One would think the details of Martha Stewart’s skincare routine would be classified information. The mogul, who turns 83 today, has always awed fans with just how smooth, glowing, and—most importantly—healthy her skin is as she ages. While nothing is perfect, you could argue that Stewart’s skin may be the closest thing to it. And something that good can’t solely be attained through a simple skincare routine and a few aesthetic treatments, right?
But alas, Stewart’s approach to her skin isn’t the result of some magic potion or a deal with the Illuminati. What she does is pretty straightforward, and there even some aspects of her regimen (such as sticking to a well-regimented routine and being very pro-team sunscreen) are things us mere humans can easily integrate into our lives as well.
She works with two New York City-based dermatologists for all her skin needs. Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Hudson Dermatology and Laser Surgery, is who she turns to curate her daily skincare regimen and more regular upkeep. Daniel Belkin, MD, board-certified dermatologist at New York Dermatology Group, is who she turns to for her cosmetic work. Below, both speak with Vogue about what it takes to look like Martha Stewart. Read on to learn more—because we know you want to.
Her Skincare Regimen
Stewart’s daily routine is surprisingly quite simple. It consists of a daily morning sheet mask (some of which are custom-made and formulated specifically for her by Bhanusali), Cle de Peau’s Intensive Eye Contour Cream, the Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36 that she mixes with a moisturizer on her face, neck, decolleté, and body, and a Mario Badescu Facial Spray throughout the day to calm the skin. But what really sets Stewart’s regimen apart is a bespoke serum.
Bhanusali uses VISIA-CR Skin Analysis imaging to measure things such as photodamage and wrinkle progression before deciding which ingredients to mix together. “She has to know what every ingredient does, how it works; she loves seeing studies of skincare products [and] we actually talk about studies quite a bit,” he says. “We look at a host of ingredients—most of which are hydrating and nourishing—and continue to work with her to find the right balances.”
Stewart is not a fan of exfoliants, so chances are low that you’ll find an alpha- or beta-hydroxy acid in any of these formulations. She and Bhanusali often text about skincare ingredients she’s curious about. Saffron, for example, is something she grows on her farm, and has asked Bhanusali if it’s something that she should be incorporating. Because sun protection is Stewart’s main concern, it’s an antioxidant complex that neutralizes free radicals from the harmful UV rays that is key to this custom serum. “She has more sun exposure than probably 99.9% of people out there because she’s out farming every day,” he says. “She’s literally on the farm almost daily when she’s not at an event or in her busy schedule.”