Female Celebs Over 40 Who Are Open About Their Struggles With Acne

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Some might be inclined to believe that acne is only a problem that hormonal teens have to worry about. Alas, that sentiment couldn't be further from the truth. As it turns out, many woman over 40 still deal with pesky breakouts, and it's just as terrible as it was back in their youth. "Some people continue to experience acne after the age of 30 years as hormonal changes relating to pregnancy or the menstrual cycle can trigger acne," dermatologist Andrew Tomizawa told Marie Claire in December 2021 about how hormonal acne can affect women later in life, especially those diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome, also known as PCOS. 

Fortunately, many celebs are refreshingly honest about their own struggles dealing with acne over 40. We're talking Tina Fey, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Gabrielle Union, Jenny McCarthy, Reese Witherspoon, Tina Fey, and even one of the newest members of the 40-and-up crowd, Amanda Seyfried. As a result, their candor is helping shed light on the issue and bust the age-old myth that acne is just a teenager's problem. 

Comedian Tina Fey was open about her struggles with acne in "Bossypants," her 2011 autobiography. According to Fey, she has always struggled with acne. "My ability to turn good news into anxiety is rivaled only by my ability to turn anxiety into chin acne," the then 40-year-old quipped in the book (via The New Republic). 

But according to Fey, the acne is A-okay with her. While discussing her radical decision to love herself amid a culture that is always chasing the next beauty trend all in an effort to become their own version of Kim Kardashian — "who was made by Russian scientists to sabotage our athletes" — Fey wrote, "I wouldn't even trade the acne scar on my right cheek because that recurring zit spent more time with me in college than any boy ever did" (via Allure). So, uh, thanks for all the mems, chin zits.

Speaking of Kim Kardashian, the leading lady of the branded family empire is also no stranger to dealing with skin issues. Over the years, she's been especially candid about her struggles with psoriasis. But as it turns out, she's also dealt with adult acne breakouts. "I never thought I'd be getting acne in my 40s. It was definitely really interesting to experience," she told Bustle in October 2023, while also plugging her brand new SKKN by Kim Resurfacing Mask. "Luckily, I documented it, and we've been working on a lot of products that have taken that into account," she added. "I never thought I would be making acne products, but that's definitely coming in the future." Hey, she's not a billionaire for nothing. 

In June 2015, the golden girl of Hollywood herself, Jennifer Aniston, admitted that she, too, deals with bouts of acne from time to time. When asked by Elle what she does when she's in the midst of a pimple emergency, the then-46-year-old actor revealed that — after she's rolled her eyes in annoyance, of course — she slathers Mario Badescu's drying lotion on it, which she said she's "used for years and years." And absolutely no picking at it, Aniston warned, though she admitted that's something she used to do in the past. 

In 2019, 43-year-old Reese Witherspoon confessed to Allure that she's prone to acne breakouts on her chin and nose as a result of wearing heavy makeup on set and not getting it completely off when she's washing her face at night. As a result, she has become fastidious about her evening face wash and swears by Elizabeth Arden's retinol capsules. "I look more awake in the morning. They also even out the redness in my skin so I don't have to wear as much foundation," she explained. 

In March 2025, Gabrielle Union also did a video for Vogue, this one aptly titled, "Gabrielle Union's Guide to Makeup in Her 50s." She revealed her everyday skincare routine and opened up about her struggles with late-in-life acne. Union maintained that she never dealt with acne when she was younger, but after she went through some hormonal changes, all bets were off.

"And then, it was like, Is this acne? How do you get acne as a fully grown-ass woman? But I found a way," she joked. Union revealed that she immediately got to work testing out various products to remedy her acne. "I think I'm probably like you guys. You try a bunch of different things, you see what fits, what doesn't fit." Stars, they're just like us.

In May 2025, 52-year-old actor-turned-founder of her very own vegan, cruelty-free, and non-toxic cosmetics line, Jenny McCarthy, opened up about her late-in-life acne and how she eventually got rid of it once and for all. "I went on the carnivore diet," the Formless Beauty CEO told People. "I was so against it, but my doctor was like, you've tried everything but this, so you're going carnivore." And fortunately, according to McCarthy, the diet did the trick. "All of my acne has cleared up," she declared. 

Amanda Seyfried let it all hang out on the red carpet at the 2026 Met Gala when she revealed she was currently taking acne medication. "I'm on medicine right now for acne on my chin," the 40-year-old divulged during an interview for Vogue (via Instagram) with Ashley Graham and Cara Delevingne. 

It should be noted, however, that this wasn't the first time Seyfried has discussed struggles with her skin — namely eczema and perioral dermatitis (which is fancy-speak for a rash around her mouth) — since she was 19. During a get-ready-with-me-style video for Vogue's Beauty Secrets series in March 2025, Seyfried explained her skincare regimen usually includes slathering on a "medicated cream for this little cutie mustache." She kept the jokes coming, noting "the rash is screaming, but that's okay because I'm going to cover it so I can go out in public." Keep calm and carry on!