Death and taxes—these are certain, they say. I’d like to formally advocate for an addition to that list: Vanna White. For more than forty years, including a recent period of headline-grabbing contract negotiations, this icon of primetime has served as co-host of an enduring TV game show that’s now the longest-running syndicated program of its kind in the United States.
But that you know.
What you may not know is that White, now 66, was recently revealed as the face of an ingenious collaboration between cosmetics brand Laura Geller and—say it with me now—Wheel. Of. Fortune! “To be honest, my first thought was, ‘How are they going to tie these two things together?’” White says. “But then they showed me the beautiful products and I just fell in love with the idea.”
White admits she doesn’t wear much makeup when she’s not filming—and perhaps you take a similarly less-is-more approach. But I’d wager a bet that even those who are blasé about beauty will be taken in by the nostalgic appeal of the collection—a blush palette inspired by the famous roulette-style wheel, a bottle of Laura Geller’s cult-favorite Spackle primer shaped like the million-dollar wedge, a collection of eyeshadows that’s a dead ringer for White’s letter board.
More important than its outward charm, says White, is the fact that the products perform well on mature skin—something that’s inexplicably in short supply, even in 2023. Of the primer, White says, “It's unbelievable how it fills in all your lines. ‘Spackle’ is the perfect name for it because it’s like painting a wall—it makes your skin so smooth and clear.”
For more on White’s skincare routine—including the 150-year-old product she uses religiously—keep reading.
The $7 skin saver White can’t live without
The star is as adamant as they come about taking care of your complexion as you get older. “When you're young, you don't even have to think about it,” she says. “But I want to keep my skin as nice and as moist as I can because the drier it gets, the more the wrinkles show up. And the makeup doesn’t work as well either.”
To keep her skin as hydrated as possible, White turns to a centuries-old classic that many dermatologists rave about: Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. Studies show its main ingredient, petrolatum, has both antimicrobial properties and helps to repair skin’s natural barrier, preventing a phenomenon known as transepidermal water loss (TEWL). “I’ve used it for a very long time,” White says. “I mainly use it around my eyes and on my forehead. But sometimes I'll just take it and put it on my whole face. I think it keeps the moisture inside and when I wake up the next morning, I don't feel oily or anything.”
And if you’re wondering if a thicker ointment-type product like Vaseline will make you break out, consider one study review published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, which found no compelling evidence that petroleum jelly causes acne.
This foundation keeps White’s complexion glowing
“As we get older, our skin gets thinner and needs a little bit more coverage,” she says. “And Laura Geller is the queen of coverage. Her makeup goes on so well, and it makes you look and feel flawless.”
White prefers powder formulas—but not just any powder; only the Laura Geller Baked Balance-n-Brighten Color Correcting Foundation will do. The weightless formula is unlike other traditional pressed powders: It’s created using a 24-hour baking technique that results in a creamier-than-most finish that won’t dry out skin. “I can literally put it on my face in five minutes and it looks like I spent hours doing my makeup,” she says. “And it hides everything.”
LAURA GELLER NEW YORK LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Award-Winning Baked Balance-n-Brighten Color Correcting Powder Foundation - Fair - Buildable Light to Medium Coverage - Demi-Matte Natural Finish
The skincare step she won’t skip—anymore
Until recently, SPF use was an afterthought. “I remember as a kid that no one put sunscreen on me when we were at the beach,” says White “I feel like people weren't talking about that back then. We’d cover ourselves in baby oil and use a reflector.”
Thankfully, with the advent of skin cancer awareness programs, all that’s beginning to change. Yet still, only a small percentage of Americans wear SPF regularly. White is one of them, using an Olay with SPF 15. “And I want to tell every woman out there, be sure and put sunscreen on the back of your hands too,” she says. “We’re always driving—the sun is always shining on our hands.”
Why she thinks Wheel of Fortune is so popular
Since the show began airing in 1975 (White joined in 1982), it’s been a staple of American entertainment. When asked what she thinks is behind its popularity, White is at loss: “I've been asked that question for forty years and I still don't have an answer,” she says. “The only thing I can say is that it's a half hour of family fun. There's no drama. It’s happy—people love watching people win.”
And we love watching Vanna win. Long may she reign.
Brian Underwood is the beauty director at Women’s Health. He is an award-winning journalist with more than 15 years of experience covering beauty and lifestyle for several national media outlets and previously served as beauty and wellness director at Oprah Daily. His work has appeared in Woman’s Day, Life & Style Weekly, Good Housekeeping, and many more. He also serves as a member of the Skin Cancer Foundation’s gala committee and lives in New York City with his daughter.
