!!! I had a wonderful day shooting with you and Ted, and showing you both my album. This album is my debut album, and it truly means everything to me. I’ve put my entire heart and soul into this record, and have genuinely been working on it for years. To finally have it out is a gigantic weight off my shoulders, and I hope it connects with everybody it’s meant to connect with. Anybody that feels a bit stuck and doesn’t know what to do about it, or anyone who is actively trying to process feelings they may have tucked away for a few years - this album is for them.

Bare: Your voice is gorgeous! Would you say your equally as passionate about music as acting?

LM: I love music with every bone in my body, but it’s also something I feel way more insecure about. To be honest, it’s hard to even compare music and acting, because they feel so different to me, and I really do love them both very much. I feel very grateful to be able to do the two things that I am so passionate about.

Bare: The day was shot you had just returned from Malta! Then you headed to Mexico... get us up to speed on the purpose (if you can share) of these journeys.

LM: It was definitely quite the chaotic month! Because of a very last minute situation, I ended up working in Malta on a project I can’t quite talk about yet, but I truly had a blast! For Mexico, I got to do a listening party with my fans in Mexico City, which was an absolute dream! It was my first time there, and I loved every single minute of it! I wish I was able to stay longer.

I also wish I had been able to do an actual concert there, but it felt like the next best thing! My fans and I were singing my songs super loudly, and it was truly the best. Then, they all sang me a birthday song in Spanish, and I honestly felt beyond happy and touched.

Bare: Where did you stay in Mexico? Must be enchanting!

LM: We did the event at the Live Aqua Urban Resort in Mexico City, and I truly was obsessed there. I barely wanted to leave the hotel, because it was so lovely and they literally have everything. It was also the perfect place to do the event!

Bare: Now for the curly q's you were sporting for our shoot! Did you enjoy the 90's romantic doll eyed vibe? Do you like stepping into different characters?

LM: I loved it!!! I hadn’t done those types of curls in a very long time, and I low-key/high-key became obsessed with them! Ted did an amazing job with them, and it definitely felt like stepping into a different character, which is always very fun for me.

Bare: Your skin is so luminous and clear! Can you share your skincare regime? Are you consistently using sunblock?

LM: I am pretty religious about using sunblock and just about taking care of my skin in general. I love using a variety of different products, because I find my skin really reacts well to not necessarily using the same exact product every single day/night. I worked with First Aid Beauty a few years ago, and I still to this day love using their products, among some others.

I also love Philosophy products a ridiculous amount. Their Dose of Wisdom serum is incredible. My staple for sure is using spa water to in the morning to start my day with a fresh face and then at night to remove any makeup at all.

Bare: Is self care time important for you? What are some of your favorite treats or treatments?

LM: It is very important to me. Using that time to do a face mask or even a hair mask brings me such joy. Wearing a face mask and a hair mask while watching tv and eating a home cooked meal is genuinely my definition of heaven.

Bare: What does your everyday go-to makeup consist of? Can you share any new product discoveries you're into?

LM: It is always changing! I recently started using a few Ogee products, and I absolutely love them, especially their lip oils! I also love my Maybelline mascara and my Marc Jacobs bronzer -those are two must haves in my kit. I also am pretty obsessed with so many Rare Beauty products…like, their foundation is out of this world.

Bare: Please list your top 5 Bare essentials.

LM: Ooh, I could go in so many directions with this! But, thinking about what I always have with me when I leave:

-Lip balm

-License and credit card

-My phone (and even sometimes my iPad!)

-Water bottle

-Sunglasses

As long as I have those things, I should be good to go for most of the day!

Hair master Ted Gibson chats below about Laura and how to get her curly q’s:

“Laura is so delightful and full of sunshine and bliss. She walked in and I thought wow what a Italian Bombshell. My job as a hairdresser is to see something in a woman that she doesn’t see in herself. And so many people came to mind for me. I love iconic woman in cinema like Sigourney Weaver in Aliens, Debra Winger in Uban Cowboy. You could say that I am into curls sometimes. Today was no different. I love texture. Removing it or adding it.

Laura just came from a fresh salon blowout. The difference between a blowout from a salon an editorial blowout is that editorially I don’t like a lot of volume sometimes and the hairline is something the eye sees first thing. I wanted to make sure I changed the direction of the blowout that she had. I damped her hair some with a water bottle. I used a blowdrying agent by IGK called GOOD BEHAVIOR SMOOTHING SPRAY then blewdry with a medium sized boar bristle brush. What crucial about this next step is the placement of the curls. I wanted the curls to not be really close to the scalp and to look natural. I took 1 and half inch sections wrapped the hair around the iron to create a kinda beach wave. Then I curled the ends so it looks so cute. After this was done I used STARRING Shooting Star Texture Meringue on the entire head to give definition to the curls and add a matt shine finish. Followed up with my fav hairspray Elnett extra strength hold.”

Photos/Makeup: Tina Turnbow using Ogee

Hair: Ted Gibson using STARRING

Laura wears her own jeans and boots

Corset and Climbing Rose dress/gloves by Samantha Pleet

Shot at ACE Hotel DTLA