THIS IS WHAT 50 LOOKS LIKE
Donna CouRtney lives in Surrey with her daughter Caitlin, 11. She is single and works as a receptionist.
BAKING THERAPY
IN 2014, I lost a loved one to cancer. I became withdrawn and lost weight. I had to pick myself up for my daughter’s sake, so I started baking a lot — cakes, quiches, bread. I’d come home after work and cook until midnight. I’d give them away, or raise money for charity. It was almost a form of mindfulness, helping me through the difficult time.
VASELINE HAND-LIFT
AS I’VE got older, my hands really show my age, so I coat them in Vaseline (£1.50, Boots) and go to bed wearing cotton gloves once a fortnight. I’ve been doing it for ten years. It’s not a glamorous look, but when I wake, they feel so soft, like the hands of a 19-yearold! I also paint them with OPI nail polish: reds, pinks, oranges and French manicures. It gives me a little lift.
COLLAGEN BOOST
EVERY day, I drink a sachet of Absolute Collagen (£26.99 for 14 sachets,
absolutecollagen.com). A friend recommended it as my hair was thinning, but it has worked so well I’ve had to go down to a sachet every other day, as it made it over-thick. It has also made a big difference to my skin, which is smoother, with less visible fine lines.
BUDGET WEEKLY FACIAL
I DO my own facials once a week. First, I dip my face in a sink of cold water as I find that tightens the skin. Then I apply a Hyaluronic Acid Sheet Mask (£1.50,
boots.com). I follow with Simple Facial Toner (£2.33) and Simple Kind To Eyes Revitalising Eye Roll On (£5.99), then apply Angela Langford Bloom & Glow face oil (£20.50, angelalangford.com) and use a jade roller to stimulate circulation. I finish with Garnier Ultralift Anti-Ageing Night Cream (£4.99).
DIY GYM ROUTINE
I’VE found it harder to stay in shape since hitting the menopause, so every day I aim to do a 90-minute workout at home. I’ve got a treadmill (£130), rowing machine (£99) and hand weights. I do push-ups on an exercise ball and use my Wonder Core (£40), a small, foldable muscle-toning machine, to target my abs. All on Amazon.