Cate Blanchett on plastic surgery: You just see the work it fills me with pity

I’ve always said – if I have any excuse to write about Cate Blanchett, I’ll take it. So here we go – Cate has a new interview with Fashion Etc! I believe this interview is just a promotional piece for Cate’s long-standing contract with SK-II, the beauty brand that Cate reps and the brand she uses (if you believe that, which I do). Cate discusses a new skincare line that SK-II is coming out with (called LXP), and she also discusses her tips on diet and traveling and all of that good stuff. Note how normal she sounds – and it doesn’t seem like she’s trying so hard to be peasant-y, either. She just seems like a well-adjusted woman who spends most of her time with her family or working, someone who has lived a full life at 42. You wouldn’t know she’s a famous actress.

On her skin care regimen: The thing I definitely always do is the [SK-II]Essence, and then I used to use the Repair-C, but now I use the LXP range more. It’s really all hydration and moisturizing…and sunscreen. I’m really lazy, so if it works I just keep using it.

On other products she likes: I use essential oil, like emu oil. [Ed. Note: She had to repeat this one for us a few times. Yes, that’s emu. Like the bird.] In indigenous Australian culture, that’s the first oil they put on a baby because it’s so hydrating. If you’ve got sunburn or you’ve got a scar or something it’s incredible. And papaw ointment.

On getting plastic surgery and other interventions: There’s been a decade or so of people doing intervention with their face and their body. Now that we’re emerging from that people are seeing that long term it’s not so great. I’m not sitting on a soapbox telling women what they should and shouldn’t do, but I know what works for me. I’d just be too frightened about what it means long term. In the end if you have all that stuff done..in the end you just see the work. It doesn’t fill me with admiration, it fills me with pity.

On her red carpet beauty routine: Usually I just fly in and fly out. When it gets dark on the plane I’ll put on a whitening mask. [SK-II]‘s also got great eye masks. I’ll have an oxygen facial. Or a vodka and tonic!

On the best beauty advice she’s received: Usually it’s ‘don’t do this’ and it’s usually from women who have done it. Don’t curl your eyelashes, and don’t overpluck your eyebrows. There are certain things I won’t do. I think blue eye shadow should only be applied by professionals.

On her other rituals: I do the old glass of lemon juice in water in the morning. It just keeps your system going. I think it’s like people who get into colonic therapy–there’s a logic behind it. The French have been doing it, the Egyptians did it. There are certain things in ancient practices that [I won’t do]–I’m not going to bathe in my own urine.

On eating healthy: It comes and goes. I’m pretty stable. You end up eating more with 3 boys in the house. You end up having a bit of garbage in the house. But then you end up running after them, so it balances out.

[From Fashion Etc]

Lemon juice in water as a morning ritual? Interesting. If Gwyneth Paltrow had suggested it, I would roll my eyes, but since it’s Blanchett… yes, I’ll try that. I had to look up “oxygen facial” though – you can read about it here. Apparently, it’s been popular in celebrity circles since 2006-ish, when Madonna recommended it. So I probably won’t try that. But I’ll definitely do the lemon juice in water thing. As for over plucking – define “over plucking”. I don’t have a scouse brow, or a chola brow, but I do like my brows to be well-groomed. So on that, I will debate Madame Blanchett. Cosign about blue eye shadow, cosign about eyelash curlers (I stopped because of my contacts, though). Cosign her thoughts on plastic surgery. Amen to that!

And why doesn’t anyone ever recommend St. Ives Apricot Scrub? I still use that junk. I love it. I love how smooth and exfoliated I feel. Maybe Jennifer Love Hewitt will talk about it. I bet she uses it.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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