We hear a lot about ‘gender-free’ perfumes – but that’s how perfume began, with everything shareable. As Les Senteurs’ archivist James Craven observes: ‘Our philosophy is that one wears the scent one loves. Gender does not enter the equation.’ Bottom line: if you like it, wear it. That’s all that matters.
Feeling a bit drab after barely being able to go outdoors in the past few weeks? Us, too. The easiest way to perk up a winter complexion is with tanning drops: pop some in your moisturiser for subtle sun-kissed radiance, and top up every few days. (Looking for great tanning drops? Check out our Gradual Self-Tanners in the Beauty Bible Awards 2020 for our testers’ top suggestions.
If you want clean, shiny-looking nails without a coloured polish, use a top coat rather than a base coat (these tend to be more matte).
Often 'dandruff' isn't actually dandruff. Before you start to use an anti-dandruff shampoo, check out your product usage to make sure you're using them on your hair, not on your scalp. Alternatively, try this home remedy: rub olive oil on your scalp, put on a shower cap and leave it on overnight. Wash hair thoroughly in the morning to remove the oil.
Trying to remove shellac polish at home is fiendish – but it's made a little easier if you use a coarse nail file to lightly buff the surface, before soaking in acetone. Then be sure to slather on lashings of nail oil, to counterbalance the inevitable damage.
If you value your sleep, don’t watch action movies or any noir entertainment close to bedtime. If you do want to watch shows or films like these, view them over the weekend during the day, when the possible stress won’t impact on your sleep state during the work week. (We also avoid late night news programmes for the same reason. There’s nothing we can do about the state of the world, at that point – but it can be enough to disturb our sleep!)
Not sure when shopping for mascara which will meet your needs? You can tell a lot from a glance at the wand: volumising mascaras tend to have fatter lashes, curling brushes are slightly curved (to give a more lifted effect), and long, slim, tapered brushes are better for defining lashes.
OK, so how does Elle Macpherson stay looking quite so fabulous? This probably helps. ‘When I wake up, I think about what my body really needs, whether it’s a swim in the ocean, beach walk, yoga with friends, a bike ride or a boxing class. Mixing it up is fun and helps me stay motivated.’
Consider switching to a bamboo toothbrush (which will biodegrade). You should still replace it every three months, but it won't contribute to plastic toothbrush mountain which goes to landfill every year. (In the US, 4.7 billion plastic toothbrushes per annum!)
What's the difference between different concealers? Concealers housed in tubes or wands generally give lighter coverage (and are often designed for under-eye, with light-reflecting pigments to minimise dark circles). Creams can be applied with small sponges, make-up brushes, Q-Tips or fingers – and are thicker. Stick concealers tend to be thickest of all, similar to lipstick in consistency; smooth onto skin and pat into the complexion,
Always buy shoes with good support, for healthy feet. Very flat shoes such as ballerina pumps, flip-flops and slippers can lead to problems becasue they offer very little support. Lace-ups are great for offering support – but don’t be lazy; be sure to lace them up each time rather than kicking them off and then putting your feet into the laced shoe!
If you make your bed every morning, rather than just throw back the duvet, it might be the gateway to a more productive day. According to findings from a Best Mattress Brand 2019 survey, almost three-quarters of daily bed-makers surveyed felt a sense of accomplishment, compared to just half of non-makers.
We just love this, from Lauren Hutton, on the debate over whether to have Botox or cosmetic surgery: ‘I would rather have a face like an elephant’s bottom. I see an awful lot of women and it looks very scary becasue they’re so smooth and don’t look real.’
They may be hidden under socks right now. But give your feet some TLC last thing at night, suggests our friend, the superpedicurist Bastien Gonzalez. ‘Before going to sleep, massage a water-based cream into your feet in three different directions to relax the skin and activate the blood circulation,’ he advises. ‘For hard skin, use a file or pumice when your feet are wet.’
How often do you buy a product and throw away the packaging without even glancing at the manufacturers’ recommended application tips? Facialist and skincare expert Joanne Evans advises: ‘My number one piece of advice is to understand how and when to apply your products.’
Don’t try to shape nails that are less than one-eighth of an inch long, otherwise you’ll weaken them.
Don’t look at fast-paced, pumping activity to decompress from the stresses of your day. According to personal trainer Dalton Wong, who works with Jennifer Lawrence and Olivia Colman, among others: ‘When people are stressed, they often turn to high-intensity workouts or long runs because they think this will de-stress them. However, the opposite is true – you end up running for your life, and the stress hormones keep getting pumped out. When you’ve had a bad day at work, choose calming workouts such as yoga, Pilaes, walking or simple stretching, which will loosen your joints, elongate your muscles and take your body out of the fight-or-flight mode, which will also benefit your skin. You can always burn calories another day.’
Wisdom from Jamie Lee Curtis that we just love: ‘Kindness is free. It can be life-changing for the recipient and will instantly reset your day.’ (Even a Monday.)
The mind recognises touch as care. So Dr. Kristen Neff, author of The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, advises: ‘When you’re struggling with negative thoughts, simply laying your hand onto bare skin over your chest can ground you.’ Try it whenever you’re feeling fraught.
Skincare wisdom from facialist Sarah Chapman: ‘You can get even better results from a sheet mask by layering a serum underneath. It literally presses everything into the skin.; the mask acts like a second skin so you can absorb the active serum faster than a traditional cream mask.’