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As Jennifer Garner likes to put it, at 49 years old she isn’t aging—she’s “growing into her wisdom.”
“I look at my girlfriends and we really are just getting better and better,” the actress and Neutrogena brand ambassador, told me over Zoom, her demeanor every bit as warm and wonderful as you’d expect. “The older you get, the more you kind of just own what you’ve learned and who you are, and you live in your own skin.”
On the subject of skin, over the past decade, Garner says that she’s started to pay much closer attention to the way she takes care of her own. And as she smartened up about what works (and what doesn’t) on her skin, there have been two ingredients that have become non-negotiables in her daily routine: retinol and hyaluronic acid. “These are the two ingredients that can really change your skin,” she says.
Below, the actress shares how she uses these ingredients in her regimen every single night, no matter what. And the best part? She manages to do it for $50, flat.
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Face Wash for Sensitive Skin — $6.00
“The Neutrogena Daily Gentle Wash is in every single bathroom in my house, and I never miss a face wash,” says Garner. “It’s such a no-brainer, because it doesn’t dry you out.” The $5 cleanser was developed by dermatologists, and effectively whisks away makeup without stripping your skin barrier. The formula is totally safe for sensitive skin, and leaves a clean, nourished canvas on top of which Garner applies the rest of her routine.
Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Serum — $37.00
Garner calls this newly-launched product the “Mac Daddy” of retinoids. “It’s not irritating, its not going to turn you beat red, but it is going to change your skin,” says Garner, noting that it’s helped her get rid of fine lines and wrinkles with nightly use. The formula is made with 0.5 percent pure retinol, which stimulates cell turnover, plus emollients to help limit irritation.
On nights when she wants something gentler, she opts for Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Face Serum Capsules ($26), which have a lower concentration of retinol than the serum.
Regardless of which retinoid she’s using, Garner applies it to her face (taking extra care to layer it under her eyes) and decolletage.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Water Gel Daily Face Moisturizer — $18.00
The final step in Garner’s evening routine delivers her daily dose of hyaluronic acid by way of Neutrogena’s famed Hydroboost moisturizer. It draws moisture into the skin then locks it in place for a true boost of hydration, and it’s lightweight formula is made without pore-clogging ingredients and is great for use on all skin types, all year round. “I’ll put it on my face and decolletage, then turn my phone off and go to bed,” says Garner.
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