Body & beauty

Interview with Elle Macpherson

Supermodel Elle Macpherson shares her beauty and wellness secrets

At 56, Elle Macpherson is still as stunning as ever (she’s not known as The Body for nothing, after all!). As well as a modelling career that stretches over more than 30 years, she’s earned herself credits in programmes such as Friends – remember Joey’s dancer roommate, Janine? – and hosted Britains’ Next Top Model. Now mum to sons Flynn and Cy, the Australian-born beauty has turned her hand to premium greens and ingestible beauty, founding WelleCo in 2014 as a result of her own personal wellness journey and discoveries. WelleCo’s carefully curated collection of beauty and wellness solutions is underpinned by Elle’s philosophy that, with wellness, you can live the life you’d only dreamed of living. I caught up with Elle to discuss the brand, her attitude to ageing andthe advice she’d give to her younger self.

Now is honestly the best time in my life. I’m happier in my 50s than I have ever been. I love being 56 – I’m strong, I’m fit, I have two amazing sons, and I’ve learnt a lot. I’m grateful that I’m as happy and as healthy as I am now. With age comes understanding, and right now I feel my most aligned – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. I don’t wake up feeling like this – I take time to learn and practice wellness protocols that fuel me to feel this way. By the time you reach your 50s, you realise that it’s about caring for your body and your vitality, so that you can do the things that you want to do. As I’ve matured, the most important thing has become balancing the ‘doing’ and ‘being’.

I’ve always been interested in wellness, but it was when I had my children that I started to have a different perspective on what it means to be well – this incredible change happens in your body. It’s like a natural miracle how your body accommodates life within it and then gives birth. I was watching my body evolve and wanted to learn more about how I could support it through life. I wanted to support my children too.

I’m a big believer in nurturing my inner environment – if I nourish my body with nutrients and daily wellness practices that support my energy, it shows on the outside. Through clean food, movement, sleep, meditation, gratitude, laughter and supplementing my nutritional intake with WelleCo’s collection (The Super Elixir, Nourishing Protein and Sleep Welle Calming Tea), I constantly find the benefits of wellness – improving the way I feel and look.

When I was in my 20s and 30s, I relied on genetics to stay in shape. My schedule was so busy that I didn’t even have time to sleep, let alone think about eating well, and I was able to keep going. But when I approached my 50s, I realised that what had worked before wasn’t working any longer. I felt uninspired and was lacking drive. Physically, I was run down, sleeping sporadically, I had sugar cravings and my digestion wasn’t working properly. My skin became dry and dull and my hair seemed fine and brittle. I went to see Dr Simone Laubscher, who introduced me to a plant-based diet and the importance of an alkaline body, reducing inflammation and increasing sleep. She helped formulate a super-greens powder and it changed my health completely. This became The Super Elixir. Through clean nutrition, sleep, meditation, gratitude and The Super Elixir, everything changed. I immediately found the benefits of wellness – exuding vitality, feeling alive, inspired and capable of making great choices – instead of “I can’t be bothered”. I wanted to share it with others, so WelleCo was born to do just that – bring everyone benefits in a simple routine – two teaspoons in water each day. How easy is that?

I recommend every product, but The Super Elixir is my non-negotiable – it’s the one that showed me how you can feel when you’re truly well. The Super Elixir is a blend of over 45 botanical herbs, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and probiotics. When you take it every day with water, the synergy of the ingredients nourishes at a cellular level. It produces beautiful, clear, glowing skin. It helps support your gut health and immune system function and gives a real vitality that you feel and it shows outwardly. Plus it tastes great!

I like being outdoors, so I’m more likely to go for a swim, ride my bike, hike, or play tennis than to work out in a gym. In saying that, I have started doing weight training for osteoporosis and have been loving it. I wouldn’t go without my weekly yoga class. I’ve come to understand the importance of fresh air, sunshine for vitamin D, movement – especially now. It’s good for your body, immune system and spirit. It’s also a great destress, as is meditation and quiet time to reflect, ground and centre yourself.

People may see me as strong and confident, but I’ve been through the same moments of nervousness and procrastination as the next person. You never know all the wonderful things in life that can happen when you trust that inner urge and take those first steps. But that’s what I did. I’ve learnt that business, like any journey, has its delights and disappointments. Having courage to follow your dreams and curiosities is important. When you find the inner stillness to sense what moves you, it gives you that ‘zing’ feeling – the signal to take the courage to act on it… that’s where the magic lies. Now I get to do it every day.

When you learn to trust and act on your inner voice, the magic happens. I wish I’d known when I was younger that nurturing and nourishment are what determines the quality of your life. Your experience is a result of your mental attitude and your emotional engagement in the world, as well as food and nutrition. It’s about the people you surround yourself with and the love you give and receive. I also wish I’d realised sooner the impact that nutrition can have. It genuinely can transform your life for the better.

Elle’s product picks

Welleco Nourishing Protein Chocolate, £28

Welleco Super Elixir Greens Original, £62.50

Welleco Super Elixir Greens Lemon and Ginger, £62.50

All available from welleco.co.uk

WelleCo is committed to empowering you to own your wellness journey. Naturally. To find out more, visit welleco.co.uk or follow the brand on Instagram @WelleCo