Elizabeth Banks Starts Her Day the Coldest Way Possible for ‘Instant Tightening’

At 51, Elizabeth Banks knows what works for her skin and what doesn’t. Here, the actress, director, producer and mom of two dishes on her favorite products, the wellness gift she just scored at a “favorite things party” that she’s now “obsessed with” and more.

It’s almost officially winter. Are you switching up your skin-care routine this season?

“Yes. I spend a lot of the winter in Utah because I’m a big skier and a big outdoorswoman, and Utah is so dry—it’s impossibly dry—so, honestly, it’s more moisture, moisture, moisture. I’m always looking for that extra hydration during these months because I’m gonna be outside.

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I’ve also got one of those big water bottles that tracks how much you drink during the day. Another way I get extra moisture is No7 skin care—the Future Renew Night Serum and Night Cream. I also just gave it to all my girlfriends at our Christmas exchange. We had to bring five of our favorite things, and No7 was one of mine. I can’t live without it right now.”

What are your other favorite things right now?

“Well, I’ll tell you, one of the favorite things that got given to me the other night by a friend was an eye massager [we like this one] and it’s got heat in it and different things that massage you. She told me it was changing her life. It also has a Bluetooth speaker, so I can listen to my Spotify playlist.

I just got it, and I’m already obsessed because it’s so much better for me to have something put over my eyes right before I go to bed, so I’m not looking at my phone. It helps me fall asleep, and sleep is so important to your beauty routine. I also have a red light thing as well, but I wasn’t using it consistently to get great results.”

Are you more of a skin-care minimalist?

“Yes, but not until a few years ago. I asked my dermatologist for advice because at that point—I’m not kidding—I probably had 30 things on my counter. I was trying everything. And I will say that through this partnership with No7, one of the things I’ve gotten out of it the most is that it has simplified my entire routine. I’m not trying a million different things. Their products are super simple, and you kind of can’t go wrong.

At this point in my life, with so much going on, being a busy, working mom, I just want simplicity. And also just products that work. I don’t want to have to think too hard about it.”

What would you say are your biggest skin concerns right now?

“I mean, always fine lines and wrinkles, and of course, any sort of puffiness. I’m a gua sha queen now at this point. I will put my face in a bowl of ice in the morning and count to 30. It does get those pores nice and tight, and I moisturize right after.

It’s the inflammation—it’s like the night goes away when you put your face in ice. I’ve been doing that since I turned 50, and I do think it really works for me, not just for instant tightening, but also for getting rid of a lot of inflammation.”

When I don’t get enough sleep—we all have plenty of those nights—I want products to help counteract signs like puffiness, under-eye bags and dark circles. I know I keep coming back to No7, but they’ve put so much science into their products and have incredible R&D. I can go to bed knowing that when I wake up, I’m not gonna look horrible. This is especially true if you’re perimenopausal, like myself. I’m also worried about sun damage, so I use Day Cream with SPF to help keep damage to a minimum.”

And lastly, what projects are you excited about for 2026?

“I am really excited for the new year. I can’t announce the thing I’m doing in the spring, but I have a new show coming out called The Miniature Wife with Matthew Macfadyen from Succession that I am super excited about. It’s going to premiere on Peacock this April, and we get to promote it during the Winter Olympics.

And then I’m also constantly working on my wine company, Archer Roose Wines—luxury wine in a can. I’m actually going to travel around and introduce it in a bunch of hospitality suites, and I’m excited for that, too.”

Shop Elizabeth Banks’ Skin-Care Routine