How to Do Naomi Watts’ Skincare Routine

Naomi Watts likes to keep her skin guessing. "I think that skincare is a bit like working out," the 52-year-old actress told Into The Gloss. "You have to change it up every so often. I like to shock my skin into things—I don't want my skin to get FOMO." 

Fortunately for her, she gets to try all the new products she likes as a partner in ONDA Beauty, a new, New York City-based clean beauty emporium. 

That's right—after years as a L'Oréal Paris ambassador, she has now ditched conventional products in favour of a natural beauty routine. 

According to Naomi, they're much gentler on her skin. "As I've gotten older, my skin's gotten more sensitive," she revealed to Vogue. "I've been trying all of these things that are too harsh, and I react too much. I think if natural foods feel good in your body, then why wouldn't you do the same thing topically?"

Here's what's in Naomi's rotation to keep her skin hydrated and glowing:

Naomi’s Morning Skincare Routine

1. Exfoliators:

Goop Beauty GOOPGLOW Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator: "I love the Goop Microderm Exfoliator—I use it a couple of times a week before getting into a steaming-hot shower. It gives my skin this super glowy effect. I think she did a great job—shoutout to Gwyneth. It's strong! It really does work as a zing-pick-me-up sort of thing. Fifteen minutes, it gets tingly and you can feel it doing very active things and you get very glowy."

Joanna Vargas Exfoliating Mask: "For exfoliating, I use Joanna's Exfoliating Mask or the Instant [Glow Exfoliator] from Goop."

2. Cleanser:

African Botanics Baobab Clay Oxygenating Cleanser: "On mornings I don't use the Microderm, I wash my face with a light cleanser, like the Baobab Clay Oxygenating one from African Botanics, which purifies and moisturizes at the same time. It's clay-based with baobab fruit extract, and I feel like my skin has really responded positively to it."

3. Face Mists/Toners:

Odacité Rose + Neroli Hydra-Vitalizing Treatment Mist: "When I'm out of the shower, I do my skin prep. Depending on what's on the agenda that day, I like to give myself a break from makeup, because I have to use it so much for work. Letting my skin breathe is so important.... Less is more. I always start with a face mist. Right now I’m using Odacité Rose + Neroli Hydra-Vitalizing Treatment Mist."

Tammy Fender Bulgarian Rose Water: "First, I mist with Tammy Fender's Bulgarian Rose Water to open up my skin. I love rose, and it's very calming for the skin. It also preps my skin to receive the serum and cream more effectively."

African Botanics Rose Treatment Essence: "African Botanics for the mud cleanser and the rose water, which is really lovely. It keeps your skin fresh." 

The Beauty Chef Probiotic Skin Refiner: "Sometimes I'll use this Beauty Chef Probiotic Skin Refiner as a toner instead. It kind of smells like vinegar. I either just splash it on, or you can use a cotton ball."

4. Serums:

Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum: "I love the hyaluronic acid from Dr. Barbara Sturm. I love the whole Barbara Sturm line. She's really created something wonderful for sensitive skin."

Tammy Fender Plant Milk Serum: "It's very good for sensitive skin, and it is almost like an emulsion. It has tons of botanical extracts that are naturally very soothing."

Joanna Vargas Daily Serum: "I love the Joanna Vargas Daily Serum—the smell! So good."

5. Face Oils:

Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum: "Then apply a face oil—Vintner's Daughter. I mix it with a strong moisturizer and just pat it on. It makes me feel glowy; it's my most constant product right now."

Saint Jane Luxury Beauty Serum: "Or the one from Saint Jane."

6. Moisturizers:

Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream Rich: "I often mix the oil into a moisturizer, like Barbara Sturm's Face Cream Rich. Most days, I leave it at that."

Dr. Alkaitis Organic Day Crème: "I love Dr. Alkaitis Organic Day Crème mixed with Vintner's Daughter's Botanical Serum."

7. Sunscreen:

Josh Rosebrook Nutrient Day Cream SPF 30: "Sunscreen, sunscreen, always. Josh Rosebrook's Nutrient Day Cream SPF 30 is a great all-in-one."

8. Foundations:

Beautycounter Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20: "I'm a big believer in seeing the skin. I don't like clogging the pores. I love to see life in the skin. So if I am wearing makeup, I wear whatever makeup allows me to do that. One product I can't live without is from Beautycounter, and it's called Dew Skin. I use it every time I do a movie now, and it also has an SPF in it, and you can see the life in the skin as well as get the coverage that you need. And I really feel like it's a shame when you see people with that caked look, that pasty face, as they call it. Because I just love seeing life in somebody's skin. I think there's nothing more beautiful."

