THE PROFESSIONALS

We recently had a chat with Sarah Stacey who co-founded The Beauty Bible with Josephine Fairley. She talks about her inspiration, her personal beauty secrets and the new Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible. Sarah is also a contributing editor for YOU magazine, advising on health issues.

How was The Beauty Bible conceived?

I had lunch with a friend - a foreign correspondent in Bosnia - who wanted the best waterproof mascara and wash in/wash out hair colour for use in war zones. Another friend quizzed me about fruit acids – good or bad? Both said write a book. So I rang Jo suggesting a ‘beauty bible’ that, along with information and advice, would (never been done before) name best products. She said ‘good idea’. That was 1994. It’s led to best-selling books, a website, and a lasting working partnership (we’re great friends too…) Our unique selling point is recruiting tester panels who try products in real life then fill in detailed questionnaires. With over 7,500 testers, we run what are now recognised as the biggest independent consumer surveys worldwide.

What’s your latest Beauty Bible project?

Jo and I are writing The Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible – about ageing gorgeously and happily! Lots has changed since we wrote Feel Fab Forever 12 years ago. Along with expert information, there will – of course - be Tried & Tested sections.

Why do you feel ‘beauty’ care is important?

Research shows that feeling you look good boosts your immune response, and every bit of you looks better when you are healthy. Jo and I take a two-way approach to beauty, what’s on the inside (mind as well as body) matters as much as what goes on the outside.

Tell us about your menopause advice book

I co-wrote Your Change Your Choice with consultant gynaecologist Michael Dooley to provide an integrated approach to coping well with the menopause. It covers the HRT controversy, important information about natural alternatives, and Michael was adamant about including a beauty chapter.

Have you always been interested in natural health and cosmetics?

Late 1980s I started writing about the environment. Then I was one of three co-founders of FLAG, the food labelling campaign which successfully achieved accurate labelling on all foods. (Up ‘til then, it wasn’t mandatory!) From looking at what goes into your gut (after detoxing by the liver) it’s a small, obvious step to what goes on skin and into your bloodstream - without first passing the liver…. With healthcare, following my own investigative look at drugs and side effects I concluded some pharmaceutical meds are indispensable, but many served vested interests better than they served patients. Evidence on safety and efficacy was often unsatisfactory.

If you have a medical problem, who would you first consult?

It depends. Following a very serious accident, I was incredibly grateful to orthopaedic surgeons at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. When recovering, I was grateful for the friend who cooked nutritious food, the doctor who sent homeopathic remedies, my yoga teacher, a neighbouring reflexologist, and later when horrendous depression struck as a result of long-term morphine-based drugs, a herbalist, psychotherapist, and chakra therapist. I recovered quickly from the complex fracture in my elbow (18 screws!), and break in my upper arm.

For less acute problems, I call a pharmacist specialising in natural remedies, a homeopath, and a cranio-sacral therapist for mind and body.

What’s your ‘stay healthy’ regime?

My essential supplements are Omega-3, vitamin D3, and magnesium at night. Having five horses I get lots of exercise looking after them. I walk 10-12 miles once a week, plus some stretching and yoga pretty well daily.

What’s your beauty philosophy?

Be loving, kind and honest - with yourself and others. Enjoy small things. Smile, laugh, be generous with compliments. Control the controllables: eat well, drink plenty of still water, breathe properly, be creative, take plenty of exercise, never cheat on sleep. Calm your mind through meditation or whatever suits you. Do your best with your appearance, then forget it! (Difficult, some days…) Don’t be precious: get down and dirty, whether it’s gardening, mucking out stables, or getting paint all over you. Wear less make-up, applied better. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! Take Omega-3s, for your skin’s sake.

How do you feel about today’s ‘youth driven’ beauty culture?

I’d love to see more mature female icons. But youth is beautiful – it’s also jolly difficult and painful at times. I’d rather be older and happier.

I’m not tempted by filler treatments or Botox, or a face lift - except on really bad face days.. just joking! I want to look like me, just the best I can.

The Green Beauty Bible and Beauty Bible Beauty Steals recommended several Weleda products – which are your favourites?

The Wild Rose range, particularly the Facial Masque.

Read more about the Weleda Products which were recommended:

•  The Green Beauty Bible >

•  Beauty Bible Beauty Steals >

Weleda’s new Pomegranate range is aimed at 40+ women. Have you favourites?

I particularly love the body wash, and have just had an email from a reader raving about the moisturisers. She contacted me because her former moisturiser provoked red puffy eyes and dry skin around her mouth. I suggested Pomegranate Firming Day Cream and Night Cream. She says: ‘I’m so pleased and relieved that I contacted Sarah (me!). I’ve used these products for three weeks and cannot begin to describe how wonderful my skin feels.’ Result!

Read which Weleda products were recommended in the Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible >

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