My 80-year-old grandma has hardly any wrinkles. Here's her diet and daily skincare routine.
Yuri Lee
- An 80-year-old grandma went viral for having perfect, plump skin with barely any wrinkles.
- Business Insider asked her granddaughter about how her grandma stays youthful.
- She has a long skincare routine, takes supplements every day, and eats lots of fermented foods.
Wrinkles, sun spots, and the loss of fat are a natural part of the skin's aging process. But one 80-year-old woman seems to have (largely) avoided them.
When Yuri Lee, a 36-year-old influencer based in LA, posted a TikTok last fall with her grandmother, Toshiko Eto, it went viral. In the video, they showcase her "flawless and glowy glass skin" that she achieved without Botox or fillers, and commenters were keen to discover the octogenarian's skincare secrets.
@yurileeeee She has literaly the most beautiful skin i’ve ever seen!! #grandma #grandmatiktok #beautifulskin #flawlessskin #skincarevideo #glassskin #skincarroutine
♬ Cartoon Eye Blinking Sound - Anna
Lee told Business Insider that her grandma has been caring for her skin since she was 20 years old. On TikTok, she said she is consistent with her skincare, and "if she likes it, she sticks to it."
The global skincare market has almost doubled in size in the past decade or so and is forecast to hit 189.3 billion by 2025, according to Statista. We asked dermatologists whether Eto's skincare routine or just luck and genetics have helped her achieve flawless skin.
Eto has had a skincare routine for 60 years
Eto has followed a daily skincare routine for the last 60 years, using specific products from a Japanese brand, Manavis, for the past 15 years. These are:
Emollient Lotion — a face mist that she sprays on and pats in.
Dr. Derek V. Chan, a board-certified medical and cosmetic dermatologist in Manhattan, told BI that the active ingredient in this lotion is dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, which is thought to even out skin tone and help maintain hyaluronic acid levels, but evidence from large scale studies are needed to support these claims.
Whitening Essence — Eto smoothes one pump of this vitamin C serum into her skin.
Chan said that the form of vitamin C used in this product helps to repair ultraviolet damage, increase collagen levels, and is "a nice way to get the benefits of vitamin C while being less irritating to the skin." Vitamin C can also help with hyperpigmentation and evening out the skin tone, he said.
Restore Gel — Eto applies this serum after the Whitening Essence. She said on TikTok that she doesn't wait between products because they absorb quickly.
The tranexamic acid in this gel can ease hyperpigmentation, Chan said.
Wrinkle Gel — this is a moisturizing cream that Eto rubs in.
Chan said that some manufacturers claim that stearyl glycyrrhetinate, found in this product, can even out skin, but more research is needed to prove this.
La Prairie foundation — Eto said this foundation is "very light on the skin," like a tinted moisturizer, and stays in place all day.
Chan likes this product because it contains ceramides, which help rebuild the natural skin barrier, as well as both a physical and chemical sunscreen. However, because the American Academy of Dermatology recommends a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, he said this foundation "should be used with another dedicated sunscreen to adequately protect against the aging effects of ultraviolet light."
At night, Eto uses the Nerium Age Defying Night Cream, which is available in the US, Lee told BI. Eto has used it daily for 10 years, applying it after her nightly bath.
Staying out of the sun prevents wrinkles
Replying to comments on her videos, Lee said her grandmother "doesn't go outside" often. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the sun is responsible for 90% of visible damage to the skin.
Dr. Tina Alster, a dermatologist and director at the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery, told BI that genetics and protection from the sun are "likely the two most important factors" for Eto's skin looking so young.
Alster said that Eto's skincare routine has likely "minimally" contributed to her wrinkle-free skin, and having so many steps is unnecessary. She said: "If the vitamin C serum is of the correct strength/formulation, it is likely the best product in her program."
Taking supplements, including protein powder, daily
Every day for 20 years, Eto has drunk soybean protein powder and vitamin C powder from a Japanese brand called Miki, mixed with prune extract in a shake every day. She also takes Miki's Eco 37 supplement, which Lee said is avocado oil.
Chan said that research suggests eating enough protein is good for skin health. Plus, Vitamin C helps protect the skin against the sun and has been linked to decreases in wrinkles, according to Oregon State University.
Eating lots of fermented foods
Eto said in a TikTok that the food she eats, not the Manavis wrinkle gel she uses on her skin, keeps her skin smooth.
Lee said that Eto eats a big breakfast every day and that she cooks most of her meals at home.
Her grandmother also eats lots of vegetables and fermented foods, she said, including kimchi, miso, and natto, a traditional Japanese food made of fermented soybeans.
Fermented foods are great for your gut health, gastroenterologist Dr. Will Bulsiewicz previously told BI, which impacts your general health and longevity. Plus, research suggests that gut health and skin health are interconnected.
Alster said: "Fermented foods may or may not be helpful. The most important factors for healthy rejuvenated skin are genetics and sun protection."