How Celebrity Esthetician Shani Darden Gets Better With Age

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Shani Darden is known as one of the most in-demand skincare experts, and has been for over a decade. Her impact isn't just felt in Beverly Hills, where her flagship facial studio serves A-list clients, but all over the globe. Her namesake brand Shani Darden Skin Care is available in every Sephora store in North America, and ships directly to over 150 countries worldwide.

Before creating her own lane in the beauty industry, Darden trained under a top dermatologist to hone her skills, and opened her own studio in 2019. Her now best-selling line was borne out of necessity: When she couldn’t find certain skincare formulas at stores, she began custom-crafting them for her clients. Eventually she created her first product, the Retinol Reform serum, which quickly developed a following among celebrities like Kelly Rowland and Shay Mitchell. Soon, she was channeling her beauty expertise in a new way: as an official brand founder.

Here, Darden chats with Bazaar about the beauty products currently in her rotation, her thoughts on fillers and plastic surgery, and where she finds creative inspiration.

If you don’t mind sharing, how old are you?

I’m 49.

What age do you feel you are in your head?

I think probably in my 20s—I’m really immature. Late 20s, maybe 32. I was thinking about myself at 20, and it was frightening, so then I went up a little bit more.

Do you have a favorite beauty product you’ve worn for most of your life?

Definitely Retinol Reform, but before that I was using Retin-A, and I’ve been using a lot of prescription retinol.

What aspects of your physical appearance do you love more now, as you’ve gotten older?

I was just thinking about that! Maybe my legs? I liked them when I was younger, but they’re good now, too. I used to be a soccer player, so I’m always in really short shorts. I probably look inappropriate for my age, but I’m always showing my legs. I’m never mad at my legs—although I’ve never really looked at them from behind, so I’m worried about that. But from what I’ve heard, they’re really good.

Which beauty products would you say have aged well?

I mean, I would say Retinol Reform. Also the Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel pads—those are forever. Young, old, you need those.

Please give us a quick breakdown of your current beauty routine.

In the morning I cleanse and use vitamin C and a sunscreen/moisturizer in one. And at night, I cleanse and alternate between my lactic acid and my retinol, and also use an eye cream and moisturizer. And then every other week, I’m alternating between my peel and the Dr Dennis Gross pads.

Cleansing Serum

Lactic Acid AHA Exfoliating Serum

Intensive Eye Renewal Cream With Firming Peptides

Super Serum Advance+

Triple Acid Signature Peel

Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50

For makeup, I use Nars’ Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 every day. That’s the same thing I use when I go out. I’ve never used foundation before, I don’t even understand the difference. I also always use mascara. I love trying new formulas. My favorite is Inglot’s Promise Mascara—that’s still my go-to, but I’ve tried them all.

I also use a little bit of blush; right now, I’m using Merit. And then lip gloss—I’m crazy about lip gloss. My number one is Chanel’s Rouge Coco gloss, but I literally try them all. Any gloss in the world, I’m trying it, but I only like a clear gloss. That’s all I do for makeup, but if it were a special occasion, I would do a winged eye, and I’d need help doing it.

Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (SPF 30)

Flush Balm

Promise Mascara

Rouge Coco Gloss

I’m not very good at hair, so either DJ who works with me will do it, or Kristen, who’s actually a hairstylist. Otherwise I can’t really do it—like today, I didn’t do my hair because I’m by myself. I am really into hair masks, though—I have so many that I use, I can’t even tell you. My favorite right now is Davines’s Love Smoothing Instant Mask, and my favorite hair oil is Olaplex’s No. 7 Bonding Oil.

Love Smoothing Instant Mask

No. 7 Bonding Oil

A lot of conversations around aging seem to lead to injectables and plastic surgery. Tell us, what are your thoughts on the topic?

I don’t have a problem with any of it. But I don’t like filler. I think everyone should get Botox if you want to get Botox—it’s gorgeous. Just don’t overdo it—you should have some expression. And there comes a point when people will come to me and ask, “What should I do about my neck?” and they’re of a certain age, and I’ll say, “Absolutely nothing.”

If you feel like you need it, you know, you’ve got to be happy. And there’s something nice about aging. I get that you want to age well and feel good about yourself. You just have to be realistic about what can happen. For a lot of people, the only options are either plastic surgery or just accepting what you have.

And there are so many devices that can help you. Like, my eyes are drooping, and my mom has it too. My mom is probably going to have to have surgery because she has no choice; she’s not going to be able to see. I visit doctors all the time and they’re like, “What if we did a little of this?” and I’m like, “It doesn’t actually bother me right now.” If it does later, I’ll think about fixing them. Or every day, I can use my sculpting wand in the morning, and it picks them up. And then I’ve got until the end of the day, and then I have to do it again the next day.

Do you have any advice on keeping your neck looking as youthful as possible as you age?

I would say a couple of things: I would definitely use LED, and one of the things I would suggest doing at night? There are a lot of those silicone patches that claim to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles around your neck. I don’t believe they actually do, but what they do is hold your skin from moving. It’s the same thing with people who have bigger breasts and they get those lines. Put those there to stop your neck from moving so much, especially while you’re sleeping; I think that’s the most important thing. But, as I said, using LED, microcurrent technology, and vibration therapy can help, and I recommend doing them constantly.

What keeps you feeling vibrant and youthful?

Just hanging out with my friends—and wearing my short shorts, showing my legs.

What’s the best piece of beauty wisdom you’ve ever received from someone older and younger than you?

Always wear sunscreen would be advice from someone older, and someone younger? I’m trying to think if my daughters have ever given me advice—maybe that you can wear your pimple patches outside.

Nobody can make it through life without a few scars. What’s one of yours that tells a story?

I have scars everywhere. I played soccer for a really long time, so I have them all over my body. And as I previously said, I’m not very good at my hair, so I have a lot of burn marks from curling irons, including some from dropping them on my legs.

Where do you find beauty inspiration?

From people I work with. My clients are kind of my inspiration when making new products and figuring out what I want to do next.

Many people fear growing older. In your opinion, what’s the best part about it?

Well, you’re just smarter all around, and you don’t really care as much about a lot of things. I want to say I don’t really care what people think, but I do a little bit. If you’re aging wisely, you become a better human and care less about proving yourself, especially to those who aren’t.

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