Keep a bottle of facial oil by your bed. While you’re reading or relaxing before nodding off, apply a few drops to your fingers and give yourself a facial massage – two minutes is great, five minutes is better. Your skin will appreciate the nourishment – and the ‘boost’ will be visible when you look in the mirror tomorrow morning…
As big fans of bathing, we love this from philosopher and ‘The School of Life’ founder Alain de Botton. ‘Baths are ideal places to think. Their ability to ease us towards productive ideas is probably greater than that of the places we formally assign to such work: the office, the library or the laboratory. The reason is that our bigger thoughts generally don’t come when commanded. They tend to emerge when we’re not quite looking. The warm water lulls the nervous habits of the mind. We’re off the hook. We’re perfectly free not to think at all and – by the perverse logic of the brain – this actually makes thinking easier.’
Vitamin C is a ‘buzz’ supplement right now – but did you know it’s essential for eyes? It helps keep them lubricated, via ‘the aqueous humour’ – the liquid that fills the outer part of the eye. If dietary intake of vitamin C is poor, the levels in the eye will reflect that.
If you notice your skin’s shiny soon after cleansing, or you have enlarged pores, blackheads (or your skin often breaks out), look for products featuring salicylic acid. It soaks up sebum. (Clays are also good for drawing out dirt and oil without dehydrating skin.)
Aim to shape your eyebrows every four weeks. ‘Don’t pluck in-between – you won’t achieve that clean, sharp finish,’ advises Vaishaly Patel.
And a little inspirational wisdom for a new year from Audrey Hepburn, who said: ‘Nothing is impossible. The word itself says “I’m possible!”’
Hangover tips shared with us years ago by Noella Gabriel of Elemis, but still as good today. (Um, especially New Year’s Day!) 'Starting the day with body brushing helps eliminate toxins and stimulate the circulation. You can also burn lemon, lime and peppermint oils to help an unsettled stomach, and pop a rosemary essential oil in your bag to inhale through the day – it helps sharpen the mind.'
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.
Instead of reaching for another caffeine jolt, revive tired muscles and stimulate blood during that mid-afternoon slump by placing a plastic water bottle on the floor; take of your shoes and gently roll your foot over it from your heel to your toes for a minute or two. Repeat with the other foot. Miraculous!
For instantly fresher breath and cleaner teeth, grab an apple. As you chew, you’ll chew away any leftover particles of food caught between your teeth.
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.
It’s not unusual to see models teasing their hair backstage with toothbrushes at a catwalk show. It’s well-known among session stylists that by using tiny bristles, you get right into the roots and give your hair ‘lift’ without making it look too big. (This technique’s especially good for giving volume to floppy fringes.)
To get the most out of your exercise, stop reading on your exercise bike – studies by experts at Manchester University found that the more you focus on the muscle you're working on, the more intensive the workout. And you can't do that while you're staring wide-eyed at the latest pictures of the Kardashians...
We’re big fans of sound therapy. Nothing quite beats lying on a mat in a room that’s positively vibrating with the deeply grounding sounds coming from crystal bowls or Tibetan gongs, but there are now many online ‘gong bath’ offerings, both on a one-to-one or group basis. Definitely worth checking out if you feel like you need some soothing vibes to get you through the next few weeks and months.
From our eternal style and beauty guru, yy-year-old supermodel Lauren Hutton: ‘Drink your two litres of water a day – and sleep! I now try to eat early and sleep for at least 8-10 hours. The day after a good rest, I feel like I’m in my 20s.’
The new cushion foundations are fab. (We’re fans.) But be sure to wash the sponge weekly, or it can rapidly go ‘whiffy’, transferring bacteria to your skin.
Bored with your look? An update is fun – and fine – but we always liked the advice from veteran make-up artist Rex only to choose one new make-up shade each season.
Wear rubber gloves (we prefer latex surgeon’s gloves) when using cleaning products, as these can cause polish to peel faster.
Do you suffer from frizzy hair? Hairdresser Luke Hersheson says: ‘Don’t wrap your hair in a traditional towel after a shower. It’s a breeding grown for frizz. Comb your hair through when it’s soaking and either blow-dry or air dry, but avoid leaving it in a towel as you’ll just encourage frizz.’
One of the positive steps you can take daily towards wellbeing and balance is to make your bed each and every morning, according to Jonathan Fields, author of How to Live a Good Life. 71% of bed makers consider themselves to be happy people. It only takes 30 seconds, so why not increase your happiness (and in our case, sense of control!) with a simple fluff of the pillows and a smoothing of the sheets?