Los Angeles - Evangeline Lilly says starring in Lost ruined her skin.

The 29-year-old actress, who plays Kate Austen in the hit US TV show, admits she started surfing in the rough sea to cope with the stress of filming, but the salty water soon took its toll on her complexion.

She laments: "Last season of the show I surfed constantly, which was cathartic for me, but the sun and salt water wreaked havoc with my skin so, for the first time in my life, I had skin problems. I ended up wearing a full face of pink pure zinc to protect it. I looked ridiculous with this bright pink face but I just wanted to surf!"

Evangeline has also revealed the secret to her slim figure - indoor aerobics.

She revealed to Britain’s InStyle magazine: "I dance around my living room to cheesy 80s aerobics music until I’m sweating really hard!"

"I also walk a lot. Walking is a very underestimated exercise in North America. It’s all run hard, lift weights and push your body, but walking is wonderful for elongating the body and posture."