MY HEALTH: Darcey Bussell, 43, former Royal Ballet principal dancer, now Strictly judge.
What makes me really happy is being with my children – Phoebe, 11, and Zoe, eight – and my husband Angus and going on adventures together. This year we are going skiing in Austria.
My biggest treat is having a massage at the Sanctuary Spa in London’s Covent Garden with my younger sister Zaylie, 33.
I never took much care of my skin when I was dancing because we always wore such heavy make-up: you just scrubbed it off and that was that. My skin got very dehydrated because of travelling so much, but I didn’t really know what to do, so I drank more water and occasionally put on moisturiser.
Darcey Bussell's favourite, Sanctuary Lipid recovery facial oilWhen I moved to Australia with my family in 2007 I started looking after my skin. Now I’m a devoted fan of Sanctuary Spa Active Reverse Lipid Recovery Facial Oil [below, £22, boots.com], which I use every night. I never thought it would make such a difference – my skin doesn’t have dry patches now and it’s much smoother.
I cook simple recipes with lots of protein for energy: chicken and fish, fresh vegetables and fruit, and no packet food. We’re on porridge for breakfast at the moment.
My dancing days left a legacy of wear and tear on my joints, so I take two or three cod liver oil capsules every day. I’m hardly ever ill.
I don’t drink coffee – I’ve never liked it – so if I need a quick perk-up, I opt for Diet Coke or green tea, and a bit of Green & Black’s dark chocolate.
Exercise is the quickest energy booster. We have two spoodles, Lolli and Pop, who I walk every day for half an hour. I swim and cycle plus I do Zumba, it’s my release and it makes me laugh. I can do anything after Zumba!
Relaxing is important. Watching a movie is good or a bath with scented oils.
I am much calmer and more laid-back than I used to be. That’s partly due to having lived in Australia for four years. The lifestyle there is much easier. I love London and the social side of life but you need a cut-off.
Darcey Bussell is the face of Sanctuary Spa Active Reverse skincare. The new Active Reverse Peptide Repair Eye Cream, £18, is available at boots.com People with poor circulation or just chilly feet may benefit from a Cosy Foot warmer For toasty toesPeople with poor circulation tend to suffer chilly feet when sitting for any length of time, watching TV for instance. Even better than sheepskin slippers or a hot-water bottle, the Beurer Cosy Foot Warmer is an electric foot muff with soft, comfy quilting. With protection against overheating, it offers three temperature levels. £39.99, from amazon.co.uk.
How to widen the food allergy menu Q: I’m trying to find recipes for someone who is allergic to eggs and shellfish, as well as all poultry and game birds.A: I asked Michelle Berriedale-Johnson, who edits foodsmatter.com, the specialist website for allergy sufferers. She recommends The Intolerant Gourmet by Pippa Kendrick (£20, Collins*).
Michelle says: ‘This is an excellent book with great pictures. Pippa doesn’t use eggs at all, although she does use some egg replacers, including flaxseed.
‘There are also two self-published collections of more basic but still very jolly recipes,’ says Michelle. Firstly, I’m Hungry by dietitian Tanya Wright (£10.50 including postage; send an sae with a cheque, payable to Tanya Wright, to Tanya Wright, 106 High Street, Great Missenden, Bucks HP16 0BE. Also try Dairy and Egg Free Cake Recipes by Katie Crookston, whose whole family is egg and dairy allergic (£15.99 plus postage, or ebook, £9.99, from dairyfreecakerecipes.co.uk). You will also find a whole section on Freefrom recipes at foodsmatter.com.
Make time in march for Lorraine Kelly's Eve appeal Website of the week: eveappeal.org.ukI love a delicious tea, with proper teapots and lots of cake.
So I am happy to support the Eve Appeal’s Make Time for Tea campaign in March, spearheaded by Lorraine Kelly, to raise funds for research into ovarian cancer.
Visit the website for a free tea fundraising pack to help you plan. We love the thought of doing it in style with frocks and little hats and vintage china.
Email your questions to s.stacey@you.co.uk
All products mentioned, unless otherwise specified, are available by mail order from Victoria Health, tel: 0800 3898 195; victoriahealth.com
