Eva Mendes is envied by women everywhere for her glowing skin, coveted curves and silky hair. But behind every beautiful woman is an essential set of beauty tools, and the Thierry Mugler muse says she counts on some tried-and-true favorites to give her an all-over glow. First up? Blush. “I like … cream-based products and NARS does really fun blush and bronzer,” Mendes tells Style.com. “I like to mix those.” And while she may be drawing attention to the apples of her cheeks, she’s trying to draw attention away from other areas. “Dark circles are hereditary in my family, which can be useful when doing a role when I’m supposed to be tired and depressed,” she jokes. “But in my everyday life, I try to minimize that” by using Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer, she says. To keep her skin clear and healthy, Mendes swipes on Dr. Hauschka facial toner, because “it’s so clean and so simple,” she shares. “It’s not drying in any way.” For nails, she counts on Essie polish in ‘Mucho Dinero.’ “It’s so elegant,” she says, laughing at the name. “What about this says mucho dinero?” Luckily, she doesn’t have to spend mucho dinero on her shampoo and conditioner, both from the Pantene Pro-V Medium-Thick Solutions line (she’s a spoksemodel for the company). “It’s classic and you can get it anywhere in the world,” she says of the brand. “I tried to cheat and go more expensive, but I came running back with my tail between my legs.” Tell us: What are your beauty must-haves? –Kim Peiffer, with Justine Harman
SHOP OUR EDITORS’ BEAUTY PICKS

Eva Mendes and Naomi Watts are making us think that movie-star hair is just a shower away in their just-revealed ads for Pantene. The actresses, announced as the new faces of the brand in May, represent Pantene’s “breakage to strength” and “flat to volume” collections, respectively. “The amount of torture I put my hair through with flat irons, blow dryers and curling irons leaves my hair extremely damaged,” Mendes said in May. “With Pantene I can use all of these tools and still keep my hair healthy.” Watts, whose campaign will depict her without extensions or chemically altered hair, said she’s sticking up for women with fine tresses. “I want to let [them] know that achieving beautiful, voluminous hair is possible without damaging [it],” she added. The stars’ ads will hit print and TV markets in July and August; stay tuned to Pantene’s Facebook page for more behind-the-scenes information, too. Tell us: What do you think of the ads?

VOTE ON STAR HAIR CHANGES!

She acts, she models, she sings? Eva Mendes is not just the stunning face of Thierry Mugler Angel parfum and eau de toilette, she’s the voice of it as well, which makes it her most personal collaboration to date! Mendes tells PEOPLE of her work with Angel, “It’s felt like a very true partnership. Whether it’s working with the designs, the concept … I sing in the commercial which is something very new for me as far as doing it professionally. From beginning to end, it’s been unbelievable.” She also raves of filming the commercial with director Baillie Walsh, who shot the stunning actress in Prague, a city she describes as “very romantic.” Mendes explains, “I was taken by its intense but kind of subtle beauty. It’s not in-your-face, it’s just there, it’s so gorgeous. And super romantic.” A perfect setting for a commercial that sees Mendes dreaming away in a sleek train car, with visions of herself flying gracefully through the air floating through her mind. And while she coos away above the images, the actress actually has no dialogue in the commercial, which suits her just fine. “That’s actually my favorite. I’m probably the anti-actress in the sense that I always go to my directors and ask, ‘Can we lose this line?’ We have too much dialogue at times so conveying something with your body language, and your eyes, and your behavior to me that’s really exciting so it’s like a nice, fun acting exercise.” Look for Mendes’s commercial for Angel (with her debut vocals!) to break digitally in mid-September, but in the meantime, go behind the scenes of her film and print campaigns here. –Melissa Liebling-Goldberg

SHOP STARS’ SIGNATURE SCENTS!

