Gwyneth Paltrow believes making yourself happy by exercising, ''laughing'', ''having sex'' and ''being yourself'' helps you look beautiful.

Despite dishing out endless lifestyle and beauty advice on her GOOP website, the 42-year-old actress thinks the real secret to looking good is to be happy, and getting regular bedroom action is a big part of what keeps her smiling.

In an interview with Women's Health magazine, Gwyneth - who is dating Brad Falchuk - said: ''I'm not really a 'beauty person'. I believe, as cheesy as it sounds, in exercise, laughing, having sex, being yourself.

I'm not like, 'Then I use this masque that I make on my stove.' '' As well as GOOP, Gwyneth has been synonymous with ultra-healthy eating and once followed a macrobiotic diet, but she insists she doesn't deny herself foods and is especially lenient with the meals and treats her kids Apple, 11, and Moses, nine, consume.

The 'Iron Man 3' star - who raises her children with her ex-husband Chris Martin - will also break her no-alcohol in the day rule if she needs a drink. Gwyneth - who follows Tracy Anderson's exercise plan - spilled: ''My food philosophy is - Nothing should be ruled out. I don't believe in saying, 'You're not allowed that.'

If my kids want a Shirley Temple (ice cream sundae) with the radioactive cherry in it, go for it, you know? ''For lunch I usually have a big salad with grilled chicken, and then for dinner I'll have whatever I want.

Most nights I eat with the kids, like, a stir-fry of chicken and broccoli or pasta or roast chicken and potatoes. ''The other day I was flying and the turbulence was so bad, I was like, 'F**k this.' I had a Bloody Mary in the middle of the day.''