As part of our My Life In Beauty series, we spoke to TV presenter and broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher about her attitude towards looking and feeling good, as well as the products and treatments she rates. From the functional facial with instant results to the healing powers of a hot bath, here's what Kirsty swears by.
I’m an early riser; it comes naturally to me after years of working in breakfast TV. Moving to the countryside a few years ago has made my mornings really special – there’s nothing like seeing the sunrise over the fields. I’ll make a cup of tea, feed the kids, dogs and our tortoise, and have a quick read of the news on my phone before the school run. I avoid TV and Instagram for as long as I can!
I grew up in the supermodel era. I was at an all-girls school and the ‘supers’ were like goddesses to us, but that also meant appearance and weight were high on the agenda. I had to navigate it, but as you get older you learn what works for you and what makes you happy. There are much better conversations happening around body image and mental health these days.
I recently took my best mate Gabby Logan on a wellbeing break to Marrakech as a 50th birthday present. We went to The Body Camp, as Gabby and I both love sports, fitness and weight training. The dynamic elements were balanced with slow yoga, journalling and meditation, which is just what I needed, as I tend to run at 100 miles an hour. At home I love the Calm app; it reminds me to chill and breathe. A good stretching session or Pilates class makes me feel like I can conquer anything, too.
I’m lucky to have been blessed with clear skin, but I’m never complacent when it comes to looking after it; I wouldn’t go to bed without taking off my makeup and I’m selective with what I use. I do my nails myself and have a basic beauty routine, but skincare is where I invest.
I love Tatcha products – each step feels like a lovely Japanese ritual. A particular favourite is The Matcha Cleanse, it’s so gentle and has a gorgeous texture. I’m a matcha girl; I start my day with a cup of matcha tea, so I knew I’d love it. Once or twice a week I use Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask for a moisture hit. It makes my skin feel like silk. For fresh skin on the go, a spritz of cool, pure water does the trick, such as Evian Brumisateur Facial Spray.
If I’m getting a beauty treatment, it has to have a functional element to it. I like a Hydrafacial, from £125; it vacuums up impurities and I find it really satisfying. In an ideal world, I’d have one once a month. Because I train so much, a body massage helps to iron out the knots, and I book in for reflexology when I can, too.
I’m makeup-obsessed, even though I don’t wear it every day. I used to try on my mum’s lipsticks and copy looks I’d seen in magazines. That said, I don’t wear foundation unless I’m working. Then it’s Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. I’ve been using it for years and it’s brilliant.
My absolute must-have is mascara. I’m so impressed by Kiko Milano Maxi Mod Volume & Definition Mascara. The wand is tiny, but it does the most incredible job at thickening and lengthening lashes without clogging. For daytime, I’ll team it with a natural-looking lip gloss. Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer is my go-to – I adore the whole range.
Letting my brows grow out was a revelation. They’re naturally thick, but I used to pluck them to the point that they’d become patchy. Makeup artist Ruby Hammer convinced me to leave them alone on a shoot about 15 years ago and, while ignoring the strays was tricky at first, it was the best advice. I’ve had very subtle microblading in the past, but now I mainly just fill them in a little with brow pencil.
A ponytail is my signature hair look. After having my hair styled five days a week when I was working on Sky Sports News, it’s quite refreshing to take a more natural approach. I have a trim every now and again to lop off the dead ends, and I let it air-dry pretty often. The right products help to keep it looking healthy and shiny; Living Proof shampoos and conditioners are amazing and for styling my hair, the Full Thickening Blow-Dry Cream creates a glossy finish – you only need a tiny bit.
I’m a speedy shower fan, but there’s nothing like a hot bath when you feel like you’re coming down with something. The first thing I do when I have a cold is run a bath, and I swear it fixes everything. I’ll fill it with magnesium salts and a luxurious oil. I prefer body oils to moisturisers: ESPA’s blends are gorgeous, I turn to Fitness Bath & Body Oil regularly.
My mum was a dietician, so I grew up eating well. I know that looking after my body will make me feel more alive and ‘myself’. I have a Kinetica Collagen Shot with Turmeric every morning to help keep my joints healthy and reduce inflammation.
I still get aches and pains in my feet after doing Strictly Come Dancing, so I do all that I can to remedy it. Nutritionist Pippa Campbell’s supplements are brilliant as well. I had a consultation with her and tests done, and it turned out that I was lacking in iron, despite eating my broccoli! I also swear by the herbal supplement ashwagandha for keeping calm. I don’t drink coffee, as I find it too stimulating, but I’m enjoying WelleCo The Super Elixir in Blood Orange, £63, for a gentler morning boost. All this being said, I love having a pizza at home with my kids at the weekend.
Ageing is a journey that I’m grateful for. That might sound a bit naff, but I’m truly finding it wonderful. In my 20s I was thrust into presenting and felt like a rabbit in the headlights. Being a woman in sport, particularly in football, was almost viewed as controversial at the time, but thankfully some of those barriers are being broken down. At 48, I’m wiser and focusing on what I want to do, rather than being told what to do. I also educate myself about my body and really listen to it and respect it. I’m in the perimenopause and am fortunate enough to feel great, but am ready to ride whatever comes my way. I know myself now.
• Kirsty Gallacher (@gallacherkirsty) is on Smooth Radio on Saturdays from 1pm to 4pm and is an ambassador for Kinetica
