Pop stars rarely forge successful second acts. Then there’s Victoria Beckham, who transitioned from a long career as Posh Spice to an even longer career as a fashion designer. She’s an exception to the rule, not by chance but by discipline. “I always want to be the best,” as she told The Times of London. In 2019, Beckham expanded into beauty with an array of tasteful makeup, including Posh Gloss, and a skin-care collaboration with Augustinus Bader. Her first collection of fragrances just arrived, with three scents inspired by different chapters of her life. Her nighttime routine is as rigorous as her workdays.
When do you start getting ready for bed?
It depends if my husband [David Beckham] is at home. If he’s traveling, I like to get in bed really early, at nine o’clock. When he’s home, he likes to stay up. He’ll probably be watching football, and I tend to stay up with him.
I believe in getting seven or eight hours of sleep. I feel incredibly smug if [David] has been away and I get up the next morning and I’ve had like 8, 9, or 10 hours.
What’s your skin-care routine?
Me and [my daughter] Harper like to do our nighttime routine together.
Augustinus Bader has a really nice cream cleanser that I use to take my makeup off. Then, the first thing I do is cleanse my face. The older you get, the more you realize those fundamental basics are so important. I really like the Biologique masks—they’re super effective. Whilst I’ve got the mask on, that’s when I get myself ready for the next day. I like to lay out my gym clothes and [Harper’s] school uniform. Sometimes I’ll even do a little steam as well, depending on how much time I have.
I’ve started using this red-light mask called Celluma PRO that was recommended by my friend. I get in bed after cleansing my face, put the mask on for half an hour, then put on serums and creams. Then I will moisturize my skin and body. I’ll use my Victoria Beckham Beauty Cell Power Serum and the Augustinus Bader Rich Cream. I also use that on my neck, chest, arms, and hands. On my body, I use the Augustinus Bader Face Oil. I like to go to bed very, very moisturized. Then I use a really thick lip balm. It’s normally Harper who will provide that because she is as beauty obsessed as me and she knows all the latest and most fabulous lip balms.
Do you shower or bathe before bed?
I do really like a bath. I’m not one of these people who lie in the bath for hours on end. I get in, wash, and I get out.
What’s the one thing you have to do before you get into bed?
I stretch. Oh, my God, I sound so boring: I do light masks and I stretch. And I’m getting in bed with David Beckham. I sound like a lunatic.
Fitness is really important to me, and I get up early in the morning. I spend a lot of time in the gym, and I lift a lot of heavy weights. It’s important that by the time I get in bed I stretch out my body.
Tell us about your pajamas.
My favorite are La Perla pajamas. I like little shorts and a little top. Agent Provocateur does really nice ones. I’m definitely not a “getting into bed in a T-shirt” person.
How particular are you about your sleep conditions?
Me and David both like our bedroom to be really, really cold. I don’t have blackout blinds, but if light comes through I’m awake. Sometimes I wear a sleep mask because I’m such a light sleeper. Having children, I’m so used to waking up.
I also sleep with my crystals by the side of my bed, crystals I collected when I lived in L.A. I hold my crystals and I meditate. I believe in creative visualization. When I lie in bed, that’s when I put things out into the universe.
Onto the bed …
I like really crisp, clean, white sheets. I do sleep with one of those silk pillowcases. I suffer from a bad neck, and I’ve found the best pillows are from Target. It’s quite firm. It’s the only pillow that I have found that holds its shape all through the night. We’ve got very expensive sheets and cheap pillows.
How long does it take you to fall asleep?
If I’m in a good routine, it depends. At the moment, the [spring 2024] show is approaching. I do tend to obsess over every single detail. I’m a real detail person. If there’s a lot on my mind at work, sometimes it takes a little bit longer to fall asleep.
Where is your all-time favorite place to sleep?
Like most people, I like to be at home, whether that’s in London or our country house. We’re normally down at the country house on the weekend. Even though I don’t have to get up early in the morning to do the school run, I still get up just as early. But I feel nice and relaxed, knowing that if I do happen to sleep over it, it’s O.K.
Jensen Davis is the Junior Editor at AIR MAIL
