Eva Longoria Talks Latin Beauty and Smoky Eye Secrets in Our Latest Issue

Mention Eva Longoria, 40, to a Latina and odds are you’ll be met with declarations of love and respect. Celebrities adore her—”Everything that Eva is doing for the Latin community is absolutely phenomenal,” actress Gina Rodriguez, of Jane the Virgin, told us last fall. Political heavy-hitters are equally smitten: “I like that her look is so versatile,” said White House executive Katherine Vargas. “She can be glamorous at an awards show but then look very professional when working on her political organization.”

The world really got to know Longoria in 2004 on Desperate Housewives as Gabrielle Solis, a bratty former model who chose to punish her inattentive husband by having an affair with the yard boy. We should’ve hated her but instead found ourselves rooting for her every Sunday night. Sure, this Mexican American former Miss Corpus Christi, Texas, was beautiful, and her character wonderfully campy, but she was also a Latina on prime-time TV. Do you remember how rare that was? By the time the show ended its spectacular run in 2012, Longoria had secured everything that comes with fame, including a L’Oréal Paris contract and a high-profile marriage to (and subsequent divorce from) NBA player Tony Parker. (Longoria is now dating José Antonio Bastón Patiño, president of Televisa, the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world.)

But it was the next phase of her career that sealed Longoria’s standing as our heroine. She stepped away from the screen and got to work on a series of projects that are laser-focused on strengthening Latin power in the U.S. They have ranged from campaigning for President Obama in 2012 to launching the production company behind several projects, including the beloved (and sometimes controversial) Devious Maids, now in its third season on Lifetime. Next up, we’re most excited about Telenovela, starring Longoria as an ambitious telenovela star, set to air on NBC later this year.

Philanthropy is another big focus. The Eva Longoria Foundation, which just celebrated its third anniversary, helps Latinas with education and entrepreneurship opportunities, such as career training and mentorship. To date, the foundation has distributed nearly a hundred microloans to Latina business owners in the U.S. In other words, she has our backs. Let’s chat with the unstoppable Ms. Longoria.

__GLAM BELLEZA LATINA:__You’ve gone from playing Gabrielle on Desperate Housewives to becoming a powerhouse activist, producer, businesswoman—that’s quite an evolution! What sparked this shift in your career trajectory?

__EVA LONGORIA:__I’ve always been business-minded. I worked in corporate America before becoming an actress and knew that acting wasn’t the end but a means to an end. It gave me the platform and the exposure I needed to do my philanthropic work. It also gave me the financial security to focus on my other businesses, start new businesses, and even help other people start businesses.

__GBL:__You’ve been very vocal about the importance of higher education. Tell us more about that.

EL: I believe that education offers the fastest route to economic mobility. I grew up with a family of strong, accomplished, and educated women. I believe, as they say, that you can’t be what you don’t see, and since I saw a lot of smart women in my life, education being at the center, I just mimicked that behavior. There was never a question that I’d go to college. In fact, I was the last person in my family to get a master’s degree [in Chicano studies at California State University, Northridge], so that tells you I’m actually the underachiever!

__GBL:__And why focus your Eva Longoria Foundation efforts on Latinas specifically?

__EL:__You can’t ignore that Hispanics represent the fastest-growing demographic in this country. The future success of America is intricately tied to the future success of the Hispanic community. And it’s the women of these communities—the mothers, sisters, daughters—who make the world go around. I decided to focus on giving them opportunities so that they’re set up for success in life.

GBL: You’ve inspired so many Latinas, both famous and not. Do you ever stop to reflect about this?

EL: Oh, God no. I mean, that’s really flattering to hear. But it’s mostly exciting because we have to support and lift each other up. Latinos have not historically been a culture that unites easily. We’re very factioned—you have your Mexican Americans, your Puerto Ricans, your Cuban Americans, your Central Americans—and sometimes we focus on the differences more than the commonalities.

GBL: You’ve said that Latinas are ambitious and aspirational. How do these qualities relate to beauty?

__EL:__The Latina spirit translates to every aspect of our lives, from beauty to work to family. We’re loving, we’re loud, and we’re beautiful in our essence.

__GBL:__You have your hands in so many different television projects: There’s Devious Maids, but you’re also the executive producer of Hulu’s Mother Up!, about a suburban housewife, which isn’t Latin at all. Is your strategy to have a mix of both Latin and mainstream programming?

