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If you’re like us, you’ve probably wondered what everyday stuff famous people add to their carts — like hair spray or an electric toothbrush. We asked actor Avantika Vandanapu about the hydrating curl cream, non-chalky protein bars, and UGGs she can’t live without.
When I was 14, I had this bout of perioral dermatitis. I broke out around my smile lines with these tiny red bumps, and they weren’t able to figure out what was triggering it. My doctor at the time thought it could be my sunscreen, so I went through so many different formulas. I didn’t even care if it gave me white cast. This was the one sunscreen that did not set off my dermatitis. And, it actually leaves no white cast. I don’t even have to rub it in. I wouldn’t say it’s greasy, but I look really glowy and dewy when I wear it. It sits underneath my makeup well, too. I’m just so happy that I found a sunscreen that doesn’t break me out, especially since SPF is such an integral part of a skin-care routine. This stuff is magic.
It’s the best lip balm. When I was younger, I used Vaseline or Aquaphor, but it would create this white line around my lips. I’m not sure, but I think it’s because I didn’t exfoliate my lips back when I was like 10-years-old. I didn’t know. But this is one of the lip balms I’ve found that does not do that. I stick with the classic berry one, and it just smells so good. It’s maybe one of five products in my entire self-care skin-care journey that just hasn’t changed in years.
My mom has wavy hair that she just brushes out and puts into a braid. Mine is much curlier than hers, and growing up, she was very good about hair oiling and braiding my hair. But when I started auditioning and doing self-tapes, I wanted my hair out. There was just no way to make it look halfway decent. I started off with Cantu, and that really flopped. It dried my hair out. It’s been a long journey of finding hair products that work for me. This one’s actually hydrating and keeps my curls in place. I’ve used it for years now. It’s a good staple for any weather condition.
I get a lot of joint soreness. I’ve inherited my mom’s weak wrists and have fluctuating carpal tunnel. I also grew up dancing and have bad ankles. When I’m on flights, I don’t always have the luxury of a great seat, so I end up sleeping in weird positions. I carry this bottle with me everywhere. It helps me get quick relief for all those different ailments.
When my Notes app crashed on me, it was the most harrowing experience. Now, I make sure to write down things I want to remember, whether it’s a thought or something someone’s said. On flights, I like to write, because it feels like a productive use of my time, too. I always have my green Moleskine on me, but I’ll admit I’m not great about journaling regularly. It’s something I like to have if inspiration strikes. I like how simple this looks. A more garish design would feel like I’m putting up a façade. Maybe if I was more regular about it, I’d bedazzle it, but I keep it simple.
My dad is really big into photography. This was his camera originally and is my first film camera. It’s not the most beginner-friendly, but because I grew up around cameras and equipment strung around our house, I knew the general workings of it. To this day, I think it’s the film camera I use the most. It’s very big and heavy, but it takes the most beautiful pictures. The lens on this camera is a zoom lens, so it’s notoriously difficult to set focus. Without fail, if I’m photographing someone, there’s always a conversation to get the right shot. That moment always gets imprinted in my head. One special period I got to document with this was when I went to Thailand, Mykonos, Cannes, and London — partly for work and partly for enjoyment. I like capturing those moments and the people in your life in a way that’s tangible.
I’ve been drinking a gallon of water since I was 13 or 14. My gallon water bottle has changed throughout the years. I used to have the one that would encourage you and say thinks like, “Time to wake up. Time to drink now.” I lost it at some point, and this one’s from Costco. (My parents and even me are very avid Costco supporters.) I carry it with me everywhere. I’ve taken it to clubs. I’ve even taken it to concerts and fought with security and been like, “I really need this.”
When I was in college, one of my floormates had a big Ikea tub of these under her bed. Any time we went over, we would pull it out and munch on these all day. I already liked them before, but she really got me hooked on them. I do think Trader Joe’s has the best one. They’re just sweeter and juicier than other brands.
I can’t eat whey protein much or anything with heavy lactose, because it breaks me out. This is dairy-free and has never broken me out. I like that the ingredients are very simple: just egg whites, nuts, and dates. They don’t taste like shit either. They’re not chalky like other protein bars or trying to be something it’s not. Like, if I wanted birthday cake, I would just eat actual cake. I don’t want a birthday-cake-flavored brick of obscure mushed-up crap. It’s just not my truth. I prefer the simple flavors. You can taste the dates, the nuts, the vanilla. It’s reliable.
I prefer sleeping in the heat and turning on my ceiling fan. When I go to friends’ homes where the temperature is set at 65, I set it to 78 degrees. I am very brown in that way. So, I love a weighted blanket for that reason. It keeps me warm. I also find if I lay in bed with a regular blanket, I end up scrolling on my phone for hours and hours. With the weighted blanket, my body shuts down and I have to sleep. I am literally being choked to sleep.
When an actor’s on set, you’re always given comfort shoes. More often than not, they’re UGGs. On the last day of filming, I walked home in my UGGs, so they ended up coming with me. Now, they’re a staple. I have six pairs. Living in New York for the past couple of years, I switch between whichever ones aren’t utterly decimated. But I love them. I actually wore the basic brown mid-height ones to my graduation, because they’re so comfortable.
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