“I love watching myself age on screen!” Reese Witherspoon on shattering ageing taboos & why she will never try fasting

Reese Witherspoon has become a flag bearer for feminism and equal opportunities in Hollywood and we couldn’t be more here for her. As her career goes from strength to strength, her empire grows from producing films – that put women at the focal point – to a full lifestyle company with Hello Sunshine. And, we are ALL preparing for the return of Big Little Lies, aren’t we? Tight lipped on the events of series two, Reese simply coyly confides, “you better get excited – it’s good!”

If that wasn’t enough, she will also star alongside Jennifer Aniston in Apple TV Plus’s main show, The Morning Show – and she’s produced it too. Her formidable work in film makes Reese the perfect placement as Elizabeth Arden’s Storyteller-in-chief. Are you tired just reading this? This woman is BUS-AY!

Here Reese opens up about how we can further the conversation around beauty and feminism, her foil proof (AND FREE) beauty hack and why beauty is so important to her self-care rituals…

How do you use beauty to empower you?
I love lipstick – I always have a lot of lipstick in my purse. I really feel like a strong bold colour really pulls me together and helps me put my best face towards the world. I really like a strong red like the ‘Red Door’ tone from Elizabeth Arden. I am really enjoying the new Limited-Edition Beautiful Colour Moisturising Lipstick in ‘Pink Punch’ this summer because pink is the new red (laughs!). It just makes me feel like I am ready to face the day. I feel like it finishes a great outfit, just like a great accessory.

A lot of beauty interviews with female celebrities can be quite sexist and reductive. How do you think we can further the conversation around beauty and feminism?
First of all, I want to acknowledge that this is a great question! There has been such an elevation about the way we talk about women and beauty, but we can always go further. For so many years, as young women growing up, we were just presented with one beauty standard. Now it’s so empowering for women to see themselves represented in beauty campaigns, Instagram and influencers who have all kinds of backgrounds. There’s a lot of body positivity messaging, too. I am particularly love Jameela Jamil who is addressing the way we talk to women in advertising and the importance of really seeing beauty as a universal thing, that is accessible to many with broader messaging.

Have you seen ‘representation’ change a lot through your career?
Absolutely! When I was growing up there were only a certain number of ways you could look. Women were pushing themselves to fit in with impossible beauty standards that wasn’t reflective of how women look or feel about themselves. I think as more women have become owners of their own beauty brands or in charge of legacy beauty brands, we are seeing a greater understanding of the fact women really want more inclusive messaging in beauty.

It’s so important to show all genders that everyone is included…
It’s not just about inclusion, too, it is about making sure beauty is more representative of how the world actually works. I love that! I find that so empowering and I am so glad my daughter is growing up in a generation where she sees women being accepted for who they are.

The concept of anti-ageing is an outdated notion too – how do you think we can bust the idea of beauty and age being a taboo?
I think it’s about people feeling confident. I love watching myself age on film. I think it’s so empowering to come in from a different place of knowledge, understanding and with that comes winkles. It’s important to take care of your skin, as it is the largest organ in our body and invest in that. It makes you feel good too! Self-care is really important, it’s a big part of my life and something I carve out time for. It also comes with understanding who you are and finding the best version of who you are.

Have you been on self-care journey?
Absolutely! Being a Mom with three kids, working and running companies it gets away from you. I think it’s so important to invest in your beauty regime and make that little piece of your day to take care of yourself because you have to take care of yourself first.

What is your beauty guilty pleasure?
First of all, I love a good skin care regime! I love hearing about people’s skin care routines, I like asking people about their routines all the time! I personally love the entire range of Elizabeth Arden skin care products, especially the hydrating products as I have really dry skin. There’s something new which I have added recently, which is the Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serumat night. I have noticed a huge change in the tone and texture of my skin by using it consistently. I really like their sunscreen products too as they are fantastic – they go on smoothly, they don’t turn white or sticky! They are a natural complement to a beauty look as they make putting your makeup on over it really easy.

Is there a beauty trend you would never try?
I would never try fasting. I don’t think it’s good for your body to not eat food for a period of time. That’s too extreme – it’s one thing I am not interested in at all! I just try to stay consistently healthy the whole time and try not to eat too much cake. That’s my biggest struggle – any cake – I am not discriminative of any cakes! Not every day though, people.

What’s the best beauty advice you have ever been given?

When I first started working with professional makeup artists, they told me to ALWAYS take my makeup off at night. That was a game change – I clean my skin twice a day now and I apply a lot of moisture. It’s now just a matter of routine for me.

What is your ultimate beauty hack?
My makeup artist, Molly Stern always says to me, ‘right before you walk on the red carpet pat your cheeks with your hands as it brings blood flow to your face.’ Even if you have a big beauty look, pat it as it brings a glow to your face – I swear it works every time.

Reese Witherspoon is the Storyteller-in-chief for Elizbeth Arden. All products are available at ElizabethArden.co.uk now

(Glamour.co.uk)