BEAUTY

12 Celebrities Share Their Number One Skin Secret

And they’re all surprisingly easy

It’s true celebrities have access to some of the best facial treatments and high-tech beauty devices in the world, but when interviewed about their skin, their best tips are often simple and inexpensive.

Even the most glowing complexions of the A-list can usually be attributed to a pared-back routine (there’s definitely something to be said about skin fasting), diet and lifestyle choices, or in some cases, DIY recipes that have been passed down by family. Here are some of their best (not so secret) secrets…

Double cleansing is actually worth it

kerry washington

Still not sold on double cleansing? Perhaps Kerry Washington’s glowing face will convince you.

“K-beauty taught me to double cleanse, and I’m forever grateful for the lesson; I’m a double cleanser for life now,” the actress told Oprah Mag.

Be diligent with your routine

rosie HW

Consistency is key when it comes to skincare, and something Rosie Huntington-Whitely learned from a young age.

“I have a skin-first, makeup-second approach because I struggle with my skin,” she told Marie Claire. “It’s been that way since I was a teenager. Being a model for the last 16 years, I’ve realised that it’s a part of my job to show up with my skin looking as healthy as possible. So I’m really diligent with my skincare routine. I get regular facials and now that I’m in my 30s there’s really no such thing as putting my face in the sun anymore. I try and wear SPF every day.”

Exfoliation is key

JESSICA ALBA

Whether you prefer chemical or manual exfoliation, removing dead skin cells and debris not only ensures a smoother texture but allows your following skincare product to penetrate deeper.

“I actually exfoliate every day to make sure my skin is clear and I have that healthy glow. A cleansing brush is fantastic for daily exfoliation,” Jessica Alba told The Skincare Edit.

Embrace multi-purpose balms

lupita

Multi-purpose products not only allow for more room in your toiletry bag but find the right balm and it can soothe almost any ailment. 

“Sunscreen is the name of the game, but I think it’s also really important to find products that are not poisonous to the world we live in,” Lupita Nyong’o told The New York Times. “I carry calendula ointment, which is a good healer for burns, scrapes, scars.

“I had a terrible sunburn and the oil cured me of it in just one night. I swear by it. I guess that’s really the one thing I wouldn’t travel without.”

Eat a diet rich in antioxidants

olivia palermo

The foods we eat can certainly affect our faces, and while products high in antioxidants are great, a double dose from your diet can really help. 

“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,” Olivia Palermo told Byrdie.

Dedicate yourself to dry body brushing

gwenyth

Not to limit ourselves to faces only, Gwyneth Paltrow is a huge advocate for dry body brushing every limb. 

“It’s an amazing way to exfoliate your body,” she told Redbook. “You take the dry brush and, starting at your feet and working up, sweep it all over your body in light, firm strokes, always brushing toward your heart. It’s fantastic for circulation and it helps smooth cellulite. I do it every night before I get in the bath.”

Treat dullness with a DIY face mask

priyanka

When Priyanka Chopra revealed her turmeric face mask recipe, the internet went nuts for it.

“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,” she told Byrdie.

 “A really easy mask to create that will help brighten your skin and take away the dullness uses yoghurt as the key ingredient. Just mix equal parts of yoghurt 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.”

Practice facial massage

miranda kerr

Miranda Kerr swears by lymphatic drainage for boosting blood circulation and de-puffing the face, a technique that can be done with either a facial tool or simply pressure from your fingers.

“A new step to my morning and evening beauty routine is using a rose quartz gua sha stone to practice the ancient healing technique,” Kerr told Well+Good. “It’s used to massage your face and neck to stimulate circulation and reduce puffiness while lifting, toning, and sculpting. I use this technique daily for a 5-minute facial massage with a facial oil as it also helps it absorb deeper into your skin.”

Get rolling

tracee ellis ross

More of a jade roller than gua sha fan? Tracee Ellis Ross is too. 

“I try every beauty tool, toy, trick, vibrating ball, mask, roller thing. I spend a lot of time doing that because I don’t wear a lot of makeup on camera… and they wake my face up and make me feel like the happiest, juiciest version of myself,” she told The Skincare Edit. “I don’t drink coffee, so those rollers are like my coffee!”

Try a bone broth

HALLE BERRY

When asked the secret to her youthful complexion, Halle Berry had two words: bone broth.

“You can make it, you can go to the butcher and get all the bones they’re going to throw away and he’ll give them to you for free. Take the bones, boil them up for 24 hours… and you drink the broth. It’s so full of collagen that it’s crazy,” the 53-year-old told Extra.

Make sure you’re getting enough sleep

jlo

We all want the JLo glow, and as it turns out, it’s all about adjusting our bedtime.

The number one tip is to always get enough sleep. I can’t stress this enough. Ideally, I would love to get nine or 10 hours of sleep, but either way, I always make sure I get at least eight,” Lopez told InStyle.

Up your water intake

OLIVIA MUNN

We know, broken record, but water really is key to enhancing your glow from within.

“You need water to look young and to lubricate your joints and your face,” Olivia Munn told Byrdie. “And you need hyaluronic acid to help carry that water to your skin. I’ve been looking into different vitamins, like acid vitamins, glucosamine vitamins, sodium chondroitin, which is part of a hyaluronic acid system.”

“You have to do those things along with drinking water. And I do three litres a day, which is hard. It’s too daunting to have the big one-litre bottles because it feels never-ending, so instead, I get six half-size bottles. Water helps kick up your metabolism, helps you keep weight off, and it hydrates your skin.”

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