Gwyneth Paltrow's Guide to Exfoliation
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Gwyneth Paltrow describes herself as an "exfoliating junkie," so it's no surprise that the latest skincare product under her Goop brand is all about getting that movie star glow. There are already two exfoliators in the Goop family, but Paltrow tells BAZAAR.com why the new GOOPGLOW Cloudberry Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser is like the nostalgic, younger sister of the others.
Ahead, the actress/beauty mogul also spills her exfoliating secrets, shares why she's never tried a chemical peel, and reveals the one Goop product that her daughter, Apple Martin, steals from her bathroom.
Goop already has the Instant Glow Exfoliator and peel pads, so why did you decide to introduce the new Cloudberry Cleanser, and why now?
Personally, this new cleanser feels very efficacious, but it's not as powerful as our peel pad, which is professional strength. I use the pads once a week, and then I'll use the Instant Glow Exfoliator in the bath at night. But I didn't have any type of exfoliation in my morning route. I obviously exfoliate all the time, but this one is, like, very brightening and smoothing, so it's a perfect morning treatment.
It's a little bit gentler to the touch, because the exfoliating grains aren't as strong. Instead, it has tons of fruit enzymes to buff away dead skin. It's a very different texture to the others. It's a jelly. The way I would imagine jelly is sort of fun and young in a way. That's why we have this cleanser. It's good for all skin, but if you're a little oily, it's amazing.
I personally have been a victim of overextending, especially when I was younger. Did you ever make any exfoliating faux pas?
I never did because I was always a little bit scared to do a laser or a chemical peel at the facialist or dermatologist, because I've had girlfriends who have done them and had really crazy experiences. Before I had kids, I used to get a bunch of facials. Now I never do, but what I loved was the light chemical peel that they would take on and off during those facials. I feel like I never overdid it, but I loved the feeling of exfoliating my skin and I love it when it feels really intense.
I remember when one of my friends who has really sensitive skin first tried our peel pad, and she called me and was freaking out that she was, like, bright red, and I was like, "That's normal, just let it happen." But I remember when we were first testing the various strengths of the peel pad, and I kept saying to the team I want this really, really strong—like, professional grade—and I tried one version, and my face went bright red. But it was supposed to work that way. But I never overdid it. I was too freaked out about it.
Did you change your beauty routine at all during the pandemic?
Not in terms of products, but because I have always been a fan of home exfoliators, I double-downed on them. Especially since I didn't even have the option to go get microdermabrasion at the salon or spa. I really got into the habit of using multiple exfoliants also because I was looking at myself all day on Zoom and became really critical in ways that probably weren't healthy. Because of that, during the pandemic, I really focused on getting healthy-looking skin. I made sure I was really hydrated, and then when I was exfoliating, I followed up with a face oil or something moisturizing for a healthy glow. That way, I didn't have do a whole makeup routine just get on a Zoom call.
Is there one product your daughter loves to steal from your bathroom? Does she help out with testing new products, or do you ever get her involved in the creative process?
Oh, yeah. In fact, I was having her test out the new Jelly Cleanser, because I feel like it's a fun, young product. I would ask her, "What do you think? Should it be more or less foaming?" She was really helpful. Apple is really looking forward to that coming out. And she loves the detox cleanser that we have. It's this blue cleanser that's great for pores and especially teenage skin. And that's her favorite product. She steals mine all the time.
I know Goop is always developing new recipes and you love to cook yourself. Is there any recipe that you've tried lately and loved?
I spent a lot of time cooking during the pandemic, trying different foods, buying new cookbooks. I think that was kind of one of the most, you know, it was like we were home and getting groceries delivered and you could, like, kind of plan in advance. I got a whole bunch of new cookbooks. I started to really focus on one-pot meals or sheet pan meals. We have a ton of those recipes on Goop, and there was a book by Diana Henry called From the Oven to the Table that I lived by. It's all about minimizing cleanup.
I know you're really into dry brushing. How did you get started with that?
I love it. I do it every morning or before I get in the sauna, and it wakes me up. You can feel all the dead skin kind of sloughing off. It activates your blood flow and you really feel your circulation going. I just love it. It's also really good for cellulite. I have this little teeny personal sauna outside my house I couple the brushing with. It's very bougie, but I'm very into it. I do it probably four or five times a week.
Is there a beauty rule that you kind of always abide by?
That beauty starts from within. It's what you eat, how much water you drink, how much you take care of your body. How you are to yourself—your thoughts and words you say to yourself. Are you kind to yourself? Do you have good relationships? Are you committed to maintaining those relationships? I have a very holistic point of view when it comes to beauty.
The GOOPGLOW Cloudberry Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser is available now online at goop.com and sephora.com.
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