Salma Hayek Reveals How She Keeps Her Skin Smooth, Clear, and Glowing at 54

From Prevention

At 54, Salma Hayek is all about embracing her makeup-free skin. The actress recently shared some fresh-faced selfies to Instagram; her complexion looks absolutely radiant while her natural hair texture is out to play. “Today is a very good day for reflection,” she captioned the post.

So, what’s her secret? Hayek actually learned the ins and outs of skincare from her grandmother, who was trained in cosmetology. “I think that my beauty routine, and how I see beauty is from what I’ve learned from my grandmother,” Hayek told Glamour.

Looks like grandma knows best! Here’s everything we know about Hayek’s skincare routine, including a few of her favorite products.

1. She skips the morning cleanse.

“I never cleanse my skin in the morning,” Hayek told The New York Times. “My grandmother taught me that at night, your skin replenishes all the things you lost during the day. Also, if I cleanse very well at night, why would it be dirty when I wake up?”

When she needs a refresher, she’ll opt for a little hydration. “Sometimes I put rose water. Sometimes not,” she told Glamour. “Sometimes straight to the cream. You have to see how the skin feels every day.”

2. She loves hydrating creams, oils, and serums.

Hayek launched her own brand, Nuance, in partnership with CVS in 2011. The line features makeup, skincare, and haircare products inspired by her family’s heritage and vision of beauty. Her favorite product is the AM/PM Anti-Aging Super Cream, which she helped formulate. “I told the developers the ingredients they needed to put in it. They were shocked because they didn’t know about them,” she told Glamour.

She also amps up her hydration with a “a mix of serums and oils depending on my skin that day,” she told The New York Times. “I love the Biologique Recherche Grand Millésime Serum. Or I use the Anne Semonin Sérum Précieux.”

3. She doesn't go crazy with exfoliation.

Hayek admits she’s pretty careful with her skin. “Exfoliating a lot may make you look good in the short term, but not I think in the long term,” she told The New York Times. She has a point: As Prevention previously reported, it’s easy to exfoliate too often, which can actually inflame your complexion, causing irritation. Dermatologists often recommend being ultra-gentle and starting with exfoliation just once a week.

4. She swears by coconut oil—and other kitchen ingredients.

Hayek told Glamour that she’s loved makeup since she was 14. Her daily routine involves a little bit of foundation and lipstick (which she also uses on her cheeks as a blush). “Of course I have to get all dolled up for work and for press,” she said.

But the actress never forgets to take her makeup off at night, and she swears by coconut oil. “Then I use rose water to take off the residuals. You can use a hot towel with the rose water—you put a wet towel in the microwave—to do a little steam,” she told The New York Times. “I’ll use the chamomile cleanser from Nuance. Then I splash with cold water.”

She sometimes DIYs her facial cleanser at night with other kitchen products, too. “You can use a little bit of oatmeal and then some water or almond milk, and a little bit of honey,” she said. “You let it soak, and it’s a great cleanser that makes your skin very soft.”

Support from readers like you helps us do our best work. Go here to subscribe to Prevention and get 12 FREE gifts. And sign up for our FREE newsletter here for daily health, nutrition, and fitness advice.

You Might Also Like

• The Best Yoga Mats, According to Top Yoga Instructors

• The Shockingly Simple Diet Change This Woman Made to Drop 54 Pounds

• Losing Stubborn Belly Fat Really Comes Down to These Two Lifestyle Changes