“My earliest beauty memory is of Chanel No. 5 because I always think back to that Marilyn Monroe interview when they asked her what she slept in and she said ‘Chanel No. 5.’ And so whenever I think beauty, I think Chanel. But I’m not tied to one brand—I’ve been getting my makeup done since I was a kid modeling with Ford, so I’ve been picking up tricks and discovering new products all along the way.

SKINCARE

On a normal day, I start with a shower. I like Dove Body Wash—it’s easy and simple, there’s nothing bad added to it. I also use baby oil, which I like to put on at the end. Then I always use the Skyn Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels for de-puffing. It just feels refreshing in the morning. Sometimes I like wearing the SK-II Facial Treatment Masks, which look really creepy. Arcona Triad Pads are my favorite for cleansing. The smell is really good and it works like an exfoliator, too. And then I rinse with cold water.

I moisturize with La Mer, or I’ll go lighter and use Avéne Hydrance Optimale Light Hydrating Cream. If I don’t use La Mer, then I use Carol Joy Forevermore Serum. It’s pricey, but it’s really good. They use this golden millet oil in their products and I’m really big on that—it just feels so nice on the skin. La Prairie does one that uses actual gold and one that’s platinum. They’re so pretty and feel so nice, but, again, super expensive. My friend from Dubai told me about Astral Cream, which is amazing. A lot of my friends from Riyadh use it, actually. It’s good because it’s like La Mer, but there’s not as much fragrance in it and it shines your skin. It’s cheap, but I think it’s better! People don’t realize that even some of the best wines are the cheaper ones.

The Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is really good for a spot, or Tazorac, but that you have to get at the dermatologist. I freak out when I get any blemishes and I’ll pick my face—I’m so, so bad about that. The Tazorac almost works as a concealer in a way because it mattifies. I wouldn’t say that I have acne-prone skin, though—it’s normal-to-dry—especially dry if I’m traveling and not drinking enough water. I forget about that…water is so boring.

MAKEUP

As a kid I used to hate my freckles and would always cover them. I don’t really feel that way now, and they’ve faded so much anyway that it’s not at the front of my mind. Now I mix the Laura Mercier Primer with Make Up For Ever’s HD Invisible Cover Foundation, which is really thin and light, or their tinted moisturizer. I use Nars Contour Blush or Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder for contouring. For some sheen I use Charlotte Tilbury Highlight powder—I like her mascara as well. Or Givenchy Phenomen’Eyes, the small one with the little round brush.

I won’t do the same thing every time, but one thing that’s pretty constant is that I use a lot of Nars and MAC, especially for eyeshadows. The Portobello Duo by Nars is good, and the red one that I use— Persia. I like Bali, which is on the greyish side, for a little contour. If I use any eyeliner, it’s the MAC Eye Kohl, just inside up top. If I’m going out I will do false lashes—a half lash, I never do full. Or I’ll do more eye makeup, and just darken it a little. Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color I love because it’s iridescent and changes color a little. There’s a white one a blue one and a pink one—the white I just use on the insides of my eyes to brighten.

I prefer cream blushes— MAC Crémeblend Blush in So Sweet, So Easy is good. I like Hoola bronzer by Benefit, and the Charlotte Tilbury highlighter, but otherwise too many powders leave me feeling cakey. Nars Blush in Sex Fantasy is a powder, but I put it on my eyes. If I have a spray tan I won’t really put anything on except for MAC Pro Longwear Concealer to touch up and YSL Touche Éclat for under-eye. I usually let my makeup artist, Thom Walker, do anything major to my brows, but if I’m left to my own devices I just do the clear Brow Seal from Make Up For Ever or Anastasia Brow Fix.

I love working with new people, meeting different makeup artists and seeing what they have. I’ve picked up how to contour from my makeup artist in New York, Kristofer Buckle. He’s the best—I’ve known him since I was a kid. And Thom does great eye makeup, so I always try to watch. I don’t like them really heavy, but it depends on the shoot. Thom was the one who introduced me to my favorite lipstick—a pink from Topshop called Pillow Talk. I also use the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Lost Cherry. This I love— Kevyn Aucoin Duo 2 Palette. I’ve had it forever. And then Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in 001.

