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From cooking tutorials to arts and crafts, Jennifer Garner is full of amazing advice, and skin care is no different. Take this gem from our recent interview: “Nothing looks better in your 50s than sunscreen in your 20s,” Garner says. “Dermatologist Dr. Doris Day told me that and it's the best line ever!”
Thanks to Dr. Day, Garner also learned that she was underapplying most of her serums, sunscreens, and creams. “She told me you should almost have a tackiness to your skin after you apply a product,” she says, “and I think that's really smart.”
Garner's application method is relatively simple—“I always use my hands,” she says—unless she has a photo shoot or an early call time on set. Then she'll rely on ice-cold cryo sticks to help her look more awake and reduce any puffiness. “My makeup artist has them as well, so it's better if I help my skin out with those.”
The mom of three has had a long time to experiment with what works for her, given that she's been a Neutrogena brand ambassador for 14 years. “I've been with them for all these product lines, as new technology has emerged, and there's nothing like retinol,” she says. Of the products she swears by now, she points to its “amazing” retinol oil and the newest launches in the Rapid Firming collection (Collage Triple Lift Serum, Peptide Contour Lift Face Cream, and Peptide Multi Action Eye Cream). “I'm geeking out about it, because they've been talking about this product line for so long. My skin is very happy.”
Speaking of products that deliver, Garner was game for a round of Glamour's Big Beauty Questions, in which we asked her about everything from hair-care essentials to her mom's best beauty advice. Read on.
Glamour: What is one beauty trend you’re obsessed with right now?
Jennifer Garner: Using hair oil. I use Virtue’s Healing Oil, which is so delicious on my hair. I love the smell. It makes me so happy.
Is there a beauty rule you think is B.S.?
There is a trend that I haven’t done—and I’m wary of—and that is peels. Take good care of the skin you have since there's so many great products available. Personally, I’d rather use those instead of doing lasers and peels.
What’s the best beauty advice your mom gave you growing up?
My mom lived it more than talking about it. She would say don’t spend too much time looking in the mirror, and that you should be looking out at other people and how you can [be of service to] them. She said as you get older, the temptation is to stare into the mirror and focus on what’s changing, and here’s the secret: Don’t look! Just care less, be grateful that you’re getting older, and use the time you have to be leaving the world a little bit better instead of staring at yourself in the mirror and worrying.
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I love your mother. And what do you tell your kids about skin care and beauty?
Don’t pick at your face is a given! But I definitely tell my kids you have to go to bed with a clean face. My daughters are 12 and 15, and this is the time to set that into your brain as a habit. I could no more go to sleep without washing my face than I could without brushing my teeth. It’s just such a total given for me. And I want them to have fun and to know what feels good, looks good. Makeup is a great form of expression; they don’t wear a ton of makeup, but they’re also not afraid to play, and I think that’s really important.
Fill in the blank: I love my hair when ___.
Adir [Abergel] does it! [Laughs.] But otherwise, I love my hair when I have used Virtue’s hair mask.
Do you have a favorite perfume or fragrance that you love, and if so, what is it?
A friend of mine gave me Gypsy Water by Byredo. It was fancy! Years ago. And I think I’m on my second or third bottle of it. I love it.
Jessica Radloff is the Glamour West Coast editor. You can follow her on Instagram @jessicaradloff14.
