Model turned nutritionist Rosemary Ferguson loves a traditional Christmas in the English countryside

‘I like to keep my beauty products as natural as possible’

We have a division in our house because Jake, my husband, is not into Christmas at all and I really am,

so it’s a negotiation! I love having Christmas here at home [in the Cotswolds] – it’s where we usually spend it – and I get really excited in the build-up. I like the lights; I like the fact that there’s a festive atmosphere and that everyone’s in a jolly mood. And I always take trips into London with the kids to the see The Nutcracker, or to go for lunch at Annabel’s, to get us in the mood.

Also, I do love the tree. We usually get ours around the middle of December and decorate it as a family (even Jake gets involved because he has to go up the ladder to put the star on), and it’s always fun. We still put the kids’ nursery decorations on it, even though they are grown-up now. There I am, trying for a really chic tree, and out come these rock-hard Christmas cookie decorations, which invariably have to go on!

The food side of Christmas is something I really enjoy.

On the day, I love to do a roast with loads of green vegetables. Christmas lunch itself can be pretty healthy. I love prepping the turkey and making my own cranberry sauce. I’ll also whip up nibbles such as little pistachio and orange bites, or vegan spiced gingerbread, and I make a mean Christmas mojito.

I have a couple of wellness traditions around this

time of year. I love wild swimming, so I like to head out for a cold swim in a lake near me on either Christmas Eve or Boxing Day. And I try to go away to a spa hotel with a friend for a night at some point in December.

It can be a mad, panicky month, and I find that the night away will help break that madness and relax me into enjoying the festive season.

Feeding all the birds that come into my garden is

one of my favourite things to do, so I was about to buy people bird feeders as gifts this Christmas… but then I thought I might be on my own with that one! So I’ve settled on beautiful leather luggage tags from Debonnaire, which can be personalised. What would I like to receive? Something I never buy for myself – scented candles. I particularly love Cire Trudon Ernesto.

I like to have quite dewy-looking skin, which can

mean extra layers in the winter. Also, I like to keep my products as natural as possible. I always use a serum, such

as Votary Super Seed Serum, and then a really thick moisturiser. I love Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream – it’s the kind of texture and consistency I like – but Weleda Skin Food and the original Crème de La Mer Moisturizing Cream are also favourites. Then I’ll use an oil – either Cosmoss Golden Nectar or Votary Super Boost Night Drops, £95 – on top. And if certain areas need extra hydration, one of my winter beauty must-haves is Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream – I’ve used it for as long as I can remember.

Without (or at least with less) makeup on is when

I think I look my best, so for a festive party, I would just use a tinted moisturiser, such as Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturiser, a little bit of eyeliner, and then a reddy-brown eyeshadow, such as the Victoria Beckham Beauty Smoky Eye Brick in Tweed, which I love. If somebody else was doing my makeup, I might ask for a full smokey eye, but I definitely wouldn’t attempt that myself!

Velvet is always a good call around Christmas, and I do quite like getting dressed up for parties. What I know looks good on me is a suit – I always feel comfortable in one. I laugh if I see a picture of myself in a dress because I always think, ‘You would’ve looked better in a suit.’ Around this time of year, as well as velvet, I might choose a suit in satin, or one that has a little sparkle on it.

I absolutely love perfume, and I like it spicy. One that is fantastic is Dior La Collection Privée Christian Dior Ambre Nuit, from £115 – it’s my warm, wintry smell. In other seasons, I prefer a rose fragrance – I particularly love Penhaligon’s The Coveted Duchess Rose, which also has a warmth to it.

Plans for the new year? Well, it’s my birthday in January, and it’s Kate’s [Moss] birthday, too – we’re five days apart and have been friends since we met modelling as teenagers – so, come January we think, ‘Well, Christmas is over, but now it’s our birthdays!’ It’s always something to look forward to.