How ’90s stars like Mark Wahlberg, Sarah Jessica Parker and Christy Turlington are bucking ageism

In an industry where beauty is synonymous with youth, these big ’90s stars are choosing to age gracefully and winning more fans in the process.

Supermodel Cindy Turlington Burns (pictured with husband Ed Burns) has been the face of Calvin Klein’s Eternity fragrance since 1988.

Hollywood’s obsession with the fountain of youth is long documented, but some of its biggest names are bucking the trend by embracing their age – and their fine lines aren’t putting a scratch in their career.

When Sarah Jessica Parker’s grey hair made headlines this year, she refused to label accepting the ageing process as an act of bravery.

“Society puts a huge emphasis on youth when it comes to beauty standards, but it’s not productive,” Parker says.

“There should be no apologies. I am not trying to cover anything up with my approach to skincare, fashion, or beauty.”

Sarah Jessica Parker has partnered with RoC Skincare to help champion their Look Forward Project.

Youth isn’t synonymous with beauty according to Parker, nor does it impact her relevance as she juggles her successful shoe line, fragrances, partnership with RoC Skincare and the upcoming second season of HBO’s Sex and the City sequel, And Just Like That.

A former child actor, Parker didn’t get her big break until the ’90s, which was a pivotal time for celebrity culture.

From the rise of supermodels and blockbuster films to progressive television series that have a cult following to this day, there’s a reason it’s referred to as Hollywood’s fairytale decade.

Another ’90s trailblazer and key figure of the supermodel era, Christy Turlington Burns, continues to model and work in fashion 35 years after she first walked the runway as a fresh faced 18-year-old.

Her 18-year old daughter, Grace Burns, is also pursuing a modelling career following her cover debut in Pop magazine earlier this year.

She made her runway debut in 1987 and Christy Turlington still dabbles in modelling more than three decades later.

“I was a little surprised, not going to lie,” Turlington says. “It’s a surreal thing to have your child enter modelling and it wasn’t something I was encouraging.”

The model shares Grace and son Finn, aged 16, with actor and director husband Ed Burns.

Christy still makes time for the odd modelling job to connect with old friends, such as her latest Eternity campaign for Calvin Klein.

However, one of her greatest passions is maternal health advocacy through her non-profit charity, Every Mother Counts.

“It’s a scary time at the moment,” she says.

“As an organisation, we’re really working to ensure women have access to quality and respectful care, whatever care they need, particularly marginalised communities.”

Self-care is an important principle to Turlington, and she applies it to everything from her beauty routine to fitness.

“Taking care of myself is important, but also not overdoing it; not doing more than what’s necessary to just live life,” she says.

Despite being busier than ever, Mark Wahlberg still finds the time to factor in health and fitness.

Mark Wahlberg dominated ’90s blockbusters and retains star power to this day.

Though he now keeps busy with various business ventures, he’s not planning on hanging up his acting shoes while he looks and feels good.

“I’m still in good shape so I will keep playing the roles that are offered to me and that make sense,’ he says.

A fitness and health advocate for decades, Wahlberg credits his career endurance to his active lifestyle.

“Eating right and keeping active is something almost everyone can do,” he says.

“My workout schedule gets a lot of interest because I make my health a priority.

The October edition of Wellness+ is out now.

“When I’m filming, I must get my workouts in, and when I’m done filming for 10-plus hours a day, I just don’t have the energy to work out at night.”

Wahlberg likes to keep switching things up, but resistance training is his constant, with a fast round of golf squeezed in.

“I get to bed early and wake up early to fit it all in, but it’s not my year-round schedule. I sleep in when my body tells me I need the extra sleep,” he says.

Explore more about beauty in the October edition of Wellness+, available now at participating Chemist Warehouse outlets.