If I had to pick a Kardashian favorite, Kourtney would likely be it. The 37-year-old mother of three isn't just the funniest of the bunch (shout-out to this collection of one-liners), but she's also one of the most outspoken when it comes to paying close attention to what we're putting in — and on — our bodies.
Read: She's an advocate for an organic, gluten-free, dairy-free diet (and credits the glow of her skin to just that), and she pays the same care and attention to her beauty routine as she does to her health. In fact, she swears by Manuka Doctor honey, for which she's now a brand ambassador. Naturally, when presented with an opportunity to sit down with her to get all of her skin tips and tricks, we jumped at the chance.
Ahead, she opens up about her skin secrets (including the homemade "pudding" she eats every morning for better skin), her must-have products, and the one tip her youngest sis, Kylie Jenner, taught her about putting on makeup. Like I said, if it's coming from Kourtney, it's got to be good.
Tell me about your morning beauty routine.
"My morning routine is washing my face. I use the Manuka Doctor face wash. Then, I sometimes do the Manuka Doctor toner. Sometimes not. And I always do sunscreen — I use Elta MD; there’s one for acne-prone skin, and I love it. It’s the only sunscreen that doesn’t make me break out, and that I feel like actually, like, helps my skin.
"I used to not do sunscreen at all — I would just wash and let it be until after my workout. But now, I always do, and it’s definitely helped with pigmentation."
Why do you prefer natural products over conventional ones?
"I feel like once I had Mason, I just became more aware. And then once you learn information, you can’t really make it go away. I have the EWG Skin Deep app on my phone that rates different products by the levels of what’s bad. Like, I just changed all of my pillows and Q-tips to organic. There's so much stuff that you don’t think about or realize.
"The last thing that I really have not changed is makeup. And I really want to start. I just feel like I want to send a tweet, like, 'Can someone help me get started with natural makeup that actually works?'"
Photo: Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images.
What makeup do you use right now that you swear by? Is there anything from the drugstore you like?
"I love certain Charlotte Tilbury products. I love Armani. I love the Kylie Lip Kit. And now, the extensions of everything. I feel like the KyShadows are probably my favorite."
Do you eat anything in particular for better skin?
"I do. Every morning, pretty much, I have an avocado shake. I call it avocado pudding, because it’s more like pudding, and I eat it with a spoon. The recipe is on my app, but it’s avocado, Manuka honey, and almond milk or coconut milk. I used to do whole milk, but I don’t do dairy anymore. And I just feel like the avocado and the honey are so great for my skin and hair, and it keeps me full until lunchtime."
Does it taste good?
"I think it tastes really good. But some people who come over, I can tell they’re not into it. They were like, ' Oh, I think we should add ice,' because it’s kind of room-temperature. But it’s Brazilian, and I had a Brazilian baby nurse who made it for us and we all fell in love with it. Even my kids will eat it."
Photo: John Sciulli/Getty Images.
What is the most expensive beauty product you own?
"Hmm... Maybe those masks that change red and blue lights..."
What’s something you did for your skin in your 20s that you’re thankful for today?
"I have always used oil under my eyes and on my eyelids; I love the Manuka oils and I use that still. But Kim and I started doing that in, like, eighth grade. We used to put oil on instead of eye cream. I feel like the consistency is much lighter, and it doesn’t clog under your eyes, where I feel like a cream does, at least on me. That and...we’re just very conscious of taking care of our skin."
Photo: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/Getty Images.
Have you noticed any changes in your skin since you stopped having dairy?
"Yeah, I really have. I feel like I have way less breakouts. And...I just feel like even energy-wise — I just feel better. I will cheat once in a while with a bite of mac 'n' cheese, or something like that."
What is the weirdest beauty treatment you've ever had?
"I haven’t really done any weird beauty treatments. I want to do the vampire facial."
It kind of looks scary...
"It does. I’ve heard that they can do it with a serum instead of blood. But I think, why not just go for it and do the whole thing? And I mean, why it would work sounds logical. I used to hang upside-down from my bed for like 20 minutes when I was in high school, because I heard it made your hair grow. I spent every night talking on the phone laying upside-down, but that’s not really a treatment..."
Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images.
Besides products, do you have any skin-care secrets?
"Since around eighth grade, I've used a satin pillowcase. Khloé’s godmother, who was an actress, would always tell us that her beauty secret was to sleep on a satin pillowcase. And now, there are tons of them being sold. I think it’s good for your hair, too. I travel with mine. I have one that tries to keep your head in place, and keep you laying on your back, but it’s not practical for me. I like to smush my face into the pillow. So I feel like at least if I’m gonna do it, it’s better."
Have Kendall or Kylie taught you any beauty tips or tricks?
"Kylie is the makeup queen. She once told me: 'Don’t ever put black liner on the bottom of your eyes, even under your waterline, because it makes you look so much older, and it brings your eyes down.' And I was like, 'Never doing it ever again!'"
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images.
Like this post? There's more. Get tons of beauty tips, tutorials, and news on the Refinery29 Beauty Facebook page. Like us on Facebook — we'll see you there!
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
You Have To See Shailene Woodley's Beauty Evolution