Inside Look: How Actress Greer Grammer Cares For Her Skin

Growing up in our country’s celebrity capitol—Los Angeles, of course—I can attest that stars really are, just like us… especially when it comes to taking care of their skin. Because famous or not, we all want radiant complexions that age gracefully and look as good with and without our (camera-ready) makeup on. So, when I sat down with actress Greer Grammer to find out how she takes care of her skin, her top concerns, and favorite at-home beauty rituals, I was not in the least bit surprised to find that a lot of what she had to say was totally relatable… especially for those who have sensitive, acne-prone skin (like her). From her skin care woes to her love of coconut oil to the best piece of skin care advice she’s ever been given, find out how Greer Grammer takes care of her skin, ahead.

How she uses skin care with her busy schedule, heavy on-camera makeup, early call times, night shoots, and more:

“I have a lot of skin concerns that are not helped by my job. I have dry, sensitive skin that is prone to redness and I also—still—suffer from breakouts. I had from really bad acne from the age of 19-22, so that's probably my top concern when it comes to wearing makeup for 14 hours a day. I'm also always concerned about dullness and looking tired... because I definitely do not get a full 8 hours of sleep when I'm working and it’s concerning to have makeup caked on your face for [that many] hours a day [on top of] not feeling like your skin is getting enough time to breathe, rest, and rejuvenate. I try my hardest not to fall asleep with makeup on— though sometimes it does happen. There are some days when I will get home from work and go straight to bed, so I always make sure to have makeup wipes next to my bed.f I use a regimen at night that helps keep my acne under control. I also always use toner and a lot of the time I will put a thin layer of [a product formulated with] benzoyl peroxide all over my face. I then use an anti-aging night cream that is extremely moisturizing to not only help with my dry skin, but also make me glow in the morning… even if I only got five hours of sleep!”

Her after work skin care ritual:

“Most makeup artists will have warm towels ready for you if you want to take your makeup off [on set]. If I know that I am going straight home, I will usually take my makeup off on set and then put a hot towel over my face and follow up with some moisturizer—I still wash my face when I get home, though.”

On days when she’s not working:

“I go fresh-faced as much as I can—I really hate putting makeup on. If I’m going out for the day, I use a little concealer and maybe a mineral powder for a tiny bit of coverage, but generally, I’m makeup free.”

How she deals with breakouts:

“I try really, really hard to NOT pick a breakout when I have one—for me, it takes every little bit of self control to not pop a pimple. I’ll also make sure I put toner and [a product formulated with] benzoyl peroxide on.”

Her morning skin care routine:

“In the morning, I have a very soothing routine. I use a super gentle face wash that gets rid of impurities— but also is formulated with ceramides to help my skin retain moisture. Then, I use a pre-moisturizing treatment that contains a bunch of peptides. I then use a moisturizer to make sure my skin is hydrated throughout the day. I follow up with some eye cream, sunscreen, and I’m good to go!”

Her evening skin care routine:

“In the evening—after I take my makeup off—I use a face wash [formulated] for sensitive, acne-prone skin. Then I follow up with toner and light application of [a product formulated with] benzoyl peroxide. If I happen to have a breakout, I will put a little bit more on the pimple as a spot treatment. Then I put on my anti-aging night cream for moisture and to make sure I age as slowly as possible. After that I put on my eye cream and call it a night! I also exfoliate 2-3 times a week and if I don’t have a breakout I will sometimes replace the product with benzoyl peroxide with a renewing serum that is formulated with retinol. I also have a lip serum that I use which is formulated with peptides to make sure my lips stay moisturized and soft.

The one skin care product she can’t live without:

“Moisturizer! I have SUCH dry skin. Once a friend in college told me she never used moisturizer and I was so shocked and confused—if I don’t put some on when I immediately step out of the shower, I can feel my face start to tighten.”

The one skin care product she is willing to splurge on:

“I love myself a good face mask—especially if it smells good. And body lotion… if there’s a good smelling rose or lavender body butter, I’m all over it.”

The best piece of (skin care) advice she’s ever been given:

“One: Always sleep with your hair up, as the oil from your hair can transfer to your pillowcase and cause you to breakout. And while on that subject… wash your pillowcases often. Two: When you’re in the shower, make sure you wash your face last because when you wash your hair, the shampoo and conditioner can get onto your face and may cause you to breakout. Three: Starting using anti-aging products ASAP… it’s not just for your parents… it’s preventative!”

The one DIY ingredient she swears by:

“I love using coconut oil all over my body and in my hair. It really is such an amazing product and you can use it for so many things.”

Her go-to at-home skin care remedy:

“If I’m stressed, I will add lavender oil to my moisturizer. I also love putting coconut oil and lavender in the bath and soaking in it… it makes my skin feel so soft and smells so good!”