Liz Earle has spent decades building a career around beauty and wellbeing, but now at 63, she’s letting go of habits that no longer serve her.
The beauty entrepreneur and Women’s Health cover star recently opened up about the liberating side of ageing—and the five things she’s stopped doing in her 60s.
From ditching weight-focused workouts to embracing natural sunlight, her shifts reflect a deeper change in how she views health, beauty and life itself.
Here’s what she’s left behind—and what she’s gained in return.
Jump to:
- The Freedom That Comes With Age
- 1. She No Longer Exercises to Be Thin
- 2. She No Longer Obsessively Avoids Sunlight
- 3. She No Longer Tolerates One-Sided Relationships
- 4. She No Longer Has Lengthy Product Routines
- 5. She No Longer Wastes Mental Energy Worrying About What Other People Think
- The Bigger Picture: Ageing as Liberation
The Freedom That Comes With Age
In a candid Instagram post, Liz reflected on how ageing has freed her from the weight of others’ opinions.
One of my favourite parts of getting older is just how freeing it can be. I’ve spent so much of my life worrying about what other people think, and now I realise what a waste of energy that all really was.
She noted that clarity has replaced confusion, and confidence has edged out the need for constant approval.
I know what works for me, and I’m far less bothered about endlessly trying to please everyone else.
That mindset shift underpins the five habits she’s deliberately moved away from—each one a reflection of prioritising wellbeing over performance, and authenticity over appearance.
1. She No Longer Exercises to Be Thin
Liz made it clear: working out to shrink her body is over.
These days I train to be strong, to protect my muscles, my bones, my brain and my independence.
Her focus now? Strength, mobility and longevity—not the number on the scale.
I’ve become far less interested in the number on the scales and much more interested in how strong I feel. It’s about staying mobile, feeling confident and having the energy to enjoy life for many more decades to come.
She credits strength training as the single best tool for building muscle after 40, especially compound movements that work multiple muscle groups at once.
Her Go-To Training Strategy
Liz recommends exercises like squats, lunges, push-ups and rows—movements that can be done with dumbbells, resistance bands or bodyweight alone.
The key? Progressive overload—gradually increasing the challenge over time to keep muscles adapting and growing.
You lift something heavier over time.
She trains just three times a week for 35 minutes—a routine designed with her personal trainer Michael Garry to build muscle, boost metabolism and support long-term health without demanding hours in the gym.
2. She No Longer Obsessively Avoids Sunlight
Gone are the days of shunning every ray. Liz now actively seeks morning sunlight as part of her daily routine.
Of course, I’m sensible about not burning, but I actively seek out morning daylight to support my body clock, my energy and my sleep.
She aims for 10 minutes of morning light, which she says helps energise mitochondria—the powerhouses of our cells—and supports natural vitamin D production.
Yes, the sun can be very damaging. There’s no question. [But] it’s not enough just to have [vitamin D] from supplements.
It’s a shift from blanket avoidance to intentional exposure—balancing protection with the benefits of natural light.
3. She No Longer Tolerates One-Sided Relationships
Liz has become fiercely protective of her emotional energy, especially when it comes to relationships.
These should bring warmth and kindness and mutual support. Life is simply too short for emotional drains.
She’s also vocal about the health benefits of strong friendships, citing research that links quality relationships with lower stress, better mental wellbeing and even a longer life.
Research suggests that the quality of our relationships are just as important for our health. Good friendships are linked with lower stress levels, better mental well-being, healthier ageing, even a longer life.
For Liz, friendships aren’t optional—they’re foundational.
I’ve also had times when my friends have just quietly been there, carried me through some of life’s biggest challenges. That’s something I will never take for granted.
She now treats time with friends as a health investment, not a luxury.
I don’t think friendship is a luxury. I think it’s one of the foundations of ageing well. I treat seeing my friends now as an investment in relationships [and] in health.
4. She No Longer Has Lengthy Product Routines
Liz’s approach to beauty has streamlined dramatically. A recent dinner look involved just a handful of products: concealer, a blush stick for lips and cheeks, subtle shadow and one coat of mascara.
For making my eyes pop.
She’s also embraced a more natural brow. No more over-plucking.
I don’t attack my eyebrows with tweezers. These only just survived the 80s.
It’s a shift toward simplicity, ease and authenticity—letting her features speak for themselves rather than burying them under layers.
5. She No Longer Wastes Mental Energy Worrying About What Other People Think
This might be the most significant shift of all. Liz has stopped trying to please everyone.
I always listen to those I trust, but I have learned that you can’t please everyone and nor should you try.
She’s also learned the power of saying no—a skill she credits with protecting her health as she ages.
One of the most powerful things we can do for our health as we age? Learn to say no. Chronic stress and overcommitment take a real toll on our bodies over time. Protecting your time and energy isn’t selfish – it’s part of ageing well.
Setting boundaries, she says, isn’t about rejecting people—it’s about preserving the energy needed to show up fully for what truly matters.
The Bigger Picture: Ageing as Liberation
Liz’s message isn’t just about what she’s stopped doing—it’s about what she’s started embracing.
Strength over size. Sunlight over fear. Reciprocity over obligation. Simplicity over excess. Authenticity over approval.
Each shift reflects a broader philosophy: that ageing well isn’t about fighting time—it’s about working with it, shedding what no longer fits and doubling down on what does.
And for Liz, that’s meant letting go of the pressure to perform, please and perfect—and instead, choosing freedom, strength and connection.
