SECRETS OF A BEAUTY ICON, HOW NOT TO GET SAD WHEN CLOCKS TURN BACK AND MY FAVOURITE NEW WAY SCENT THE HOUSE!

It was a career highlight having the opportunity of a 1 to 1 with the superstar and beauty icon that is Joan Collins a few years back when she was launching additions to her best selling Timeless Beauty collection.

I remember being ushered into her suite at Claridge’s hotel: a glittering room full of Venetian glass, giant vases of white blooms with a bottle of champagne chilling in a silver bucket. I was prepped and ready with my beauty questions but a little apprehensive wondering if her razor sharp wit would get the better of me.

Dressed from head to to in black satin with long black lace gloves and a full face of expertly applied make-up including her trade mark red lip, she welcomed me with a flashing white smile and put me completely at ease.

It came as no surprise that discipline is key to how Joan has stayed looking so good for so long. Not for her double dunking a digestive in her morning cuppa, she insisted that: ‘It’s really simple, I want to look, feel and be a certain way and I know I won’t get any of those things by being a glutton’. Instead she uses portion control to stay a healthy weight and has a personal trainer to keep her strong and supple. Joan told me posture is key, it seems standing tall with your shoulders back really can knock off a dress size and - yes - she does wear make-up to exercise!

Surprisingly one of her go to skin care products is a humble Nivea Cleanser that she uses to wipe away the day and her favourite night cream is one by make-up guru Charlotte Tilbury.

Ever since moving to Hollywood way back at the start of her career, Joan has always avoided the sun. She says: ‘I saw the damaging effect it can have which is why I wore hats, big sunglasses and use an SPF’. Sitting in the room surrounded by all her fabulous products, I agreed with Joan that no one is born glamorous but, just like her, you can develop glamour.

Joan says: I learned my make-up tips from Marilyn Monroe’s make-up artist Allan ‘Whitey’ Snyder and now I’ve got my make-up application down to a fine art, I’m good to go in 10 minutes flat. You can’t stop getting older but you can stop getting old!’

Stopping to pause for a photo, I reflected on just how fabulous Joan looked and went straight out to buy her Divine Lipstick in the killer red Alexis shade of course, £21. For more information and to buy visit timelessbeauty.co.uk.

Another skin care collection I’ve recently discovered is inspired by a similar ageless beauty Elizabeth Grant. Still stunningly attractive at an incredible 101, TV presenter and skin care guru, Elizabeth was originally a make-up artist working with actors of the day including Vivien Leigh and Sean Connery.

It was after suffering damage her to her face during a bomb blast in the second world war that led her to research ingredients and develop a skin cream that helped speed up skin healing, making it more strong and resilient. The ingredient she included is Torricelumn, extracted from algae pods with powerful antioxidant ingredients and her serum quickly became so in demand she launched her own skin care line.

Now over 50 years later the Elizabeth Grant company is co-run by her daughter in law Margot Witz Grant and granddaughter making it a real family affair and the innovative skin care products are sold all over the world. Two of my favourites are the original Supreme Essence of Torricelumn that has added vitamins and botanical extracts to plump and smooth skin, £70, and Vitamin C Gold C Dark Spot Corrector, a skin brightening complex that helps reduce the signs of pigmentation, £55. For beauty tips and product advice visit elizabethgrantuk.com.

GIVE YOUR ROOM A LITTLE HYGGE

The Danish call it hygge, which literally means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people and there’s something about the clocks going back that makes me want to rush out to B & M to buy a pile of cushions and a cosy throw or two.

It’s the time I invest in a diffuser to scent my living and bedrooms, they seem a little more wasted in summer when you’re more likely to have the windows and doors open but there’s something immediately comforting coming in on a cold rainy night to be greeted by a waft of warming scent. My current diffuser brand obsession is Clean Living International. This British brand founded by a biochemist focuses on planet-friendly formulas to help clean and scent your home with an emphasis on hygiene. The Cashmere & Black Amber fragrance reed is subtle but warm and inviting plus it lasts ages, £37.99, cleanlivingint.com.

WHILE WE’RE TALKING SCENTS

Who would have thought your humble deodorant could double as a sensual autumn scent? Pioneering natural product company Salt of the Earth has launched Oud & Bergamot Deo a roll on and deodorant spray with notes of oud and bergamot with a hint of cinnamon that smell rather like best selling Jo Malone O & B Cologne Intense with effective deodorising ingredients to create a product you can keep stashed in your handbag for when you need on the stop refreshment. Now that’s clever!

Price £7.49 at Holland & Barrett and saltoftheearthnatural.com.

THERE’S NO NEED TO BE SAD

With 75% of women experiencing more hair loss when the weather changes and the average person tucking into an extra 222 calories a day, it’s not surprising that SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder is known to affect the mood of around one in 15 of us between September and April according to the NHS.

Sounds like you? Leon Bolmeer one of a team of fitness experts at Geezers Boxing, the UK’s leading retailer of boxing equipment believes there’s ways we can help ourselves feel better about winter and that’s by exercising.

He says: ‘Exercise can really help with the battle of the blues by helping to elevate the levels of endorphins in the system which give you a natural high and help boost the immune system.’

Find it harder to exercise in winter? Bolmeer says: ‘If your body feels fatigued due to darker and colder days, scale back your workout. Focus on maintaining movement in a way to suit your energy levels rather than pushing ourself to pound the streets. LIIT or low intensity workouts are just as effective. Take regular short walks in the daylight to help increase your intake of immune boosting vitamin D and take a friend along with you, it’s been shown that having an exercise buddy increases your level of accountability and is more motivating too.

Another way to dispel feelings of SAD says is to reward yourself more often.

Each time you reach a weight loss or training goal, treat yourself to something like a new water bottle, piece of exercise equipment or just a tasty smoothie, it all helps keep mood levels high!

For more information visit geezersboxing.co.uk.

Thanks for reading, next time I’m checking out all that’s new for hair and some early Christmas gifts to inspire your shopping, coming soon reader product and treatment reviews and competitions! Be sure to subscribe for FREE!