Let's face it: We can learn how to do makeup pretty well from the thousands of YouTube videos out there, but getting perfect skin is a bigger challenge — especially when we think about what our favorite celebrities' beauty routines must be like. Of course, the stars have a lot of help that we don't, from bigger bank accounts to professionals on hand to recommend the best products, routines, and treatments to them.
But over the years, some of the stars whose skin we admire most have been generous enough to share their recommendations in interviews and on social media on what has worked for them. Of course, what works for Jessica Simpson or Britney Spears won't necessarily work a miracle on our own skin — but it might if we're facing similar problems.
Read on for all of the best celebrity tips for good skin. Building the right routine can definitely be tough to figure out, but maybe one of these secrets will be exactly the inspiration needed to perfect it.
Priyanka Chopra
The woman who married Nick Jonas is obviously gorgeous — especially her skin. And according to what she told Byrdie, she has a simple recipe out of natural ingredients (including yogurt) that she uses as a mask.
"A really easy mask to create that will help brighten your skin and take away the dullness uses yogurt as the key ingredient," she said. "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.”
Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett told Byrdie she makes sure to keep her stress level as low as she can, because it definitely has an impact on her skin. Of course, that's usually easier said than done, but it works for her!
“I think that anything you can do to remove stress will give you a better glow," she said. "That’s the No. 1 answer." She added: "I am big on massage, when I can.”
Lea Michele
Also talking to Byrdie, mom and former Glee star Lea Michele said her beauty secrets are pretty simple.
“Definitely drink a lot of water and get a lot of sleep," she said. "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.”
Christie Brinkley
If we were ever going to take anyone's advice about skin care, it would be Christie Brinkley. Not only does she look forever young, but she also has her own skin care line. And according to her, exfoliation is what has made the biggest difference for her.
"I start every day by exfoliating my face," she told Byrdie. "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."
Margot Robbie
As Margot Robbie told The Telegraph, she uses a device that helps users get the skin they want by selecting their preferences on an app.
She said: "I’ve been using this micro-current device called Ziip which has given me noticeable results. I’m not paid by the brand or anything, it’s really, really good."
Sophie Turner
In 2019, Sophie Turner shared her entire skin care routine — products included — with Allure and noted that she goes makeup-free whenever possible.
"I just use micellar water to clean my face and iS Clinical Cream Cleanser," the former Game of Thrones star said. "Then I use my trusty Boscia Cactus Water Moisturizer and Ole Henriksen Truth Serum."
Gwyneth Paltrow
While sharing her favorite French beauty products on Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow said that Bioderma's Micellar Water is the best makeup remover she's found.
"It's unscented, doesn't dry your skin or sting, and gets rid of all your makeup with a few swipes," she said. "You're left with soft, clean skin."
Kate Bosworth
While talking to Into The Gloss, Kate Bosworth shared her favorite sheet mask (SK-11) to use, even though she admitted that it "[looks] so crazy" — and she keeps them in the refrigerator.
"You get this high-concentration of an active ingredient that saturates the cotton and you put it on your face," she said. "I put my masks in the refrigerator, so it can take away even more inflammation. It tightens, it brightens — it makes my face look like it’s had a good night’s sleep, when I could have had no sleep. It’s the best quick fix I’ve come across for skin."
Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet's best tip is simple: She takes her makeup off every single day and washes her face without fail.
She told Vogue: "I always take my makeup off no matter how tired I am. Daily I use Tracie Martyn Amla Purifying Cleanser. It’s very fresh, gently scented and really deep cleans the face and neck. And it’s fast, no fuss. And I like using a good flat facial sponge to make sure it's truly clean."
Keira Knightley
What works best for Keira Knightley is making sure her skin has a chance to breathe, especially since she has to wear so much makeup when she's filming a movie.
"When I'm filming, I always have a breakout as we have to cake the make-up on," she told Vogue. "I think it needs a break every now and again to be able to breathe. Since having a baby and being over 30, it's also getting dry for the first time. That's why I have started to use oils and moisturizers over the past few years."
Winnie Harlow
Model Winnie Harlow told Vogue that she likes to keep her skin care routine as simple as she possibly can.
"I try to keep my skin care routine very simple and don’t put too much on my face," she said. "If I’ve been going out a lot, I like to do a lot of different face masks. For a daily cleanse, I use African Black Soap — it’s very pure and keeps my face clean. Afterwards, I tone with a mixture of water and tea tree oil. I try to make sure that everything I use is hypo-allergenic and natural."
Britney Spears
After years of living in the spotlight, Britney Spears told Vogue she's finally figured out that her skin can't survive on moisturizer alone.
"I can’t just put moisturizer on — I have breakouts because I work out," she shared with the magazine. "I don’t actually get zits or acne, I just get these red marks where it’s, like, about to break out and it shows up like a rash on the side of my face. So I like for it to feel like zingy clean with astringent."
Lily James
Mamma Mia 2 star Lily James told Vogue she does her skin care routine every night —even on nights she's a bit tipsy.
She shared: "I'm a big cleanse, tone and moisturize every night and morning kind of person. I take really good care of my skin actually and I love products, I love Kate Somerville, Liz Earle — stuff that feels really natural and light on your skin. I never sleep with my makeup on. Even when I'm really drunk I wake up with a washed face. It's a miracle sometimes, I don't know how it happens. I like feeling like my skin can breathe."
Ashley Graham
In a video for Harper's Bazaar in 2019, Ashley Graham showed off her entire nighttime skin care routine with fans, including the products she uses. Ashley shared that a big part of her process was finding what worked for her specifically rather than rely on products that are just well-recommended, because everyone's skin is unique.
Kim Kardashian
In an interview with W Magazine, Kim Kardashian recommended using retinol (along with sunscreen) to help stop wrinkles in their tracks.
“To combat wrinkles, you should begin using products that contain retinol," she said. "When using a retinoid, you must wear sunscreen every day. And because the skin around the eyes is the thinnest and first to show signs of aging, it’s also important to introduce a moisturizing eye cream to your skin regimen.”
Jessica Simpson
According to what Jessica Simpson told InStyle, she swears by La Mer moisturizing cream, though it's a bit pricy at well over $100. But this mom of three says it's the only thing that's worked to combat her dry skin, so if anyone's facing a similar battle, it might be worth the cash.
