How 9 Great-Looking Actresses Over 45 Maintain Their Glow

Good genes may be part of the Black don’t crack equation, but other factors that keep the fountain of youth flowing include eating healthfully (it’s the veggies, lean protein, fatty fish and whole grains for us), staying active, drinking plenty of water, getting those preventative health screenings and prioritizing rest and self-care. And if you’re a smoker, here’s another reason to stop — quitting can make your skin look younger.

But don’t take our word for it. Here are nine of our favorite actresses, all fab and over age 45, and the techniques that help them maintain beauty inside and out.

Halle Berry, 55

The groundbreaking Academy Award-winning actress has beauty, brains and a beast mode work and workout ethic. Boxing, doing planks, yoga and stretching are all part of her routine. That practice paid off in Bruised, Berry’s directorial debut streaming on Netflix, where she plays a reluctant single mother and hardscrabble mixed martial arts fighter seeking redemption.

Angela Bassett, 63

With her chiseled cheekbones and beyond buff arms, Bassett is a timeless beauty. What’s maintaining a healthy lifestyle got to do with it? Everything. She keeps her skin care routine simple, but admits she’s had “a little Botox.” To stay fit, she typically works out for thirty minutes a day (free weights are her jam) and eats a mostly organic, sugar-free diet.

Taraji P. Henson, 51

Henson is a sassy sis we love to watch. What keeps her hot girl summer going all year round? The Empire and Hidden Figures star is a fan of changing up her hairstyles from rocking wigs to her natural crown and doing squats to keep her glutes tight. Her biggest beauty secret, however, may be maintaining a positive outlook. “The power is in you — you have the power to shift and change a negative into a positive,” she said in an interview.

Queen Latifah, 51

There’s a reason Dana “Queen Latifah” Owens is an easy, breezy, beautiful CoverGirl. The multi-talented Jersey girl and Equalizer star exudes kickass confidence and she’s always repped regally for the curvy girls. Plus, her healthy, unpermed-but-pressed tresses give us life.

Gabrielle Union, 49