If you followed the tabloid reports, then you know that 2012 was a pretty crazy year for actress / designer / celebrity mom Katie Holmes, however as the latest face to grace the cover of Allure for the April 2013 issue, she’s taken the time to talk about her beauty secrets (as the new face of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics), aging gracefully like her mother & grandmother before her, & what she hopes to pass on to her daughter, Suri.

This latest shoot, by photographer Tom Munro, offers a very sultry & summer-ready new look for Katie, especially with wetted tresses, swimwear duds, smoky eyes, & an extremely bronzed, all-over glow. Not to mention that the usually conservative Style Darling’s cover look alludes to nudity, but her wardrobe for the shoot includes items from Agent Provocateur, Jason Wu, & DKNY. She talks to the magazine about her recent Broadway appearance in Dead Accounts, as well as her hopes for a “peaceful” 2013 amid Hurricane Sandy & the tragic shooting in Connecticut late last year.

Watch the video below to see a behind-the-scenes look at the former Dawson’s Creek star? What do you think about Katie’s sexy cover look? Do you appreciate her as a beauty icon? If you like reading about Katie, then be sure to check out her collections for Holmes & Yang, including the latest for Fall 2013 & Spring 2013 Ready-To-Wear!

For more from Cover Craze, check out posts including more April covers like Michelle Obama for Vogue & Nicki Minaj for Elle, the ladies of Oz the Great and Powerful for InStyle, & Keira Knightley’s sexy shoot for Marie Claire! Also, for more stylish videos, check out previous Watch This Style posts including Gucci’s new spring / summer ad campaign, Kate Moss for Stuart Weitzman, & the stylish story behind J. Crew’s shoe collection! Happy Styling!