Cat Deeley is many things. A former model and host of nostalgic relic SMTV Live, a mother, wife and soon to be presenter of This Morning. But she is also, and more importantly for us, a beauty girl at heart. Don't take our word for it, look to the roster of beauty titles under her belt: she is the new ambassador of Irish homegrown skincare brand Ella & Jo Cosmetics, the co-creator and co-founder of fragrance oil line E11even, and a self-proclaimed beauty enthusiast.
Touching on her newly appointed ambassador role, Deeley explains, 'The [Ella & Jo Cosmetics] products all do exactly what they’re supposed to, there’s not too many in the range and it’s very uncomplicated, and most importantly my skin feels great.' Skin is a focal point for Deeley and she subscribes to the belief that if you do the hard work of taking care of your skin, you don't have to put much make-up on it. She may be big on the 'less is more' stance when it comes to make-up, but her holistic approach to beauty and wellness is anything but.
'I think women look more beautiful with less make-up. But that does mean that you have to really take care of your skin, you have to eat a good diet, and you have to exercise and drink water,' she adds. And to that end, she boasts impressive and extensive rituals that help to keep her in check, including a strict skincare routine that will always consist of double cleansing and cryotherapy.
On her skincare routine...
Deeley's day begins and ends with a considered slathering of skincare. She first reaches for Ella & Jo Brighten and Glow Hydrating Exfoliating Cleanser, £30, followed by the Hydrating Hyaluronic Serum, £40, which she coats over her face, neck and décolletage. Then she applies the Plump & Protect Hydrating Day Cream with SPF30, £36, over her face, neck, chest, ears and hands, 'I was terrible at using SPF when I was younger. It wasn't as ingrained in my psyche as it is now,' she says.
As for evenings, 'I love to double-cleanse, particularly if I've been at work and I've had my make-up constantly touched-up throughout the day,' Deeley says. An essential in her routine, she starts by massaging the Ella & Jo Melt The Day Away Cleansing Balm, £36, over her face before removing with a cleansing mitt or warm washcloth, and follows up with the Brighten and Glow Hydrating Exfoliating Cleanser, which leaves skin looking brighter, smoother and removes every last trace of make-up. To finish, she uses the Hydrating Hyaluronic Serum once more and then the multi-tasking Relax & Renew Night Cream, £48.
ellaandjo.co.uk
Packed with coconut, sunflower and raspberry seed oil, as well as squalene, this balm to oil cleanser works fast to remove make-up, dirt and build up from the day while leaving skin nourished.
On sleeping well...
With early mornings a big part of her working week it's no surprise that Deeley is a bad sleeper, and has always been. 'Even when I was a little girl, I would wake up and I'll have read two-thirds of a Malory Towers before my mum had even opened her eyes. I find it very difficult to turn my brain off. It starts off as really useful stuff, and then it just disappears into this abyss of nonsense and worrying about things we can't control. As women, we tend to shoulder that burden.'
She's tried to find solutions of course – magnesium, salt baths, pillow sprays, sleepy teas, meditation, breathing exercises, listening to stories on the Calm app – but in the end, she has accepted defeat and is satisfied if she gets as little as four hours of sleep a night.
'I do struggle in all honesty. I've resigned myself to it because it just stresses you out more otherwise. If I can't go back to sleep, I get up, I'll do some yoga, have a coffee, so then the ritual feels nicer.'
On wellbeing non-negotiables...
She has found one alternative sleep aid though: cryotherapy (yes, really), which forms part of her impressive wellness practices.
'I miss the sunshine here [in London] and sometimes I need to get my body going a little bit. I go to London Cryo where I use the infrared sauna for 45 minutes (I put my legs up the wall to try and get a bit of lymphatic drainage). I love sweating out all the rubbish that you put into your body, plus it gives you a massive glow. It makes me feel like any products I then use sink in better.' The total body treatment also helps to detoxify your system, while soothing any aches and pains.
'Then I go into the cryo chamber for three minutes. It started after I had covid when my hands were aching and sore and my joints weren't great. It seems to be helping. It helps with sleep too on the days when I do it.
'I also have IV drips there, and B12 injections if I’m travelling. I try to be proactive about my health. I love yoga because I'm not naturally flexible, even though I've been doing it for 25 years.'
Yoga is a daily ritual for Deeley and something she aims to do every morning, 'yoga really works for me because you have to concentrate on your breathing and your movement at the same time, so it stops my brain from going a million miles an hour. I use this amazing website called Yogaglo, which means I can do it whenever and wherever. I bookmark certain classes – like one that's half an hour, one that's 45 minutes, and one that's an hour, and I just slot it in.'
On diet...
While she's big on wellness, Deeley is conscious of not falling into the category of passing fads, which she coins as 'a giant money making exercise'. What has stuck with her is the focus on listening to your body, taking care of it and giving it what it needs.
'We’re moving on from the notion of anti-ageing. Getting older is, after all, a complete privilege – the fact that you’re here and enjoying life – gaining experiences while being happy and healthy. Wow. That, to me, is amazing. I’m into wellness in the sense that I’m into taking care of my body.'
