How to Do Cate Blanchett’s Skincare Routine

If there's one celeb who inspires skin envy, it's Cate Blanchett.

Now 47 years old, the Australian actress is as well-known for her flawless, luminous complexion as she is for her Oscar-winning film roles.

Since 2004, she has been the global ambassador for SK-II, a luxury skincare line based around a vitamin- and mineral-rich strain of yeast called “Pitera.” According to brand legend, Pitera was discovered in the 1970s when a Japanese monk visited a sake brewery and noticed the hands of the workers (which were in constant contact with the yeast fermentation process) were impossibly soft and youthful. A nutrient-rich liquid was extracted, and a cult skincare line was born.

Cate told Gritty Pretty: “Initially, when I signed on with SK-II, some people would ask me, 'But you don‣t use it, do you?' and I would honestly respond, 'Yes, I do actually.' I understand that cynicism, but it's been a very organic relationship because the brand was only interested in talking to me because they knew I already used it.”

Clearly, it WORKS. Here's what's involved in her routine:

SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil: “If I've had a particularly late night and gone to bed with my makeup on, I wash my face in the morning, but otherwise I just tend to cleanse it at night. I wash with their Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil because it takes off makeup too. It's a lazy girl's cleanser.”

2. Exfoliator:

Clarisonic Mia Cleansing System: “I started exfoliating. Look at men in their 40s and then look at women in their 40s—for men, their skin looks really good because they shave every day. So I exfoliate, and I have a Clarisonic brush, and it's great.”

3. Essences:

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence: “It has so many purposes. I use it over makeup and under makeup. It's a moisturizer, but the key ingredient, Pitera, also works on the clarity and the radiance and hydration of my skin. When I can only pack one thing, it'll be that. If I had the choice between spending a lot of money on a foundation or buying a bottle of Essence, I'd get the Essence because if you use it over time you need less foundation anyway.”

SK-II LXP Ultimate Revival Essence: “It has become my number one product, not only because the packaging is gorgeous but the quality is so remarkable that a little goes a long way. I use it every morning and night.”

4. Serum:

SK-II LXP Ultimate Revival Serum: “My regime in the morning is so simple, I don‣t even need to think about it. It‣s literally the Essence and then the LXP Ultimate Revival Serum. I was quite freckly as a child from being out in the sun, but then I used the SK-II whitening products and all those freckles went away.”

5. Moisturizer:

SK-II LXP Ultimate Revival Cream: “Then I put the LXP Ultimate Revival Cream on, every morning and night. You've got to really massage it into your skin and it stimulates your skin to receive the product; I've learned that from working with [makeup artist] Mary Greenwell.”

6. Eye Creams:

SK-II R.N.A Power Eye Cream: “I finish with eye cream.”

Traumeel Ointment: “I'm often discovering useful products through my kids, like Traumeel Ointment. It's meant to help bruises heal, but I dab it anywhere I want to decrease puffiness.”

7. Sunscreens:

Daylong Extreme SPF 50+ Lotion: “I use a very strong sunscreen. There's a sunscreen called Daylong and I use that.”

SK-II Facial Treatment UV Protection: “If I'm in Australia I put on the UV protect essence. I was out for 15 minutes yesterday in the sun and it's just so intense. You really do have to put on 50 SPF and you have to walk in the shade.”

8. Lip Balm:

Lucas' Papaw Ointment: “I use it on my lips, elbows and heels. During allergy season, it helps reduce redness around my nose and eyes.”

9. Face Mist:

SK-II Pitera Mid-Day Essence: “I use it under makeup and over makeup to keep my skin hydrated during the day. It's the best way to stay hydrated because you don't want to slap moisturizer on over your makeup. For those of us who spend most of the day inside air-conditioned offices or air-conditioned artificial environments, it's an easy way of making your skin feel like it's been in the outdoors. Remember that stage in the '90s when people started spraying themselves with Evian? [The difference] is this actually penetrates the layers of your skin, and it's obviously great with makeup.”

Cate's Skincare Treatments

Face Masks:

SK-II Facial Treatment Mask: “If I'm going out I'll put a mask on. That's my one stop facial.”

SK-II Brightening Derm-Revival Mask: “Before a red carpet event, I'll use SK-II Brightening Source Derm Revival Masks instead. That's the thing that has been so amazing for me and I believe it to be quite unique to the brand. It just gives your skin that extra bit of radiance.”

Facial Massage:

“I am big on massage, when I can. Mary [Greenwell] is a great makeup artist, and before she does anything, she will massage your face to wake your muscles up.”

Red Light Therapy:

“My son was having some issues with his gut recently, so I took him to a naturopath. They used a red laser treatment on his stomach to get rid of any impurity and inflammation in his gut. I said, 'Oh, what other uses does this light have?' And the doctor told me that you can use it to treat acne or any impurities on the skin. So I had a red light treatment myself and it was quite amazing. It's really healing if you‣ve got a bit of eczema, if your skin is inflamed, or you've been allergic to something.”

Oxygen Facials:

“I occasionally have an oxygen facial. But I don't like people prodding and poking. One thing I do is steam my voice, so that my vocal chords [warm up]—and, inadvertently, I'm steaming my face.”

Cold Spoons:

“The biggest thing I took from [my mum] is putting spoons in the freezer for your eyes. If you haven't done that, you've got to try it! I flew into London and I was up with the children at 2am, so I got the hotel staff to put teaspoons in their freezer. I put them on before 'The Hobbit' premiere; it's so brutal, you totally wake up!”

Cate's Diet, Exercise and Lifestyle

Sleep:

“You can't turn back time but you can try and sleep longer.”

Stress Reduction:

“You know when someone has a migraine or a headache and they haven't done anything to their face, but their whole face constricts? I think that anything you can do to remove stress will give you a better glow.”

Lymphatic Cleansing:

Dr. Bo Wagner: “I've done a lymphatic cleanse a few times for liver, kidneys and gallbladder—there's a guy in Los Angles called Dr. Bo Wagner. It's not to lose weight, it's more of a detox but I felt fabulous after it. It's hardcore; it's a month long and all herbal and you detox, cleanse and then renew everything. You don't eat for a week but it really made me feel incredible.”

Colonics:

“I think it's good every now and then to have a colonic. Yeah, not every day, but every now and again, because it's super hydrating. I know a couple of people who are much older than me who had big problems with their guts, and they'd had a series of colonics and taken probiotics. You have blockages. I notice it with my son—a lot of blockages have to do with what's going on in your gut. They call your gut your second brain.”

Diet:

“In the morning I've been taking chlorophyll, so that's been fantastic. Hot water and lemon as well.”

Thanks to InStyle, ELLE, Byrdie, Glamour, Yahoo! Beauty, Well+Good, The Telegraph, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, E! News, Get the Gloss, Gritty Pretty and SK-II.

Shop Cate's Routine

What do you think of Cate Blanchett's skincare routine?
Have you tried any of the products or treatments she uses?