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.
I use a hand made apricot scrub made at Honey Fresh Love. Same deal, tho. It just works.
I do fresh lemon juice in hot water at the beginning of the day and drink lemon water all throughout the day – because I love it. But it purifies your body, my pores are tighter and my skin is more taut, clear and fresh.
I drink the juice from one fresh lemon w/ water every morning. I also have hot water throughout the day too. Lemon acts as a detoxifier and aids the liver. The hot water assists the kidneys (and liver too I think).
I would not drink the lemon water throughout the day because the acidity is not good for the teeth.
That doesn’t sound good for your tooth enamel…
She is refreshingly “normal” for such a great talent. I think when you are that secure in your life and your work, you don’t have to rely on “gimmicks”. I love and admire her!
So Cate is only a year younger than ms. Aniston… Hmmm wear SPF girls, even women of color
I don’t think this is just about wearing sunscreen… Cate’s skin is amazing. It’s her best feature, in my opinion. She just looks radiant all the time.
I agree with Cherry. She never looks pasty nor orangey, she always looks healthy.
Aniston looks younger. But I find it interesting that when Cate talks about her ritual it’s ‘refreshingly normal’, but when others talk about their regimen, it’s so ‘shallow’.
The different is that Cate doesn’t talk about as much as Aniston does.
That’s because Aniston has nothing else to say.
The difference is because Cate looks amazingly good after having 3 kids!!! Anniston doesn’t have any kids… She spends her time in spas and working out or in Cabo with a margarita in her hand! She has all the time in the world to take care of herself!
Cate hasn’t done 70 interviews in a row about her daily beauty routine (although IMO she’s much more attractive).
Also when asked about a character she’d never say her biggest risk was not wearing mascara like Ms. Streep-Aniston did.
I agree Bite me. Cate looks amazing and youthful, Aniston- not so much.
My new nickname for Aniston isn’t ‘Leather face’ for nothing!
I’d rather look like Cate any day of the year than Aniston for a minute.
Why is it so bad to curl eyelashes??
i’m going to walmart to get some St. Ives today!!
Curling makes your eyelashes fall out faster. It’s worse on some people but in the end it’s a losing battle.
Instead snag those little black sample brushes they have in Sephora and run them slowly through your lashes with a curling motion immediately after applying mascara.
Also co-sign on St. Ives products especially the exfoliating scrub. It’s part of my “home facial” regime. And I look fabulous!! And young …lol …
OK I’ll try that, bc god knows, I do’nt need to loose any more eyelashes, I can’t practically count them on one hand ;(
I’ve been curling my lashes for at least 15 years and I don’t lose a lot of lashes. Maybe people who have that problem are using the wrong curler for their eye shape, or curling after applying mascara instead of before? I have tiny eyes and super straight lashes and my eyes would disappear if I didn’t curl!
Aw, crap. I curl my lashes before I apply mascara, and it’s probably been one of the reasons I have like five of them left.
I have short, stubby, straight, barely-there lashes to begin with, even though I have brown eyes and hair and mediterranean background. So I always look pretty stupid without the typical long, thick eyelashes I’d kill to have.
Be careful with the apricot scrubs. If you’re using other exfoliants in your moisturizer or if you have rosacea, it may be too harsh for you.
I’ve loved St. Ive’s Apricot in the past, made my skin feel great. Then I read that the crushed apricot seed hulls were too sharp for your skin and caused tears in the skin. I have found other exfoliants not so harsh, and in a pinch, you can use sugar; not so harsh.
You can also use bi-carb soda mixed with face wash. I’ve used that for years and it exfoliates beautifully and assists in evening out skin tone.
st yves apricot scrub is fantastic!!!! noone ever mentions it, so i thought it was my little secret 🙂 glad to find another fan!
I love St Ives!
I’ve been using it for a very long time! I love it.
I just started using St. Ives apricot scrub about a month ago. That stuff is amazing! I like it much better than Proactiv, and it’s cheaper.
I’ve been using St Ives Apricot scrub for 25 years. I’m 45 and don’t look anywhere near that. It is the best! No matter what the “pros” say.
I have used it since I was a kid and my skin is great. When people first meet me they ask me if I am done with school yet – meaning High school…I am 29 years old.
St. Ives is the shizzny.
I miss St Ives Jojoba shampoo and conditioner.
That’s the advantage of actually being able to act – you’re allowed to age gracefully! I do have a smidge of sympathy for the “actresses” who had to rely on their looks for roles, and now see them, and their careers, fading. It must be awfully tough to resist surgery when your face is your fortune.
