Martha Stewart has claimed that her secret to staying young and healthy is a sex hormone she has been taking for more than 40 years, just weeks after she revealed the cosmetic procedures she has had done to maintain her looks at 85.
Over the years, Stewart has been praised for her ageless appearance, particularly after going viral for posting numerous "thirst trap" pictures on her social media accounts.
Now the businesswoman says estrogen is to thank for her glow. "I've been on estrogen since I was like 42 years old," she said during a panel discussion this week at Perry St. restaurant in New York City, hosted by her skincare brand, Elm Biosciences, according to The Daily Beast.
Stewart added that she believes taking the hormone has been "very helpful" in keeping her young.
What estrogen does to the body
Estrogen is a female sex hormone that plays a key role in sexual and reproductive health. Its levels fluctuate as people age and drop significantly during menopause.
Low estrogen can cause a range of problems, including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, moodiness and insomnia, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Stewart said she uses Dotti, a brand of transdermal skin patches, to boost her estrogen levels.
Decades on hormone therapy
Stewart explained that when she first started taking estrogen in the 1980s, it was not as widely used as it is today. "Doctors were saying [at that time], 'Oh no, it causes cancer' and all that other stuff," she said.
"But I've been on it, and I think that has helped me keep my strong bones and a strong body," she added.
In 2003, the Food and Drug Administration placed a black box warning on menopause hormone therapy containing estrogen after the Women's Health Initiative published findings linking the treatment to a higher risk of breast cancer, among other illnesses.
In 2025, that black box label was lifted from many hormone replacement therapy drugs used during menopause. According to Breastcancer.org, recent research has shown the risks are more nuanced and that the benefits can sometimes outweigh the dangers, though this depends on the individual patient and their own health history.
Her daily routine
Stewart has previously spoken about the health practices she follows, including exercise she does almost every day.
During a 2025 appearance on the Lipstick On The Rim podcast, she described the daily routine she relies on to keep her mind and body active, which begins at an unconventional hour.
"Typical day starts early; I wake up at 4.00am, 4.30am. I read the entire New York Times, I do all the puzzles, I do Letter Box, I do Tiles, I do all those sorts of games, it's good for the brain," she said.
"Then I go to Pilates, or I go to the gym, and I used to do it at home - I have a beautiful gym at home - but I think going off of the property is better, and it's not far, it's five minutes," she continued. "So I go to my Pilates teacher, and I go to Shaun the personal trainer, and then I come home and I have my green juice."
The cosmetic work she has had done
Last month, Stewart revealed the cosmetic procedures she has had done to maintain a youthful appearance at 85 during an interview with People.
She denied ever going under the knife but admitted to getting fillers. "I have not had any plastic surgery at all. I don't think I need it," she said.
Stewart credited Dr Dan Belkin, a dermatologist in New York City, for her age-defying skin, calling him "a very superb dermatologist." She said she gets "a little bit of fillers" during quarterly appointments, adding, "I go maybe once every four months for touch-ups."
She made clear that major body enhancements are off the table, stating, "I'm not getting boobs done and hips and butts and stuff like that."
Stewart also credited facials and peptides for her glowing skin. "I do facial exercises and have the best facials from Mario Badescu and Georgia Louise," she said. "Peptides are very good. I take a few peptides. So that's what I do."
