What was it that made you a beauty junkie?
Because it's fun and ultra-feminine, and fascinating and ultimately doesn't matter...
How did you get into beauty?
Chance: I was at Harpers & Queen in about 1990 and Sally O'Sullivan the editor sent me off to Paris to do a piece on the launch of the new Givenchy fragrance Amarige.
What 1 piece of advice would you give to women trying to break into this industry?
Do your homework: never just read the press releases. Go out and find new things. Remember a lot of your readers will have very little money but still want to play the beauty game. That's 3!
What item should every woman have in her beauty kit?
A balm.
You have to leave the house in just 5 minutes - what do you do to your face?
Tinted moisturiser, gel blush, mascara one coat, eyebrow pencil, lip gloss. (That's pretty well all I ever do...)
What's your best beauty habit?
Drinking water.
And your worst?
Working too hard.
What skincare tips and tricks do you swear by?
Always taking moisturiser up from my bosom, via my neck to my hairline, massaging as I go. Drinking lots of water. Not drinking lots of coffee. Sleeping. Exercising a lot in the fresh air with my four horses. Feeling joyful.
What is your ultimate beauty no-no?
Dark lipliner that shows up againt pale laminated lipstick.
What's your signature scent?
Mitsouko by Guerlain
Which beauty product could you not live without?
Lippie.
What's your one beauty indulgence?
Sun Chlorella green food supplement: makes my skin fantastic.
Who are your beauty icons?
Carmen dell'Orefice because she's funny, 77 and divinely graceful. Audrey Hepburn because she's funny, charming and knew that beauty came from inside.
What was your worst beauty moment/disaster?
Years of spots, on my face and back.
What's your favourite pick-me-up?
Watermelon whizzed in a blender, cut with sparkling water, a squeeze of lime, and a sprig of mint.
What's your biggest achievement?
Looking after my four horses.
How would you like to be remembered?
As a kind person.
Sum up your latest book Green Beauty Bible in a sentence...
The book about green glamour that Jo and I have passionately wanted to write for years.
What's in your handbag right now?
A fold-up umbrella, my purse and wallet, a lip gloss, small hairbrush, tickets for the concert I'm going to tonight in Cotleigh, East Devon. (I have just turned it out...)
The Green Beauty Bible is available to buy now!
Click here for our interview with Sarah's partner in crime Jo Fairley...
