Mischa Barton's beauty secrets
Wednesday 04 February 2009
Ever since she first appeared on our TV screens as Marissa Cooper in The O.C., we have had some serious hair envy thanks to Mischa Barton's luscious locks!
Rocking the original 'California beach girl' tousled mane like no other, British-born Mischa has had us crying into our hairbrushes with despair.
But now, as the new face of Herbal Essences shampoos, Mischa has very kindly shared some of her beauty and relaxation secrets with us!
California, here we come... maybe there is hope for us after all?
Do you spend hours in the shower or are you a 'quick dip' kinda girl?
It depends. On a daily basis, I usually have to be pretty quick because I work so much, but I make sure that I enjoy even that short time to myself. Then when I do have more time, I’ll definitely get into a proper bath. I love escaping to a good bath surrounded with candles and lovely scent to make it even more relaxing!
Do you ever have bad hair days?
I definitely have bad hair days! My hair’s a bit unruly sometimes, so I condition it lots. I don’t actually mind messy hair; I quite like a ‘tousled’ look. My hair doesn’t dry completely straight. I don’t like it when it looks too perfect, so long as it feels great.
What's your favourite way to wear your hair?
I change things around, but for the most part I just wear it down and natural – so much gets done to my hair when I’m doing red carpet things or especially when I’m acting, so when I’m not working I really like to give it a break in my free time.
Do you feel pressured to look your best at all times?
I think it’s cooler when girls look themselves, so I don’t fuss too much about the way I look – I really dress for me. I think it’s important as a girl that the way you dress and the way you look are for yourself and you’re not just trying to please other people all the time.
What are your favourite beauty treatments?
I do love a good spa! I love massages and I go for lots of those. And I love a good steam room too. I’ve been to all kinds of spas - I go to Saturnia in Italy with my family and love visiting the spas around there, and even just the local day spas in LA are great place to escape to.
What's your beauty must-have?
I’m not really a lip gloss girl, but I really like lip balm, so I normally carry one of those with me (I love By Terry Rose Lip Balm).
What's your typical beauty routine?
I’m not too high-maintenance – I just wash my face morning and night then I just use a good moisturiser, sometimes something with an SPF if I think it’s necessary, and I always keep cleansing wipes by my bed to make sure I take my make-up off because otherwise I can be a bit lazy!
What energises you when you're feeling tired?
If I’m feeling really lazy, I’ll take a long bath with scented oil or bubble bath. That’s when I can’t be bothered to stand up in the shower! At the end of a 12-hour day, that’s usually where you’ll find me! And I’m a champion sleeper, too!
Which of the new Herbal Essences products is your favourite?
I’ve been using ‘Hello Hydration’ with coconut and orchid extracts because my hair’s fine and it can get a bit dry, so the fact that it boosts the moisture in my hair is great for me. I just love it.