Shelly Horton on her health, beauty routine and why getting her cleavage out has got her in trouble.

I’ve always been shameless about asking people where they got their clothes or what beauty products they use. Especially if they have great skin.

Having been a beauty editor in a past life, I have an insatiable curiosity about what people do each day with their face. I want to steal their secrets and copy what they do. (Much easier than stealing their actual skin, which I’m told is not cool.)

That’s why I decided to ask a handful of women with great skin what they do to their faces each day and how it works in with their lifestyle.

Shelly Horton is the host and producer of Mamamia TV. She’s 41 and up for trying all sorts of things on her face. Including vampire facials and botox. But two years ago she underwent a health change – and lost quite a bit of weight. Her lifestyle changed but her beauty regime stayed the same. Which is what I find interesting…..

Q: Shelly, you have immaculate pale skin. Tell me about your daily beauty routine. Go.

A: In the morning I normally cleanse my face in the shower. I tend to feel like the skin on my forehead gets a little “rough” so I also exfoliate a couple of times a week.

I sometimes spray on a toner (depends if I’m running late for work or not – normally I am running late and skip this step) then I apply a natural sunscreen without chemical UV filters. I also moisturise my whole body.

Then I put on makeup or – on the days I’m on TV – I go to Channel Seven and allow a crack team of professionals do their best.

Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Natural Instinct Skincare. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words.

Honestly, they are so good I sometimes feel like they have Steven Spielberg-like special effects skills.  I kind of look Photoshopped.

But with that amount of makeup, NOTHING feels better than wiping it off at the end of the day. Now I probably should take more care here but I’m addicted to face wipes.  Before face wipes, I would sometimes sleep in my makeup and deal with the mess in the morning. Face wipes have changed my life.

Then I sometimes put a serum on and I always moisturise with a heavier night cream. My skin drinks it up.

I don’t use eye cream. It stings my eyes and I think the wrinkles under my eyes are beyond help anyway.

Q: What’s the single best thing you do for your health in terms of eating?

A: I try to eat well. I start the day with porridge and banana because it fills me up until lunchtime.  Lunch is normally light but pretty substantial. Salad and protein or some rice paper rolls.

I constantly fight with myself about my 3pm chocolate craving. Sometimes I win, sometimes I cave — depends on how stressed I am.

Dinner is pretty much always meat and veggies. I’m a creature of habit and nothing makes me happier than a good steak with horseradish and grilled asparagus. It would be my Death Row last meal.

I always want something sweet after dinner so most nights I have frozen yoghurt. It feels like ice-cream but without the massive calorie hit.

Q: In the past two years you’ve had a major health change – tell me a bit about that and what it has taught you about your body?

A: Over the past two years I’ve lost some weight. It’s been a slow process. Frustratingly slow! I joined a gym for the first time in my life. I was nervous at first but I soon found I really loved the group classes. You bond with other regulars. I get a lot of pride in seeing my strength and fitness improve.

I do spin, weights and I’ve just started circuit classes and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training – a type of training where you work at 100 per cent for 90 seconds then have 30 seconds rest and you repeat that for 30 mins. It’s brutal but boy does it burn calories. I wear a heart rate monitor for motivation).

When I started I was going to the gym seven days a week and using my cross trainer at home. But after three months I was losing the will to live so I pulled back. I thought the more I did the more I’d lose like I was a contestant on The Biggest Loser.

But I have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and Insulin Resistance so I see an endocrinologist and he explained that my condition makes it three times as hard to lose weight as other people. So yep, there have been tears.  But rather than give up and face-plant into a tub of Ben and Jerry’s, I have been consistent.

Now I go to the gym four times a week. I enjoy feeling strong and fit.  I find it helps with my stress and has made my lower back pain almost disappear.

Consistency is key. Just keep at it.

Q: How has it changed your life? And is it terribly strict?

A: I feel happier and more confident. Eating well and exercising is now just part of my life rather than a chore. I still fall off the wagon but I don’t beat myself up too much. I just get my butt back to the gym.

Q: What about your skin. You’re a bit glowy. Have you become more aware of what you are putting on your skin as you get older?

A: I care more about results than fancy bottles/packaging and pretty smelling products. If it works that’s what’s important to me.

Q: How have the products you use on your skin changed in the past 10 years?

A: I use more products to combat ageing. I’m 41 and I feel pretty good about it – although I still want someone to explain to me how I can have pimples and wrinkles at the same time.

Q: What is your must-have skin-care product at the moment?

A: Face cleansing wipes. I like to wipe away the day and they are quick and easy. A game-changer for me.

Q: If you could recommend one thing to your younger self about skincare – what would it be?

A: Use sunscreen. I grew up in the harsh Queensland sun way before the Slip, Slop, Slap campaign hit home.

I’d make my younger self promise to use a moisturiser with sunscreen in it every day even though I don’t think they were invented back then.

Oh, and your face stops at your nipples, by the way…

Yup, I have so much sun damage on my décolletage because I love getting my cleavage out, but I didn’t ever think about the sun. I now have boob wrinkles.  I wake up in the morning with creases from between my boobs all the way to my neck.

There’s no way I would have predicted that when I was 16.

What are your best tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle? 

Here are some of Shelly’s most fit and fab Instagram moments.

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