When you think of celebrities who seem truly timeless, who comes to mind? For us, Julia Roberts is one, and with a career as long and successful as hers, who could disagree? From classics like Pretty Woman and Notting Hill to recent endeavors like Ticket to Paradise, we’ve been in awe of Roberts’s on-screen talent for decades. But, her ageless complexion would make it hard to believe she’s been acting for that long.
Believe it or not, today marks the Georgia-born actress’s 57th birthday. To celebrate her legacy and phenomenal beauty, we’ve rounded up some of the best beauty tips Roberts has shared over the years to help us all age as gracefully and beautifully as the pretty woman herself.
Beauty Advice from Julia Roberts
Less Is More
In a 2015 interview with Viva, Roberts revealed that her beauty routine is quite low-maintenance, possibly the lowest, even. The star was asked, “If you had to be out the door in five minutes, how would you streamline your routine?” She responded comically, stating “If it were any more streamlined, I’d still be in bed.” So, one of Roberts’s best-kept beauty secrets is her low-key approach to beauty as a whole.
In terms of her low-maintenance beauty routine, Roberts told the outlet, “I brush my teeth. That’s number one. When I’m not in a rush, I use Lancome’s Mousse Radiance Clarifying Self-Foaming Cleanser ($32) and Hydra-Intense Masque ($30). So if I’m living in the lap of luxury, that’s what I like to do. But 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.”
Never Skip SPF
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Roberts takes the sentiment seriously when it comes to her skin, never skipping out on SPF application. “As a responsible parent with three kids who love to be outdoors I rely totally on a good sunblock,” she told People in 2017. She opts for Shade’s SPF 30 ($19) since it “keeps working no matter how sweaty or how much time we spend in the water! It’s magical.”
Take Care of Your Hands
As many of us know, the hands are one of the first places to show signs of aging. But, not for Roberts who prioritizes an often overlooked aspect of beauty: hand care. “Absolue Hand is another favorite—it’s like butter,” she told Hollywood Life in 2018. “My hands get very dry from washing a lot of dishes, and that hand cream is so hydrating and restorative.” She also sang her praises for Weleda’s Multipurpose Cream ($13), telling InStyle, “I put it on my hands after I wash the dishes, and wind up putting it on my elbows and feet. Before you know it, I’ve squeezed this poor little green tube into a twist.”
Make Mindful Eating a Priority
In the age of ozempic and appetite-suppressing gummies, it can seem like we’re falling back into the vicious cycle of diet culture. Roberts believes mindfulness is the way to go, and we can all take notes. “We definitely try to eat mindfully,” she told the Toronto Sun. “As I always say to my kids, ‘You have to eat the good stuff to get the good stuff.'” To avoid falling into the diet culture trap, though, Roberts’s motherly advice is to “remain calm, drink your water, get your sleep and be joyful.”
A Signature Scent Is Everything
Nothing is more memorable than a truly noteworthy fragrance. Roberts has her preferred scent profile down to a science. “I’m into woody [fragrances]” she told Viva. “I don’t like anything overly sweet. Patchouli and earthy scents are my favorite. There’s some patchouli in La Vie Est Belle ($128). We tested so many versions. I recently found a letter I wrote to my mum about being chased by one of those fragrance girls in a store. I wrote a whole paragraph about this spritzer girl who was stalking me. Now I’m a professional spritzer girl!”
