India Amarteifio Shares Her Top Three Beauty Products

It’s not sufficient to say the Netflix series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, was a huge hit. When the six-episode Bridgerton spin-off premiered in May 2023, it amassed over 1.9 billion minutes of viewership in the first week. By the end of the month, the show gained the bragging rights for being the most-watched streaming show (with an impressive 5.4 billion viewing minutes). The younger version of the lead character—Queen Charlotte—is beautifully portrayed by India Amarteifio.

While the 23-year-old has been acting since elementary school, Queen Charlotte is undoubtedly the project that propelled her to global fame. Since the show debuted, she’s won awards, landed on coveted lists, and inked partnerships with beloved brands. As it relates to the latter, Amarteifio is newly working with Hourglass Cosmetics, known for its elevated, skin-focused makeup. Ahead, Amarteifio chats with Byrdie about her beauty routine (and the tips she’s learned on set), navigating the spotlight in her 20s, and her next moves in Hollywood. 

What do you cherish most about working on Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story?

“I cherish the people I met and the connections I made. It’s a tale as old as time, but the industry is a business so you aren’t always going to work with people you get along with outside of work. But, I worked with a lovely group of people who love what they do and are very good at it. I also loved being a part of a project that had real-life meaning. It’s a story that people took a shine to, and I’m very grateful.”

What has it been like navigating global fame at 23 years old?

“It’s been such a different experience. I’ve been acting since I was about nine years old, so I had a good understanding of the industry. But when you are on a platform like Netflix and leading a show, it opens opportunities and doors you didn’t know existed. I can now partner with brands like Hourglass, which I never thought would happen. For the most part, it’s been an incredible experience. But, I’m still in my 20s and want to keep exploring and figuring out who I am. One could look at that and feel a bit of pressure because of the eyes on you, but I welcome it because it is my job at the end of the day. All I can do is be authentic.”

What’s your earliest beauty-related memory?

“My mom used to own a nail bar. When I was around seven or eight, I would go there and get my nails and toes done. That was our form of bonding. We had some of our most in-depth conversations there. I always walked away from there feeling more mentally cleared and it’s a memory that stays with me.”

What made you want to partner with Hourglass?

“It’s such a bizarre concept to think that I would be able to have opportunities with companies like Hourglass. I was a consumer before I knew I would ever collaborate with the brand, so it felt authentic to work together. I’m a massive stickler for pairing myself with brands doing things for our planet. Hourglass is all about that. I also love that their products help you look like yourself, but an elevated version. As someone in front of the camera, it’s easy to become someone else and lose your features. But often, I still want to feel like myself, and Hourglass helps me achieve that.” 

What are your top three must-have beauty products?

“My makeup artist Amanda Grossman used the Caution Extreme Lash Mascara on me. It has an amazing brush and the mascara makes it look like I’m wearing lashes. I also wear the Phantom Volumizing Glossy Lip Balm, which is very nourishing. Other than that, I use a red light mask every other day. I have rosacea, and it flares up quite a bit. The red light mask helps get rid of it.” 

Has your makeup artist taught you any beauty tips you swear by?

“In the past, if I made a mistake with eyeliner or mascara, I would just wipe it off. But, it would always leave a smudge or line on my makeup. When I met Amanda, she taught me to use concealer and powder to cover up mistakes. It really works and prevents you from having dark lines on your face.”

How do you practice self-care after a long day on set?

“I find reading to be cathartic because you have to sit and completely focus in on what you’re doing. I’ve also taken up ballet. I used to dance when I was younger and I quit to focus more on acting, but I’ve missed moving my body over the last couple of years. Long walks are also enjoyable for me. I’ve moved out of London to live a slightly more suburban life and it’s made quite a difference.” 

What are you working on next? 

“I can’t say, but really exciting things are in the pipeline. Unfortunately, we’ve had a bit of a stinker in the industry with the strikes and the fires. These things delay productions. The quality of my work is also very important to me. After finishing Queen Charlotte, I was very conscious about what my next project should look like. It has to be on par, which is incredibly difficult to find, so I want my next project to be the right project.”

What do you love most about being a part of Hollywood’s next generation of actresses? 

“We’re bringing something new to the table. There are more actors now who represent lots of different people. Growing up, I watched TV and could count on one hand the people of color on my screen. Now, it’s not taboo to see people of color or queer characters in television and film. We’re more enlightened and want to push forward communal ideas. That makes me really happy, especially because we’re in a time where there’s a lot of difference and opposing viewpoints.”