Susan Lucci, 71, spills her secrets to aging beautifully

It’s rare that a celebrity commends the paparazzi for their work, but perhaps even rarer that a star looks as stunning in a swimsuit at age 71 as Susan Lucci does.

During a trip to Barbados with her husband last winter, the soap opera icon “had no idea” she was being followed by cameramen until photos of herself in a swimsuit popped up online — and swiftly went viral, thanks to Lucci’s age-defying appearance.

“I wanted to thank them because they took such nice pictures,” Lucci told Page Six of the stealthy photogs. “I never heard of anybody looking for the paparazzi to thank them!”

But the “All My Children” alum is the first to admit that she didn’t stumble into her sculpted physique by accident: She works out “almost every day” using her beloved Pilates Pro Chair, and wakes up extra early to ensure she squeezes in her daily sweat session.

That way, Lucci said, “All day long, no matter what happens, I know I’ve done something good for myself. And I have more energy!”

The Emmy winner also sticks to a diet she describes as “a balancing act,” full of fruits and vegetables, lean protein and healthy fats. She’ll treat herself to the occasional glass of champagne or plate of spaghetti (“I’m half-Italian — I will start shaking if I don’t have pasta!” she exclaimed), but Lucci typically skips the sweets, instead sipping hot water with lemon throughout the day.

“You get the comfort of a warm liquid, but it also helps balance your pH, boost your immune system [and] metabolism, and certainly it hydrates,” she explained of her favorite beverage. “So it’s good for your skin, it’s good for your body and it’s good for your well-being.”

Speaking of skincare, Lucci confessed that “there’s some discipline involved” when it comes to getting her youthful glow.

“No matter how tired I am, I will take off my makeup thoroughly,” she said, “because your skin repairs itself overnight. I use my Clé de Peau Beauté foaming cleanser, my SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum and La Mer eye cream and moisturizer.”

When she’s not striking a pose in a swimsuit, Lucci is stepping out in stylish looks from the likes of Chanel, Gucci and Valentino, and recently decided to part with hundreds of her many designer treasures for a good cause, partnering with Everything But the House for an auction benefitting Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York.

Among Lucci’s personal favorites from her closet cleanout? “There’s a gorgeous emerald-green Gucci bag that I just love, a beaded Valentino day-into-evening bag… I mean, some of these things, I look at and think, ‘Did I really put those Alaïa boots up for auction?’”

And fans don’t have to be the star’s size to shop her sale, which will run through October 10 — “although if you’re a size 6 shoe, you’re gonna find a lot of Louboutins and be a very happy person!” she said with a laugh.

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