The presenter and menopause advocate, 50, reveals her time-saving hair hero and instant feel-good shower hack
When you're frequently appearing in front of the nation on live morning television (not to mention hosting weekly Instagram videos) you'd be forgiven for having an 'off' day. But former model Lisa Snowdon never fails to show up with her bouncy energy, radiant skin and glossy hair – whether she's hosting her Midweek Menopause Madness videos or talking beauty on This Morning.
To glean her secrets, Get The Gloss editorial director Victoria Woodhall grabbed a chat with the presenter and menopause advocate. It turns out – while she's no stranger to a tweakment or two (she likes Coolsculpting for targeting stubborn inner thigh fat and the Emsella chair for pelvic floor toning) – Lisa swears by a consistent morning and evening beauty routine, too.
There's a three-minute icy shower to mentally set her up for the day, a colour-shielding hair routine (having had to 'retrain' her hair to avoid a daily wash) and a glow-giving tinted moisturiser. Here is exactly what's in her toolkit...
Energy-boosting morning routine
"My alarm goes off quite early at around 5.30 am but I don't bounce out of bed straight away. George [Smart, Lisa's fiance, 41] and I are guilty of snoozing until 6 am, but that's a lie-in for me as I used to have to get up a 3 am or 4 am when I presented on Capital radio.
"I slowly peel off my Dr Harris Anti-Wrinkle Sleep Mask, £89.99 [read why Lisa loves the mask here] to let the daylight in. Then I go downstairs and have Symprove Original Flavour Live & Active Bacteria, £158 for 12 weeks supply, which is great for replacing the gut's good bacteria and keeping everything healthy and happy.
"I put the kettle and coffee pot on – I love a hot water and lemon, and a green tea – and potter around. For breakfast, I like a couple of boiled eggs or some yogurt and blueberries. But sometimes I intermittent fast until lunchtime and take Organic Pharmacy Detox Pills, £32, for a couple of weeks. They're fabulous.
"I have two in the morning and two at night before bed. They've got psyllium husks in them so they keep me fuller for longer which is especially good if I'm going into the This Morning studio the next day. It gives a slight calorie deficit but also gives my system a chance to have a rest which is really helpful for digestion.
"Before jumping in the shower, I dry body brush to get the lymphatic system going and shed dry skin. Sometimes I do it with Legology Cellu-Lite Salon Secret For Legs, £62.50, concentrating on the backs of my thighs. I also use Ameliorate Smoothing Body Exfoliant, £18, on my arms to help with keratosis pilaris and I'm a fan of Margaret Dabbs footcare and Neom Great Day Body Scrub, £30.40 for my knees and elbows.
"During lockdown in 2020, I decided to introduce some new habits and now at the end of my shower, I turn the temperature down and stand under icy cold water for three minutes before getting out. It's an initial shock to the system but you just have to breathe through it. It's an amazing start to the day and it pushes me out of my comfort zone.
"It helps me mentally deal with anything big I've got on that day; it feels toning, invigorating and it's great for sealing the cuticle of the hair."
Daily skincare heroes
"I know not everyone does, but I like to cleanse in the morning. I use Aeos Cleansing Oil De-Maq, £45, by a gorgeous organic Australian brand I discovered while hosting the Natural Beauty Awards a couple of years ago. I do lots of lymphatic drainage massage on my face and neck to de-puff and iron it out after sleeping. Then I use a muslin cloth to remove it. I also use Aeos Energising Conditioner, £38, – it's just a really lovely light lotion for the face.
"Next are my Prai Ageless Super Boost Capsules with Hyaluronic Acid, £28 for 30. They're perfectly microdosed so you only need one but I like to be quite heavy handed and indulgent with my products so I often use two, split over my face and decolletage. I love how quickly they're absorbed, the velvety texture and the fact they're plant-based and biodegradable.
"I apply Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ Eye, £83, to my eyes – it's a serum-like texture so you can put it over your eyelids and on your brow bone. Then I walk around a bit and let everything start working its magic before makeup."
'No makeup makeup' secrets
"I don't tend to wear foundation unless I'm doing my own makeup for TV. Perricone MD High Potency Classics Face Finishing & Firming Tinted Moisturiser SPF30, £61, gives me a bit of coverage and blur while letting my skin shine through. I use a big Bobbi Brown concealer palette so I can mix my own shade depending on the time of year and cover some pigmentation, but I don't put too much on the little lines around my eyes. That's applied with Mishel Makeup Narrow Flat Foundation Brush, £23, created by a makeup artist who works at This Morning. Then I set it with By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder, £42, which is stunning.
"A dewy shimmer on the cheek using Chanel Healthy Glow Soleil Tan Bronzing Cream, £43, is really flattering without giving the kind of highlight you can see from space.
"I can't live without my Shu Uemura eyelash curlers which I've been using since my modelling days when I travelled to Japan in 1990. My mascara is Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara, £31, and I love Ruby Hammer Precision Liquid Eyeliner, £19. For brows, I like Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil, £23.50."
Colour-protecting hair saviours
"I avoid washing my hair daily to help preserve the colour and because I think it can be quite damaging. When I was modelling I had to turn up with clean hair every day so it's taken a while to retrain it.
"Living Proof products are great for that. I use Living Proof Restore Shampoo, £25, and Conditioner, £25, and I'm obsessed with their Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo, £22, and Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray, £28. They get me out of the pickle so often and are great for when you're in a rush."
Bespoke nightly skincare
"A typical evening for me is a yummy dinner with George, and hopefully a glass of wine or two. Then I start winding down. Sometimes I have a quick shower before bed to rinse the day away. I double cleanse at night with the same Aeos Cleansing Oil and I really like the Oto Cleansing Jam Exfoliator, £39, that's a gentle scrub, or Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator, £55, that gives a good polish.
"I use my Aeos Energising Conditioner or Bio Effect EGF Serum, £129, followed by my Prai Ageless Super Boost Capsules with Hyaluronic Acid. Then I vary what comes next depending on what my skin needs. I switch between and Prai Ageless Throat and Decolletage Cream, £25, which contains retinol, Prai 24K Wrinkle Repair Cream, £35, Perricone MD Neuropeptide Night Cream, was £205 now £164, or Balance Me Collagen Boost Moisturiser, £19.50, which is quite calming and simple."
Sleep-enhancing evening routine
"I used to have lots of menopause-related issues with my sleep but since taking the right HRT, including testosterone (Androfeme), progesterone (Utrogestan) and oestrogen (Lenzetto), I generally sleep really well. Sometimes, a full moon will affect it but it's never as bad as when I was sweating, peeing and shivering constantly through the night, so I feel totally blessed.
"I do think we get so wound up thinking we should be sleeping for eight hours but some people only need four. I like to be in bed by about 10 pm and averaging about seven and a half hours.
"I use Oto CBD Sleep Drops, £69, and I operate well with aromatherapy smells so I love Salix Moon Pillow Potion Spray, £15, or Ren & Now To Sleep Pillow Spray, £15, and Balance Me Beauty Sleep CBD Concentrate, £25. They tell my brain that it's time to switch off.
"In 2020, George and I decided we wanted our bedroom to be a place where we just relax. I used to have my office in there – and I know lots of people need to but even taking your computer out of your bedroom in the evening is massively important.
"I'll make sure I don't have any screen time an hour before bed and I like to write lists, saying goodbye to the day and getting rid of anything that I would potentially lie in bed and think about.
"I think good breathable sheets are key or some nice nightwear – or naked if you want to be! If I'm really struggling to nod off, I listen to Deepak Chopra's guided sleep meditations."