Actress Jennie Garth reflects on how her skincare routine, self-care priorities, and confidence have evolved as she embraces the natural aging process.
How has your skincare approach changed as you’ve aged?
Well, it’s evolved over time. I used to be a lot more casual about it when I was a teenager, you know? I didn’t really understand the importance of sunscreen back then. Now, even when it’s cloudy, I wear sunscreen.
My daughters, I can tell them a million times not to lie out in the sun with that tanning oil, but they won’t listen to me. But I never used to think about it either at their age. I’ve learned that, long-term, skincare is where it’s at. This is the skin we have; it’s going to be with us forever. It’s our largest organ. So, you have to think about the combination of topical products, but also what you eat, what you drink, how much sleep you get, and your exercise. You have to take a holistic approach to skincare, health, and well-being in general.
What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned about taking care of your skin over the years?
I wish I had never gone out in the sun with baby oil or gone in a tanning bed! It’s awful. Can you even imagine doing that now, knowing what we know?
I think I’ve just learned that consistency is important. Being very diligent, morning and night, washing your face. It doesn’t matter how tired you are — never go to sleep with a trace of makeup on your skin.
One of my favorite products is Perricone MD’s triple retinol. I’ve always been a little scared of retinol, thinking it was too strong. I’ve used it before and had reactions — like I started getting red and flaky skin — but its triple retinol is so mild that I’m able to use it morning and night, which for me is a game-changer. It’s specifically designed for mature skin, and it boosts collagen and smooths the fine lines. Those are things I want now that I didn’t even think about before.
Have you noticed any unexpected changes in your skin as you’ve aged?
I used to play with my grandmother’s hands — like, I’d pinch and pull up the skin on the back of her hand, and I’d watch it slowly go back down. It mesmerized me. I couldn’t do it to myself back then, but now I can, and it’s kind of like a rite of passage, I think.
My skin is thinner, and it needs more moisture now. I think hormones have a lot to do with that — menopause and the drastic changes our bodies go through as women. I’ve honestly just learned to appreciate the changes and continue to take better and better care of my skin. Get a lot of hydration and focus on nurturing from the inside out.
How do you balance wanting to maintain youthful skin while also embracing the natural aging process?
I’ve learned to be really kind to myself, to give myself grace, and to love myself with these new skin changes and with the changes in my body. It’s tough. It’s not easy, especially in an industry where the focus has always been on your outward appearance and other people’s judgment of that.
It’s a tough balance, because that youthful skin changes, you know? We never think it’s going to happen to us, but it does. It just all goes back to appreciating and loving myself enough to be kind to myself and be proud of the changes.
What is your daily skincare routine like now?
I wash my face in the morning when I get up, and again at night before bed. I use Perricone MD’s Triple Retinol Renewal Serum religiously. I wear it in the morning, and I wear it at night. They even have a special formulation for the eyes that has triple retinol in it, and I put that on too, because I can absolutely see a difference in my skin from it. I’m not kidding. I have a good friend — she’s a producer on my podcast — and she started using it when I gave her some, and her skin looks incredible. At night, I love doing my oils, like really massaging them into my skin, giving myself that nurturing, upward facial massage, and kind of working on moving the fluids out.
We’re learning so much more about all these fascinating things. I’m like a sponge — I’m soaking it all up, doing everything, because I love new tricks and new products.
What advice would you give to women who are struggling with confidence as they see their skin begin to age?
I would tell them to embrace the journey, because aging is a natural part of life, and your skin tells the story of everything you’ve been through — the good and the bad. I’m not a smoker, but I have lines around my lips, and I know it’s from kissing so many people. I’ve kissed my kids forty billion times, so of course I’m going to get wrinkles!
I think it’s important to remember that confidence comes from within. If you want to feel confident, it’s a choice that you have to make. You have to look in the mirror and tell yourself you love yourself. Walk around as if you’re your own best friend. Make sure you’re taking time in your life to start choosing yourself, like nourishing your skin and your spirit together. It’s not about looking younger, because that’s not going to happen. You’re going to age. So, embrace it. That’s all we can do. Love yourself.
