Andie MacDowell shares her beauty secrets: "I’m much more loving towards myself than I used to be"

It’s been a stellar – and busy – year for Andie MacDowell. In fact, the Four Weddings and a Funeral star celebrated her 60 ^th birthday while working, which in her words, was “exactly what I wanted to be doing.” Besides film projects such as the critically lauded Love After Love, the L’Oréal Paris ambassador and former model also made a return to the runway earlier this month during Paris Fashion Week as the beauty brand staged its second Le Défilé show.

When she’s not jet-setting for work, the South Carolina native enjoys her life in L.A. While in Toronto to celebrate L’Oréal’s Women of Worth event, Andie sat down with Hello! to chat about the newest chapter in her life.

How has your perception of beauty changed over time? I’m much more loving towards myself than I used to be. I used to not like my legs, which I don’t understand at all because I had the most amazing legs in the world. It was from my years of being a model – I just wanted them to be sticks. But I was very athletic and it’s such a shame that I had that perception because they were perfect, and I should’ve been walking around in miniskirts.

Andie MacDowell says she stays centred with yoga, breath work and meditation. Photo: © Jonas Bresnan

What life advice have you passed on to your daughters? I try not to give them advice because I want them to be individuals. I want them to make decisions for themselves. I still tell them to read, and they do. I don’t think you necessarily have to have the highest degree in education but I think you need to read.

You love horseback riding. Do you still get a chance to do that in L.A.? I’ve been thinking about how I can get horses back into our lives again because there are places around California where we can keep a horse. The motion of the horse comforts the nervous system. It’s a really good way to relax and can help with anxiety.

Besides riding horses, what else do you do to keep yourself centred? I love to be outside. I try to be conscious of birds. I’ve always loved birds. Just hearing them, it’s hearing nature. California is beautiful so there’s a lot of plants in my neighbourhood. I also try to get to Griffith Park just to be completely surrounded by trees. It’s good for your health, it’s good for your cortisol levels, and it helps you to have a better sense of well-being. I also do yoga, breath work and meditation.

What’s your guilty indulgence? I thought about that yesterday. There’s not much I feel guilty about any more. I just choose not to feel guilty.

You’ve been with L’Oréal Paris for 32 years. What are your go-to products or products you’re loving right now? Revitalift. I put it by my coffee machine because coffee is dehydrating, so I could just balance out right there. I love doing my eyebrows, so I carry an eyebrow pencil with me everywhere. That’s the only thing I really do before I go to the grocery store. I love the new sugar scrub. You have to be careful with scrubs because sometimes they can be too rough. This one is just the right texture, that exfoliates without hurting your skin.

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power LZR Moisturizer, $39, and L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Scrub for Dull Skin, $15, both available at drugstores, mass-market retailers and amazon.ca