If we’re completely honest, seeing the headline ‘Gabrielle Union’s skin care routine in her 50s’ came as a total shock to us. Because if you’ve seen her lately, you’d believe she was in her 30s and we’re talking early 30s at that.
So it’ll come as absolutely no surprise that we become completely invested in what her skin care routine looked like. Hello, genuine age-defying happening people. So, obviously we had to take a deep dive and came across the Vogue Beauty Secrets video where she gives us a full run through, thank god!
Like we said, the stunning star is here to show us the fountain of youth exists. Maybe it’s genetics, or her 12-step skin care routine, or maybe it’s her IDGAF attitude towards ageing (if you remember her clap-back to the trolls), either way, we’ve rounded up all the products she uses below.
Gabrielle Union’s Skin Care Routine
Cleansing and toning
Gabrielle starts off by cleansing her skin with the U Beauty The Mantle Skin Conditioning Wash ($140 at David Jones) because sometimes you just miss a bit when cleansing at night. She follows it up with the most used bottle of Thayers Witch Hazel ($16.99 at Priceline) we’ve seen, which she uses as her toner.
Talking us through how she never had to deal with blemishes when she was younger, Gabrielle shared that it wasn’t until later in life when her hormones started changing that she first experienced proper breakouts. That was when she asked the same question we’ve been asking ourselves: “how do you get acne as a fully grown ass woman”?
Experimenting
That journey led to her experimenting with skin care products, and she dropped the wise wisdom of ‘what works for one person isn’t going to always work for you, so just keep trying’. Heck, Gabrielle even suggests (based off personal experience) to change up your routine based on where you’re living, because climate can play a major role in your skin’s behaviour.
Her next steps include the PCA Skin Pore Refining Treatment ($119.50 at Strawberry Net) followed by the luxurious 111Skin Black Diamond Retinol Oil ($385 at MECCA), which she opts to apply as if she was an influencer. And although we definitely don’t recommend applying retinol in the morning, it seems to be working wonders for Gabrielle.
Devices and ‘Hero’ products
Now we reach the part of her routine that incorporates her love for devices, with the actress even calling herself a “device sucker”.
Starting with the Therabody TheraFace Depuffing Wand ($119 at Harvey Norman), she sets it to the cold setting and works “from inside to outside to push that inflammation, that swelling right on out”. She made the switch to the device after coming to the frustrated conclusion that ice just didn’t stay as cold as she’d like it to. So, fair. Next up she calls in “backup” with the Shani Darden Skin Care Facial Sculpting Wand ($703.33 at Revolve), to help with the ‘depuffing’.
Her ‘hero’ product is the U Beauty Resurfacing Compound ($170 at David Jones). She claims to have ‘never gotten more compliments’ since using the U Beauty products which is probably why she also uses the U Beauty The Return Eye Concentrate ($260 at Adore Beauty) too. And of course, everyone needs a brightening serum, Gabrielle opts for the PCA Skin Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum ($230 at Adore Beauty).
TikTok made her do it
We’ve all been there before: seen a product advertised online and thought, ‘I’ve got to get that’! Well Gabrielle is the exact same. She admitted to having a “problem”, saying she “can’t stop herself”. But it has led to two great finds. The Babe Original Babe Lash Essential Lash Serum ($70 at False Eyelashes) and the NuOrganic Cosmic Lash Eyelash Serum ($300.75 at Ninth Avenue).
‘How does she incorporate two lash serums?’, you may ask. Well, she’s here to conduct scientific research, applying one serum to one eye and the other to the other eye. In the end she’s going to see which is best!
Sun Protection
In her younger years Gabrielle didn’t realise sunscreen was an essential for her, but because she’s a fan of applying harsh actives in the morning (still a no no from us), she’s very pedantic about her SPF routine, saying “you have to commit to sunscreen”. Currently she’s using the Allies of Skin The One SPF 50 Invisible Sunscreen Gel ($84.75 at Beauty Bay), that effortlessly sinks right into her skin.
Main Image Credit: @gabunion
How many steps is your skin care routine? Would you try Gabrielle Union’s 12-step routine?
Mine is pretty basic
Well I must say I have never used any of these products
These are expensive products.
Yes I agree.
The are rather.
SO TIME CONSUMING
The only thing I recognised was witch hazel!
12 steps !! Too many for me.
Yes agree 12 steps is a lot and usually all I want to do is get into bed quickly
Yes definitely. I like to keep my steps minimal
That’s a lot of steps!
I just follow 3 steps.
I agree that climate can affect what you need to change up
She looks amazing and has barely aged
That’s way too many steps for me.
She is young and really beautiful naturally
I saw an Influencer say that the Thayers Milky Toner is a dupe for the Rhode Glazing Milk.
I didn’t think I used many, but when I count my morning cleanser, toner, serum & sunscreen & then my evening makeup remover, cleanser with cleansing device, toner, different serum & rosehip oil, I’m up to 10! That’s not counting my weekly or occasional masks & jade roller.
Gabrielle is beautiful .I don’t think she needs any product
I’ve never heard of this lady. Beautiful skin.
I have no idea who she is but if she’s in her 50s WOW she looks fabulous.
I have 2-3 steps most nights. One night per week I do a treatment.
If I had the means to be able to do it then it’s a big YES!
I’m sure her appearance is an important part of her job, but I couldn’t commit that much time or money to a skincare routine.