Reese Witherspoon - Beauty Icon

Style icon, red carpet favourite, Oscar-winning actress and mother-of-two, this month\'s beauty icon has crammed so much into her 31 years and, despite a hectic A-lifestyle and refusal to hire a nanny - \'People often ask me who my chef and nanny are and I say, "Me!" I love being a hands-on mother,\' - she still doesn\'t look a day over 16!

Read on to find out just some of the reasons we\'re crowning Reese Witherspoon a handbag Beauty Icon.

Bankable beauty

A southern debutante who started modelling at seven, Reese had made her first film The Man On The Moon at the tender age of 14 and, in 2005, secured her status as a Hollywood heavyweight and seriously bankable star by bagging the Best Actress Oscar for Walk The Line. Her latest movie, Rendition, is out now.

Despite many a nod of approval for both her acting and her stunning looks, Reese\'s feet have remained refreshingly firm on the ground: \'I feel like there\'s a race being run in Los Angeles for some unattainable goal,\' she says, \'To be the best, the skinniest, the most beautiful. I just admit that that\'s what I\'ll never be.\'

Red carpet wow

One place Reese always shines is the red carpet. Her fresh-faced, youthful glow and fun approach to both fashion and beauty means her pics regularly grace the ‘thumbs up\' pages of the press.

We loved her Golden Globes look earlier this year - one of her first red carpet appearances without Ryan Phillippe (the pair recently divorced), and the newly-single starlet knew how to make an impact with a fresh new look. Her locks were both longer and blonder, and the fringe (which she still sports now), was actually cut for the role in Rendition, but she loved it so much she decided to keep it. \'I felt like I looked different than I had ever looked,\' she says.

Shampoo secret

In fact, one of Reese\'s best features is without doubt her baby-blonde tresses. Her secret? She loves washing her hair with Johnson\'s Baby Shampoo (£1.89, available nationwide) to keep them soft and shiny

Glamorous locks

Leo Brancroft, handbag\'s resident hair expert, says ‘Reese\'s hair is always edging towards glamorous. Her gorgeous shade of blonde compliments her cool skin tone and is a fashion must this winter. Here (pictured) we see a natural bend and fringe creating softness and ease to the whole look. To create this, you need length and layers and a simple Velcro roller application and hairspray. Good luck!\'

Reese\'s skincare secrets

So how does Reese always manage to look so picture perfect? \'I just try to exercise, eat well, take care of myself and use a lot of sunscreen. Skincare and sun protection are the biggest things for me. That\'s about it,\' she says, \'I don\'t think about it too much. I\'m lucky to have other people who worry bout how I look. That\'s pretty nice!\'

\'[My make-up style is] quick!\' says the mum-of-two, \'I like to keep things quick and easy so I can be up and out in five minutes. I think you have to be when you have kids. You have to be ready to go all the time.\'

Reese for Avon

Reese has recently been signed up by Avon to be cover-girl and the first-ever global brand ambassador - a huge boost for the classic brand. In this newly-established role, Reese will also serve as the Honorary Chairman of the Avon Foundation, focusing on breast cancer, domestic violence and emergency relief initiatives.

‘I am very excited to be partnering with Avon.  Avon is more than an iconic world class beauty leader - it is a company that is known the world over as a crusader for women\'s causes,\' says Reese. \'I am truly impressed by how Avon has been able to effect real change in the communities in which it does business, and by how committed the company is to providing economic and personal fulfilment to women all over the world.  I feel a great responsibility in my own life to give back to society. Now, as the Honorary Chairman of the Avon Foundation, I am proud to be joining in the great philanthropic work that is already underway.\'

Reese - We salute you

So, an international cover-girl, an Oscar-winning actress and working mother who still finds time to make a difference, support charities and look non-stop stunning. I think that makes Reese more than worthy of our handbag Beauty Icon crown, don\'t you?

Reese Witherspoon, we salute you!

See our previous handbag beauty icons...
Kylie Minogue
Kate Moss