Lili Reinhart, 28, feels as strongly about mental wellness as physical.
The actor, best known for her roles in "Riverdale," "Hustlers," and "Look Both Ways," has 25 million followers on Instagram, and she makes the most of her platform.
Reinhart is outspoken and candid on everything from Donald Trump's reelection to mental health and acne.
In January 2024, Reinhart said she'd been diagnosed with the autoimmune disease alopecia, which can cause hair loss. Reinhart also has chronic fatigue, and she regularly raises awareness for her conditions in a lighthearted way.
While driving to a doctor's appointment, Reinhart spoke to Business Insider about how she keeps herself feeling good outside her working hours, from getting take-out with her boyfriend (fellow actor Jack Martin) to bookending the day with her dog, Milo.
A four-legged alarm clock
How do you start the day?
My little mini schnauzer Milo loves to wake me up. He doesn't do it when he's with my boyfriend or assistant, but he knows that just by sitting up and staring at me, I will feel it and wake up. It's kind of nice that I have this little natural alarm clock.
So, usually around 7:30 a.m., I get out of bed, go downstairs, let him out, and feed him. I don't take my phone with me because I think it's important not to look at your phone immediately after waking up.
If I'm lucky, I can go back to sleep. I try to get as much sleep as humanly possible so I wake up as late as I can. If I need to set my alarm for 10 minutes before I have to leave, that's what I'll do. I have chronic fatigue so I need my rest.
What do you eat for breakfast if you're not dashing out?
If I have a relaxing day, I love ordering breakfast or making myself oatmeal. I did a food allergy test and found out that I'm highly sensitive to eggs, but I've been eating them my entire life and I'm not going to stop. I often order eggs with toast and chicken apple sausage, or an eggs Benedict, and an iced oat-milk latte.
I like to sit outside in my backyard and soak up some sunlight on my face before I start the day. It helps wake my body up in a natural way.
Thorough skincare to manage acne
What does your skincare regime look like?
I've always been very good and consistent with my skincare because I've had acne and when you have acne, you're usually pretty strict about those kinds of things.
My own struggles inspired me to launch my new skincare line, Personal Day. So I use my cleansing powder in the morning. If I've been stressed and I have a breakout, I pat the salicylic acid acne treatment all over my face and then follow up with a day moisturizer.
I do the same at the end of the day except I double cleanse, and two to three times a week, I do the Personal Day peel and mask too.
Has acne been a constant in your life?
I developed acne when I was 12, which was a surprise because my older sister and my parents all had really good skin. It became more problematic as I got older and worked more consistently, had crazier hours, wore a lot of makeup, and dealt with more stress. The stress of my life was reflected in my skin.
When I was 24, after trying all the different topical treatments, I went on Accutane for six months but it did not have a good effect on my body. It made me very swollen and inflamed, so I stopped, but then my acne came back even worse. I went back on it for a bit while filming Riverdale just to try to keep the acne at bay.
When my esthetician, Sarah Ford, told me to pay more attention to the ingredients in my skincare, things changed. Since using Personal Day, which doesn't contain any acne-triggering ingredients, my skin has never looked better.
I wanted to start a brand that could really help people.
Gentle movement
What's your approach to food?
I'm an unhealthy eater, so I've had to change my habits, which hasn't been easy. I've just tried to be more mindful of everything I consume. I'm conscious of minimizing chemicals in all sorts of products, from skincare and tampons to food.
I order dinner in a lot — my boyfriend and I have been getting a lot of barbecue wings recently.
How do you keep active?
I've been dealing with some health issues that have made it a bit harder to be active, but I walk my dog a lot.
I have an autoimmune disorder, and so when I work out, my body doesn't feel energized or replenished. It actually feels very depleted. So I have a very tricky relationship when it comes to movement because I am still figuring out what works for my body.
I've just got back into very gentle, soft stretches at night. I grew up dancing and in musical theater, so I like to stretch. It takes me back to that time in my life, and it's meditative too.
I hope to be more active again soon. I would love to go on a nice long hike here in LA because I do enjoy it.
How do you wind down for bed?
My boyfriend and I like to watch a movie or a show and I try not to go on my phone at the same time, so it's only one screen at a time.
I end my night by feeding my dog and letting him outside. He eats three times a day because he's a little prince, so I give him what we call his midnight snack. I take some deep breaths when I'm outside and soak in some fresh air before I get into bed.
Unfortunately I do wind down on my phone, which is the worst way to do so. I try to limit my screen time, but I'm only human.
I go to bed snuggling my dog, so it begins and ends with Milo.