Jessica Simpson discusses self-assurance, home laser treatments, and how her role as Daisy Duke influenced her skincare perspective.

      Introducing Unfiltered, a new beauty series that offers an intimate look into the no-frills beauty routines of our beloved celebrities and content creators. They will share their guilty-pleasure beauty habits, the essential five-minute routine products they can't live without, one invaluable skin-care tip they're grateful for, and much more. To complete our conversations, we ask each celebrity to provide a selection of unfiltered, self-captured photos that embody their Unfiltered beauty philosophy. Up next, we have pop star, actress, and fashion designer Jessica Simpson, who is collaborating with Kiehl's on the Better Screen Miner-all UV Serum. Below, she responds to our rapid-fire questions, discussing motherhood, reminiscing about Y2K beauty trends, and more. Enjoy!

      First, let's discuss the Kiehl's "sun sinner" campaign, which humorously critiques the sun-worship culture of the early 2000s. I'm curious, when did you start to prioritize sun care and realize, "Oh wait, maybe I should be more cautious about this"? Growing up in Texas, it was scorching hot. The humidity was oppressive, and I spent a lot of time in the pool. I constantly sprayed Sun In in my hair, dumped lemon juice on my head to lighten it, or used any tanning accelerators I could find to be the tannest cheerleader possible. I definitely worshipped the sun. My mom was an aerobics instructor and had me when she was quite young; we're only 20 years apart. Between her aerobics classes, we would swim and sunbathe together, so I grew up spending a lot of time in the sun without much knowledge of sunscreen, as far as I can remember. I started taking it seriously in my 20s when I was filming The Dukes of Hazzard. We shot in the cold, but I had to wear minimal clothing. I was going to tanning beds, getting spray tans, and using body makeup. It was a whole effort to maintain Daisy Duke's look each day. Keeping continuity was essential, and that was challenging. That's when I began to realize how unhealthy frequent tanning sessions probably were. I thought, "I can't imagine this is good for me." We all experience that one sunburn where our skin keeps peeling for weeks, leaving us thinking, "How do I have this many layers of skin?!" It takes that kind of experience to make you realize, "Okay, I've got to take care of myself." So I'd say it was probably in my early 20s.

      Being from Texas, I completely resonate with what you said about the summers there. Right? There's nothing like getting a Big Gulp with perfect ice… Lounging in the sun sounds wonderful!

      It really does! Protecting my face has always been a priority. And my hands—I think we often overlook our hands. Whether driving or doing anything else, our hands are so exposed to the sun, and they can reveal our age.

      Do you also apply the Kiehl's sunscreen serum to your hands?

      Absolutely, yes. I apply it to my hands while putting it on my face. It's really easy to do that. I know many people just wipe off the excess, but you might as well cover the tops of your hands as well.

      Right! Dermatologists always advise not to waste product. You’ve mentioned in previous interviews that you feel younger in your 40s than you did in your 30s. I'd love for you to expand on that. Specifically regarding beauty, how has your perspective evolved over the years?

      I’m really into journaling. It helps me get to know myself better daily, so I don’t judge myself or feel affected by how others perceive me. As long as I check in with myself regularly and feel aligned and spiritually connected, I truly feel beautiful. There’s so much pressure to appear perfect, but "perfect" is so overrated. Honestly, I don't even grasp the concept. With all the filters and edits people use… It's a challenge, especially raising children in this digital era. But I trust myself, and I always encourage my oldest daughter, Maxwell, to really know herself. I often seek her advice because she’s truly the best. Just the other night, she said something that almost made me cry. I was asking her about her feelings regarding school or something similar. She’s about to turn 14, which is an age full of change—I remember having my first kiss around that age. I cherish this phase for her. Although it was tough for me, she seems to be thriving. She said, "Mom, I really wish you were my age so we could go to school together." I replied, "That’s so sweet, Max! You really wish that?" She said, "Honestly, I think we’d hang out and be real best friends."

      To me, that’s beautiful, you know? That might not directly answer your question