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Whether it was the iconic red-string-bikini Coke ad or her equally iconic guest role as Joey’s roommate-turned-girlfriend on Friends. Elle Macpherson was stealing hearts left-right-and-centre in the 90s. Thirty years later, she’s still a total hottie! Having been scouted while on holiday in Aspen, the supermodel’s natural beauty is still iconic at 57. How does the Australian model maintain her effortless beauty? Keep reading to find out.

Elle Macpherson
ellemacpherson/Instagram

The Importance of Skincare

Macpherson started modeling when she was only 17 years old. She constantly had makeup artists prepping her skin for her, so she only developed a solid skincare routine much later in her life.

However, once she found out what worked for her and her skin, it really worked for her, leaving her skin plump and glowing even at 57.

The model uses a serum with Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate and smooth out any fine lines. Her top tip is to gently press the serum into her skin while still damp to really trap the moisture in.

Sculpt With Gua Sha

The supermodel is big on lymphatic drainage: “For me circulation is key… You got to move those toxins out of your body, or it will show on your skin,” she said in her “Beauty Secrets” video with Vogue.

She uses a Chinese massage technique called Gua Sha. It encourages blood circulation, lymphatic drainage, and relieves tension in the muscles.

Macpherson uses a Gua Sha tool along with a skin oil or serum to massage her face and neck. However, Macpherson doesn’t stop there; she uses the tool all over her body to debloat and smooth. She also uses a dry body brush to further encourage blood flow throughout her body and to gently slough off dead skin. 

SPF and vitamin D

Having grown up under the hot Aussie sun, the supermodel knows all about sun damage. She wishes she had been more careful on those long beach days:

“I was raised in the 60s and 70s when sunbathing with baby oil was all the rage. I don’t burn and peel, but I did take a lot of sun and it shows today in my skin.”

Elle Macpherson
ellemacpherson/Instagram

Nowadays, Macpherson is a sunscreen fanatic, opting for nothing less than a daily 50+ SPF paired with a large, protective cowboy hat. Sun protection is vital for the supermodel as she loves being outside, and believes that a daily dose of Vitamin D holds immense benefits.

“I believe a little sunshine is a great booster for the body in general – I sit outside for ten minutes in the morning around 7 am or 8 am and then again in the afternoon specifically for the sunshine.”

However, with all this time in the sun, Macpherson makes sure to have her skin checked for cancerous spots at least once a year. 

Fitness Tips From “The Body”

Macpherson was dubbed “The Body” due to her 5-time Sports Illustrated covers, and even at 57, it’s not hard to see why. The 6ft supermodel is still as lean and toned as ever, but it’s not just the genetic jackpot.

Macpherson exercises 5 times a week, switching between a variety of workouts, such as running, yoga, rock-climbing, snorkeling, and many other outdoorsy activities.

The supermodel has been working out for the majority of her life, so she likes to have options to keep herself from growing tired of the same ol’ workout each day.

Fitness is a lifestyle for her, so she finds ways to keep active, even on holiday! Macpherson states that she always brings her running shoes on vacation and loves to go on hikes to explore her surroundings. 

Two-a-day

Furthermore, if working out on holiday wasn’t enough dedication, the Sirens actress frequently ends her days with a second workout. Always in the form of a slow yoga or stretching session to keep her body limber and agile. 

Elle Macpherson
ellemacpherson/Instagram

Alkaline Diet

Macpherson pairs her active lifestyle with a largely vegan, alkaline diet. This style of eating focuses on discouraging the body’s production of acid.

Dairy, meat, eggs, and most processed foods are a no-no, as they are acidic foods, and encourage further acid production within the body. The supermodel explains her diet and the “why” behind it on Instagram. 

“Too much-processed food, sugar, caffeine, meat, and alcohol can leave you with an acidic gut – the cause of inflammation, weight gain, susceptibility to illness, fatigue, headaches, insomnia, and bloating. My nutritional Doctor Dr. Laubscher explains our healthy bodies were designed to function in an alkaline state.”

Feel Good To Look Good

Macpherson looks incredible at her age, but it isn’t without effort. Her lifestyle is specific and routine, but it allows her to feel (and look) her best as she ages, which wasn’t always the case:

“When I turned 50, I started to notice so many changes in my body: I was sugar-addicted, sleep-deprived, adrenally-stressed… and it showed… [so] I changed my lifestyle,”

Macpherson says in an interview with Vogue. Living in a way that makes the model feel healthy and energized has allowed her to accept her aging, which is the most important aspect of her healthy aging routine. 

“As I’ve matured, what I’ve realized is that it doesn’t really matter what I look like, the most important thing is, ‘how do I feel?’”

MAIN IMAGE CREDIT: Elle Macpherson/Instagram

Reference List:

Green, S. 2020. Elle Macpherson’s age-defying beauty secrets. [Online] Available at: https://www.vogue.fr/beauty-tips/on-trend/story/elle-macphersons-age-defying-beauty-secrets/1684 [Accessed: 2021-11-28]. 

Calderone, A. 2020. Elle Macpherson on Aging: I’ve Learned ‘It Doesn’t Really Matter What I Look Like’. [Online] Available at: https://people.com/health/elle-macpherson-talks-about-aging/ [Accessed: 2021-11-29]. 

Ruffner, Z. 2021. Elle Macpherson Shares Her Wellness Guide, From Supplements to Serums. [Online] Available at: https://www.vogue.com/article/elle-macpherson-beauty-secrets [Accessed: 2021-11-29].

Althea Van Rensburg

Althea Van Rensburg

Althea is completing her degree at university. In between she is a writer for Longevity Live. She also models and is passionate about all things fitness, from ballet to boxing, and can usually be found either on a run or at the gym. In her free time, Althea enjoys reading, baking, singing, and playing with her cats. Her most prized possessions would be her entire wardrobe, and her two pet snakes, Wynona and Woozi.

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