Brooke Shields’s Guide to Less-Is-More Makeup and Skin Care in Your 50s

“Now as I’ve gotten older and don’t have as much elasticity in my skin, I realized that I need to be more gentle,” Brooke Shields reflects as she starts her beauty routine with a True Botanicals Renew Nourishing Cleanser. Considering her iconic modeling career, it’s not an exaggeration to say Shields has been in most makeup looks under the sun, and it’s that experience that has given her an appreciation for simple, effective skin care—complete with a couple high-tech touches. 

Cleanser is followed by a topical collagen supplement powered by the Droplette device. “I just love the ritual,” Shields says. “I love getting facials or anything that’s pampering. I’ll try almost anything. I think it’s so fun to try new treatments.” The 56-year-old continues with Lumify eye drops to reduce redness followed by 111Skin under-eye patches, the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, and a bit of tinted SPF by Supergoop!.

“The crazy thing about makeup is that [because] I’ve been a model since I was 11 months old, I never paid attention to when my makeup was being done. I never really figured out how to do it myself because it was done for me,” Shields says. To keep things easy, she reaches for the Mineral Air tool to airbrush her foundation (she uses a mix of two shades) easily and evenly onto her face—using a brush to finalize blending before patting a touch of concealer under her eyes. She describes how her preferred “less is more” makeup philosophy differs from the rather “theatrical” makeup of today—especially as it relates to liner and contour. The Naked Reloaded Eyeshadow Palette, Thrive Causemetics mascara, and Grande Cosmetics highlighter amp up her look, while creamy multipurpose sticks by Ilia and Ogee provide a warm wash of color. Then it’s onto her favorite part: “I can never have too much mascara. There’s something about [it] that I’m just crazy about.”

Shields overlines with a Maybelline lip liner, then coats her lips with Laura Mercier gloss. And as for those famous brows? She uses an eyebrow pencil, then wax to perfect them. Finally, a spritz of True Botanicals mist provides the perfect glowy finishing touch.