Let Pammy Anderson fly the flag for bare-faced 50-somethings; Amanda Holden is sticking with the ‘more is more’ approach, thank you very much. ‘I’m never knowingly understated,’ the TV star laughs, chatting to GH over tea at Claridges. ‘Letting go isn’t an option, it’s a self-preservation thing for me. It’s a dignity thing.’
‘It wouldn’t have mattered what industry I went into, I’d have always cared about my appearance,’ she adds, with the ease of a woman who glams up for her own joy, not to please anyone else. ‘And that comes from having a working mum and a working grandmother and them being busy, but always on it.’
This way of living – taking equal pride in career and looks – is something Amanda, 54, shares with her similarly well-groomed husband, showbiz executive Chris Hughes, 51. ‘I joke sometimes to Chris that maybe when we’re in our 70s, we'll let ourselves go to seed. We’ll balloon. But that’s not going to happen.’
Should we expect to see them booking in for his ’n’ hers deep-plane facelifts, then? Amanda cackles uproariously. ‘Oh no, nooooo, but I think we could be Ken and Barbie. Actually, Chris looks like Aladdin. We could definitely look like the older versions of Barbie and Aladdin. Goals, absolutely!’
While cosmetic surgery isn’t on Amanda’s to-do list, she’s eager to accept all the non-invasive help she can get via celebrity skin guru Nilam Holmes. ‘I always say to her, “Just do what you think.” I just booked in with her and asked, “How much time will I need?” She said, “Oh at least three hours, babe…’” Amanda throws back her head and cackles some more.
Her latest foray into skin rejuvenation was ‘some intense laser thing’ on her neck, which was, by all accounts, meant to be rather painful. ‘But I fell asleep,’ she grins, proudly. ‘Nilam said: “You are the only person that’s ever done that.” She put on a bit of numbing cream, then lasered the hell out of me, and I was snoring. I’m so tired, if I lie down, that’s me done.’
It’s no wonder that Amanda is so shattered, as she’s never been in so much demand. Alongside primetime TV gigs including Britain’s Got Talent and Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job, she gets up at the crack of dawn every weekday to host the breakfast show on Heart Radio. (‘I sleep in my eyelashes so I can get ready in 20 minutes,’ she reveals.)
Can she get her head around her career going into another gear at this point in her life? ‘It’s incredible. I’m obviously thrilled, and really grateful, but I still feel like an imposter. I’m like, “Oh my god. Why is all this happening to me now?” But you just have to go, “Why not?” I’ve decided to embrace it, and just carry on being the same person I've been for the past 30 years.’
Meaning? A woman who loves her life and never takes herself too seriously. Asked about her secret to looking ridiculously good in a bikini, she says: ‘I’m like a big old fence. I have a woman who comes round to fake tan me once a week, and I say to her, “Just creosote me up, babe”. It hides a multitude of sins, I feel body confident if I’m bronzed. I always say, if you can’t tone it, tan it.’
Toning does play a part in Amanda’s regime, though. ‘I’m on my Peloton at least three times a week,’ she says. She’d do it more, if she wasn’t fighting her daughters Lexi, 19, and Hollie, 13, to get in the saddle. ‘They love it. They both use my shoes, too, which is a bit grim. I don’t run as much now, because I’ve moved recently and I don’t know where to go. I’ve actually bumped into a couple of [local] runners and said, “I’ve been so tempted just to follow you like a nut case just to see where you go”. They’re like, [terrified laugh] “Please don't…”
Amanda’s new ‘forever home’ is out in leafy Surrey, and if she thought she could take her foot off the glam pedal in the suburbs, she was wrong. ‘Where I live, they are uber-glamorous, blow-dried women who all drive Range Rovers. Everyone’s upped their games around there.’
Probably because they heard she was moving in – their new neighbour is as glossy as they come. As well as picking off wrinkles sniper-style in the clinic, Amanda is deeply invested in her at-home skin regime. Her face gets treated to a HIIT-style regime, switching in different creams to kick her skin up the backside. ‘I was told your skin gets used to stuff after six months, so it's best to keep it on its toes.’
The latest additions to her skin cycling are Korean beauty recommendations gleaned from ‘amazing TikTok boys who came to Britain’s Got Talent and their skin was glowing. I asked what they were using, so now I use a really lovely Korean facial oil cleanser and then just this Bioheal BOH lifting cream as a moisturiser.’
She also glugs religiously on Revive Collagen drinks, a brand she’s been the face of for the past four years. ‘I see such a difference to my skin and hair from them. I have them in the car, in every bag, to make sure I take it every day. More than twice a day, sometimes. I’d bathe in it if I could!’
Revive Collagen Enhanced Plus - Hydrolysed Marine Collagen Drink
Don’t make the mistake of thinking she’s a total skin obsessive, though. ‘I don’t have time for a 12-step skincare programme,’ she says. ‘I’m very ad hoc. I do use an Eve Lom cleanser, sometimes with a hot towel, but I’ll use wet wipes as well.’
Her diet regime is equally no-nonsense. ‘I’ll have a drink if I want it. I don’t care if it’s Tuesday. I’ll have a doughnut if I fancy it. I think that keeps you happy. Everything in moderation, and with a bit of common sense.’
And while she’ll happily mix cheap and expensive into her beauty regime, she firmly believes the very best thing of all comes completely free. Ask her what makes her feel her most beautiful, and she doesn’t pause to think.
‘Chris,’ she says. ‘I feel happy most of the time, and I think my husband is conducive to when I look and feel at my very best, because he’s my biggest champion. It’s been 22 years, and he’s always there for me. I love that.’
Amanda Holden is the brand ambassador for Revive Collagen
IN AMANDA’S BEAUTY BAG
Revive Collagen Enhanced Plus Hydrolysed Marine Collagen Drink
Revive Collagen Enhanced Plus - Hydrolysed Marine Collagen Drink
Amanda says: ‘I can’t talk about things I don’t genuinely believe in. I find this is really good for my skin, and also making my hair thicker. There’s retinol and B vitamins in there, too; everything that’s really conducive to strength.'
Higu Clace Eyelashes
Amanda says: ‘I put them on before bed when I’m at Heart. They stick on so well, and they stay on all day long. I don’t want to run out. I told a journalist about these eyelashes once and then I couldn’t get them on Amazon for at least two weeks.’
Sculpted by Aimee Cream Luxe Blush
Amanda says: ‘Her products are gorgeous, I’m using a lot of them at the moment, and I absolutely swear by the cream blusher. My girls love her stuff, too.’
Charlotte Tilbury Healthy Glow
Amanda says: ‘I know everyone uses Charlotte so it’s an obvious brand to mention, but I really do use this all the time as my foundation.’
Bio Heal BOH Probioderm Lifting Cream
Amanda says: ‘I’m converted to K-beauty now.’
Eve Lom Cleanser
Amanda says: ‘I’m always swapping products in and out but this is something I always have in my skin regime.’
