Karen Gillan Says This $30 Hat Is Perfect to Protect Her Hair From the Sun

The "Gunpowder Milkshake" actor talks her favorite things, including that "Outlander" obsession.

Karen Gillan Says This $30 Hat Is Perfect to Protect Her Hair From the Sun

From Guardians of the Galaxy to Jumanji, Scottish actor Karen Gillan has worked on some of the most successful and popular films of the last decade. But it's her upcoming role in the action movie, Gunpowder Milkshake (now streaming on Netflix), that she says was “the most fun I've ever had making a film.” 

The reason is none other than the group of women she costars with: Angela Bassett, Lena Headey, Michelle Yeoh, and more. “It was such a fun group of women,” she tells Glamour of the film, which focuses on three generations of female assassins who fight to stop the violence that has haunted their lives. “It's violent, yes, but it's also a fun popcorn movie featuring this group of women completely kicking ass. And it's emotional, too.”

Gillan filmed Gunpowder Milkshake in 2019, which made the experience even more special since it was the last big film she worked on before the pandemic. “Lots of wine was had with my fellow costars, and we just had a really, really good time with each other, and let loose in Berlin. We finished in time [before lockdown], but the pandemic delayed the opening," she says. 

But now that it's here, Gillan can't wait to hear the reaction from fans. “We did three weeks of really intense training where they had me boxing everyday, rolling across mats, learning choreography, etc., because our director didn't want stunt doubles for the first fight sequence. So it's us in there doing it,” she says. “It can be really demanding, but really, I kind of loved it.” 

Speaking of what she loves, now is the perfect opportunity to play a round of Glamour's Fave's Faves with the 33-year-old. From how she relaxes after a long day on set, to the reality TV shows she can't stop watching, get ready to know Karen Gillan like you haven't before. 

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I’ve really started to value the art of self-care. It’s all about the salt baths and different oils. I started to have baths in the morning, which is a weird thing to do, but it’s like my meditation or something. I use oils from Aromatherapy Associates; I really like their de-stress blend because it's so relaxing. Then I have a huge bag of epsom salt that I put into a cute little container with a scoop that’s next to my bath, and I put that in, and I feel amazing. 

Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Mindy Bath & Shower Oil

Epsoak Epsom Salt

I have an old The Who band rocker T-shirt, and I just love it so much. It’s my favorite thing to wear during the day and my favorite thing to wear to bed.

Favorite look ever?! Like, ever? Oh gosh, I don’t know. Wait, I do know! There was a yellow dress I wore to the Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2 premiere and it had leather trousers underneath. I wore some stripy shoes with it, and it was just really cool.

La Mer's lip balm is a staple in my bag. That’s the only one that works for me. Unfortunately, it’s also the most expensive. I love La Mer, so I also use their Moisturizing Soft Cream. It’s my favorite. And then I also have this aloe vera healing gel from Rejuvi that I mix with their flavonoid complex. I can't live without it.

La Mer The Lip Balm

La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Cream

Rejuvi Skin Healing Gel

Rejuvi Flavonoid Complex

I recently switched to Aesop shampoo and conditioner, and I love it. I've always loved their soaps, specifically their exfoliating hand soap. This is a random story, but I was staying at a castle in Scotland and they had all Aesop products, so I was like, I’ll just wash my hair with this, and it was the best my hair has felt, so I bought it. 

Aesop Classic Shampoo

Aesop Classic Conditioner

Oh, my classic Ray-Bans. The Wayfarer classic black ones, always. They just make everything look cool.

Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer Sunglasses

I have two. Clinique mineral sunscreen for the face and then Neutrogena's sport face, because it doesn’t make me break out at all. 

Clinique SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen for Face

Neutrogena Sport Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70

I’ve been indulging in UPF protective hats as of late. I look like an insane person when I’m walking my dog, but whatever. I have it in navy and in pink.

Scala Women's Cotton Hat UPF 50+

Outdoor Voices has really nice leggings and sports bras. I've also I’ve been wearing Gym Shark, which gives you a really nice shape. I like their leggings, too.

Outdoor Voices Springs 7/8 Leggings

Outdoor Voices Double Time Sports Bra

Gymshark Vital Rise Seamless Leggings

My Mr. Stacky outdoor, stackable, vertical planter that you can grow herbs in. I’ve also been growing food, and it’s delicious. A lot of basil, strawberries, peppers. I’ve tried growing corn- I don’t know if that’s going to work.

Mr. Stacky 5 Tiered Vertical Gardening Planter

I just finished the first season of Outlander, which is so insane that I hadn't seen it before because it’s set in the place where I am from, Inverness! I am so late to the party, but I watched it and was totally blown away and am now obsessed. Episode five in season one was really exceptional…it was a really romantic love story, and then Tobias Menzies as evil Black Jack Randall comes in, and that performance just blew my mind.  I was like, “What is this?!” This show is not what I expected it to be. Oh, and then the season one finale where they rescue Jamie was hard to watch, but amazing. Sam Heughan better get me on the show. [Laughs] I’m gonna be an extra. Or maybe they’ll give me a line. That would be good.

I just watch so much reality TV. My favorite is Love Island: UK, closely followed by Vanderpump Rules or Siesta Key on MTV. Those are the top three.

I just ordered one that I haven’t read yet called Shuggie Bain, and it’s set in Scotland. I heard that it’s amazing. And then I've always loved Alice in Wonderland. Ever since I was a girl, I was obsessed with her. She was my favorite of the Disney princesses if she counts as one.

Shuggie Bain: A Novel by Douglas Stuart

Alice in Wonderland: The Original 1865 Edition

I love French fries, especially the crinkly ones from Shake Shack. Love it. I mean, I’ll also get a burger, but I’ll get two sets of fries every time. 

Jessica Radloff is the Glamour West Coast editor. You can follow her on Instagram at @jessicaradloff14. 

This story originally appeared on: Glamour - Author:Condé Nast