:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/martha-stewart-sports-illustrated-09223-0a74ab3b74124b56a1bf7c0a4cbc1c7f.jpg)
If there’s one thing Martha Stewart knows how to do (besides home-keeping, entrepreneurial endeavors, gardening, baking—and, well, everything), it’s how to start the day on the right note. She’s an early riser, a lover of routines, and, as a result, has her trademark glow to show for it.
A morning beauty routine that’s equal parts practical and indulgent helps the Sports Illustrated model look refreshed and luminous day after day. Just a few steps, done consistently, can make all the difference. Think of it as the skincare version of her cooking and entertaining philosophy: simple, thoughtful, and elevated.
“If you have a skin-care routine of any sort, you’re one step ahead—consistency is key,” Martha previously shared in Living the Good Long Life: A Practical Guide to Caring for Yourself and Others. Ahead, we’re breaking down Martha’s skincare advice and morning routine, shared through years of wisdom, books, blogs, and appearances. Consider it inspiration for your own mornings; a reminder that glowing skin doesn’t have to mean complicated steps, just the right ones done well.
Wake Up Early
For Martha, starting the day right means starting it on time. “You do not start your day after 7 a.m.,” she said during her keynote at the ANC Leadership Forum. She herself often rises as early as 4 a.m. to get the day in motion.
But it’s not just about productivity. Rising early also leaves space for mindful rituals—everything from skincare masks to crossword puzzles—that Martha considers just as vital as meetings or projects.
Hydrate and Nourish From the Inside Out
Emily Laurae
The first step of Martha’s glow comes in a glass. “I drink my first glass of water at 5 a.m., and during the day I keep a carafe of lemon water within reach,” she shared in Martha Stewart’s Organizing.
She also swears by her green juice, made with produce from her farm: “I make a blend of whatever fresh produce is on hand, much of which I grow at the farm. One of my favorite combinations is spinach, cucumber, parsley, chervil, fresh ginger, and orange peel.”
Think of Skincare as Self-Care
In Living the Good Long Life, Martha shared she begins her morning skincare routine with “a facial mask of collagen or ginkgo,” leaving it on for an hour before her shower. “It leaves my skin very silky.” she explains.
In the shower, she exfoliates: “I wash my entire body with an exfoliant or silicone soap, and then slather moisturizer all over (if I’m feeling lavish, sometimes I’ll use rich facial products on my body).”
Don’t Skirt the Essentials
Mariya Borisova / Getty Images
“Clean skin is so important to maintaining one’s healthy appearance,” says Martha. Translation: Never skimp out on the essentials.
“You absolutely must go to sleep with a clean face, to prevent irritation and clogged pores,” she wrote in Living the Good Long Life. She is also strict about sun-care: “If I’m planning to be outside, I always use a moisturizer with sunscreen.”
Invest in the Right Products
While Martha’s routine emphasizes discipline and good habits, she’s also careful about the quality of what she puts on her skin. Your products should work as hard as you do.
Insert your favorites here—Martha herself has never shied away from mixing tried-and-true staples with a few indulgent luxuries. Recently, the entrepreneur co-founded her own science-backed skincare brand, Elm Biosciences, and her longtime makeup artist, Daisy Toye, shared some of her other preferred products on her ShopMY page—including budget-friendly Maybelline mascara and a hydrating lip oil.
Never Miss Morning Movement
Of course, no Martha morning is complete without exercise. “I exercise for an hour every single morning. It’s as if I’ve signed a contract with myself to wake up and get on the treadmill and lift weights. It’s nonnegotiable,” she’s said.
In addition to its numerous health benefits, exercise can boost circulation, reduce stress, and promote better sleep, all of which contribute to brighter, healthier skin.
Embrace P.M. Habits That Support a Morning Glow
Mornings are set up by what happens the night before. Martha advocates for prepping clothes and bags to avoid the morning scramble, and for winding down with a nightly ritual: “About an hour before your target bedtime, swap out any stimulating or stress-inducing activities (checking your work email) for something more relaxing—knitting, stargazing, reading a book.”
Adequate sleep is, in her eyes, “your best ally in rejuvenating your skin.” She explains, “Just as with other body organs, the skin repairs itself during sleep. And lack of sleep will show up immediately on your face, with dark circles, bags under your eyes, and dull skin. Seven to eight uninterrupted hours are optimal.”