Twiggy reveals her top beauty secrets

If you remember the 60s, you'll know that sartorial regime changes occurred at eye-blinking speed. One week it was all Dusty Springfield beehives and stilettos, the next, Mary Quant bobs and Hush Puppies. Then, just as we were getting our heads around the new essential Mod blow-drying skills (a challenge after curlers under the hood), along came Twigs in that iconic Leonard crop - and the world had shifted again.

Forty-something years on, Twiggy is still showing us baby boomers a trick or two. A national treasure credited with boosting the fortunes of that other national treasure, M&S, her Collection for Littlewoods Direct is to die for and her book, Twiggy: A Guide To Looking And Feeling Fabulous Over Forty, is the grown-up girl's ultimate style bible. ‘Ageing doesn't mean waving goodbye to style and individuality,' she says. ‘You have to find what suits you. But you must not get caught in a time warp.'

Nevertheless, that soulful Twiggy face of '66 is everywhere again - not least on M&S bags. As the first supermodel to gain her Freedom Pass this year, is it strange to be stalked by her teenage self? ‘I'm not the type to look back and regret,' she says firmly. ‘That look launched me. I'm fond of her, but it would be frightening if I looked like that now!' Pause for an explosion of raucous laughter and a full-beam grin that would never have done back then.

‘Now I'm really grown-up, I've learned that every woman has something special and unique that she can bring out and enhance,' she continues. ‘You don't want to be mutton dressed as lamb, but you don't need to be an old frump, either. It's about finding the middle ground.' When a look works - and you love it - Twiggy's strategy is to stick with it. Why betray your personality?

Tips for hair

Take hair, for example. ‘No grey yet, but I've been blonde since I was 16 and I'm not brave enough to step out of that comfort zone,' she admits. And the older, shorter rule? ‘Sorry, but it's crap. I like softness round my jawline so I tried a shorter, wispy cut about eight years ago. But it was so much harder to look after,' she recalls. ‘Now I have longer layers, I can zhoosh it up, put it up, or wear a ponytail. And I'd find it difficult to lose my fringe now. It's better than Botox!'

Experiment with makeup

Her lifelong love affair with make-up won't end any time soon, either. ‘I'm still experimenting. Wherever I
am in the world, I check out their slap. Make-up can take years off you. In general, less is more, but I go to town on my eyes,' she says.

Looks for eyes

What about her trademark Twiggy eyes? ‘Although I've adapted the colours, I've done the same basic shape for 20 years. I could probably do it with my eyes shut.' Back in the Sixties, it would take her a full 90 minutes to paint on her signature, spiky lash look. Now she bungs on the lot in under 10. But the no-make-up look? Nah. Why give up the fun? ‘It's like clothes,' she says. ‘You see colours you like, so you find a way to make them work for you.'

Twiggy's fashion choices

Yet there's an ever-so slight seam of conservatism in her wardrobe.‘My big fear is being overdressed,' she confesses. ‘I've never worn frilly overtly low-cut dresses.' For easy glamour, tuxedos and trousers are favourites. ‘Tailored jackets and trousers make a simple, successful look,' she says. ‘And of course the timeless little black dress - simple but always chic.'

What's the best idea she's hit on recently? ‘Hold-in panties!' she grins. ‘If you're wearing anything snug, they're fantastic. All the girls wear them on the M&S shoots because they give you a smooth line - no VPL.' Gripper knickers? Twiggy?

Her exercise routine

She works out, too - ideally, alternate mornings of Pilates, Power Plate and tap dancing, which she's kept up since learning it for Ken Russell's 1969 film The Boy Friend. Will we see her on Strictly Come Dancing? Actually, she's turned it down twice. ‘It's a fabulous show. I love watching it, but I don't like anything competitive - I'd rather stick pins in my eyes,' she shrieks.

Three beauty aids she can't live without

Moisturiser

My skin is terribly dry. When I did Desert Island Discs, moisturiser was my luxury, because if Leigh came to rescue me and I was like an old prune, he might sail off!

YSL Touche Éclat

I stock up at the airport. It's one of my make-up staples. And in photographs it's great because it reflects the light. When we're younger, dark circles can look cute and mysterious, but you can't get away with it post-40.

Frozen peas

If I wake up with puffy eyes, they're the easiest remedy. But anything cold takes the puffiness down. When I'm travelling, I use cans out of the hotel minibar.

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