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Elle Macpherson's Top Secret Beauty Tricks

Yes, Elle Macpherson does work at looking this good, but her method is so easy, it'll be working for you in no time.
Elle Macpherson
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REDBOOK: The first question on all our minds is: How do you stay in such great shape?

ELLE MACPHERSON: I love being outdoors and doing sports like swimming, biking, and hiking. As I've gotten older, I've increased my joy factor. Even if I'm in New York City or London, I'll choose to walk rather than exercise in a gym.

RB: You must be really diligent about sun protection, then.

EM: Oh, yes. I wear broad-spectrum SPF daily. La Roche-Posay makes good sunscreens, and I also like Invisible Zinc, which is a physical sunscreen. And I wear a cowboy hat whenever I'm at the beach.

RB: What else do you use for skin care?

EM: I exfoliate my face every day and my body twice a day—I shower in the morning and the evening. I use a body brush, which boosts circulation, and I always moisturize afterward. If I'm at the beach, I'll just blend some moisturizer with sand and rub the mix all over my body, then rinse o in the ocean.

RB: You inspire major hair envy. What's your routine?

EM: I shampoo and condition every two to three days, and I usually air-dry my hair because I'm not very skilled with a blow-dryer! When I go swimming, I'll slather on a hair mask, then put on a swim cap. And in the summer, I often walk around with wet-looking hair that has a treatment in it—I think that keeps it healthy. I also like a good beach spray to create some texture; Unite makes a nice one.

RB: You've mastered the art of natural makeup. What's your everyday look?

EM: I'm not very precise, so I'll add a bit of black eyeliner and smudge it with my finger and a Q-tip, then I put on lip liner and gloss. I use RMS Un Cover-Up concealer, which is creamy, to hide my sun spots and dark circles, but I use powder sparingly, mainly just around my eyes. My skin is more yellow, so bronze and peachy makeup colors work best. I ll in my brows with a very pale blonde eyebrow pencil from either Bobbi Brown or Laura Mercier, and I love super-dark nail polish.

RB: What's the coolest beauty trick you've learned?

EM: A makeup artist taught me to emphasize my cheekbones. If you can draw attention to them, it gives you a wide-eyed, youthful look without having to put on a lot of makeup.

RB: How did it feel turning 50 last year?

EM: I feel very secure within myself—strong, happy, and motivated. Hopefully I've gained some wisdom over the years. And I have a sense of humor about my mistakes. I've accepted that I don't always get it right, but it's not the end of the world! —As told to Kate Sullivan

Elle's must-haves: Burberry Fresh Glow Blush in Orange Poppy No. 21, $38; Guerlain Vétiver eau de toilette, $72 for 50 ml, "which I've been wearing for 30 years!"; Essie nail polish in After School Boy Blazer, $8.50; Unite Beach Day Texturizing Spray, $29.95; RMS Beauty Un Cover-Up, $36; The Super Elixir, $135 for 10.5 oz, "is a daily nutritional supplement powder I helped create. It's a blend of supergreens, herbs, and digestive enzymes that help nourish your cells to give you stronger skin, hair, and nails."

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