If you’re like us, you’ve probably wondered what famous people add to their carts. Not the JAR brooch and Louis XV chair but the hair spray and the electric toothbrush. We asked actor and entrepreneur Vanessa Hudgens, who recently partnered with American Express, about the cashmere cardigan that she travels with, the solar lights she uses for the holidays, and the candle that reminds her of France in the ’70s.
I probably started using this maybe eight months ago. I had heard about it from one of my friends. I love that it’s all natural and that it has sunscreen protection in it, which I think is so important. There’s just a very light, subtle tint. It’s an easy everyday staple to help protect you from the sun.
I just got this, even though it’s a fragrance that I’ve known about for so long now. Before that, it was Maison Margiela’s By the Fireplace and I loved that. I’m just a big fan of a semi-masculine scent that has a hint of vanilla in it as well. At the moment, I am wearing it every day. Especially now that it’s getting colder, I feel like that warm, musky scent is just delightful and appropriate for the season.
They’re just so easy to use — especially since I always go back and forth between my iPad and my phone on flights. Sometimes I accidentally lose one of them, but if you go into the Apple store you can get another one, which has been very helpful for me.
It’s cozy. It’s the perfect fall candle. I just love the whole line because it takes a time and a place, and this one is in France in the ’70s by the fireplace — who doesn’t want to be there?
I love a cashmere moment. I feel like it’s always so nice to have a cashmere-anything on hand, especially when you’re traveling. It’s super-easy to pack, lightweight, but cozy, and actually keeps you warm. I’ve definitely worn it with sweats, and I’ve definitely worn it with a miniskirt and heels.
I’ve been using these eyedrops for forever. I have allergies, so my eyes get really red and irritated, and these clear up my eyes better than anything I’ve ever tried. And they’re not bad for your eyes; a lot of eyedrops actually close up the pores in your eyes. Your eyes can’t breathe. This doesn’t do that. I use them every morning and then throughout the day.
They’re my favorite. I especially love them through the holidays because you can change the colors. For Halloween, I had them on green and blue, and then with Christmas coming up, I’m probably going to change them to red and green. It’s really easy to change and you don’t need any power. You literally just put them in a place that gets sun and they charge and will light up the night. I think I literally was having a Halloween party last year, and I was looking for a way to get easy colored lights outside. I’m very much a do-it-all-myself type of girl. I don’t want to hire anyone to do anything. So I went on Amazon and I found these.
I actually saw this at the airport probably six months ago, and I was like, “That looks really interesting. I want to read it.” I didn’t get it, but months go by and I saw it at the airport again and was like, “Okay, I feel like now is the time,” and started reading it. I haven’t finished it, I’m still chugging away through it, but I love it. I think it’s really amazing for everyone to read because your IQ is something that you kind of have. From the time you’re 15 to 50, your IQ is going to be the same, but your EI or emotional intelligence is something that you can develop. When you develop it, it can truly help through all aspects of life: through personal relationships, leadership, being a business owner. I think it’s just a really amazing tool.
My motto is honestly, “work smarter, not harder,” especially when it comes to your finances. And American Express does exactly that with the American Express Business Gold card. They really take the guesswork out of earning rewards for your company. I travel a lot for my beverage brand Caliwater, and that’s definitely one of the categories that I spend the most in. But American Express is incredible and this card is so great because it identifies the two top categories that your small business is spending the most in, and you get four times the rewards with that.
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