It’s been 14 years since Michael Strahan retired from the NFL, following a 15-year career as a defensive end for the New York Giants. Since then, his professional life has not only taken off, but also taken on a myriad of directions: he is a commentator for the Fox NFL Sunday pregame show (in addition to hosting “Thursday Night Football”), he co-hosted “Live! With Kelly and Michael” for four years alongside Kelly Ripa and is currently a morning host for “Good Morning America”.
In 2015, he also launched his Michael Strahan clothing collection, which he wears almost every day. “Everything in my line is designed for versatility,” he told CNN Underscored, noting that the Modern Fit Crew Neck Sweater with navy blue triangles is one of his new favorites. “All my tops can take me to meetings, social events and beyond. I love them.” It’s also often found in the collection’s straight-leg black jeans, which can easily pass as dress pants. “Our denim has the perfect amount of stretch,” he says – useful when sitting on a plane or in front of the camera for hours on end. (Or, you know, to soar to the far reaches of space with Blue Origin.)
Now, Strahan is also getting into the skincare game for the first time. On September 16, he launched the Michael Strahan Daily Defense line (available from CVS), which is a five-product regimen based on the products he uses every day to defend against dry skin.
CNN Underscored spoke to Strahan, one of TV’s busiest men, to get his favorite daily essentials while on the go.
Daily moisturizer
Strahan’s new skincare line includes five products: a facial cleanser, shaving lotion, aftershave balm, face and neck moisturizer and conditioning beard oil. He prefers to use them all as part of his daily routine, but if he’s on the go, he makes sure to at least apply the moisturizer, which doesn’t clog and contains vitamin E and coconut oil. ‘lawyer. “It’s my secret weapon to looking and feeling better,” he says. “Especially during football season, which is my busiest season.”
One device for work and play
Because he often travels by plane, train or car, Strahan says he always has his iPad on him to watch content while he’s also on the go. “I love my iPad,” he says. “Not just to work and catch up on emails, but also to unplug and watch movies.” He adds, “On ‘GMA’, a lot of actors come to promote their movies, so I’m lucky to have screens to see them beforehand.”
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Bottle of water
“A good skincare routine is also tied to hydration,” says Strahan. “And nutrition too, of course.” He makes sure to get at least eight glasses of water a day with his portable 32-ounce stainless steel Hydro Flask. “I always drink a ton of water during the day,” he says. “It helps me stay on track.”
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Quality suitcase
“GMA” and “Thursday Night Football” both shoot in New York (where Strahan maintains a home base), but he still constantly flies around the country for various morning show segments, for football games or to shoot advertisements or other media appearances. “I’ve become a packing pro at this point,” he says, noting that he loves durable Away bags. “Having a good quality bag is so important with the amount of travel I do from week to week.”
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meal replacement bar
Quiet sit-down lunches aren’t exactly something workaholic Strahan can write about every day. “My schedule is so packed,” he says. “But it is important to stay fueled. When I can’t sit down for lunch, I just eat a Quest bar. They are healthy so they are in my bag at all times. Sometimes that’s how I go from meeting to meeting.
laptop charger
No missed matches here. Strahan says he has to stay connected to work, which means he won’t go anywhere without a portable cell, laptop and AirPods charger. The best-selling Anker PowerCore III Elite is thin enough to fit in trouser or jacket pockets and charges in three hours. Then it has enough juice to charge a cell phone up to five times. “It’s very important that I stay charged for all of my work meetings and calls throughout the day,” Strahan says.
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Sports clothing
Strahan points out that he is not still dressed in a suit and tie in front of a camera. When he has downtime, he prefers to be comfortable and relaxed in sportswear. “It’s my favorite from the NFL line for sure,” he says of this sleeveless MSX by Michael Strahan hoodie. “It’s what I wear when watching games, lounging at home or sweating it out in the gym.”