Demi Moore Syndrome?
I also think she benefits from not living in LA.
@ Tapioca,
I was thinking along similar lines. Blanchett is a gifted actor, other women in the business rely too much on their youth and beauty and then do what they can to recapture it.
Blanchett just seems to be one smart cookie.
Excellent insight. I agree. I mean, I think she’s quite lovely, but she’s never been someone who merely traded on her looks.
Armpit Hair Alert on Photo. 2
Even her armpit hair is like magical candy floss.
Btw St. Ives fans: I read that the apricot scrub is not good for the skin because the little chips in it are too jagged and sharp, better if the exfoliating particles are smooth and round. Just putting it out there 🙂
Co-sign this – that’s what the dermatologist told me. Too rough for the face. I was devastated, as I really liked it, too.
Most dermatologists will agree. It uses natural particles to exfoliate.
The problem is that natural materials have jagged edges that abrade and leave microscopic tears in the skin.
Glad you guys like it but you can have it. I’ll stick with gentler scrubs. 😉
St. Ives is awesome! I’ve used it for YEARS!
For sensitive skin Cetephil mixed with plain baking soda makes a great scrub that is extremely gentle. Cetephil can be expensive, so I usually buy the store knock-off. Works the same, IME.
Don’t curl your eyelashes? Why not?
I like Cate, I really do. However, it’s easy for someone that is naturally beautiful to come out against plastic surgery. It’s like, what could she possibly improve on. However, in a culture where good looks are as good as gold, those of us who are not as fortunate to naturally look like her might want to go the surgical route. I for one, would have some work done (if I actually had that kind of money).
Amen, Sister!
Ms. Cate, IMO, has had a neck lift at the very least and quite possibly a facelift. Do you see the telltale flaps of skin/scarring in front of her ears?
I like that she leaves in some wrinkles and doesn’t over inflate her lips.
I have a list of things I would get done if I had the money, so I totally agree. I hate seeing already attractive women getting work done and then going overboard to the point that they are unrecognizable. It’s sad.
I don’t know. There are plenty of naturally beautiful actresses and actors who go in hard with the plastic surgery and then they eff up their faces. Lindsay Lohan used to a be a cute girl (but that’s drugs AND fillers), Mickey Rourke, Megan Fox; the list goes on. I don’t think plastic surgery makes anyone more beautiful, tbh.
1/2 lemon squeezed into water in the morning is known in ‘health’ circles to be alkalinizing and cleansing for the body.
Love the St. Ives Apricot Scrub tip ! It got great reviews at their site ( http://www.stives.com/Facial-Products/Fresh-Skin/Invigorating-Apricot-Scrub/ ) and it’s reasonably priced!
I learned it from an old Chinese woman living in my street. Make sure the water is tiped, not cold. Drink it in the morning on an empty stomach and it kick starts your digestive system. The lemon also makes sure that any fat left in your system is flushed out.
How much water with the lemmon?
I’ve been drinking lemon in water on and off my whole life, and currently “on”. I first heard about it in an interview that one of the 80’s supermodels gave. i never was into fad diets, but that tip was something that sounded like it would just fit right into whatever else you were doing.
My thing is a tall-boy style glass of water with an eighth of a lemon squeezed into it, then I drop the wedge in after it.
Make sure you wash your fruit before cutting it up though.
Thank you Fancy!
😉
🙂 np, newtsgal It’s something I do that I find beneficial and is pretty easy.
If you ever get a sunburnt, put around towels damped in vinegar. Sounds crazy and it stinks but works and make wonders, is a home made tip well known by every mommy in Spain.
Works for jellyfish stings too.
I had a bad sunburn as a teen & my father told me to tale a cool bath w/ vinegar added to the bath water. Will always remember that.
I think she’s so grounded because she started out as a theatre actor in Australia, so she was kind of small-time famous for quite a while before she became A list, and it was for a solid, recognisably brilliant body of work. She wasn’t earning big bucks or being chased by the paps – even Australian ones, because theatre actors aren’t famous like TV ones – but her work was known to be superb. That does seem to be a bit of a guard against going crazy, I think.
Whatever. I love her too, and I’m so glad to read something on her.
She also rocked the best Oscar dress ever, in my opinion.
Her body of work isn’t actually superb….yeah, I know appreciation of artists are quite subjective.
