Marlee Matlin Shares the $12 Drugstore Skincare Product She Swears By and the Surprising Way She Recharges

Academy award-winning actress Marlee Matlin, beloved for iconic movie roles including Children of a Lesser God and television shows like Switched at Birth and Quantico, is thrilled the Labor Day and the fall season are inching closer. “I love looking forward to all the changes, possibilities and opportunities each new day — or season — brings,” Marlee shares with FIRST. “I’ve always been a ‘my glass is half-full and I can’t wait for it to overflow’ person. And it’s exciting to see what a new day, or time in my life, will bring professionally or in my life with my husband and four kids.”

For Marlee, who lost a majority of her hearing when she was 18 months old, that attitude helped her thrive throughout childhood and as an adult weathering the pain of watching her mother battle dementia long-distance due to the pandemic. “It was tough not being able to get back home to Chicago to see her or my brothers for a year and a half,” she shares. “But I’m so grateful that now, I can hold her hand and have her touch my face. It’s that’s just one of the many things that makes my heart happy!” Here, more ways Marlee finds joy and serenity in any season.

Radiance Booster: A Drugstore Hero

“I can’t start my day or go to bed without washing my face,” Marlee smiles. “Even if I fall asleep on the sofa watching TV, I’ll wash my face before getting into bed. I wash with Cetaphil (Buy on Amazon, $11.49) on every night and morning to keep my skin as healthy as possible — it keeps me glowing and confident!” 

All Day Energy: A Colorful Breakfast

“Breakfast is my favorite way to begin the day!” Marlee shares. “I love fruit, and since it’s apple season—one of my favorite things about this time of year — I love to eat a crisp apple with butter or honey! Or a scrambled egg whites with some fun and colorful add-ins, like sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms and spinach and a little feta. It’s so good and charges you up for anything you might face in the day ahead!” In fact, research shows just one large egg contains 22 percent of your recommended daily allowance of selenium, a nutrient that helps support the immune system and regulate thyroid hormones. 

Sparks Serenity: A Mindful Stroll

“Walking is salve for my soul whenever I’m feeling stressed,” Marlee admits. “I find that being in the moment is a good way to destress — and walking helps me do that. Depending on the situation and the weather, I love to take a long walk around my neighborhood and take in all the beautiful sights and scenes around me. But even meandering around Target or Home Goods to clear my head really works. Not only can you assess a situation or think through an issue, it’s a great way to get your body moving and feel great!” In fact, a 15-minute walk in which you take note of the awe-inspiring aspects of nature around you can triple feelings of calm and joy.

Instant Recharge: A Small Positive Exchange

“I’m invigorated by human interaction,” Marlee smiles. “I’m always smiling and saying ‘hello’ to strangers, because that small, simple act is so joyful. We all want to be treated with kindness and compassion and I try to put as much of that out into the world so it will come back to me. A smile or quick connection in line at the grocery store or your child’s school event makes me so happy and fills my heart with positivity.” Indeed, studies show that smiling at strangers can boost your mood by 50 percent — and slash your risk of heart disease by the same amount!

Soothes the Soul: Comforting Routines

“It’s amazing how refreshing picking up the vacuum can be — and how good for the soul cleaning is,” Marlee shares. “The simplicity of cleaning the house is one of my favorite ways to put, or keep, things in perspective. It’s hard not living in the same city as my mom and siblings, but my brothers are amazing at keeping me involved and having regular chats about our mom’s care and whether I’m mulling over a decision we need to make or just need some quiet time to recharge, pushing around the vacuum does the trick! Not only can you assess a situation or think through an issue, you wind up feeling great because a room or your whole house looks terrific!”

A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, First for Women.