This is what 62 looks like: Former air hostess reveals her tips for staying youthful

  • Lesley Lyle, from the New Forest, says she makes sure to stay out of the sun 
  • The mother-of-three says the right hair parting can really freshen up a look
  • She says that every time she buys an outfit, she buys a scarf to go with it 

By FLORENCE SCORDOULIS FOR THE DAILY MAIL

Published: | Updated:

Lesley Lyle lives in the New Forest with her partner, Iain. She has three children and four grandchildren. 

After a 40-year career as an air hostess, she has retrained to be a psychologist.

FIVE-STAR SKIN

I used to love tanning. However, this all changed after a chance encounter in First Class, 15 years ago. A French dermatologist confessed that his job was repairing sun-damaged skin — if we didn’t sunbathe, he’d be out of work! Since then, I stay out the sun and apply Clinique SPF 40 Face Cream (£18, lookfantastic.com) daily.

Lesley Lyle, 62, says she makes sure to stay out of the sun and applies suncream daily 

Lesley Lyle, 62, says she makes sure to stay out of the sun and applies suncream daily 

PERFECT PARTING

The right parting can really freshen up a look. However, you must find something that works for you — your face shape, natural parting and hair type. Ask a good hairdresser: I’d tried middle, side and a fringe, then changed salons five years ago and finally found that a slightly off-centre parting best flatters my round face.

SCARF RULE

Every time I buy a new outfit, I buy a scarf to go with it. In the past decade, I’ve built a collection of 50: my favourite is a bright paisley silk one from Liberty — it cost £150, but I’d much rather spend money on expensive scarves than jewellery. They make a real statement and are useful for covering the neck — which is such a giveaway of age.

COMIC RELIEF

Stress is very ageing: I find laughter classes a great way to build resilience. Laughing helps lower anxiety-causing cortisol levels, while releasing feel-good endorphins. The class helps you practise laughing for no reason: a strategy which can help you better handle difficult real-life situations. For example, if I’m stuck in a traffic jam, I always choose to laugh!

DESIGNER RETIREMENT

Learning keeps me young: I can’t imagine ever fully retiring — my mum was still working at 80. So when I had to stop flying, I re-created the same fulfilment in multiple jobs. As I went part-time, I studied for a masters and graduated at 59. I now lecture, practise hypnotherapy and have even written a book.

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