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It’s hard to believe that actress and television presenter Linda Lusardi has been in the public eye since the late 1970s.
The former model, 66, could easily pass for someone decades younger. So, from her favorite £2.39 facial cleanser to the subtle skin-firming tweak she loves, Linda tells Claire Coleman all her health and beauty secrets…
BAN BREAKFAST AND EAT FRIES!
I don’t eat until one in the afternoon. I’m not religious if I’m on vacation or staying with friends who serve breakfast, but I started doing it about three years ago and it definitely gives me more energy. It also means I don’t feel as guilty when I eat chips in front of the TV at night!
I love Sunday roasts, but during the week I have a piece of fish or a roast potato and salad or vegetables. I try not to eat too many carbs and if I feel like I’m gaining weight (I go by what I see in the mirror, I don’t have a scale), I reduce my portion sizes and skip chocolate and chips for a few weeks.
Linda Lusardi, who turned 66 in September, reveals that she still looks young
Turnher reached her modeling peak in 1983.
DANCE IN THE DAY
When I get up in the morning, I do a little stretching: side to side, touching my toes, and twisting at the waist. I’ll turn on the radio and skip to at least one song. Then I play badminton once a week but I don’t go to the gym or lift weights or anything like that, I just don’t stop when I’m at home.
I’m always decorating or walking the dogs. Being outside, outdoors and in nature is really good for managing stress and as we know, stress can be very aging.
DRY WHILE YOU SLEEP
I have extensions in my hair, just to give it a little more thickness. Every six weeks I go see Jennifer at Jennifer Effie’s Hair Solutions (jehair.com) and use really good products on my hair. Alterna Caviar Shampoo and Conditioner (£39.90 each, alternadirect.co.uk) are pricey, but they make a big difference. And now that I’m older, my hair doesn’t get oily so I only wash it once a week. I also use Amargan Super Seal (£14.95, amarganhairtherapy.co.uk) when blow drying as it prevents my naturally curly hair from getting frizzy.
I use the Dyson hairdryer (£279.99, johnlewis.com) and Airwrap (£479, johnlewis.com) and then sleep with my hair in a Cordina Waver bun (£28, cordinahair.com) that holds the curl. in your hair. It’s incredible: on vacation I would take it out and go down to breakfast and everyone would ask me what time I got up to do my hair like that. I literally pulled it out – bam!
GAIN IN COLD WATER
Linda opts for Nivea’s Refreshing Facial Cleansing Gel to remove make-up (£2.39, boots.com)
I’ve always had a good, simple skincare routine. Even in my modeling days, when I went out clubbing, I never went to bed without washing my face properly.
I use Nivea Refreshing Facial Cleansing Gel (£2.39, boots.com) to remove all my makeup, including eye makeup. If I have used waterproof mascara I will use cotton and baby oil. I then use Manuka Doctor Cashmere Cream Moisturizer (£15, manukadoctor.co.uk) and L’Oreal Revitalift Filler Eye Serum (£15.99, boots.com) as I like the cooling beads on the applicator. In the mornings I wash my face with cold water to wake up and use the same moisturizer with La Roche Posay UVMune 400 Hydrating SPF50+ (£17.18, superdrug.com) on top.
MY EYE MAKEUP SECRET FOR £4.99
L’Oreal Paris True Match Foundation (£10.99, superdrug.com) is another favourite.
I love makeup and my current foundation is L’Oreal Paris True Match Foundation (£10.99, superdrug.com), but I can’t resist a little Charlotte Tilbury either. I use their Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder (£38, charlottetilbury.com) and Exagger-Eyes Mascara (£28); It’s great because it doesn’t stain or chip.
I don’t like heavy eyeliner, but I apply Maybelline Tattoo Eyeliner (£4.99, boots.com) along my lash line and use a No7 brown eyeshadow (£6.95 , no7beauty.co.uk), which I will also use. caress my eyebrows.
I had fantastic eyebrows in the ’80s, but in the ’90s, like many women, I over-plucked them. I even tried castor oil on them (and my lashes), which made them a little thicker, but I wish I’d never touched them!
ELECTRIC SHEETS FOR A SUPERCHARGED SLEEP
For about the last four years, I have taken one 10,000mg sachet of Proto-col’s Marine Beauty Collagen (£39.95 for 15 sachets, proto-col.com) daily. I swear by it to have great skin, hair and joints.
I also take HRT, vitamin C and vitamin D, and a magnesium supplement to help me sleep.
I have a grounding sheet (from around £30, amazon.co.uk) on my bed which helps me sleep better and eliminate any aches and pains. You know how they say you have to be barefoot on the grass to reduce inflammation? Well, a grounding sheet (you plug it in and it mimics the electrical current of the earth) does the same thing.
FORGET ABOUT A LIFTING, TRY ADJUSTMENTS
Linda Tries NeoGen Nitrogen Plasma Non-Surgical Face Lift with Dr. Johanna Ward
I’ve tried many adjustments over the years; I’ve had Botox, but not often, maybe once every three or four years. I tried Profhilo, which works as an injectable moisturizer to plump the skin, and Morpheus 8, which combines radiofrequency energy and microneedling into the skin.
But the least invasive treatment for best results has to be the NeoGen non-surgical nitrogen plasma facelift (from £800, neogenplasma.co.uk) which I had with Dr Johanna Ward (drjohannaward.co.uk). It uses superheated nitrogen gas to trick the skin into creating more collagen and elastin and generally tightening.
The results are quite subtle: it’s not something where people think, “What have you done?”, but rather, “You look good.” My whole face feels lifted and tightened, my skin has more plumpness, it just has a completely better complexion. I had six sessions, a month apart and I think I need quarterly refills to maintain the effect.
I honestly feel like NeoGen has taken ten years off of me and has definitely taken away any pressure I may have felt going under the knife. If I can look like this at 66 without a facelift, why should I bother?