It's a ritual that has played out in bathrooms since the dawn of time. A little girl sits on a velvet, cushioned bench or on the edge of the tub while her mother hands down beauty advice.
Kate Hudson tells me that it was that way in her house when she was growing up with mama Goldie Hawn.
"We'd experiment with lipsticks and moisturizers and it was delicious fun," Hudson recalls.
Her mother's advice wasn't just lotion and potion related.
Kate, who stars in "Something Borrowed," says Goldie always taught her the importance of lots of zzzz's for beauty. "My mom and I really like products, but there isn't anything invited that makes you look more beautiful than eight solid hours of sleep," says the very pregnant Hudson. "My Mom is always saying, 'Did you get enough sleep last night?'"
Goldie Hawn also instilled a good self-imagine when it came to what constituted real beauty.
"She always taught me to relax about beauty. We were never the type of mother-daughter where she said, 'Put on your face before you go out.' We're California people who like to just have natural, beautiful skin," Kate says. "Plus, we're in a family of mostly boys, so frankly my mom and I don't care about looking all made up."
In honor of Mother's Day, celebrated screen daughters reveal their mother's best beauty secrets:
HILARY SWANK'S MOTHER PREACHED UNIQUE BEAUTY
Hilary Swank says her mother has a sense of humor about beauty tips. The producer of the new "Something Borrowed," shows up for our interview in black short-shorts and a white suit jacket. "My mother told me ultimate beauty comes from always being yourself," she says. "Otherwise, she told me to always wear red stilettos when you want to be noticed, including to your press interviews. (Looking down at her toes, yes ladies, red stilettos.)
GINNIFER GOODWIN'S GRANDMOTHER: DON'T WASH AWAY THE GOOD OILS
"Big Love" star Ginnifer Goodwin says it was her grandmother who handed down the sage beauty advice. "Sleep and water are tips from my mom, but my grandmother told both of us to only wash our faces once a day," she says.
"Basically, my grandmother told us that women wash too much and you should leave those amazing facial oils alone," Goodwin says. "Of course, both my mom and my grandmother told me to never sleep in my makeup, so what do I do now. I sleep in my makeup and feel a little guilty about it."
AND NOW A WORD FROM THE QUEEN (GRAND) MOTHER
"One of my favorite beauty secrets came from my grandmother," says Queen Latifah. "She told me to never wash my face with anything, but baking soda. It really does work because it cleans your face, but it's not drying. It's also good for getting rid of dead skin cells and even stops a breakout."
HAYDEN PANETTIERE: OPEN DOORS
The star of NBC's "Heroes" says that her mom gave her elegance tips. "The crazy thing is growing up, I was such a tomboy. I shopped in the boys' section," she says. "My Mom hated it. She said, 'Hayden, you don't have a feminine bone in your body.'
"I would try, but I just wasn't feminine," she laments. "I was the one who would wear sweatpants to school! Meanwhile, my mom was always a very beautiful woman and a theater actress. She had the most beautiful graceful air to her.
"That was her best lesson. Just by watching her, I shed the tomboy and learned how to at least fake being graceful," Hayden says. "But Mom saw I was faking it and taught me the best beauty secret: She said, 'Let people just see who you really are.'"
She says another lesson did take place in their bathroom. "I was sad about not getting a role and my mom told me to meet her in the bathroom. She closed the doors and then threw one open and said, 'When one door closes, the other one really does open.'
"It was very motivating," she says.
AND FINALLY THE ONE AND ONLY NICOLE
"My mother's number one tip was to stay out of the sun or always slather on the sunscreen even on a cloudy day. All these years later, it remains great advice for your face, neck and chest," says Aussie Nicole Kidman who grew up in Australia. "Otherwise, she always said to just take baby oil and use it to soften your skin and make it glow. It's a great tip that really works."
CHECK OUT MORE STYLE GOES STRONG EXCLUSIVE CELEBRITY INTERVIEWS
Nia Vardalos on Weight Loss and Being a Mom
Kyra Sedwick Talks Diet, Exercise, and Bacon (Kevin)
Angelina Jolie on Beauty and Brad
Joan Rivers on Plastic Surgery, Men, and Lady Gaga
Vidal Sassoon's Tips for Great Hair
How to Be the Perfect Blonde Post 45
Helen Mirren Dishes on Beauty, Nudity, and Virgins
Angela Bassett's Beauty and Diet Secrets
Diane Lane on Snoozing, Smiling, and Staying in Love
Karen Allen Says No to Plastic Surgery