Belinda Drinks a Carajillo, Throws on Heels, and Dances to The Cure Before a Night Out

The Spanish-Mexican singer and actress turns up with ’80 music and turns down with old cartoons.

Night Moves explores going out through the lens of beauty. Here, discover how your favorite stars get ready to paint the town red, including what music they're playing to set the mood, the essentials decorating their vanity, and which must-have products are taking up precious real estate in their evening bag.

Describe your perfect night out.

I love Puerto Rico, so I would go to a club in Puerto Rico and dance reggaeto, and have cocktails. I love cocktails! I’m a cocktail person. I don’t like drinks like a tequila straight.

What’s your pregame drink?

In Mexico, there’s a famous drink called Carajillo that is Liquor 43 with espresso, and they shake it, and it’s delicious because it gives you energy and it’s sweet, and it’s perfect to start the night. Though I also love to take good shots. Not alcohol, but, like, ginger. Healthy shots, you know? I feel better before I drink the alcohol. I go out, and I have the healthy shot, and I feel good about myself.

What are your top three getting-ready tracks?

The Cure is one of my favorite bands and my number-one [song] would be “Friday I’m In Love.” It’s melancholic, but at the same time, it gives you energy to go out, get ready, and look pretty. And then second would be Joy Division, another band I love, and the song “Love Will Tear Us Apart.” I love, love the ’80s. And then, I’m sorry, but for the third I need to say “Jackpot,” which is my new song with Kenia Os. It’s a perfect song to get ready.

If you could get ready for a night with any famous person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Edith Piaf, the French singer. I would like to have dinner with her. And if she could sing “La Vie en Rose” for just 10 seconds, I would be so happy.

What’s your process for choosing an outfit for the night?

I always love high heels! On my perfect night out, it would be baggy jeans with a cool corset or top and an oversized jacket, and a nice purse. But always high heels. It doesn’t matter the time. I feel feminine; my posture changes. It’s not about the height, it’s more about how I walk and how I feel when I’m wearing high heels.

Describe your going-out beauty vibe in three words.

Comfort is very important because you need to feel comfortable, good with yourself, and secure. I think that’s very important. Then, original. Being original, being yourself is one of the most important things when going out. And then we have this saying in Spanish: parar el trafico con tu look. It means to be a show stopper, like stopping traffic, which I love because I’m a Leo!

As you’re getting ready, what products are guaranteed to be on your vanity and why?

I love makeup that gives you a dewy, glowy look. And then mascara, of course, to open the eyes. But it needs to be a very good mascara because sometimes there are mascaras that make the eyelashes look too heavy. And, of course, for skin care you need an amazing serum. If I have something important, I ice my face. I take a bowl full of ice and put my face inside for maybe five seconds, and I do that like three or four times. It makes such a difference, especially when you travel because the plane makes your face and body retain water.

What essentials do you tote around in your evening bag?

When I’m packing, I have a mirror, my phone, my credit card. I always need a little bit of cash because I like to give tips to everybody. I just love cash because then someone can use it to go buy a burger or have a drink immediately. I love that. Because [when you leave a tip with a] credit card, it’s not the same.

What fragrance do you mist on before you run out the door?

I like something that is my smell, and only I smell like this. So now I like to combine my own fragrance. I can tell you that I like flowers; they are fresh and sweet, but not too sweet. And even if a perfume is supposed to last a long time, I finish it in two weeks because I’m always spraying. I like people saying, "Oh, you smell so good.” So it needs to be a lot. I spray it on my wrists and on the side of my neck, and then I spray a cloud in the air and walk into the perfume. It needs to go everywhere! When you walk, you need to have your essence everywhere.

After a night out, what’s your routine once you’re home?

I always have to take off my makeup with micellar water. Always. I like to put something on the TV while I take off my makeup, even if it’s for 15 minutes. I love cartoons, so most of the time, I play cartoons. They relax me. I love old cartoons, like all those from Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. Or even Disney, like Lady and the Tramp.

I love serum. I don’t like creams that are heavy on my face, or greasy, so I love serums. And there’s a glycolic acid serum that is amazing and is a must for me. Then I have a glass of water to avoid headaches, brush my teeth, and floss. That’s a very important because I take five minutes or more flossing. It’s my obsession; I love to floss. People tell me, "Belinda, stop it!” That’s the thing that I take the most time with. And then I go to sleep!