On breast health
I’ve been an Estée Lauder ambassador for 24 years and, in some ways, tremendous progress has been made in the fields of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. The money we’ve raised from our campaign and the research scientists we’ve sponsored have been at the forefront of all the big breakthroughs, and mortality rates have dropped 40 per cent since the 1980s. Nonetheless, we’ve recently discovered that not all young women are regularly checking their breasts. It’s so important to familiarise yourself with your breasts and note any changes you feel. You have to check them every month, once a month, and preferably at the same time – a woman’s breasts really fluctuate due to the menstrual cycle, so pick a date and attempt to stick to it.
On her skincare routine
I’ve used Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair – an excellent serum – since the 1990s. It really is a beauty and I have used it twice a day for 20 years. I change my moisturiser depending on how dry my skin is and if the central heating is on – you know, that sort of thing. At the moment I’m using La Mer and I have the lightweight, gel and thick, heavy original formulas which I go between. To take my make-up off I use a wipe and then every couple of days I give my face a really good wash with a cleanser and muslin cloth – I like a wipe for everyday.
On what makes her happy
I like a long soak in the bath. It's the thing I’ll do if I’ve had a really long day – I’ll run a very hot bath the minute I get home. I put Jo Malone’s Red Roses bath oil in and have a nice soak.
Read more: On Beauty: Zoë Kravitz
On advice for her son, Damian Hurley
It was great that Damian landed his first modelling job with Pat McGrath – he really enjoyed doing it – but he is still at school doing his A Levels. He likes the other side of the camera, too and is a good photographer and filmmaker, so we’ll see what happens. My advice is always to find something you love, because that’s what it’s all about.
On her trademark look
I like dark, smoky eyes and a pale, glossy lip so I tend to stick to it. I use a slightly darker foundation now than I used to, because I find that by the time I blend it in, it makes me look a bit healthier. Because I don’t have much colour in my face naturally, and can look a bit pale and peaky, I always use a pink cream blush on my cheeks, too.
On her best beauty advice
You have to blend everything well. There’s a trend for putting everything on with your fingertips, which is fine but I think a couple of good brushes stand you in good stead and help blend everything in.
Read more: On Beauty: Alexa Chung
On keeping fit
I don’t do anything specific to keep fit but I’m very active – whatever I do, I do with gusto. I run up the stairs, walk the dog, do a lot of gardening. I go out into my woods and chop down trees and attack hedges with my hedge trimmer. Or, I’m filling gaps in my floorboards with this wonderful new tool I found. I’m active all the time.
On social media
It’s a good tool for business but if I wasn’t in the public eye I’d probably thoroughly enjoy having a very small private account, followed only by my friends – and then I could be a great deal sillier. And I do feel in our very busy lives that it’s a brilliant way of keeping in touch; if you bump into someone, you feel like a bit of a stalker really as you know exactly what they’ve been doing, but I kind of like it. It’s a force of good unless you’re a teenager and do nothing but social media – but I probably spend 10 minutes a day on it.
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