Great advice from the legendary CHANEL perfumer Jacques Polge, now retired – but it still holds true, all these years after he shared it with us. ‘If you wish to build a fragrance, layer it. Fragrances applied under clothing last longer. Look out for complementary bath and body products, too.’
Some department stores now charge for make-up makeover sessions. Although these are usually redeemable against purchase, it’s still worth keeping an eye on which brands are launching new products, as there’s often a ‘window’ at beauty counters when to promote the newness, makeovers are complimentary…
We kinda love Eve Lom’s life philosophy… ‘I enjoy breaking the rules. I sunbathe, love champagne and would never limit myself to one cup of coffee a day.’
Do you immediately throw out the spatula that comes with some beauty products? Try to break the habit and start to use them, instead, to scoop creams out of their pots. Every single time you dip a finger in your moisturiser, you are introducing microbes; the use of a spatula (which you should rinse and dry between uses) keeps products pristine.
Wearing full make-up on a plane is like wearing diamonds on the beach. The idea is to look cared-for and groomed, not fully painted. We like to remove make-up before take-off with a wipe, apply a thick moisturising mask (or sheet mask, if feeling brave), and – before landing – use a tinted lip balm to add a touch of colour to cheeks, as well as lips. Just add mascara – pack a dinky, downsized version in your plastic cosmetics bag – and you’re good to glow.
We recommend everyone uses a hair mask, at least once a week, for optimum shine and hair health. But massage it in – distribution is key. Work it in with fingers or a gentle brush to ensure that every strand is coated and flooded. If the mask gets onto the scalp, don’t worry: many ingredients are as nourishing for scalp as they are for hair, but be sure to rinse and ‘finger-scrub’ properly.
The latest in a long line of tips that ensure that happy feet are ensuring you’re a happy person… We ask: do your shoes fit properly? In the afternoon or evening (when feet are at their largest), place a foot on a piece of paper and draw an outline. Then place your shoe on the paper. No part of the drawn line should be visible…
Timeless wisdom from Jessica Vartoughian, the Hollywood nail guru whose talents were parlayed into a global manicure empire: ‘Nail hardening products are not ideal. They’re a fast fix, but nails should be flexible, rather than so strong you can use them as a screwdriver. If they become that hard, they’ll just snap. Nightly nourishment with nail oil is the answer…’
Here’s Claudia Winkleman on the healing power of sleep (which we echo, 100%): ‘I’ve always managed to stay calm and unfussed and pretty level by doing one thing and one thing alone – napping. My mum brought me up to believe that everything would be better and easier after getting my head down for a bit of shut-eye. She was the only mother on earth who would have let me sleep in all day.’
De-junking your make-up bag for spring? Throw away anything older than two years. If something's a year old, move it 'up front' into your make-up regime – and if you're still not using it, be ruthless. It's gotta go.
If you’ve slept through the alarm and don’t have time to wash your hair, try just washing your fringe and blow-drying it. Pull the rest of your hair back in a ponytail and no one will know.
Want your fragrance to last through to the end of a bottle? Keep it in the box. These are often beautiful in their own right, and it really makes a difference.
As we count down to the next series of Bridgerton, later this month, insights from star Adjoa Andoh. ‘Recently in the mornings, rather than turn on Radio 4 and assaulting myself within the first 10 seconds of waking up with the latest horror, I have 10 minutes of total silence before I get out of bed. Life is so busy and as you get older, you have to actively make space for silence.’ Wise words.
Patsy Kensit wrote this in Natural Health magazine, and we like it so much, we’re sharing it here. ‘“Should” really is a toxic word. “I should just carry on as usual.” “I should dress/act/live appropriately.” “I should just do what everyone else needs.” I believe instead in asking yourself what you COULD do. If you want to do something out of character, and you’re telling yourself you “should” just carry on as usual, out of fear of the consequences, ask yourself what the positives “could” be, instead.’
Having trouble sleeping? Give up counting sheep. Research has shown that people who counted sheep take significantly longer to fall asleep than those who did not, according to Matthew Walker, Author of Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams. A better, proven trick is to write out on paper all your To Dos and concerns, about an hour before bed. End each log with three positive things that have happened to you during the day. Surprisingly, research has shown that people who do this each night end up falling asleep in half the time it took them before they started the practice.
If it’s really cold and breezy out, mix your cream blusher with a little bit of lip balm, to protect skin from chilly winds.
Your granny was right: apple cider vinegar rinses really are a natural, inexpensive way to increase shine. Mix one tablespoon with 200ml of water and pour over shampooed hair, then rinse with water.
After a long, soothing bath, massage a calming essential oil blend into the soles of your feet, where the large pores will absorb it directly into your bloodstream.
Don’t start the morning in a stress-y way. Instead of feeling frustrated when your computer takes time to warm up, use it as a mini-meditation and look at something peaceful. Focus on a photograph, flowers on your desk or on the view from your window.
A great exercise for strengthening your arches: sit upright on the floor or bed with your legs outstretched in front of you. Place an exercise resistance band around the ball of your foot and hold one end in each hand. (If you don’t have a band, use a bath towel folded lengthways.) Gently push your foot against the band so your toes are pointing away from your body, then slowly bring it back. Repeat 10 to 20 times with each foot.