From Actress to Skincare Aficionado
Interview with Hailee Steinfeld on Her Neutrogena Collagen Bank Partnership.
I recently had the opportunity to chat with Hailee Steinfeld, an actress and singer who has captivated audiences with her performances in films like True Grit and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Hailee, who started her career at a young age, has evolved into a multi-talented star, balancing her successful acting career with a growing music portfolio.
This month, Hailee has embarked on an exciting new venture, partnering with Neutrogena to launch their Collagen Bank Moisturizer, a peptide-infused powerhouse intended to support your skin barrier and your natural collagen content.
As someone who has used Neutrogena products since her early teens, Hailee told me that she’s thrilled to help promote this innovative line designed to help bank collagen before the signs of aging begin.
During our call, Hailee shared her thoughts on skincare, her personal routine, and the importance of holistic wellness.
Despite her busy schedule, I found that she remains grounded, focusing on maintaining a minimal yet effective skincare routine that complements her lifestyle.
Fawn: So, can you tell me a little bit about how you're feeling about this exciting new venture?
Hailee: Yes, I mean, exciting to say the least. I'm really just so thrilled to be joining with Neutrogena, a brand that I've been using since my early teens, but to now help them launch this brand new product line that helps you bank collagen now before signs of aging begin.
When I learned that you lose 1% of your skin’s collagen every year starting in your 20s, I immediately had that feeling of like, you know, OK, I'm 27 and I have these moments of, like, "I'm really still 16."
And then I realized I'm actually not. I am 27. And here we are losing 1% of our skin's collagen every year starting in our 20s. So I'm so grateful for this product myself, and I can't wait to share this with the world and make it a staple in everyone's skincare routine.
Fawn: Absolutely. So, I totally get it. I’ve been using Tretinoin for a while as well. I'm starting to get these labial folds, and they're freaking me out!
Anyways, can you tell me a little bit about why you believe it's important to start focusing on collagen preservation in your 20s? I know you mentioned the 1% collagen loss.
Hailee: Right. Yeah, I mean, I think, for starters, the fact that that's when we start to lose it, so it's the perfect time to work to preserve it and prevent any more loss of it.
I also think that this is the perfect time in our lives to be educating ourselves on skincare and what we're putting on our skin and what we're putting in our bodies.
I do feel like, for me, my skincare routine—my skincare journey, I should say—has consisted of also realizing that it has a lot to do with what we put in our bodies, right? It comes from within.
So, you know, when I think skincare routine, I think of the products that I use, which are very few.
Less is more for me when it comes to my skin. It's very sensitive. But my skincare routine also consists of drinking a ton of water, working out, eating a healthy, balanced diet for the most part.
And all of these things, again, have been such a journey that I'm so grateful to have landed on a consistent routine at this point in my life where, you know, we're in the zone of pre-aging and taking these preventative steps for it.
Fawn: Absolutely. It's all about holistic wellness, right? So many people try to compartmentalize, but, I mean, half of protecting collagen is literally like moving your body and preserving your endothelial health with blood flow.
Hailee: Completely, completely.
And again, I think it's just a matter of helping people realize that and educating them.
And I've become such a sponge, if you will, to all of these facts.
I think we're so lucky that we have access to so much information these days and information in ways that are so easy to break down, which is so great because this stuff can be intimidating, and it is a lot of information, and it can be a little scary.
But I feel like with this product alone, the way that it's being presented to us is that it really can be as simple as just banking it now and working in this simple step in our routine that adds little to no time, really, that our future selves are going to thank us for.
Fawn: Tell me a little bit about why you like the collagen moisturizer, but also some other things that you're using in your routine?
Hailee: First of all, I am loving this for the sake of what it's doing.
I've been using this product for several weeks now, and I can already tell a difference in the plumpness of my skin, the glowiness of my skin, which I feel like is so important to me, especially in daily life.
I don't wear a whole lot of makeup. I love makeup, and when I do choose to put any more than a little on, I live for those moments.
But I prefer to just do a quick makeup look. If I'm really doing anything more than that, it's to cover up blemishes, dark circles, or any imperfections, if you will.
This product has allowed me to sort of minimize those, and when it comes to putting on makeup, it's just about accentuating my features and not so much hiding them.
This product—the technology behind it is incredible.
The patented micro peptide technology, which I'm learning so much about, and the fact that these anti-aging peptides in the product are two times smaller than others out there, allows them to actually penetrate the skin and make an impact, as opposed to just sitting on top.
