At this point Gwyneth Paltrow needs no introduction. Shes an accomplished actor, ’90s fashion icon, and CEO of the wellness and beauty empire Goop, which people either love or loathe. From beesting therapy to jade yoni eggs, Paltrow has brought some of the most outrageous beauty and health trends to the mainstream. But her latest beauty venture as the face of Xeomin— a “uniquely purified” antiwrinkle injection targeting frown lines—is fairly traditional.
Paltrow has always been an open book when it comes to treatments, so the fact she freely discusses injectables is totally on brand for her. It’s also a step forward for opening up the dialogue about procedures like injectables, which have been stigmatized for a long time. “I think that taboo changes when people talk about them [injectables] and are honest about it,” Paltrow tells Glamour. “You know me, I always like to share my good tips.”
The rest of her tips, as it turns out, are fairly accessible, which she revealed for our Big Beauty Questions. Read on for Paltrow’s favorite drugstore conditioner, how she’s practicing self-care right now, and her thoughts on aging in Hollywood.
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Glamour: For a long time it was considered taboo to get injectables, let alone be a spokesperson for them. What made you decide to be the face of Xeomin?
Gwyneth Paltrow: Well first of all, it’s a uniquely pure product, so it’s better for the body. I had tried a different antiwrinkle injection when I was 40 and had a really scary result, so I was like, I’m not going to [try that again]. But my friend who’s a plastic surgeon talked me into just having a tiny drop of Xeomin here [touches the spot between her eyes]. He was like, “This is a purified formula, and it’s going to be a very natural result.”
It’s a very understated way to just do something that really has a nice impact in terms of making you look refreshed. And I think with really taking care of your body, and eating great nutritionally, and taking care of your skin topically, and with the right supplements, it’s a really great combination.
Do you feel like that taboo around injectables has changed at all?
It has. I mean look, I think that taboo changes when people talk about them and are honest about it. I think there’s a lot of celebrities in our culture who clearly use injectables, and I think it’s nice for women to understand, Oh, if you’re past 45 and you have no wrinkles of any kind, you might be getting a little bit of help here and there. And I think it’s nice; I think it’s a more candid and a more transparent approach to beauty.
What is your philosophy when it comes to injectables and aging?
I think really it’s whatever’s right for every person. I would never want to be prescriptive about what I think people should do. Some women really don’t want to do them and some women love them. I think that’s part of the thing as well, not creating a space of judgment around what other women’s choices are, in anything in life.
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You mentioned you get Xeomin for your frown lines. Is there anything you would never do procedure-wise?
I’ve learned in my life to never say never. You never know! I could say I would never do XYZ, but I might feel differently about that in 10 years.
Is there anything you’ve tried that you regret doing?
You know, no, because I’ve never done anything permanent, thank goodness. Whether it’s like the bad antiwrinkle injectables that I got, or the too-thin eyebrows that I plucked, you know what I mean? Nothing permanent.
People love you because you’re so open to more out-there or “Goop-y” treatments. What’s the craziest wellness or beauty treatment you’ve tried?
Well, I tried that vampire facial once which was really crazy. And I did a goat milk cleanse one time for eight days. Apparently it’s like an antiparasitic cleanse. I’ve got to try things out for the website, you know how it is.
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How have you been practicing self-care doing the pandemic? Has it changed your beauty routine at all?
I mean, this is probably the first time I’ve worn makeup in months and months and months. I think self-care during the pandemic was really kind of just being around my kids and my husband, cooking, and doing more masks. Because you’re home sitting around, doing masks for your hair, and just kind of back to basics—meditating, walking, that kind of thing.
What’s one beauty rule you swear by?
Honestly, hydration. If you’re drinking a lot of water and have good hydration on the inside, you’re going to look good. But if your skin is really dehydrated and your body is dehydrated, it’s not a good thing for beauty.
And one you think is B.S.?
I just think that everybody needs to follow their own true spirit. Whatever way that beauty manifests for them, I think that’s great.
You’re stranded on a deserted island, what three product do you bring with you?
GoopGenes All-in-One Nourishing Face Cream, 100%, and our GoopGenes Nourishing Repair Body Butter that we have coming out on the 27th, which is the best body butter ever. And a good conditioner. This is where I’m the least “clean beauty” person on the planet. I go on Amazon and buy anything that says, like, “grow long hair.” Or I get drugstore deep conditioner; I have one from Marc Anthony, the Grow Long, that’s my favorite.
What’s the last Instagram or TikTok rabbit hole you went down?
My daughter was showing me before and after photographs of plastic surgery. I could not stop! I never knew there were all those sites dedicated to it. It’s just like crack, you can’t stop! Everyone is like a Cinderella story or something.
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You have $20 and free roam of a drugstore, what are you going to buy?
Good conditioner, and probably Weleda Skin Food.
Are there any ’90s beauty trends you hope come back?
Never again—never! I’m still cringing when I see them from the first time.
What beauty trends are you loving right now?
You know what I love, Beautycounter just released these new lip glosses. Really beautiful, beautiful colors, they go on really well and it’s a super clean formula, I’m really into those.
Who are the women that are inspiring you the most right now?
Definitely my daughter, who is just so badass and so hilarious and so herself. She’s just a total inspiration to me. And then my friends who are daring to do things that they have always wanted to do. Like Cameron Diaz just launched a wine company, and Drew Barrymore just launched a talk show and is really leaning into her entrepreneurial spirit. I’m really loving women who are being brave and fully expressing themselves.
What’s the best beauty advice you’ve given your daughter?
Love yourself.
Bella Cacciatore is the beauty associate at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellacacciatore_.
