Life is full of surprises at every age.  I never would have thought I would have my own skincare range in my 60’s!  In my professional career, I’ve been many things – actor, singer, songwriter…And while I have always been very driven to find the best products and ingredients (because I’ve been in the spotlight since 15 and it’s been my job to look good), it never occurred to me that I would add beauty “entrepreneur” to my resume – especially at this stage in my life. 

It’s easy to sit back and ‘put our feet up’ once we’ve reached a certain age.  We think we’ve accomplished all we can and seen all we’re meant to see.  Too many people believe life has passed them by and lose their “lust” for life!  In the entertainment business, you must always be open to changes and opportunities as they present themselves.  I suppose that helped me when it came to creating my skin care line Time Bomb.  It has grown so much and I have added hair care, Operation Glam; body care, Bombshell Body and even my very own fragrance, called Time. My own journey shows that we can strive for new experiences and reinvent ourselves no matter our age . . .

A real ‘Eureka’ moment!

It all came about, as these things often do, through a complaint!!  I had been doing some interviews for a music project but it seemed to me that everyone just wanted to ask me about how I looked . . . and what my secrets were.  Well, flattering as that it (and it IS!!) I wanted the journalists to concentrate on my album.  ‘What would I tell them anyway’, I complained to a friend, ‘that I use my own little pots of cream that I’ve had made, and I mix and match from lots of different bottles like a crazy apothecary?’  My friend and I looked at each other as I said this and it was a real eureka moment!  We suddenly thought – why not?  Maybe I should share my secrets!  After all, I had worked for decades with some of the best skincare specialists, therapists, chemists, healers, dermatologists and hairdressers in the business.  And I listened and I learned.

And for years I had been using my own tailor made skincare.  I had this blended with the help of a very clever chemist called Joe Cincotta – and Joe very patiently mixed and matched potions according to my exacting requests.  Of course I had not considered sharing these pots let alone marketing them . . . and yet, so began a very exciting journey learning all about marketing, packaging, ingredients, retailers, margins, distributors, componentry, inci lists, stabilisation, clinical trials, point of sale, gifts with purchase – and so many new acronyms!  I was of course very familiar with R n’ B – but not POS, GWP, SKU, NPD…it was a whole new language.  It has grown so much and I have added hair care, Operation Glam; body care, Bombshell Body and even my very own fragrance, called Time.

Age should not be a Barrier to trying Something New

I have always been a great believer that we all get as much from life as we put in and this stays true no matter how young or old we are!  Age should not be a barrier to trying something new or shaking up your life . . . if we let it become a barrier, we miss out on opportunities.  I’ve learned throughout my life and my own personal experience that no-one is just one thing, we all have many sides and talents and can surprise ourselves.  If any of my band The Luvvers saw me poring over sales figures and drawing up plans for NPD (new product development!) I guess they would not recognize me . . .!  Yet I apply the same passion, attention to detail, hard work and focus that I have always applied to my music career – and am proud to be able to say I have a whole new career in my sixties!  Long may it continue!