This afternoon, Mary Tyler Moore passed away at age 80. Best known for her titular sitcom and forward-thinking feminism, the beloved actress was also a beauty icon throughout the the ’60s and ’70s, recognized as much for her wit and elegance on-screen as she was for her sleek, side-parted hair and beatific smile. Back in April of 1970, Moore revealed her beauty and wellness philosophy to Vogue, delivered with the same winsome girl-next-door honesty as her all-American television alter ego. Here, a look at her daily routine, pulled straight from the archives—a striking bit of insight into the life of a remarkable woman.
On Skin
"Basically, I'm a soap, water, and Lubriderm girl. I use a night cream at night and a moisturizing foundation for day. And when I'm in the sun I use a suntan oil—either Bain de Soleil or Sea and Ski. Except for Life Saver on my lips, I don't bother with a sunblock, though I probably should. If the facts were otherwise, I would be in the sun all the time. It makes me feel well, and look well, but the look is short range and the damage long term. I know I should also cover my hair with a hat in the sun, but I never do—I can't be restricted, even in the sun. My life is so very disciplined all the time that it's important for me to be unrestricted when I play."
On Makeup
"I'm offhand and casual about makeup. Apart from base and a little bit of powder, it's mostly just eye makeup: I draw fine lashes, with an eye pencil, on the top and bottom of my eyes, and use brown mascara and a brown powder eyeshadow. On my lips, just lip gloss—I never remember the name but it comes in a black tube and I think that Helena Rubinstein makes it."
On Exercise
"[Tennis is] becoming a way of life for me . . . the courts at the Bel-Air Country Club, where we play, have lights, so every evening after work, I stop by for a half-hour lesson before I go home; and on weekends, Grant [Tinker, her husband and producer] gives me lessons. The only trouble is, by the time I get good enough for him, I'm afraid he's going to be too old to play."
On Eating Right
"I go on a protein diet, eating eggs, cottage cheese, meat and fish, raw or cooked vegetables. My breakfast is a half grapefruit, a poached egg, and a slice of bacon. Lunch, a mixed salad of cottage cheese, tuna fish, chopped raw carrots, and green pepper. For dinner, I have a steak, two cooked vegetables without salt or butter, and a salad with vinegar-and-oil dressing. . . . What I adore are health-food sandwiches. Mainly, though, I'm a big salad eater. And I love cookies—I shouldn't, but sometimes I cheat a little. . . . "