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Cate Blanchett skincare routine
image caption
Cate Blanchett at the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

How to Do Cate Blanchett’s Skincare Routine

“I found something that really works for me, and I’ve stuck with it.”

If there’s one celeb who inspires skin envy, it’s Cate Blanchett. At 55 years old, the Australian actress is as well-known for her flawless, luminous complexion as she is for her Oscar-winning film roles.

So it’s no surprise that she was the global ambassador for the revered Japanese skincare line SK-II for 15 years, and now holds the same position for Giorgio Armani Beauty.

“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.”1

It was her makeup artist, Mary Greenwell, who introduced her to the range back in 2001, when Cate was pregnant with her first child and had developed melasma. “After that... I was completely stunned by the results. I don’t know how to describe it, but SK-II sort of turns a light on in your skin. It illuminates it. I noticed a decrease in my skin’s pigmentation probably after a month. I really started to notice the difference when I would have close-ups on film. Using SK-II made me feel more confident at work. And, as soon as I felt more confident at work and I didn’t have to worry about breakouts, I was addicted.”

All these years later, the line’s products—plus plenty of SPF—have kept Cate’s skin looking flawless.

“My skin is in pretty good condition and has been stable, because I found something that really works for me, and I’ve stuck with it. I think my skin is a lot more resilient. I have fewer breakouts than I did in my 20s, which you can say is partially hormonal, but also because I’m not changing it up.”2

Read on to find out what’s involved in Cate’s skincare routine.

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From The Skincare Edit Archives

Cate Blanchett skincare routine

Cate Blanchett at the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Her Morning Skincare Routine

1. Cleanser

SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil

SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil: “I just tend to cleanse at night. [But] if I’ve had a particularly late night and gone to bed with my makeup on, I wash my face in the morning.”

2. Essence

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence: “I have been using the SK-II Essence for about 15 years now. 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.”

3. Serum

SK-II LXP Ultimate Revival Serum

SK-II LXP Ultimate Revival Serum: “In terms of my regime every morning, it’s so simple, I don’t even have to think about it. It’s literally the Essence [and] the 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. It’s not necessarily about bleaching the skin which is a long, ancient tradition in Japan. It’s more about evenness of tone and that’s what I find the range does. It just works on the luminescence of the skin.”