Is it just us, or is Eva Mendes glowing? The actress, first announced as the face of Thierry Mugler Angel perfume in March, radiates light in a figure-hugging, custom Thierry Mugler dress as she poses in a newly released image from the ad campaign, shot in New York City by Dutch fashion photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. The Other Guys star follows in the footsteps of the French brand’s most recent spokeswoman, Naomi Watts, who’d served as the face of the scent since 2008. But Mendes is no stranger to sharing her sex appeal: prior to her stint with Thierry Mugler, the actress was taunting the world with her revealing ads for Calvin Klein jeans. She’s also crossing paths with former Angel girl Watts in another campaign — both are showing off their lovely locks as the new faces of Pantene. Mendes’s ads for Angel break in October magazines.  Tell us: What do you think of Mendes’s ethereal ad? –Kim Peiffer

SHOP STARS’ SIGNATURE SCENTS

Eva Mendes is a pro at glamming it up on the red carpet, but admits to PEOPLE that despite her ability to turn heads, she’s had a few fashion mishaps over the years. “I did this big movie about four years ago. It’s with Nicolas Cage and we had our New York premiere and it was kind of a crazy long day, and by the time the premiere came it was snowing in N.Y.C. and I just threw this dress on,” she explains. “My team and I just got me ready and threw me out the door. Needless to say, it just did not work.” And when it comes to what, specifically, made the look (left) so disastrous, the star says everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. “It was a total disaster. It was a pink strapless dress with this weird braid hairstyle,” she recalls. “At least I was ahead of the curve with the braid. [But] none of it worked.” It wasn’t the first time the star says she’d been the victim of a fashion crime — this one just happened to leave a mark. “I’ve had a few [fashion disasters] but this look has haunted me just because I should have known better.” Tell us: What’s been your biggest fashion blunder? –Kim Peiffer, with reporting by Pamela Edwards-Christiani

SOUND OFF ON A-LIST STYLE IN ‘HIT OR MISS?’

Eva Mendes may be one of the world’s most beautiful people, but that doesn’t mean she’s a diva when it comes to her fashion choices. The star, who is showing off her bouncy locks as the new face of Pantene, says she loves to incorporate comfort into her daily look. “I’m all about little house dresses,” she tells PEOPLE of the most comfortable outfit in her wardrobe. “I have so many. If I run out to grab a coffee or something I’m usually in … some kind of little dress,” which she says she loves because it reminds her of what her mom used to wear. “I [even] have a couple that were my mother’s.” But when it comes to what truly makes Mendes feel sexy, less is more. “I feel most beautiful when I start the day,” she tells PEOPLE. “I feel most beautiful in bed, in the morning, tousled hair and a blanket.” Read more from Mendes in this week’s PEOPLE, on newsstands tomorrow! –Kim Peiffer, with reporting by Pamela Edwards-Christiani

SEE MORE STAR STYLE IN LAST NIGHT’S LOOK: HIT OR MISS?

Eva Mendes and Naomi Watts might not have a lot in common, but one trait they do share? Gorgeous hair. Now, the stunning stars are flaunting their luscious locks as the new faces of Pantene — and we have exclusive behind the scenes pictures! Mendes fronts the “Breakage to Strength” collection, while Watts is modeling for the “Flat to Volume” line. “The amount of torture I put my hair through with flat irons, blow dryers and curling irons leaves my hair extremely damaged,” Mendes said in a release. “With Pantene I can use all of these tools and still keep my hair healthy.” Watts, whose campaign will depict her without extensions or chemically altered hair, said she’s sticking up for women with fine tresses. “I want to let [them] know that achieving beautiful, voluminous hair is possible without damaging [it],” she added. Mendes said that the stars’ photo shoots were totally trick-free. “Each look was natural and never manipulated and my hair looked healthy and beautiful for every shot,” she said. And Watts claimed that her new shampoo did the job she was never able to do: style her own hair. “Since I became a mother, the time I have for myself has shrunk dramatically. So I am thrilled with Pantene because the quality of the products helps me get the volume I want with very little effort at all.” The ladies’ ads will hit print and TV markets in July. Stay tuned to Pantene’s Facebook page for more behind-the-scenes information, too. –Kate Hogan

Courtesy Pantene

VOTE ON STAR HAIRSTYLES IN ‘WHAT’S HER BEST HAIR?’

