What is your favourite beauty innovation?

“The eyelash curler. Nothing makes your eyes look fresher as quickly. I’m not sure who came up with it or how – were they gazing at a pair of scissors and thinking up a use for them on lashes? – but they are genius!”

What is the most common beauty mistake you see people make?

“Not wearing any make-up as they think it’s too hard to apply or are frightened of looking artificial. Everybody looks better with make-up on, and it’s so easy to achieve a gorgeous natural look with the right products. I defy all non make-up wearers to try these products to realize their potential. Start with mineral make-up. It’s totally natural, a breeze to apply and makes your skin look like your skin – only better, as it evens out skin tone without masking it and also protects it from the sun and airborne pollutants. Next, apply a rosy peach shade of blush on the cheeks to make you look healthy. Then, add mascara. Remember, eyelashes frame the eye and the eyes are windows. The most beautiful window is always enhanced by a strong frame… Finish with tinted lip balm or sheer lipstick to make lips look fuller and fresher. Go for a shade that is slightly deeper than your natural lip colour.”

Which celebrity, designer or model do you most admire?

“Charlize Theron is simply stunning and embodies the movie star glamour of yesteryear. To add to that, she is a talented actress, who has overcome a tough childhood yet remains grounded and fresh. What’s not to admire?”

Which celeb would you most like to give a make over?

“Victoria Beckham. I loved her as Posh Spice but, since then, fame and insecurity have combined to make her look, weird and a bit sad. She needs to gain seven or so kilos, let her hair grow into a more relaxed style, ditch her spray tanner, and smile!”

What’s the best beauty cheat you know?

“When I’ve had too little sleep and too much champagne, I wake with puffy, lackluster eyes. To remedy - place a damp facewasher in the freezer while you shower, then pop the cold facewasher on your eyes and lay down with your head slightly elevated by two pillows. After five minutes, your bags will have gone and you’re the whites of your eyes will look brighter.”

What products do you splurge on?

“Fragrance. I think a woman’s perfume is an extension of her personality and an instant mood enhancer. I adore unique scents, created by traditional niche perfume houses such as Carthusia di Capri or Creed. My favourites are Fiori di Capri and Fleurissimo – they instantly make me feel special, empowered and a little bit European.”

Fave beauty bargain?

“Olive oil. Great in a salad – even better on your hair as a pre-wash treatment and on dry bits of your body.  If you have dry feet, massage olive oil into them before going to bed. Pop on a pair of cotton socks to save your sheets and you’ll wake with super-soft feet.”

What is your favourite product of all time?

“Shea Body Butter. It smells fabulous and really nourishes your skin. Ever since I’ve used this body butter daily – my skin no longer flakes, eczema has disappeared and nick-free shaving is the norm as my skin is so smooth.”

What is the question you are most asked by friends?

“‘Is it really necessary to obey the traditional three-step cleanse-tone-moisturise skincare routine?’ My answer is yes… and no. Cleansing is mandatory as excess sebum, dirt, dead skin cells and make-up do need to be cleansed from the skin to keep it healthy. Moisturising is also a must for everyone (even if you have oily skin) as moisturiser acts as a protective barrier for the skin as well as also hydrating it.  Toning the skin after cleansing does help to clean the skin more thoroughly, and freshens it. So, while it’s not necessary, it does help. Personally, I skip the toner and have made my three-step routine cleanse-exfoliate-moisturise instead as I find that a gentle exfoliation (love The Body Shop Aloe Gentle Exfoliator for a gentle skin polish) reaps greater rewards than using a toner, but some of my peachy-skinned friends swear by toners, so the jury is still out it seems…”

What do you wish you could go back and tell your teenage self about beauty?

“Don’t try to create highlights in naturally dark brown hair! One summer, I tried a spray-in lightener to give myself the ‘sun-kissed golden highlights’ promised on the pack – and I ended up with scary orange striped hair. Disaster! But generally, I would tell myself to embrace my own features and make the most of them, instead of obsessing about what to change.”

What’s your favourite beauty trick for winter?

“Blush is every girl’s best friend in winter. Look for a warm rosy hue and apply it onto the apples of the cheeks for a fresh, pretty look.  My favourite shade is The Body Shop’s Golden Pink.”

What’s your favourite beauty trick for summer?

“Dabbing glow enhancer (try The Body Shop Tinted Glow Enhancer in Shade 03) lotion on the upper cheekbone, center of forehead and chin to highlight bone structure and make skin look fresh.”

What is your morning routine?

“My morning mantra is efficiency. I need to get myself and my toddler ready in time, looking presentable! A quick shower with an energizing shower gel (The Body Shop Total Energy Shower Gel is my fave), wearing a shower cap to prevent last night’s blow dry from frizzing. Then, I apply some of The Body Shops’ Monoi Oil all over as a body moisturiser. It’s a dream beauty product as it’s an intense moisturiser, gives skin a gorgeous sheen and smells like a frangipanis in summertime – so no need for a perfume. On my face, I favour two-in-one moisturiser and sunscreen products – I like Clinique City Bloc in summer when my skin is oilier, and The Body Shop Vitamin E SPF15 in winter when my skin needs a little more moisture. Make-up is a must working in this industry, but I like to keep it natural yet polished. My day look is; a quick swoosh of mineral make-up, peachy blush on the cheeks (to look like I might have exercised that morning), chocolate eye-shadow smudged on the lash line to give my eyes some definition, a coat of mascara and a slick of just-slightly-deeper-and-prettier-than-my-natural-lipcolour lipstick – and my face is done.”