Kosas Tinted Face Oil: "And Kosas does a good tinted face oil."

9. Concealer:

RMS Beauty "Un" Cover-Up: "RMS, they do a great concealer that's also all-natural."

10. Lip Balm:

Olio E Osso Balm: "[I like products] that are easy—like RMS concealer and Olio E Osso lip balms."

Naomi’s Nighttime Skincare Routine

1. Makeup Removers:

Tammy Fender Cleansing Milk: "At nighttime, you need to do a good cleanse, and if you've worn makeup you need to double cleanse.... If I'm coming home from work, I'll use some type of cleansing milk. I love the Tammy Fender one to get the makeup off."

de Mamiel Pure Calm Cleansing Dew: "Also, sometimes if you've got really heavy makeup, an oil cleanser is great. de Mamiel does a beautiful one. It removes all the makeup and impurities from the day."

Face Halo The Modern Makeup Remover: "When I clean my face, I use these fantastic things called Face Halo—they look like makeup sponges, but they're actually to remove makeup. All you need is water, but sometimes I add a bit of cleanser, especially if I've got heavy eye makeup or something. My friend actually owns the company, and she does this orange peel test—if you put foundation all over an orange peel and wipe it off with a regular cloth, the foundation stays in the pores of the orange. But if you use these microfiber things that they've invented, it wipes off every last bit of it, even in the crevices." 

2. Cleansers:

African Botanics Baobab Clay Oxygenating Cleanser: "And then I'll use a foaming cleanser to make sure every last particle of makeup is removed. I'm always a big fan of the African Botanics Baobab Clay Oxygenating Cleanser...."

Joanna Vargas Vitamin C Face Wash: "And Joanna Vargas has a beautiful one...."

VENN Moisture Balance All-In-One Face Cleanser: "As well as VENN."

OSEA Ocean Cleanser: "I also love OSEA. They have a great number of products, and it's a good price point as well. I love their Ocean Cleanser."

3. Face Mists:

Tammy Fender Bulgarian Rose Water: "After cleansing, I mist because the water opens up the pores, and then the oil really goes in much easier and it’s not just going to sit on the surface. Once the pores are opened by the mist, it's going to have a better chance of really sinking in."

Sodashi Calming Rose Face Mist: "Sodashi does a great mist."

Hannes Dóttir Mineral Mist: "Hannes Dóttir Mineral Mist is a great one."

4. Serums:

Saint Jane The C-Drops: "Then, I like to load on the serums at night to do their work while I'm sleeping. I start by using Saint Jane's vitamin C drops with CBD, that helps calm my skin...."

Beautycounter Counter+ All Bright C Serum: "I love the Beautycounter vitamin C serum—it's a really strong product."

Marie Veronique Gentle Retinol Night Serum: "And then Marie Veronique's Gentle Retinol Night Serum. It's a very active ingredient, and I use it nightly. I've found that whenever I'm using things with retinol, I'd get very dry, so I don't want anything too harsh. I love this serum because it's so unlike other retinol products I've tried, and is gentle enough to use every day. Retinol is really the thing that feels the most effective when it comes to anti-aging."

5. Face Oils:

Dr. Alkaitis Organic Ageless Facial Elixir: "Then I use a face oil. At the moment, my skin is feeling super dry due to the shift in weather, I suppose, and sometimes heating going on. And now there's many different face oils, but at the moment I love this Dr. Alkaitis one, which is super rich—it's like an elixir. If you've got sensitive skin, Dr. Alkaitis' is really great for that."

Tammy Fender Quintessential Serum: "I also like the Tammy Fender one as well, she's got an intensive oil."

Saint Jane Luxury Beauty Serum: "And I love Saint Jane...."

Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum: "And Vintner's Daughter. Those are always reliable ones to use. I get a couple of drops in my hand, and then maybe mix in a moisturizer."

6. Moisturizers:

Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream Rich: "To seal all these actives in, I use a rich night cream like Dr. Barbara Sturm's Face Cream Rich. It locks in everything and provides all the moisture I need, so I wake up with fresh, hydrated, and glowing skin."

Dr. Alkaitis Organic Night Crème: "I love their night cream."

Joanna Vargas Daily Hydrating Cream: "Joanna Vargas does a great night cream.... And I mix [the oil] in, and I just press it on. And then I might mist again."

7. Eye Cream:

Joanna Vargas Revitalizing Eye Cream: "Joanna Vargas, lovely eye cream. I love all of her products."