Other products that I'm using: I use a cleanser from my dermatologist, Christie Kidd, that I have been using for—I should figure out how long—it's been a long time, but it's consistent, and it's so gentle, and it works.
You know when you find something that works, it doesn't leave the back of the counter, right?
We all know how that goes. And just a great moisturizer—that's kind of my third and final step, at least during the nighttime. Daytime always ends with an SPF.
Fawn: Of course. Awesome. I'd love to hear a little bit about the technology from you.
I started Skincare Stacy because I have a background in chemistry, and I broke out with adult acne a couple of years ago, and I couldn't figure out how to fix it.
I was sick of all the marketing, so I used my chemistry background to figure out the science of beauty and why different products work.
So, I may have to do a deep dive into some of the tech behind this product in the newsletter article around this interview.
But more than that, you mentioned that you really like how this product allows you to accentuate your features instead of hiding them. I love that line.
Can you tell me a little bit more about some of the other benefits that you've noticed since you started using the Neutrogena Collagen Bank moisturizer?
Hailee: Yeah, absolutely. That's so cool.
I feel like there's this more long-term effect that this product is having on my skin where, you know, you use a great moisturizer, and your skin looks really hydrated and great, and then a few hours go by, and maybe it's gotten a little greasy, or it hasn't worn well, or it clogs your pores, or it just doesn't work right.
I've had many a trial and error with products. I'm looking for something that I put on at nighttime, and I wake up, and my skin is still reaping the benefits of that product.
That's what Neutrogena Collagen Bank, I feel, is doing for me.
And again, then I feel like when it comes to doing my makeup or getting ready for the day, my skin has that internal glow.
And again, I feel that's due to the fact that this product has these peptides that are able to penetrate the skin ten layers deep, I believe.
Other peptides just sit on the skin's surface and don't do that.
Fawn: Very cool. Yeah, it's totally true.
A lot of the issue around peptides is that it's a little marketing-heavy, and then we have this thing called the 500 Dalton rule, which is that any compound greater than 500 Daltons, which is a molecular weight metric, can't actually penetrate the skin.
So the fact that you're telling me these peptides are very small in nature is actually telling me, like, yeah, they actually probably do penetrate the epidermis.
So moving on a little bit past the specific product, I just want to ask you a little bit about your life.
Your schedule must be super busy with filming and travel. I'm curious about how you're adjusting your skincare routine to keep your skin healthy and glowing when you're on the go or on set or traveling?
Hailee: So, I would say that the difference in my skincare routine is really a matter of using more or less of the products that I'm already using. I try not to change it up.
I find that consistency is key for my skin because if my skincare routine stays consistent when everything else isn't, then I feel like at least that's the one thing that's steady.
Everything else can be a shock to the system, but at least the products that are going on my face and into my skin are the same, and my skin is familiar with them.
Again, I'm in like a three-to-five-step skincare routine right now, and it's working, so that's where I'm staying.
But when I travel, I find my skin gets a little bit dry or inflamed and puffy, so it's the difference of laying off certain things or adding a little bit more moisture in.
Overall, I've learned the importance of just being kind to my skin and gentle with my skin.
It's so easy to get frustrated and pack on this product or that product or neglect your skin entirely and not do anything, right?
Which is also a thing that becomes easy when you're traveling, in different time zones, and you don't know where you are or what you're doing, and suddenly you forget to thoroughly go through your skincare routine.
That's also why it's been reduced to just a handful of products—because it is time-consuming, and I think if you can nail something that you feel comfortable and confident with—and by the way, that could be a ten-step skincare routine if that's your thing—that is your thing.
But for me, it's become what it is because of the travel and the inconsistency and lack of continuity in my life, that my skincare routine is just a quick, simple, clean, few-step routine.
Fawn: I get it. I travel a ton for work—for biom and for Skincare Stacy.
I get like 50 new products a month to try and write about, and it's like I don't know how to possibly keep up.
So I wish I was more like you in that regard.
Hailee: I do love a product test, though. I'm like a product junkie with that. I love to try new things, but I've definitely had to reel myself in with that because my skin feels differently.
Fawn: Well, if you’re ever in my area, I’ll give you a hundred to test out yourself.
