Cate Blanchett is known for her unbelievable acting range. A born stage performer, the Aussie star made the transition to the big screen with complete and total ease, nabbing an Oscar for The Aviator and nominations for Elizabeth, Notes on a Scandal, and I’m Not There. But around these parts, she’s mostly recognized for her acute fashion sense (her lavender Givenchy couture gown blew away the competition at this year’s Oscars) and an insane porcelain complexion that belies her 42 years. The latter feat is thanks in large part to SK-II, for which she serves as global brand ambassador. This year marks the actress and the Japanese brand’s 10th anniversary of making clear, perfect skin together, and to mark the occasion, Blanchett took a few moments out of her busy touring schedule (she’s currently starring in the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya) to talk theater vs. film makeup, heading back into the Shire, and how a certain Facial Treatment Essence gives her face that extra bit of je ne sais quoi.

So how did you and SK-II meet in the first place?

It was when I was pregnant with our first son; he’s nine now. I noticed changes in my skin—textural changes from a surge of hormones—and [my makeup artist] Mary Greenwell said, “Why don’t you try this?” It was the whitening line. The thing I found most remarkable was the Essence. It was just so hydrating. I never thought about skin being luminous, but this gave it that little je ne sais quoi. And because it worked so rapidly I started exploring the range.

What kind of regimen are you on now?

I’m on stage at the moment so I’ve changed the cleanser I’m using. The Cleansing Oil is really good for removing eye makeup; it’s a little more heavy-duty. During the show—it’s a quite physical show—I’ve also been using the lotion and the Essence, which I put over makeup as well. It kind of just sets it, which is good for when you’re moving around, and it also keeps you hydrated. I don’t usually cleanse in the morning, though. I just use the Essence and the LXP Moist Softening Serum. Then I’ll use the Signs Moisturizer, and if I’m going out in the sun, I’ll use an SPF. And the eye cream is pretty great, too—particularly if you’ve been up late!

Before you and SK-II became acquainted, what was your skincare regimen like? Is there anything you wish you’d known then that you know now?

I wish I had started using the line when I was 20! Until I discovered SK-II, I chopped and changed—there was no consistency. There was also a brief period when I abused the sun for about two summers when I was 14. I would cover myself in baby oil and climb up onto the tin roof and try desperately to get a tan. One day my mother walked up on the ladder and said, “What are you doing? Get down!”—which was a really good thing because the sun is so strong in Australia. My mother was always big on sunscreen, so my relationship to the sun after that has always been healthy. She was also big on moisturizing the back of her hands—so even now, if I ever put on a face mask, I rub it on the backs of my hands as well.

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