I'm a skincare guru to the stars, and this is the daily beauty routine that keeps me fit, my hair glossy and my skin youthful... and the one guilty pleasure I'll NEVER give up: SUNDAY RILEY

Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn moreTexas-born Sunday Riley is the founder, CEO and chief formulator of her eponymous luxury skincare brand, Sunday Riley Modern Skincare. After studying chemistry at university, she launched the brand in 2009, which has since grown into a globally recognised beauty line. Alongside running her business, Sunday is also a mother of four. Here, she shares her daily beauty and health routine... Morning routine I wake up at 6.30am during the school year because I have four children – three still live at home – and 12 pets, plus a foster gecko at the moment. By 7.30am, I’ve got everyone fed and out of the house. Between the children and the animals, mornings are so busy that I often don’t eat until later, although if I’m hungry I’ll have cottage cheese. I’m slightly obsessed with it because it’s such an easy way to get more protein.Upping my protein intake has also transformed my hair. It had been falling out, probably because of a combination of stress and my thyroid, but dramatically increasing the amount of protein I eat made a huge difference to my hair. The other big change was taking an iron supplement based on medical advice from my doctor and incorporating 5 per cent minoxidil into my routine. I apply it to a clean scalp every morning and wash it out at night. That’s made a massive improvement. Mother-of-four Sunday Riley often doesn't have time for breakfast. But if she's hungry, she tries to have protein-rich foods like cottage cheese, which she says have transformed her hair I don’t have oily hair, but I now wash it every day to remove any build-up. I also wear a red light therapy cap. I can’t honestly say whether it’s made a noticeable difference.I’ve also made my own hair serum, which contains peptides, caffeine and a few other ingredients. I think it’s helping too, although it’s probably the combination of everything that’s working.Skincare essentials My skincare routine always starts with cleansing. I then dry my skin, spray on Pink Drink mist because it’s firming and resurfacing, then apply two pumps of my C.E.O. Fifteen per cent Vitamin C Brightening Serum mixed with C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil. Hyperpigmentation and dark spots are my main skin concerns, so vitamin C has been non-negotiable for more than 20 years. I use it morning and night because it’s brilliant for brightening the skin and supporting collagen production.Once that’s sunk in, I’ll apply moisturiser and eye cream before doing my make-up. One trick I swear by is mixing my concealer with my Auto Correct Eye Contour cream.If I don’t, my concealer looks great for about five minutes before settling into every fine line. Mixing the two together keeps everything looking much fresher. At the moment, I’m loving Jones Road Foundation and Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter.ExerciseI’d love to tell you I’m phenomenal at exercise, but when work gets busy something has to give, and it’s usually my workouts. When I’m in a good phase, I’ll do pilates several times a week. When I’m in a bad phase – which I’m currently in – I mostly think about doing pilates. I do, however, make sure I go for long walks most days, often taking work calls while I’m walking. And if I’ve been sitting at my desk for more than 90 minutes, I’ll always get up and stretch for a couple of minutes. It sounds simple, but I think it’s why I don’t suffer with back or hip pain.I don’t really snack. If I’m hungry, I might have some cottage cheese, but generally I’d rather eat a proper meal. Over the years, I’ve had to become much more aware of why I’m reaching for food. Am I genuinely hungry, or am I stressed or bored? If I’m actually hungry, I’ll eat, even if it’s earlier than I’d planned. I’m not someone who believes you have to stick rigidly to meal times.Guilty pleasures My guilty pleasure is Diet Coke. I’d rather have one than a slice of cake. I don’t drink alcohol at home, but if I’m out with friends I’ll usually order a negroni or a gimlet.I’m a big believer in supplements, but only if they’re tailored to what your body actually needs. I have a vitamin D deficiency that I manage with supplements, and because I have an MTHFR gene mutation, I also take methylated B vitamins and folate.I take glutathione for my skin and ferritin for my hair, from medical advice from my doctor too. Rather than following every trend I see online, I prefer to work with a functional doctor and figure out what will actually benefit me.Interview by ANTONIA LENON SHOP: World-famous make-up guru LAURA MERCIER reveals the anti-ageing secrets that make French women look 10 years youngerREAD MORE: How I look like this at 41, by LAURA WHITMORE: How I maintain my figure, the supplement I swear by, the £24 serum that makes my skin glow