Jennifer Garner Shares Her “Less Is More” Skincare Routine

If there are two things we can’t get enough of, it’s celebrity beauty secrets and routines. We all want to know what our favorite stars are doing—besides, you know, having good genes—to get their hair bouncy and their skin glowing. However, many A-listers keep it all under wraps. Jennifer Garner is a solid exception to that rule.

The multi-hyphenate actress, mom, producer, Once Upon a Farm co-founder, and longtime Neutrogena ambassador refuses to gatekeep the advice (and product recommendations) she’s gathered from decades in the makeup chair. And now more than ever, the 52-year-old star is sharing her wisdom of self-care and self-love. “I want my skin to be healthy and the best it can be, but I also want to love myself enough that I can face others just as I am,” she says.

Ahead, Garner shares the products she’s used and loved the longest, the skincare advice she shares with everyone, and her honest thoughts on “perfection” and the beauty industry.

About Her Skin

“My skin has changed over the years. When I was younger, I had hormonal acne around the chin. Then, during the hormonal shifts of nursing my kids, over a year each, I got really painful cystic acne. Now, my skin is pretty even with no oily patches. I just try to keep as much moisture in as possible.”

How Her Skincare Routine Has Changed

“I’m through-and-through a Neutrogena girly. I have two sisters, and we had the Beauty Bar when we were little. We had one in our bathroom that we shared and fought over if it disappeared for any reason. I also loved using the Neutrogena Oil-Free Pink Grapefruit Acne Face Wash when I was younger, though I haven’t had to worry about those types of breakouts for a while. Now, I’m really all about protecting my skin with SPF and [encouraging cell turnover] with a regimen of retinol, which is Neutrogena’s Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Facial Serum, Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ Eye Cream, and Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Face Moisturizer Cream. Every other night, I use the Hydro Boost collection to add hydration.”

The Skincare Step She Never Skips

“Skin cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancers, so applying SPF is a non-negotiable for everyone, all the time, every day. I love products that pull double-duty—or, in this case, triple-duty—which is why I use Neutrogena’s Invisible Daily Defense Sunscreen Face Serum. It’s a 60 SPF, a makeup primer, and moisturizer. It’s such a great product.

Her Most Used Skin Product

“I use the Hydro Boost Hydrating Gel Cleanser every morning and night. It doesn’t feel stripping, and it’s great at taking off makeup. It deeply moisturizes as you wash your face, leaving your skin feeling great and glowy.”

The Ingredient That Has Made the Biggest Difference

“I’m 52, and hyaluronic acid is absolutely my secret weapon. So many people, as soon as it gets cold outside, switch to a rich cream. While that might be nice for them, it clogs my pores. I want something that’s going to penetrate my pores, do the job, and not feel heavy—and that’s hyaluronic acid. It locks in moisture at the surface of your skin, filling in fine lines and giving you dewiness and plumpness without weighing you down.”

Her Favorite Haircare Products

“I love Virtue’s Damage Reverse Serum. It’s a great product to start with if you haven’t tried Virtue, as you’ll instantly notice a difference the first time you use it, guaranteed. I also love the brand’s shampoos and conditioners as they all contain the bioidentical Alpha Keratin 60ku protein, which helps repair your hair and lock in hair moisture for resiliency and durability. My two favorites are the Full Shampoo and Conditioner and the Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner, which I toggle between.”

Her Biggest Skincare Pet Peeve

“People feel like their skin has to be perfect, like a doll. In reality, it’s not realistic. I have wrinkles, I have skin concerns—it’s normal. We’re not taught to love the skin we’re in; we’re taught to want to fix it all the time.”

The Best Skincare Advice She’s Been Given

“Dr. Doris Day, a dermatologist I met through Neutrogena years ago, said to me, ‘Nothing looks better in your 50s than sunscreen in your 20s.’ I love that quote so much, I want it on my tombstone!”