THIS IS WHAT 54
LOOKS LIKE
RuBy HAMMER is an international make-up artist and Creative Director for make-up at the Harrods beauty salon, urban Retreat.
WASH YOUR FACE TWICE
I DON’T think any woman can just layer on make-up in the morning; you have to clean your skin first. Use your fingers or a muslin cloth to work the cleanser in. Rinse it off, then do it again. My pet peeve is face wipes. They are a temporary solution for when you’re travelling — they’re not the basis of a skincare regime. If women ask: ‘How do you look so good Ruby?’ it’s because I cleanse. I wouldn’t look this well-preserved if I didn’t put some effort into it.
KEEP EXERCISE INTERESTING
AS WE get older, we need to keep moving. It could be a fast 40-minute walk, or yoga and Pilates — great for stretching and they stop us becoming hunched old ladies. But we also need to do something weight-bearing. That doesn’t mean lifting weights but it could be a lunge or a squat. If you can’t stand running, even gardening can be good exercise.
BUY GOOD UNDERWEAR
YOU need proper support, whether it’s a bra or Spanx. This is not to make you look smaller, but to give a smoother line. I don’t believe you can get rid of cellulite, but you can improve the texture. Dry-brush your skin before bathing, and swap your usual body moisturiser for a firming cream.
SCENTS TO BOOST MOOD
USING scent is a powerful way to get through tricky days, especially if you haven’t slept much, which is common during the menopause. Lavender soothes, eucalyptus stimulates and rose makes you feel peaceful. I love Aromatherapy Associates’ Rose Renew Body Cream (£36,
aromatherapyassociates.com).
I wore it on my wedding day.
EAT LESS AND EAT BETTER
I’VE been a Thin Lizzie my whole life and could eat anything — but that’s not the case now. I don’t believe in diets; it’s better to change your way of eating. I could never cut out carbs but I try to eat them in the day when I’m active. In the evening, I make sure my plate is as colourful and crunchy as possible, with lots of vegetables, plus turmeric and garlic to pep things up.