Fashion secrets of the Supermodels

Skin secrets of the Supermodels

1 CLEAN UP YOUR ACT:-

On day one at the agency, models get the skin lecture. You want a glowing complexion? Well, you've got to cleanse properly - but do right by your skin type or you'll end up with a tight, irritated face. If you've got dry skin never use hot water or tap water to wash your face (only mineral will do, darling), and if you've got oily skin avoid heavy cleansing creams and strong alcohol-based toners. Don't use an exfoliant cleanser every day as it'll scratch the hell out of your face. And no matter how much champers you drink, take off that slap at night or your skin won't regenerate properly.


2 DON'T GO BELIEVING THE HYPE:-
Sure, supermodels can afford the latest supercream (and bypass the waiting list) but they don't necessarily want it. Choosing the right cream is all about what works best on your skin. Forget the science - it simply needs to lock in moisture without looking greasy. Supers pick their basic moisturiser not by the label or the glossy poster (heck, they've seen the model minus the airbrush) but by the skin feel. The perfect one glides on easily and leaves a silky film on the skin like a fine denier stocking.

3 DON'T OVERPROTECT YOUR SKIN:-
Models know the sun is their number one ageing enemy, but they also know there's no need to overload their skin with UV screens when they don't need them. In the summer, they use a day cream with high UVA and B to protect against wrinkling and burning (SPF alone isn't enough). But in the winter, a sun block can sometimes do more harm than good by stressing the skin with unnecessary chemicals and preventing the synthesis of vitamin D.

4 POP PILLS:-
Those late nights and long flights take their toll on even the most famous of faces, so catwalkers treat the deeper layers of the skin with a vitamin C and zinc tablet every day. This combo boosts the skin's supporting structure and improves its ability to hold water - vital for glowing skin.


5 FACE FACTS:-
Yes, models regularly pamper their faces with salon skin treatments - Kate Moss loves Crystal Clear microdermabrasion while Yasmin Le Bon swears by Jo Malone facials. But at-home upkeep is just as important, so the supermodels happily whip up their own all- natural 10-minute masks. Girls with dry skin mash avocado with a teaspoon of lemon juice and two teaspoons of wheatgerm, while oily supers beat up egg white and the juice of half a lemon. They cleanse thoroughly first to avoid sealing in the dirt, and lie down with their Jimmy Choos up so more oxygen goes to their head, making the mask more effective. Afterwards, it's on with the moisturiser so it can penetrate more deeply for maximum results.


6 PAINT SMART:-
When you work with the world's top make-up artists, you get to know a few tricks of the trade. When all the light-reflective foundations on the planet aren't enough, supers brighten up their eyes by brushing a little matte pink eyeshadow under their eyes, then covering the entire eyelid with a powder slightly lighter than their skin tone. And if they're sporting a pair of bags that definitely aren't Hermes, they spread a thin layer of, er, haemorrhoid cream under the eyes to tighten everything up. No wonder those girls have piles of style.
For more insider tips and tricks, check out Supermodel Beauty Secrets (Piatkus, pounds 7.99) by ex-catwalk model Victoria Nixon
Even when she's wobbling around in Westwood, Naomi Campbell has Armani against her skin. The stroppy super uses Giorgio's Fluid Sheer, pounds 25 (Harvey Nichols), to give a golden sheen to her skin.
She's six foot with muscles to shame a marine, and her signature fragrance is Guerlain's Vetiver Aftershave (from pounds 27). But never fear - Elle Macpherson is all woman and says she simply likes the way a man's scent smells on her skin. That's alright then.
Before she got a cake in her cooker, Kate Moss was famed for her party lifestyle - which is perhaps why her beauty bag essential is Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat, pounds 21. Perfect for touch- ups (and we're not talking Johhny Depp here).
Globe trotter Liberty Ross claims she won't go anywhere without her SK-II Facial Treatment Repair C, pounds 75. Apparently her latest bottle has its own passport, 7,000 miles-worth of frequent flyer vouchers and an anti-rabies certificate.
Our spies tell us Claudia Schiffer was recently spotted buying Clarins Gel Buste, pounds 31, a kind of bra in a bottle. We don't know what we're more stunned by - a model admitting she's feeling the pull of gravity or a model admitting she's got boobs.
The right lip pencil can make your mouth look fuller and sexier but the wrong one shrieks Sunday Sport (we know who you are and where you live, brown liner owners). But you can repent for your sins with MAC Spice Lip Pencil, pounds 9, which beauty evangelist Linda Evangelista swears is the perfect suits-all shade.
How can Gisele keep her locks looking so lovely despite all that heat styling? Before you cry 'wig!' let us point you in the direction of two catwalk hair savers: Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Moisture Treatment, pounds 16.50, and Phytologie Phyto 7 leave-in conditioner, pounds 10.

Sophie Dahl is the picture of wide-eyed innocence anyway, but a Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, pounds 16, is the perfect accessory for her big baby blues.
SEVEN SUPERMARKET
SUPERMODEL FAVES
l Vaseline Lip Therapy
l Optrex Eye Dew
Blue Eye Drops
l Nivea Cream
l Simple Fast Acting
Cleansing Lotion
l Astral Moisturiser
l Body Shop
Elderflower Eye Gel
l Pampers Baby Wipes
(for cleaning faces,
not bums - we hope)