There’s another angel among us: actress Eva Mendes is the new face of Thierry Mugler’s fragrance for women, Angel. Previously working her sex appeal for Calvin Klein jeans and flaunting her toned physique for Reebok EasyTone, Mendes follows in the footsteps of the French brand’s most recent spokeswoman, Naomi Watts, who’d served as the face of the scent since 2008. “While Naomi Watts’ ethereal beauty embodied the angelic aspect of the fragrance, Thierry Mugler chose to reignite the enticing and explosive dimensions of the fragrance with the sultry Mendes,” the company said in a statement. “Though her obviously flawless physical beauty is in perfect harmony with the artist’s aesthetic canon — Ms. Mendes mesmerized Mugler with her independence, determination and humor.” According to WWD, the actress will appear in worldwide ads for the scent beginning in September. Tell us: What do you think of Mendes’s new role? –Kim Peiffer

SHOP STARS’ SIGNATURE SCENTS

Watch out, Kim Kardashian! When it comes to fitness footwear, there’s some new competition in town. Eva Mendes is hitting the pavement as the spokesperson for Reebok’s EasyTone, the brand’s answer to the new trend in toning sneakers. “I’m a big walker, and I’m also a person that doesn’t always have time to go to the gym,” the actress told PEOPLE at a recent EasyTone photo shoot. “We all walk throughout the day. It’s just a great way to kind of get a workout while you’re doing your basic daily errands.” Mendes, who ran track on her high school and college teams, says she’s been a fan of Reebok since her teen years, when she rocked a pair of the brand’s pink hi-tops. But now, she’s moved past making a fashion statement, and instead appreciates the way the sneakers have shaped her lower legs. “Once you’re wearing them, you do feel your calves working,” she explains. “I love defined calves.” So how does the actress keep her well-loved EasyTones in tip-top shape? She keeps a pair in every color. “I have a lot,” she admits with a laugh. –Jessica Wedemeyer

SEE MORE STARS IN FASHION AD CAMPAIGNS

John Shearer/WireImage

Despite a little thunder and rain, L.A.’s fashion elite turned out in full force Tuesday afternoon to toast the year’s hottest new design talent at the Frederic Fekkai-hosted CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund finalists runway show, where designers like Christian Cota, Pamela Love, Prabal Gurung, Joseph Altuzarra and more showcased their latest creations at the Chateau Marmont. And plenty of Hollywood A-listers were on hand to gush about the drool-worthy designs. From a Christian Cota-clad Eva Mendes to actress Mena Suvari, who was clearly enamored by many of the collections, telling PEOPLE, “I loved a lot of the Pamela Love, Billy Reid, Christian Cota, and Eddie Borgo.” A streamlined and chic Nicole Richie was also present in a pleated Missoni maxi dress, who, in between gab sessions and baby talk with stylist extraordinaire Rachel Zoe, took in the collections and indulged in an outdoor champagne party. And while the topic of discussion rarely derailed from fashion, one stylish attendee found a way to self promote. “I’m doing my own jewelry line, so I was so inspired by Pamela Love,” admitted an enterprising Molly Sims, who was perched in the front row. – Justine Harman; reporting by Vanessa Diaz

Donato Sardella/WireImage; John Shearer/WireImage

Courtesy Allure

With a slew of racy Calvin Klein ads and steamy movie roles under her belt, it’s hard not to think of Eva Mendes as a sex symbol. But it’s a label that the actress seems reluctant to accept. “I’d love for my ambition and will and intellect and sense of humor to define me as well,” Eva tells Allure in its August issue. “I’m definitely responsible for the image that I put out there. But it does become frustrating, because I don’t want ‘sexy’ to be my defining characteristic,” she says. The actress’s own idea of sexy is surprisingly low-key in comparison to the bombshell characters she frequently assumes in front of the cameras. “To me, sexy is either nude or with very basic Calvin Klein underwear, and maybe a white, ribbed tank top with no bra,” says Mendes, who notably wore Dolce & Gabbana before, during and after her Allure cover shoot in New York City. But more than any physical characteristic, Eva credits her sex appeal to attitude. “I have worked hard to love myself, and I do. And I think that’s what people to respond to with me.” To hear more of Eva’s interview, pick up the August issue of Allure or check out allure.com. –Gillian Koenig