I just watched her film “Hanna” and I would say she’s a hit or miss type of actress. Her performance in that film was terrible (she came across as a bloodless machine) and her on-again off-again accent was distracting and I even thought it was one of the worst movie accents I have ever heard…….. it sounded like a parody accent one might hear on SNL.
Yeah…I want to know why not to curl eyelashes? I even googled it, but didn’t find anything except HOW to curl your eyelashes. I’m curious. Anyone know?
I adore Cate. She’s beautiful and down to earth. I like that.
It’s also much easier to look youthful and gorgeous when one spends over 1000 dollars a month on top of the line skin care products, and then more on facials. At least (as far as I know) Cate doesn’t make money by posing in ads for less expensive products that she clearly doesn’t use. So many actresses/models do that, and it should be seen as a violation of “truth in advertising” laws.
Bingo. I roll my eyes when many stars brag they have never had plastic surgery. They are using the term loosely. Maybe they haven’t been cut, but they are spending thousands and thousands of dollars with the facelifts that don’t have incisions and all those tightening lasers and peels, light fillers, on and on, that the average woman doesn’t have the money to do on a continual basis as these women are doing. Then they brag they have had no work done, like it is all aging naturally.
I do get what she said about the overdone look, which is disturbing, and for me, the huge lips women get. But I have a boss who had a facelift and she looks amazing, and she really did look haggard and had jowls and loose skin before. If you have good genes it is easy to judge others, who really are so unfortunate and look much older than they feel.
I am lucky in the bone structure department, but one day when I get into my fifties, depending on how I look, I see nothing wrong with tweaking to look fresh. So in my thirties I try not to judge women much older than me turning to plastic surgery as long as it’s enhancing their looks, not changing their face, but I do cringe at the overdone, surprised look. There are tons of actresses who get plastic surgery, but it is just done very well and not noticeable. More is not better.
You shouldn’t use the apricot scrub because the granules are rough, causing micro abrasions on your face. These micro abrasions can harbor facial oils and bacteria which cause pimples and other skin issues. All “scrubs” or exfoliating products should have round beads to preserve your skin. I recommend Lancome Exfoliance Confort. It’s very gentle for daily use (best if you didn’t do that, though) on the skin and cleanses well. It’s what I use and I’m very pleased with it.
I was just coming in to post that I’ve had three different skin-care professionals tell me to stop using St Ives Apricot scrub, b/c the granules are ragged and cause micro-tears in your skin. I finally stopped using it after the third time I was told this, in favor of a more gentle fruit-peel exfoliator.
I was flipping through a magazine at the salon and saw an ad where Cate was selling the SK-II line, and immediately went home to look it up online. I figured, I never see her hawking stuff, and besides she is so incredibly gorgeous that it must be amazing stuff. I’m sure it is too– but after I saw the price, I decided to stick with my current regimen.
Also agree, it’s very easy for her to pooh-pooh plastic surgery, being the most gorgeous woman on the planet, IMO. But I like very much that she is not judging, just being clear that it’s something she wouldn’t do.
Yes, I Kaiser, I aslo used to be a big fan of the St.Ives scrub, especially as a teen. But I, too, like @anguishedcorn here, was told by a trained beautician that my beloved product wreaks havoc on your skin. A google will show you that professionals appear to agree on this. Sorry Kaiser! 🙁
You can keep using it, but it might hurt you down the road. This article touches on it: http://www.brebeauty.com/st-ives-apricot-scrub-review/
I use a small amount of baking soda occasionally to exfoliate, you can mix it with a gentle cleaners if you want. It dries you out a bit, so moisturize afterward. I’ve read that finely ground oatmeal works well as a gentle exfoliant, but since I don’t have anything I can use to grind it, and can’t find the ground variety at the store, I don’t use it.
If you buy rolled oats, they take about 8 seconds in a coffee grinder, which you can find for 20 bucks. This is what I do.
Another thing to grind yourself is Aduki beans. I buy them in bulk at a health store, so you can get a small amount, if you don’t enjoy soaking and cooking beans to eat….Anyway, i bought ground aduki beans many years ago at the body shop; they were called ‘japanese washing grains’-hah. and I saw the ingredient, ground beans, and figured i could make that myself cheaper…i was 18 at the time, and decades later, i still do it. cheap, easy and makes your skin very soft.
with oatmeal or aduki beans ground, you can add either honey or sesame oil, just a little, and make a paste, to leave on as a mask, with or without water in it. You can also use the dry rub or the paste, in the shower, for thighs, arms, etc.
