Well, now her secrets are out. Williams is bringing her beauty-know-how to QVC to launch her own line, ReVitalistic Skincare. Here, Williams shares more about her new skin care collection and the tried-and-true tips that she swears by when it comes to aging gracefully.
ESSENCE.com: What inspired you to start a skincare line?
VANESSA WILLIAMS: I’ve battled skin problems my entire life and after working with the best doctors, dermatologists and estheticians in the world, I was fortunate enough to find products that consistently worked for me. Now my skin is in great shape and my fans constantly ask about my skin care regimen. So, I have decided to share my secrets. I also identified high-quality ingredients and the most user-friendly approach to beautiful skin with the goal of providing real solutions for real women. So far it seems to have worked. Our reviews have been wonderful and the feedback from the QVC customers has really helped shape new ideas going forward.
ESSENCE.com: You look amazing for your age! What are your skin secrets for aging skin?
WILLIAMS: My first product is the star of my line, my anti-aging wrinkle fighter and my (until now) best kept secret. I’ve been using it for years and it’s made a huge difference in keeping my skin ageless. It’s called the Re-Start Skin Serum. It’s currently available on QVC.com. It includes Dermaxyl, which is a patented oligopeptide complex, Hyaluronic Filling Spheres and antioxidants Vitamin A, C, E and Retinol. These work in combination to oxygenate and moisturize the skin. They also help improve the visible signs of premature aging by smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Make sure you tune into QVC at 8 a.m. ET this Saturday, August 18 to hear more!
ESSENCE.com: As you know, there are a lot of celeb-endorsed lines out there. How involved were you with creating the products? What makes this line stand out from the rest?
WILLIAMS: This is my brand and I am very much in control of it. It started from my own skin care regimen which has worked miracles for me. I am involved in every aspect of it, from the name, the color palette of the packaging, the logo and the ingredients. It has been a labor of love and I have loved working on it for over a year until I knew it was perfect. That’s what my friends count on and that’s what I’m bringing to my new customers at QVC.
These are the greatest hits that have worked for me as I’ve aged. I’ve taken proven skin care concepts and improved them. That’s what makes my line unique – results and quality. I’ve edited the skin care process to find the most effective methods for treating all kinds of skin problems that women typically experience. And it is important to me to make it easy and not time intensive. I integrated specific elements from my own professional skin care regimen to achieve and maintain healthy, glowing skin effortlessly. My products contain ingredients which have been formulated especially for me by the world’s best skin care experts.
ESSENCE.com: You’re a former beauty queen and now have had an amazing and longstanding career in acting and music. What is the number one skincare trick or tip you’ve mastered over your career?
WILLIAMS: It’s not so much a tip or trick I’ve mastered, as it is finally finding those “magic” products that worked for me. Over the past ten years, trying to age gracefully in front of the camera, I began to notice how my skin was changing. I’ve suffered from skin problems for a significant amount of my adult life, and the gradual upgrade to high definition video became brutal for beauty, thus exposing all my flaws. I tried everything from lighting to precise makeup, but despite all of the tricks, my skin had to endure intense scrutiny by millions. I needed products that were effective in reversing the signs of aging, sun-damage and years of travel and makeup. I couldn’t find anything that worked for me, so I decided to create my own skin care solutions for women everywhere looking for that “perfect product.”
ESSENCE.com: What are some of the skincare mistakes you made in your 20’s and/or 30’s that you would advise our readers to learn from?
WILLIAMS: My skin in my 20s and 30s was constantly challenged because of pregnancy hormones and overall stress. The biggest mistake was to use Accutane back in the ’80s. The medicine was so risky especially during the child bearing years and it was very drastic for a temporary fix to my acne issue.
ESSENCE.com: You’ll be 50 next year. What are you looking forward to the most about the next decade of your career and as a mom?
WILLIAMS: My biggest wish is to stay healthy, age gracefully, watch my children continue to blossom into amazing adults and realize my never ending dreams in my creative field. Bringing it!