Kelly Rowland on Protecting Her Time and Perfecting Her Beauty Routine

It's not every day that you get to sit across from a childhood icon of yours, so when Kelly Rowland's glowing face appeared across from me on the computer screen, I knew exactly what I wanted to ask. Last fall, she performed alongside Brandy and Monica for their widely successful The Boy Is Mine Tour, and earlier that summer she and Michelle Williams blessed fans with their surprise performance at the closing night of the Cowboy Carter Tour in Las Vegas. Next up? Her first solo album in 13 years, followed by a world tour.

As such an anticipatory era lies ahead of her, one must wonder what feelings and thoughts come up as she considers this moment. She flashes a warm smile and merely says, "I don't want to think about it that hard. It takes the fun out of it for me."

"If anything, I just want to tell great stories, and of course, evolve as far as sound is considered. Before, I used to put so much pressure on myself, which is [partly] why I think it's been 13 years. Now, when I go back to the studio, I'm having fun again," she tells Popsugar.

When discussing what has been fun for her, she lights up as she describes her creative process in the studio: finding melodies, collaborating with other artists, and entering a flow state, if you will. While she remains tight-lipped about specific details around her new project, we can expect an era of elevated creativity.

With so much coming up for her amidst the day-to-day of the entertainment business, we have to ask what routine, balance, and centering herself looks like. "I'm still learning every day if I'm being completely transparent with you," she says. She details putting this balance into practice on a recent family trip, where she allowed herself to pause emails and be in the moment. That, in turn, reinvigorated her to get back to her creative work.

"I really try to stay present in whatever it is that I'm doing that's just filling my heart and soul, because after that trip they were so filled, it had me running back to the studio, to be honest."

While finding balance is an ongoing process, she won't compromise her time, discernment, or what feels right. Two mantras she lives by: "We make time for the things we want to make time for," and "Don't waste my time." Something she's learned after years in the business, and that she wished she had adopted earlier, was how to flow and not place so many rules on herself. She often thought she had to be everywhere and do everything to remain in the game, but learning the value of her time also taught her how to slow down.

"At one point in time, there was a pressure on entertainers that if we weren't seen, we'd [be forgotten]. But if you do something great that brings light into the world, they'll remember. How are you sharing your light if you have no more light to give? How are you supposed to incorporate your beauty into the world? Pour into yourself, so you can shine on." A wise and needed piece of advice for many of us, especially in the digital age we occupy.

Being in the public-facing, often glamorous industry for as long as she has also taught her a lesson or two about beauty. She views beauty as a "beautiful ecosystem, [wherein] everybody has something to give, as far as a quote, ritual, trade secret, mantra, or a piece of advice. I love the community that beauty can have because beauty is community in my opinion."

She had quite a few beauty secrets to share. As the new face of Olay's Super Serum campaign, she, of course, has thoughts on the line, which she came across organically on a shoot one day. Using the combination of Olay's Super Serum Body Lotion ($15) followed by the Super Body Oil ($20) has been a game changer for her body-care routine. After one use, she and her glam team knew they would be mainstays in all her kits going forward. "I called it the Destiny's Child glistening music video [effect]," she jokes, referring to the results that combination gives.

"I think the face gets so much attention that we forget about the body. I remember I used to take the remnants from whatever serums I was using on my face and put it on my hands, but now you have the lotion and oil to really up your game in the process."

She also spares no detail in dishing out her other holy grail beauty products: Infrared saunas and red light masks are her must-haves for overall wellness. For hair, she loves Cecred's Detangling Spray ($28). The 111Skin Rose Gold ($115) and Cryo De-Puffing Eye Masks ($115) are her go-tos for looking refreshed. And she pops Révive's Volumizing Lip Balm ($80) into the fridge before taking it with her for the day, along with a good sunscreen, for midday reapplication.

The Houstonian beauty queen leaves us much to think about, whether it be slowing down for alignment or giving your body the same TLC you give your face. With an exciting new chapter ahead of her, we're excited to see her glowing routine in action and the music she's produced from this new place of creative freedom. And if we weren't already sold on the benefits of red light therapy, she absolutely convinced us.

Cierra Black is a beauty, fashion and culture writer whose work can be seen in ESSENCE, Dazed, W Magazine, Coveteur, Fashionista, and more.