Eesha Kulkarni

Julia Roberts has given the audiences cult classic films including Pretty Woman, Notting Hill and Eat, Pray, Love right since she ventured into the entertainment industry in the late ‘80s. And, she has managed to do so while basically looking the same throughout her on-screen career.

As she consistently delivered all her iconic roles and stunning red carpet looks through the decades, she has made us wonder what exactly she does to keep looking that radiant (barring good genetics, of course!).

Lucky for us, the star does have a few tips and tricks up her sleeve to maintain her youthful complexion. Make a note of all of them, ahead.

Never skipping sunscreen

Roberts’ Instagram is brimming with photos of her and her kids enjoying sunny beach days. In 2017, she said in an interview, “As a responsible parent with three kids who love to be outdoors I rely totally on a good sunblock.” She opts for waterproof SPF 30 for more active days as it “keeps working no matter how sweaty or how much time we spend in the water! It’s magical.”

If the ‘never skip sunscreen’ movement hasn’t been hammered enough into your brain by skincare enthusiasts on Instagram yet, allow us to reiterate one more time. Sunscreen should be a vital part of your skincare regime because UV rays damage the DNA of skin cells, which can produce cancerous genetic mutations. Never forget, prevention is always easier than reversal. Sunscreen can also protect your skin from developing wrinkles, brown pigmentation or ‘sun spots’, which aesthetically age the skin.

Going to bed with a clean face

Roberts is a firm believer in getting rid of every ounce of her make-up and grime buildup before hitting the sack, regardless of how tired she is. She once shared that Lancôme’s Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover is one of her long time staples. “A lot of times you take off your eye make-up at night, and the next morning you wake up and look like you already put make-up on! But this formula gets rid of every stitch of makeup.” As an OG Lancôme ambassador, it is definitely no surprise to see this in her skincare routine.

Never forgetting to hydrate and moisturise

The mum of three is all about feeling ‘hydrated and fresh’. Besides her face, the actress also insists on moisturising her hands and feet as they also carry signs of ageing. Many people tend to focus on their face when it comes to skincare, but overlook their hands, neck and feet. Roberts believes that finding a hydrating hand cream is key. “My hands get very dry from washing a lot of dishes, and using a good hand cream is so hydrating and restorative.”

The star also said that she layers on lots of moisturising products, especially before she travels. “Before I get on an aeroplane, I pile up on skincare products,“ she shared. ”You couldn’t hug me because I would just slip right away from you.“

Using olive oil for her face

The Erin Brockovich actress combines extra virgin olive oil with some warm water for a quick and natural skin and hair treatment. She creates an emulsified mixture of the oil and aqua, and leaves it on like a mask for around a half hour. Talk about natural beauty! In general, Roberts said that she has adjusted and improved her skincare routine to take better care of her skin over the years.

Keeping your routine minimal

When asked whether her beauty routine was low or high maintenance, Roberts said, “Low, I could definitely go a little higher.” She added, “On a regular day, I’ll just brush my teeth, wash my face, and apply sunblock. I’m a busy mom, and sometimes I just sunblock my kids and run outside and get my nose burned. So I’ve made a stronger effort to take care of myself.”

Her approach is right in line with the recent ‘skinimalism’ trend, which entails cutting down on the number of skincare steps and products to allow your skin to breathe. In its simplest form, this trend is an intuitive approach to taking care of your health.

This means using ingredients that offer dual benefits, like removing make-up and cleansing pores at the same time for instance, and paying attention to what your skin needs in real-time. It’s a great way to save not only money, but time and even storage space. You’ll have less product build-up, improved radiance, and you’ll also learn more about your skin’s raw, natural state.

Eating mindfully

It’s no secret that diet contributes to skincare and Roberts totally stands by it. “We definitely try to eat mindfully,” she said in an interview. “As I always say to my kids, ‘You have to eat the good stuff to get the good stuff’.” The star also clarified that she could never give up carbs or cookies, but still manages to follow a balanced diet and teaches her family to eat well.

The timeless beauty once shared what a daily menu in her household might look like—for breakfast, the star typically has homemade granola, berries, and yoghurt or a carrot and banana muffin. For lunch, she eats baked artichoke polenta or spinach filo pie with a wheat pilaf. Dinner often consists of a ginger-crusted salmon with quinoa and veggies, or sea bass with asparagus and salsa.

However, getting wrapped up in a toxic diet culture is no joke, so her best advice is, “remain calm, drink your water, get your sleep and be joyful.”

Brushing your teeth with baking soda

Roberts is most famous for her radiant, million dollar smile. You might be surprised to learn that she has a super inexpensive hack for keeping her teeth pearly white. “I brush [my teeth] with baking soda,” she revealed. [My grandfather] would put a big heaping mound of it on his toothbrush. He had only one cavity in his entire life.” If you aren’t keen on using boxed baking soda, try a good toothpaste which includes this in its ingredient list.

Exercising four times a week

Roberts revealed that she’s not a fan of exercise, but: “Accomplishment, clarity, energy, strength, joy...these are all things I give myself through working out, and I can feel it in everything I do,” she said.

According to reports, Yoga is the star’s workout of choice. She also enjoys Pilates, Swimming, and Plyometrics (jump training). “After 90 minutes [of plyometrics], I’m lying in savasana like, ‘Phew! I’m so glad that’s behind me!” she quipped.

When it comes to getting older, Roberts has always maintained that she is “trying to make peace with the ageing process.” “Just realising that it’s going to happen whether I like it or not,” she said.

The actress also believes that happiness is the secret to beauty: “People who seem truly happy. That’s what makes everybody the most gorgeous.” We couldn’t agree more!