News Copy - By Doug Shields
TV anchor Ruth Langsford has revealed the secret to looking good at the age of 58 – coconut hair masks, fake tan and fresh lemon.
Mother-of one Ruth, 58, who gets up at 5am on Fridays to present This Morning, also moisturises regularly and even puts cream on her feet and her elbows to maintain healthy-looking skin.
She relies on coconut hair masks in the winter - and the Sunday papers on a weekend to help her relax.
The TV star also thinks it’s important to update your make-up for the autumn months – and to be brave enough to try new trends, whatever your age.
And once the summer glow fades, Ruth starts to use a gradual tanner to maintain a tan throughout the winter months.
But Ruth believes her diet can also have an affect on her looks, making sure she eats a variety of colourful fruit and vegetables to keep her skin looking fresh.
She also says it’s important to keep drinking water even after the warm summer months for a healthy skin glow, adding a little fresh lemon to detox and add flavour without using sugar.
Ruth said: ''For me, the first thing is to just moisturise more in winter.
''Do it more than you think you need to.
''I always moisturise my elbows and hands each night before bed.
''It’s something my mum always did. I always remember my mum putting her hand cream on her elbows.”
“As soon as the cold weather starts and the central heating goes on, my mantra is to moisturise, moisturise and moisturise.”
“I always start using hair masks in winter, as I’m often under studio lights and central heating.
''So I apply a coconut oil hair mask, a face mask and smother myself in a rich body moisturiser and let all that sink in, whilst I relax with the Sunday papers and my family.
Ruth also told how she sticks to a tried-and-tested beauty routine to ensure her skin always looks its best.
And rather than splashing out on hugely expensive products, her favourite one is a moisturiser called Astral you can find for less than £5 at a local chemist.
Ruth added: “I’m very lucky that I am able to afford facials when I want them.
''But I like affordable skincare, you really don’t have to spend a fortune if you know something does the job well.
''I don’t have a lot of time, but who doesn’t like a lovely facial? It’s very relaxing and nourishing and it’s a treat.”
“That said, I’m far more likely to do it myself at home than rely on salon facials, and I’ve turned Sunday mornings into what I call my “home beauty spa.”
“If you moisturise your feet overnight – use a foot file, slather your feet in moisturiser, I use Astral, then put a pair of cotton socks on.
"Not the most attractive things, but it keeps your feet moisturised – and it keeps your feet warm.
“I carry a travel-size pot of Astral around in my handbag, so I can pop it out and reapply it whenever my skin starts to feel taut and dry.
"It's simple, effective and affordable."
''All of us have picked up things from our mothers we don’t even realise.
“I also love the smell of Elnett hairspray, like my mum used. Those smells can transport you back to being a child.”
Diet and a good night’s sleep are also key to keeping a screen-ready visage, and Ruth has recently been wowing fans on social media with her down-to-earth recipes.
Ruth, who often takes on This Morning duty when Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield are on holiday, says: “I’ve recently had a few days off, and I do cook a lot but recently I’ve had time and people have been asking to share them.”
“They’re just literally my home recipes, which is why I don’t give weights and measures and things. I do love to cook.”
“Good food is good for everything; good for your skin, and good for your soul.”
RUTH LANGSFORD’S TOP 5 BEAUTY MUST-HAVES:
1. Astral Face and Body Moisturiser
2. Elnett Hairspray
3. Lancôme Waterproof Mascara
4. Marks and Spencer Bronze Eyeliner
5. MAC Spice Lip Pencil
ENDS