Jennifer Garner has committed to a “50 before 50” series on her Instagram Stories this April, sharing daily posts in the lead-up to her 50th birthday. “Do I wish I could go back and, do the last 20 years with everything I know now, of course, but also not really,” she now tells Shape of her outlook on the milestone. “Because where I am now is great, and I want to simply enjoy it and not waste any time that I have on this planet wishing for something else.”

Behind the scenes, turning 50 has also made Garner generally “more mindful” about skin care, but she hasn’t felt inclined to give her routine a complete overhaul. Instead, she’s sticking to a formula that’s been working for her: sunblock, hyaluronate acid, vitamin A, and consistency, she says.

More specifically, in the morning she’s reaching for Neutrogena Hydro Boost Moisturizer after washing her face in the shower. A long-standing ambassador for the brand, Garner appreciates the convenience of applying a product that’s a hyaluronate acid moisturizer and SPF 50 sunblock in one, she says.

During her evening skin-care routine, Garner incorporates Neutrogena products containing vitamin A, a vitamin A derivative that stimulates collagen production and speeds up cell turnover. “I love the Retinol Pro Power Serum,” she says. “This tough guy is no joke. I’ll start with serum and sometimes while I have the serum on, that’s when I’ll floss and brush to give it a minute to absorb.”

Then, she’ll apply Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro Eye Cream followed by Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Moisturizer.

I’ll disclose something, I was a tad anxious to experiment with this fresh Retinol Pro Eye Cream, since I had never utilized retinol in proximity to my eyes,” she confesses. “However, it’s exceedingly mild. I experience no complications and I wear contact lenses and I’m always remarkably, remarkably cautious…And it does aid in addressing minor wrinkles and blemishes around [the eyes].

The actress alternates between using the retinol products and Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Serum and Moisturizer every alternate night, to avoid irritation. “I’m not an every-night-retinol person,” she says. “It’s too potent for me and I’ll become bright red, but I adore the effects of it.”

While Garner has evidently put some consideration into her skin-care routine, she also believes her workout regimen plays a crucial role in her skin’s well-being. She favors workouts with trainer Beth Nicely that incorporate dance, plyometrics, and strength training. “I do believe that being consistent with workouts is a significant part of having healthy skin,” says Garner. “You’ve got to keep your blood flowing.” She notices a change in her skin immediately after her sweat sessions. “Man, there’s no time that I feel more like myself, more like I look pretty…The time I’m going to feel absolutely my best is right after a rigorous workout and a shower because my skin has a lot of liveliness,” she says.

Another factor that Garner believes has had a positive effect on her skin: reducing alcohol consumption. “After the pandemic when [my friends and I] were all stuck at home, we all realized that we look better if we are not drinking,” she says. “And that was really like, ‘Uh, oh no, I wish that weren’t true.’ But the more we talked about it amongst ourselves, the more we talked to each other, the more we were like, ‘Oh no, it’s really true.’ So, all of my girlfriends, we’ve all cut way back on drinking and that’s a significant thing.”

Garner appears to take skin-care just as seriously as commemorating milestones in her life. Her current strategy includes applying a lineup of inexpensive products, moderating how much she drinks, and completing workouts that enhance her circulation.

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