Jennifer Aniston Shares Her Top Tips for Maintaining Youthful, Glowing Skin at 52 (2024)

When you finally sit down to watch the long-anticipated Friends reunion on May 27, there are two questions that will inevitably come to mind. One being, “What took so long?” and two being, “How does Jennifer Aniston still look like that?”

It’s true, the 52-year-old still bares a striking resemblance to her ‘90s persona, Rachel Green—so much so that it’s hard to believe. And despite what her beauty ads tell you, the actress’s timeless glow didn’t come from magic in a bottle.

In a 2019 interview with the Los Angeles Times, The Morning Show star admitted that her resilient look comes from a combination of things: lifestyle choices, skincare, and of course, good genes. In the interview, she broke it all down in detail, and even provided some tried-and-true tips along the way.

First, don’t take good skin for granted.

Ansiton has good skin now, but she had really good skin when she was trotting around Central Perk on Friends as Rachel Green. She said she wishes she would’ve maintained it better then. “I inherited good skin from my dad,” she said. “But one thing I would have to say to my younger self is, ‘Don’t take that for granted,’ because you do have to maintain that. It does have a shelf life.”

Still, she thinks the conversation around aging needs a shift. “Very little offends me, but what I do think is becoming dated are things like, ‘Oh, you look great for your age,’” Aniston recently told Allure. “Because at a certain point, you should start to look like sh*t? Because that’s what that is implying.”

Slather on the moisturizer and SPF.

Naturally, Aniston recommends Aveeno’s Daily Moisturizing lotion for the body, which she has used since she was a teen, thanks to her mom (She’s also been a spokesperson for the brand for roughly six years). “I’m such a creature of habit. When I went out on my own, that was a staple in my bathroom. I just love it. I have a bottle in my car. It’s in all of my bathrooms. Put it on right out of the shower before you get too dry,” she said.

She’s also been using the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer since she was a teen, and loves the brand’s SPF 30. “My biggest beauty regret is the amount of sunbathing I used to do without sunscreen. I mean, baby oil? What was I thinking?” she told Allure. While she still loves getting plenty of vitamin D “for a glow and your mood,” she has now relies on body bronzers and spray tans for the sun-kissed look.

Treat yourself to fancy facials, but don’t overdo it.

They’re basically like exercise for your face. “It’s good to mix it up,” Aniston said. She sees several skincare pros, depending on where she’s staying for work including Georgia Louise, Melanie Simon, and Joanna Czech.

Aniston loves embracing buzzy at-home skincare trends, too. In October, she told Vogue she swears by two vibrating facial massagers that sculpt and de-puff—Jillian Dempsey’s Gold Sculpting Bar and Simon’s ZIIP Beauty Device. Fancy (and pricey) facial devices aside, though, there has to be a limit in place.

“Is there any trend I won’t do? Well, I won’t put leeches on my face because that’s terrifying,” she told The Times. She also admitted to opposing one effective (albeit often drying and irritating) anti-aging ingredient: retinol. “I stay away from them,” she said.

Get scientific with your skincare.

Aniston loves taking probiotics to keep her healthy bacteria levels balanced, and she told Allure that she takes a supplement every day. Why? She’s “obsessed with skin health,” and has studied up on it. (Research suggests that probiotics have “great potential” in helping to treat and prevent skin diseases like eczema, acne, UV damage, and inflammation caused by allergic reactions.) “The whole thing is fascinating to me,” she said.

Eat antioxidant-rich foods.

“I do believe when you are eating sugar and bad food, your face, body, and energy levels will show you the results of that,” Aniston told The Times. She does fully indulge every once in a while, but she tries to treat her body with respect and care.

Luckily, that includes eating lots of avocado. “Avocado used to be like, ‘No! It’s fattening!’ years ago, but it’s one of the best things you can put in your body,” she said. “Ginger is great for antioxidants, asparagus too. Even though it makes your pee smell weird.”

Challenge your body with exercise.

Step out of your comfort zone to keep your skin engaged and fresh (something even the pros behind J.Lo’s glow swear by.) “Find something to do that shocks your body a little bit,” Aniston said, who loves to do boxing with a trainer, Body by Simone workouts, and yoga.

De-stress however and whenever you can.

Aniston recommends daily digital detox and meditation to keep stress levels in check. It all counts in the long run. “I do 20 minutes in the morning and at night. I don’t usually get that five o’clock time that I would love to, but I’ve been doing it right before I go to bed, and that actually really has helped with my sleep,” she said. “But usually if I can’t get two in, I always will get the one in in the morning.”