In the steamy commercial for the new women’s fragrance Reveal Calvin Klein, Dutch supermodel Doutzen Kroes plays a temptress in a slinky black dress who seduces a handsome stranger (Sons of Anarchy actor Charlie Hunnam). Off-camera, she’s a soft-spoken mother of two who hardly ever wears makeup. “It was so much fun to be in that moment at the shoot, living that fantasy that doesn’t happen in real life—at least not mine!” she said with a laugh. Not that 29-year-old Kroes is a stranger to showing off her sexy side; she’s been a Victoria’s Secret Angel since 2008 and has one of the most enviable physiques in the biz. Even when Kroes emerged six weeks after giving birth to her daughter on July 30, she looked as svelte and stunning as ever. Fortunately, she’s not one of those beauties who claims to eat cheeseburgers all the time—her attitude about staying in shape is a practical one: “I’ve worked out since I was really young. I was a speed skater and I used to be a serious bike rider,” she noted. “It all has to do with how you come back after pregnancy, along with genetics, and eating healthy,” she says. Here’s what else the low-key supe had to say about food, family, and happiness.
What do you love most about Reveal Calvin Klein?
I love that it has a hint of salt that’s complimentary to your own body scent. That’s what makes it sexy and something you can wear during the day or at night. I like to spray a little bit on my hair.
You always look incredible—what’s your favorite way to stay in shape?
I do Ballet Beautiful with Mary Helen Bowers three times a week. It keeps everything tight. I’ve worked out with her for two years and I really like the results.
Have you switched up your workout routine since you had kids?
I used to always box and run, and with boxing, I would build a lot of muscle. After I had my son [Phyllon, age 3½], I started doing ballet. It makes you long and lean—it’s like the Pilates look. One thing that I’ve always done since I was younger is suck in my stomach. I think that gave me [ab] muscles. I don’t even think about it—like when you sit in a car, use your core to sit up straight. You can work out sitting in a car! I did leg and butt exercises during my pregnancy, but I haven’t done anything since I had my baby because I don’t want to damage my stomach muscles. It’s better to wait a while.
Has having children changed the way you eat?
Well, you can’t be pregnant and eat anything and expect to look amazing afterward. I wasn’t indulging like crazy when I was pregnant, but I was eating ice cream because I craved sweets. With my boy, I wanted savory things, so that was different, but I always ate healthy. Not just because of what I wanted to look like, but because I had a baby inside me—I didn’t want to put crap in my body. I avoided processed sugars and processed foods. Of course I had french fries! You can’t be too extreme because that’s not good either, but there’s a difference between bad and bad—you can have fries, but [not] McDonald's.
Do you stick to a specific diet?
Every morning I mix an orange, grapefruit, and lemon with wheatgrass or green powder in the blender. I make it for my son and husband. It’s very sour. It doesn’t taste good at all, but I do it because it’s healthy. My mom grows wheatgrass in her garden and my son goes there and he chews on it and thinks it’s gum! Kids are amazing—you can teach them anything and they’ll eat anything. Of course every kid is different. My son didn’t have any sugar until he was 3 years old. Growing up, my mom gave me really healthy food. Everything was fresh from the garden and organic before the organic hype. I still eat mostly organic food.
Are you into the juicing thing?
I love Juice Press because they have some juices that actually taste good. I like to order at night and get it in the morning, then I don’t have to press anything myself.
What’s your daily beauty routine like?
It became easier now that my son is 3½. I could have him play on his own while I do my makeup quickly, but with a baby it’s impossible. I’m happy if I get to take a shower in the morning! Most of the time, I don’t wear makeup at all. If I do, it’s like a BB cream and some mascara. That’s it.
How do you keep your skin looking so perfect?
Today it’s the makeup, but I get a facial every six weeks. I go to Anna at Advanced Skincare in New York. She gives me an oxygen mask and I love it. It’s amazing. You don’t have to wear makeup after she does it, and you don’t want to. You walk out and your skin feels so clean. It brings out the color in your skin in all the right places.
Do you have a nightly skincare ritual?
I make sure I take off all my makeup before I go to bed. I use L’Oréal Makeup Remover then I put on moisturizer. I’m very basic. My facialist will tell me to use something like a serum, but it’s too much work!
Your hair looks really healthy—what are your secrets?
Most of the time just I just use L’Oréal Elvive shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair, but I haven’t [dyed] my hair in a year because I was pregnant. And sometimes I put coconut oil on my ends.
With everything you have going on, how do you de-stress?
Being with my kids in the playground totally de-stresses me. I like talking with the other mommies about things besides fashion. Sometimes I book a massage somewhere or have a woman come to my house to do it. It’s such a treat.