8. Lip Balm:

Grown Alchemist Lip Balm: "A nice lip balm, Grown Alchemist has a good one."

Naomi’s Skincare Treatments

Facials:

ONDA Beauty: "Facials are really great.... if you can get a really great facial once every few months, it can be so beneficial for your skin. I travel frequently, so that upsets the balance of my skin. I often run into hydration issues. I would make it a point to consistently get facials at ONDA for upkeep. I am a big fan of The Oxygen Facial; it just works incredibly well on my skin, hydrating it. Also, ONDA's collagen-boosting, lifting, tightening and cell-renewing facials work significantly well on my skin, too. In addition to the fact that ONDA uses all non-toxic products, we also have a variety of fairly advanced tools and modalities: a microcurrent, LED light, plasma pen, and an oxygen machine. Science meets nature."

Joanna Vargas: "I love her facials. She's a genius."

Dermatologist:

Dr. David Colbert: "Sometimes I do something a little more intense than clean beauty—he has a Triad Facial that is a three-step program with some lights and things like that. It's noninvasive, but it really helps with restoring natural collagen and gives my skin radiance. It brings my skin back to life and lasts a good couple of weeks. It's great before a red carpet or a photo shoot and there's no downtime."

Face Masks:

OSEA White Algae Mask: "Being a mom, I do love that moment at the end of the day when the kids are in bed, where I'm taking time for a ritual for me. Maybe I'll do a face mask. I love the OSEA White Algae Mask. It's a good price point."

Edible Beauty Express Bloom of Youth Infusion Mask: "I am such a bath girl. I like to give myself a good 20 minutes, because otherwise what's the point? And I'll put [on] an Edible Beauty face mask, and that feels very indulgent, and I'll listen to music or a podcast."

Joanna Vargas Bright Eye Hydrating Mask: "Joanna Vargas does some great masks, some brightening eye hydrating masks."

Gua Sha:

"[I can't live without a] Gua Sha tool that you can use with any moisturizer, oil or serum. It is so effective for boosting circulation, getting your blood flowing, and creating lymphatic drainage to help reduce inflammation as well as fine lines and wrinkles."

Naomi’s Diet, Exercise and Lifestyle

Diet:

"I try to eat healthy, but I can't bear 100% discipline at all times. I am someone who allows myself some room to have fun and enjoy the pleasures of life. That means a piece of chocolate cake when I want it or chocolate mousse—I have a thing for chocolate. I also have a thing for salt. I could eat bags and bags of potato chips and popcorn. I say 'everything in moderation,' but I don't really eat red meat. I eat fish and sometimes chicken, but I have never craved red meat. I tasted it when I was younger and I never liked it."

Water: 

"I try to drink tons of water, but I'm not that consistent with it. It's kind of irritating because when I do, so much of my life is spent running to the restroom, but my skin looks so much better."

Supplements:

The Beauty Chef Collagen Inner Beauty Boost: "As far as supplements, I've been really into products from The Beauty Chef. I love adding the Hydration or Collagen Boosts to my water."

The Beauty Chef Hydration Inner Beauty Boost: "I don't have oily skin by nature, so a capful of the Hydration and Collagen Beauty Boosts in my water every morning has really helped me."

The Beauty Chef Glow Inner Beauty Essential: "Its Glow Inner Beauty powder is also really great for the skin."

Exercise:

Prema Yoga Brooklyn: "My workout of choice is yoga with a little cardio.... I actually used to be a bit of a fanatic, but I'm just not up for it now. I'm also not one of those people who can wake up at 4 a.m. to work out. But I do like to get in some yoga because it gives me that sense of calm."

Keith Anthony Fitness: "Fitness is a big part of my life. I exercise three times a week. I love a bit of strength training. I do Zoom classes with a guy called Keith Anthony. It's all on the mat with some weights and some lunges and squats."

The Class: "I also do The Class by Taryn Toomey. It's balance, yoga, cardio and music.... I like her approach to movement because it's not just the body but the mind and spirit as well."

Sleep:

"I can tell right away if I've had a good night's sleep and if I drank the right amount of water the day before. If I don't do well on both of those things, it absolutely manifests in my skin."

Attitude:

"I just think you have to embrace the aging process. Yes, I sometimes wish I didn't have these lines around my mouth or chin, but my mind feels so much sturdier than it did in my 20s."

Thanks to The New York Times, Coveteur, W Magazine, WhoWhatWear, Refinery29, Byrdie, The Chalkboard, Goop, Into The Gloss, InStyle, NewBeauty and Vogue.

If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. See our Disclosure for more information.