How Davina McCall, 55, looks younger now than she did in her 20s – and it includes a £2 snack on sale at Asda
WHENEVER Davina McCall is on our television screens with her bubbly personality and infectious smile, there’s no doubt she’s going to light it up.
But the other thing that is pretty much guaranteed is that she’ll have you asking the question – ‘how does she look younger than ever?’
Davina, 55, has been presenting TV shows since 1994, and she is best known for hosting nine series of Big Brother, as well as The Million Pound Drop, The Jump on Channel 4, as well as Long Lost Family and starring as a judge in The Masked Singer on ITV.
But this year, she’s back on the box with ITV’s new dating show My Mum, Your Dad, all eyes are on her once again.
Despite being on screens for nearly 30 years, Davina has managed to completely defy her age.
So just how does the glossy-haired mum-of-three, who recently wowed in a plunging black jumpsuit at the National Television Awards, do it?
The down-to-earth star has been very open throughout her career about embracing her age and, in her own words, “growing old disgracefully”.
So here, we reveal some of Davina’s most foolproof anti-ageing secrets – from skincare to exercise and everything in between…
SKINCARE
She may look at least a decade younger than her age, but Davina has revealed she’s relatively fuss-free when it comes to her skincare and make-up.
In a video posted on her YouTube channel, Davina revealed her morning routine to her fans – and you’ll be pleased to hear it’s not full of expensive lotions and potions you can’t afford.
Instead, Davina swears by Garnier’s Micellar water, which can be bought in supermarkets and the high street from £5.
She said: “It’s to cleanse and it’s very soothing but the big thing is it takes off make-up brilliantly.
“At my age, I don’t want to be scrubbing and forcing make-up to come off,” she said as she followed her cleansing up with a toner by Dr Frances Prenna Jones called Formula 2006.
She said: “It’s quite a strong toner as I have oily skin and I have quite a lot of open pores, so it needs quite a stringent toner.”
She then said her skincare ritual is completed by Garnier’s “luxurious” Ultra-lift night cream – which she applies both day and night. She then applies SPF50 all over.
MAKE-UP
Davina has also previously delved into her make-up bag, as she revealed she’d started using her friend Trinny Woodall’s range – Trinny London – and was blown away by many of the products.
These included the brand’s BFF De-Stress cream (£39) – a tinted serum – which Davina said was “so nice as it’s so light but at the same time, it gives me enough coverage.”.
She said she also often favours a fresh-faced look, opting for a simple coating of mascara and Clinique’s Chubby stick lipsticks, with a small amount of blush.
HAIR
Ever since she became an ambassador for Garnier, Davina’s luscious locks have become a trademark part of her image – and something that can give her an instant lift.
She explained to My Menopause Centre: “Good hair, for me, is a real confidence boost.
“Like putting on a bit of lippy, if my hair looks good then I feel good and just on it.”
She also shared that ever since she first started going grey aged 25, she has been dying her locks – but she doesn’t always go to a fancy salon.
Davina continued: “I will occasionally have my hair coloured on a shoot, but it does surprise people that I really do colour my hair myself at home.”
And when it comes to the secret of her fizz-free do, her hair stylists in the past have revealed it’s because she never allows her hair to air dry and instead favours a blow dry with a good brush.
FITNESS
Davina has become almost synonymous with exercise, having become the undisputed Queen of the fitness DVD.
And with countless releases under her belt – plus her own company called Own Your Goals – Davina regularly opens up about the importance of moving her body, explaining why she’s an advocate for everyone working out whenever they can.
And while many people rely on other anti-ageing secrets, Davina maintains that her active lifestyle is her number one trick.
She previously said: “Exercise is the key to youth. I think it puts a spring in your step that I think I would have lost if I didn’t exercise.”
But what do her workouts consist of?
Exercise is the key to youth
Davina McCall
Davina explained: “I get asked all the time, ‘oh do you exercise all the time?’ – who has got time to exercise all the time?!”
Instead, Davina said her weekly routine consists of morning brisk dog walks, runs, Pilates and boxing classes, plus her ten minute arm workouts, which you can find on the Toned in 10 section of her website OYG.
And she hasn’t listened to those who say she shouldn’t weight train.
She previously stated: “People say you shouldn’t be weight training in your seventies – rubbish! It’s great for osteoporosis. You know, you shouldn’t let anybody tell you what you should and shouldn’t do.”
But her other top tip? When you wake up, put your sportswear on straight away as it means it’s more likely to motivate you to workout at some point that day.
DIET
Davina might be a picture of pure health, but that hasn’t always been the case. She fought anorexia as a teenager then became a cocaine, heroin and alcohol addict for six years.
Speaking about her eating disorder, Davina previously recalled: “I thought I was ugly and fat. I missed my mum, felt confused, so stopped eating for attention.”
And as for her addiction, she told the Sunday People: “I’ll definitely never be recovered. I love going to my AA meetings and don’t think I will ever stop.”
Davina is over 25 years clean, and follows a very healthy eating regime, having previously admitted she’d cut sugar from her diet.
She told Hello!: “I try not to goad the sugar bear. I’m not being all holier than thou by cutting out refined sugar, I’m just trying to help myself because once I start, I can’t stop.”
So what does she eat instead? The former Big Brother host said she starts her day with a cup of tea with collagen, namely the powdered bovine collagen or “marine collagen by Ancient and Brave, £22″.
Her breakfast is typically granola and milk – or if she’s feeling naughty a crumpet – followed by a hearty lunch.
She previously explained: “I try to have my main meal at lunch. So usually something like pasta, or a courgetti, or eggs with something.”
“I always use Philadelphia Light (which is currently on offer for £2 in Asda) because it gets that really nice, creamy taste, but obviously it’s lighter so it’s a much better option. I literally put it in almost anything. If I’m making a tomato sauce, I put a teaspoon in there.”
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Finally, dinner is likely something like “meat and potatoes.”. But the key to her healthy eating is mixing it up.
Davina said: “I might have a salad with some of the meat. Likewise, if I’m doing a roast chicken, they might have chips, but I’ll just have the chicken on a salad with some avocado, or another kind of crunchy vegetable I can find.”
If you or anyone you know is suffering with an eating disorder, Beat’s helpline is open 24/7. Or if you need help and advice for drug and alcohol addition, the NHS website has guidance.
RELATIONSHIP
Ask Davina what her top anti-ageing secret is, and it’s very likely that she’ll respond with a simple but effective tip.
“Smile more,” she has said many times in the past. “When you’re smiling, no one really cares about your lines and wrinkles. Smile as much as you can.”
And one thing that certainly seems to have her grinning from ear to ear at the moment is her love life.
After putting her split with husband Matthew Robertson behind her, Davina met and fell head over heels for hairdresser boyfriend Michael Douglas.
Since, the pair – who have their own podcast together – have gone from strength to strength and he’s been her plus one to numerous glitzy VIP events, including the recent NTAs.
Previously opening up about their relationship, she said: “You have to find that person who is the ying to your yang.
“Michael and I are brilliant friends and a relationship based in friendship is a brilliant start.”
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