That starts with drinking celery, cucumber, lemon and ginger juice (something she started in LA to avoid inflammation) or a glass of hot water and lemon each morning ahead of anything else, a ritual she's kept up for the best part of 20 years, and while the latter has worked wonders on her stomach. Deeley admits the common wellbeing ritual favoured by many celebs including Victoria Beckham 'had taken all the enamel off the front of my teeth. I had to have composite bonds on them to replace it.'
Otherwise, Deeley sticks to a Mediterranean diet, 'I like a little bit of everything – predominantly fruits and vegetables and a bit of protein – but I love French bread, red wine and coffee. Like fitness, diet is about finding what works for you, and that way you can do it on a regular basis. If you listen to everything on food, it's like, "well now you can't eat potatoes", and "have you heard about eggs?", "don't have dairy" – and then you look at what's actually in some oat milks and that’s not good! I think you need to listen to your body. Pay attention and see what makes your skin better, see what makes you feel better, see what gives you a better night's sleep.'
On tweakments...
Deeley is refreshingly open on the treatments she relies on to help her look and feel her best, 'I do mesotherapy with Dr. Joney de Souza and “baby Botox” with Dr. Frances Prenna Jones to get rid of the deep frown line between my eyebrows. I've got to be able to move my face, so we just treat that.'
Dubbed a skin booster, mesotherapy involves delivering microscopic quantities of a bespoke blend of active ingredients to targeted areas on the skin via micro-injections to help rejuvenate, strengthen and rebuild it from the deep mesodermal layers. Great for remedying a host of concerns, from fine lines to acne, the treatment helps fresh skin cells replace aged or damaged ones leaving you with a firmer, more toned, uplifted, and radiant complexion, often after one session. Baby Botox on the other hand involves a micro-droplet technique of injecting smaller amounts of the toxin – at the same strength – precisely and superficially to give a more natural, subtle, even and fresh-faced look.
On fragrance...
Her go-to fragrance is her own, E11even Fragrance Oil, £80, 'It was developed way before the terminology functional fragrance was even around, but weirdly it can ground you and energise you or relax you.'
A blend of essential oils such as patchouli, geranium and rose, the soothing floral scent is spa-like and can be worn on any occasion, whether you need a take a moment to uplift, you're readying for a date or getting ready for bed.
On her favourite budget buy...
Deeley reaches for L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara, £9.99, saying, 'I don't think you need to spend big. I like to get it from America because I prefer the one in the States for some reason'. It's a smart choice, the mascara thickens and lengthens all while providing a natural-looking finish – something Deeley has mastered over the years.
www.boots.com
Dubbed her favourite budget buy and the product most likely to be found in her handbag, this natural-looking mascara is loaded with ceramide R and vitamin Panthenol to conditions, protects and strengthen, while leaving lashes thicker and longer.
On make-up...
The best tip Deeley has ever received from a make-up artist? 'Less is more. Concentrate on your skin. You then don't need as much makeup on top,' she reveals. Her minimalist approach means she feels most beautiful without any make-up on, so on the days she isn't working and ergo not wearing make-up under hot studio lights, Deeley enjoys giving her skin a break.
'I’ll just do a little bit of a brow with Wunderbrow Eyebrow Gel, £20, then use my Kevyn Aucoin The Eyelash Curler, £26.40, and L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara, £9.99 – I love it. I’ll finish with the Victoria Beckham Beauty Matte Bronzing Brick in 01, £56, I dust on a little and I’m good to go.'
On haircare...
Deeley noticed a shift in her hair after having her two sons and has since taken care to nurse it back to health. That involves simple things like taking supplements such as The Nue Co Growth Phase, £65, to receiving biotin injections in her bottom. A hack she's picked up along the way is using The Nue Co Supa_Thick Hair Treatment, £40, while she's in an infrared sauna to really help stimulate things, but warns it's best to reserve this for wash days.
“I would always spend money on my hair,' Deeley explains, 'You can spend £400 on a pair of shoes that you wear once in a blue moon, but you wear your hair every day. At home, I try not to wash it too often because I don’t think that does it any good (well, not my hair anyway). When I do wash it, I need products that are super-duper because my hair is really thick and big and crazy! I’m a Kérastase girl and I love its Nutritive Bain Satin Riche Shampoo, £22.55, and Nutritive Masquintense Riche hair mask, £34.44. I’ll give my hair a dry while using the BondiBoost Blowout Brush Pro, £67.99 – although it’s never quite as good as a proper blow-dry – and then I tend to use the T3 SinglePass Curl curling iron, £150, to give my hair a bit of movement.'
Shop: Cat Deeley's Favourite Products
www.spacenk.com
Energising, uplifting, grounding, and calming all at once, this essential oil blend boasts a soothing, floral scent that is spa-like and will bring comfort instantly.
victoriabeckhambeauty.com
Deeley achieves a subtle sculpt with this soft focus powder duo that mimics a natural-looking sun-kissed glow.
www.lookfantastic.com
Perfect for dry, medium and thick hair types, this fast working five-minute mask uses a highly concentrated formula enriched with plant-based proteins and niacinamide, and a balmy texture, to protect, strengthen, prevent breakage, leaving hair glossy and soft.
