As we enter the cold season – this year, dovetailing with the season of That Other Virus – remember the best way to prevent ‘nose dandruff’ (dry skin flaking off your nose) is to liberally moisturise it with balm inside and out. (Not pretty, but effective – though do ditch the balm after your infection’s cleared.) If you need to de-flake, soak skin and gently buff with a soft washcloth, then moisturise, moisturise, moisturise.
It’s definitely lip balm season. But don’t just apply it to your lips; include the whole area, as it’s often the lip-line that gets the driest and most uncomfortable.
If you have flaking nails, clip them rather than buff away the flakes – which simply things the nail further. Remember: flaking nails are like laddered tights – the more you fiddle, the worse they get.
If your mascara smudges, it might just be your eye make-up remover – not the mascara itself. Some formulations leave a film on the lashes so that anything that goes on top runs. Micellar waters, we find, are great for removing eye make-up without 'coating' lashes. Alternatively, sweep a cotton pad soaked in plain water over the lash area, after using your remover.
The worst reason to buy a new fragrance is because it smells great on your friend. We all have a unique odour fingerprint – a combination of many factors including heredity, complexion and even diet. Fragrance develops and lasts differently on dry skin to oily skin, for example, while eating spicy or fatty foods can alter how something smells. So your friend might smell of delicious sun-drenched citruses – while on you, that same scent is more G&T. There is never a substitute for trying a fragrance on your own skin, before buying…
Try this smoothie to start the day – the favourite of Ella Woodward: frozen banana with spinach, oats, almond butter, almond milk and blueberries. ‘It’s the easiest breakfast ever.’
Starting to feel sluggish with the change of the seasons? March on the spot, lifting your legs high – it rebalances your brain and stimulates spinal fluid.
Your grandmother knew a thing or two about looking after long hair at night. Braiding hair into a loose plait prevents 'pillow-burn', which can lead to splitting and breaking.
Pining for holidays? Us too. We like this tip from SpaceNK founder Nicky Kinnaird, who likes to light incense and candles made with flowers and plants found in the places where she holidays – sensual woods and white flowers for somewhere hot and tropical, or breezy, aromatic herbs and orange blossom for the Mediterranean.
Fine hair is more prone to heat damage than thick hair. To keep it from frying, use the low setting on your blow-dryer, and if to still feels scorching, hold dryer further away.
According to Trish McEvoy, we should never suck in our cheeks or turn our heads while applying blush. Instead, smile to find the apples of the cheeks, which will prevent the blush from looking unnatural and streaky.
If you run out of conditioner, a 10p piece-sized dollop of hand cream will detangle and condition wet hair, at a pinch. Just be sure to rinse thoroughly.
We’re all encouraged to get our vitamin D, nowadays – and happily, supplements do the job just as well. But research has shown that supplementing does little to limit Seasonal Affective Disorder, as you need actual sunshine. Likewise, studies show that serotonin levels – the happy hormone – are higher on sunny days. The advantage of working from home, for many, is being able to manage time to get out in daylight – even if it does mean an extra hour at the desk in the morning or evening, now the nights are drawing in.
Start each day with a stretch. Become aware of every part of your body – from toe to toe, fingertip to fingertip. We like to imagine a surge of energy running up along the spine, starting at the lowest end and running up the neck and through the head as you stretch your hands up to the ceiling. End the stretch with a moment of calm, focusing on feeling strong and energised before you start the day.
If you have nail ridges, buffers are your friend. Two or three times a month, buff the area lightly – but not too much, or you’ll weaken the nail – to smooth the ridges. You can also cover up ridges with nail polish: the darker the colour, the easier it is to disguise a bumpy surface. (Look for specific ridge-filling base coats, too.)
Is it a myth that apple cider vinegar makes hair shine? Not according to celebrity hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai, who recounts that his grandmother would rinse his hair straight from the bottle to give it shine after a shampoo. Before he launched his own haircare line, he recommended that clients rinse a capful through their hair at the end of a shower, to rid hair of any residue or product build-up.
Love this quote from our make-up artist friend Mary Greenwell: ‘Don’t bother keeping old make-up. It’s not like keeping a nice leather coat. Lipsticks go rancid. Mascaras dry out. Foundations separate. It’s unhygienic. And even though the colour might be great three, four or five years on, the texture will be all wrong. All the newness in make-up comes in the textures. And nowadays, textures are changing very, very fast and getting better and better.’
If you’re working out, always shower thoroughly afterwards. Tight, damp clothing that causes chafing and sweating is linked with fungal infections. If you can’t quite get dry because the gym changing room is humid, try a dusting of non-talc body powder.
There’s a rethink on salt and health going on. And Dr. Joseph Mercola, author of Effortless Healing, believes it’s good for gut health. ‘High-quality unprocessed sea salt will not only provide you with the chloride your body needs to make hydrochloric acid; it also contains more than 80 trace minerals necessary for optimum biochemical performance.’
If you live in a polluted area, consider putting some houseplants in your bedroom. According to NASA, English ivy is great for anyone with allergies, asthma or anyone looking for a better night’s sleep. (It is also known to reduce airborne mould particles.) Or go for mother-in-law’s tongue (a.k.a. ‘snake plant’), also one of the top 10 air-purifying plants.