It’s hard to imagine having one job for 41 years — never mind one that requires being on primetime television nightly! — but that’s precisely what Vanna White has done since her first appearance on “Wheel of Fortune” in 1982. And what’s truly remarkable is, during that time, White has seemingly managed to avoid aging. Seriously. Whenever her name comes up in conversation, women of every age will always ask one question: “What’s her skincare routine?!”
Luckily for us, the game show hostess is ready to dish, and what’s most surprising is just how pared-down her approach to beauty is. Her advice? “Eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of rest and sleep and take care of your skin by wearing sunblock and using moisturizers,” says White, who counts drugstore brands like Clean & Clear, Olay and Vaseline among her favorites.
This week, White embarked on her first-ever beauty collaboration with the launch of the Wheel of Fortune x Laura Geller Beauty collection. The collection includes six products ranging from a primer and shadow palette to a dual-ended brush and an eyeliner. “When [Laura Geller Beauty] approached me, the team said they had done some research and their customers were fans of the show, so it just felt like such an authentic pairing because our audience is so similar to her customer base,” says White. “I loved that her brand celebrated women over 40 and once I tried the products, I was truly hooked.”
Below, White gives CNN Underscored a sneak peek into her beauty arsenal, most of which are is less than $10.
Sure, there are fancier cleansers and moisturizers on the market, but White sticks with drugstore cult favorites to get the job done. “I use over-the-counter facial cleansers, moisturizers and masks,” says White. “I like trying different ones, but a couple of my favorites are the Clean & Clear Morning Burst Facial Cleanser and the Olay Regenerist with SPF 15.”
Related: “Dr. Pimple Popper” star Dr. Sandra Lee shares her skin care must-haves
While Buf-Puf might seem like an 80s throwback, it continues to reign supreme as one of Amazon’s top exfoliators, with more than 22,000 reviews. And for White, it’s a key element of her skincare routine. “About every two weeks, I lightly use a Buf-Puf to exfoliate my skin,” she says.
Related: The 20 best body scrubs and exfoliators, according to skin experts
Another key to White’s glowing skin is an everyday bar soap. “I bathe with Dove bar soap and always moisturize after my showers,” she says.
Looking for that perfect red lip? White’s got just the thing. “When I’m in full makeup, I really like the Laura Geller x Wheel of Fortune Modern Classic Cream Lipstick in Big Money Red,” she says. “It's so hard to find the perfect red. This one is really moisturizing and doesn’t transfer.”
Related: The 20 best red lipsticks of 2023, according to experts
A jack-of-all-trades product if there ever was one, Vaseline is great for everything from scrapes to dry skin. “I use Vaseline around my eyes as an eye cream,” says White, who adds that she applies “a little around my eyes before bed.”
Related: The 21 best lip balms for treating dry, chapped lips, according to dermatologists
Another tool in White’s hair vault? “My favorite [hair styling tool] is using my Cortex round brush while blow drying my hair,” says White. “It gives it a little curl on the ends and helps keep my bangs in the perfect position.”
Related: 17 best hairbrushes for smoothing and detangling every hair type
While White’s hair might seem perpetually perfect, it endures a lot of pulling and prodding behind the scenes, so she’s always looking for hair repair solutions. “I’m always trying different shampoos and conditioners, so I don’t have a true long-time favorite, but my current favorite is this Olaplex shampoo and conditioner.” Made for all hair types, this Olaplex duo leaves zero buildup and reduces frizz, split ends and tangles.
Related: Olaplex No. 3 Hair Repair Perfector review
Lip balm is part of White’s daily routine, with the game show hostess attesting, “When I’m not in full makeup, I wear Chapstick.”
“I’m an eyeliner and blush girl,” says White. “I love the Laura Geller x Wheel of Fortune Kajal Eyeliner in Glitz & Glam from the collection. I use it as a shadow crayon and a liner — especially as a bottom liner because it’s less harsh than black but gives your eyes great definition.” Boasting a built-in sharpener, the eyeliner can be used as a liner and a shadow, making it the ultimate twofer. It’s also packed with Vitamin E, which conditions the eye, and caffeine, which depuffs.
Related: 28 new beauty products to get excited about this fall