The Joan You Haven't Seen Before

In her new book 'The Art of Living Well: Looking Good, Feeling Great', famed actress Joan Collins reveals her personal, lifelong tips, tricks and philosophies for making the most of your looks, your career and your life.

Joan Collins Living Well

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Joan on Aging

"More and more bright, intelligent, and attractive women are marrying and having relationships with men who are ten, twenty, and even thirty years their junior. Many of them say they've never been happier, and I have to say, I agree."

Joan on Dieting

"I weigh myself every morning and if I've gained a couple of pounds, I watch what I eat carefully. Disciplined? Sure I am, but in our fast-food, additive-added, food-obsessed society, no one ever said staying slim was easy."

Joan on Fitness

"By the way, exercise techniques have changed a great deal over the years. It used to be 'no pain, no gain' or 'feel the burn,' but not anymore. Regular and reasonably gentle exercise is much more beneficial and there's far less reason to pull a muscle or tendon."

Joan on Hairstyles

"Have a decent cut, but watch your hairdresser while he (or she) is cutting your hair. Hairdressers love scissors and not that many of them are real experts in the art of cutting."

Joan on Make-Up

"I'm not going to tell you what particular brands to buy. To me, they're basically all the same, only the prices, bottles and containers are different...I know that a department store eyebrow pencil can be purchased for far less at a chain store... so why pay those inflated prices?"

Joan on Clothes

"Your clothes reflect who you are and what you think of yourself. Keep them clean, pressed, neat, and tidy, and they don't have to cost a fortune, either. Dress well. It doesn't have to be a chiffon cocktail gown -- you can look just as good in well-cut trousers and a simple shirt."

Joan on Saying No

"You must appreciate yourself enough to say "no" when you want to, to get that word in, even if you think you're being rude -- and not feel guilty about it, then or later. Guilt is the most useless emotion we can feel, and it probably was invented by bossy boutique salespersons."

Joan on Sex

"Activity is the key to staying youthful in body, mind and spirit. Regular quality sex stimulates the release of endorphins, which are feel-good chemicals produced by the brain (chemicals contained in chocolate stimulate their release, too.) It can make you feel and look terrific and energized, too."

Joan on Entertaining

"...my final word on entertainment comes from my friend Sue Mengers, who applies the 'if they don't invite you after you've invited them, don't ask them back again' principle... However, there are certain allowances I make for friends who perhaps can't afford to entertain, but at least make the effort to telephone and check in regularly."

Joan on Parenting

"I honestly believe that discipline is the key to raising a happy, well-adjusted child who has respect for others. You have to be cruel sometimes to be kind, as my parents used to tell me as they stopped me stuffing sweets in my mouth before lunch."

Joan Collins, Living Well

The foregoing is adapted from 'The Art of Living Well: Looking Good, Feeling Great' by Joan Collins, Copyright 2006 by Joan Collins. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission from Source Books.

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