Christie Brinkley, 70, reveals the secret trick she uses to feel sexy - as she pays homage to her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers in a glamorous new shoot

Christie Brinkley has revealed her simple trick for feeling sexy and empowered - as well as the surprisingly simple self-care routine she has adhered to for decades.

The legendary model, 70, shared her tips in a glamorous new cover interview for the July issue of Hamptons' magazine, Social Life, in which she gave a nod to her days as a Sports Illustrated star by stripping down to a white swimsuit.

'I’ve decided to take off my glasses, and I encourage others to do the same,' she said. 

'When I put on a little makeup or even when I look at my Instagram, I make sure my glasses are off because I don’t need to overthink or criticize every little detail. Who has time for that?'

The former model, who made her first appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue back in 1975 before gracing the cover in 1979, 1980 and 1981, also explained how taking the time to paint her toenails red is an important part of her self-care routine.

Christie Brinkley has opened up about the surprisingly simple beauty habit she has used over the years as a form of self-care - painting her toenails red

The Sports Illustrated icon, 70, stripped down to a swimming costume for a cover shoot with Hampton's magazine, Social Life, for its July edition 

'I like taking the times to do my own nails,' she said. 'My toes are always red. The shade of red changes, but the color doesn't.

'I usually don't bother doing my hands because I'll just mess them up in the garden. That's why I stick with my toes.'

Gardening is another key tool that Brinkley uses to aide her physical and mental wellbeing.

'That really is my self-care,' she said. 'I put on my oversize hat and get my hands dirty. Connecting with nature makes me feel like me.'

As for any guilty pleasures that also help lift her mood when needed, the author added: 'Hot chocolate. I love making the entire family hot chocolate.' 

In recent months Brinkley has been open with fans about the importance of looking after yourself after sharing news of her skin cancer diagnosis back in March.

She explained on Instagram that doctors had found a basal cell carcinoma, one of the most common types of skin cancer, on the upper left side of her face.

Brinkley added the doctor's were quick to remove the cancer as she stated: 'They took care of it, and luckily, my hair grows in that direction, but the scar is barely noticeable.'

The supermodel added that putting on her 'oversize hat' and gardening is another key tool that she uses to aide her physical and mental wellbeing

When asked to share her go-top tips to help feel sexy and empowered at any age, Christie replied: 'I’ve decided to take off my glasses, and I encourage others to do the same'

According to the American Cancer Society, basal cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in basal cells, found in the outer later of the skin. 

Typically basal cell carcinomas develop in parts of the skin often exposed to sunlight, especially the face. They tend to grow slowly and do not often spread to other parts of the body. 

The supermodel went on to advise viewers to wear sunscreen and hats while stepping out in the sun this summer.

Months later, she recalled how the basal cell carcinoma had been caught by chance when she decided to join one of her daughters during a dermatology appointment. 

Once there, she asked her daughter's doctor if he could look at her face and that is when he spotted the cancer.

'I wasn't even scheduled for a check-up, I was accompanying my daughter to the dermatologist,' she told the Today show.

'I was in the room, and he had this little magnifying glass out, and he's looking at a couple of things that she was worried about.'

Brinkley recently celebrated her lookalike daughter Sailor's 26th birthday bash with an Italian themed dinner in the Hamptons

She continued: 'I thought, "There is that little spot right on the side of my head right here.... Should I say anything? It's not my appointment". Right at the very end... I said, "Before you put that away, do you think you could just look at this?"

'The doctor then said, "We've got to do a biopsy immediately. This is something." Then the biopsy came back (as) cancer.' 

The mother-of-three shares daughter Sailor, 26, and son Jack, 29, with ex-husband Peter Cook. 

She also has a daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, 38, with her other ex-husband Billy Joel. 

The family members were recently pictured together as they celebrated Sailor's 26th birthday with an Italian-themed bash in their Hamptons home.