Padma Lakshmi Swears by This Kitchen Staple for Ageless Skin at 51
The star favors the all-natural approach to skincare.
Perhaps one of the most attractive things about Padma Lakshmi is that she is so down-to-earth. The model turned actor turned author turned TV show host is no stranger to the spotlight, and at the age of 51, she’s looking as fabulous as ever thanks to one natural, and rather surprising, beauty ingredient — honey.
On September 2, Laskhmi posted a photo on Instagram to celebrate her own 51st birthday. Looking closely, you wouldn’t think she’s a day over 40.
“This is 51,” she captioned the gorgeous photo. Fellow stars and fans agreed, wishing Lakshmi well on her big day and complimenting her lovingly.
While you might think that Lakshmi probably has some expensive skincare products she can attribute her ageless look to, she revealed in one Byrdie interview that she likes to keep things natural and simple. When it comes to creating that signature glow, she says she’s turned to honey for years.
“The biggest thing for skin, and it doesn’t cost a lot of money, is honey,” she told the publication. “When I used to travel and I didn’t have a lot of money, I would always find honey on the breakfast tray at a hotel or something. You just wash and cleanse your skin, take all the makeup off, pat your skin dry, and then slather honey all over your face, avoiding the delicate eye area. And then you just tap your fingers on your face, almost like you’re playing piano on your skin.”
Lakshmi explains that this little skincare trick is one she’s consistently relied upon to keep her skin clean and moisturized, especially since she’s not a fan of harsh chemicals. “What [honey] does is pull out the impurities in your pores without upsetting the pH balance. There are those strips you can use to get the pores in your nose clean, but a lot of times, what they do is make your pores bigger because they are so powerful and have a lot of strong chemicals,” she explained. “That can be worse in the long run. But the honey is really gentle. And the suction of pulling the honey away with your fingers, which it sticks to, actually removes the impurities. Honey is also antibacterial and antimicrobial. And then you just rinse your face.”
It’s hard to believe that skin like Lakshmi’s can be achieved this easily, but we will take it from her. After all, she’s right in pointing out that honey can fight off harmful bacteria and microbes on the skin. Honey is also a known humectant, which means that it naturally holds onto water and hydrates the skin without creating oiliness. On top of all that, honey is rich in alpha hydroxy acids, which gently exfoliates the skin and makes it even easier for it to absorb moisture.
As always, perform a test patch on your skin to check for adverse reactions when you’re using new products. Once you know you’re in the clear, slather on some honey as often as you’d like!
