Gwyneth Paltrow is everywhere this week because she’s hustling her collaboration with Juice Beauty, just FYI. She gave a major interview to Forbes, and she gave a major interview to Yahoo Beauty, which is what we’re discussing now. I’m actually a little bit surprised Gwyneth didn’t show up at the Golden Globes, although to give her credit, she’s not like Kate Hudson and J.Lo. Goop does not show up to the opening of an envelope. Gwyneth is ELITE, so my guess is that she’s holding out to be a presenter this year at the Oscars. Maybe not even that! Anyway, Goop’s beauty hustle. It’s pretty annoying, but maybe that’s because I’m the kind of person who glazes over when women breathlessly discuss one shade of lipstick for four paragraphs (which is literally what happens in this interview). The whole piece is exhaustive and boring, but there are a handful of interesting quotes. Highlights:
Whether her kids are into her “healthy lifestyle”: “We are a pretty balanced house. I mean, kids eat sugar. That’s how it goes. So we have organic snacks and we have Oreos, too, so…”
The truth about her diet: “I think there’s a lot of misinformation about what I actually eat. I really don’t have any rules. I really believe in delicious food and enjoying life and not saying no to anything. But at the same time, you know, I think it’s important to understand what good nutrition does and make sure you maintain a balance. For me the big things are really processed food and foods that have tons of chemicals and pesticides. I try to stay away from that, but I love French fries and cheese and martinis and all that kind of thing.The truth about her workouts: “My approach to fitness is pretty much what it’s been for 10 years. I do Tracy Anderson five days a week. I’m a complete Tracy Anderson fanatic. And I honestly owe her a huge debt of gratitude because she’s the reason that I feel I can eat so much food and still fit into my clothes. (Laughs) It’s true.”
She didn’t start taking care of her skin until she was 38? “My approach to beauty has changed since my 20s in that now I (laughing) am paying attention. I was such a tomboy for such a long time with skincare, makeup, facials. I just didn’t really bother. You know, no sunscreen. I was just kinda, like I acted like a kid until I was probably 38 years old and then I looked in the mirror like, OK, it’s time to deal with some of this stuff. So now I get facials when I can, I try to look after my skin, you know, wash my face every night—that was a big step for me. And I wear more makeup now. I think when you’re not 25 a little mascara goes a long way.
Her favorite style from the ‘90s: “At the time I really loved that kind of matte skin and dark lip. At the time it looked great, I don’t know about now, but that’s a very, like, romantic time in my mind, you know, and all the black stretchy clothes.”
I was in my late 20s when I got to the point of “okay, let’s really deal with skincare in a more serious way.” Do you believe that Gwyneth waited until she was 38 to really wash her face every night and put on night cream and get facials? I don’t believe it. I’m not saying she was any kind of fanatic about skincare or products, but I just don’t believe that it occurred to her in her late 30s that she should suddenly start taking care of her skin.
As for Gwyneth telling the truth about what she eats… yeah, that’s the truth this week. Wait until she has to shill her new cookbook, then suddenly we’ll learn that she’s been off gluten, dairy, coffee, sugar, meat and Oreos.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.
#SoRelateable, with our gluten-free dairy-free fun-free grass fed Oreos
Lol
I’ll never by her cookbooks or beauty products. That’s not the look I covet. What is with her straw hair and shiny skin?
Exactly, why would one wish to emulate this obtuse woman? Such an insufferable bore
“I think there’s a lot of misinformation about what I actually eat.”
Yeah, because you change your story with every cookbook. She is so full of it.
😀
Isn’t the same woman who confessed that she is suffering from brittle bone disease caused by her strict diet and extreme exercise?Now she is talking about balanced diet and enjoying life. Mmm ok.
Bull’s eye!
Seriously, the misinformation comes directly from her mouth. I wish she was a discerning on what comes out of her mouth as she supposedly is in what goes in her mouth. I would appreciate a BS-free diet of Goop speak.
No, she doesn’t. Her last cookbook was based on elimination diets, and she was very clear in her interviews and in the book that it’s not a style of eating she follows all the time nor is it a style of eating ANYONE should follow all the time unless they are the rare person that actually reacts poorly to all the foods eliminated. It’s a diet that serves a specific purpose.
Her first book was a mix of mostly healthy foods, some less healthy foods made with healthier ingredients, and a handful of unhealthy comfort foods. Which is how she always says she eats in real life when not on an elimination diet.
Yes, I get the impression just reading about her here that she’s dealing with chronic problems and trying to deal with them by adjusting the one thing she can control – what she eats and drinks. She tries different things in the process. Other people do that, too, we just don’t hear about them because they’re not famous. People who don’t have chronic pain and discomfort don’t realize how experimental some others need to be. Modern medicine is fine with some things, but not very successful dealing with many chronic issues. Worse, our medical education system tends to train practitioners to assume that anything they can’t treat (especially with a drug) must be imaginary, especially in women. They still tend to pay more attention to men’s complaints.
