LAURA WHITMORE ON SUSTAINABLE BEAUTY SECRETS L
OOKING at red carpet photos of Laura Whitmore, it’s hard to imagine the blue-eyed beauty ever looking anything but flawless.
But the Irish presenter, who began her career in modelling before moving into TV, says it wasn’t always so.
“How I did my make-up when I first moved to London 13 years ago was shocking!” she says, speaking on the phone shortly before she heads back to Ireland for the weekend.
“I just kind of thought, you know, more is more – which it wasn’t.”
Luckily, the 34-year-old was able to learn from the best when having her make-up done by pros like Justine Jenkins, who specialises in cruelty-free beauty.
“Justine taught me a lot about where you get your products from and the responsibility we have in that regard,” says Laura, who has become increasingly passionate about sustainability in recent years.
That’s why she’s teamed up with Colgate to promote its new toothbrush (Colgate Charcoal Bamboo Toothbrush Soft, £2.99, Superdrug, pictured right) made from biodegradable bamboo.
“I know people go, ‘Oh just changing your toothbrush isn’t going to make a difference’, but if everybody did, those small changes would add up,” says Laura.
The presenter, who recently returned from an American road trip holiday with boyfriend Iain Stirling (the voice of Love Island), says that she also tries to avoid too many
‘fast fashion’ purchases.
“When you see people like Meghan Markle [the headlines say] ‘Oh my god, she wore the same dress twice – shock horror’. But it’s OK to do that.
“And do you know what’s lovely? Sharing clothes. I borrow clothes from friends all the time and I give clothes to my friends for work things or for
TV things.
“Let’s just use what we have instead of creating more waste.”
Same goes for beauty, the former Strictly contestant says, rummaging in her make-up bag to show us her favourites which she reveals here:
1. West Barn Co Soap Brows, £19
Laura says: A make-up artist used this on me and now basically all my friends have bought it.
It’s basically soap in a tin and then you use a little brush to brush up your eyebrows, to Cara Delevingne them up!
I love it.
2. IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+, £31
Laura says: I’m a fair-skinned Irish lady so anything with an SPF in I make that part of my routine, especially the foundation that I use day to day.
It’s IT Cosmetics, they have quite a wide range. I have it in light and fair-light, it’s good because it’s actually quite good coverage but it doesn’t feel that heavy. It kind of feels like you’re just putting moisturiser on your skin – mine can get quite dehydrated.
3. Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Face Primer, £39
Laura says: I’ve actually brought this with me for a wedding I’m going to because that’s kind of more for nighttime,
with a bit of sparkle.
4. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Red Carpet Red, £25
Laura says: A good red lip can just change [your look]. I love a bright red. Like tonight I’m going to one of my best friend’s wedding.
I’m flying to Ireland and I have to go straight from the airport to the drinks, but all I’m going to do is put red lipstick on when I get off the plane and that will be me done.