“Getting in it is like all the drinks and drugs; it’s that kind of euphoria,” the actress says. Find out what’s in the bath with her — plus the “bitchin'” moisturizer that gives her that glow — ahead.

For our March issue, InStyle sat down with the actress and Clinique global brand ambassador to hear about her skincare philosophy, her wondrous Game of Thrones wig (did we know she bleached her actual hair under that thing?!), and her meme-worthy bath routine. Find out all the beauty’s beauty secrets, below.

I know you have a thing for red lipstick. What’s your signature shade?

When you first get a red lipstick, you think you’ve got the one. Then you start to broaden out a bit. Now I’ve got hundreds. I find blue-toned reds really complementary. These days I’m being bolder and braver and rocking a red lipstick for lunch. Why not?

What products, besides red lipstick, make you feel good?

What I have learned as I’ve gotten older is that moisturizing does 80% of the heavy lifting. If you’ve got clean skin, moisturize, drink a shit ton of water, and think happy thoughts, that’s what does it. I used to have really dry skin and would use those thick creams that feel like you’re putting on medicine. Clinique has this Moisture Surge 100 Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator. Try saying that 10 times fast. It’s like the [brand’s] Moisture Surge 72-Hour Hydrator, which has a gel-like texture, but pimped out. It’s bitchin’!

How has your relationship with beauty shifted over the years?

When I was younger, it was armor. I don’t think I was the only woman in the world who couldn’t bear the thought of walking outside with absolutely no makeup on. Now I’m even more aware of how much skin care does versus makeup. The women who make me go, “Oh god, she’s so beautiful,” always have a luminous thing that comes from inside them.

You spent hours in the hair-and-makeup chair for Game of Thrones. Is there anything you miss about it?

That wig did wonders — bloody hell. It was like walking around with a permanent bounce. I was reminiscing with Kit [Harington, Jon Snow in GOT] the other day about the hours we pulled and how hard the work was. There’s a grieving process that goes on after the show, obviously, but I think we are now both finally at the point where we can say, “What bits do we miss?” It’s kind of like remembering a relationship.

Did you have to take extra care of your own hair after wearing that wig?

Fuck, yeah. [laughs] I decided to bleach my hair blond because I wanted it to be Daenerys’s color for the last season. My hair was so fried that I basically had to cut it all off, like a proper Leonardo DiCaprio, Romeo + Juliet boy cut. Now my hair has naturally grown out. I give it more nourishment than you could possibly imagine. It’s my proudest achievement, and I don’t plan on cutting it ever again. I’m going to be 90 with it down to my bum — that’s my plan.

What are you motivated by these days?

Myself. I’ve got a pretty strong voice in my head that tells me to get up. No bigger critic exists than me, and not in the healthiest way. The difficulty now is trying to find the balance between encouraging kindness to and motivating myself.

Are you a self-care kind of person?

For me, perfection begins and ends with a scalding-hot bath. Getting in it is like all the drinks and drugs; it’s that kind of euphoria. I add in Epsom salts and lavender oil, light candles, put on a face mask, and play classical music. I’m like a meme. You could have a glass of something with it, but my bath is too hot. If I’m scoffing wine, I’ll pass out. [Source]