Writing for The Independent about beauty journalism and ageing

Ahead of the publication of Turn Back Time, I wrote a piece for The Independent reflecting on my early years as a beauty journalist and the language the industry has traditionally used around ageing.

While researching the novel, I found myself rereading some of my older articles and thinking differently about the way women, ageing and visibility were often discussed. The piece explores some of those reflections, as well as how attitudes around beauty culture have shifted over the years.

Many of the themes I explored in the article also sit at the heart of Turn Back Time, which follows a middle-aged beauty journalist navigating identity, reinvention and society’s obsession with youth. Thank you to Radhika Sanghani and The Independent for the commission.