NAILS

I hate sitting through manicures—it’s therapeutic for me to put it on myself, like an exercise in patience. There was a whole ritual when I was doing the play—I’d go to my dressing room to be alone and sit on the floor at the mirror and start my nails and makeup. There’s something very calming about it. Chloe Nails, here in Chelsea, is really good too. They’re sweet and they’re quick. I either like red or nude polishes. I’ve gone through the crazy nails phase, with the fake nails and all that shit, which I can’t do anymore. I’m past it, I like something more natural now.

HAIR

Out of all of the hair colors I’ve tried, red or blonde are the ones I like most. I’m trying to get it back to my natural color now—I haven’t dyed it in a really long time. I’m naturally a little bit darker, but if I’m in saltwater and hanging out in the sun my hair gets so light, like strawberry blonde. I like Carol Joy Shampoo for Definition & Shine and I love Kérastase, which I’ve used since I was a kid. I used to steal it from my mom, and I literally wouldn’t go anywhere without it. I love that they make travel sizes now. Oleo-Relax is timeless, and their pink line— Chroma Captive—is good for when you get color. Oh, and L’anza Keratin Healing Oil is good stuff. Really good—just use it on the ends to seal them up.

FRAGRANCE

Gucci Guilty is one of my favorite fragrances, along with Daphne by Daphne Guinness X Comme des Garçons—I have to get a new one of those. Then I have Paco Rabanne 1 Million, Tom Ford Black Orchid, and I have something new by Saint Laurent that's good. I mix, like, 10 at a time. I like men’s, too— Bleu De Chanel, Costume National Homme… Sometimes I mix fragrance oils and put it in the ends in my hair so the smell stays with me. If I wear black, I’ll put perfume all over my clothes.

STRESS RELIEF

When I’m in LA, I always go to Arcona for facials. I wish I had one here in London. It scares me to jump around from spa to spa because if they don’t know your skin, they can go either way. I usually get acupuncture several times a week in New York with my girl Lisa Ripi, so I have to find someone here. But Lisa’s the best and I’ve known her forever—she does the Jets as well. Acupuncture helps release tension. It’s similar to a massage in that way, but I feel like massaging just moves the tension around whereas acupuncture gets it out. My back gets so tight sometimes from stress that the needle bends—Lisa says I’m worse than some of the football players!

I practice Naam yoga. It’s fun, it’s not boring yoga—you’re almost dancing. Some of the movements involve a face thing, which has beauty benefits, but it’s mostly spiritual. I meditate when I shower and I do certain little prayers. I don’t take baths…I filled the tub once, but never used it. I think baths are gross—you’re sitting in your own filth! Though there was a time when I was living in New York and I would take baths, light candles and incense, and do the whole thing. I love Nag Champa incense and Diptyque Tubereuse and Ambre. I light sage if there’s someone that comes over that makes me feel like I need to cleanse the house—I’m serious. I sage people out! During Speed-the-Plow, I went to everyone’s dressing rooms and did it.

EXERCISE

I do kickboxing for exercise and I love to run through the park. Then I do obliques and other ab work. I use this app called Round Timer with my trainer, which is a set of four movements for 20 seconds with 10 seconds of rest between. You really don’t feel it because it’s so easy, but I was looking at myself the other day and I realized that I’m starting to really change. It’s so cool! I said to him, ‘It’s pink! I like that.’

Everyone should try S Factor. It’s almost like erotic yoga—all these women in a dark room doing really sexy movements. It’s very sexual, and there are poles involved, but it’s good for you and it builds confidence and makes you think differently about how you treat your body. And you sweat so much, it’s so good. The class starts with yoga, and then some stretching that feels like Pilates. Then everyone starts to move around the room really slow and really sensual. It’s beautiful to watch. And in the second hour you’ll do a routine at the pole. But I’m always scared to do that! I did it when I was first taking the class but now I’m like, ‘OK, I’ll leave now.’ It’s fun. And you wear layers of sweats that you strip off. I’ll be honest—it’s really hard, but you feel so good after. My body was the best it’s ever been.”

—as told to ITG

Lindsay Lohan photographed by Olivia Richardson in London. Interview by Olivia J. Singer. Read more of The Top Shelf here.