Want skin that looks younger than its years? Here’s what the pro’s do to get it.
No one can stop the clock- despite products that promise it. We’re certainly not going to stop science from trying to help us roll back the years, but we’re also not holding our breath. There are some pretty impressive women out there who’ve managed to fool us into thinking they’re kind of ageless. So in the absence of a magic potion (or whilst we wait for one…) we thought we’d try to take a peek into their bags of tricks. Here’s what we found.
Beauty Icon: Beyonce Knowles, Age 40
Queen Bey is notoriously tight-lipped about her beauty routine, but thankfully, her skincare specialist isn’t. In an interview with Elle Magazine, makeup guru and L'Oréal Paris ambassador Sir John gives us a few tips that have kept his flawless-skinned client glowing at 40. He says "I can't stress this enough, but keeping your skin hydrated is extremely important. Not only does it help your skin just look and feel better, but your makeup will glide on. So moisturize, moisturize, moisturize."
He’s also got some advice for anyone who thinks it’s perfectly acceptable to skip their cleansing routine after a busy workday or a late night out. "Always take off makeup at night,” he says. Adding, “It doesn't matter if you're dead tired or drunk, take your makeup off before bed." We’d have to agree. While forgetting or just lazily removing makeup with a wet wipe might seem like a good idea at the time, you’re risking a lot more in the long run. Makeup can clog your pores and block sebum, leading to breakouts.
What we love the most about Sir John’s advice is how he advocates for an inside-outside approach. He says, "I'm really holistic when it comes to skin care—it really starts on the inside." He also encourages a good diet saying, "I'm a huge fan of eating healthy to make sure your skin is getting the vitamins and nutrients it needs to look its best. I always tell my clients to drink a carrot juice before a big event because you will see the results literally overnight."
As for Beyonce herself, it sounds like she’s a good skincare student. In a recent Vogue article, she revealed a few tips that sounded familiar. She says, "I try to take care of myself, drinking at least a gallon of water with lemon a day and making sure to take my vitamins." So, be sure to add those leafy greens, lemons, carrots, and skincare supplements to your shopping list!
Beauty Icon: Nicole Kidman, Age 54
If you’ve watched Nicole Kidman through the years, you’d likely start to wonder if she ever ages. Her porcelain skin is definitely due in part to good genes, but she’s got other tricks up her sleeve. And her biggest ally goes by 3 simple letters: SPF, confessing in an interview with Byrdie “Well, the really big thing for me is sun protection.”
Sounds simple enough, right? She’s known for slathering it on day and night, and for her skincare fashion statement of wide brim hat-wearing. In addition to UV protection, she says “I use vitamin C too because that does give you some protection long-term. And I believe in using retinol at night.”
She says in an interview for InStyle “I'm a five-minute girl in the morning and at night. I've got to put my kids to bed and spend time with my husband. I'm not going to sit there for an hour pampering myself.” But, she does allow for occasional exceptions. In an interview for Byrdie, she confessed “And, I get massages.”
Beauty Icon: Lauren Hutton, Age 78
Lauren Hutton began modelling in her 20s, but unlike the other runway sensations of the era, she just kept going. She openly refused to “hide” her age, which made her not only stand out in a sea of youthful faces, but along with her signature tooth gap, it made her iconic.
Six decades later and a couple of years shy of 80, she shares in a recent cover story for Bazaar that, “Beauty really is about health.” Her daily tip is to drink lots of water, explaining “I really try to drink eight glasses of water a day.” She adds “I do an hour of Pilates almost every day and I walk a lot.”
She’s also a big fan of retinol, putting on a few drops every night before going to bed. Like most beauty icons in the know, she always puts on a moisturizer, too. But her most important ingredient for good health and happy skin? “Love is the best one. Just love. Just love as many people as you can.”
When it comes to following an inside-outside approach to health, beauty, and longevity, those are certainly words to live by.