Also, same with the apricot St. Ives, you don’t have to use these every day. I think specialists are saying daily use of scrubs is rough on skin. I believe that. But once a week or so, or even once a month, is a boon, depending upon your skin type and what you’ve been eating!
Moderation is key, as always.
Thanks lrm! I’ll try it! And yes people – do not exfoliate every day, your skin is likely to get irritated.
Thanks everyone. I love reading skin care tips! I went to look at the St. Ives Apricot Scrub in a store and I was a little concerned about some of the ingredients. And this ‘red flag’ from skin care ‘pros’ is good to know – tho’ clearly it has a lot of fans!
I try not to use skin care with fragrance because it’s been found to be a carcinogen, among other things. Sometimes I do tho’ – but the product also had a few other ingredients I was concerned about. Although all these raves make me wonder whether to try it but then the warnings sort of make me swing the other way. 🙂
I love the aduki bean tip! that sounds great. I’m going to try it. thank you, lrm.
It’s true Cate’s line is quite expensive! Love this thread. Thanks everyone!
Many of the ’round beads’ used in exfoliants are actually tiny pieces of plastic. I read something a while back about how all these are ending up in the oceans and devastating marine life. Not sure if I’m allowed to post links here, but if you google “plastic in exfoliants’ you’ll find the information. Please ladies, stick to products that contain natural exfoliants.
good info. that’s sad. good to stay away from! thanks.
You are correct about the plastic! I recently switched from St. Ives to Alba Botanicals acnedote face and body scrub, which is also available at walmart. It uses walnut shell powder instead of ground apricot pit so it is a bit finer. The walnut shell powder is for sure still a bit ragged, but it is gentler than the apricot scrub and still very effective. I personally feel the other ingredients in it are also contributing to better skin on my part so I’m happy! My other complaint about the plastic beads is that they are frequently too sparse and don’t actually accomplish much exfoliating…
oh snap!
Pia, if you’re prone to break outs, Garnier Pure Active Exfo-Brusher Wash is extremely effective. Not sure if it’s available world wide or not, but if they have it where you are, I highly recommend it.
overrated actress, imo. i never get the love she receives. then again some girls are obsessed with loving average looking gals because they don’t feel threatened by them, especially if those celebs over a certain age. they feel “represented”. she sure never got the hate that megan or olivia received. but she did still get famous for her looks only, when you look at her filmography, most of her material dealt with being the innocent, aryan looking princess (the aryan term is used ironically here, i don’t condone it at all). whether elizabeth, or galadriel, or the medium in the gift, she was just the clean, blameless blonde in them all and i can’t see any dark or black actors ever getting that role. hell i don’t think i’ve ever seen any minority person get those ingenue yet majestic roles.
I guess you have not seen Notes on a scandal, then? b/c she was not the blameless, or majestic princess blonde, for sure,in that movie. Nor in babel. Nor in ‘I’m not there’, where she played a young Bob Dylan, the male singer. She was uncanny in that role.
It’s fine if you don’t like her work, and if you think that certain roles are offered to her b/c of her looks, but she has not allowed herself to be typecast by them, regardless of your opinion on her looks or acting. That is fact.
What about Bandits….”Beavers & Ducks!”
i said most of her movies… not lesser known projects she did after her heyday was over. and babel was hardly any different or outstanding compared to her usual acting work.
Why would a black actor be cast in a role as the Queen of England???? Seriously, some folks are so…preshus.
wow, i can’t believe they let you have that racist comment. i’ll have you know many black actors had white people roles. and vice versa. angelina played a black woman, and the actor in spartacus had the historical oenemaus reimagined as a black man. samuel l. jackson’s role in pulp fiction was also written for a white dude, but tarantino was so impressed by the actor that he was given the role. and we’ll soon have a black james bond… so the 1940’s are over honey get over your racist views.
Sup, not to point out the obvious, but the British aristocracy is white, has always been white and it would be about as believable having a black woman play the Queen of England as it would be to have a West African pygmy king played by Alexander Skarsgard.
@Wendi times have changed. We had a black gynevere and a black cinderella-granted, these aren’t real life characters, but Oenemaus was and he was really a gaul, and if you ever did theatre, you’d know that appearances matter least but your ability of portraying the role comes first. Old people play 20-somethings, white people play Othello, women play men. It does happen, and there was a 90’s adaptation of Shakespeare where a white character was played by a black actor. It would be convincing and I don’t think anybody would mind (save for rabid racists) if they cast a good actor who can pull the role off. I certainly wouldn’t mind at all.
