I like to think that Salma Hayek and I have a lot in common: We are both short enough to sit cross-legged on a couch. We have dark hair. We appreciate protein-rich grains. The similarities end there.

Beyond acting, Hayek runs her production company, Ventanarosa. She's the co-founder of Cooler Cleanse, the brand often credited with getting Americans hooked on green juice. And four years ago, Hayek created Nuance, a comprehensive skincare, hair, and makeup collection inspired by her grandmother's beauty regimen.

In a sprawling suite at the Mandarin Oriental late last week, I sat down with the multi-hyphenate to talk all things beauty, and managed to mine a little life advice in the process. And let me just say that up close, she looks exactly the same as she did in the woefully underrated From Dusk Till Dawn, which was released in 1996, only wearing head-to-toe Gucci instead of a snake.

"I use an ingredient called Tepezcohuite that's used in Mexico for burn victims because it completely regenerates the skin, and there's no one in the States who is using this ingredient except for us," Hayek tells me. "Some of the ingredients, when I took them to the American labs, they were like 'Oh my god! How come nobody is using this?' This is why I have no Botox, no peels, no fillings. I'm 48. I will be 49 this year and I only use my creams."

Hayek tells me about her wildly effective Correcting Spot Treatment. "If you put it on at night, you have nothing the next day. It also has licorice extract, so not only does it help take away the pimple, but it helps lighten the blemish."

And then, some rules to live by.

How to start the day:

I begin with coffee. Not the greatest, but that's what I do. And sometimes I like Yerba Mate when I run out of juice, and I love eggs. Boiled eggs, poached eggs. Sometimes what I do is have—even if they're boiled—three whites and one yolk. Sometimes I feel like a little bit more, so I have all the eggs with the yolks. I go by what I feel my body is needing. When I feel really comfortable at the end of the day, I feel like I ate delicious things but I didn't overeat.

Her specialty:

I do a lot of really good recipes with quinoa. I change it all the time, but I do one quinoa where I put curry and then some sautéed vegetables, and then add the quinoa, and then continue to cook the quinoa with the vegetables and the curry powder, and some Indian spices that I can get in London. And you have a complete meal.

Her skincare philosophy:

My grandmother taught me how to take care of my skin from a very young age. When we were growing up, people would burn the seed of this fruit called Mamey. It doesn't exist here, and with the oil, you put it in your lashes to make them grow longer. We use it also on the hair.

Why she flies coach:

Sometimes I fly first class or business, and sometimes if that's the plane that is the right one for my schedule, I fly coach. And sometimes the plane that is the right plane doesn't even have first class! I would rather take coach than waste my time. Time is the greatest luxury one can have; even more luxury than first class or a private plane.

On her squad:

I think Penélope [Cruz] is a classical beauty that will be beautiful forever. I think Reese [Witherspoon] has gotten more beautiful with time. I think Jada [Pinkett Smith] is gorgeous. I think Oprah is gorgeous. Natalie Portman I think is beautiful. Cate Blanchett! She's gorgeous.

Hollywood's most eligible bachelor:

Bradley! Bradley Cooper. I can say that because he's very good friends with my husband. I'm not going to get into trouble. And you know what, he really is gorgeous. But to me he's gorgeous because he's a gorgeous human being. From any way that you see he's such a lovely guy. Girls, this is the catch of the year!

The secret to a successful relationship:

I think if you are inspiring to each other that helps. If you have chemistry, it doesn't wear off. But maybe it doesn't wear of because you continue to be stimulated by the same person, if you are kind to each other, understanding with each other, if you're both trying to be the best that you can be. Personalities that match well together, sometimes it just comes down to that. You can always work on it, but if you have to work too hard—not the right person.

Words to live by:

You know when you're little and you're like, 'What can I do? I'm bored.' My mother said to me, 'Smart people never get bored.' Because you always have your imagination.

Nuance is available at CVS stores nationwide and at cvs.com.

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