Cindy Crawford on Why She Doesn't Want to Be a 23

The nineties super talks beauty, resetting your body, and defying gravity.

Cindy Crawford is the epitome of the American dream: The daughter of an electrician and a homemaker from DeKalb, Illinois, goes from shucking corn to supermodel. The only thing that makes the story better is that she dated the high school quarterback. But Crawford, as her multiple endorsement deals (lest you forget that famous Pepsi commercial) and entrepreneurial endeavors (she launched a skincare brand, Meaningful Beauty, more than a decade ago with Dr. Jean-Louis Sebagh) suggest, isn't all curvaceous body and no brains. The valedictorian of her class earned a chemical engineering scholarship to Northwestern University, but would ultimately set her studies aside to pursue magazine covers, music videos (George Michael's 'Freedom! '90'), television (MTV's House of Style), and the runway. Though Crawford never had a career as a nuclear physicist (an early goal), her interest in science doesn't seem to have waned: She added an Ultra Lifting and Filling Treatment infused with a collagen-boosting orchid extract to her line of antiaging products this month. 'When we learned about the orchid, it's such an interesting story of how it's an environmental indicator,' she noted of the 'longevity molecules' that allow the plant to thrive in the harshest conditions. 'It felt like it was a nice enhancement to our melon complex.' Her scholarly endeavors, however, don't stop at skin: The 48-year-old is also penning a book with Rizzoli dedicated to her illustrious career and the 'universal' life lessons she's learned over the years. Here, Crawford schools us on her three-minute makeup routine, how she 'resets' her body, and why she's not trying to be a 23-year-old Victoria's Secret model. Class is now in session.

Sports Illustrated Can you walk me through your skincare regimen and where the Ultra Lifting and Filling Treatment fits in?

I cleanse my skin in the morning, of course, and then I use this product on clean skin next because it's a serum. What I learned from Dr. Sebagh is that you start with the more watery products, and then go from there, so the serum should go on first. Because this serum has a lot of hyaluronic in it, I let it sit on my skin for a few minutes, and then I put on my day cream. So I'll go do something else [while I'm waiting for it to soak in], and then go and put on my day cream with SPF. I'll usually rub both on my décolletage, but then we also have a décolletage cream-it depends on how much of a rush I'm in. That's pretty much my regular morning. If I'm going to work, I might use the Wrinkle Smoothing Capsules or the eye cream, just depending on what my skin is doing that day. And then at night, I cleanse my skin, [apply] the Crème de Sérum, and then I do the eye cream. And that's my basic everyday. If I'm getting off an airplane, I'll do the Glowing Serum.

What goes into your makeup routine?

Right now I'm really into Guerlain [Terracotta Skin Healthy Glow Foundation] Second Skin Effect-it's a foundation, but it's not really a foundation. It feels like mousse and it gives me just enough coverage, but it still looks like skin. And because of the formulation, you don't really have to powder it. Your skin still breathes and it doesn't look makeup-y. Then there's an Armani foundation that comes in a pot-it has SPF in it. It's a little thicker than the Guerlain stuff, so I'll use that underneath my eyes if I have any under-eye things I need to deal with. And if I have any spots, I use François Nars' concealer stick in Ginger. I love that. And then instead of powder-in the '80s, it was like, 'Powder, powder, powder'-I'll use a little bit of bronzing powder on a brush just to sort of set that. Sonia Kashuk has a great brown eyeshadow palette that has like 16 shades of brown-it's perfect. And she makes great brushes, too! I think half the battle of getting your makeup on is having the right tools, so I love her stuff. I've been using a Josie Maran-it's like stick cheek color, but it's really sheer. I use Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara, and for lip, I usually use Crème de la Mer lip conditioner. I don't really wear lip color during the day. I comb my brows, and I'm out the door-it's, like, three minutes.

I understand that you had to apply your own makeup at one of your first photo shoots. What was that like?

I was working with Iman and Dianne DeWitt, and those ladies knew what they were doing. I just looked at what they did and tried my best to replicate it. I'm sure it was not very successful, but like anything, you learn by observing, by doing and watching, and keeping your eyes open. And of course, I have gotten to work with truly the best makeup artists-and really, artists -in the world. So you can't help but pick up a little bit from that.

Speaking of that, what is the best beauty trick you've learned, and who taught it to you?

People ask me this question so much and I wish I had some amazing answer. I think the things that sometimes-no offense-what magazines print as 'tricks,' are more like gimmicks and I'm not really sure they really [work]. It's like, 'Take a cold spoon and rub it on...' I don't know, whatever. I always say, 'The secret is there's no secret.' It's taking care of your skin by, of course, skincare, but also don't smoke, don't go in the sun too much, exercise, eat right, drink lots of water, get plenty of sleep, and don't party all night. Those are the best beauty secrets because you'll look great even without makeup...I think, as you get older, less is more-especially around the eyes. At a certain point you have to embrace your laugh lines instead of trying to cover them up.

Do you change up your routine after a photo shoot to keep your complexion in check?

I get facials usually once a month, or microdermabrasion. Also, especially after photo shoots, I make sure that I clean my skin well-maybe [wash it] twice and use a warm cloth just to make sure I'm opening the pores and getting all the makeup out. The other thing I really like is using an infrared sauna maybe once or twice a week. If I can get into an infrared sauna for like half an hour, my skin really seems to like that.

Do you have a go-to facialist?

