Sarah Michelle Gellar’s diet, fitness and skincare secrets revealed

Sarah Michelle Gellar wowed fans this week with a sizzling ʙικιɴι snap that showcased her physique – but how does she stay in shape aged 49? 

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star took to Instagram on Saturday to share a series of pH๏τos recapping how she spent a summer weekend in the south of France.

In one snap, she wore a brown, halter-style ʙικιɴι top and matching bottoms in a selfie she snapped on a boat to flaunt her toned figure and youthful, sun-kissed glow.

She later switched out the ʙικιɴι to a pair in a dark blue color with a white, floral pattern. 

And many of her five million followers were quick to heap praise on her toned arms and washboard abs.

One wrote: ‘You look beautiful in a ʙικιɴι.’

‘Queen! You look amazing,’ another added, and a third simply said: ‘Wow, you defy aging!’

Here, the Daily Mail has broken down Gellar’s diet, fitness and skincare routines.

Sarah Michelle Gellar wowed fans this week with a sizzling ʙικιɴι snap that showcased her physique 

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star took to Instagram on Saturday to share a series of pH๏τos recapping how she spent a summer weekend in the south of France  

 

Diet

Gellar, who declared that husband Freddie Prinze Jr is the ‘real cook’ of the house, previously told Women’s Health: ‘My food mantra is balance – I don’t believe in cutting anything out completely because you’re just going to crave that more. For me, that craving is for French.

‘So it’s about having everything in moderation, and making healthy choices.’

But between juggling her kids, daughter Charlotte Grace and son Rocky James, and her busy work schedule, she turned to meal prep.

‘I didn’t grow up with meal planning – it’s something I’ve learned later in life… 

‘After having kids, health became a bigger priority. I want to be around for a long time and set a good example for them. I also want to have more control over what we eat and how we nourish our bodies,’ she told My Fitness Pal.

To pack in protein, she usually adds Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, roasted chickpeas or hemp seeds to her dishes, which in turn helps with her exercise regime 

Sasha Obama shows off her fierce workout style as dad Barack admits he can ‘barely keep up’

‘But let’s be honest – I don’t have endless hours to cook. Between work and parenting, I need meals that are realistic. Meal planning helps me make the most of my time and ensures we always have something nutritious ready—even during hectic weeks.’

Typically, Gellar starts her day with breakfast of overnight oats with almond milk, chia seeds, blueberries and almonds. 

Lunch is a home-prepped salad, wrap or her ‘go-to Buddha bowl with brown rice, edamame, snap peas, chicken breast, and a soy-vinegar dressing.’

And dinner is often leftovers from Freddie’s culinary creations.

To pack in protein, she usually adds Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, roasted chickpeas or hemp seeds to her dishes, which in turn helps with her exercise regime.

 

Exercise

Gellar previously told My Fitness Pal that she had shifted her focus to eat more protein after incorporating more strength training into her exercise routine. 

‘I wanted to feel strong. I’ve done all kinds of workouts over the years, but strength training has been a total game-changer. 

‘It’s not about appearance – it’s about feeling capable. I want to lift my kids, carry groceries, and just keep up with my life,’ she shared.

Strength training is known to help keep and increase muscle mᴀss and strength as people get older with other benefits including protecting against age-related loss of bone strength and improving physical function to lower the risk of falls.

In an interview with Parade, she shared further details about why she added lifting to her routine.

The actress added that she works with a trainer ‘once or twice a week’ for real strength training, and also love Pilates

Gellar does not shy away from a good sweat session at the gym, often seen working out with weights

‘You play these characters and you can’t be shredded, and you have to look a certain way. As you get older, you realize, as a female, you have to focus on bone density,’ she told the publication.

The actress added that she works with a trainer ‘once or twice a week’ for real strength training, and also loves Pilates.

She told Women’s Health: ‘When I’m traveling, I always pack my resistance bands.

‘There’s so much you can do with them,’ she gushed. ‘I had my trainer make a H๏τel exercise program for me on days when I just can’t make it out to the gym.

‘My bands are key, but I’ll often use H๏τel hand towels as sliders, too.’

Discussing how she boosts motivation, she added: ‘Working out with my friends is one of my favorite things to do when I’m home. It really motivates you – you’re less likely to cancel.’

 

Skincare 

Gellar has previously laid out her skincare routine step by step.

First and foremost, she always washes her face, ‘My kids know: I come home, I give them big hugs, and then I take all my makeup off, wash off the dirt of the day, because then I become a human,’ she told the Daily Mail.

‘I never go to sleep with makeup on. Sometimes I wash my face in the middle of the day and reapply makeup.’

The star insisted that she take the holistic approach, explaining that great skin isn’t just about what you do to your face – the rest of your body matters too

The star insisted that she takes the holistic approach, explaining that great skin isn’t just about what you do to your face – the rest of your body matters too.

She also is a big champion of moisturizer, particularly as she gets older: ‘My skin definitely is progressively dryer. 

‘So for me it’s about really making sure that my skin gets the moisture that it needs, both topically and that I’m drinking enough water now.

‘That and acne. I feel like I didn’t have acne until later in life – getting a pimple at my age is more terrifying than as a teenager.’