It’s hard to believe that Christie Brinkley has been teaching us lessons in beauty for upwards of four decades, and it’s even more unbelievable—as I learned instantly upon sitting down with her at this year’s Skin Cancer Foundation Champions of Change Gala—that someone who’s been in the modeling industry as long as Brinkley could be as down to earth, genuine and real as she is. If anyone has earned the right to a diva status, it’s Brinkley, but the only thing more amazing than her ageless beauty is her positive, endearing energy that surrounds you the moment you meet the former Sports Illustrated cover star.
Just over a year ago, Brinkley was diagnosed with skin cancer and it changed her life, as it does for the upwards of 9,000 Americans who are diagnosed with skin cancer daily. Instead of stepping into the shadows, though, Brinkley used her experience as an opportunity to spread awareness about the dangers of skin cancer, educating millions through her advocacy over the past 365 days. Ahead of her stint as master of ceremonies at this year’s Champions of Change Gala last week, I got to sit down with Brinkley one on one to chat all things skin health and beauty, and it’s safe to say she taught me more than one or two things about supermodel self care.
You’ve been so vulnerable about your experience with skin cancer—what does skin health mean to you now and how was that changed over the years?
“When you mention how things are changing in the way we view skin health, I just think about how I’m thrilled to be in this room [at the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Champions of Change Gala] because these are the people that are making the changes. They are researchers, they are people doing the surgeries and they know every year it gets better and easier to address and treat these skin cancers, so I’m thrilled to be amongst everybody here today.
Having had skin cancer, my routine has definitely changed. Now, I’ve added mild laser resurfacing into my regimen, which is important not just for aesthetics, but because laser treatments have been shown to pick up some of the pre-cancerous cells, so it can be helpful for keeping your skin healthy too. I have been a sun worshiper my whole life—I love everything outdoors and all of that, but I’m trying to teach my kids the importance of protecting their skin now. One of my daughters (Sailor) is just like me in that she loves the outdoors, and one is more of a bookworm—she’s mostly indoors—so her skin is flawless. Sailor’s skin is still flawless, but I always say to her, ‘Honey, listen to me, you’ll end up with all these little sun spots everywhere and maybe even skin cancer, so you have to be serious about it for sure.”
In addition to the obvious benefits of sun protection, what did your journey with skin cancer teach you about other aspects of skin care?
“For a while there, I was using filler and the like. I used to be bothered by the wrinkles and I would go do a little bit of filler and what not, but now at 71, I don’t want to have that look. I want to have my face, you know? So, for the past couple of years I haven’t put anything in my face. But I will do a little Botox in the neck. I need to do that and because it does tighten up those little bands that start to poke out. I’m not opposed to those kinds of little secrets that you can do at the dermatologist, but I really, really love doing the laser resurfacing twice a year. I feel like that just keeps the skin nice and clear. It makes the biggest difference.”
Are there any beauty hacks or skin care secrets you’ve learned from your children?
“I definitely do pick up different makeup things from them. They were quick to to find the best foundations for that barely-there, dewy, fresh look and I love that so right away I was like ‘Okay, what is that? I want that.’ Aside from that, we aren’t super fancy at home. We’re usually walking around in sweatpants and not doing too much.”
With summer approaching, what are some of your favorite sunscreens?
“I love La Roche Posay’s sunscreens and Supergoop! Those are my two favorite sunblocks and I start every day with them. I was disappointed because I had an old Giorgio Armani very thin foundation from a little dropper—they just discontinued it—but it had sunblock in it which I loved because so I felt like I was getting a second layer of sunblock with my foundation, so I’m on the lookout for a new one of those.”
