22-05-2025
Jennifer Garner Reveals Her Surprisingly Simple Tip for Looking Ageless
Jennifer Garner / Getty Images
She may do her own stunts, but for Jennifer Garner, safety is always key. And this mantra is equally as important when it comes to suncare, a topic the 53-year-old actress is passionate about.
'Melanoma is no joke,' Garner says, 'but it's the most preventable kind of cancer.' To reduce one's chances, wearing sun protection is paramount. But, unfortunately, 'many people still don't take this seriously,' she reports. The is likely due to the fact that 'we have an old idea of what sunscreen feels like and looks like.'
Thankfully, huge strides have been made with new suncare formulas — they actually infuse skin with hydation and even appear invisible. Such is the case with one of Garner's current favorites: Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Mineral Face Liquid SPF 70. In fact, Neutrogena (the brand Garner's been a spokesmodel of for the past 17 years) has made it more pleasant than ever to be protected, which may lead to greater overall compliance with use. 'If we can just shift ourselves to put [protection] on every day, we can shift the whole narrative and actually shift the future,' and cut the number of peopleat risk of developing melanoma. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 70, $20. SHOP NOW
Reducing cancer risk is vital, but protecting your skin with SPF has beautifying benefits, too. 'If you want to look good in your 50s, wear sunscreen in your 20s,' Garner says. She believes sun safety is 'a marathon,' and a lifelong practice. Indeed, by shielding UVA and UVB, skin integrity is strengthened, staving off fine lines, uneven texture, and hyperpigmentation like freckles and melasma.
To take control of your health and aging, make sun protection part of your daily routine. Follow some of Jen Garner's strategies: Go Big.
When it comes to SPF numbers, the higher, the better. 'It used to be that if you were wearing 15, you were being extreme,' she says. But after listening to the scientists at Neutrogena over the years, she's learned that 'the higher the number, the more the rays are just uniformly bounced off your skin, and the less they can penetrate. Today, Garner wears SPF 70. Make it a Habit.
No matter how high an SPF one wears, if it's not part of a consistent routine, it won't go the distance. 'For me, it needs to be like brushing my teeth. It's not something I'm going to negotiate with myself. I'm just washing my face, brushing my teeth, getting out of the shower, and I'm putting on my sunscreen,' she says. Do Double Duty.
'I get to work with sunscreen on, and my makeup artist is likely going to add another layer before makeup.' Gone are the days of gloppy formula that pilled under makeup. 'It really used to be that makeup artists felt like using sunscreen under makeup was just, like, well, say goodbye to your makeup,' she says. Now, it's the opposite. 'Ultra Sheer really works like primer.' Keep it Simple.
And it's not just affordable suncare that Garner swears by. 'I really am a Neutrogena girlie through and through,' she admits. A longtime fan of the brand's see-through beauty bar as well as the shampoo and conditioner (as a kid, she got them in her Christmas stocking), she's also a fan of drugstore mascara. 'A Maybelline mascara never hurt a gal!' she exclaims.
This is a far cry from the extravagant beauty purchases that have become de rigueur, especially for Gen Alpha. But Garner and her family haven't been swayed. 'I have three teenagers, and I don't have Sephora teens. They're not layering things at night. They aren't on TikTok. They just need sunscreen.'
