Christie Brinkley is serious about sunscreen after skin cancer — these are the two she swears by

Christie Brinkley hosted the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Champions for Change Gala in NYC Wednesday. Sean T. Smith

Quintessential California girl Christie Brinkley hosted the star-studded Skin Cancer Foundation’s star-studded Champions for Change Gala in NYC Wednesday, where she spoke passionately about prevention and her own skin cancer ordeal.

“I grew up on the beach in Malibu,” the 71-year-old icon told Page Six Style during the event — adding that even so, when she left home to pursue a modeling career, “they immediately handed me swimsuits and told me to go get a tan.”

Flash forward to 2024, and what began as an off-the-cuff question to her daughter’s dermatologist led to her own basal cell carcinoma diagnosis. Fortunately, it was discovered early — and as Brinkley quipped on Instagram at the time, “I had great doctors that removed the cancer and stitched me up to perfection like an haute couture Dior.”

The fashion icon was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma in 2024; luckily, her cancer was caught early and removed quickly. Getty Images

Suffice to say, she now swears by wearing sunscreen.

“All you have to do is put your sunblock on every day, protect your skin and make getting a full-body check part of your annual physical checkup. Skin cancer’s on the rise — be one step ahead,” the “Uptown Girl” author advised.

As for her favorite SPFs?

“I have two that I alternate between,” Brinkley said. “I love La Roche-Posay — it’s fabulous, and there are lots of different formulas to choose from. I just got one of the tinted ones, and [it’s] lovely.”

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Mineral Sunscreen

La Roche Posay

The French skincare brand is a supporter of the Skin Cancer Foundation, which raised more than $800,000 during the gala to support the organization’s educational campaigns, community programs and research initiatives, according to a press release.

“I also love Supergoop,” Brinkley added.

“They’ve got some easy formulas, and they have a stick — I like to kayak and stand-up paddleboard, so I don’t want to get my hands gooey. I just use the little stick to reapply around my face, then I can still keep paddling.”

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen Stick SPF 40

Supergoop

Brinkley says she “definitely” encourages her three children to protect their skin from the sun, too.

“Alexa doesn’t like to go outside; she’s a more intellectual, indoorsy type with books and poetry — and her skin is flawless. But my daughter Sailor and son Jack, we’re out there paddling and climbing.”

The supermodel’s not afraid to show off her own sun damage in the name of education, either.

“I always say to Sailor, ‘Look at me, you can see where my pareo covered, my leg up here? Nice smooth skin, no spots! Down here [lower on my leg], sun spots! I scare them with my sun damage,” she said.

Besides being passionate about sun protection, the Bellissima Prosecco founder is also known for her legendary smile. Her go-to lip?

“The new red pencils from Jones Road — I love them,” Brinkley said. “She [founder Bobbi Brown] has two; there’s one that’s a more darker, pure red, and the other’s sort of an orangey red.”

Jones Road The Lip Pencil in Ruby

Jones Road

But Brinkley’s favorite beauty hack — a vegan lifestyle — doesn’t cost a thing.

“With the world we’re living in right now, we could save the world by eating what’s better for you. It’ll make you feel and look better than you’ve ever felt,” she said.

“If we all did it together, we’d be a kinder, healthier nation. It’s such an easy answer.”

For those looking for more of Brinkley’s best advice for looking good at any age, the fashion legend and author recommends picking up her 2016 book, “Timeless Beauty.”

“I gave over 100 beauty tips!” she quipped.

“Timeless Beauty: Over 100 Tips, Secrets and Shortcuts to Looking Great” by Christie Brinkley

Barnes & Noble

Why Trust Page Six Style Shopping

This article was written by Erica Radol, Page Six Commerce Reporter. From identifying the top anti-aging skincare secrets the stars trust to pinpointing the season’s next big fashion trends to finding a great deal on all of the above, Erica has a knack for reporting on – and even testing – Hollywood’s bestselling fashion and beauty products. Before joining Page Six in 2025, she wrote about entertainment, lifestyle and shopping trends for Us Weekly, The Daily Beast, Entertainment Tonight, Well+Good and Hearst.