Misinformation? Sure, from HER, because she spouts a different bunch of nonsense every time she’s trying to sell something else. No one cares what she is eating! She can feel free to stop talking about it at any time.
I can believe it. I’m 40 and I still don’t have a routine to take care of my skin/face. I never wash my face at night. And since I’ve turned 40 I’ve really started to notice changes. Now I’m telling myself that I should probably come up with a routine. I’ve been blessed with good genes in the fact that I’ve always looked younger than I am (which I hated for a long time) but I think time is finally catching up with me.
My mom was sort of feminist in the way she raised me and my sisters. She herself doesn’t wear much makeup, and she discouraged us from thinking we needed it, too. While I love her for sending that message, one I still heed to this day, the one thing she didn’t do was talk to us about taking care of our skin! I’m 43 and in the past five years I’ve educated myself and now I am religious about moisturizing etc. So, I would take the time to learn more about your skin and what it needs. I’m not looking for the fountain of youth here, but I do think it’s important to take care of your skin. You’ll notice a difference!
I don’t wash my face at night either, unless I’ve worn a lot of makeup.
I honestly don’t trust the beauty business, and I’m not sure it’s good to wash your face twice a day (mine gets washed in my morning shower), or mess around with your skin much outside of applying sunscreen or moisturizer if you need it. A lot of people with oily skin don’t need it.
My friend’s mom was a dermatologist and she’s all “don’t buy all of the skin crap, it’s a racket! Don’t smoke and stay out of the sun!” Good enough for me! (Besides, with all of this research coming out about the microbiome, we probably wash ourselves too much anyway.)
A lot of it is good genes. Look at ladies from previous generations. The didn’t have all of the product, but still had nice skin!
My mom has gone to two different dermatologists recently because she started to get red bumps around her eyes and she wasn’t sure what it was from. Both of them independently from each other told her that the best moisturizer for your face was Vaseline… I was so shocked because you would think out of all the stuff out there that Vaseline would clog your pores the most! But good old Vaseline petroleum jelly (not even the lotion) is what they recommend. I’ve started using it and I’ve had no breakouts .
Vaseline doesn’t moisturize, just locks in the moisture you already have. For most people, that’s not enough if they’re after noticeably plump and soft skin.
I am totally the same, for the longest time i actually wanted wrinkles so i would look older. it was really bad in work setting where i was once mistaken for the work experience student, rather than a consultant! Anyway, i am almost 38 now and i have wrinkles and i wish i had enjoyed looking young at the time. Though I still occasionally still get IDed, so maybe it’s not as bad as imagine …
But she did have rules for one of her cookbooks, right? I have the first one and I’m a fan, but I deliberately avoided the second one because it explicitly excluded a bunch of food groups. #RevisionistHistory #RetConning
The hell with Goop, the Duggars, Kartrashians, etc. The great Alan Rickman has died of cancer at 69.
Exactly.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!
i believe her w/ the skincare. she looks like she hasn’t worn sunscreen a day in her life.
I was going to write the same. Do I belive that fries and Oreos enter her house? Yes, I do. Do I believe she gorges on them? No, I don’t.
If I loved cheese less and sports routine more…
I was coming to the comments to say the same thing — this is the one thing she’s said that I actually believe, and that’s based on how her skin looks.
“We have organic snacks, and we have had Oreos:…. two.”
Fixed this for you.
The thing is, when you don’t wear sunscreen for over 30 years and generally can’t be bothered with skin care until then, it’s pretty much too late to prevent damage. It’s been done. And a long time ago. It’s never too late to start but some things can’t be reversed. You can slow it down a bit but she should probably go see a dermatologist for a prescription if she’s suddenly serious about it. OR she’s full of it. I just never know with her. But looking at her skin, I kinda believe her.
I’m shocked that she even knows what Oreos are.
I’m sure her kids know what Oreos are! They’re old enough that she can’t totally control what they eat, anyway. Might as well just focus on providing a variety of good food at home and give in on the stuff they want to put in their lunchbox… I don’t blame parents trying to keep control over the food as long as possible, the cultural pressures are so high once they get into school and you’ll never regret feeding your kids the best food and the least pesticide residues when they’re young. She can afford the best, so why not?
Oreos (like my other friend, Fritos corn chips) are pretty simple, though. Accidentally vegan, except possibly for the sugar for the Orthodox if bone char is used in processing (probably not, they are usually listed as vegan-friendly by those who check). The thin ones they have now (originally made by Chinese food engineers for the Chinese market, which goes for lighter snacks) actually taste better though overpriced. The flavor of the creme doesn’t get lost in the thick cookie part. Of course, the cookie part fans may disagree.
I’m 45 and just now realizing I should start doing something about my skin!
I think she looks nice here. A little volume in her hair does so much for her!
I can’t shade her for anything she’s saying here, it all sounds pretty reasonable. And, yes, relatable. I do know she’s changed her story many times but maybe like most of us she’s just figuring it out and making it up as she goes along. *runs and hides*
+1 Her attitude about limiting junk food and sugar always seemed reasonable to me.
