In our new sequence, Bazaar’s multiplatform magnificence director speaks to inspirers within the public eye concerning the rituals and routines that work for them. Here, Bridget March meets the celebrated British TV presenter Cat Deeley who discusses the tradition of wellness – and the well being recommendation she’d give her younger self.
West Bromwich-born Cat Deeley – a tv presenter lauded because the ‘90s, whether here or in Hollywood – has a very practical approach to her wellbeing. “I don’t like the fact that women are force-fed wellness,” she tells me. “I don’t think it’s a ‘one size fits all’ factor.” For her, self-care would possibly appear to be cryotherapy chambers, infrared saunas and vitamin injections, or it would imply studying {a magazine}, consuming a espresso and double cleaning. “I think you have to find exactly what suits you – and quiet the external voices. We’re pushed these different regimes that are incredibly complicated, incredibly time-consuming, and incredibly expensive, but fundamentally we’re set up to fail – because you can’t do it all.”
What works for her – as a busy mom of two young boys – is “taking little pockets of time” every time she will, whether or not that’s for her skincare (she’s the wonder ambassador for Ella & Jo Cosmetics – which exhibits as she beams at me, make-up free through Zoom), home yoga exercises, well being check-ups, or “baby Botox” top-ups. Below, the 47-year-old outlines her wise self-care philosophy, and the routines and rituals that help it.
On what she’s learnt about well being and wellness…
“As I’m getting older – which is a privilege; we all get older, if we’re lucky! – I’m backing my health with science.
“When I got into LA [on her current work trip] I first went to see my doctor to have blood work done. There’s a test that you can have done in the States called The Galleri to detect over 50 different types of cancer before you even have any symptoms, which is amazing.
“The advice I would give my younger self is not to get caught up in the noise and the fads. Back it in science. I think the more we can learn from people who have knowledge to impart and aren’t just into a money-making exercise, the better it is for us.”
On the self-care investments that work for her…
“At the moment I’m loving an infrared sauna. It feels as though it detoxes your system, but it also soothes any aches and pains that you’ve got. Quite often I’ll do cryotherapy after that. I can’t do cold water swimming or ice baths – but I love cryo.
“I sometimes have vitamin injections, like B12 for when I travel, and biotin for my hair which changed after I had my boys – the shots are amazing; they’ve helped thicken it back up again.
“I do mesotherapy with Dr. Joney de Souza and “baby Botox” with Dr. Frances Prenna Jones to eliminate the deep frown line between my eyebrows. I’ve obtained to have the ability to transfer my face, so we simply deal with that.”
On her morning routine…
“I’ll start with skincare, using the Ella & Jo Brighten & Glow Exfoliating Cleanser, then apply the Hydrating Hyaluronic Serum onto my face, neck and décolletage, and then the Plump & Protect Hydrating Day Cream with SPF30 over my 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. So with the day cream having SPF already in it, I don’t have to think about it.
“Then I’ll always try and do some yoga. If I do a heavy workout, I feel terrible for about two days and can’t walk up and down stairs! 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.
“I put on some of my unisex fragrance oil, E11even, when I do yoga, but I could equally wear it if I was going out for dinner with Paddy [Patrick Kielty, her husband, the comedian and presenter]. It relaxes, it energises, it grounds, it uplifts… it does whatever you need it to do in that moment in time. And if you like it, you love it! I’ve had taxi drivers ask what I’m wearing and people stop me on the street. Even at the Brit Awards once, 50 Cent was like, ‘what’s that?!’”
On her day by day weight loss plan…
“In the morning, I like a celery, cucumber, lemon and ginger juice. I often batch make it and keep it in Mason jars in the fridge for when I’m in a rush.
“A Mediterranean diet suits me. I like a little bit of everything – predominantly fruits and vegetables and a bit of protein – but I love French bread, red wine and a 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 her night routine…
“I love to take a bath with Epsom salts if I’ve got time. I think that’s really helpful. And then I just try and slow down a bit, whether that’s by having a tea and reading a magazine or book. I love a good book! I’m reading Normal People at the moment – it’s one that passed me by at the time but I decided I’m not going to watch the TV show before I’ve read the book.
“For my evening skincare routine, 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. First, I use the Ella & Jo Melt The Day Away Cleansing Balm and take it off with the cleansing mitt. And then I use the Brighten and Glow Hydrating Exfoliating Cleanser, which leaves my skin looking brighter and smoother. I then use the Hydrating Hyaluronic Serum and the Relax & Renew Night Cream.
“I’m a terrible sleeper. I start making a to-do list in my head – and to begin with, it’s useful, but then it disappears into this abyss of inane chatter, and in comes all those things that you worry about, but that you can’t do anything about! I try everything to help it and sometimes things work, sometimes they don’t.”
Cat Deeley and husband Patrick Kielty
On desirous to reside more healthy for longer…
“When I was younger, I used to put off health checks, thinking, ‘I don’t want to know.’ I feel as you get older and you have more life experience, you suddenly realise knowledge is power. The more I know, and the earlier I know it, the better. So I have my blood work done, I do my check-ups, and I talk to my doctors.
“I want to live healthier for longer. I say this to my boys all the time: ‘I’m your mum. I’m going to embarrass you forever!’. I intend to try and stick around for as long as possible.”
