What Is Nicole Kidman's Secret to Radiant Skin?

Nicole Kidman has an enduringly compelling quality. On screen, she exudes an ethereal, old-Hollywood awe; on the red carpet, she is bold (remember the mohawk?); and in interviews, she is surprisingly grounded. She has a graceful, erratic, and subtly strong presence. Therefore, it feels like a rare glimpse behind the velvet curtain when she casually reveals that her skincare regimen consists of a combination of nourishing oils, disciplined SPF application, and admittedly "erratic" red light therapy.

A Childhood Averse to the Sun in a Sun-Soaked Country

Kidman's obsession with sunscreen began as a survival tactic rather than a cosmetic one. She discovered early on that her pristine skin needed protection from the harsh Australian sun, where beach culture is paramount and UV rays are infamously harsh.

As she calls in from a sweltering day in London, she states, "We are a beach culture, and for a girl with really fair skin, sun protection had to be part of my life from the very beginning." She was the kid under the beach umbrella, covered in sunscreen and sporting a satellite-dish-sized sun hat, while other kids were running barefoot in the waves.

It was a matter of necessity more than vanity. 

It continues to be the pillar of her skincare philosophy.

A Trifecta of Skincare: Oils, SPF, and That Mysterious Red Glow

Kidman's current routine is very straightforward and has a cadence that is almost traditional. She protects first. Each and every day, without exception. SPF is as necessary to her morning as coffee, thus it cannot be negotiated. She then nurtures, using luscious, natural facial oils that, in her own words, give her complexion a "nourished" feeling. Finally, she experiments with red light therapy masks, yeah, occasionally.

When she refers to her employment of red light masks as "erratic,"

 she chuckles. Knowing that even the most beloved actresses in the world do not always follow their schedules exactly is consoling. When she does reach for the glowing gadget, though, it is to try to achieve that glow that red light therapy aficionados swear by after treatment.

What She Can Teach Us About Wearing Sunscreen Like It is Your Religion

This is not a 15-step program. No fad acids or intricate layering techniques. Three essential rituals: glow, nourish, and protect.

And it is functioning. Kidman, who is currently in her 50s, has a glowing complexion that appears to have never aged. However, she is eager to acknowledge the rightful place: genetics, indeed. A little wearable sci-fi wizardry, moisturizing oils, and constant sunscreen are also recommended.

The Takeaway

Though not ostentatious, Nicole Kidman's skin secrets are well-considered. They address a woman who respects her own skin, recognizes it, and does not buy every glitzy new product that hits the market.

Kidman's strategy has a subtly subversive quality in a society that is fixated on elaborate rituals and quick fixes. Like caring for a fragile garden, it is more about care than control. SPF every day. The occasional flash of red. A splatter of oil. A pinch of humor.