Bleech-what a grandiose thing to say. She’s on the take with the fashion houses, so she’s not exactly a shining example of an actress eschewing the benefits (and costs) of fame.
She and Kate Winslet should consolidate their campaigns…
Loves me some St. Ives Apricot Scrub as well:)
I think she’s had work done and work I mean maybe non invasive work. So when celebs say plastic surgery and they have had none, they mean surgical. I consider laser, botox, filler, chemical peels, etc plastic help imho. And I think she has had some. Maybe some ulthera or thermage for lifting..there are soo many things out there that is non surgical so yeah, they can say oh no, i didn’t have plastic surgery!
And don’t use st ives scrub. Harsh. Very harsh. Use a scrub with round pods.
But I do love her as an actress! have you seen notes on a scandal? Loved it!!
The lemon juice in room temp or slightly warmer water is fab. I also do it before bedtime.
I can feel the difference if I skip a few days.
The St. Ives apricot scrub hurts my skin (I tend to be a bit rough) I love their green tea scub or cleanser. It’s much gentler on my skin and I find it clears my skin better.
I have heard some skinny models talking about lemon juice/water. I’m not sure why, but it’s a popular remedy.
As far as the 10-year effect, ITA with Blanchett. I think that many of these botoxed queens are starting to look downright frightening.
As far as all these creams are concerned, I don’t think we know the long term effects of the chemicals involved (emu cream, wtf??). I wouldn’t use something with LXP or II in the title. My personal remedy has always been very simple: nothing is better for the skin than a hot washcloth before bed.
I like the hot washcloth idea. thanks. never heard of that.
I was a little frightened about the emu oil too. I don’t think it’s a good thing – and there may be harm to the emus involved.
Harm to the emus? Yep, sure is, they have to be dead. We have emu farms in Australia but the biggest emu farms are in the USA (last time I checked anyway). Emu oil is great if you have arthritis etc. It is good for the skin too, in the same way as vitamin E creams. BTW emus don’t taste too bad either.
The emu has to be dead to get the oil. They render it from the fat. Emu’s are farmed down here so I’m sure some people are ok with it. I’m not. PawPaw extract on the other hand is wonderful – best things for babies and lips.
They may be talking about the Master Cleanse. You drink a mixture of bottled water, maple syrup, lemon juice and cayenne pepper. Drink six bottles a day and eat nothing else for two weeks. You will see a dramatic weight loss. My hair stylist tried it and dropped from a size 10 to a size 6. The only problem was that when she went off the cleanse, she went right back to a size 10. The Master Cleanse is really good if you have to lose a lot of weight fast for a special occasion but I’d never stay on it for more than a week. Your body needs solid food.
I’m not sure of how much water/syrup/juice/pepper goes into each bottle but you can google “master cleanse” for the recipe.
What is with celebrities and colonics? I lived in France (with my French in laws) and no one ever suggested an enema. If you have a good diet why should you need that?
that comment sort of freaked me out as well. eat some raw fruits and vegetables and some fiber if you want to keep it clean and healthy downtown. it is gross to say but if your bm is easily passed, floats and there is minimal wiping you are doing it right!
well depends on the fruit, apples and bananas actually stop you up.. there is nothing wrong with warm lemon juice in the morning or at night, it’s basically a tea without the tea leaves! lol ..it’s not a strong laxative or anything..
and as you get older stomach problems, bm issues are common ..
You have to get creative with food, tea, liquids to keep things going naturally .. it beats having to use pills, powders or medicine when things get bad. And too much fiber can be just as bad as it swells up in your stomach causing bloating and constipation…. not everyone can eat all the fiber they want and poop it out easily to be healthy.
You guys believe her? Please. She’s 42 and not ONE line on her forehead? Not a crease or even the hint of one? Please!
She has lines. Maybe they are not as deep as others. I am 45. I have lines but not deep ones. People don’t see my lines unless close up.
Well, I’m 47 and have no lines whatsoever on my forehead. I do have a few small wrinkles coming in around eyes, but that’s it. I even smoked for 25 years and don’t have wrinkles around my mouth. Why have I been so lucky? Who knows? I’m just glad for it.
Oh, and I guarantee I’ve had no cosmetic procedures whatsoever.
Some people are just lucky that way.
I’m 47 too, and I have a few lines on my forehead…..I blame my husband for them, it’s from years of ” what kind of dumbass are you” looks.
I’ve seen her in the flesh, close up, a few times. She does have some faint lines. She looks 100% natural. I don’t believe she’s ever had work done of any kind. She looks youthful, but not unnaturally so. She’s also very attractive, but nothing amazing. Not to say she can’t look amazing, just that she can also look quite normal!
