Debbie Gibson Will ‘Show Off Her Legs Until the End of Time’

From chart-topping teen prodigy to timeless entertainer, pop legend Debbie Gibson is telling her story—like never before.

In her highly anticipated debut memoir, Eternally Electric, Gibson opens up with raw honesty and heartfelt candor, sharing the behind-the-scenes journey of life in the spotlight. Released September 9, the book traces the highs and lows of her decades-spanning career, offering readers intimate reflections, hard-won wisdom and an empowering message of authenticity and resilience.

Best known for her record-breaking hit Foolish Beat, which made her the youngest female artist in history to write, produce and perform a number-one single (a record she still holds) Gibson has sold more than 16 million albums worldwide. With an enduring legacy across music, stage and screen, she remains an inspiring force for reinvention and self-expression.

Gibson recently chatted with us from her home in Las Vegas to talk taking pen to paper on this project, and gave us an in-depth look at the beauty products (and treatments!) she loves.

How does it feel to have this rush of press and energy as you promote the book?

“It’s so incredible. I come from a time and a place where, I talk about it in the book, where there were enough people who were cynical about me. The media has not always been warm and welcoming. I’ve been through all the plot twists and turns. I appreciate a moment like this maybe more than anybody. Yes, I’m savoring it. I’m savoring the warmth and the respect.

It’s amazing how…I don’t know if it’s just the ownership of feeling like you have a life worthy of writing about that sets this tone or that people just are forced to reflect back on your career and go, ‘Oh, my God, right,’ and there’s a re-education kind of a thing. Every place I’ve walked into, every TV show and every room, it’s been a different level of respect and a different starting place for the conversations, just of a higher caliber. It’s been amazing.”

Was it a challenge to make time to write it, or did it all just come out?

“Honestly, the surprising and challenging part was deciding what I was going to leave out, because there’s so much to write about. One of the things I do write about in the book is, for a time I wore as a badge of honor being the girl who was always working, always doing something. When I go through my life, year by year, in even the photos, I could come up with three photos at least that represent something important in my life. But the publisher likes a certain amount of photos and it’s less than a photo a year.

There were very few years where it was like, ‘Oh, right, nothing stands out about this year.’ Something stands out about every year—there was a lot going on. That was tricky, but I really learned a lot. This is where Richard Buskin, my collaborator, came in. I could have kept him a ghost, but I don’t believe in ghosting or not giving people credit where it’s due. He really helped me navigate that. He was my barometer for when I was gratuitously trying to get an anecdote in that didn’t have a way in and a way out.

I’m very proud of the way the book weaves in and out of things very organically, and that’s been a comment I’ve gotten from people. They’re like, ‘This really moves!’ Because, listen, we live in a world where who has time to sit down and read a book? People are reading it saying, ‘Wow, it moves and it keeps you engaged,’ and so that was very important to me.”

That’s a great compliment. Since you did say you’re the person who’s always working, are you better now letting work be work and your personal life be your personal life?

“Yes. In fact, I just spoke to a friend this morning, and I said to him, ‘Oh my God, yesterday I barely moved. I watched movies with my dogs in bed and ordered in food for us all.’ [laughs] I definitely wear unplugging as a badge of honor now—as much as I do working, and my work is fun. It’s funny….even when I’m checking into a hotel and they ask, ‘Are you here for work or pleasure? I always say: ‘Well, my work is my pleasure.’ But I still am aware that life on an itinerary is different from just taking that downtime and unplugging. Yes, I do pay more attention to that now. We all need to do that. We all need the balance.”

Very true. Since we are a beauty magazine, I have to ask, are there any beauty products you really like, the stuff you’ve used forever that you swear by?

“Oh, my goodness, yes! There’s so many things. It’s funny. I literally just went to Target this morning. There’s always that thing in me. I’d have to actually go down and look at where it all is and I will. It’s downstairs. I’m in my bathroom right now because I want to make sure I pull out some things that I use regularly.

I am someone who always wants to refresh my makeup and update my vibe, but then, there are classics as well. First of all, because I talk a lot in the book about my health journey, I do look for things that are organic and that are not too heavy on the fragrance side. If something’s scented, I go for more of a food scent. I love the Honest brand. I have this bubble bath and it’s citrus vanilla. I use that whole Honest line with that citrus vanilla smell, the conditioner and the shampoo. God love Jessica Alba for creating it because it doesn’t set me off, which is something I have to be really conscious of.

I love Keranique, too. I’ll just say I love all of Keranique because, once upon a time, I was a spokeswoman for them. I’m not now, so I’m not promoting them for my own benefit. I don’t subscribe to aging—except where it comes to hair. I swear, my hair at this point is all gray for sure, so I go for a blonde, rooted look. That’s a lot of processing, but also the weight that it once had is gone essentially, and I do find Keranique to be very nourishing. I really love their products.”

It is a nice line.

“Yes! It is a nice line. I love Tatcha Beauty. I love their moisturizers. I love this lemon-scented water cream they have. I love face oils. I’m just looking around to see what else. Oh yes, here’s the one I really like. It’s Tarte.  It’s maracuja oil. There’s also a Findley vitamin C and hyaluronic acid eye serum I really love. Let me see what else. I don’t know what brand she uses, but I love my makeup artist sticking just the little eye depuffers under my eyes before shoots. Lately, I’ve been using NARS primarily for my base; I’m a makeup fanatic. It’s not that I use that many things, but I love having my options. I love having all the palettes of everything available to play with. I also love Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost. It’s like a tinted moisturizer.”

Another good one.

“Yes, I live in Vegas, where everything is so dry, so I look for ways to keep hydrated—that’s why the oils are so good. Let me see what other fun things I have around here that I love. Oh, yes, Rare Beauty does a blush that I love. It’s called Happy, how appropriate. It’s in the peachy color, and it gives me a little pop of peach.

I’m trying to think of what else. Oh, yes, another hair thing. I love the Joico KBOND. It’s a mask. I also really love Too Faced. I love their Better Than Sex mascara.

Lately, I feel like…let’s just say, at this point, I haven’t done anything in a long time. I applaud anyone who does whatever feels great in terms of Botox, Dysport, all of it! I find, for me, I can go in and out of doing all that, but I did do Xeomin this year. I did a very light round of it, probably four or five months ago; I think it’s worn off by now, but four or five months ago, I did a very light little treatment of that, and it worked really great for me.

I find, as I get a little older and I do have more lines, I go more for the browns these days in my mascara, and it really just helps keep things soft. I go for the inner upper waterline, as opposed to a thick line at times. That too just gives me a more open look.

When I’m more tired and I’m traveling, if I go too heavy, I can tend to look a little too theatrical or drag queeny. I love my drag queens, but what looks great on them does not look good on me anymore, unless I’m intentionally going for that. Pretty much, I tend to like the Victoria Beckham liners. I use a copper. I do an inside line with that, and my eyes are a brown hazel, and it really pops my eyes. I love that look. I’m trying to think what else. Oh, Melt makes a great waterline eye pencil as well.

And…because I love showing legs, I go for good old Sally Hansen. This is me in my whole life. I’ve always been a blend of clothing I find at a little boutique or the mall and couture. I’ve been a blend of going to Sephora, getting those high-end products, or just going to a CVS or Target. But I love my Sally Hansen airbrush legs!”

Oh, that’s a staple. That’s a good one.

“It’s a staple! And the Wow hair powder, the root touch-up for in-between, because my hair tends to grow fast when I’m traveling. Again, the roots start to show quickly, so that’s a fun touch-up kind of thing. But, again, the Sally Hansen leg spray is a staple, because, yes, I will show legs until the end of time!”