This might be the biggest year of Zendaya’s life so far. She’s been on an incredible run of press tours—first for The Drama, then at the same time for The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with Dune: Part Three still to come—plus she very quietly married her longtime partner (and frequent co-star) Tom Holland.
But there’s also something fresh and wonderfully fragrant in the air: Zendaya is the face of Prada Beauty’s newest fragrance, Prada Paradoxe Sweet Chemistry. According to Zendaya, this partnership has been a long time coming.
“My first introduction to Prada fragrances was through one of my best friends,” she says over Zoom during a short break between red carpets in London. “He wears Prada Paradoxe Eau de Parfum Intense, and I always loved catching a whiff of it on him. I decided to try it out at the 2025 Met Gala, and I kept getting compliments on it, so it became my signature scent.” Now, Sweet Chemistry—with notes of blackcurrant syrup and neroli—is also in her rotation.
Applying fragrance is just one of the many beauty rituals the actor loves. Another is styling her hair. When Zendaya cut it short late last year, she sparked a wave of requests for the “bixie”—a cut somewhere between a bob and a pixie—at salons across America. “My different hair colors and cuts are like markers of different eras of my life,” she says. “When I was younger, I was on TV, and I had an experience I think a lot of young women, especially young Black women, go through: not really knowing how to care for my hair on set and not having the right people looking after my curls.” After dealing with serious heat damage, all she wanted was to focus on repair and growth.
After her back-to-back press tours in spring 2024, when she was promoting both Dune: Part Two and Challengers, Zendaya and her team decided to take her look to the next level. “That year, I had to figure out how to make the two red carpets feel really different,” she says. “That’s why we decided to go blonde—I had never been blonde before.” Since then, she’s gone red, gone shorter, and more.
Photo: Courtesy Prada Beauty
But as much as she loves to experiment, there are some things Zendaya won’t try—like the current wellness trend of cold plunging. “I’m definitely not a cold water girl,” she says. “I like to take very long, hot showers. Everyone knows that’s my thing. When I’m overwhelmed, I just need to go sit in the shower. Sometimes I’ll even bring in an iced tea or something and just sip my little drink.”
More than anything, the 29-year-old is looking for moments of stillness and reflection during this big year. Since she and Holland have been working nonstop for the past few months, their quality time has turned into outdoor relaxation sessions. “I love to go on a walk with our fur babies, just seeing them happy and going to the park,” she says. “Going on a nice walk, having a silly little drink. That’s ideal for me. As long as I have my allergy medicine, that is.”
These simple pleasures go hand in hand with another of Zendaya’s indulgences: a bit of nostalgia. “I have movie tickets from special experiences when I was a teenager,” she says. “I saved every birthday card.” She’s the same way with clothes and accessories; her first major purchase was a purple-blue Prada bag, which she still has. “I use it all the time!”
The past remains a source of inspiration. “When I met Law,” she says—referring to her longtime stylist Law Roach—”he owned a vintage store in Chicago. A lot of big designers weren’t dressing me yet, so a lot of my clothes came from his vintage store. Now, every city I go to, I always want to hit up the good vintage spots and see what I can find.”
While Zendaya doesn’tShe doesn’t do the whole “different scents for different roles” thing. For her, the scent of Sweet Chemistry will always be tied to this incredible year. “To be continued,” she says.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on Zendayas views on beauty nostalgia and wellness trends
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What did Zendaya say about beauty
She said beauty is about feeling confident in your own skin not about following every trend She focuses on what makes her feel good not what others expect
2 What does Zendaya mean when she talks about nostalgia
She means looking back fondly on things that made her happy as a kid like old movies music or simple routines For her nostalgia is a way to stay grounded and remember where she came from
3 Which wellness trend does Zendaya refuse to try
She refuses to try ice baths or extreme cold plunges She said she just cant get into freezing herself for health reasons
4 Why wont Zendaya try ice baths
She finds them uncomfortable and unenjoyable She prefers wellness habits that feel good and relaxing not painful or stressful
5 Does Zendaya follow any beauty routines
Yes but she keeps them simple She focuses on skincare basics and uses makeup to enhance her features not cover them up
IntermediateLevel Questions
6 How does Zendaya use nostalgia in her work or daily life
She often references vintage fashion old Hollywood glamour and childhood memories in her style choices In daily life she listens to music from her childhood or watches old comfort movies to relax
7 What is Zendayas opinion on wellness hacks
She believes wellness should be personal and enjoyable She avoids trends that feel like a chore or punishment like extreme diets or cold therapy Instead she prioritizes sleep hydration and mental health
8 Has Zendaya ever tried a wellness trend she later regretted
She hasnt shared a specific regret but she has said she learned to say no to things that dont feel right for her body like restrictive detoxes or intense workout fads
9 What beauty products does Zendaya swear by
She loves a good moisturizer a hydrating lip balm and a reliable sunscreen She also uses gentle fragrancefree products to avoid irritation