Courtesy Allure

Stephen Klein/Calvin Klein Jeans

Eva Mendes is getting sexy yet again for Calvin Klein Jeans in a sizzling new shoot for spring 2010 — and PEOPLE has a first look at the campaign. Shot by famed fashion photographer Steven Klein in New York City, the actress heats up things up alongside model Jamie Dornan to introduce the Calvin Klein Jeans Body Whitewashed collection for men and women, a line of shape-enhancing denim in coated and washed shades of white. Time will only tell if this ad campaign is as controversial as Eva’s other shots for the label. Tell us: What do you think of Eva’s latest ads for Calvin Klein? –Katherine Kluznik Rentmeester

Courtesy Macy’s

Eva Mendes got busy in bed over the weekend, heading to Macy’s in N.Y.C. to launch her newest home decor collection. And while the actress is no longer a novice when it comes to bedroom design, having debuted her first Vida by Eva Mendes line with the department store last year, she’s following up on her success with five vibrant designs, including three totally new patterns: Kiki, Penelope and Juliette. The collection ranges in price from $100 for decorative pillow sets to $385-$400 for a comforter — but right now you can nab some of the sets for nearly half off at Macys.com. Tell us: Will you slip between Eva’s sheets?

Steven Klein for Calvin Klein

If Eva Mendes’s first set of Calvin Klein Underwear ads rivaled David Beckham’s Armani ones, this new set really raises the bar on sexiness. The sultry star strikes a pose in a black lacy bra and panty set– complete with thigh-highs and garters– for the fall 2009 Calvin Klein Underwear ads. And if that wasn’t hot enough, Eva joins forces with model Jamie Dornan for an equally provocative campaign for Calvin Klein Jeans this fall. Between her wet hair and shimmering skin, both ads are definitely showing the sexy side of Mendes. Tell us: What do you think of Eva Mendes’s new Calvin Klein ads?

CLICK THROUGH TO EVA’S UNDERWEAR AD!

Steven Klein for Calvin Klein

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Eva Mendes‘s first Calvin Klein fragrance ads were so sexy that network television stations actually banned them from primetime! Now, the sultry star is back with more steamy ads for the fashion house. It was announced last night at the Met Gala, which Eva attended with Calvin Klein creative director Francisco Costa, that Mendes would remain the face of Calvin Klein Underwear and Secret Obsession fragrance for the Fall ’09 ads. This time around, Eva will be joining forces with model Jamie Dornan for the upcoming global advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein Jeans and Underwear. Jamie is no stranger to Calvin Klein’s sexy ads — the model starred alongside Kate Moss and Natalia Vodianova for Calvin Klein’s denim ad campaigns in 2004 and 2006. The new campaign, shot by famed photographer Steven Klein, will hit fashion magazines and billboards this coming fall. We can’t wait to see what they have in store for us!

Jamie McCarthy/WireImage

Banks may now be tight with loans, but let’s just say that Cartier didn’t hold back for their 100th Anniversary Celebration in America at the Cartier mansion on 5th Avenue to benefit Service Nation, which encourages volunteerism. Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson, Jessica Biel, Demi Moore, Eva Mendes, Justin Timberlake and Rachel Weisz may have looked like a million dollars at the Cartier Mansion on last night, but collectively they had on nearly three times that amount in borrowed Cartier gemstones — and that’s not counting the bling of Sir Elton John (also in the house). Just Hudson’s diamond and onyx panther necklace alone would have set her back $905,000, not to mention her $230,000 diamond cocktail ring and diamond studs. Timberlake was a diamond stud himself, wearing an onyx and emerald panther tie pin and onyx and diamond cufflinks. “I made a joke to my stylist tonight,” said Hathaway, herself bedecked in over $500,000 worth of Cartier jewelry. “That if I lost [a piece] tonight, technically, it wouldn’t be like losing it, because, after all, I would be at Cartier. And he said [emphatically] . . . ‘No!’” Mendes concurred. “I’m very upset that I have to give back this panther ring in the morning.” But no, she wasn’t afraid of losing the ring worth $220,000. “No, they’ve got insurance for that, Love. It’s never happened, because when things are not mine, I take even more care of them.”