I think it’s fine if you are just a mom and figuring it out… Maybe you think what she’s saying, but you actually have enough sense to keep it to yourself and not tout every diet or cleanse you go on or not to yank cookies out of other people’s mouths (which GOOP did to Tracy Anderson). For many people, very processed food saves their butt after working at Duane Reade or CVS for 10+ hours (or heck, even an ibanker who has been up all night), but Gwynnie truly neglects to think outside of her sphere… that is what is annoying.
“Gwynnie truly neglects to think outside of her sphere”
I hear you on that but you could say that for the majority of Hollywood. And some of the people in my own neighborhood, for that matter. Which is still why I guess she doesn’t bug me as much as she irks some people.
I kinda miss 90s goth chic too. Damn it Gwen, we just connected.
I’ll be 40 this year and don’t do much for my skin except moisturizer – I’ve always had great skin. But I’m not in the movie industry where what I look like is how I make my money. So nope, I don’t believe her.
I can believe she’s never used sunscreen.
I don’t know if I believe her assertion about being a tomboy. I’ve never thought of her as being one, even if she uses less make-up (which I assumed was some kind of minimalist Calvin Klein technique). Her recommendations to people and the way she presents herself as always struck me as on the traditional feminine side. Would a tomboy be interested in steam-cleaning body parts or wearing a see-through shirt while standing next to their father? I don’t know….
Although her skin is *terrible*, I have trouble believing she didn’t bother with skin care until she was 38. I think what she’s actually saying is that she never really HAD to follow a skin care routine and that’s why she never bothered. She’s been in the entertainment biz for over 20 years, and there’s no way she went to work on movie sets everyday without the make-up people cleansing her skin thoroughly, offering her advice on how to do it herself, and giving her regular facials. She was probably too lazy to take care of her skin herself, but she was definitely having her skin taken care of for her.
I think she’s just using the “I never bothered” line now because she knows that people call her out for her crappy skin and hair, and she has a new product to sell, so she needs to rewrite her own history, so to speak, and pretend that she was late jumping on the skin care bandwagon.
Eh, I think she looks pretty in these photos. Is her skin really ‘crappy’? Her hair’s a bit dry, but so’s mine, and mine is completely non-coloured/bleached/permed.
Her face is lasered, botoxed, and plumped to the brink. The only thing she’s honest about is that she exercises. I’ll give her that. At least she doesn’t claim she’s fit from just “chasing her kids around”.
She’s so full of it, she is always changing her story about food to what she thinks people want to hear. One of the last people on earth I’d take health beauty advice from, and I doubt that it’s healthy for kids to be put on these extreme diets all the time. I’m sure she’s good intentioned but.. just no.
I’m actually just sick of her going on and on for years about Tracy Anderson this & sugar & organic that, is this all she ever thinks about ffs?
I believe she does indulge a lot and then goes on cleanses. I’ve had a look at her cleanse recipes and some have them have a lot of miso and other weird stuff. Miso’s healthy in mod, but on a cleanse? No. I just have a lot of organic salads and fruits, some smoothies, and no juices (what’s the point of getting rid of that fibre?), and definitely no $500 a month “cleanse” kits. Her thing is that she has to have a rotating routine of rules so she can seem knowledgeable and push out new stuff.
Overall I think she’s pretty healthy but she still eats a lot of dense stuff – that’s why she has to exercise like crazy. In general, you shouldn’t have to work out that much to stay in shape, fit, and healthy if you’re eating the right stuff (60 – 70% high water content foods; the rest denser stuff). Even as your metab slows down, you shouldn’t have to work out that much if you don’t want to.
Great points. I agree that for the average person, working out five times a week for 90 minutes at a time is unnecessary. For a celeb who makes her business by looking a certain way, though, I think it’s par for the course — especially for someone who follows the Tracy Anderson method, which focuses primarily on cardio (dancing), and only uses small weights in the strength routines. I don’t even think she uses a lot of body weight exercises, like push-ups and planks. As women get older, cardio is good — but lifting heavier weights is better, because that’s what revs up your metabolism and helps you keep weight off in the longer term. If Gwyneth’s stick-thin arms are any indication, she isn’t doing much strength training; so she needs all of that vigorous cardio to keep herself slim. (Although I don’t really think she eats as much as she’d like everyone to believe.)
we will all look like our moms. She looks like her mom. Blythe is beautiful. All moms are beautiful. Moisturize.
I saw GP on ‘Who do you think you are?’ and she was was waaaaaaay worse than I even imagined. She came across as cold and uncaring and seemed mortified when she discovered one if her ancestors was a lowly seamstress. She was just insufferable.
And I still don’t get why she’s yet to find a decent colorist. Her hair looks like straw and dry as a bone. With all that cash, couldn’t she afford a decent dye job and conditioning treatment?
She is a royal pain in the bum. As is her mum who totally enables her insufferable snobbish sense of entitlement.