Cate Blanchett says she swears by a ‘cliché’ morning habit to kickstart her day

• Cate Blanchett, 56, says she loves a good icy plunge in the morning to "jolt" her awake.
• The actor also swears by Tai Chi and facial massages to give her a youthful glow.
• "If your skin is in good shape, there's no need for a lot of cover-up," she said.

Cate Blanchett, 56, says she doesn't skip her go-to wellness routine, even when traveling.

"It's so popular it's almost a cliché, but I do get into cold water every morning. It's a real leveler and brings me into the day with a fabulous jolt," Blanchett told Byrdie in an interview published on Tuesday.

To keep her complexion looking its best, Blanchett turns to a few trusted practices.

"Lymphatic drainage, lymphatic drainage, lymphatic drainage. I love a good facial massage. It's simultaneously relaxing and invigorating. A few minutes of Tai Chi. It wakes everything up," she said.

Blanchett says the glow is enough to skip heavy makeup altogether.

"If your skin is in good shape, there's no need for a lot of cover-up. So for me, just mascara. And a fabulous lipstick," she said.

This isn't the first time that the actor has spoken about her love for her icy morning routine.

"The only thing keeping me remotely sane at the moment is getting into cold water every day," Blanchett told The Guardian in a March interview. "I get up and get in. Five minutes, and it just brings everything back down. Because you have to connect with where you are."

Cold plunges, also known as ice baths, have become a popular wellness trend. Once the domain of wealthy celebrities and athletes, it has gone mainstream, fueled by the growing obsession with longevity.

Research is mixed. Some studies show ice baths can ease muscle soreness after an intense workout, while others suggest they might interfere with long-term muscle growth.

Still, it remains a staple in the routines of many athletes, including Stephen Curry, who told Business Insider in March that "getting in cold tubs" is a key part of his recovery routine.

"If I skip one of those, I feel it, and it doesn't give me the maximum recovery that I need, especially at this stage," Curry said.

If a cold plunge isn't an option, a cold shower might do the trick.

NBA All-Star Kevin Love told Business Insider in April that he takes a cold shower for one to five minutes after waking up.

"When I need to really wake up and get that, boom, dopamine hit and be firing, I'll do that," Love said. "My mind is working at a very high level as well as my body being just refreshed."