Amazing Cate

Posted: Monday 5 September 2011 09:26am

You’ve heard all the superlatives about Cate Blanchett’s complexion – radiant, lit-from-within, glowing, and porcelain, incandescent, gleaming, and brilliant … well, they’re all true. And then some. In fact, I think they invented the word “luminous” just to describe her.

I know this, because I was sat next to her at dinner recently. It had been three years since we had sat at the exact same table at Tetsuya’s Japanese restaurant in Kent Street, Sydney, and I will tell you; her glow hasn’t dulled by a dot.  I was totally transfixed by her luminosity, like I was passing over “John Edwards style” and I was being drawn towards “the light”.

Envious of her? I sure was. Still am. I could lessen your envy a little, by telling you that the lovely lady has crow’s feet, but I reckon you’ll just be even more jealous, because they crinkle up so endearingly in the outer corners of her eyes when she laughs, which is frequently and with genuine gusto. She also sports some soft but distinct horizontal lines across her forehead, obvious marks of her inquisitive, highly intelligent mind and overly expressive and entertaining personality.

You see, unlike many of her contemporaries, the 42-year old mother of three, Oscar winning actress and Director of the Sydney Theatre Company vehemently opposes Botox. She loves her lines, embraces her age and is all the more sexy, confident and real because of it. She has even been quoted as saying, “they’re the song lines of your experience, and why would you want to eradicate that?” Indeed.

Lines or no lines, Cate has a first-class complexion that you can’t help but covet. The good news, girls? You can get it. You just have to commit to the twice-daily skin care regime, which really, takes no time at all.

Cate’s secret weapon, as you well know, is Japanese Skin Care brand SK-II.

“I have been using it for ten years now,” she explains between bites of delectable sashimi prepared personally for the evening by world-renowned chef Testsuya Wakuda.

“I have no plans to lessen my use of it. I’ve seen how the [star ingredient] Pitera works on my skin. I started using the brand when I was pregnant with my first son Dashell, who is now nine. I noticed a lot of changes in my skin and SK-II has been a friend since then.”

That was a decade ago, and just as times have changed, so has Cate’s skin.

“My skin’s needs have changed along with the various expansion of the SK-II line and I haven’t wavered, but I have used many of the variants in the brand,” she explains when quizzed on her favourite products (which incidentally, makes you imagine she has a bathroom the size of an Olympic swimming pool).

Cate was introduced to the brand initially by leading Australian makeup artist Dotti, who was famed for making model’s skin’s beam pre-runway shows, by applying the SK-II Pitera-infused cloth masks. Fast-forward ten years and Cate rotates between at least half a dozen products in her regime and has no plans of swapping skin care any time soon.

“The brand induces loyalty because it really works,” she stresses, adding though, with a laugh that “I’d like to think that becoming global ambassador was because of my startling intellect and my vivacious personality! But let’s face it, it’s actually because of my skin, which is equally as flattering as a woman to be given that compliment by a brand such as SK-II.”

Turning serious for a second, she admits of the past decade: “My skin has taken a beating, being an actress and a mother who doesn’t sleep very much. SK-II has been there every step of the road, for which I am very grateful. It’s been a very long and happy association.”

Then she once again laughs, adding, “and let’s face it, none of us none of us are getting any younger,” before diving back into the 12-course degustation dinner.

Cate’s routine:

“I use SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, $185 twice daily after cleansing with Facial Treatment Cleansing Gel, $85.”

“I use the LXP Moist Softening Serum, $315 and Ultimate Revival Cream, $475, daily and finally the Facial Hydrating UV Cream, $115”

“I use Skin Signature 3D Refining Mask, $190, every three days or so, and at night I will apply Cellumination Deep Surge Moistuiriser, $200, alternating with the Whitening range on other nights.

by Shonagh Walker

Comments (0) Print Send to friend Share or bookmark this page