We’re not even considering a full make-up look each day, but a light touch makes us feel groomed and pulled-together. We’ve always liked the clutter-free advice from Trish McEvoy, which is ‘All of us one or two products that we can’t go without. For some it’s foundation, for others it’s eyeliners. You don’t need to have hundreds of eyeshadows or lipsticks; just the few products or shades that work for you.’
We agree wholeheartedly with Votary founder Arabella Preston’s philosophy about ageing. ‘I try not to obsess about physical changes. After all, as a make-up artist, I never looked at someone else’s flaws – I’m drawn to their individual beauty… If we could all see ourselves more objectively in the mirror, rather than listening to our inner critic, we’d probably feel better about ageing.’
Tempted by a home pedicure? Remember: you can’t hop into bed, shoes or clothes for at least two hours after painting your toenails.
If you’re a novice at home hair removal, opt for sugaring kits over home waxing kits, explains Shimol Kanuga, waxing expert and founder of Shoreditch’s Guys and Dolls Parlour. ‘’They’re applied to skin at room temperature. And unlike traditional waxing kits, they’re also mess-free.’
Working at home inside, during lockdown? This can interfere with sleep, so advice from Guy Leschziner, consultant neurologist at the Sleep Disorder Centre at Guy’s and St. Thomas’s Hospital in London is to work near a window. ‘Environmental light, even if it is overcast, is beneficial for us to recognise that it is daytime, which makes it easier for us to associate night with sleep and to regain our circadian rhythm.’
If you’ve been running or jogging for your daily exercise, be aware that sweat and friction from sports fabrics can strip fake tan off the body, says tanning expert James Harkness. ‘Sprinkling any form of powder in your sports bra and around your joints – such as inner arms – will shield the tan from heat and sweat, protecting it during your workout,’ he advises.
There are commercial coffee ground scrubs available, but have you ever considered making your own? Add a slosh of warmed coconut oil to a handful of coffee grounds for a great instant body buffer. (But do it in the shower to avoid the ‘gritty bottom’ effect.)
Handy household hint (um, since we’re all at home at the mo): if a drawer is sticking, remove it and rub a candle on the runners. The drawer should open more smoothly when you slip it back I to place. (NB This counts as a de-stressing tip.)
Home waxing right now? Some waxes are pulled off with muslin strips, but if your kit contains large strips, cut them into Band Aid-sized piece, since it’s easier to wax one small area at a time. Test the temperature on the inside of your wrist, meanwhile; if the wax is too hot wait just a minute or so because if you wait too long, it will congeal.
Suffering from dry hands? If there’s anyone who isn’t, they’re not washing their hands properly. Or enough. But it’s possible to reverse the cracing, dryness and soreness, according to Dr. Ifeoma Ejikeme, founder of the Adonia Medical Centre in London Best way to moisturise? Generously apply cream to both the front and back of clean hands, paying attention to moisturising between the fingers – it’s the area most likely to suffer.
If you have highlighted or coloured hair, really do try to use products intended for colour-treated hair every time you shampoo. Hair that has been chemically treated is more susceptible to damage. What’s more, regular shampoos have concentrated cleansing agents that strip colour from the open cuticle of the hair, making brunettes turn brassy, red hair dull, and blonde hair face. If you must use a regular shampoo, dilute it with water before applying to minimise the impact.
We’re all about waste not, want not right now. Worth a reminder, then, that the inside of an avocado skin makes for a brilliant arm and elbow moisturiser. Smoosh it round your elbows and forearms, then massage in. It completely disappears without a hint of a green tinge (and is just so satisfying to do!)
Thinking of home waxing? First-time waxers should practice on the backs of their hands before attempting a high-visibility area like the face, to get the technique/temperature right.
Calluses – thickened skin on the soles – can be a problem as we age, exacerbated by not being able to get to a chiropodist right now. Buff with a foot file nightly then moisturise your soles – and a cushioning insole in harder shoes can help, while you wait for your next pro appointment.
Cocktail your bath with essential oils… Jasmine brings comfort and joy, citrus oils are for happiness, peppermint and rosemary work for mental clarity, while geranium and frankincense are great for balance. But don’t overdo it: five drops in the bath (or one on a pillow) are enough.
Even though we’re only meant to be outside for a single burst of exercise each day, the light has already become more intense. Time to add a morning SPF into your skincare regime, beauty-hounds.
Great brow-plucking tip from Sue Devitt, make-up artist. ‘When I was 11 – and first experimenting with tweezing my brows – my mother grabbed me by the arm and said, ‘My God, I’m going to have to teach you how to do this!’ I learned to turn toward the mirror at a 45-degree angle – not straight on – after every few plucked hairs, to make sure the brow doesn’t look like a tadpole.
We’re all thinking about waste right now. But this is the time to kiss goodbye to disposable razors. They’re convenient, but in the UK we throw away millions of disposable razors each year. Switch to a razor with a replaceable blade – ideally metal, like the Glilette Venus Platinum Extra Smooth Metal Handle – for durability. (This will last much longer than the plastic replaceable type.)
Run out of body moisturiser/oil? We absolutely love natural coconut oil – and you’ve probably got a pot in the larder. It’s brilliant for legs (shins, in particular), as well as a deep pre-shampoo treatment for hair, for forearms – and provided you don’t take it too close to the eyes, it works wonders as a make-up remover, leaving skin well-nourished.
However pretty the bottle, don’t be tempted to leave perfume in direct sunlight – or anywhere near a radiator. Light and heat are fragrance’s worst enemies. (Ideally, keep bottles in their boxes as this is the best protection of all. And of course, some of the boxes are lovely, in their own right…)