Hawke’s Bay novelist Charity Norman (48) is author of Freeing Grace and Second Chances. Her new novel, Son-in-Law, is out now.
My beauty philosophy is… There’s more to beauty than meets the eye.
The skincare products I can’t live without are… Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil – my all-time favourite and magical potion. It seems to wind back time, especially around the eyes. It’s even a life-saver for neglected hands When it comes to cleanser, I can’t be bothered with bits of cotton wool, so for years I’ve used Olay Total Effects Cream Cleanser.
My haircare secret is…Kérastase Elixir Ultime. A few drops tame even my crazy bed hair – and it smells amazing. The serum works as an emergency conditioning treatment, too. I comb it through wet hair, wrap my head in a hot towel, and hope like hell nobody comes to the front door.
The must-have products in my make-up bag are… Moisture Mist Green Veil – it’s terrific for those nightmare party moments, when I glance in the mirror and recoil at the crimson face goggling back at me.
Digging further into my bag, we come to Nude by Nature Natural Mineral Cover. This goes on with a brush, so it’s quick and almost-not-there, but very effective.
My most-used lipstick is The Body Shop Colourglide. Finally, my most guarded secret (until now) are TK Lashes. I discovered these brush-on eyelash extensions a year ago, and haven’t looked back.
My favourite beauty treat is… When my 15-year-old daughter paints my nails.
My biggest beauty sin is… Coffee. It’s fine when in moderation, but I don’t drink it in moderation. I know that if I want inner beauty, I should stick to water and green tea, but… yeuch!
The best thing my mother taught me about beauty was…Don’t fear the years passing. A woman can be at her most confident and beautiful when she’s in her forties or fifties. It’s okay to grow older. Really.