THIS IS WHAT 51 LOOKS LIKE

JACQUIE HELM lives in Preston with her partner and works as a hospital switchboard operator. She has two children and a granddaughter.

CHEAP CHEATS

I USED to splash out on expensive beauty products and loved brands like Clinique, but everything changed when I tried out Aldi’s Lacura Vitacell range last year. I fell in love with their Caviar 3 Minute Cell Renewal Peel Mask (£6.99, aldi.co.uk) and have used it weekly ever since. Nothing beats its long-lasting hydration, and it leaves my skin with such a dewy glow.

ALOE MAGIC

SINCE approaching the menopause, I’ve started getting blemishes more often — one to three, every month or so. The fastest way to speed up the recovery is to apply aloe vera gel overnight (I find the most effective to be extracted direct from a plant). When I wake up, my skin is clear!

NATURAL BOTOX

I’VE never had any cosmetic surgery but I am very conscious of the dry, crepey skin around my eyes. However, while training in reflexology, I discovered a great natural solution: the coconut oil we used for massages made my hands so much softer. So I experimented with it on my eyes and they were transformed. I have now been using it religiously, twice a day, for nine years.

BESPOKE HAIR COLOUR

SIX months ago, I decided to dye my hair darker than ever before. I knew it was a bold move, as most women my age tend to go lighter, so I used eSalon to get it right ( esalon.co.uk). You simply send in a photo of yourself and tell them what look you’re aiming for. They then match your skin type to the options, before prescribing a personalised hair colour.

FRIEND DIET

MY PARTNER is a terrible influence on my diet! He is always cooking big meals and desserts. So I decided to try out a joint weight-loss challenge with a good friend: we were both 11st 6lb (overweight, according to my doctor). Three months on, I’ve lost a stone — just by giving up processed foods, such as crisps, chocolate and bread. We are going on a girl’s holiday to Scotland to reward ourselves.