I think Cate is a brilliant actress. And I love her down to earth approach towards healthy living. I have had three kids. Two are teens and one is away at college now, but I so identify about the junk in the house! I never buy junk, but if the kids go out on their own or with their dad, forget about it! The pantry gets filled with stuff mom would never buy!! I have tried a lot of the expensive creams and cleansers for my face, but my fav is Aveeno face wash for the shower. Expensive is not always better.
I used to use the Apricot scrub until I was told that the granules of sand or whatever it is they use is too harsh for your skin that it actually tears and scratches more than it should. So I stopped. I was using Bath &Body Works citrus scrub until they discontinued it!! It was awesome. It was not too grainy and pretty much dissolved so so you can’t accidentally scrub for too long…
My sister uses actual sugar to scrub her face…
I am going to start squeezing 1/2 lemon into my water once a day too and see if I notice any sort of difference with anything 🙂
I’ve actually been told that colonics/enemas can destroy the good bacteria in the colon. Unless its necessary for surgery, I wouldn’t suggest it a good idea. If you eat healthy and poop everyday, all will be fine.
“Cleanse” is a euphemism for laxative.
Celebrities like “cleanses” so much because laxatives can help you lose weight — only it’s unsafe weight loss. They upset your natural GI process, and they can lead to malnutrition because your body doesn’t have the chance to absorb the nutrients you need. Look at how so many anorexic-looking celebrities have very thin/receding hair like Victoria Beckham, the Rancic lady, and Rachel Zoe. Malnutrition does that to your hair.
Abusing laxatives to lose weight is not new. What’s new is the word “cleanse” or “detox” to disguise what it really is.
And I think Kate looks great. Part of it is just good genes. I don’t have a problem with actresses using “help” to stay younger or better looking, because that’s the pressure Hollywood puts on them. The only thing I don’t like is when they lie about it (like Kate Winslet).
Brown sugar makes a nice scrub and for soft skin sooth some plain yogurt into the skin and let it sit until it dries, rinse and the pores are tight and the skin feels soft.
St. Ives! Flashbacks to high school, us girls giving ourselves facials. Thx CB!
A couple of years ago when I was using an eyelash curler, my hand slipped and I ripped out about half of my upper lashes on one eye. Mortifying.
Are there other reasons I shouldn’t curl them?
St. Ives Apricot scrub is bad for your skin since the beads have jagged edges which create micro-tears and with long term use lead to skin inflammation and thats why no celebs recommend it. It’s also why their new scrub has perfectly round beads instead.
Cate is my beauty icon…I love that she doesn’t fake bake or have bolt ons or a nose job…I love lemon water too…I wish I could afford sk 2 guess I will have to stick to st Ives apricot scrub!!
Love, Love, Love, Love her!
True class.
I’m glad someone else uses St. Ive’s Apricot scrub! It’s great.
My husband and I were just talking about the St Ives’ Apricot scrub and reminiscing about the little tubs it used to come in.
That said, I absolutely love Cate she is always riveting on the screen, just watched her last night in ‘Hanna’.
I watched “Hanna” last night too. How’s that for Karma hehe 🙂 It’s a really good movie. I adore Cate and think she’s incredibly grounded however I can’t take beauty advice from someone who gets paid to lavishly use SK-II yes I’m very jealous. Her amazing bone structure will ensure she stays looking fab. She went to my cousin’s high school (MLC in Melbourne) and she said Cate was always really nice.
I found St. Ives Apricot scrub to be way too harsh on my skin, and I have tough skin.
I do much better with Cetaphil. I use a washcloth if I need a little scrub action. Cetaphil costs about $12, but the bottle lasts for months because it’s huge.
I love that this has turn into an exfolation/apricot scrub post instead of a Cate Blanchette post. I mean no disrespect, because I love Cate. I think this just speaks to how deeply Apricot Scrub has affected so many of our lives. LOL
Lol. I’m imagining a Celebitchy post with just a picture of a bottle of St. Ives scrub…. “St. Ives Apricot, Fabulous or Misses the Mark?”
That is priceless! So true!! Love it.
Yeah, because all her fillers are not obvious and you can’t see them. Of course.
Gorgeous skin. Love it. I used to love St.Ives Apricot Scrub but I’ve switched to a homemade recipe of honey, sugar, olive oil and lemon juice and it’s done wonders for my skin.
ANYWAY, whatever La Blanchett is doing, I should try it, her skin is luminescent.
