More Reader Requests - Skincare, Beauty & Fitness

Hello! I'm back with replies to a couple more of your questions.

 Ratnamurti asked about my fitness regime. After a long hiatus, I got back into my swimming last year, unleashed my inner mermaid and now swim 1.10miles a week (and a lot more if I'm on a beach holiday!) I go to the local baths twice a week and swim forty lengths breast stroke on each visit, which I break up into four sets of ten with 10 x poolside pull-ups between each set. It takes me under 40 seconds to swim a length and my feet don't touch the floor the entire time I'm in the pool.

I wear proper swimsuits rather than fashion ones - this one by Arena came from M&M Direct (on clearance for £15) and I bought another Arena model from a charity shop for 50p. The Speedo silicone long hair cap was from a swimwear specialist on Ebay (HERE) and I'm happy to report it kept my hair dry on Tuesday morning's swim.

John William Waterhouse - Nymphs finding the Head of Orpheus (1900) SOURCE

On the days when I'm not swimming, I do a half-hour Wii Fit workout at 7am every morning and yesterday I celebrated my 4822nd anniversary! I warm up with ten minutes of step aerobics, using hand weights to tone my arms. The remaining twenty minutes is spent on muscle building exercises, varying the routine each time: jack-knives, lunges, press-ups and side stands, balance bridges, planks, waist twists, rowing squats and bicep curls.

After my left hip replacement in 2006, I was told that my right side would need replacing within five years - it's now been 17! My orthopaedic consultant puts my successful dodging of his knife down to regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight ....and I don't need to tell you about the benefits of regular exercise on mental health, do I?  

My workout gear (mostly Nike, Puma and Beyonce's Ivy Park label) all came from charity shops, several with the store labels still attached. I can understand why you see so many women out and about in their gym gear, the decent quality stuff is so comfortable. I often keep mine on under my clothing.

I can honestly say that at 56 I feel fitter, stronger & more confident in my skin than I've ever felt. When I signed up for the NHS's Our Future Health programme I was told that I had the BMI and blood pressure of an elite athlete. If you're not already, get active, girls! 

John William Waterhouse, Marina in front of the Mirror, 1897(SOURCE)

I don't know about the rest of you but I'm sick of seeing beauty & skincare products targeted at us pre, peri and post menopausal women, it seems like a cynical attempt to play on our insecurities and cash in. Any company contacting me and asking that I peddle their anti-ageing shite gets told in no uncertain terms where they can get off. 

‘Lady Lilith’, Dante Gabriel Rossetti SOURCE

I was asked about my skincare and make-up routine by a reader who sadly didn't leave a name. There's nothing fancy or age specific to my skincare routine, I'm a plain old soap and water girl, the soap is usually brought back from our travels. I'm hoping the donkey milk soap turns me into Cleopatra (just not on her death bed!)

John Collier - The Death of Cleopatra (1890) SOURCE 

As usual, I'm linking to things I use and like, not because I'm getting anything back from the retailers.

I make my own facial oil using fractionated organic coconut oil as a carrier blended with rose and geranium essential oil using a 1% dilution (or 1oz of the carrier oil to 6 drops of the essential oil). I apply a couple of drops and massage into my face after washing. Amphora Aromatics are a fabulous Bristol-based company, you can buy direct from their website or via Superdrug Marketplace.

At night, I take my eye make-up and lipstick off with Nivea's Double Effect Waterproof eye make-up remover, wash with soap and water and apply a smear of Vaseline under my eyes.

Make-up wise it's similarly cheap and cheerful. I've been using Barry M since I was a schoolgirl and see no reason not to carry on doing so. I apply Barry M Bold black eyeliner beneath my lower lashes which I smudge with a eyeliner brush, follow that by Barry M or Revolution eyeshadow in whatever colour I feel like wearing, then some eyeliner dotted above my upper lashes (also smudged with the brush) followed by a couple of coats of Barry M's Feature Length Mascara. I use Maybelline's Brow Xtensions on my pathetically sparse eyebrows (hereditary rather than over-plucked). I love a creme blush - this one by Revolution is fab. 

Nothing comes to close to Maybelline's Superstay Matt Lip Ink, it lasts for hours and hours. I buy mine (new!) from eBay at a fraction of the retail price. I like Romantic (hot pink), Heroine (bright orange), Ruler (plum) and Pioneer (a cool-toned red). A few people find them drying, I think it depends on the colour - the red more so than the others.

Annie asked about foundation which I've only only ever worn when someone's done my make-up for me (and hated the feel of it on my skin) but as my skin's not as evenly toned as it used to be I apply a light dusting of Revolution's Banana Powder with a brush across the bridge of my nose, centre of my forehead and chin (these brushes are good), which brightens up my face and evens out the colour without it looking cakey and unnatural. 

The Hourglass (1905) Evelyn de Morgan (Source)

As I'm currently working my way through a hefty pile of Pre-Raphaelite literature, I thought I'd share some of the images - I'm particularly mesmerised by Evelyn de Morgan's Hour Glass, modelled by the then 61 year-old stunner Jane Morris (widow of William). With her pensive expression, greying hair and the dying rose at her feet I think de Morgan is trying to tell us older women to get a grip, not to waste time reflecting on our lost youth (or waste our money on age-specific beauty stuff) and to just get out there and frolick in the sunshine - just don't forget your factor 30!

See you soon.