__EL:__What I want to do is create great content on television and movies. It is not my role to program only for Latinos, and you can’t really assume that Hispanics only want Hispanic content. They’re watching *Scandal *and they’re watching Cristela. But I do think that we are severely underrepresented in television and film. And instead of complaining about not seeing ourselves, we should become film producers, directors, and writers, and tell our story.

GBL: Let’s change gears to discuss your hair. Give us the nitty-gritty of how you take care of it.

__EL:__Honestly, I’m just blessed because I’m Mexican. [Laughs.] Mexican Americans have amazing hair! Kenny [Longoria’s longtime hairstylist Ken Paves] always says to me, “Geez, everybody comes in asking what extensions do you have in, and I say, No, she’s Mexican. That’s her hair.’ ” But one of my secrets is the L’Oréal Paris EverPure shampoo. I color my hair a lot—it fades so fast—so this sulfate-free shampoo keeps the color longer, and it provides this amazing shine. And I like to saturate my hair in treatment oil. I put it in when my hair’s wet, and it dries and conditions in a really great way.

__GBL:__Do you do your own makeup?

EL: I’m a pageant girl from Texas, so I like makeup and hairspray. And the smoky eye? I think I was born with it! (See below for Longoria’s quickie DIY for getting the look.)

__GBL:__What about your skin? I’ve seen pictures of you barefaced, and it looks naturally glowy. Is that another Latina-beauty blessing?

__EL:__Part of it is genetics, obviously, but it’s also maintenance. I get facials all the time—painful ones that usually involve some sort of stinging peel, drying mask, and laser light.

GBL: You’ve campaigned for melanoma awareness among Latinas, so what’s your stance on tanning?

__EL:__Let me tell you, a vacation’s not a vacation unless it involves the beach. And because of that, I’m super careful with my skin and make sure to protect it. I always sit under an umbrella. And I’m a sunblock bully. If you’re on the beach with me, I will spray you down with SPF 50-plus. Latinos, especially, think that we don’t burn or don’t get sun damage because of our darker skin. And it’s not true. We are just as susceptible to melanoma as everyone else.

GBL: Speaking of the beach, do you have a tried-and-true workout regimen?

__EL:__Staying in shape does not come easily, especially as you get older and you don’t have as much time or energy to exercise. I used to be naturally skinny in high school and college. I was in cheerleading, ran track, and did gymnastics, so I had a built-in five-hour workout every day. Lately, I’ve been doing Pilates on the Megaformer, which is like Pilates on steroids. My nutritionist friend Claudia Zapata recommended it, and now I’m addicted. I do it at Pilates Platinum in L.A. and at Core Physique in San Antonio.

GBL: What about when you travel, how do you mix up your exercise regimen then?

EL: I try to run every time I’m in a new city or country—you just put your shoes on and go. It’s very therapeutic, and it also works for me when I want to lose weight.

GBL: As for your diet, is anything off-limits, or are you an everything-in-moderation type of person?

__EL:__I’m definitely a moderation girl, but sometimes I won’t eat sugar for three months. I’ll cut out all sugar and simple carbs that turn into sugar—rice, pasta, bread. I’m not a big carb person anyway, so it’s not that hard. I actually love fish and vegetables. I was raised on vegetables! Anything green—spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts—I crave.

__GBL:__Do you cook?

__EL:__All the time. I grew up in a family of cooks. To me, it’s super relaxing. I also have a sewing room in my house and sew Halloween outfits for my nieces and nephews, and make dresses for my friends.

__GBL:__Is there anything you hope to accomplish that you haven’t started yet? What else is on your to-do list?

EL: Oh my gosh. I don’t know what’s in store for me. I take life day by day, moment by moment. And the dreams I’ve had I’m actually doing and living right now.

Eva’s Smoky-Eye Secrets:

“There’s a process to creating the smoky eye,” says Longoria, “but it’s not very hard. I do it to all my friends!” Her key steps:

1. Line with L’Oréal Paris the Blackbuster by Infallible liquid liner in Black.

2. Top with L’Oréal Paris Infallible Eye Shadow in Eternal Black.

3. Finish with loads of Urban Decay Perversion Mascara.