The Guardian, Saturday September 18th, 2004
Secret Regimes

High maintenance or low maintenance? 
Low.

What is your morning beauty routine? 
Shower, cleanse my face and lots of my moisturising cream.

Who makes the best moisturisers? 
Me.

Did you worry about ageing in the past? 
Worrying about it doesn't stop it happening. The most important thing is to look after your skin from the youngest age possible.

What was your skincare routine when you were a teenager? Has it improved over time? 
I've always had dry skin, so "Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise" has always been my mantra.

What is your no-brainer make-up routine? 
A bit of smudgy eye shadow and a dark kohl eye pencil.

What perfume do you use? 
I am not a one-scent woman. At the moment I like Ghost and Anna Sui.

What beauty products do you always carry with you? Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour cream.

Who does your hair and how often? 
I go to Michaeljohn in London. Fred cuts it and Mandy or Lee do my highlights.

What is the strangest beauty treatment you've had? 
In California I went to a spa where they put me in a bath full of mud. It was very peculiar. I was quite relieved to get out of it.

What is the biggest mistake women make with their make-up? 
They apply it too heavily and often use brightly coloured eye shadow, which I feel very rarely works on anyone.

How old were you when you first started wearing make-up? 
I was 15, but it was only eye make-up.

What do you think about Botox? 
It's too scary - where does it all end up?

Do you think you've improved with age? 
The answer is in the eye of the beholder. I've certainly become more confident and don't suffer fools gladly.

What is more important - good skincare or good fashion sense? 
Good skincare.

What's the secret to good skin (other than sleep and water and no sun)? 
Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise.

What's your favourite eye shadow? 
Smoky greys and browns. At the moment I use Bourjois and the Body Shop.

Picture: John Swannell. 
Interview: Hadley Freeman.

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