Not so much a tip, as a quote we love from Lauren Bacall: 'I think your whole life shows in your face – and you should be proud of that.'
Bastien Gonzalez has long been a go-to guru for foot wisdom, for us. Here he is on shopping for shoes: ‘Shoes need to be comfortable. Shop for them at the end of the day, when your feet are at their biggest. Ensure the soles are thick enough to protect you from the floor, but not too high, to guard your ankles and prevent the development of bunions. For open-backed sandals, opt for a closer fit so they feel secure on your feet and don’t flap. If not, your heel will develop cracks and your toes will start to clench, which can lead to hammer toes.’
We love this, from aromatherapist friend Annee de Mamiel. ‘Put a red dot on your wallet, desk, computer screen, anywhere you are likely to see it often. Every time you see that red dot, stop what you are doing and take a deep, calming breath. See it as a moment to be still.’
Never wear a white shirt or scarf that's whiter than your teeth, or they'll look more yellow than they really are.
We love a smoosh of blusher to put the colour back into cheeks when we're out and about – but on this front, all lipsticks are not created equal. Sheer, translucent lipsticks work much better than creamy or matte. And when you use on your lips as well as cheeks, it gives an overall toned-in appearance.
Just came across this wonderful quote from Marlene Dietrich. 'Darling, the legs aren't so beautiful. I just know what to do with them.' Sit in a chair in front of the mirror and play with positioning your legs to see which is most flattering. If it was good enough for movie goddess Marlene...
Fretting about frown-lines? Ironically a highlighter can help (it doesn't actually highlight them, but has the opposite effect). Dab on a small amount of liquid highlighter, over foundation, and using a flat foundation brush blend it outwards, to add a soft focus veil of light to the skin and blur away any fine lines. If you've greasy skin, opt for a powder formula. We think you'll be amazed...
From our hair guru friend Philip B: 'For healthy hair, maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet, with a simple daily multi-vitamin.' But there's one food that hair particularly loves, he adds – our friend the avocado, rich in unsaturated fat, B vitamins and amino acids.
Having a salon manicure? 'Don't be afraid to ask for a new emery board to be used on your nails,' advises New York supermanicurist Ji Baek. Unlike other tools, you can't sterilise emery boards, so they can harbour germs.
Do you need much more persuading to de-junk for the New Year? Jamie Lee Curtis recommends that we 'Sweep regularly. Not the actual act – though this can be meditative and helpful, but we all need to de-clutter. There are so many who have so little; what you no longer use can be a whole new wardrobe or library for someone else.'
To soothe a mild burn, run it under cool water and then apply a slice of onion. Sounds wieird? The same chemicals that make you cry around onions help block substances that trigger pain, while onion juice also has antibacterial properties that help prevent infection.
Worth bearing in mind: 62% of Dry January participants reported experiencing improvements in both sleep and energy levels after going alcohol-free for 31 days. According to Drinkaware, cutting back on alcohol can have a positive impact on how you feel and look in just a few days. Which is why more and more people are giving up alcohol completely...
Slde-sleeping is best for spinal health. Ideally you should have a flat pillow to prevent your upper body from rotating forwards or backwards. Placing pillows between your ankles and knees also prevents rolling, too, which twists hips and shoulders. For optimum back health, try to keep ears, shoulders, hips and ankles in a line.
Have you discovered the marvels of magnesium yet? 'Magnesium fully deserves its hype,' comments nutritionist Gabriela Peacock. 'It's a fundamental mineral for proper functioning of the body and known as "the relaxation mineral" for its calming effect on the brain, nerves and muscles. Deficiency is surprisingly common and might be the cause of symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, digestive discomfort and poor skin.' So: slather it on, and supplement with it. And feel the difference...
Skin looking as sluggish as you feel, in this post-holiday season? As Bobbi Brown once told us, 'The face develops deeper lines and darker shadows when you're tired. So choose neutral, brown-based shades to counteract grey skin tones. A warm apricot blusher applied sparingly to the apples of the cheek will brighten the face.'
Does a favourite polish go gloopy after a while? Buy two bottles of the same shade and keep one topped up. It helps maintain the smooth consistency and keeps the brush in good shape.
Some bunions are inherited, but more are caused by ill-fitting (and in particular pointy) shoes. Wearing shoes with low heels and rounded toes, orthotic pads and foot exercises are all things to try before opting for surgery.
Feeling burned out by the stress of juggling all those Christmas To Dos? Bach Flower Remedy Olive is great for restoring vitality and easing mental exhaustion. Add two drops to a glass of water, four times a day, until you're feeling like you've regained your strength.
Lace up your walking shoes, throw on some warm layers and get outside for that Boxing Day yomp. Exercising – particularly if it's bright out there – is the best way to trigger the release of adrenaline and endorphins, shaking off (post-Christmas lunch) sluggishness and boosting energy levels and mood.
If you're off work for the next few days, take it easy during the hiatus between Christmas and New Year. In the Mayan culture, they even refer to this point in the earth's calendar as the 'dead days', believing that we should all basically laze around. Which is exactly what you'll find us doing, right now.