'She's been married to one of the world's biggest rock stars, U2's Bono, for 28 years, but Ali Hewson's complexion bares no evidence of a rock royalty lifestyle. Quite the contrary. In fact, the raven-haired Irish beauty is the perfect poster girl for her natural luxury skincare range, Nude, which she co-founded with eco-entrepreneur Bryan Meehan. Stocked exclusively at Mecca Cosmetica in Australia, the products utilise naturally derived active ingredients such as probiotics, omega fatty acids and milk peptides to stimulate cellular renewal, and have several celebrity fans, including Helena Christensen.
To extend their work in developing nations, Bono and Hewson founded Edun ('nude' spelt backwards), a fashion label that encourages trade in third world countries and has collaborated with Louis Vuitton. Here, Hewson shares her beauty secrets.
V: Have you always been interested in skincare?
AH: It felt like a natural progression from the clothing, to think about what you're putting on your skin. It's an organ, and parabens and all of those nasty things are being absorbed into your body.
V: What's your philosophy when it comes to skin?
AH: It's like your body: question what you're doing and give it the best, safest and most natural that you can. It's a whole picture: what foods you're eating, what vitamins you're taking, and hydration is very, very important.
V: Why has NUDE been so successful?
AH: It's a bit like organic clothing. People's image of organic clothing is that it's boring with no design but with Edun our one priority is that we would have a serious designer and it be beautiful. It's not just that they're organic or made fairly, but they're beautiful clothes. It's the same with the skin, it's not just about producing an organic body cream but having active ingredients that stimulate your skin.
V: You have a new serum, Advanced Cellular Renewal Serum. Why did you come out with that?
AH: You need a serum in the winter under moisturiser for additional protection and an extra boost to the skin. My daughter (Memphis Eve) who's 19, has been using it and she loves it. I test all of my products on my daughters; they're my toughest critics. They tell it like it is.
V: You've got excellent skin. What do you use?
AH: I use lots of NUDE. In winter I layer the Replenishing Night Oil with the Age Defence Moisturiser as an extra kick. The Miracle Mask is great once or twice a week. It brightens your skin and is great before you put makeup on.
V: What's in your makeup bag?
AH: I use Clarins Tinted Moisturser, Chanel powder blush, Maybelline Lash Stiletto and MAC black eyeliner. And I love the Annick Goutal perfume Eau d'Hadrien.
V: What about hair?
AH: I use Moroccanoil to get the frizziness out, and there's a new brush by Shu Uemura- it completely tames your hair.
V: How do you relax?
AH: I hang out with the kids. And I love yoga; I do it two or three times a week.
V: Do you take supplements?
AH: All of the classics: vitamin C, D, omegas. I have a friend who's a doctor and says I might as well pour them down the toilet but I don't agree with him. I feel they're very important to your everyday health and energy levels.
V: What about your diet?
AH: We eat organic as much as possible. It's more important to buy less and buy well when it comes to food. I think our children are stronger and healthier because of it.
V: What are you most proud of?
AH: My children. I think raising children is the most important thing you can do. We've been very lucky growing up in Ireland: they've not been in the spotlight.'