Sarah Drew Shares Sunscreen Regrets, Collagen Masks and Hot Yoga

Sarah Drew is having a very busy November, and her latest beauty confession might be the most relatable part of it. Fans know her as Dr. April Kepner on Grey’s Anatomy, but she’s also juggling a glamorous period-film role, a new season of a Hallmark mystery favorite and a promotional schedule packed with travel. Speaking with NewBeauty, Drew revealed the $5 face mask she sleeps in during filming, the skin-care habit she wishes she’d started sooner and the simple rituals that help her stay grounded. But first, there are those spectacular hats.

Sarah Drew Trades Hospital Scrubs for Hollywood History

Drew’s latest big-screen transformation takes her far from Grey Sloan Memorial. In Jimmy, the Jimmy Stewart biopic that opened November 6, she plays gossip columnist Hedda Hopper alongside KJ Apa and Jason Alexander.

For a character with such a recognizable public image, the wardrobe was hardly an afterthought. Drew’s account of the production shows just how much craftsmanship went into creating Hopper’s look.

Those Scene-Stealing Hats Were Made From Scratch

A London milliner created each of Drew’s hats specifically for the film. Once the team settled on her clothing for each scene, they sent fitting photos to the milliner so the hats could complement the dresses.

Photographs of Hopper’s real-life appearances helped guide the designs. Drew said she genuinely looked forward to the daily hat reveal, a little wardrobe surprise waiting whenever she arrived on set.

The clothes and accessories helped her find Hopper’s energy, but the character’s voice was what ultimately made the performance click. Even an extraordinary costume can only take an actor so far.

The Vintage Beauty Habit She Did Not Bring Home

Drew enjoyed the transformation, but she didn’t leave the movie with an elaborate new 1940s beauty routine. Her reason was refreshingly practical: it takes too long, and she has too much to do.

A red lip, though, remains firmly in her rotation. She already loved wearing one before the film and still reaches for it when it suits her outfit. What impressed her most on set was seeing how the hair and hats worked together, with the beauty team taking care of the intricate details.

Her Hallmark Character Has a Completely Different Beauty Philosophy

On television, Drew is back in a world where looking meticulously styled would almost miss the point. She stars in and executive produces Hallmark Channel’s Mistletoe Murders, based on the Audible Original.

Season 3 premiered November 5, with new episodes arriving weekly and streaming the following day on Hallmark+. For Drew’s character, Emily, the beauty brief still centers on a very specific idea: natural, fresh and believable.

Emily’s Effortless Curls Have a Behind-the-Scenes Assist

Drew arrived for the first season with a clear vision for Emily’s appearance. She even brought a special hair tool to create the character’s curls, though she didn’t name the tool in the interview.

The goal was hair that looked naturally curly and air-dried, with just enough polish for the screen. The bouncy curls needed to feel like something Emily could wear while getting on with her day, not the result of a lengthy morning styling session.

That choice fits the character’s crowded agenda. Between running a shop, running from her past and solving murders, Emily hardly seems likely to spend her mornings perfecting every strand. The seemingly effortless look is deliberate character work.

The $5 Mask Drew Calls Her New Obsession

Drew’s own routine has to withstand something Emily’s doesn’t: the demands of filming and promotion. When the conversation turned to skin care, one product clearly stood out.

Drew told NewBeauty that collagen masks have become her latest obsession. She specifically named the Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask, listed at $5.

She Says She Sleeps in It Every Night While Working

This isn’t an occasional pre-event treatment for Drew. She said that when she’s working, she sleeps in the masks every single night.

Regular use has made a dramatic difference in how her skin looks and feels, Drew said. She described waking up with a glassy, dewy appearance and said the mask keeps her skin hydrated throughout the day.

Those are her personal observations, not a promise that everyone will get the same results. Still, the appeal is easy to understand: an overnight step that fits into a packed schedule without another elaborate getting-ready session.

Her Biggest Skin-Care Regret Is Surprisingly Familiar

Drew was enthusiastic about her current routine, but candid about what she wishes she’d done differently. It wasn’t an expensive treatment she missed or a luxury product she discovered too late.

Instead, she pointed to two basics: starting a consistent routine earlier and being more disciplined about sunscreen.

She Once Washed Her Face With Body Soap

Drew said she didn’t begin a real skin-care routine until her mid- to late 30s. Before that, she might wash her face with body soap and stop there, without even applying moisturizer.

She also wishes she’d made daily facial sunscreen a habit as a teenager. Although she said she doesn’t have extensive sun damage, she believes her skin would be doing better if she’d started sooner.

These days, she takes a much more attentive approach. The contrast makes her beauty update feel less like a flawless celebrity checklist and more like an honest admission that habits can change.

How She Stays Grounded When Everything Gets Busy

Between two projects and a demanding promotional calendar, Drew is also thinking about what keeps her going beyond the makeup chair. Her biggest priority isn’t particularly glamorous, but she knows when it’s missing.

Lack of sleep is the first thing that throws her off, she explained. So during especially intense stretches, she tries to go to bed early and protect her rest.

Coffee, Journaling and a Return to Gratitude

Drew also likes to start her day with coffee and her journal. Writing down her worries gives her room to acknowledge them, then turn her attention to gratitude.

She described the practice as a way to step back from fear and return to joy and peace. When she’s not traveling, hot yoga helps her feel calm and centered.

Behind the custom hats, television curls and overnight masks is someone trying to make a demanding season manageable. Better sleep, a little perspective and a beauty routine that finally gets more attention than a bar of body soap all help.