Did you know that crunching ice with your teeth is as bad as using them as scissors (for opening packets, etc.)? According to the American Dental Association, it can lead to enamel wear, with the potential for tooth sensitivity and toogh decay.
We absolutely love this, from writer India Knight (dating back some years, but as valid as ever): ‘Sometimes women… do mad stuff to our faces. We wander about with enormous lips and started faces and no laughter lines, refusing to admit our age. This is supposed to indicate that we are 100% chilled about the ageing process. Um, no. Wear your life proudly, disasters and all.’
If you fry your fringe with styling tongs or a straighteners, warm olive oil and honey in a saucepan and apply from root to ends. Leave on for 30 minutes, then rinse with warm water, shampoo and condition as normal. (It’s a great all-over treatment, actually.) Ideally, get your stylist to trim the damage, perhaps blending the fringe into the rest of your hair. The key with straightening irons is to keep them constantly moving; glide down each section in a continuous motion – and don’t stop, or you risk singeing.
Trying out a new hair colour? Play with different Instagram filters until you find one you like best, and ask yourself: does your hair look more flattering when it’s slightly lighter or darker? (Remember: you don’t necessarily have to post the results!)
The best way to lose weight, advises ‘I Quit Sugar’ author Sarah Wilson, is to ‘Stop thinking about weight. You are aiming for a state of food freedom, a place where you eat to nourish yourself, and that won’t happen if you’re worrying about the scales. Focus on noticing the other benefits of eating well. For instance, the first people see on the [I Quit Sugar] plans is how good their skin starts to look. The next thing that changes is their energy level. At this point they start to feel more positive and they actually stop talking about their weight. That, to me, is where we should aim to be.’
From our ESPA founder friend Susan Harmsworth, eternal wisdom: ‘Remember: beauty isn’t just how you look – it’s how you feel. Devote time to de-stressing and relaxation, or stress will add years to your face. The fastest way to take years off is to smile and stand straighter.’
Had a dodgy haircut? Voice your dissatisfaction to the salon manager that day. Ask for a different stylist, who can help reshape the cut. Most managers will be more than happy to oblige. (And console yourself: it’s just a haircut – not a tattoo.)
When tweezing, stand close to a mirror and remove just a few hairs at a time – then step back to check your progress.
A new use for the button bag that came with your new coat/jacket: decant your daily supplements into the small Ziploc-topped bag – perfect for a day’s dose of vits, on-the-go.
To take away the redness of a blemish (one without a ‘head’ on it), soak a cotton wool bud in eye drops and place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Hold onto the blemish for a minute to take away the red discolouration and swelling. Allow to dry and you can then apply concealer over the top.
For sheer safety, never drive in high heels. Keep flatties or folding shoes in your car to help you stay in control.
Eyebrow guru Eliza Petrescu recommends using clear brow gel to extend the time between brow-waxing or tweezing treatments, as it’s often the untamed ‘strays’ which have us booking our next appointment. (We love Benefit’s option.)
Beige and pale pink polishes are the least likely to show flaws as a manicure wears – but add a second coat of clear lacquer with a touch of shimmer, for a longer-wear manicure (and a slightly ‘fresher’ look, as spring approaches).
Feeling mentally sluggish? Rosemary is one of the few garden herbs you can turn to year-round. Strip several sprigs of fresh rosemary – or use a teaspoon of the dried herb – and infuse in 500ml of hot water. Leave to cool and drink a small cup, three times a day to help reduce fatigue.
To de-stress, take your time. We mean it literally. If you don’t, someone else will claim it or you’ll give it away – so claim it for yourself. Devote at least 20 minutes a day to an activity you enjoy, like gardening, playing with a pet, having a bath, talking to someone you love, exercising, reading, whatever. (And no, time on Facebook and Instagram doesn’t count.)
Having your photo taken? Beware of a high SPF foundation; anything higher than an SPF15 can make you look ghoulishly pale in pictures.
For a great lip stain, add a teeny-tiny dot of lip balm and then apply lip pencil (either in a rose or a deep tone like wine or cranberry) all over lips. Smoosh together and blot, and you’ll be surprised how long the stain lasts. Lip pencils tend to be more matte than lipsticks, and stay put longer.
Renowned therapist Susie Lung has this recommendation for an instant face-waker: ‘To give instant definition to a tired face, after exfoliating splash your face 10 times with very cold water. Then gently circle the back of a chilled teaspoon around the eye area.’
To clean up nail polish, wrap an orange stick in cotton, dip it in non-acetone polish remover and carefully trace around the skin, rolling the orange stick as you go so that the cotton stays clean.
To find your most natural blusher shade, pinch your cheeks when you aren’t wearing any make-up at all, and apply blusher to the opposite cheek. If they match, that’s your perfect shade.