Author and TV host Fern Britton shares her beauty routine, memories and wisdom in My Life in Beauty, a GH series that celebrates and explores the unique nature of each individual’s relationship with their appearance, and discovers exactly what our favorite celebrities wear to look so good
We caught up with Fern ahead of the release of her latest book, The Good Servant, to find out her thoughts on anti-aging and why she thinks Cornish air is great for your skin…
Fern Britton’s Beauty Life
Growing up, when I was getting ready to go out, my mom would take a look at me and tell me that I looked good and then she would say, ‘but who is looking at you?’ It doesn’t sound very good, but it wasn’t intended that way, it was meant to be liberating. Because the truth is that everyone looks at themselves. So I would think ‘yeah, who is looking at me?’ And it would be very liberating!
Although my mother was a very glamorous woman – she had dyed jet black hair that she wore in a bun and she never went anywhere, and I mean not even to the bathroom, without her scarlet lipstick on – she wasn’t gorgeous either. She would probably be knee-deep in mud in the garden. So in early childhood, she wasn’t particularly self-conscious about my appearance; I was a tomboy. I discovered makeup when I was around 13 years old and at that moment I fell head over heels in love with it!
I don’t have a signature makeup style.. That said, I like to use eyeliner along the upper and lower lash line in a small stroke; I love that kind of look and have done it ever since I saw Twiggy in the movie The Boyfriend, that and a lot of mascara. If I go to an event, I do my own makeup, enjoy it, and try a full smokey eye. One tip I have when wearing eyeshadow is to first apply MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot, £17.50, in Painterly neutral – place it anywhere you’re going to wear eyeshadow and it’ll prevent creasing. I’ll finish with something like Lipglass in MAC Love Child, £16.50, which, when worn, is a very natural looking lip colour.
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I am against nuclear war, I am against sewage in the sea, I am against cruelty to animals. – but anti-aging? It’s crazy! You can’t stop that! You can slow down to some extent by getting help if you want, but I think it’s less attractive to be constantly anxious about your appearance; It’s not very good for your head either. I see my wrinkles and take them into account and I’m also trying to celebrate the white hair that’s coming out (I’m seeing my natural color grow, although I’m addicted to the weird blonde streak!).
I’m trying to embrace aging and what I love about this is that you feel more and more comfortable with who you are. All my friends, all my peers, we’re getting used to growing old together, we’re dealing with it. We are all over sixty and they all look and feel great!
I believe a lot in taking care of my skin.. My mom was really into it, so I’ve been doing it since I was about 15 years old. I love iS Clinical – it’s expensive so I only use it once in a while, but I find the products always last a few months because you don’t need much, and they really work. When I can I use the Active Serum, £72, at night and the Super Serum Advance, £78, during the day. I also find the iS Clinical Cleansing Complex, £36, to be extremely good on stains. When I was going through menopause I was getting quite a few blemishes around my chin and this cleanser cleared them up. I also love Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, from £27; using it with a warm washcloth is just wonderful. And, if my skin feels particularly dry from being outside, then in the evening I love a bit of Clarins Santal Treatment Oil, £37.
Santal treatment oil
£37.00
Active Serum
£120.00
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
£35.10
Cleansing Complex
€1.40
When I worked on television every day, I would have bi-weekly facials, but I rarely do now. Where I live in Cornwall, the air is so clean that I have hardly noticed any changes to my skin, it has been good. Otherwise, as far as treatments go, a pedicure once a week would be my idea of heaven! But instead I wet my feet every night before bed and have been using Dior Nail Glow, £21, which makes my nails look cleaner, shinier and generally better.
I’ve always exercised a lot and been pretty fit.. I used to love going to the gym and going swimming, but right now I have pretty bad arthritis in my shoulder and knee, so instead I have to walk three miles and I like to do it almost every day. I always feel like if I can get fresh air in me, it’s doing me good. I also do yoga three times a week. I love yin yoga. It involves getting into certain poses and holding them for three or four minutes. You have to think about the pain, breathe in the pain, and finally relax. In the end I feel happy! All these things: walking, breathing, feeling the wind on my face, they make me feel alive.
This may sound corny but I feel more beautiful when I am dressed, with little makeup and hanging out with my friends laughing, that makes me feel very good about myself.
Fern’s new book, The Good Servant, published by HarperCollins, is out now.
Would you like to join a chat with Fern?
Fern Britton will speak at Good Housekeeping Live in association with Dyson, a two-day event in Carlton House Terrace, London on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th October in celebration of our 100th anniversary.
Fern will discuss the many influences of her novels (nine and counting) as well as her illustrious television career, from her acting experience on Strictly Come Dancing to reviving the much-loved show Watercolor Challenge on Channel Five earlier this year. .
taking place on Friday, October 14 from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., attendees of Fern’s talk will take home a signed copy of The Good Servant, as well as a special GH Centennial goodie bag. Book before August 31 and tickets are just £24 each.
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Source: www.goodhousekeeping.com