Share the recipe, please?
I used to use St. Ives and another apricot scrub but had to stop once the rosacea kicked in.
The lemon water I used to used solely for cramps, but perhaps I should try everyday.
Here you go: http://katearends.com/blog/2011/10/in-the-kitchen-homemade-olive-oil-scrub/
I use this 3x a week and I leave it on for 10 minutes.
This is the one I use and it uses lemon juice;
Natural Honey-Lemon Facial Scrub
•2 tablespoons of honey
•1 tablespoon of lemon juice
•1 tablespoon olive oil
•1 ½ tablespoons of sugar(I use brown sugar)
Mix the ingredients in a small bowl. Apply the mixture to your face (careful not to get it in your eyes), neck and chest using a gentle, circular motions. After massaging the honey and lemon scrub into your skin for 60 seconds, rinse it off with warm water and blot your face dry with a clean towel. Follow the honey and lemon facial scrub with your favorite moisturizer.
The natural honey-lemon facial scrub can be used on other areas of the body such as the hands, feet, elbows and knees. It is particularly good on elbows that are a bit rough and discoloured.
Honey is a natural humectant that attracts and retains moisture. Olive oil provides moisturizing benefits to dry skin. The gentle sloughing action of sugar removes dead skin cells to reveal fresh, polished skin. Lemon juice acts as a natural toner and bleaching agent to help lighten dark spots on the skin.
I agree. I’d be curious for recipe as well. Sounds great! (Could figure out the proportions but if you are having success with it…)
Damn you all for ruining my affair with St. Ives!! I love that stuff but as I’m getting in my late 30’s the last thing I need are tears on my face-even the micro sized ones. : /
I do Glycolic peels every 4 weeks and use Retin-A every night and its has really begun to show a major difference on fine lines and pores. Good stuff.
If any of you are in Europe (because I’m not sure it’s available elsewhere), Garancia Magic Pschitt (love the name, lol) is fabulous! Your skin is like a babies bum when you use it and the bottle lasts about 2 months.
Wendy, Amazon has a product called Garancia Magic Formula Anti Croco Skin 3 in 1. Do you know anything about that one?
Some people are so judgemental about plastic surgery. When I was 11 I had a cyst on my eyelid. My doctor refused to refer me to the nhs to have it removed cos it was only a “cosmetic” procedure. My parents paid for me to have it removed by a cosmetic surgeon. People can be so cruel. I’d be walking down the street with my parents and would be subjected to adults staring & making nasty comments. I’m glad I had it done. Some people think that’s shallow but I wasn’t gonna put up with that for the next 70 yrs if my life.
I’m pretty sure that’s not the type of plastic surgery the commenters are talking about, I know it’s not when I criticize plastic surgery.
Technically what you may have had done was ‘cosmetic’, but it wasn’t like you had your lips puffed or your cheeks implanted and your eyelids redone and all before 25.
That’s the type I think most people are criticizing. Not the scar/birthmark removal type stuff.
I can recommend “Kanebo Sensai Silky Purifying Peeling Powder”.
Shiseido has similar options.
It’s encymatic and very easy on the skin, but makes it feel smooth and soft.
In the US I think it’s 30$ at Macy’s, in Europe it’s way more expensive (50€).
Also, I’ve heard that the jagged granules of regular peelings don’t matter, as they don’t affect the dermis where scarring happens.
@ cr – thanks. I’m not referring to the commentators here. I meant that some people think that any type of plastic surgery is unacceptable even in cases where the individual is disfigured or wants it after a mastectomy.
Thanks for clarifying. It’s sad that people hear cosmetic/plastic and automatically think face lifts and boob jobs.
I’ve had friends who’ve benefited from scar/birthmark etc. removal and the difference in their self esteem can be remarkable.
I had a nose job at 18 to get rid of a bump on the bridge of my nose and it changed me from a self hating, cripplingly shy teenage girl to a confident, happy young woman. There is a small chance I could have come to accept the nose I had eventually, but I have never once regretted my decision and still look at my improved nose 18 years on and smile at my reflection every single day. Just another example of how not all plastic surgery is bad. (Just in case anyone wants to know, I have had no other procedures besides the nose job – it didn’t make me want more or anything like that!)
she’s a lovely lady and great actress, talented and low key. great combination.
Yay for beauty tips! I’m going to try the lemon juice and St. Ives facial scrub, for sure. Has anyone tried Cate’s SK line?
