When you think of Katy Perry, the image of her dancing alongside sharks at the SuperBowl or in a blue wig and cupcake-inspired ensemble might come to mind. Whatever the image, it’s certainly nothing you’d ever describe as vanilla.

Between her super-alluring fragrances and ever-changing makeup looks, Perry always keeps us wondering what’s next. Here, she talks all things beauty-including game-changing ways to use lipstick (and the best stand-in nail file trick we’ve heard in a while).

What’s step one when you’re off duty to get glowy skin ?

Bronzers! I wear so little makeup when I’m not on stage. There’s a Cover girl Bronzer three-in-one called Clean Glow Bronzer that I use. Then it’s just mascara and brows.

So would you say that’s your typical beauty ritual?

It really depends! When I’m at home, I’m a lot more plebeian. I love the summer and I love a little bit of Vitamin D. But when I’m on stage, it’s all about creating a character and being an exaggerated version of myself.

You create on-stage personas better than anyone in the business. What are a few of your favourites?

I feel like the world is my playing field and I especially love pulling from all sorts of different eras. Typically, I’ve always connected with a vintage pinup girl, but lately I’ve learnt more toward a tumbler rat or alternative grunge girl.

But that’s the magic of makeup! You can transform yourself depending on your mood.

Oh yeah, it’s like highlighting what you already have.

Speaking of magic, what’s the connection with it in your new fragrance Mad Potion?

Perfume to me is like a potion and can be very enchanting. Scents create these incredible memories. Think about it : Sometimes you’ll walk past someone in a hallway who is wearing a fragrance you used to spray when you were a teen. It transport you back to that time. I love that scents are so powerful!

Do you connect with any of the notes in this fragrance?

Yes! I have worn vanilla since I was a teenager and it’s always been so alluring-especially to the opposite sex. As I got older my tastes kind of changed and I wanted something a little bit more androgynous, which push me more towards musks. The combination of those two made me feel like I’m wearing something that’s both. So I could attract anything or anyone – everything is fluid.

Even in your beauty regimen! There are so many product out now that we want to work double duty. Do use any in unintended ways?

I feel like you can take any lipstick and make it a blush. I use it like finger paint and you can put it on your eyes, too. When you’re using less of a matte and more of a cream lipstick, it moves better and gives you a gloss.

Do you have a face-washing routine after that?

I never sleep with my makeup on unless I’m, like , spending the night over at a guy’s house. Then I wake up an hour early to get that natch look! No, not anymore. I used to do that a lot when I was younger. Now I’m like, what you see is what you get. I used to be deathly afraid of putting oil on my face but it really pulls out the dirt from my skin.

Quick! You snag a nail on the go. How do you fix it?

 Actually, I was looking for a nail file the other day and I didn’t have one so I just used a matchbook. Weird little tricks!