Cream

A DIY face pack made from the simplest of ingredients.

Before Hamish Bowles, the super-stylish European editor of American Vogue, had the means to buy the products of Crème de la Mer and celebrity facialist Tracie Martyn, he would make his own skin-treatment product. “It was some very basic face pack that you’d apply and wait for it to dry and then wash it off and voilà! – skin like a baby’s bottom,” says Hamish.

Since he had forgotten the exact recipe, he kindly tracked down his mother in Goa to see if she could remember. And indeed, Anne Bowles responded promptly via e-mail: “Hi Darling. Yes, I do remember it was egg white & honey. Whisk one egg white until frothy, then add 1 teaspoon of honey slowly while still beating. Slap liberally around face & neck. It will set, like a meringue, so keep face still. Leave on for twenty minutes. Be prepared to scare all visitors. Wash off with warm water.” In her e-mail Ms. Bowles also mentions that she was having such a good time in Goa, with lots of visits to Panjim, jazz concerts, friends coming and going, and lovely cooling winds every early morning, with nights having a slight nip to them. She has never used her son’s eggy wrinkle remedy herself, as she was perfectly happy with her Oil of Olay and Nivea products.