She’s been entertaining audiences for more than 20 years after being hand-picked by Ricky Martin to join him on the Living La Vida Loca tour as a back up singer at just 15 years old. Today, Adrienne Bailon Houghton continues to captivate audiences as co-host of the daily talk show The Real. She brings the same spunk and honesty she displays on the show to everything she does, and as she teams up with Olay Body on the expansion of their body-care line, we also ask the 37-year-old to spill the details of her whole skin care routine. After all, to us, she still looks as youthful as she did at 15.
You’re one of those people who come across as eternally youthful. Maybe because we grew up watching The Cheetah Girls, but it seems like you haven’t aged a bit.
You know, I would think it would be the opposite way because fans saw me when I was younger, and now it’s like, who is this? But there’s a whole new generation that is just getting introduced to The Cheetah Girls on Disney Plus now. I was really happy when Kim Kardashian called me and said, “North is obsessed with The Cheetah Girls and she wants to meet you!” When we met, I was nervous she wouldn’t recognize me, and she did! So, that was great. Wow!
What is one anti-aging tip you would give your younger self if you could?
The main thing is obviously, moisturize, moisturize, and moisturize. Staying hydrated from the inside out is super important, so drink tons of water. One of the things that I definitely neglected was moisturizing my body. I learned early to moisturize my face immediately after getting out of the shower— growing up my mom always taught me to do that so you don’t skip it when you’re rushing around doing everything else. I would barely moisturize my face and just keep going, but now I’ve really made it a point to also remember my body. That’s why I’m obsessed with Olay’s new body care collection, I use the new Firming & Hydrating Body Lotion with Collagen ($10). Bam!
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month and you’re half Puerto Rican and half Ecuadorian. How has your culture influenced your approach to beauty?
I feel like beauty regimens are a major thing for us. I grew up with a mom who had a vanity with tons of creams and perfumes, and I saw that was a huge part of being a Latina woman. I will never forget, I used some of my grandmother’s really expensive body lotion once. I was only two and I just poured it all over myself (laughs). Because it was so expensive, they came after me with a spoon to scoop it up and put it back into the jar. Culturally, we’re just raised to put an emphasis on taking care of ourselves. There’s an old Spanish saying that translates to, “When you look great, you feel good.” I believe that’s true and goes back to the idea of making an effort to love on yourself a little bit and ultimately just pull yourself together. That cultural influence has definitely benefited me in a lot of ways.
I read that you got some good Poosh advice at their recent spa day event. Did you walk away with any new favorite products or a good takeaway from day?
I know it sounds it sounds insane, because I am that person that is always cold, always freezing— but the best thing was when I got into an ice bath for six minutes. It’s cryotherapy and it was the dopest, most natural high I’ve ever felt. They actually say it’s incredible for your immunity and also increases your circulation. I’m on a fertility journey, so it really has been beneficial for me and it’s a new thing I’m obsessed with. There’s a place here in L.A. called The Remedy Place, and they make it a social, fun thing you can do with your girlfriends. I was introduced to it with that approach and that made it so much fun.
You film The Real three days a week and are always on the go. What does your morning and nighttime routine look like?
In the morning I am a hot water and lemon kind of gal. I’ve heard that it’s like a little bubble bath for your tummy. I also have heard that it does great things for your skin as well. Then I shower and head to work. I’m up at 4:30 every morning and it’s usually a quick rinse because I go to sleep with no makeup on. At work is where all the makeup begins, which makes my nighttime routine were more complicated. I use the Shani Darden Serum ($88) and Cleansing Serum ($38). I have really sensitive skin, because I suffer from a little bit of rosacea on my cheeks, so I love Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer ($32). I also use the Olay Vitamin B3 + Hyaluronic Acid Body Wash ($11) and the Cleansing and Firming ($11) collagen one as well. I’m also someone that brushes my teeth in the shower—I know that’s random.
And nighttime?
Night is a little bit more intense, because now I’ve got to take off all the makeup I’ve been wearing for all day, and you know they change the looks several times for the shows we shoot. By the end of the day I’ve been wearing three different looks on my face since six o’clock in the morning. As soon as I get home, I remove the eyelashes and start with the Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm ($64). It takes everything off. I follow that with my Shani Darden Cleansing Serum again. At night I’m obsessed with the Sio Chest Mask ($50). I wear it over the Olay Collagen Firming cream and its a double whammy because seals in the moisture. It’s specifically useful for us ladies who are busty and sleep on our sides.
How do you self-care?
The moments that I get to just be quiet, silent and alone are the most valuable because when we’re constantly around other people we are more considerate of them, but not so much ourselves. You may not watch the show that you really want to watch or eat the food or listen to the music that you want to because you’re being considerate of someone else. But once you get that alone time, there is no better time to be authentically who you are. Sometimes it’s the only time you get to hear the sound of your inner voice, and I think that that’s really important. I love to stay in tune with that voice that’s inside of me and kind of block out everything else.
