Why Jennifer Beals is Sexier Than Ever At 50

Jennifer Beals has still got it.

It’s been 30 years since Beals famously danced her way through “Flashdance” wearing a cutoff sweatshirt in a scene that would be reenacted around the world for years to come, but the actress hasn’t slowed down one bit.

The gorgeous “The L Word” alum, and new spokesperson for EverDeep skin care, credits a healthy lifestyle, the right skin care routine, and open-water swimming for her impressive energy and fresh look.

During a recent interview with ishonest, the Chicago-born beauty dove into the details of a lifestyle that has kept her looking – and feeling – her best.

Why she isn’t afraid of sharks (sort of): “I really love open water swimming,” Beals says, adding that she hits the water a couple times a week for about two miles per session. “With all the shark attacks happening in Los Angeles, I’m a little bit wary, so I’ll go out with a larger group of people – as if that makes any difference!” she jokes.

And while she’ll occasionally enter a formal swim race or two, her time in the water doesn’t end when she crosses the finish line. “I just feel a joyfulness being in the water, so I’ll go add an extra kilometer or two to the race after I’m done,” she says.

How her skin and hair care routine has changed over the years: Her commitment to the aqua-sport has played a big part in shaping her beauty routine through the years. “Before I go swimming, I’m the person covered in zinc oxide, basically,” she says, adding that she uses Active Badger Kids Sunscreen Cream SPF 30 because it’s really thick and water-resistant. “And the higher the SPF, the happier I am. I know that some people say that that SPF doesn’t matter, but I like to think that it does,” she adds.

To keep her hair healthy, Beals applies conditioner before putting on her swim cap. “[I use] the thickest one so I can have some kind of barrier from the salt and chlorine,” she says.

Beals admits that her nighttime skin care routine has gotten a makeover in recent years. “I’m probably more diligent about washing my face at night and moisturizing at night,” she says, adding that sometimes she’ll even reapply her night cream throughout the day because it’s a bit heavier and her skin can get dry from the swimming.

Her stress-busting ritual: Beals meditates for 20 minutes a couple of times a day when she can. “I remember this one monk telling me that even five minutes is [good],” she says. “He’s like, ‘consider it mind insurance,’ and I thought that was really funny.”

When she feels the most beautiful: The simple answer: After yoga or after sex. “Don’t you just feel so juicy and wonderful and loving?” she says of coming off the high of each activity. “The yoga is the connection to the divine and the sex is the connection to the beloved,” she explains.

When she needs a little pick-me-up, Beals uses a beauty hack from her modeling days. “I love the little trick where you put a light powder at the corner of your eye,” she says. “Every now and then I’ll bust out the white at the corner of my eyes just to feel snazzy.” Her favorite eye-brightener is the lightest shade of eye shadow from Sappho Organic Cosmetics.

5 Common Hygiene Myths You Shouldn’t Believe

Do you need to shower every day? Wash your hands with scalding-hot water? Here's the dirt, according to health experts.

Which Collagen Sources Should You Try?

From powders and gummies to foods and topicals, here’s a list of collagen sources ranked from best to worst.

Potentially Toxic Chemicals Called PFAS Are Common in Cosmetics, Study Finds

Lab tests suggest that more than half of cosmetics sold in the United States and Canada may contain high levels of the chemical. U.S. legislators recently...

6 Places You're Missing When You Apply Sunscreen

No matter how thorough your SPF routine, these are the spots experts say are often overlooked.

Ask a Castle Connolly Top Doctor: How Aging and Gravity Affect Your Skin

A renowned plastic surgeon, recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, discusses the factors that affect our skin’s appearance, and how patients can ...

California Bans 24 Toxic Chemicals From Personal-Care Products: What to Know

A bellwether state for federal efforts, California just became the first in the nation to ban certain chemicals from cosmetics and personal-care ingredients...

What Are the Benefits of Fish Oil for Your Hair?

Eating more whole fish with omega-3 fatty acids may help strengthen your tresses, but there’s limited evidence that fish oil pills will do the same.

Read more on: beauty, skin