5 Ways Jennifer Aniston Has Influenced The Beauty World

Before influencers, there was Jennifer Aniston. Since her rise to fame on "Friends," — still one of the most successful sitcoms of all time — the actress has jumped into romcom roles, become the face of major beauty ads, and launched her own ventures, all the while maintaining a natural glamour that keeps us captivated. Aniston told Glamour UK in 2016 her inspirations were Brigitte Bardot, Gloria Steinem, Blake Lively, and Kate Moss.

But over the years, it's Aniston herself who has evolved into a muse for us all. She has schooled us in the art of looking fabulous, with her influence at every turn in the beauty and fashion world. Through style, skincare, and haircare, she has cemented her star status countless times, leaving behind tips that continue to shape how we can approach beauty at home.

Few trends have managed to achieve the cultural ubiquity of 'The Rachel.' When Jennifer Aniston debuted the choppy, face-framing layers as Rachel Green on "Friends," the haircut became a '90s phenomenon, transcending the screen to influence salons around the globe. Created by hair stylist Chris McMillan, 'The Rachel' looked effortlessly chic (though anyone who's tried it knows the effort was anything but).

At its height, women everywhere clamored for their version of the look, signaling Aniston's unique power to merge character and actress into a singular beauty influence. Though the style itself is polarizing (Aniston herself told the Telegraph she hated it), its power is undeniable. 'The Rachel' reshaped expectations for everyday hair trends, making layered cuts and blowouts a staple for years to come. In its continued revival, influencers like Matilda Djerf and Shay Sullivan have sported modern versions of the cut, while Aniston herself has often returned to its essence. We wonder if she knew she was unknowingly setting a beauty benchmark when she shot that pilot.

We know Jennifer Aniston's hair has impact. So when the woman whose talked-about tresses have sparked trends, launched hairstyles, and inspired salon requests for decades intuitively took her influence a step further in 2021 with the launch of haircare brand, LolaVie, it came as no surprise. The brand marries naturally derived ingredients with science-backed formulas. With its detanglers and award-winning repair treatment, its launch took the beauty world by storm. Since then, LolaVie has earned loyal fans ranging from runway star Stella Maxwell to TikTok's viral hair care specialist Matt Newman. Aniston's products have even won the heart of Chris McMillan — the genius behind the famous 'Rachel cut' during her time on "Friends." That's how we know they're good.

Jennifer Aniston's influence didn't stop in the salon chair; her style has unmistakably set an example to wardrobes everywhere for decades. In the '90s, Aniston defined understated glamour with slinky slip dresses, relaxed tailoring, and a tank top uniform. At once, she looked both relaxed and revolutionary. On screen, her "Friends" character worked in fashion, making her stylish wardrobe feel all the more fitting. Rachel Green showed off casual cool and corporate chic, with expertly layered looks, flattering pencil skirts, fabulous button-downs, and fun plaid minis.

Today, Aniston's legacy remains impossible to ignore; her style feels as relevant as ever. The resurgence of "office siren" looks sweeping TikTok owes much to Rachel's aesthetic, while entire Instagram accounts continue to catalogue all her looks from "Friends." Aniston remains a refreshing constant in a sea of fleeting trends. When Vogue India asked why this is, the show's costume designer, Debra McGuire, said: "Jennifer has always been so comfortable and at home in her clothing. This gave Rachel an appeal that made so many women aspire to be like her."

With all the luxury products in the world, Jennifer Aniston proved that beauty doesn't have to break the bank by returning to one trusted brand every time: Aveeno. Aniston has been vocal about her teenage skincare secret for years, crediting her mother for instilling the habit early. As she told InStyle, "I think it's because my mom told me to start moisturizing when I turned 15, I've been using Aveeno since I was a teenager." In 2013, she became the face of the brand, and cited her favorites as their Daily Radiance Moisturizer and their sunscreen, which boasts SPF 30 (via Forbes). According to Page Six, she was rewarded eight figures for her endorsement — more clear evidence of her unwavering, sizable influence.

True wealth often lies in what isn't flaunted; such is the essence of the "quiet luxury" trend. At a time when social media was abuzz with the rise of this so-called "old money aesthetic," Jennifer Aniston's role as Alex Levy on "The Morning Show" demonstrated her fashion icon status extends far beyond Rachel Green and the '90s. There were no logos on display, nor embellishments — just clean lines, muted tones, and intentional simplicity. The internet lit up as "Friends" costume designer Debra McGuire reunited with Aniston for the Apple TV series, prompting a surge of articles on how to recreate her high-end looks. As Aniston's no-nonsense media maven character reminds us: money talks, wealth whispers.