Olay, JBL, Shani Darden and More

Talking Shop is our series where we talk to interesting people about their most interesting buys.

Decades into her career as an award-winning singer, songwriter and actress, Kelly Rowland’s schedule is as packed as ever. She’s a coach on the newest season of The Voice UK; she’s constantly performing across the world (if you caught her on The Boy Is Mine Tour last year, we’re jealous); she’s starring in movies; and she’s spending time in the recording studio (although she can’t tell us exactly why just yet).

“I’m really grateful to be doing so many different things that make me smile,” says Rowland, who recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of Destiny Child’s quadruple platinum album, Survivor.

One of those things putting a smile on Rowland’s face as of late is her recent partnership with Olay; she’s the face of its Super Collection, which officially comes out today. But her connection to the brand isn’t new. She remembers seeing bottles of Oil of Olay (what Olay was called until the 1990s) on her great aunts’ vanities when she was a child, and watching them apply their creams as a ritual of sorts. “That to me was my first idea of self care,” says Rowland. “The partnership feels like a full circle, cool moment that I’m having with my great aunts.”

We caught up with Rowland to learn more about everything she incorporates into her self care routine, especially as she heads into the busy back-to-school season with her kids.

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As a mom to two young sons, Rowland says she’s going into the back-to-school season stocked up on Viva Vitamins’ vitamin C, Gaia Herbs’ elderberry and a generous amount of pocket-sized hand sanitizer. She’s also working on establishing a new routine for her boys.

“I want them to come on my runs with me because they’re waking up with all this energy,” Rowland says, noting her go-to running shoes are Hoka or New Balance. “In the mornings, I jog, and then I get on the vibrating plate. I’m trying to make it a fun thing and they’ll feel the benefit of it during the day.”

Vibration plates are one of the latest fitness trends that can help your muscles work harder, help your balance and ease stiffness in the body by increasing blood flow, according to experts we spoke to. Many plates, like the LifePro one Rowland uses, come with presets that make using the machine a breeze, even during early weekday mornings.

A tour veteran and host of The Voice UK, Rowland says a speaker and fresh mint tea are her pre-show must-haves. “I sometimes make a tea with real pineapple and hibiscus, and it’s so good,” she says. To listen to music in her dressing room, Rowland’s preferred speaker is one from JBL, like this portable bluetooth option that has 28 hours of playing time and crisp, clear sound.

Rowland’s wind-down routine is non-negotiable for her own self care. Every night, she uses the sauna in her home and this Shani Darden red light therapy mask to relax.

“In the sauna, I sweat everything out; I’m just completely depleted. I drink some water, shower and I get in bed and put my red light mask on and by the time 20 minutes is up, that’s a wrap,” says Rowland.

Her FDA-cleared red light mask comes with an optional neck piece, and both parts have built-in LED lights in red, near infrared and blue wavelengths to address signs of aging, acne and pigmentation while boosting collagen, according to the brand. You use the handheld controller to adjust its settings, including the length of your treatment. It’s pricey, but if it helps us get close to skin as flawless as Rowland’s, it may be an investment worth making.

Rowland says working with Olay as the face of its Super Collection was a no-brainer both due to her personal connection with the brand and how quickly she fell in love with the new products. The Olay Super Serum, which is infused with activated niacinamide, vitamin C, collagen peptide, vitamin E, and AHA (alpha hydroxy acid), is her favorite.

“I’m so used to layering different things on. But I tried this and loved it, especially the glow it gives you,” she says. “[There’s] a little iridescence you get on the cheeks — when we get out in the sun, I like to glisten, I like to glow, and that’s exactly what happens” Rowland adds that paring down her skin care routine has helped save time in her already jam-packed schedule.

Why trust NBC Selected?

Zoe Malin is a reporter at NBC Selected. She leads the Talking Shop series, interviewing people like Paris Hilton, Maureen Kelly, Lindsay Hubbard and Chase Crawford.

Marilyn La Jeunesse is a newsletter editor at NBC Selected. She’s been testing products professionally since 2016 and has previously written for publications like The Cut, Elle, Teen Vogue, Elite Daily, Bustle, and more.

To write this article, Malin and La Jeunesse interviewed Kelly Rowaland about her Olay partnership and her favorite products.