THIS IS WHAT 77 LOOKS LIKE

DOROTHY ANNE DONOVAN is retired and lives in Cheshire. She has three adult children, four grandchildren and a great grandson.

FRIENDS & FAMILY

MY FAMILY have been amazing since I was widowed. We often go on holiday together: this year, they took me to Portugal, Turkey, Marbella and the Bahamas. It keeps me young to spend time with my grandchildren. I also have a wonderful group of friends, whom I met at Slimming World. We have a ‘coffee club’, WhatsApp group chat and go for weekly lunches. I don’t know what I’d do without them.

ANTI-AGEING FRINGE

MY HAIR is so important: if it doesn’t look good, everything’s over! Every six weeks, I visit my local salon for a cut and dark tint at the roots; plus, I get blonde highlights, every other time. I find a honey tone more flattering at my age, as it brightens your complexion and lifts your face. As does a fringe, which helps to cover the lines on my forehead — without Botox.

DIY SUNDAY FACIAL

EVERY six months, my daughter treats me to an Elemis facial at John Lewis. It leaves my skin glowing. But I find that I need more of a regular boost as I’ve got older. So, I do my own 20-minute facial at home, every Sunday. I use Gatineau Pro-Radiance Anti-Ageing Gommage exfoliator (£44, marksand

spencer.com); then their Perfection Ultime Anti-Ageing Complexion Cream (£87). I feel so relaxed afterwards.

SHOPPING ADDICT

I’VE always loved fashion and still do a big shopping trip once a month — often with my daughter, as we have similar taste. I prefer a classic style but do go to a lot of ‘young’ shops, such as Zara and TK Maxx. It’s also worth investing in a couple of statement pieces: for example, I have a beautiful black Michael Kors tote.

SIGNATURE NAILS

I GET my nails done every three weeks — both my fingers and toes. I’ve been going to the same place for over 30 years. I always get the same gel colour: a luminous coral, which they now call ‘Dorothy’s colour’. I simply don’t feel dressed if I don’t have my nails painted!