Leighton Meester is nothing like her on-screen character Blair Waldorf. They may both be gorgeous and sweet, but unlike her Upper East Side counterpart, who uses her charm to manipulate others, Meester is the real thing.

We caught up with the actress, popstar, and Herbal Essences ambassador recently to uncover a few more surprising facts.   

She’s a hydration addict.
While Leighton lists sunscreen and an eyelash curler on her can’t-live-without beauty products list, it’s water that’s really got a hold on the actress-singer. “[Beauty] is all internal,” she says. “I love spray bottles of water, especially when I’m on the airplane or at work.” The starlet is also big on Herbal Essences Hello Hydration shampoo as the base to her beautiful locks.

She’s a natural blonde.
“My hair is a dark blonde,” the current-brunette admits. “It’s brown for [Gossip Girl]. I’ve gone blonde a few times since I started the show for different movie projects and I got to go red.”

She has but one regret.
“Regrettably, for a long time I wasn’t as comfortable in my own skin, how I am naturally. Now I love the way I look without makeup and without my hair styled because I feel healthy and beautiful,” Meester explains.

Her love of fashion started young.
“Dressing my Barbies was the beginning I guess, but I also always loved watching my mom get ready and put on her makeup and clothes. I just thought it was really fascinating,” Meester reminisces. “She ended up giving me a bunch of her clothes when I was growing up and I wear them all the time. [My mom] was always very sexy and cool in her own skin and I admire her a lot.”

She doesn’t choose favourites.
"I don’t think I could choose just one [fashion label] that I love,” she admits. “The beauty of fashion is that you get to mix it up and try different things to change your look.”