THIS IS WHAT 59 LOOKS LIKE
Gill Sheeran lives in Nottingham with her husband, Ian. She has two children, Becky, 30, and Holly, 28. She is retired from a career in sales.
TRY HAIR EXTENSIONS
MY HAIR has thinned with age, so I now wear extensions by Great Lengths (£200, greatlengthshair.co.uk). The finished look is very natural, as I use them to add volume, not length. It’s expensive, as they need renewing every four months, but totally worth it: I’ve always had long, thick hair — it’s part of my identity. I see no reason why that has to change in later life.
MIDLIFE SKIING
I GO skiing three times a year in France. It’s amazing exercise and I love the adrenalin rush — my children think I’m such a risk taker! But I didn’t learn to ski until I was 40. It’s never too late: I did beginners’ classes and felt such a sense of achievement. If you say you’re too old for something, you’re just restricting yourself. My husband still skis at 67, with a knee replacement.
START BRAIN TRAINING
SINCE retiring, I’m conscious to keep learning. Every day, I play six games on the brain training app Lumosity. Three years ago, I also set up my lifestyle blog, called Growing Old Disgracefully. I was inspired by my daughters, who are bloggers. I wanted to create a similar platform for midlife women, so had to learn how to master the internet. It keeps me young and up to date.
MOISTURISING FAKE TAN
IN SUMMER, I fake tan twice a week, using ModelCo Instant Tan Self-Tan Lotion (£14, modelcocosmetics.com). It’s so hydrating, because it contains argan oil, aloe vera and coconut oil. I’ve tried other brands, such as St Tropez, but they can dry my skin out — I look like a crocodile as it wears off! A bronzed glow is flattering for older skin, as it hides cellulite.
THE INSTAGRAM DIET
SINCE hitting the menopause at 41, I’ve found it harder to stay in shape. So I use Instagram to find quick and healthy recipes to limit portion size. I’m obsessed with fitness guru Joe Wicks’s 15-minute meal plans: for breakfast, I’ll eat his berry porridge, then an egg in avocado for lunch and a stir-fry for dinner. I feel a lot happier in myself now.