To avoid tugging fragile eye skin, hold a pad soaked in dual-phase eye make-up remover over each eye for at least five seconds to dissolve make-up, then gently sweep it all off. (Dual-phase removers contain some oils, which are brilliant for melting away make-up.)

We well remember being exhorted by Cosmopolitan magazine in the 1970s to exercise our Kegel muscles – pelvic floor muscles – while waiting at the bus stop! But you know, they were right. Strong pelvic floor muscles help bladder control and can support the extra weight of pregnancy. Do this exercise several times daily: tighten your pelvic floor muscles (the ones you use to stop urine mid-flow). Hold for a slow count of three. Relax and repeat as often as you can. (Bus stop optional.)

Avoid doing the dishes or wash your hair for at least 12 hours after a manicure, manicure legend Jessica Vartoughian once told us. It softens the polish and shortens the lifespan of your manicure.

If you're struggling to keep up with the looming demands of the festive season, your iron levels might benefit from a kickstart. According to one Swiss study, taking an 80mg iron supplement could decrease fatigue even if you are not officially anaemic.

To go from desk to office do when you're pressed for time, Bobbi Brown's quickest fix is this: 'Apply a little charcoal shadow along your lash line, and a little white highlighter shadow on your brow bone, then slick on a shimmery lipstick and brighten up your blush. If you're in a REAL hurry, just use a burgundy lipstick.' Job done.

Do you sometimes use a particular dark shadow for eye-lining? If so, don't glop up the whole eyeshadow compact; instead, dedicate just a corner to this operation. (Once a shadow has been dampened, it behaves differently.)

If you always feel strapped for time, hang out with someone who follows their own rhythm, such as a treasured older member of the family, a child or even an animal. Notice any frustration that comes up in you as you allow your pace to match theirs. Look them deep in the eyes when you're talking to them, to establish a deep connection – and look upon the experience as an investment in yourself, rather than something to make you feel even more pressured. We all have the same amount of hours in a day; it's how we use them that matters.

Oil from cuticle treatments and hand lotion is the No.1 cause of chipping when you do your manicures at home. So before applying polish, either scrub nails clean with soap and a nailbrush (then rinse thoroughly), or use an acetone-free nail polish remover to swipe over the surfaces.

For a skin-softening bath, take a cupful of powdered milk, two tablespoons of ground almonds and two tablespoons of barley or oat flour. Mix in a bowl with a few drops of rose essential oil, then add two tablespoons to a tub of water. Soak for 15 minutes. The remaining bath mix should last in a glass jar for up to two months. (If you can keep yourself from using it.)

When you’re blow-drying hair, direct the hot air DOWN the hair shaft, as this will help smooth the cuticle, giving a shinier appearance.

Don’t be tempted to peel off old nail polish. It takes a very fine surface layer of the nail with it, affecting both the texture and strength of the nail, over time.

Thoughts on 'professional' use of make-up from our friend Lisa Eldridge: 'If someone is wearing too much make-up, it can affect the way people talk to them, particularly in the workplace. Bad make-up looks terrible and can be a hindrance; poorly-applied and matched foundation or false eyelashes worn to the office, for example, is too much of a distraction. However, if you are clever with your make-up, you can make yourself look polished and more pulled together, and so encourage people to take you seriously.'    

When it comes to de-cluttering, don't ignore the fridge. As we approach Christmas, look upon this as an opportunity to deep clean and de-junk here. Empty out the refrigerator and (ideally) compost anything that is expired, old or spoiled. (Though don't put meat or fish on the compost heap; they can atrract rodents.) If you can't compost at home, try to find a compost drop-off location and recycle, reuse or upcycle the glass and plastic containers. A feng shui expert once told us that spoiled and expired food symbolises neglect of overall health.

Don't kid yourself that alcohol is a sleep aid. Alcohol doesn't put you to sleep; it merely sedates the cortex of the brain, which isn't natural, healthy sleep. Instead it fragments sleep so that you wake up briefly many times through the night. It also suppresses REM (or dream) sleep, which is essential for proper rest. So: skip the nightcap.

Suffer from a red nose when you've been outside? Outdoors in cold weather, blood vessels actually reduce circulation to your nose. Then when you come indoors, those blood vessels dilate very quickly, causing a rush of blood to the area - hence the 'Red Nose Day' effect. The solution is to apply a warm – not hot – compress to skin after coming inside, and the redness will subside. (You can always touch up your foundation later, but this will avoid over-application to tone down the redness.)

You just washed your hair. Why would you dry it on a towel that's been in the bathroom for a few days...? Just sayin'. (Ideally, use a fluffy towel fresh from the airing cupboard, each time.)

Beware of beverages that stain your teeth. If it's hard to get off your kitchen counter, it's hard to get off your teeth... (Think: cranberry juice, beetroot juice, turmeric...)

How to find the perfect shade of blusher? Make-up artist Neil Young advises: 'Pinch your cheeks and try to mimic the colour you see, or go one shade deeper – in your chosen blusher texture.'

Wellbeing, to us, means living a less cluttered life – it helps with clear thinking, we find. Often, the most cluttered area of our lives is the wardrobe – so if yours is overwhelming you, follow these simple rules. First, advises 'wardrobe wellness' coach Annemarie O'Conner, make sure it contains only clothes that you wear now. Anything that represents the past (or perhaps the future) should be stored elsewhere. Ask which items represent 'optimism'. Don't save those for 'best' days; be aware of the clothes that make you feel good when you put them on and make sure you wear them regularly. And don't hang on to 'keepsakes' for the sake of it, cluttering your wardrobe space. A wedding dress or family heirloom might hold great personal value, but would a photo bring back the memories sufficiently, in some cases...?

Don't be tempted by harsh cleansers featuring retinols, glycolic acids, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic and fruit acids. Listen, instead, to the wisdom of superfacialist Alexandra Soveral. 'There are consumers who feel that if they're not using something quite harsh, they're not doing the job properly. The initial result might be smooth, shiny skin – but you pay the price when it simply becomes thinner.' She recommends using a gentle milky or creamy cleanser daily, and two or three times a week, opting for a balm or cleansing oil for a deeper cleanse.