Issa Rae seems unstoppable these days.
Between starring in two blockbuster hits (“Barbie” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”) and the July premiere of the rebooted “Project Greenlight,” in which Rae serves as an executive producer, the multi-hyphenate has had quite the year.
This summer also marked the debut of the “Rap Sh!t” creator’s partnership with Shipt. Through the Target-owned service, Shipt users can have everything from household items to groceries delivered to their door. “It was such a seamless partnership because I use Shipt at work for necessary supplies or if I’m at home or hanging with my friends,” she says. “The commercial that we did together really reflected my experience.”
As part of the partnership, Rae, alongside industry experts, mentored four Howard college students this summer as they worked on an ad to mark the launch of Shipt’s $5-per-month student membership plan. “The opportunity to have a mentorship program where we give these Howard students an opportunity to create a national commercial appealed to me because these opportunities don’t come often,” shares Rae. “To be able to put this on their résumé will do so many wonders for them as they continue to pursue careers in advertising or any other creative career they aspire to.”
Below, the “Barbie” star shares nine of her tried-and-true everyday favorites with CNN Underscored.
Basics aside, lip balm is the one item Rae says she always has on hand. She singles out this $4 pomegranate lip balm from Burt's Bees, which is formulated with fruit extracts and is free of parabens and phthalates.
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Rae, who has worked with Converse in the past, says she has these classic sneakers in “almost every color." “They go with everything! That’s what’s great," she says. "The high-top version, the low-top version, whether I’m wearing a dress, a skirt or jeans, they literally can go with everything.” Made from durable canvas and with cushioning for all-day comfort, these versatile sneakers can take you from the office to dinner.
Related: The 18 most comfortable shoes and sneakers, according to experts
For super-soft, healthy hair, she uses this bestseller from Sienna Naturals, the vegan, natural hair care line she co-owns with her sister-in-law, Hannah Diop. “They're clean, specifically designed for textured hair and they fit my curl pattern seamlessly,” Rae says. Formulated with coconut oil, baobab oil and shea butter, this lightweight conditioner deeply moisturizes hair.
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Rae sings the praises of the beauty serum she’s been using as part of her nighttime skin care routine. “It's really helped to clear up my skin tremendously,” she says. Formulated with PHA, AHA and lemon extract, the exfoliating serum from Ole Henriksen works to smoothen and brighten skin.
Related: The 32 best face serums for every skin type, according to experts
Before heading to bed, the actress likes to sip a hot cup of lavender tea from tea makers Harney & Sons. Available as sachets or loose tea leaves, the chamomile, lavender and cornflower blend helps Rae relax before settling in for the night.
This lightweight hair and scalp oil from Sienna Naturals is another favorite. While ingredients like coconut oil and baobab oil help to nourish and strengthen hair, ingredients like copaiba resin help to reduce flaking and soothe scalp irritation.
Rae loves this Serge Normant perfume that has ylang-ylang, jasmine and amber notes. “It just gives a clean, fresh smell, and I like to go out like I took a shower,” she says. “It just reminds me of a powder deodorant; there's that freshness that you feel.”
Related: Need help finding a fall fragrance? Here are 18 expert picks to get you started
Rae says she uses her Apple earbuds daily to listen to podcasts. With up to 30 hours of listening time thanks to the MagSafe Charging Case, these noise-canceling earbuds are sweat and water-resistant. And if you’re wondering what podcasts she tunes into: Scottie Beam and Sylvia Obell’s The Scotty and Sylvia Show, Kid Fury and Crissle’s The Read, Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway’s “Pivot” and Matt Belloni’s “The Town.”
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This Barbie is into coffee: “I’m an almond milk latte girl through and through!” Rae shares. It’s no surprise, then, that her new Keurig, which can indeed make lattes, is an everyday essential. With a removable water tank and an auto-shutoff feature, this coffee maker can brew lattes, cappuccinos and espressos in four different cup sizes.