There’s no easy way to blitz blackheads, but a good clay-based mask can help to draw out impurities. Use once or twice a week. (If you have combination skin, multi-mask with a nourishing version on areas unaffected by blackheads.)

If you know you ought to be drinking more green juices but you can’t somehow get your tastebuds around them, as a rule, adding lots of lemon, apple or pears will make any vegetable medley taste more palateable. Be aware that according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, however, we should still be drinking soup rather than juices till the weather warms up.

Don’t be a desk slave. Try to stand up and move around for 30-60 seconds every 20-30 minutes, and focus on something more than six metres away to rest your eyes.

Insider wisdom from make-up artist Lisa Eldridge. ‘I am never without a hyaluronic acid serum in my routine.’ Her favourite is La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum. ‘It leaves skin just the way it promises – firm, supple and hydrated.’

It really can be very dangerous to fall asleep in the bath. If you get drowsy while bathing, get out immediately.

To quote make-up genius Tom Pecheux: ‘When it comes to make-up apply the tiniest amount and skim the skin rather than use a heavy-handed motion. Light layers of product will always look better than one thick coat.’

If you simply want shiny, natural-looking nails, use a top coat and lose the base coat. If you want to apply coloured varnish, use each for its intended purpose.

We love coconut oil for dry skin – but in a cold bathroom it goes rock solid. Fill a plastic basin with warm water and pop the jar in; in no time it’ll be lusciously liquid and perfect for massaging into skin. Alternatively, if your radiator has a flat top, a few minutes on a hot radiator does the same trick.

Don’t wipe your mascara wand on the neck of the tube to remove any excess. It’ll end up on the bristles in one big clump. Instead, press it between a tissue to wipe away any excess.

If the central heating’s making the air in your bedroom dry, invest in a humidifier – or try the D-I-Y alternative, by draping a damp towel over the radiator at night.

If you find plain water ‘boring’, try flavouring your own. (Most commercial flavoured waters have sweeteners and artificial ingredients.) Try adding lemon, lime, cucumber, mint, ginger, apple or pineapple to your water bottle. Shake regularly (and be sure to clean in a dishwasher or with a bottle brush each night).

From Sharon McGlinchey, founder of MV Organic Skincare, some sage advice on skincare. ‘Most women think skincare is just about what you see, but for me it’s about two more important things: what goes into your body and what you’ve been putting on your skin for many years Both of these factors determine your skin’s health. It’s very hard to wean yourself off using lots of skincare products, but they can leave you with congested skin. If your skin looks dull and lifeless, it can be because you’re putting too much on it.’

Be aware that whitening toothpastes can sometimes trigger dermatitis, so best to stop using it if small red spots appear around your mouth.

Many of us carry tension in our hands. If you constantly use yours typing, writing or sewing, for example, you’ll benefit from a regular hand massage. It’s most rewarding if someone else massages your hands; most ‘luxury’ manicures involve a massage which can help banish tension. At the very least, smooth in a rich cream, stroke from wrist to fingertip and then pull on the fingers to relax them.

If you’re trying to tackle sleep problems, aim to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, no matter what. It’s very difficult for the body to adjust to irregular sleep patterns, often caused by sleeping late at weekends. It’s better to ‘pay off your sleep debts’ with a nap on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon than to sleep late.

From Mary Greenwell: ‘I much prefer using fingers for make-up generally. I find foundation sponges and brushes dirty and wasteful.. The heat of your fingers helps smooth on the product with speed and little effort.’

Bobbi Brown is so right with this advice she once gave about lips. ‘Thin lips can’t look thick. Never line outside the natural lip line or on the corners of lips – you’ll look like The Joker, not Julia Roberts. Instead, chose light- or medium-toned colours (darker shades only minimise lip size) and apply a touch of gloss in the middle of your lower lip.’

When having a manicure, it’s best to have your nails filed rather than clipped, which can separate the layers and lead to flaking later. (And be specific about the length you want. No manicurist is psychic. Or no manicurist we’ve met, anyway.)

Be aware that hair removal creams can sometimes cause a reaction – a slight burning, possibly followed by a rash. If you ever feel uncomfortable, don’t tough it out: rinse the cream off immediately. (And when skin has calmed down, use a ‘lady’s’ razor instead.)

You can create your own leave-in conditioner by taking a regular conditioner and putting it into a spray bottle, one part conditioner to three parts water. It’s great for getting rid of tangles without weighing down hair.