No. I looked into it, read review but didn’t seem worth it. I rarely use drugstore skincare unless it’s Olay (niacin) but that line was too pricey for what seemed too little results.
I use px vit a ( tazorac) , vit c serum in the am and switch around my eye creams, face creams. Skincare will only go so far and I will only spend so much and then you really have to invest in laser, Botox, IPL, filler, ulthera, thermage etc.Those are pricey but you get results. Especially laser. I adore it.
I used to use St. Ives everyday until I was told by a dermatologist AND esthetician that it is a terrible product for ones face, and shouldnt be sold “unless its for feet”. The sharp edges of the exfoliant are constantly cutting the top layers of skin and whether you know it or not will affect your skin in the long run. Gentle exfoliants work just as well ladies, I promise!
Great comment thread!
I’m going to try that honey-olive oil-sugar scrub! But my absolute favorite skin care item is a $20 Mario Badescu face mask. It’s called Enzyme Revitalizing Mask and it is amazing, my skin just glows after I use it. And the bottle lasts several months. Do a mask once a week, or twice a week, after a warm shower and leave it on for 10-15 minutes… amazing.
The other skin care item I swear by is Basis Sensitive Skin Bar with chamomile. Totally natural and excellent for sensitive skin, and around $2.00.
Lemon juice in the morning is an old custom that goes back to the 1800s. It helps to cleanse your system and, of course, it’s an excellent source of Vitamin C.
This is great for anyone with oily skin and it doesn’t cost a cent:
Take an egg and separate the white from the yolk. Spread the white all over your face. Lie down for 15 to 20 minutes while the white hardens. Your face will feel tight as a drum. Rinse all the white off with lukewarm water and PAT (don’t rub) your face dry. Your skin will feel smooth and super-soft.
emu oil is not an essential oil. essential oils are from plants!
Thank you! And essential oils are a specific type of volatile extract, not an ‘oily’ feeling oil. She sounds daft and pretentious to me here, trying to sound like she knows what she is talking about. I’m not on board with people advocating an oil that can only be obtained by harming an animal, when there are plenty of plant-extracted carrier oils that have equivalent properties.
Sometimes I laugh in these threads when suddenly every commenter has no wrinkles at age 45 and 36DD boobs to “complain” about.
I’m a month out from 30, I have forehead wrinkles and eye wrinkles. I’ve started dabbling in laser facials and Botox. And my boobs are nice little B’s.
And the first thing I thought about ms blanchett’s pristine forehead was “Botox”.
Sorry, Peanut, but it does happen: I am 47 and I do not have any wrinkles on my forehad or on my neck (many of my younger coworkers do), just small ones around the eyes. But then I hate tanning, never smoked and I see my beautician every 6 weeks – not for Botox or anything invasive, just regular maintenance – AHA acids, peeling, deep moisturising. At home I use Eucerin (I live in Europe and the kind I buy- Swiss- has 4% urea and lactic acid) for face and AmLactin for the body. AmLactin I get in the US, where it’s cheap and sold in regular drugstores . It’s the absolute best moisturiser for the body and I can’t live w/o it. It has the perfect amount of lactic acid to keep your skin PH balanced and my skin is so sensitive and allergic to many skin products (can’t have any preservatives added or I get a rash). My dermatologist recommended it once and I never looked back. If you get rough, dry spots on your arms, back or legs in winter, try AmLactin.. you may get a reaction at first but later on it’s the only thing that works. I swear by it.
Lol. I know. But all the natural unknown beauties are on the Internet !!
You can have no wrinkles at all at 50 but you will never ever pass for 25 and a 22 year old can have eye wrinkles galore but will still have the plumpness of youth in her face. You just can’t get that back … Not with fillers, sunscreen, surgery.. Nothing. No you may look good but no one looks 25 at 55.
Most pictures you see will have been airbrushed… You can rarely tell what someone looks like anymore… Google Cate Blanchett… Any pics that arent from photoshoots are full of ‘lines’. Normal, healthy, ordinary wrinkles (or lines for those who cant admit to wrinkles)
SK is actually expensive. It’s a Japanese product so it’s likely that it will deliver.
Oprah once said that Cate has the most beautiful skin. I agree. But I also think she had work done, maybe non-surgical like high-end treatments none of us can afford. There’s a remarkable improvement on her face/skin when she was doing the promo for Babel then later Notes on a Scandal. For a while, I was questioning her being cast as Galadriel but after seeing the said films, I thought she is incredibly hot.
Ah I love St. Ives Apricot Scrub! Has never done me wrong!