Usher On Taking On Frank Sinatra in New Ralph Lauren Fragrance Campaign, His Workout and Rest Routines

With his global tour heading down under, the busy R&B star shares how he’s shifting his mindset as he gets older: "I’m slowly beginning to understand, you need to rest."

By Meg Hemphill

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The “Yeah!” singer fronts the fashion house’s new fragrance campaign for Ralph’s Club New York eau de parfum ($110 to $185), debuting today and available to shop online and in stores at Macy’s and the brand’s website. While he’s had his own fragrances in the past (“which did very well,” he says), this is his first time promoting a scent that doesn’t have his name on it.

Why pick this moment, this fragrance? “Here was an opportunity for me to be part of a legacy,” he says. “When you think of Ralph, you don’t think of one concept or idea. You think of the legacy and who and what he represents. And having this opportunity to be part of something that represents heritage and tradition, and also this idea of evolution, was very exciting.”

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren Ralph’s Club New York Eau de Parfum

$110 and up at Ralph Lauren Fragrances

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott shot the stills for the campaign, while Jacob Sutton directed the video that featured choreography by Tyrik Patterson (he’s also behind Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter world tour). Though the new Ralph’s Club scent is an ode to New York City, the campaign was ironically shot in L.A. (“I wish we could say we shot it in New York,” Usher confesses.)

Dressed in iconic Ralph Lauren outfits, which Usher donned for the 2025 Met Gala, the singer belts out his take on Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.”

“His version of the song is like none other,” says the singer. “So I created my version of ‘New York, New York,’ still keeping the same idea of what the story represents, that if you make it in New York, you can make it anywhere.”

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Make it he did. The Atlanta native recorded his first album in NYC in 1997. Likewise, Ralph Lauren founded his eponymous company in Manhattan in 1967, making it appropriate for both men to celebrate the city that never sleeps.

The EDP, which is a progression from the original Ralph’s Club, boasts black currant — a first for the brand to use in one of its men’s scents — along with creamy vanilla and warm sandalwood. Lavender and geranium notes create pops of brightness. “It’s igniting this kind of energy. It’s bold. It’s confidence,” says Usher, who applies it twice as part of his grooming routine. “Some people wear [fragrance] as an accessory, the icing on the cake. For me, I’m out of the shower, I’m putting on the essence. Then I put clothes on. Then I’ll spray one or two more times.”

What does the rest of his grooming routine entail? He starts with clean hands, courtesy of Jao hand sanitizer. The majority of his skin care comes from Acne Expert Skincare, the line created by his Beverly Hills-based esthetician of seven years, Marie-Claire Cates, whom he visits for monthly facials. He uses the brand’s Soothing Gentle Cleanser, the Daily C Antioxidant Serum and the Calming Moisture Gel moisturizer.

Makeup artist Lola Okanlawon, who has worked with Usher for more than four years, has also introduced her client to products, including Danessa Myricks’ insider-beloved Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder.

“It’s makeup in a sense, for when he’s getting ready for an event, to even out his skin tone, to give him a flawless complexion,” Okanlawon tells THR. “Most men are averse to looking like they have makeup on; it’s still kinda taboo for them. But the Danessa Myricks balm is male-friendly for giving that clean, even tone without looking cakey or makeup-y.”

She also introduced him to patches “that help smooth out underneath the eyes and give the area some brightness.” Okanlawon also recommends the Shiseido Benefiance Retinol Eye Mask, and Usher is also a fan of Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches.

The makeup artist reveals that Usher was already an SPF devotee long before they began working together. “Yes, he knew how important it was; it was just a matter of me ensuring that he’s wearing it daily.” She recommends EltaMD Clear Face Sunscreen: “They have a sunblock that dermatologists recommend and it works beautifully for people with darker skin — it goes on clear once it’s blended in.”

Usher is aware that skin care is only one element in preserving his looks. There is, of course, the healthy eating, water consumption and exercise. So how much time does it really take to get his trademark abs? “If I’m traveling, I try to get a little workout in between 7 and 11 a.m. When I’m home, at 7 in the morning, I’ll have a swim, go down to the gym, I’ll go sit in the sauna, meditate, maybe do some yoga, center myself, say a prayer.”

Yes, the hardest-working man in music has discovered the importance of downtime. “I’ve learned that you’ve got to take naps,” he laughs. “I know that sounds crazy, but we’re workaholics. The mind needs a little break to process.”

The singer, who turns 47 in October, is realizing the importance of rest. “As I’m getting older, I’m beginning to understand that it’s the pauses that matter more. Yeah, I’m the hardest working man right now, but I’m slowly beginning to understand, you need to rest. There’s always more to do, more opportunities. I want to make the most of the time that I have.”

Shop Ralph Lauren Ralph’s Club New York at Macy’s and ralphlaurenfragrances.com.

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Usher On Taking On Frank Sinatra in New Ralph Lauren Fragrance Campaign, His Workout and Rest Routines

Meg Hemphill

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