Even though Lupita Nyong'o, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at last year's Academy-Awards, was No.1 on People Magazine's 2014 Most Beautiful list, the concept of beauty was not to be entertained during her youth.

Lupita Nyong'o
Nyong'o was bannded from wearing makeup in her youth

The 31-year-old actress, who is an ambassador of French beauty brand Lancôme, recently recalled to Lucky magazine's March 2015 issue that she was forbidden to wear makeup as a teenager by her strict mother.

"My mother has never ever worn a drop of makeup in her life - not even at her wedding," Nyong'o said. "Honestly, my mother's outlook was hard for me to take when I was a teenager and wanted to experiment. But in the end I appreciated it, because today I can look in a mirror with no makeup on and love myself."

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Although she used to want to splash her face with makeup as a teen, Nyong'o now realizes it is nothing more than an add-on. "My mother didn't think makeup was necessary, and I don't think it's necessary." she said. "It's an accessory. It's as necessary as a pair of earrings, if you know what I mean. It's something I do to adorn myself. I don't do it to hide myself."

Now that her days of being banned from using makeup are in the past, the '12 Years A Slave' actress is known for her glamorous red carpet looks, flawless skin and her frequent use of smoky eye shadow, and Nyong'o even told the mag what her favourite beauty products are.

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"I always have a [LANCOME] Lip Lover, in one shade or another, in my purse," she confessed. "They just add a little bit of szoozh. I'll choose the colour depending on what I'm wearing and how much tint I want."