So you've had an incredible career across acting and music. I did a little snooping around, and I saw that you were in a movie called True Grit, which I do remember coming out when I was in school - I remember hearing about it!
You were in Spider-Man, which I love. You've had some success in music as well. You're really like a one-woman show, kind of doing it all.
So, I wanted to hear a little bit about how you're balancing these two different fields.
Hailee: Yeah, you know, I feel so fortunate to be able to do what I love in different arenas and at different capacities.
When it comes to balancing everything, there's no denying that it's a challenge.
I definitely have moments where I'm like, "Did I bite off more than I can chew?"
But then I feel like if I have those moments, I'm reminded almost instantly that I get to do what I love, and none of this feels like work at the end of the day, which is the craziest thing to me.
So I just go back to feeling so fortunate to be able to do what I love and have that be a thing that connects me with people around the world.
I've recently launched—well, I guess by the time this interview comes out, I will have launched—a newsletter called Beau Society.
Fawn: Amazing. I was going to ask you about Beau Society, so I'm glad you brought it up! I get it.
When everyone else went to short-form video, I went to long-form written content with skincare and cosmetic chemistry.
I fully agree; there's no other way to connect with your readers like long-form writing.
Hailee: It's crazy because I too am one to get lost in the scroll, and my attention span has shrunk, absolutely.
But I also feel like, in a way, it's like going back to simpler times, right?
I loved a blog post, I loved a Tumblr moment. I was so into just getting lost in that, right?
And I missed that. I can still appreciate what you do in that sense because I just think it's important.
It's important and exciting, and there are people out there that want and need that. I'm excited to be doing my own version.
Fawn: I love that. I'm sure your readers are going to be so excited. When I looked you up, it was like Hailee Steinfeld fan clubs everywhere.
Hailee: Thank you.
Fawn: So, you are crazy busy like me. I want to go back to skincare for a second because there are so many different triggers for different skin concerns.
I made these fluoride-free toothpaste tablets because I found out that fluoride was impacting my perioral dermatitis and acne. And also, working 24/7, you break out all the time.
So I wanted to know, and I'm sure the readers want to know, do you get stress breakouts like the rest of us?
If so, how do you deal with it? And even if you're not getting acne breakouts, how are you managing stress in your day-to-day life?
Hailee: You learn something new every day, girl. I need your number! That's crazy.
Yes, I do get breakouts. If only I could answer that question with "No, I can't relate," it would be a dream.
But no, I absolutely get stress breakouts.
In fact, I literally said to my mom a few weeks ago because I was so stressed about God knows what, I literally said I feel like my forehead is about to just explode with breakouts—I can feel it.
My body has its ways of making it very clear that we're stressed, and breaking out will be the first sign.
My skin is the first thing to show you. So I absolutely get stress breakouts, and again, that's where I feel like it starts from within, right?
Your skincare routine includes making sure you're putting great, healthy foods into your body and drinking a lot of water.
It sounds so cliché, and I have my incredible dad to remind me of it way too many times a day, but it's so true because if it weren't for him doing that, I wouldn't realize that I wasn't drinking enough water almost all the time, right?
So, I do get stress breakouts, and the worst part about it is that I then stress about the breakout.
Fawn: I know. Totally, and not to ask you too technical of a skincare question, but when you do get those breakouts, is there any specific product or regimen you follow?
Hailee: I love a stubborn acne patch from Neutrogena. I will walk around with those all over—no shame.
Fawn: I do too. I use Hero though.
Hailee: Honestly, it's just a matter of trying to remain calm, centering myself, and also just trying not to touch my face and do something about it because sometimes, you know, my hands will get the best of the little blemish, but I've gotten a lot better at that, I'll tell you that much.
Fawn: Absolutely. That's the big one—no touching your face!
Wrapping up with Hailee, I admired her simple yet effective skincare routine that fits her busy life.
Her holistic approach—balancing skincare with hydration and a healthy diet—really resonates.
If I were as time-pressed as Hailee, I'd rely on four essentials: a gentle cleanser, nourishing moisturizer, retinol or Tretinoin, and a reliable SPF like Supergoop or Allies of Skin.
To learn about my favorite SPF from Supergoop, check out this article.
These basics ensure healthy, glowing skin, even on hectic days.
Hailee’s partnership with Neutrogena is exciting, and I’m eager to see how it inspires others to start preserving their collagen early.
Even with a packed schedule, a few moments for skincare can make all the difference.
Cheers,