[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] Being honest, I find it hard not to be spikey about some of the beauty features I see in supplements and newspapers. Sometimes they feel so lazy or as though it’s still the 1990’s – almost every week I think I could do better myself. Without being specific, because that’s serving nobody, I only read three papers regularly and am so surprised that, despite being written largely for the audience they have (older), they’re always so crushing about the ageing process. However, I am rarely in dispute with India Knight when it comes to beauty recommendations. It’s quite often the case that we feature the same products in the same week and draw the same conclusions or I find myself being completely influenced by her and having to have the very product she mentions.
I like the way she has a sort of ‘chop-chop’ attitude to ageing – let’s hurry along now and get the things that are right for your skin and age type of style. There’s no floweriness or doom either for that matter. The book includes personal recommendations (most of which I agree with) for actual products you can go out and buy (rather than vaguely wafting you in the direction of ‘an spf day cream’) and that work across all budgets.
Along with a copy of India’s new book, some of her product recommendations came too. First out of the box was Bioderma Micellar which I’ve featured so many times and then a collection of products that are either new to me or I previously haven’t been interested in. I can’t tell you how much more interesting they have suddenly become. My first piece of Trinny as well! I’ve somewhat avoided the Emma Lewisham launch because at times, skin care arrivals can become overwhelming and I didn’t have brain space for another new brand at the time. However, the Emma Lewisham Illuminating Oil Cleanser (£48) is a thing of magic if you like an oil cleanser.
You will see that Prai Throat & Decolletage Cream (£29) is included – it’s a brilliant product if you have concerns about your neck and it becomes effective relatively quickly. We all know that nothing much that’s topical can deal with what is a structural issue but you’d certainly see some smoothing, softening and brightening. This is a product I have used (ages ago) and still think about. I’ve never tried Hersheson’s Almost Everything Cream (£14) but it sounds pretty marvellous in that it adds shine, texture and bounce to needs-washing hair. MZ The Rich Moisturiser (£150) is pricy but comes with the highest accolades, not just from India but across the board.
Let me give you a quote from the section on ‘tweakments’. ‘You want to feel like the person is looking forward to making you look your best, not like you’re some catastrophe that they’re duty-bound to try to tidy up’.. and that sums up exactly the tone of the book and exactly what’s wrong with how some beauty journalists approach ageing. It’s not a disaster, it’s not something to apologise for or feel less beautiful because of. There’s a real refreshment to reading a brisk account of what may help with anything that’s bothering you without any of the negativity that is so usual. It’s pretty much the Practical Book Of Cracking On because it talks sensibly to older women as women, not decaying members of society. I agree with Josh Wood colour – it’s what I use myself but if I do any more nodding in agreement I’ll be dizzy so I’ll leave it there. It’s for you if prefer an adult to talk to you about your beauty; it’s not for you if are a hair-shirt wearing apologist for the state of good yourself :-). You can find India Knight’s Beauty Edit What Works When You’re Older HERE for £16.99.
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14 comments
Such a great edit!
The Reluctant Blogger | thereluctantblogger.co.uk
I love India’s beauty column too. The book looks great.
May I ask about Trinny London. I hadn’t clocked you’d not reviewed them before. Have they not been sent to you or is it just because there is so much else out there? Xx
A number of reasons but at the time, I wasn’t that comfortable that Charles Saatchi was an investor – it seems a bit nonsensical now given how cut-throat the beauty business is. I’ll certainly review the eye shadow that came with India’s book.
I’ve felt the same way about the Saatchi connection. I’m not comfortable buying it.
You made me buy those silver jeans though….
Wearing mine today and bloody love them!
“I find it hard not to be spikey about some of the beauty features I see in supplements and newspapers. Sometimes they feel so lazy or as though it’s still the 1990’s ” You regularly outperform the supplements and magazines.
That’s honestly the best thing anyone has ever said and I will be smiling all day 🙂
Dear Jane,
Thank you for reviewing this book. Honestly, without your review, I don’t think I would have ordered it. 🙂
But I did, and I am excited to start reading.
I wish you a pleasant sunday.
And thank you once again, I am a “quiet” but avid ready of your blog.
Thank you Kat, really appreciated.
A treasure trove of wisdom for the ageless beauty in all of us!
I can vouch for the Prai creams. I’m into my second pair(they come in day and night versions) and having lost a lot of weight, this cream had done wonders for my “previous turkey neck”
thanks for the feedback 🙂
I do like India’s column and product recommendations but I bought her last book and was underwhelmed. I think I’ll have a flick through this one before I decided whether or not to buy. I do get your comments re Beauty Journalists generally – a couple of weeks ago one who is ‘grown up’ wrote in a column that she has only just started using body moisturiser. I just think that’s odd. Really? she’s been the business for xx years and never saw the need? I mean she doesn’t have to but surely in that job, you’re heavily into products and that seems like a basic thing not to do.
I much prefer your approach – I need some grown up honesty
Thank you – to be fair, I rarely use body moisturiser because I (used to) take skin supplements and it was just never necessary. I will dip in and out for testing but I do see how that could be something that you just never enter into. However as someone who is supposed to be expert in their field it does seem a mis-step to not at least try them out for reviewing purposes. I’ve stopped taking my skin supplements so am back on the body moisturiser for myself rather than just testing – but I’ll always be honest, that’s for sure :-))