Reese Witherspoon, one of Hollywood’s most beloved actresses, is 41 years old — but maintains her youthful glow with a number of healthy habits.
The “A Wrinkle in Time” star lathers on sunscreen, does lots of yoga, and stays hydrated with green juices and smoothies.
She also works out with a buddy in order to stay motivated.
Most importantly, Witherspoon leads an overall healthy lifestyle — without crash dieting or trendy fitness fads — and loves herself for who she is.
We all know that Reese Witherspoon’s beauty is far more than skin-deep. She’s a talented actress, a devoted mother, and an inspiration to powerful women everywhere.
We would be remiss, however, not to point out that Witherspoon looks amazing. At 41 years old, she remains one of the most fresh-faced actresses in Hollywood. You would only need to take a look at her lookalike 18-year-old daughter or her tribute to “Legally Blonde” on its 15th anniversary to know that Witherspoon appears to be years younger than she actually is.
Witherspoon is dedicated to taking care of herself, and often gives fans a peek into her healthy lifestyle. Below are nine of her most important — and surprisingly easy — practices that vitalize her skin, body, and confidence.
1. She is adamant about staying hydrated.
She is constantly seen with water, a smoothie, or pressed juice in-hand — especially post-workout.
Most notably, she touts the benefits of a green smoothie created by her nutritionist, Kim Snyder. It blends spinach, romaine lettuce, celery, an apple, pear, banana, cilantro, and parsley into a fiber-packed, nutrient-dense concoction.
“I start every day with a Glowing Green Smoothie and so does my whole family,” Witherspoon is quoted as saying on Snyder’s website.
2. She relies on her favorite beverage, coffee, for morning fuel.
Witherspoon’s love of coffee is well-documented on her social media pages. Along with about 83% of Americans, she seems to kick off every day with a cup of joe.
Not only does caffeine give the actress energy to power through her busy schedule, she is also probably aware of its various health benefits, such as reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.
3. She doesn’t confine herself to treadmills and gym sessions.
Judging by her Instagram, Witherspoon loves to take advantage of the great outdoors when it comes to staying fit. Whether it’s jogging, hiking, or kayaking, she makes sure to enjoy fresh air while enjoying that rush of endorphins.
4. She works out with a buddy.
“I like to run for about an hour, and I’m big into working out with girlfriends. It’s an acquired skill, being able to discuss your love life, children, and friends — all while you’re running! But we have mastered it,” Witherspoon told Good Housekeeping.
The “Wild” actress is certainly onto something with this trick. Studies show that having a workout buddy can help motivate you and keep you accountable.
“If you know a friend is waiting for you at the gym or won’t pound the pavement without you, it’s tough to bail,” psychologist Dr. Thomas Plante told Fitness magazine.
Even Witherspoon’s habit of chatting while jogging has major health benefits. Plante told Fitness that it’s a “genius way to decompress and multitask.”
5. She incorporates strength training into her routine.
Witherspoon is an advocate for Body by Simone, a celebrity-favored regime created by Simone De La Rue, one of Khloe Kardashian’s “Revenge Body” trainers.
“It incorporates dance, strength training, and stretching, and it’s all in an hour, which is perfectly doable for me. I do that a couple times a week,” Witherspoon told Women’s Health. “Physical strength is important.”
A mix of cardio and strength training — such as hiking with dumbells — is the best way to get in shape like Witherspoon, according to her former trainer Michael George. When they worked together, he even had her doing martial arts moves to help tone her glutes and thighs, PopSugar Fitness reports.
“Do not dismiss the strength training as well, which is the activity that fires up your metabolism,” George told Shape.
6. She practices yoga to help her body and mind stay strong and focused.
Witherspoon has been photographed with a yoga mat countless times — oftentimes with friends like Naomi Watts and Molly Stern.
The Time’s Up activist takes classes at Yoga Hop in Santa Monica, California, which is a studio that combines poses with high-energy music, according to Shape.
“Reese looked more toned after just one month of sessions,” instructor and studio co-owner Matthew Reyes told Shape. “Now she can do full push-ups, and she never sits out a set. Side-angle pose strengthens Reese’s legs and stretches her chest.”
Last year, she even took friends to a yoga retreat in New Zealand, which included workouts as well as spa treatments and vegan meals.
7. She takes care of her skin.
Even while channeling her iconic “Legally Blonde” character and basking in the sun, Witherspoon makes skincare a top priority. In fact, she told People that sunscreen is one of her “must-have desert island products” (along with tequila).
Stern, her friend and longtime makeup artist, also swears by ReVive and Natura Bisse’s skincare products.
“They’re rich with nutrients. They don’t clog pores,” Stern told Yahoo! Lifestyle. “I do like luxury skincare. That’s the stuff you save up for. We get dryer as we get older, so keeping the skin moist is important.”
8. She eats relatively clean, but doesn’t restrict herself from indulgences.
Witherspoon often opts for fruits, nuts, and vegetables for meals and snacks. George told Shape that he advised Witherspoon to “eat clean and healthy with small meals and snacks daily” and minimize alcohol consumption.
While it’s unrealistic for anyone to eat completely clean all the time, the mom of three makes sure to balance her meals with salad and greens.
That said, Oprah Winfrey’s alleged best friend knows better than anybody that cutting out certain foods and depriving yourself of treats is no way to live.
“I don’t believe in crash dieting or anything like that,” Witherspoon told Us Weekly.
As a true Southern girl, Witherspoon loves fried chicken and hearty meals. She also never says no to a good slice of pizza or an irresistible craving like ice cream.
9. Witherspoon loves herself for who she is.
The Oscar winner knows that an essential — yet somehow oft-ignored — aspect of self-care is to nurture a sense of confidence and clarity.
“She always seems to be pretty happy. She has an amazing inner confidence of who she is. She isn’t trying to change things about herself. She has admirable self-acceptance,” Stern told Yahoo! Lifestyle.
Witherspoon knows her worth and makes it a point to stand up for herself. Her feminism and activism are well-known — and she even posts empowering photos on social media, advising fans, “be kind to yourself.”
Although it sometimes may seem like Witherspoon is an ageless, mythical creature, her secrets to lasting youth and beauty are, as it turns out, not very secret at all.
