How to get skin like Martha Stewart at 84
So is it any surprise that the veteran hostess with the mostess has aged so beautifully, her taut, glowing skin especially noteworthy?
Thankfully, she's never been a gatekeeper when it comes to sharing her tips and tricks, and now she's revealed her first ever skincare range, Elm Biosciences, available from September.
Announcing the news on Instagram, she wrote: 'After five years of working behind the scenes, hundreds of prototypes, and endless hours of research – we can't wait to finally share with you all.'
Created alongside her long-time dermatologist, Dr Dhaval Bhanusali (the same doctor who helped to develop Hailey Bieber's $1bn beauty brand, Rhode), the new launch will consist of just two products to begin with: The A3O Elemental Serum ($135), a patent-pending antioxidant serum that targets visible signs of ageing, including UV damage, pigmentation, dehydration and irritation, and the Inner Dose Daily Skin Supplement ($50), a dermatologist-formulated capsule that addresses internal triggers of ageing, including inflammation, oxidative stress and hormonal imbalance.
Celebrity and influencer-backed beauty brands are enjoying something of a vogue at the moment, with Rhode being just the most recent success story.
Yet with the founders often being women in their 20s and 30s, there's been a glaring gap in the beauty space for a skincare line specifically for elderly skin needs. In this way, it's certainly an astute move for Stewart to be launching her own niche beauty brand, which will no doubt stand out from the crowd.
'From as early as your mid 20s onwards you are losing collagen,' shares skin expert Dr Christine Hall.
'Some studies estimate as much as 1 per cent per year. Production rates decrease and what you have is broken down more quickly. By the time you reach your mid 40s it becomes noticeable, and by your 80s you will have lost a significant amount – but you will also be losing elastin and hyaluronic acid.
'Skin cell turnover, sebum production and blood flow to your skin will be reduced, and post-menopausal oestrogen levels will drop. Together, these are the main drivers in the ageing process, and by your 80s skin can be more sensitive, it may appear dry, thin and pale, and the visible signs of ageing will be apparent – think lines and wrinkles, volume loss, patches of pigmentation and loss of elasticity.'
Here, we reveal the skincare wisdom Martha Stewart has offered over the years.
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Daily face masks
Stewart has been a long term fan of the hydrating benefits of a great face mask, telling Into The Gloss in 2015 that she would apply one as soon as she woke up in the morning before her shower (her favourites included the Yon-Ka Gommage 305, the Mario Badescu Super Collagen Mask and the Mario Badescu Azulene Calming Mask).
Mario Badescu Super Collagen Mask, £20, Space NK
Mario Badescu Azulene Calming Mask, £20, mariobadescu.com
Speaking to Vogue earlier this year, Dr Bhanusali revealed that he has created custom-made special formula sheet masks for his client too.
Never forget your SPF
According to Dr Bhanusali, Stewart mixes her SPF (she is a fan of the Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36) in with her moisturiser, and applies it liberally to not only her face but also her neck, décolleté, body and even her ear lobes.
She also revealed to Into The Gloss that she is a fan of La Roche-Posay Anthelios: 'I found it one time in St. Barth's many, many years ago, and I've been using it ever since because it's French.'
Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36, $79 (£60), alastin.com
La Roche-Posay Anthelios, £16, Boots
Stewart has also always been a champion of wide-brimmed hats to protect her skin from sun damage.
'At this stage of life, routine dermatological screening is just as important as a good skincare routine,' shares Dr Mariana Noy. 'Skin cancers often present subtly in older adults, and early detection can make a critical difference.'
Modest use of tweakments
Stewart defers to her aesthetics doctor, Dr Belkin, when it comes to tweakments, relying on his expertise to know what's best. According to Vogue, this includes the use of non-ablative fractionated lasers, which stimulate skin-cell turnover and reduce signs of sun damage. She's also tried energy-based therapies, including Ulthera and SofWave, to help lift, firm and tighten the skin.
'Non-invasive treatments like radiofrequency can help stimulate collagen in older skin without the downtime or risk associated with more invasive procedures,' explains Dr Noy.
'These are ideal options for patients seeking subtle, safe improvements.'
And while she doesn't have Botox on her forehead after disliking how it makes her eyebrows look, she does have it on her jawline and neck, as she revealed during an episode of her podcast last year. According to Dr Belkin, Botox here reduces the banding on the neck and the downward pull on the face. The duo also do a little conservative filler on Stewart, mostly in the jaw and cheeks, to add plumpness where the skin typically looks hollow as we age.
Invest in bespoke skincare
As someone who spends the majority of her time outside in her garden and on her farm, sun damage is a key concern for Stewart. Dr. Bhanusali mixes a custom-made serum for Stewart, after consulting with the Visia-CR skin analysis machine to check photodamage and wrinkles. It seems likely that the new Elm Biosciences serum is a variation on this.
'Older skin is often more fragile, and tolerance to active ingredients like retinoids or exfoliants varies widely,' explains Dr Noy.
'Bespoke formulations, such as those offered by dermatology-led services and compounded specifically for the patient, are especially useful for tailoring care to individual needs.'
At the Montrose clinic in Belgravia, Dr Noy offers this bespoke service via the dermatologist-founded skincare brand Klira.
Keep everything clean
Stewart likes to apply her skincare and make-up with her fingers ('sponges soak up all the product!' she told Allure in 2021), ensuring that they are thoroughly clean beforehand. She also transports everything in a small Muji travel toiletry bag, so that all her products are as uncontaminated as possible from the elements.
She's also a firm adherent to the rule that you must remove your make-up before bed, telling Into The Gloss that she uses Johnson's Baby Oil and a warm wash cloth to do so.
Muji travel toiletry bag, £6.95, Muji
Johnson's Baby Oil, £1.50, Boots
Beautiful skin starts from within
With organic fruit and vegetables grown on her farm, Stewart has undoubtedly got a pretty faultless diet.
Her other non-negotiable? A daily green juice, which always includes ingredients such as celery, cucumber, parsley, spinach, mint, ginger, pear and orange (including the rind).
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