Nicole Kidman has had a stellar banner year. She turned 50 in June, but her prolific career shows no signs of respite. Her acting chops bloomed from both the small and silver screens with movies like Lion, How to Talk to Girls at Parties and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, as well as the hit series Big Little Lies, for which she won an Emmy award in September.

Despite her hectic work schedule, everywhere Kidman makes an appearance, be it on the red carpet or the local coffee shop, she commands attention with her ethereal looks, easy smile and relaxed fashion. No wonder her always meticulously preened visage has prompted a myriad of articles on her beauty secrets.

“I think the focus on age is ridiculous now because everyone keeps saying 40 is the new 30, 50 is the new 40, all of those,” said the Oscar-winning actress only a day before she received her Emmy. “Well, hold on, just be. It’s that simple. I embrace my age, I embrace who I am, I’m living my life as fully as I can.”

She spoke at a skincare event at the Eric Buterbaugh Perfumery & Gallery in West Hollywood. It was hosted by Neutrogena, for which Kidman is global brand ambassador. She was joined by Neutrogena consultant and star dermatologist Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali. Together they talked about the tenets of good skincare and  the shifting perception of aging as a process to be celebrated rather defied.

“While it may sound hypocritical, I love how society’s view on beauty and aging are changing,” said Dr. Bhanusali, who is also a Haute Beauty expert. “Non-traditional beauty is now mainstream and rightfully so. I also believe aging is perhaps life’s greatest privilege and should be embraced.  The idea shouldn’t be that you have to look like your twenty something forever. If you want to ease the signs here or there, I’m all for it, but looking refreshed is way different than looking like something or someone else.”

No matter one’s age, a healthy skin starts with simple resolutions like never going to bed with makeup on, both Kidman and Dr. Bhanusali agreed. “At night I always take off my makeup. I got that from my mom,” Kidman said, adding that she relies on the easy-to-use Neutrogena® Makeup Remover Wipes.

“Nicole’s tip on removing makeup is perhaps one of the most important things once can do for their skin health,” Dr. Bhanusali said. “Makeup is notorious for clogging pores and causing breakouts.”

But radiant skin often takes more than keeping it dirt-free. It requires dedication and the right potions – it is “not a quick fix,” Kidman said. Both she and Dr. Bhanusali extolled the benefits of retinol, which is a topical version of Vitamin A that fights wrinkle formation, pigmentation and scars and, as a result, enhances skin texture and tone.

“I believe in retinol, I do think it works,” Kidman said. “It’s been scientifically proven, so Neutrogena® Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream is good for me.”

The actress, famed for her pearly complexion, also shared the one product that has protected her skin from harm – sunblock. “Because I’m so fair, I’m so religious about wearing sunscreen,” she said. “It’s just how I was raised, and it’s why my skin now is, I think, far less damaged than it could have been. Because I still go to the beach, it’s not that I don’t go to the beach, and it’s not that I’m not outside. I was forced to wear the white zinc on my nose as a kid at the beach. So to have Neutrogena® Sheer Zinc Sunscreen is a really great thing for me!”

While Kidman is committed to sunscreen, many people fail to utilize it properly, Dr. Bhanusali warned. “The higher, the better,” he said about SPF. “While some studies have shown limited benefit over an SPF of 50, I don’t think it’s harmful utilizing a higher amount. The biggest issue is most people don’t use enough of it or don’t reapply enough.”

Kidman and Dr. Bhanusali talked candidly for several hours, engaging with a slew of journalists as well as influential skincare bloggers like Sona Gasparian, Melissa Meyers, Janet Gunn and Angie. “It was such a pleasure to host an event alongside someone so talented,” said Dr. Bhanusali, “and am thankful hearing she is also such a big advocate on skin health and sun protection!”