PRESS UPDATE : LUMITY .. JULY 29TH 2019 ..

Joan Collins reveals the secret to staying youthful

-JUL 29, JENNY PAUL, BEAUTY -

Dame Joan Collins is fabulous and we were delighted when we got a chance to chat to her last week at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Gala in Antibes, France where she was a guest of honour along with her TV producer husband Percy Gibson.

Looking radiant despite the soaring temperatures, the Dynasty star revealed her secrets to a happy marriage and looking fantastic.

When asked how she stays so vibrant and sparkling she laughed: “Have a young husband!”

Joan Collins on the key to a happy marriage

Discussing the secret to a happy marriage, Joan joked: “The secret to OUR marriage is separate bathrooms!”

We wondered about her friendship with man-of-the-night Elton and she said: “I’ve been friends with him for a very long time, for over forty years.”
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On what she was looking forward to at Elton’s gala, Joan said: “I’m looking forward to seeing Chris Martin, I think he’s rather great.” 

Joan has homes in the South of France, London, New York and Los Angeles although she says her favourite bedroom of all is at her home in the UK.

What Joan misses about London

When asked about what she misses about being away from home in London, she reeled off a list: “We’re not away from the UK that much but when I am I’ll tell you what I miss. I miss the papers, I miss London taxis, I miss the crappy weather.” 

Looking picture-perfect despite the stifling Cote d’Azur heat, Joan insists that one of her best beauty tips was gleaned from Marilyn Monroe’s make-up artist, and it’s free as well.

Joan Collins reveals her beauty secrets

She says: “My best tip before all events, I get a bowl of ice and cotton pads, place them on my eyes, lay down for five minutes and it works a treat.”

Joan also advises to use a layer of Vaseline smeared over teeth so lipstick doesn’t smear across your smile. She insists that it’s important not to get too stressed because it shows into your face and to wear SPF, a large sunhat and sunglasses in the sun but advises sitting in the shade. Joan adds that bed by 10pm and eating healthily are crucial if you want to look and feel great.

Collins might look fantastic but talking about her age is off bounds. Ageism is a subject that rightly irritates her and she feels it’s one of the last socially acceptable prejudices.

Why Joan Collins refuses to discuss her age

“People feel they can make fun of older people—even older people who look good,” she says. “You’re not supposed to say that someone has a big nose or frizzy hair or whatever. But you’re allowed to say, ‘She can hardly walk into the room!’”

The first-ever Elton John AIDS Foundation Midsummer Party hosted by Sir Elton John and David Furnish raised €5.5 million for the global effort to end AIDS. The star-studded gala was held on Wednesday, July 24th at Johnny Pigozzi’s beautiful Villa Dorane in Cap d’Antibes on the Côte d’Azur in the South of France.

Sir Elton John discusses his foundation

Speaking before the event, Elton told us: “I’m looking forward to everyone having a good time because they’ve paid an awful lot of money. We know that our expenses are very low and that we can raise a lot of money. We’re very grateful for Johnny Pigozzi for lending us his house and we’re going to have a great evening. It’s about raising money for people who need it and giving everybody here a fabulous time so they come back again. We decided to hold it in the South of France because we thought it would be nice to make a change. We usually have it at our house in Windsor, but this year I couldn’t because I was on tour. I was on tour during Wimbledon week which is when we usually have it so this year we decided to try and have it in the South of France and the response has been fantastic.”

David Furnish added: “We’ve had a home down here for twenty two years and it’s just a part of the world that we love. We come down here every summer. We have a lot of local friends and thought it would be great to have a party here.”