Lea Michele's Beauty Essentials

When it comes to owning the spotlight, Lea Michele is a natural. From starring on Broadway at eight years old to playing the quirky yet unequivocally talented Rachel Berry on Fox's hit musical show Glee to hitting the studio to record her debut solo album, this triple threat's star just keeps rising.

Her latest high note? Joining the ranks of the most gorgeous women in Hollywood as the new brand ambassador for L'Oréal Paris. "When I shot my commercial in New York, they said, 'Okay, now look into the camera and say because you're worth it,' " Lea recalls. "Before I even said it, I burst into tears. I was like, Oh my God, I can't believe I'm a part of this family now. I am so grateful!"

But working in an industry that focuses so heavily on looks hasn't always been easy for the self-proclaimed unconventional beauty. "When I was fifteen, I had a manager tell me to get a nose job. My mom was like, 'She hasn't even gotten her period yet!'" Lea recalls with a laugh. Unfazed by the criticism, she credits her sense of self to her strong, matriarchal Italian upbringing. "I've always felt very beautiful and confident in my own skin. I love my ethnicity and my heritage. I love when I see it in my nose and dark hair. Whether or not I felt the industry would see me that way or accept me—that was always a question. But believing in myself was never a doubt."

As the fourth season of Glee unfolds and Rachel moves from her small town of Lima, Ohio, to the bright lights—and temptations—of New York City, Lea's real-life romance with her on-screen love interest Cory Monteith is going strong. "I'm very thankful that I'm in an awesome relationship right now," Lea says, adding, "What matters most is that you really take care of yourself and that you— individually—are in a good place. I think that only adds to a relationship."

For Lea, taking care of herself includes keeping certain beauty essentials on hand, like leave-in hair treatments and mascara ("L'Oréal Paris mascara is my jam!" she says). To maintain her flawless complexion, Lea goes sans makeup on her days off to let her skin breathe, and she swears by her Clarisonic. Her passion for beauty started with the elaborate costumes and theatrical makeup she saw growing up on Broadway, playing roles in Les Misérables, Ragtime, and Fiddler on the Roof. "I fell in love with the glamour," she recalls.

Despite all the excitement that comes with landing a beauty campaign, Lea holds firm to the values she was raised on: "Inner beauty is what matters the most."