Celebrities Over 40 Who Ditched Dairy For Glowing Skin

It's no secret that dairy products can be solid sources of several key nutrients, not the least of which are calcium, protein, and vitamin B12. However, research indicates that eating dairy may also be one of the unexpected causes of acne flare-ups and other skin issues in people, prompting many skin health-focused celebs over age 40 to embrace a dairy-free diet regimen.

For instance, a 2018 review in Nutrients looked at the potential connection between skin breakouts and dairy consumption. Based on data from 14 studies, the review concluded that people between the ages of 7 and 30 who ate any type of dairy product were more likely to develop acne than those who stayed away from it. Likewise, a 2014 article in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology noted that research studies from around the world indicate an association between dairy and acne.

Why would dairy cause unwanted topical reactions? One thought is that disruptive levels of growth hormones or anabolic steroids (both occur naturally in milk-producing animals) are winding up in human beverages and foods. Another possibility is that dairy might mess with blood sugar levels, thereby leading to dermatological issues. Alternatively, the problem might lie in a genetic propensity toward being dermatologically sensitive to dairy.

Regardless of the core reasons behind the relationship, a few seasoned celebs have ditched their dairy. And what they're saying may make some of you think twice about your daily yogurt smoothie habit if you're getting a lot of otherwise unexplained breakouts and blemishes.

Tia Mowry's experience with endometriosis was the catalyst for her to give up dairy. After telling her doctor she wanted to have children, the doctor suggested that she transform her eating habits to reduce inflammation, which meant turning away from dairy products (via Yahoo!). Though eliminating dairy years ago was tough, Mowry (who is now in her late 40s) has acknowledged that it produced positive results: "When I gave up dairy for two weeks, I started noticing how I felt."

Mowry was able to conceive and decided to try dairy again after the birth of her first child. It was a flop. She wound up being diagnosed with eczema and made the decision to say goodbye to dairy permanently to avoid future struggles — and enjoy clearer skin.

In 2020, celeb Marilu Henner told Parade that for 40 years, she had been someone who ate "no dairy, no refined sugar, no meat." In fact, Henner called the last day she ate dairy her "health birthday." 

What was the physical result of Henner's special "birthday"? As she noted in a 2002 New York Post piece, quitting dairy turned out to be just what her body needed. "I'm telling you, it will change your life," she explained, adding that going without dairy changed her skin, along with her gut health. Now in her 70s, she still has a radiant glow.

Growing up, Victoria Beckham, age 52, had acne (via The Telegraph). That's why she decided to adopt a cleaner diet that would help clear her skin. In addition to cutting oils and sauces from her meals, she also cut all dairy. (This might not be a shocking revelation if you're aware of Beckham's ultra-strict diet.)

When Self asked skin expert Dr. Gary Goldenberg about Beckham's skin-friendly diet routine, he acknowledged his support for her eating habits as well as a dairy-free lifestyle. "I also tell many patients—especially those with sensitive skin, acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis—to avoid non-organic dairy," said Goldenberg, repeating familiar concerns about dairy potentially containing antibiotics and hormones.

According to a 2020 Us Weekly report, Ashley Tisdale, who recently landed in her 40s, commented on a now-deleted Instagram video that her skin had never looked as good. Could part of Tisdale's secret be the fact that she doesn't eat dairy? Yes, based on what she said next: "I've been dairy free for 5 years, and I swear it changed everything with my skin."

To be fair, a dermatologist on Instagram, Dr. Cindy Bae, cautioned Tisdale's followers about assuming that dairy-free always means acne-free. Specifically, Bae noted that everyone is unique and "what works for you may not work for everyone else." Still, going without dairy seems to be working for Tisdale.

Weird as it may seem, a chance encounter with a stranger when he was young caused Woody Harrelson (who is in his 60s) to clean up his diet and ditch dairy. The stranger noticed his acne-prone skin and recommended that he stop eating any dairy to reduce his breakouts. As Harrelson explained to Esquire during an in-depth 2012 interview, he followed the advice and saw a difference within a few days. But the experience left him jaded: "I started thinking to myself, 'Jeez, I've always been told milk does a body good."

Did Harrelson stick with the dairy-free program? VegNews seems to believe so, reporting that Harrelson has become such a staunch advocate of the "no dairy" mantra that he accepted a cameo role on a popular series to remind all the leads to "cut dairy out of their diets."

When speaking to Elle UK in 2016, Alicia Keys, 45, admitted that she also moved off dairy in an effort to clear her skin. "I know how it feels to have a face full of bumps and pimples. I lived through that in the public eye," she admitted. "But when I first got pregnant ... I started to eliminate dairy from my diet and drank a lot more water, which made a huge difference."

What's especially inspiring about Keys' road to clearer skin is that it may have led to her no-makeup campaign. For instance, the celeb made Time's feminism spotlight in 2016 because she wanted to show the world a natural face and glowing complexion.