I go to Cristina Radu in L.A.

What is your biggest beauty splurge?

I think facials, probably. Then again, a splurge is time, so sitting in the sauna is a splurge. And then I got laser on my legs, like, three years ago. I don't know why I was so late to the party on the laser thing. Not that shaving is that hard, but I love [laser] because [your legs are] always good. But you have to commit to it-you really have to go every six to eight weeks for a year and say, 'I'm going to do this and this is important to me.'

Was it painful?

Yes, but worth it. Definitely.

When it comes to supermodel hair, you pretty much set the standard. What are your go-to products in that department?

Right now I've been using Oribe shampoo and conditioner, and I also like that one product from Wen.

The cleansing conditioner?

Yes, I kind of mix those up depending on-I hope this makes sense-if I want my hair to feel dry or not. For work, it's good if it's dry, because I don't ever want to limit the stylist and what they can do with it. My daughter actually told me about this mask from Lush. It's a jasmine pre-shampoo hair mask, and it has really made a difference. I put it in before I work out for an hour, and then I wash and dry my hair. Even my friends who are hairdressers and know my hair very well noticed a difference.

I understand you have a big birthday on the horizon and you're writing a book to celebrate. Can you tell me a little bit about this project?

The birthday that is on the horizon is 49, so I have a year and a half! But in preparation for [50]-and it just seemed to be the right timing-I'm doing a book. I guess the idea is that it celebrates, photographically, my career. I'm also writing essays-for lack of a better word-about things I've learned. So I think that part of the book is more [focused on] my growing from a young girl in DeKalb, Illinois, to the woman that I am today. And of course a lot of my journey and a lot of my lessons have been through the world of fashion, but the lessons themselves are universal.

What is one of the biggest lessons you've learned in your career?

The gift of travel, and just what an amazing, eye-opening part of my life travel has been. I grew up in a small town where everyone was pretty much the same, and you get out in the world and you realize how different every place is, but in the end, people are people everywhere.

Can you describe the pressures that come with being a model and managing the aging process?

It's probably harder for me just as a woman-like it is for everyone-than it has been as a model. First of all, when I started modeling, I never saw it as something I'd be doing for 25 years. I thought five years, or maybe 10. I've also allowed my career to evolve and follow me where I was going in my life. For instance, when I was into working out, I did an exercise video; or when I became a new mother, I became involved with a baby company; as a model I take care of my skin, so I created Meaningful Beauty; and even doing a furniture collection, because now as a mom and a wife, I'm more concerned about creating a home. All of those things have reflected where I am at the moment. I'm not trying to be a 23-year-old Victoria's Secret model-that would be depressing. I haven't found it hard in my career, interestingly enough. I think the hard thing as a woman is when [you look in the mirror and] you're like, 'Oh, I didn't notice that before! That's new!' Or no matter how much you work out, you're still fighting gravity.

Do you take any vitamins or do any cleanses to stay healthy and energized?

I don't really do an all-juice cleanse, but I do like to juice. I like to have a green juice every day when possible, and for breakfast, I have the same smoothie from Urban Remedy...I'm not good at doing an all-juice cleanse for like three days-I don't know, I get cranky.

I don't think you're the only one!

It's funny, because of the weekend you tend to have things you wouldn't normally eat or you're drinking, so Monday is my reset day where I eat really clean. And if I can make it last till Tuesday, I'll do that, too.

How do you reset your body exactly?

To me, it's more like anti-inflammation. I'll have my smoothie in the morning from Urban Remedy. Or I'll make it myself, because [nutritionist and Urban Remedy founder] Neka Pasquale told me how to make it, which I can share: A cup of almond milk, a half of a frozen banana, a cup of spinach, a fourth of a cup of fresh mint, and a handful of cacao chips. And then I put in protein so I can work out and feel good.

Does it taste like a milkshake?

It tastes like mint chocolate chip ice cream. And I have green tea, which I have every morning because I don't really drink coffee. For lunch on Mondays I make a soup. You take a potato or sweet potato, half a head of cabbage, four stalks of celery, four carrots, and maybe an onion, and then you [put it in a pot], fill it up with water, and simmer it for an hour until the vegetables are soft. I just have that for lunch and dinner. I put in Bragg's amino acid, fresh lemon, and sometimes I add ginger. It's very calming on my stomach, and it's filling enough. You can put in some chicken or brown rice if you want, but I don't. And I'll have that for Monday lunch, Monday dinner, Tuesday lunch if I'm home. It's no sugar, you just clean out.

What's your biggest indulgence?

Chocolate.

Do you have a favorite kind?

I like dark chocolate, but the one I really love is Dagoba. They look like chocolate chips, which is good because you can just have a handful of them.

I imagine your fitness routine has changed since you filmed Shape Your Body in the '90s. What is your regimen like now?

I work out with a trainer. I schedule it for three days a week, and I try to make it to all three, but once in a while I have to cancel one. I go down [to the gym] early and do 10 minutes of cardio before she gets here just to warm up. Then we basically do [a workout] very similar to what I used to do with Radu [Teordescu]: It's free weights, lunges, and squats. We add in more cardio, so we'll do two 10-minute cardio sessions within that so the heart rate stays up the whole time. Then we finish with abs and lower back.

We've all taken note of your perfect form on VHS, but there must be a workout move you despise

Running. Hate it. I never liked it. It gives me a headache.

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