What's more fascinating than a celebrity skincare routine? Nada. Come on, you know you want to know how your favorite celebs stay glowing at all times. As such, we've rounded up skincare secrets from 14 famous famous, including Antonia Gentry, Priyanka Chopra, and more. Keep reading to get a behind-the-scenes peek at celebrity skincare routines that make for complexions with major star appeal.
Load Up on SPF
Ginny & Georgia star Antonia Gentry sticks to the basics. "I wash my face, moisturize with a serum, use a cream moisturizer, and then apply sunscreen," the dewy-skinned actor has said. Her favorites are from La Roche-Posay and Caudalie.
When it comes to skincare, SPF is her number one priority. "I wear SPF 100 every day religiously."
Try a Device
Wednesday actress Joy Sunday has seen skincare success with Foreo UFO. With features including thermotherapy, cryotherapy, T-Sonic pulsations, and eight LED lights, it's an all-in-one salve for whatever your skincare concern might be. "Whenever I feel a zit coming on or need to look extra glowy, I use my Foreo UFO mask," Sunday says.
Mask Up
According to Sabrina Elba, the Qasil Exfoliating Mask from S'able Labs is a must-have for balancing the skin's microbiome. "It's anti-bacterial, and it's got great anti-inflammatory properties," she explains.
"When I take it off, I think my skin looks dewy and resurfaced. It's the stuff you see [advertised] on the bottle, but it's like, Oh my God, it's actually doing that," Elba shares. "And now I don't miss it—I do my weekly mask, don't interrupt me! So that's my obsession at the moment."
Don't Discount the Drugstore
Ryan Destiny's favorite product a drugstore gem. "My skin is my number one priority at this point. I recently got eczema, and I've had to change my regimen. With that being said, my routine is clean, fragrance-free, and sensitive skin-friendly," she's said.
She recommends La Roche-Posay's Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer with SPF 30. "Skincare is the best thing to do when you're about to get your makeup done because the base is everything," Destiny adds.
Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate
“I start every day by exfoliating my face," says Christie Brinkley." That’s something I’ve done for the past 40 years. I feel like it’s really contributed to my skin feeling fresh and smooth. Forty years ago, I read an article that said men always look five years younger than women who are their same age. They contributed that to them shaving every day, and the daily exfoliating with shaving making their skin look younger. I was like, I’m not going to let them get away with that! I use the exfoliator from my skincare line because it’s gentle. The whole line was modeled after the skincare ritual I already have.”
Exfoliation is key as it helps increase cell turnover and unclog pores, preventing breakouts and helping other products absorb more easily. And while Brinkley advocates for daily exfoliation, not every face can tolerate that. Those with sensitive skin or certain skin conditions should start slow (once a week) before building up to what they can tolerate.
Don’t Skimp on Water and Sleep
“Definitely drink a lot of water and get a lot of sleep. I know it’s cliché, but the most I ever see a difference in my skin is when I’m well rested… That makes the biggest difference in how your skin glows—the texture and coloring of your skin," says Lea Michele.
The benefits of drinking water can't really be overstated — it helps promote digestive health (also key for skin health) and hydrates the entire body, from the inside, out. The easiest way to calculate how much you need per day is by dividing your weight in half and drinking that amount in ounces.
Eat Your Greens
“After working with my esthetician, I began to understand that skin health goes far beyond how well you clean your skin every day or what you put on it topically. I realized the importance of a holistic skincare approach," says Olivia Culpo. "To help with my breakouts, I started by changing my diet. I tried to incorporate more greens and cut out dairy. This made such a difference. To be honest, I have a major sweet tooth and… I love ice cream. Ice cream has both sugar and dairy, which can be really hard for your body to digest. Once I cut this out of my diet for a while and added more greens, my skin began to clear up.”
Leafy greens such as spinach are loaded with zinc, which helps fight inflammation (and therefore, acne). Kale, collards and the like also contain zeaxanthin, an antioxidant that protects the skin from the elements.
De-Stress As Often As Possible
“I think that anything you can do to remove stress will give you a better glow. That’s the number one answer… I am big on massage, when I can," Cate Blanchettsays.
Research has found that stress can have a major impact on the body, even leading to inflammation and early skin aging. As stress can aggravate skin conditions, taking time to indulge in a little self-care — via a spa day, time to yourself or even just a relaxing bath — can in turn help you skin stay clear and smooth.
Use High-Quality Ingredients
“My main products actually come from my mother’s kitchen. She is an herbalist, and we make our own moisturizers and oils. The key is the oil, though, which comes from my Guyanese grandmother. She had the most amazing skin, and I follow her regimen," says Leona Lewis.
Lewis is certainly on to something, as the quality of an ingredient can actually impact its efficacy. Higher-quality products are often more easily absorbed into the skin (and therefore work better than the not-so-high-quality stuff).
Adjust Your Routine as Your Skin Needs Change
“I change up my products depending on how I feel and how my skin reacts to the changing seasons. In summer, I like Dr. Hauschka’s Rose Day Cream Light, and in winter, I’ll use something a little heavier like La Mer Crème de la Mer. For body, I like Dr. Hauschka Almond Soothing Body Cream year-round," Jessica Hart says.
Skincare isn't one-size-fits-all. And skin type can change over time, depending on your age, what part of the world you live in, and the weather. Your skincare routine, by extension, should be open to evolve over time.
Brighten Dull Skin With a DIY Mask
“I have tons of beauty secrets and recipes that have been handed down from one generation to the next, so to speak, and they still continue to work like magic... A really easy mask to create that will help brighten your skin and take away the dullness uses yogurt as the key ingredient," says Priyanka Chopra. "Just mix equal parts of yogurt and oatmeal (about 1–2 tablespoons each) with turmeric (about 1–2 teaspoons). Mix, apply, and leave for half an hour and wash off with lukewarm water.”
Yogurt and oatmeal have both been found to have benefits for the skin. Studies have found that facial masks containing yogurt help the skin to retain moisture, appear brighter, and maintain elasticity. Oatmeal, meanwhile, is a scientifically proven anti-inflammatory, helping to ease redness, dryness and itchiness.
Don’t Overuse Products
“Sometimes using too many products can irritate the skin. A couple times a week, when my skin isn't terribly overworked, the best thing is to rinse my face with warm water. Also, eat plenty of foods rich in vitamin A to help keep skin clear," says Erin Heatherton.
Keeping it simple is sometimes best — and that goes for both the number of products in your arsenal, and the number of ingredients in those products. As experts can attest, only a handful of ingredients have been scientifically proven to benefit skin, so focusing on those key ingredients (rather than whatever might be trendy at the moment) can ensure you're reaping as many benefits as possible.
Maintain A Well-Rounded Approach
“Stay out of the sun, drink lots of water, and find creams that work best on your skin type. Also, eat lots of berries; they’re full of antioxidants," says Olivia Palermo.
As Palermo suggests, a well-rounded routine (one focused on nutrition, topical products, and hydration) takes into account all the factors that can impact the skin.
Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment
“When I hear anybody commenting that a product is good or beneficial, I buy it," says Sofia Vergara. "I love trying everything. I love products… and I try to take care of myself as much as I can.”
Not all products (even the cult-followed ones) work for everyone. The best approach is to try a variety of products until you hit on the one that works best for you. Working with an expert can also help guide you on this journey.