In ELLE.com’s series Office Hours, we ask people in powerful positions to take us through their first jobs, worst jobs, and everything in between. This month, we spoke to Gwyneth Paltrow, the Oscar-winning actor and founder of the lifestyle brand goop, which has weathered its fair share of victories and controversies since it began as a newsletter in 2008. Despite her extended hiatus from Hollywood (her first feature film in years, Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, debuts this December), Paltrow has been keeping busy: goop currently produces everything from sex toys and supplements to clothing and skin care. The latest from goop Beauty is the Retinol Eye Lift Serum, which launches today. “I really felt that there was a market for women like me who wanted luxurious, beautiful skin care that was clean,” Paltrow says. The new product, she explains, is “for around the eye area, so it’s formulated with peptides and other ingredients to make it not be irritating—but it really gets to work on fine lines and wrinkles.” Below, Paltrow explains why running goop is her favorite gig she’s ever had, plus why she got fired from her first job at a toy store, the changes she’s seen in the film industry post-#MeToo, and whether or not she’d make another candle.
My first job
I worked at a toy store on Madison Avenue when I was in seventh grade. It was called Penny Whistle Toys. I was a stock girl, so I basically opened and unpacked boxes and put things on shelves—that sort of thing. I never even made it to working at the cash register, because I got fired, unfortunately. Because I was in seventh grade, I didn’t realize that when spring break came and we left the city, you were supposed to ask permission. I didn’t show up for two weeks, and then I came back, and they were like, “That’s not how this works. You don’t have a job anymore.”
My worst job
My worst job was probably a movie I did that I won’t name. I was miserable doing it, and it was a terrible movie. Here’s the thing about making movies: Sometimes, on the first week, you’re like, “Oh shit, this is going to be a bad movie.” And there’s kind of nothing you can do about it. You’re there, and you know it’s going to be bad, and so you’re just stuck there for three months making a bad movie. It’s happened to me a couple times. It’s not a good feeling.
My favorite job
My favorite job is probably running goop. It’s so dynamic. I’ve had to learn so much, it’s so creative, and it also requires so much discipline and ongoing education.
How the film industry changed after I left
[Going back] felt like getting on a bike. I was like, “Oh yeah, I remember how to do this and how this all works.” [The industry] probably feels a little bit healthier, like maybe more protective in a good way. In a post-#MeToo world, people are thoughtful about how to progress, which I think feels cool. At this point, I’m at the age where I feel pretty fully in myself, and so if I did encounter a situation, I would be inclined to approach from a place of strength. I think younger people entering the business need more protection, and it seems like things are being set up now.
My first beauty memory
When I was really little, I remember my mom [actress Blythe Danner] being in the makeup trailer while filming things. I remember being totally fascinated by her being in the makeup chair. And I remember being really fascinated by lipsticks. My mom actually carried that on with [my daughter] Apple in a funny way; when Apple was really young, they would play something called “Lipstick Girls,” and they would try on my mom’s lipsticks. Apple loved it.
My daily skin care routine
My skin care routine is the same every day. In fact, we just made a bundle out of it called The goop Face, because everyone’s like, “What is your skin care routine?” It’s got our Cloudberry Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser, Youth-Boost Peptide Serum, Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator, All-in-One Nourishing Face Cream, etc. And then at night, I add the 3x Retinol Regenerative Serum and the Retinol Eye Lift Serum.
On those candles
I’ve been like, “Can we bring the candles back?” Then, there was an issue with our manufacturer. But I really want them back. I’ll probably have to have a strategic brainstorming session and figure out exactly what scents we would do. But maybe something fun, and maybe something not as unintentionally incendiary as the vagina.
My approach to dealing with controversy
What I’ve learned over time is that if you are living in integrity, and you are putting out a product that fulfills its intention and is what it says it is, you move through controversy. Because most of the time, it’s projected on you, and maybe it’ll be advantageous for a competitor, or maybe it’s clickbait for media companies. But I really feel that if you’re true to yourself and making products in integrity, it does pass very quickly.
The future of goop
We’re continuing to focus on fashion, food, and beauty. We’re opening new retail stores this year, and we are opening a lot more goop Kitchens this year. G. Label is growing beautifully. And it’s kind of a fun moment. It feels like we’ve traversed through a lot, like all other consumer brands have the last few years, and we’re back into growth mode. It feels fun and light and exciting, and I just want to keep growing.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
