How Lulu still looks fabulous at 75, from her skincare 'golden rule' to refusing to take lifts

Release time：2024-05-07 22:50:49 Source：Culture Capsule news portal

She may have shot to fame for her hit song 'Shout' in 1964 - but Lulu recently revealed that she'll do anything but that before midday. 

In an interview with the BBC, the star, 75, from Glasgow, confessed that she won't utter a word before noon while she's touring.

Lulu- who is about to embark on her final ever tour - said: 'I try not to come out of my room until 12. It makes it easier. I take care of my instrument. It allows me to sing.' 

But this isn't the only lifestyle quirk Lulu Kennedy-Cairns has developed during her 60 years in the spotlight. 

The legendary musician has barely aged a day in the past decade - and has previously revealed some of the secrets that keep her looking so youthful. 

Lulu, 75, (pictured in 2011) is about to embark on her final ever tour after over 60 years in the spotlight

Lulu pictured in a bikini in the early years of her career. The singer shot to fame with 'Shout' in 1964

From her skincare 'golden rule' to avoiding lifts, here FEMAIL reveals Lulu's underrated anti-ageing secrets.

'Stay Slim Strategy' 

Over the years, Lulu has developed a 'stay slim strategy', which she shared with You Magazine in 2010. 

Firstly, the singer - who shares one son with ex-husband John Frieda -  said that she has adopted a 'never say never' approach to her diet but avoids eating pasta where possible.

She explained: 'Like most carbohydrate foods, I’ve found it makes me feel sluggish and isn’t great for my blood sugar. But I never say never. 

'If I’m going out with my sister for a special occasion – like my birthday – then a big bowl of steaming pasta is a huge comfort-food treat.'

Instead, the star has made a conscious effort to 'train herself' to enjoy vegetables and protein.

She said: 'I know that’s what my body responds to best.' 

Lulu pictured performing on stage with Jools Holland at The Globe Theatre in County Durham in November 2021

Over the years, Lulu (pictured in the 1960s) has developed a 'stay slim strategy', which she shared with You Magazine in 2010

Lulu continued: 'In the same way, I try to pass up the bread basket. If I have a little mid-afternoon snack before going out to dinner – maybe a slice of chicken with some mustard or salsa – then I find it’s much easier to just say no because I’m not ravenous when the bread comes around.

'Because, if I’m really hungry and the first course takes ages, I’m going to want to fill up on bread.'

Not having chocolate at home 

Later on in the interview, Lulu admitted that she is a chocoholic and used to love the milk variety when she was growing up before moving to dark.

She said: 'When you crave chocolate, go for the dark stuff. I’ve read that it is packed with antioxidants, so I can tell myself that it’s doing me good, and just a square or two is satisfying because it gives you a big cocoa ‘hit’ without all the fat and sugar. 

Lulu pictured at her home in the 1970s. The singer shares one son with ex-husband celebrity hairdresser John Frieda

'Having said that, I don’t generally keep it in the house – if I do, I swear it calls my name from behind the larder door!'

However, the star says she doesn't deny herself desserts - but simply asks for multiple spoons for sharing.

She added: 'You don’t need dessert after a meal. But you do usually crave a teeny little sweet palate-cleansing something… So, order one between you, and share!' 

Skincare 'Golden Rule' 

In 2010, Lulu opened up about how she's been taking extra care of her hands as she gets older in a bid to stay looking younger.

Writing for You Magazine, she explained: 'Hands can be an instant age giveaway. So my ritual is to make sure that whatever TLC I give to my face, my hands benefit too. 

Lulu (pictured in the 1960s) opened up about how she's been taking extra care of her hands as she gets older in a bid to stay looking younger in 2010

'It’s a golden rule for me: whatever I’m applying to my face, I use the ‘leftovers’ on my hands: face cream, masks, facial oil. 

'If there’s so much as a smidgen left over, I smooth it into hands and especially into my cuticles. I also keep hand cream by the sink – but don’t stop with hand cream. 

'Any rich, emollient oil or cream can do the trick. If you’re cooking, smooth some of the cooking oil into your hands. Or even butter!

'And if you’re applying cream to a baby’s skin, lavish some extra on your hands at the same time. It’s the perfect way to keep them soft and smooth as, yes, a baby’s bottom!'

Instead of just roughly rubbing in hand cream, Lulu - who previously had her own skincare range called 'Time Bomb' - explained: 'Apply it carefully to the backs of your hands and down your arms as if you were pulling on a pair of tight gloves, really working it into your skin in smooth, gliding movements.' 

Always having room temperature water at hand 

What's more, the star says she keeps trim and fights cravings by always having a bottle of water on the go.

In 1984, Lulu released her Shape Up and Dance exercise instruction album (pictured on the cover)

'Shout' singer Lulu arrives for the MOBO Awards 2004 at the Royal Albert Hall in central London

She explained to You: 'I always keep plenty of bottled (or filtered) water in bottles at room temperature – not cold, because I don’t like it chilled. 

'I have trained myself to drink water; it’s not the most delicious thing in the world, but I know it’s good for me. It helps keep me filled up between meals, but I don’t drink it with food. 

Dance and exercise

When she shot to fame at 15, Lulu incorporated dance into her performance style, which she still keeps up in her 70s.

Lulu pictured arriving for the Capital Gold Legends Awards at Hilton London Metropole in central London in September 2003

In 1984, she released her Shape Up and Dance exercise instruction album.  

Speaking to the Mail in 2012, she added: 'My favourite thing is a dance class, and I try to do that three to four times a week. 

'Sometimes my knee hurts — I smashed it in a car crash 30 years ago and the wear and tear catches up.'

The star also told the Daily Record in 2008 that she will always choose to get additional steps in where possible too.

She added: 'I can't stop running around. I always run up the stairs rather than taking the lift.'

Lets herself off the hook on holiday 

Lulu poses in a black swimming costume while on holiday at the age of 71. The star has previously said she relaxes her diet and exercise rules during getaways

Lulu pictured in the 1960s around the time her song 'Shout' was released. The star is preparing for the farewell tour

In order to stay so disciplined with her diet and exercise throughout the year, Lulu says she gives herself chances to indulge in what she loves.

She explained to You: 'On holiday I let myself off the hook completely. That’s not to say I pig out, but I do let my hair down a little – no matter how good my intentions are when I leave home. 

'I was in Greece on holiday not long ago and ate a lot of Greek salads, and I certainly didn’t tell the waiters to hold the feta cheese! But the key is to realise it’s a holiday from your real life, and from normality – and then you pick up where you left off when you get home. 

'If you’ve put on a little weight, it’ll come off again once you’re back to normal.'

Following speculation that she was considering quitting touring, Lulu told the Rosebud podcast in February: 'I'm announcing it for the first time now - this is my farewell tour.'

She has promised to make the concerts - starting on April 9 in Glasgow and ending at the London Palladium - memorably different, with family and famous friends appearing at the shows and a number likely to perform with her on stage.

On her final series of gigs she added to the BBC: 'To be honest with you, if when I was 15 years old and someone would have suggested I'd be doing a farewell tour when I'm 75, I'd have said "You are having a laugh."

'You almost need an army to go on the road and I don't want to do it like this anymore.'

The tour is also expected to include conversation about her career.

Although not wanting to give precise details away, she guaranteed her fans they will hear her 1969 Eurovision Song Contest winning hit 'Boom Bang-a-Bang'.

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