If Hilaria Baldwin first entered your consciousness on Dancing With the Stars, where she placed 11th, you’d never guess she has seven kids. She’s more toned than I’ll ever be, and she moves with the energy of a 25-year-old who really likes to party. She and Alec Baldwin, married since 2012, have been busy with a now-cancelled reality-TV show, The Baldwins, Hilaria’s memoir, Manual Not Included, her podcast with her 11-year-old daughter Carmen, Growing Up Together, and more controversies than you can count. “By the way,” she recently said on the Boyfriend Material podcast, “if you’re a gold digger, don’t have seven children” (not to mention eight pets). Baldwin, 41, a former yoga instructor who’s famously fond of Spain, spoke without a hint of an accent about how she relaxes amid the chaos.
When do you start getting ready for bed?
It depends on the day. Sometimes it’s more chill, and there’s not so much homework, and everybody can get to bed between nine and 10. I have to be very flexible with my routine. But I’d love to say that I’m in bed by 10 or 10:30.
What does your nighttime skincare routine look like?
I’m exhausted by the end of the day and just want to get into bed. I find that the more stuff I put on my face, the more problems I have. So I go through phases with different products.
I use my TheraFace Mask every day. Last year, I was hanging out with a super-fabulous friend who’s four months older than me, and three men came up to us. I’m pretty sure they were trying to pick him up, but they asked him if I was his mother. He thought it was the best thing on the planet, but I was so offended, so he made me get this mask. I don’t know if it works, but since I started using it, nobody’s asked if I was his mother.
I wash my eyes out in the morning and evening. It’s important if you wear makeup because the products go inside your eyes. There are different drops, or you can put water in with an eye cup. Then I’ll wash my face. I use the Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil or their Gentle Cleanser, depending on how dry my skin feels. My favorite product is LaBruna Skincare’s Nourishing Face Oil. I put a few drops on my face and neck, especially in the winter. I also have the worst habit of biting my lips like a child, so I use Aquaphor or Vaseline. And I make sure my lash extensions are dry and brushed.
Do you take supplements?
I take ones from Metagenics, like vitamin C, D3, magnesium, calcium… I’m trying to be better about that, but I’m not that good.
Once you’re in bed, do you watch anything?
No, no, no, we don’t have a TV in our room. Maybe I’ll scroll a little bit or make sure I’ve responded to people. But I’m trying to get better at using no screens right before bed. I say it to my kids. Maybe I’ll read a little bit, but I try not to have the last thing I see be my phone.
What’s one thing you have to do before bed?
I have to bathe. And I brush my teeth, obviously. My husband loves our room really cold, so I put on really thick sweatsuits. I’m a super easy-going person, but I do have one thing that I’m really obsessed with: my Cozy Earth blanket. I love faux fur. Growing up, I loved stuffed animals, and now I love a faux fur jacket and my fuzzy slippers. I put myself in one of Cozy Earth’s fluffy blankets, then I fold it over like a burrito. Also, I broke my hip like 16 years ago, so I have to sleep with a lacrosse ball under my hips or lower back. It sounds horrible, but the alternative is even worse.
Do you add any steps the night before an event?
You mean like eye patches or something? No, I wish I was that way. Three cosmetic things I take care of outside the house are my nails, my lashes, and my roots. My nails are long. They’re my real nails, but I do gel. And I do lash extensions. My natural lashes are really nice, but everything is crazy in the morning, so I kind of like that “I woke up this way” look. I also dye my roots because I’m going gray. Before an event, I make sure all of those are freshened up. And I might not drink or eat too much salt. But I also think that because I have really small kids, I’m just like, Let me survive.
How do you decompress after a long day?
Alec and I spend time together. I also do a little yoga or stretch, and I focus on my breathing and on gratitude. Whenever things feel really hard, I immediately try to think about what I’m grateful for. I hope that doesn’t sound like toxic positivity. It’s the reason we’ve gotten through really hard things. I really believe in your nervous system and your mind. I can think, “Oh my God, why is this happening? This is so awful,” but if I only focus on that, I’m going to get depleted. And I have a lot of people, and my husband, relying on me to guide them. So I think about my health, my children, and the funny things they said. I think about all my many blessings, my friends, food that I get to eat, things from big to small.
What type of pajamas do you wear?
I love the Eberjey PJs. I have nicer ones, but my favorite sweatsuits are from Abercrombie. They fit so nicely, and they’re cozy. And I don’t know if this is either amazing or embarrassing, but my 12-year-old daughter is a little taller than I am, and she loves White Fox and Edikted, so I’ve become obsessed. Alo Yoga, too—great sweatsuits.
What type of sheets and mattress do you use?
The Beverly Wilshire beds are so comfortable. I found out what mattress it was, and it’s from the Four Seasons. My sheets are probably also embarrassing. I got them on Amazon. But since I wrap up in a giant fucking blanket … I do have nicer sheets, but over the years of breastfeeding my kids and everything, I just was like, whatever is going to be easiest to clean.
How long does it usually take you to fall asleep?
I’m usually really fast. I’ve been like that since I was little. My family would be chatting for hours, and I would go under the table and fall asleep. And I’m kind of like that as an adult. I think it’s because I’m such an early riser. By 5:30 A.M., I jump out of bed. When Alec and I were in the beginning of our relationship, he was like, “Why don’t you stay in bed and we can chat,” and I was like, “Nope! I’m done.” So it’s not always a flex. It does annoy people.
What is your most bizarre nighttime habit?
I really think it’s sleeping inside a fluffy blanket. It’s really weird. And also the ball under my hip. I don’t know one other person who thinks that’s a good idea.
Where is your all-time favorite place to sleep?
I love my bedroom in the city. My friend decorated the room, and the wallpaper is so soothing.
What is the best night’s sleep you’ve ever had?
Must’ve been before I had kids. I don’t even remember what it was like before then. Like waking up and not having anything to do on a weekend? I just can’t remember that.
Jeanne Malle is a Junior Editor at AIR MAIL
