Originally featured in an interview with Byrdie.
All skin is good skin, and as actress and producer Salma Hayek reminds us, skincare is a lifelong relationship—not a quick fix. The 58-year-old star, who’s become known for her radiant, age-embracing beauty, recently opened up to Byrdie about the rituals, memories, and innovations that have shaped her skincare philosophy.
From kitchen-made creams with her grandmother to cutting-edge treatments like Ultherapy, Salma’s approach is all about intuition, heritage, and respect for the natural aging process.
Her First Beauty Lessons: Taught by Grandma
Salma’s skincare journey began in her childhood kitchen.
“I had a grandmother who was an expert and made her creams. She was way ahead of her time, and she was brilliant,” she shared. “I remember, over 50 years ago, she used to make a cream, and we would go to the drugstore to buy vitamin A.”
Even then, her grandmother was crafting her own retinol-like formulas using ingredients like aloe vera, glycerin, and vitamin E. Leftover papaya at breakfast? Onto the face it went—with a little honey and yogurt too.
Her Skin Today: Intuitive and Ever-Changing
“My skin has always been moody, and it has taught me to listen to it,” Salma says.
Rather than following a strict routine, she adjusts her products depending on her skin’s needs. Her go-tos include The Beauty Sandwich SS01 Secret Sauce, Joanna Vargas serum, and La Mer. But she emphasizes balance:
“I don’t do the heavy night cream every night because your skin gets spoiled and used to it… I go with the flow.”
Morning Routine: Simplicity is Key
Forget foaming cleansers and a 10-step regime.
“In the morning, I only use rose water,” she says, a trick passed down from her grandmother. “If you clean your skin well at night, it doesn’t get dirty while you’re sleeping.”
Her Changing Face—and How She Embraces It
Rather than fearing signs of aging, Salma sees them as a reflection of wisdom and authenticity.
“I think I was more desperate when I was younger, and I’m less desperate now that my face is starting to fall apart,” she admits candidly.
“I want my kids not to feel that I am trying to become their age… I want them to see the expression on my face when I’m proud of them or when I’m angry at them.”
Partnering With Ultherapy: A Manifested Moment
At 58, Salma says she began to notice a shift in her neck—and it worried her.
“I started to panic that the only solution was the knife… and I’m terrified of it.”
Just then, an opportunity arose: a call from Merz Aesthetics to try Ultherapy Prime, a non-invasive skin-lifting treatment.
“I think I manifested it,” she says. “It was the universe’s way to stop me from going under the knife.”
What She Loved About Ultherapy
“They were actually looking at my collagen… allowing them to focus the application where it was needed. I found that fascinating.”
With no surgery, no downtime, and real-time imaging to guide the process, Ultherapy felt aligned with Salma’s skincare values.
Aging on Her Terms
“I don’t think there should be any stigma about aging,” Salma says firmly. “A woman has the right to try whatever she wants to feel better.”
Though she’s always had a conservative approach to cosmetic interventions, she believes in being thoughtful, not rigid.
“I wish my grandmother were here,” she reflects.
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Note: This article references and is adapted from an original interview published by Byrdie