Upstairs at the mansion the history of 100 years of conspicuous luxury was told through a bling-tastic exhibit of bejeweled ornaments created by Cartier for J.P. Morgan, Doris Duke, Barbara Hutton, Gloria Swanson, Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Grace, Elton John’s 43 carat heart-shaped sapphire ring and more. “There was a really lovely, very modern ring for Daisy Fellowes,” said Moore, who helped Cartier announce their partnership with ServiceNation to donate a portion of the sales of their Trinity bracelet to the organization. If you can’t afford the jewelry, pick up a copy of Bruce Weber’s anniversary homage to Cartier, appropriately entitled Cartier I Love You!, at teneues.com. – Jeffrey Slonim

Evan Agostini/AP

When Eva Mendes launched her bedding line Vida with Macy’s last month, the fledgling designer didn’t have to go it alone, enlisting the help of her boyfriend George Augusto. At the 150th birthday celebration for the department store in N.Y.C., the actress told PEOPLE that partnering up for the collection of Latin-inspired bedding was natural to the couple. “We redesigned two houses together,” the actress explained. “He’s a film producer, but we collaborate on this.” And just as with any great design team, each brought their own skills to the table. “He’s great at being practical,” she said “And mine, is being bold.” Eva reveals that her interest in design was born out of her upbringing. “I grew up in a working class family,” she says. “The sofa didn’t match the love seat. And the dining room table and chairs didn’t match. I was constantly trying to make the house beautiful for my mom. I would paint the apartment different colors.” And she looked to that experience when creating the collection. “I want beautiful design at an affordable price, so that people who don’t really have that much can live beautifully.” Click here to see special pricing on the collection now. –reporting by Jeffrey Slonim

Courtesy Macys

While other Hollywood stars are setting their sights on conquering the worlds of fashion, fragrance — or even hair extensions — Eva Mendes is poised to make her mark on home design. Macy’s has just revealed exclusively to PEOPLE that the actress, along with partner George Augusto, is collaborating with them on a line of luxury bedding that will launch online and in stores at the middle of this month. The Latin-inspired collection, Vida, will come in five styles, each of which, like Bettina above, will feature rich patterns and intricate detailing. “Vida is all about easy luxury,” Mendes says. “The colors, fabrics and textures that I live and love, brought to life in a stylish, comfortable and affordable way.” So what does it cost to crawl under Eva’s covers? A four-piece queen set, which includes a comforter, bedskirt and two shams, will set you back between $340 to $425. Tell us: Will you get cozy in Eva’s bedding?

Steven Meisel/courtesy of Calvin Klein

Eva Mendes has never had a problem with nudity. But it seems America’s TV networks do. Afraid of offending viewers, they have banned the actress’s new fragrance spot — though an edited version may air after 10 pm. In the moodily-shot 30-second black-and-white commercial for the Calvin Klein scent Secret Obsession, Mendes appears without clothes, sometimes swathed in a sheet. “Between love and madness lies obsession,” the actress and CK underwear model, who also appears in print ads for the perfume, seductively whispers. “Love… madness. It’s my secret.” But the ban may boomerang, creating more sales by word-of-mouth according to those close to the brand. International viewers will get to see the commercial as creative director Fabien Baron originally shot it — and you can make up your own mind about the commercial by watching the original here.

Steven Meisel

David Beckham isn’t the only star taking it off! When Calvin Klein chose Eva Mendes to be the face of both their Seductive Underwear collection and Secret Obsession scent we knew the ads would be steamy, but these definitely rival the soccer star’s Emporio Armani ones, with the sexy actress posing scantily-clad in satin and lace bra and panties. And this is just a preview! Eva will have more seductive ads for the scent. Both campaigns will hit magazines this September. Tell us: What do you think of Eva’s Calvin Klein ads so far?