5 min read
“Welcome to your 40s—it’s a very beautiful age,” Gisele Bündchen tells me over Zoom, her sun-kissed skin and signature waves illuminated by the sunshine streaming into her Miami home. I’m feeling far less exuberant about my recent milestone birthday than the 45-year-old supermodel, author, and entrepreneur, but if Bündchen’s whirlwind life is any indication, the party is just getting started.
In the past 14 months alone, she’s welcomed a third child, gotten married, earned her Pilates teaching certification, and stepped into a new role as global ambassador for Garnier. “When I started working, I was 14, and I remember thinking anyone over 20 was old,” she says. “Now, I’m going to be 46, and I think I’m so young! It’s funny how time changes your perspective.”
When I ask Bündchen to reveal the lotions and potions behind her glow, her answer is refreshingly simple: coconut oil to remove makeup, a good moisturizer for hydration, and mineral sunscreen for daily protection, especially when she’s surfing. Her morning routine is similarly pared back, starting with tongue scraping (“It’s very important for your health,” she notes) and a glass of lukewarm water with lemon. “I know that people want a magic pill, but in my life, that doesn’t exist,” she says, underscoring her holistic approach to beauty.
The one exception? A touch of haircare wizardry. Bündchen swears by Garnier Fructis’ Diamond Sleek Shine-Coat Smoothing Spray to combat Miami’s relentless humidity. “[My hair] gets a little fuzzy, but this actually works,” she says. “I spent the whole day on the beach shooting the [Garnier] commercial, and they barely had to touch up my hair.”
Ahead, Bündchen shares her tips for staying strong mentally and physically, as well as her secret for camera-ready waves.
Luis Alberto Rodriguez for Harper’s Bazaar
40: The Age of Authenticity
“Your 40s are when you start caring less about [certain] things, and that’s very freeing. You go through your teens thinking you’re invincible and that you know everything. In your 20s, you feel invincible, too. Nothing affects you. Then, in your 30s, you start thinking a little bit more. I’ve always been a people pleaser. I wanted to make sure everyone was happy. When you’re 40, you start asking yourself, ‘What’s important to me?’ I think you get to a place where you feel more comfortable being authentic. I wonder what’s going to happen in my 50s? I’ll tell you when I get there!”
Raising Teenagers Gives Her Perspective
“When I’m doing sports, I feel like I’m a teenager because that’s how I feel in my body. I really feel I can do a lot more than I could when I was [younger] because of how I train and take care of my health today. I feel stronger in so many ways!… But when I’m talking with my kids, I really feel like I am my age. I’m like, holy cow, how interesting it is that I was once that age, but [my experience] was so different. I had so many responsibilities, and I left home at 14. It’s different for my kids. The world is so different. Kids today have to deal with so many more distractions. I think it’s a lot more challenging for kids these days.”
Luis Alberto Rodriguez for Harper’s Bazaar
Heels? No. Weights? Definitely.
“I feel like my body is a lot stronger 1775506332 than it was when I was younger. I started practicing meditation and yoga in my early 20s because I had severe panic attacks, and that was basically the solution. It gave me a new life. Now that I’ve started weight training, I feel a lot stronger, and my body feels better overall. I can pick up my kid like it’s nothing, and I don’t have back pain. Mind you, I’m not wearing heels anymore, so that also helps!”
No Serum Can Replace Self-Care
“It’s important to have great products that help nourish your hair and moisturize your skin, but nothing can beat a lifestyle. You can use all the amazing products that are out there, but if you’re eating crap, not resting, and not exercising, it’s not going to cut it. Maybe it can cut it when you’re in your 20s, but it’s not going to do it when you’re my age!… If you don’t take care of your health, nourish your body with the right foods, and get the proper rest, you’re going to see it in your skin, in your hair, and most importantly, in your mood.”
Courtesy of Garnier
The supermodel is the new ambassador for Garnier Fructis
Surround Yourself With Positivity
“Nourishment, sleeping well, and exercising daily are very important, but so is what you consume. I don’t watch negative news. I don’t gossip. I always tell my children, if you don’t have something positive to say, please don’t open your mouth, because that’s poison…Surround yourself with people who inspire you to be the best version of yourself. I think that’s also very underrated. The quality of your life depends on the quality of your relationships. I talk about that in my book Lessons, and my Dad said it my whole life. If you have people in your life who are toxic, believe me, you’re going to feel it, and it’s going to show up on you. People might not think this is a beauty thing, but I absolutely believe it is a beauty thing!”
Make Waves
“If I want my hair to look really nice, I do a mask. Use one on a weekend when you can put your hair in a mask and leave it on for the whole day. I also feel like adding a little oil to the ends helps moisturize the hair. If I want my waves to look less messy, then I’ll do two braids after I wash my hair. That way, when my hair dries, I have a more organized and prettier wave.”
With Age Comes Strength
“As you have more experiences in life, I think you get to a place where you feel stronger because you’ve gone through so many things and overcome so many things. That creates resilience and a very strong backbone…You see that nothing is the end of the world. You understand that [everything] is a season, that everything will pass…With [every life experience] comes a big opportunity for growth, as well as wonderful lessons. Sure, some lessons are harder than others, but in the end, you just keep growing, evolving, and becoming more comfortable in your own skin.”
*This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
