Oscar-winning actress, rock star wife and celebrity blogger, Gwyneth Paltrow is now the new creative inspiration for Max Factor’s beauty campaigns. She’s been working with make-up maestro Pat McGrath to create her new businesswoman look, and in our exclusive interview, she shares her essential beauty lessons with Stylist

DARE TO BE GLAMOROUS AND COOL

“I love that cool, slightly undone look you get with a dark, smudgy eye. You see that a lot in London, there’s a really cool vibe here at the moment where the look is glam, but a little edgier.”

FOCUS ON A FEW SIGNATURE LOOKS

“I’m a big fan of a simple red lip teamed with fresh skin, like the businesswoman look in the campaign. I think it’s a strong statement and a really good look for me personally. I change things up on a night out by wearing a smoky eye.”

GIVE YOUR SKIN SOME TLC

“I’ve always been told I have good skin, so I try to look after it as much as possible. I usually deep cleanse and exfoliate my skin four times a week. I get a gentle peel from my facialist that takes away all the dead cells on the surface, and then I focus on moisturisation. When I’m flying a lot, I have to make extra effort with my skin, even if it’s just using a quick hot cloth wash and applying organic oils. Anything will do – one time, I even applied olive oil.”

BEAUTY DOES COME FROM WITHIN

“I work out a lot and that’s helped me to maintain a more youthful face because when you do a lot of cardiovascular exercise, it boosts your blood flow. I believe exercise is an essential part of your beauty regime and it’s also a great stress reliever. It’s very important to battle stress as, in the end, it really shows on your face. A hot bath with Epsom salts at the end of the day helps you to unwind.”

BLONDES DON’T ALWAYS HAVE MORE FUN

“I don’t understand the whole idea of blondes having more fun. I’d say brunettes have more fun as they can go under the radar a little bit more. People are just waiting for blondes to get drunk and fall down, because we’re so visible.”