Long before she was made its global ambassador, actress Cate Blanchett was already a fan of Japanese beauty brand SK-II.

'A make-up artist friend gave me some SK-II products seven years ago. My skin's texture became smoother and had a healthy glow,' recalls the Australian.

Her devotion to the brand paid off: She was made its first global ambassador in October. She is also the only non-Asian to endorse the brand.

The collaboration was 'a natural progression for the brand', says Shivesh Ram, vice-president and general manager of Global SK-II.

Blanchett has been the face of the brand in Australia for the past three years.

'We're delighted to have her expand her role within the SK-II family,' he adds.

Launched more than 25 years ago, SK-II is best known for its Pitera ingredient, which is said to stimulate the skin's rejuvenation.

Other ambassadors of the luxury beauty brand include Shanghai-born model Qi Qi and Hong Kong singer Sammi Cheng.

'I truly believe I already played the role of an ambassador before the brand officially caught up with me,' says Blanchett, 38, in an e-mail interview to announce her new role with the brand.

'I used to insist my friends take the 'hand test'. They would use an SK-II product on their skin and notice that their skin seemed softer, smoother and more radiant.

'I'd send them to the SK-II counter and, in three months time, they'd go back on their own.'

She shot to fame in the 1998 movie Elizabeth and won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator in 2004.

Blanchett can now be seen in Elizabeth: The Golden Age. The sequel to Elizabeth opened in cinemas here last Thursday and sees her reprising her role as Queen Elizabeth I.

Blanchett, who has been married to British film technician Andrew Upton for the last 10 years, has two sons, aged three and six years. She is expecting her third child who is due in April.

She shares her beauty secrets with Urban.

What do you think sets SK-II apart from other skincare brands?

SK-II is unique because the whole process comes with an education. It's based on science, not trends or fashion. But there are certainly a number of other wonderful brands available today with truly impressive technology.

Women have plenty of choices and each will make the choice that's right for her.

I am not interested in being sold a lifestyle or having my fears of ageing played upon. SK-II isn't one of those brands. I was using its products long before it approached me to be the ambassador.

What beauty products can't you do without?

The staple products for me are definitely SK-II's Facial Treatment Essence and Facial Treatment Masks. They're with me everywhere I go. I also use the brand's Facial Treatment Repair C daily which reduces the appearance of fine lines. It's incredibly light and does wonders for the skin's texture.

My schedule is fairly hectic with work and my sons but I can always find a bit of solace by putting on a Facial Treatment Mask at the end of the day or right before bed. That way I wake up in the morning with moisturised and refreshed skin. When they see me with my mask on, my boys know that I am trying to have some 'me' time.

Your best skincare tip?

Moisturise.

Have you always had clear skin?

After having children, my skin changed. But I've noticed that my skin is much healthier since using the products. I started using Whitening Source when I was pregnant and my cloasthma (dark marks on the skin which appear during pregnancy) disappeared.

I view SK-II as more a 'solution- based' brand than one that helps with covering up. Overall, there is definitely a difference in the texture as well as the tone of my skin.

What do you think makes a woman beautiful?

I think we're beginning to appreciate a person's beauty in many forms. When you are true to yourself, it's beautiful. There isn't a simple definition, it's more of a Zen concept - a reduction of something or someone to its quintessential essence, its core.

Personally, I feel that I am more truly who I am now than I was 10 years ago. And I think I actually look better now than I did then.

Beauty is something that is constantly evolving. For instance, a flower is just as beautiful when it's a bud as when it's fully bloomed.

What would you consider a good skincare regime?

As a working mother of two, I'm often left with very little time to myself. I have always believed that skincare, like eating well, is one of the most basic and intuitive things you can do for yourself, for both your inner and outer well-being.

I spend time each morning and night on my skincare ritual as it ultimately saves me time because I don't need to think or worry about my skin. I simply feel positive.

How would you recommend a woman incorporate a skincare ritual into her life if she doesn't already have one?

Like any lifestyle change, in order to see any results, you need to be consistent and willing. It also helps to know that preventive steps taken now will make a huge difference later. It is really about making the best of your attributes.